'Being Alive' is the sequel to Neil Astley's 'Staying Alive', which became Britain's most popular poetry book because it gave readers hundreds of thoughtful and passionate poems about living in the modern world. Now he has assembled this equally lively companion anthology for all those readers who've wanted more poems that touch the heart, stir the mind and fire the spirit. 'Being Alive' is about being human: about love and loss, fear and longing, hurt and wonder. 'Staying Alive' didn't just reach a broader readership, it introduced thousands of new readers to contemporary poetry, giving them an international gathering of poems of great personal force, poems with emotional power, intellectual edge and playful wit. It also brought many readers back to poetry, people who hadn't read poetry for years because it hadn't held their interest. 'Being Alive' gives readers an even wider selection of vivid, brilliantly diverse contemporary poetry from around the world. A third companion anthology, 'Being Human' (2011), completes this modern poetry trilogy.
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'I love Staying Alive and keep going back to it. Being Alive is just as vivid, strongly present and equally beautifully organised. But this new book feels even more alive - I think it has a heartbeat, or maybe that's my own thrum humming along with the music of these poets. Sitting alone in a room with these poems is to be assured that you are not alone, you are not crazy (or if you are, you're not the only one who thinks this way!) I run home to this book to argue with it, find solace in it, to locate myself in the world again.' --Meryl Streep
'These poems remind us of what we have felt yet never fully articulated, what we have dreamt yet never believed entirely possible. Perhaps most importantly, the poems in here tell us there is nothing more powerful than language when its agenda is to reveal rather than to conceal or distort.' --Kamila Shamsie.
'Hopefully, books like this will put poetry back into the mainstream.' --Van Morrison
'These poems remind us of what we have felt yet never fully articulated, what we have dreamt yet never believed entirely possible. Perhaps most importantly, the poems in here tell us there is nothing more powerful than language when its agenda is to reveal rather than to conceal or distort.' --Kamila Shamsie.
'Hopefully, books like this will put poetry back into the mainstream.' --Van Morrison
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ever since I bought this book I have been carrying it around to dip into. Another eclectic mix of poems in 10 sections covering every aspect of life - including 'Daily Round', 'Love Life', 'Exploring the World'. There are poems of all types, some new names, some well known contemporary poets, and dotted about, a few old favourites like MacNeice, Auden, Larkin. Each subject is viewed from several angles, you're sure to find words that speak directly to you.
If you haven't read much poetry lately, take a look inside and find poets you may not have heard of but whose poems will become friends.
For those who read contemporary poetry, here are the names you know and lots more to whet your appetite.
A superb collection with enormous breadth and imaginatively arranged so the reader 'stumbles upon' new treasures at every reading. The best anthology out - every home should have a copy.
If you haven't read much poetry lately, take a look inside and find poets you may not have heard of but whose poems will become friends.
For those who read contemporary poetry, here are the names you know and lots more to whet your appetite.
A superb collection with enormous breadth and imaginatively arranged so the reader 'stumbles upon' new treasures at every reading. The best anthology out - every home should have a copy.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By "justworld"
Format:Paperback
I bought the first book - Staying Alive and loved it. This is even better!! I keep it at my bedside and always dip in and read a few poems before I go to sleep. Its like having your own personal mentor/champion with you all the time! I can't get enough of this book.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Every bit as indispensable as an Encyclopaedia or a family medical book "Being Alive" is a collection of poetry about everyday living in the 21st Century. This wonderfully arranged collection includes such lofty topics such as Love and Death as well finding room for poems about TV and the pet dog on its canvas.
Never overly romantic (those that wish to read about the surface beauty of nature will need to look elsewhere). "Being Alive" is as current and as gritty as a book about modern life needs to be. What the poems do capture are those illusive and awkward feelings that you've had and have never been able to put into words. Filled with vitality you can come away from some of the poems elated and feeling that you are not alone. The quality of the imagery is fresh and startling, every word conveys (or reveals) the poets meaning.
A wonderful book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
a good book of diverse poetry i purchased for my funeral celebrantcy. need to have a stock of poetry to refer to for eulogy
Published 23 days ago by Sunshine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Give this to Anyone Who can Read
and give them a really provocative selection of poems to dip into anytime, any day.
This is testament to the creativity of the human spirit, the power of words and poetry's... Read more
This is testament to the creativity of the human spirit, the power of words and poetry's... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jose Spinks
5.0 out of 5 stars
"My father's in my fingers, but my mother's in my palms..."
Being Alive has such a wealth of poetry, it's almost too much. I felt as if I'd stuffed myself with good things and ended up feeling slightly sick as I came on the end-poems and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Eileen Shaw
3.0 out of 5 stars
ok
not really able to comment bought this for uni but didnt need it so didnt get around to reading it
Published 5 months ago by Rebecca Oram
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Amazing Choice of Poetry
This book is a must,
for those starting out.
Something for everyone,
everything for someone.
Tears of joy, pain, loss
Being Alive is boss.
for those starting out.
Something for everyone,
everything for someone.
Tears of joy, pain, loss
Being Alive is boss.
Published 5 months ago by Miss K Madej
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hard to imagine why anyone wouldn't enjoy this...
This is an excellent anthology of contemporary poetry. I hadn't read much poetry for years and hadn't purchased a poetry book for even longer. Read more
Published 16 months ago by JonG
5.0 out of 5 stars
Times of Reflection
A wonderful collection of poems for all moods.
Amusing, thought-provoking, imaginative and full of interest. Read more
Amusing, thought-provoking, imaginative and full of interest. Read more
Published 19 months ago by labod
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant anthology
This is just as good if not better than Staying Alive. Accessible poems from a wide range of poets...just love Kim Addonizio and it's worth buying the Anthology just for her. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Yvonne Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful
Loved this book - I'm a poetry reader but still found lots of new material to enjoy. Just to respond to one of your reviewers - I live in Northern Ireland and have used Amazon for... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Annie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Put the money down and take this one home with you.
This is an excellent anthology that I can recommend 100%. Depending on where you are with poetry, this collection is on the whole more accessible than its earlier, sister... Read more
Published on 3 April 2011 by Mr. P. Noakes
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