- Paperback
- Publisher: Delacorte Pr (Jan 1969)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0385287879
- ISBN-13: 978-0385287876
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 10.7 x 1 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,727,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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4 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
A quirky and enjoyable collection of poems
20 Aug 2002
Format:Paperback
"The Pill Versus the Springhill Mine Disaster," by Richard Brautigan, is a collection of poems. Brautigan's style is often surreal, often tender, with touches of witty humor. The poems are written in a clear, straightforward free verse. Here is an example of his style (from "The Chinese Checker Players"): "When I was six years old / I played Chinese checkers / with a woman / who was ninety-three years old."
Recurrent themes in the book include love, sex, loss, and loneliness. Incorporated throughout are an intriguing mix of pop and "high" culture references: Jefferson Airplane, Ophelia, the New York Yankees, John Donne, etc. The book often has an earthy flavor; Brautigan writes about such topics as his own penis or the smell of a fart. Some particularly memorable poems include the following:
"All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace," a science fiction vision of a "cybernetic meadow"; the open-ended "Karma Repair Kit: Items 1-4"; "Discovery," a joyful poem about sexual intimacy; the surreal "The Pumpkin Tide"; the funny, haiku-like "November 3"; and "A Good-Talking Candle," which invites the reader into an altered state of perception.
Although most of the poems are very short, there is one longer poem: the 9-part, 9-page "the Galilee Hitch-hiker," which chronicles the surreal adventures of Baudelaire (among other experiences, he opens an unconventional hamburger stand in San Francisco). If you only know Brautigan from his weird and wonderful novels, I recommend you read this remarkable collection of poems.
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
I think of all the people lost inside you
8 April 1999
Format:Paperback
No, this is not The Waste Land, but I've noticed that people who don't even like poems can't help but like this collection, even if they only like the ones with penises in them. Really, Brautigan's poetry is some of the only poetry that doesn't lie to itself, acknowledging both the author's and the medium's weak points, yet still conveying honest insight through endearing prose, with images that fall apart the second you touch them, leaving you with a feeling of naustalgia; this, I think, is the appeal of Brautigan, and while he might not be a master on the terms of Ezra Pound, he is great on his own terms, and for those that don't know (or care) who the hell Ezra Pound is.
Great read.
11 Mar 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a huge fan of his work, he's one of the best authors that I've had the please to read. These series of short poems are great, I always take a book of his when I'm traveling because I know it's a quick read and I'll be able to sock up some rays and still have time to finish his works in one session :)
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