Miserable Singers

by Victor Coleman

In the tradition of previous books like The Occasional Troubadour and MAL ARME, Miserable Singers (Book One) by Victor Coleman presents a series of “mesostic portraits” of those individuals whose voices have found their way into our hearts and into history. From June Allyson to Neil Young and 100 more people in between, these singers have been reframed forever for your reading pleasure.

Genres: Poetry

120 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2014

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite its genre, there is nothing poetic about Coleman's 'Miserable Singers'. While the acrostic poem initially provides a challenging format, the poems themselves are dry textbook appropriations. Ranging from scientific explanations to dated industry beliefs, the book reads like a long lecture on the etiquette of maintaining a healthy larynx. The Chuck Berry poem is particularly problematic in its shadowed reference of dated racial slurs. (Having met the publishers of this book, I feel perhaps I am missing some sort of intended appropriation of a previous text. In other words: I hope I am mistaken in my reading.) While some poems make an effort to reference the artist the acrostic is spelling out, the majority of the pages are filled with tedious, repetitive diatribes ensuring the reader uses tepid tea -- not piping hot -- to relax the throat for their upcoming recital. While many of the artist mentioned -- Ella Fitzgerald, Florence Henderson, Frank Sinatra, etc. -- had their share of personal challenges and daemons, it would be reading these "poems" that would make them truly miserable. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes for nothing more than the death of poetry as we know it, or is seeking an emotionless, redundant and ultimately wasted couple of hours by the fire.