Worldly Pleasures

By Allison Joseph

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932339124
• ISBN13: 9781932339123
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Word Poetry
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.3" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

quietly powerful

This book deserves four and one-half stars. I was blown away by about ten of the poems, I enjoyed most of the rest, but was disappointed by more than a few that lacked the emotional depth and energy that I look for in a strong poem. I can't speak about her previous books, but in this one Joseph is a very good prose poet who writes mostly about her childhood experience growing up black and female in new york city. However, she is way too smart and gifted to ever preach in her poems. Her language is colorful, clear and very accessible. Her best poems go down like cool spring water - almost innocent - while leaving us mesmerized at the subtle yet powerful social commentary that is implied in her words. I can't really compare her style to anyone else's, but I her best poems remind me of the work of Diane Lockward whose book entitled, "Eve's Red Dress," is the best book of poems that I have read in several years.