Not Many Love Poems

by Linda Chase

Transatlantic poems of love, loss, and celebration, this compilation features the work of an American poet based in the United Kingdom: Linda Chase. Inspired by paintings, gardening, memory, and love itself, this poetry reflects the author’s demotic style and underscores her voice: gentle, sharp, wry, honest, and curious. Written with wit and poignancy, it also presents some of Chase’s most harrowing and healing work, which resulted from her personal battle with cancer.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love discovering new poets, and am rather conflicted as to whether I would read any more of Linda Chase's work in future following my experience with Not Many Love Poems. Quite a lot of the poems collected here were not my style at all, but those about cancer and death were incredibly touching. It is rather a mixed bag, and whilst it did not feel like a cohesive collection to me, there is something here to intrigue every reader.

[Chris Wardhaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a spontaneous buy from a local bookshop. I was unaware of Linda Chase and the accessibility of her work grabbed me one lunch hour.
That is part of the problem - after the initial reassuring familiarity of the images and (some of the) subject matter that's pretty much it. There's little apparent depth, many of the poems are well crafted but can only be read one way.
This collection could be read happily in one enjoyable sitting, but few of the images will endure.