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Temporary Obscurity
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 5, 2015
I won a copy of this book from Goodreads' First Reads.
Being a chapbook, this is a rather quick read.
I've already read through it twice and am starting my third go.
(Reading each poem a few times, each go.)
Keep throwing that shit on the pages.
e e cummings would be proud.
Being a chapbook, this is a rather quick read.
I've already read through it twice and am starting my third go.
(Reading each poem a few times, each go.)
Keep throwing that shit on the pages.
e e cummings would be proud.
March 26, 2016
Incredibly sad but still quite brilliant, this collection of poems just makes you feel a lump in your throat.
August 26, 2015
To preface this review: I am coming from a reader's position, but I am also a writer of many styles, mostly prose, but a little poetry. I mention this because I know how challenging it is to not just write, but write WELL. The reason I love (and I say love with all its sentimental, corny implications because I really mean it) the work of Diehl and Joseph is because I know the painstaking work that goes into writing in a way which is touching, honest, and bare. I have found these qualities, magnified, in Temporary Obscurity.
Joseph even masterfully describes this process in "#26 For the Boy from Cody Wyoming" when he says, memorably, "Some days I spit out a diamond. Most days I choke on coal dust." He uses a phrase which calls on working class roots..."If one throws enough shit at the wall SOME OF IT is bound to stick." It's this ethos of humble, understated brilliance that I've found throughout the text. Both authors seem to be trying without really trying. Writers know you write, revise, write, revise, but to still emerge with enough blood on the page, without sanitizing experience, still connecting with readers...that's talent.
The authors, both from New Jersey, present a poetry-of-place that I have never quite found in any other author. The way Diehl presents the gritty realism of a state overcome by a plague of heroin addiction and alcoholism with biting brevity:"While driving underneath the train trestle, don't look at the graffiti:RIP DANNY, WE LOVE YA, KID" (from "On Getting Gas Before Heading Out of Town") is incredible to me.
The juxtaposition of two perspectives: one man, Diehl, in his 20s, the other, Joseph, older, more rugged, weathered by New Jersey's nuanced issues, is something to consider. Diehl seems to express a dulled longing for "more." From the first poem in the collection,"Anthill Realism," Diehl, with a cynical finesse, shows the working class imagination, the deadened intensity of life that comes with the territory. "Today is not special," he says. And don't working class people know what that feels like? Perhaps this is why I am scrolling through the reviews, noticing people who've said they've read this text more than once. But that's not the only reason.
There is something beautiful about writers who can illuminate a dystopia in a way that does not bring about horror, but (what I can only describe as) deep wistfulness. Not anger, not an all-seeing, all-knowing wisdom, just honesty. Or, to add a little Jersey sass: Deep Fucking Honesty.
In "Turnpike Terror," Joseph makes even a car accident on the Jersey turnpike seem like a philosopher's holiday. "In the asphalt sea, the sharks and me, strange multi-colored fish we are. All of us weak to the shriek of sirens."
I don't want to include too many "spoilers" (although I found it important to use specific examples, so I am sorry if I've already gone too far for your tastes), but if you are looking for a "sleeper" genius poet who reminds of a Jack Kerouac or Allen Ginsberg type, you should read this text. I've been a fan of B. Diehl for a few years now and I follow his work. He is from my hometown. Being able to read a text by someone from your city and think "HELL YES" is, I think, a testament to how good the writing is...how true it rings.
Great art right here. Great work, both authors.
Joseph even masterfully describes this process in "#26 For the Boy from Cody Wyoming" when he says, memorably, "Some days I spit out a diamond. Most days I choke on coal dust." He uses a phrase which calls on working class roots..."If one throws enough shit at the wall SOME OF IT is bound to stick." It's this ethos of humble, understated brilliance that I've found throughout the text. Both authors seem to be trying without really trying. Writers know you write, revise, write, revise, but to still emerge with enough blood on the page, without sanitizing experience, still connecting with readers...that's talent.
The authors, both from New Jersey, present a poetry-of-place that I have never quite found in any other author. The way Diehl presents the gritty realism of a state overcome by a plague of heroin addiction and alcoholism with biting brevity:"While driving underneath the train trestle, don't look at the graffiti:RIP DANNY, WE LOVE YA, KID" (from "On Getting Gas Before Heading Out of Town") is incredible to me.
The juxtaposition of two perspectives: one man, Diehl, in his 20s, the other, Joseph, older, more rugged, weathered by New Jersey's nuanced issues, is something to consider. Diehl seems to express a dulled longing for "more." From the first poem in the collection,"Anthill Realism," Diehl, with a cynical finesse, shows the working class imagination, the deadened intensity of life that comes with the territory. "Today is not special," he says. And don't working class people know what that feels like? Perhaps this is why I am scrolling through the reviews, noticing people who've said they've read this text more than once. But that's not the only reason.
There is something beautiful about writers who can illuminate a dystopia in a way that does not bring about horror, but (what I can only describe as) deep wistfulness. Not anger, not an all-seeing, all-knowing wisdom, just honesty. Or, to add a little Jersey sass: Deep Fucking Honesty.
In "Turnpike Terror," Joseph makes even a car accident on the Jersey turnpike seem like a philosopher's holiday. "In the asphalt sea, the sharks and me, strange multi-colored fish we are. All of us weak to the shriek of sirens."
I don't want to include too many "spoilers" (although I found it important to use specific examples, so I am sorry if I've already gone too far for your tastes), but if you are looking for a "sleeper" genius poet who reminds of a Jack Kerouac or Allen Ginsberg type, you should read this text. I've been a fan of B. Diehl for a few years now and I follow his work. He is from my hometown. Being able to read a text by someone from your city and think "HELL YES" is, I think, a testament to how good the writing is...how true it rings.
