Note: Makini Howell will talk about her journey and new book at Powell's City of Books on April 27 at 4 p.m. Grains, grains, grains. I have fallen...
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Seven friends made a pact to write haikus every day for a year as a way to keep in touch with each other. The result is The Haiku Year. Michael Stipes entries recall his twilight-drenched lyrics for R.E.M. Douglas Martins spare, elegant prose illuminates the hidden corners of life while Grant Lee Phillips thoughtful storytelling is pared down to the simplest language. Hinting at the transcendence and banality of everyday life, the short verses signify an appreciation for small moments of beauty and ultimately urge readers to let these realizations pierce through the numbness of their daily routines. Photographs are included.
Synopsis:
A year of haiku moments pares life down to the sparest of language, including contributions from Douglas Martin, Grant Lee Phillips, Tom Gilroy, Anna Grace, Rick Roth, Jim McKay, and others. Original.
stiperocks, August 22, 2006 (view all comments by stiperocks)
As an aspiring singer/songwriter and world's biggest R.E.M. fan it was an absolute delight to stumble across this gem. As someone who feels like a plexi-glass observer to the world 'Western' Haiku is such a succint way to capture the essence of a particular moment and in it's purity strip it back raw to only understand yourself better in that moment.
Words
A photograph of dots and dashes
The computer screen refreshes my cry
Seven friends made a pact to write haikus every day for a year as a way to keep in touch with each other. The result is The Haiku Year. Michael Stipes entries recall his twilight-drenched lyrics for R.E.M. Douglas Martins spare, elegant prose illuminates the hidden corners of life while Grant Lee Phillips thoughtful storytelling is pared down to the simplest language. Hinting at the transcendence and banality of everyday life, the short verses signify an appreciation for small moments of beauty and ultimately urge readers to let these realizations pierce through the numbness of their daily routines. Photographs are included.
"Synopsis"
by Gardners,
A year of haiku moments pares life down to the sparest of language, including contributions from Douglas Martin, Grant Lee Phillips, Tom Gilroy, Anna Grace, Rick Roth, Jim McKay, and others. Original.
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