Actual Air by David Berman Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Actual Air
Book Review: He's looking at us all kind of funny
Summary: 5 Stars
Berman's freshness of spirit and ability to observe telescopically the intimate and intimately the telescopic make me smile. Very few authors (Richard Brautigan included) are able to dream and let it sail like this dude.Book Review: Hey, musicians really can write!
Summary: 5 Stars
(I figured I'd put this at the top so people would catch this -- Berman announced a nice while ago that he has another book of poetry/prose on the way currently titled "Richard Simmons 1950-?")
I found Actual Air through David Berman's band Silver Jews, and since then I think I enjoy his writing even more than his music (which is hard to imagine). Berman manages to keep a cool slice of wit while not taking it too far, has a nice regard for the strangeness in the world around him, and is probably the best "Americana" poet I've ever encountered. A few poems fumble in a few spots with overly awkward language (which really just seems like slightly more hurried diction), but otherwise this is a very good first release for a poet. I forgot we still had those these days -- clever poets.
Book Review: I was blown away
Summary: 5 Stars
Beautiful, kind, sweet genius. It's been forever and a day since I've read fictions like these. So....useful to my life. Thank you, sir. Thank you so much.Book Review: I'm Not Poet Person
Summary: 5 Stars
But I know what I like, and I think this stuff is fun and funny.
I'll have to check Bill Knott, Harrison Fisher, Jeff McDaniel and Ron Koertge-I may also enjoy reading their poetry.
Book Review: Nice But Been Done
Summary: 4 Stars
Berman is worshiping at the Church of Bill Knott and exploring the same territory that Knott explored in the 60s and 70s, that Knott acolytes Harrison Fisher did in the 70s and 80s and that Jeff McDaniel has been doing with a more self-deprecating manner through the late 90s. If you like Berman check them out. And check out Ron Koertge's work as well. He's been doing the West Coast version of same for eons now.