Equivocal

by Julie Carr

Julie Carr’s second collection explores the elements of chance and mystery that determine human identity and relationships. In delving into the human fascination with the self’s story and the boundaries between the self and others (including family), these poems pose often unanswerable questions, but the reader delights in the wit and artistry used to explore them.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2007

Reviews

[Powells.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Carr's poetry is never gimmicky or flamboyant, nor is it pedantic or generically philosophical. While her poems engage the topics of nature and domesticity, she does not come to neatly profound conclusions about nature scenes or mundane acts of domesticity. She writes of childhood, womanhood, and motherhood sincerely, but never nostalgically. Her lyrical style expresses the complex and often frustrating experience of being human: of constantly thinking, feeling, being, and changing but always, somehow, retaining the same consciousness in the same body. Equivocal is a softly devastating book.
Recommended by Alexis, Powells.com

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

These poems are at once unsure and definite, authoritative. It's as if what the speaker finally says, after thinking, is said with confidence; yet, at the same time, the poems (and the speaker) are revising themselves as you read them.

An excellent exploration of the balance between thinking / being "intellectual" and feeling...and the space (time) in between.

[Shappi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I may just not be in the mood for this book at the moment. Objectively, I can appreciate why people like this kind of poetry. However, I'm just really sick of lines like:
"Gerund: from 'gerundus' or 'gerere'--/ to bear, or carry on." um, yeah, now tell me why I care.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the font.

[Nancy]

I learned how delicate an ode can be.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually, I'm re-reading it right now. One of my favorites in the past year or so.