Shock by Shock

by Dean Young

"Dean Young challenges the reader to hang on as he jigs from one poetic style to another and sets a wondrous course across a Duchampian landscape."— Chicago Tribune "In Young's work, the big essential questions—mortality, identity, the meaning of life—aren't simply food for thought; they're grounds for entertainment."— The Sunday Star (Toronto) Dean Young escorts his transplanted heart into invigorating poetic territory that combines the joy of being alive with his signature mixture of surrealism, humor, and fast-cut imagery. A Pulitzer finalist known for his hard-won insights, NPR said it best when they observed that Young sees "even in the smallest things the heights of what we can be." From "Harvest": Bring me the high heart of a trapezist.
If not, bring me the heart of a drunk monk
so I may illuminate an ancient text
in a language I can't understand.
The brain too is blood, blood racing
100 miles an hour on training wheels
so let me splash through a red puddle,
let me kiss the face of a red puddle,
let me write my crazed, extreme demands
on the frost-cracked window of god's split
chest… Dean Young is the author of twelve books of poetry, including finalists for the Pulitzer Prize and Griffin Award. He teaches at the University of Texas and lives in Austin.

Genres: Poetry

120 pages, Hardcover

First published September 8, 2015

About the author

Dean Young is the author of many collections of poetry, including Shock by Shock, Bender: New and Selected Poems, and Elegy on a Toy Piano, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He teaches at the University of Texas, Austin.

Reviews

[Jeffrey (Akiva) Savett · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Textual improvisation as proof of life." That's how Tony Hoagland described Dean Young's poetry in his excellent book real sofistikashun. I can hardly think of a more apt way to describe Young's poetics. If you're you're unfamiliar with his work, he's considered a second generation New York School poet. That means there's some intensely wonderful surrealism and humor which abounds in all of his work.

I wondered whether I was going to be disappointed by yet another one of my favorite poet's newest works. Young is an inspiration to me (and many) as a fellow poet and I was so nervous to be let down. But Shock by Shock is incredible. There is nothing "new" here in terms of stylistic evolution; this is a Dean Young book through and through. But that's a blessing to be treasured.

It's funny to say there's nothing new here, because, of course, everything Young writes is so INCREDIBLY new. There are word combinations and phrases and images which bend and soar. For me, the most wonderful thing about Young's surrealism is that it's informed by a kind of sweetness and depth, like his predecessor Kenneth Koch's. I'm not sure I'd buy in if this was purely the poetic equivalent of a urinal in an art museum. Of course, that's Dada and Duchamp and Young jokes that no one cares about the differences between surrealism and dada anymore anyway. In any case, Young's imagination is set aflame by a tremendous subject to explore: his new heart. Young has a heart transplant last year, and it provides him with a sea of imagery and anxiety, jokes and thankfulness. Each poem is an experience designed to wake you up. And you'll fall in love with Young, shock by shock, for reopening your imagination, that part of your mind told to stay in grade school so long ago.

[Peycho Kanev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exit Strategies

Second to last day of November
2014, a year I can almost admit
to surviving. In an airport
in North Carolina, Laurie looks up
from her phone and says, Sad news.
No one is allowed to live forever
so that part isn’t a surprise.
The whole flight back I try to block out
the kid screaming behind me
even though he is me.
The stewardess tries her toy-plane
trick followed by the beverage cart.
I wish I was an ancient Chinese poet
so drunk even the moon seems sober.
I wish my mind was a flower.
Carry me oh carry me home.

[Matt Morris]

Another of my faves still living, Young's become more reflective if not pensive, perhaps given his health issues--he received a heart transplant, if I'm not mistaken--while never losing his reckless bent toward the bizarre & surreal. In short, good stuff!

For more reviews, visit The Greater Encyclopedia of Universal Knowledge https://miscmss.blogspot.com/2022/08/...

[Ethan Ksiazek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t help but read Dean Young’s work in a thespian slam-poetry inner voice that makes the audience want to punch me. A few highlights, especially at the beginning. Love how his poems depict him ‘waking up’ into the conscious observations of daily life. The jokey parts seem pretty old school to me, but it’s DY, so I nod.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shock By Shock has to be one of the most interesting books of poetry that I’ve ever read. Ever.
Ever?
Ever (period.)

It struck a cord—it tickled my fancy—made me laugh—I could relate, and even if I couldn’t find common ground, I still was fascinated by the music of the words. I was inspired. Magical. I haven’t read enough poetry books cover to cover to really consider myself an “expert” reader of poetry (I usually dip in read one poem, set it aside, read another poem on another day, set it aside…I can't read poetry like a novel, it doesn't work)—but I read this book cover to cover forwards—then started over from the end and read back to the beginning, often lingering over the same two page spread for a few days. THEN I read all of the dog-eared pages again. And again.

Did I like it (SNORT!) Of course, I loved it! (If I didn’t, I wouldn’t bother telling you about it.)

Just for reference, my Most Favorite poems (not necessarily in order): Crash-Test Dummies of an Imperfect God and Heavy Lifting, and Success Story, and Why I Haven’t “Outgrown Surrealism” No Matter What That Moron Reviewer Wrote, and Another Lethal Party Favor, and Oracle, and The Usual, and How to Draw a Circle, and the very long Bender, and Gizzard Song, and If You Can’t Levitate, You’d Better Know How to Disappear, and To the Critics, and wait, I also liked Not Trying to Win No Prize…well, screw, there wasn’t a clunker in the lot! You know, it’s like one of those records that is perfect, not a bad, boring song on it? Like Led Zepplin IV or Nevermind…damn, another long list, I’ll stop, I think you get it…I hope.

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typically brilliant Dean, but if anything, and inconceivably, he's gotten even better.

[Sarah Kulig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect and my heart is so full and also breaking at the same time. Completely delightful and also searing and such a relief to read something so absurd yet so very real.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Dean Young. I bought this because Tony Hoagland mentions him several times. But I prefer Hoagland. This isn't a reflection on Young. I'm not much of a fan of surrealism. But I'll read anything.

Young creates some truly amazing images within these pages! As for entire poems, however, I only liked four out of almost 60.

Again, that's me. My preferences. If you are a fan of surrealism and haven't discovered Young, you may be in for a treat.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting, and even then, I took pleasure in rereading a few. Certainly, there are lovely moments here, as well as moments that made me laugh out loud. Still not my favorite Dean Young book, but a very good one.

[Benjamin Niespodziany · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book you read by Dean Young will be the favorite book you read by Dean Young. Such was the case for me and Shock by Shock. What a book.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. He's like a cross between Charles Simic & Tony Hoagland.

[Kimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOW TO FALL IN LOVE WITH DEAN YOUNG IN ONE BOOK

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up on this one about half way through. More a reflection on me than on the poet. If you like the New York School and surrealism, give this a chance.