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Diminishing Returns
In his latest collection of poetry, Karl Koweski puts the fun back into disillusionment and adds charm to dissolution. Able to laugh at himself as he laughs at others, Diminishing Returns is layered with humor and Koweski s observations of a world quickly losing cohesion--and an appreciation for baseball s greatest .236 career hitter.
- GenresPoetry
40 pages, Pamphlet
First published September 6, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 3, 2008
Notes from reading this
"My Heroes Have Always Been Killers" -- a poem attacking video games decries
"it's a new hero
for every day."
Is literature any different? Do I want to experience the same story every day? Books were attacked as music was attacked as film was attacked as games are being attacked today. Is every video game art? Not by a long shot, but would you consider Tom Clancy to be art? I don't see it as a fair assessment if you don't know the medium. It is all seen as escapism in one way or another.
--Good post-Bukowski voice. Very "Small Press" from the 90's, but with a fresh maturity (?) that makes all the difference.
--Nice ode to an old car - wish I could write one for my old Tempo sold when we moved to NY.
--Liked voice when it was somewhere between metaphor and earthiness. To me, admitting an addiction to pornography is something that you need to *make* poetic. Maybe that is me being a "fuddy-duddy" or something along those lines, but some of the poems seemed empty due to the lack of sympathy or care for the narrator. (which is completely opposite of some, to be fair... "The cat's in the cradle and the kid's in the litterbox," and "a depressing engagement" are exceptional.)
Looking back on these notes, I sound like I am being exceptionally harsh, but I don't mean to be. I think there is a very strong voice here and I enjoyed the read. It just wasn't the right voice for me to elevate it above 3 stars.
"My Heroes Have Always Been Killers" -- a poem attacking video games decries
"it's a new hero
for every day."
Is literature any different? Do I want to experience the same story every day? Books were attacked as music was attacked as film was attacked as games are being attacked today. Is every video game art? Not by a long shot, but would you consider Tom Clancy to be art? I don't see it as a fair assessment if you don't know the medium. It is all seen as escapism in one way or another.
--Good post-Bukowski voice. Very "Small Press" from the 90's, but with a fresh maturity (?) that makes all the difference.
--Nice ode to an old car - wish I could write one for my old Tempo sold when we moved to NY.
--Liked voice when it was somewhere between metaphor and earthiness. To me, admitting an addiction to pornography is something that you need to *make* poetic. Maybe that is me being a "fuddy-duddy" or something along those lines, but some of the poems seemed empty due to the lack of sympathy or care for the narrator. (which is completely opposite of some, to be fair... "The cat's in the cradle and the kid's in the litterbox," and "a depressing engagement" are exceptional.)
Looking back on these notes, I sound like I am being exceptionally harsh, but I don't mean to be. I think there is a very strong voice here and I enjoyed the read. It just wasn't the right voice for me to elevate it above 3 stars.
March 11, 2012
Diminishing Returns is a collection of poetry that you’ll read many times. You’ll put in your backpack when you go camping or to the beach, carry it with you on the bus to read on long trips, and then it’ll probably find a home on the shelf in your bathroom – being read piecemeal over and again.
Diminishing Returns is another masterpiece by Sunnyoutside Press. Karl Koweski shines here at his very best!
Read my full review: http://wolfgang-carstens.suite101.com...
Diminishing Returns is another masterpiece by Sunnyoutside Press. Karl Koweski shines here at his very best!
Read my full review: http://wolfgang-carstens.suite101.com...
December 13, 2007
The greatest chapbook I have ever read. (Too much?)
Ok, this chap takes an honest look at life. Karl uses simple straight-forward language to take a look at complex subjects. He also has the ability mix in humor when least expected.
Ok, this chap takes an honest look at life. Karl uses simple straight-forward language to take a look at complex subjects. He also has the ability mix in humor when least expected.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews