Lemuria Bookstore Blog

In Search of Small Gods by Jim Harrison Cooper Canyon (2009) *     *     * For the last fifty days or so, I’ve been reading Jim’s new poetry book as slowly as I can. I finished last week but I still feel unable to express my thoughts about this beautiful collection of poems. Small Gods is [...]

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The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain Translated by Red Pine Copper Canyon Press (2000) About five years ago during some troubles, a friend visited while he was reading The Collected Songs. Before he left, he gave me his copy with the inscription: “For John, who could use this book.” And I have: reading, rereading and [...]

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Where the World Does Not Follow: Buddhist China in Picture and Poem Translated by Mike O’Connor / Photography by Steven R. Johnson Wisdom Publications: Boston (2002) *     *     * O’Connor’s translation of ancient poems, alongside Johnson’s breathtaking photography, bring these ancient words to the present. Zen and Taoist poetry coupled with timeless images make for [...]

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Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets.  Her poetry seems simple at first read–using unadorned language she paints pictures of the natural world without much pomp or frivolity–but her poems have a way of getting under the skin, leaving the reader with a feeling of reconnection to a world that, in this age of [...]

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John’s friend Tim wrote a great post about one of his (and John’s) favorite poetry books, Mountain Home. Check out Tim’s blog, We Reckon, you will not be disappointed…

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The Zen Poetry of Ryokan translated by John Stevens “Who says my poems are poems? my poems are not poems. After you know my poems are not poems, Then we can begin to discuss poetry!” Ryokan has said. Recently, being provoked by conversation with Yvonne, our childrens expert and a poetry fan, I decided to [...]

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The Poetry of Zen Translated and edited by Sam Hammill and J. P. Seaton Shambala Library (2004)   This nice little book is an excellent introduction to the Zen poets.  It is divided into two parts:             1) Chinese poems             2) Japanese poems. Both are well represented and give the reader an understanding of [...]

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The Selected Poems By Li Po (701-762) Translated by David Hinton New Directions (1996) About 4 years ago, I read this collection and last month I decided to reread Li Po, one of my favorite Chinese poets. Li Po was called the “Banished Immortal,” an exiled spirit moving through this world with an unearthly ease [...]

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On the Writers Almanac Garrison Keillor has, over the last few weeks, included two selections from The Truro Bear And Other Adventures in his daily newsletter and radio program. I have savored the selections—-ten new poems, thirty-five of Mary Oliver’s classic poems, and two essays all about mammals, insects, and reptiles. It is a virtual [...]

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The Blizzard Voices: Poems Ted Kooser University of Nebraska Press: 2006   Last weekend, I flew to Boston to surprise my bookselling pal, Tim (an ex-Lemurian) for his 40th birthday. Tim founded Newtonville Books* and recently sold his fine bookstore to Mary. Mary is carrying on Tim’s tradition with a First Editions Club and weekly [...]

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