Recently appointed as the new U. S. Poet Laureate, Ted Kooser has been writing and publishing poetry for more than forty years. In the pages of The Poetry Home Repair Manual, Kooser brings those decades of experience to bear. Here are tools and insights, the instructions (and warnings against instructions) that poets—aspiring or practicing—can use to hone their craft, perhaps into art. Using examples from his own rich literary oeuvre and from the work of a number of successful contemporary poets, the author schools us in the critical relationship between poet and reader, which is fundamental to what Kooser believes is poetry’s ultimate purpose: to reach other people and touch their hearts.

Much more than a guidebook to writing and revising poems, this manual has all the comforts and merits of a long and enlightening conversation with a wise and patient old friend—a friend who is willing to share everything he’s learned about the art he’s spent a lifetime learning to execute so well.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 31 reviews)

Helpful, practical, and easy to follow

I've been through the book twice and know I will pick up even more on the third. The book is a very fast read with practical and easy to understand advice. He covers everything from rhyming and metaphors to just plain good writing advice - poetry and prose. His advice makes great use of modern poems so you can see what has been getting published in the last few years. He only touches passingly on specific forms such as sonnets, but gives several recommendations for folks that want to dig deeper into specific forms.

This book is for those of us that like poetry - but don't know much about it.
October 06, 2008

Poetry

I continue to enjoy this book and have found it useful even though I am a published poet and author.
September 21, 2008

The Poetry Home Repair Manual: Practical Advice for Beginning Poets

This book is the best I have seen for any beginning poet. Its simply a must have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 25, 2008

THE POETRY HOME REPAIR MANUAL

Ted Kooser has written a poetry manual for amateur and professional poets who are interested in improving their writing craft. His suggestions can be easily implemented. As a poet I've read many books on the writing craft but this one rates in my top three. There is more to writing poetry than to jot down the words the pretty Muse whispers in one's ear. For those serious about becoming better poets, this is the book for you.
July 01, 2008

Conversing with a Craftsman

This excellent no-nonsense book about writing poetry also manages to be inspirational. In clear and compassionate prose, Kooser addresses real issues that poets struggle with, such as the fine line that exists between gushing sentimentality and the resonant expression of real feelings, the subject of one of his 12 chapters.
Kooser provides wonderful examples to illustrate his points, giving us the pleasure of reading good poetry while we learn to write it. He also provides vivid images as metaphors for how writing works and how readers read, transforming glass bottomed boats and ham cubes into tools for crafting poetry.
Laced with humor, this book feels like a casual conversation that you want to return to again and again.

May 25, 2008

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