Nicholas Manning offers a challenge grant to anyone who can out-blurb HarperCollins in nine clichés or less. Here goes:
“With this dazzling second collection, Jewel confirms her place as one of the most equestrian voices of her generation. By turns zippy, fierce, heart-breakingly original and always immensely human, these sharply observed yet intricately crafted poems remind us what it is to be horsed on the shrinking veldts of the U.S. social imaginary. “It works on Macs, it/works for Lycos,” and any serious lover of poetry will delight in the rich diversity of platforms upon which Jewel invites us to re-think the critical distance between lyre and liar. Quite simply, one of the best we’ve got.”
Do your bit for National Poetry Month and drop your entry in the comment box here. Salutary as sneezing.
7 comments:
If someone has to be "most equestrian", it might as well be Jewel.
Rodney, is Jewel your long-lost cousin? I swear you follow her career most closely! Clearly I am the most equestrian, is why I am so grumpy.
Wow. I'm SOLD.
Just wait'll you see the blurb for SANJAYA.
"One of the most equestrian voices of her generation" is one of the most excellent things I've read in a while.
Animal analogies and animal hyperbole in general really are too rare in blurbs. "With fox-like cunning, Coolidge outruns then attacks such naysaying Hounds of No from behind . . . " "Less post-avant than duck-like . . ." "Ted Kooser's latest is by far the moosiest collection of the year . . . " etc.
That's a great blurb Rodney. And, like all blubrs, it can be compressed effectively. If there are many, many blurbs on the back (you know, from Ice T, John Ashbery, Jimmy Carter, etc.) yours can be shorted to "equestrian. . .immensely human. . .intricately crafted".
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