Great art right here. Great work, both authors.
September 5, 2015
Upon finishing the nineteen pages of "Temporary Obscurity" I found myself wanting more. At my advanced age (fifty nine) most of the specific sorts of situations mentioned are decades behind me, but the general issues of loss and loneliness follow one through life, despite the changes of body and environment the passing years both gift and inflict. In short: This book "spoke" to me. And this speaking,I'm happy to say, was accomplished with precise, balanced, artful English. The authors realize that--as Francis Xavier Enderby observes to a group of hostile and stoned creative writing students in Anthony Burgess's "A Clockwork Testament"--that poetry is not made of emotions but of WORDS.
But I'll conclude with a passage from the book itself:
Today is not special.
Around 2:00, John will stop over
and find me again on the bathroom floor,
lost over some girl who won't answer my texts.
"Grow up," he'll say.
"Never!" I'll answer. . . . ("Anthill Realism")
The poet here asserts his refusal to grow up, and most of us, though our ages and situations differ, stubbornly refuse to grow up as well. Highly recommended.
But I'll conclude with a passage from the book itself:
Today is not special.
Around 2:00, John will stop over
and find me again on the bathroom floor,
lost over some girl who won't answer my texts.
"Grow up," he'll say.
"Never!" I'll answer. . . . ("Anthill Realism")
The poet here asserts his refusal to grow up, and most of us, though our ages and situations differ, stubbornly refuse to grow up as well. Highly recommended.
July 18, 2015
Trying to think of something clever to post to describe my feelings after reading "Temporary Obscurity" but can't fInd the words to express the brilliance of the writers composition... Except 2 words "pure and honest"
July 11, 2015
So I received a copy of Temporary Obscurity by B. Diehl and Charles Joseph. It was fairly easy to order online, and only $5. Temporary Obscurity is a pretty short chapbook of poetry blending works from both authors. The table of contents should help the reader distinguish who wrote what poem. Honestly, I didn't even think of who wrote what when reading it. I noticed style changes and such, but it wasn't as important as the experience the combination was giving. The chapbook makes you lose yourself for a bit. You're thrown into their world, and it's not half bad.
I've never heard of Charles Joseph, though he is now a poet that I intend on following. B. Diehl I've only known through twitter and a few of his posts on facebook, though I'm not sure I've ever read anything of his. They're both stellar poets and the book really does speak for itself.
You're only with them for a short time, but fuck that's one awesome time. The title is like a warning sign in a way. You're not sure what you're getting yourself into. You're given a small, saddle-stitched booklet (which is a damn good print job, kudos to the printer) and forced to make the decision to a gamble. Enter the unknown and see what it does to you or play it safe and leave it on the coffee table for guests to see. You won't be disappointed if you enter though.
B. Diehl and Charles Joseph are promising poets. I'm interested in seeing what they have planned for the future, whether it's another collaboration or a seperate collections. Either way, the next project is something I'm sure we'll be thrilled to see. You can check them out at the information below. Buy a book too, it's only $5 and one hell of a read!
http://www.mynameisb.co
http://www.charlesjosephlit.com
I've never heard of Charles Joseph, though he is now a poet that I intend on following. B. Diehl I've only known through twitter and a few of his posts on facebook, though I'm not sure I've ever read anything of his. They're both stellar poets and the book really does speak for itself.
You're only with them for a short time, but fuck that's one awesome time. The title is like a warning sign in a way. You're not sure what you're getting yourself into. You're given a small, saddle-stitched booklet (which is a damn good print job, kudos to the printer) and forced to make the decision to a gamble. Enter the unknown and see what it does to you or play it safe and leave it on the coffee table for guests to see. You won't be disappointed if you enter though.
B. Diehl and Charles Joseph are promising poets. I'm interested in seeing what they have planned for the future, whether it's another collaboration or a seperate collections. Either way, the next project is something I'm sure we'll be thrilled to see. You can check them out at the information below. Buy a book too, it's only $5 and one hell of a read!
http://www.mynameisb.co
http://www.charlesjosephlit.com
September 3, 2015
I so enjoyed this book of poetry: writings of everyday life, channeling eecummings, and stream of consciousness musings. "Turnpike Terror" makes us all "strange multi-colored fish" and the police Great Whites. "Two Strangers Looking at Books" evokes that feeling that just maybe this person is someone I can connect with. The sentiment well-expressed as "strange miracles came to mind." The hyperbole in "Dollar Dreams and High Expectations" makes the possibility of hitting the lottery outrageously delicious. Such tender thoughts are exposed in "Stoner Girlfriend"; the reality we've all tasted in "'Whiskey Epiphany". The whole book is such cool, good stuff. I want more! (I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway.)
August 31, 2015
(Four & 1/2 stars) There is something so familiar and relatable reading poetry from someone from your hometown. The poems in Temporary Obscurity are the thoughts that drive us crazy in the middle of the night. They're the things we think about on long car rides. They're the things we talk to people about when the sky is dark and the rain is loud. B uses personal exchanges to display a major point about our generations. We're looking for something better, something bigger. We want to make the world a better place. Joseph takes a bigger role in Temporary Obscurity, in the way of "#26 For the Boy from Cody Wyoming". The poem reflects on the same them Diehl uses. "Some days I spit out a diamond. Most days I choke on coal dust." My favorite poem of the chapbook has to be "Whitman" for it's last four lines. "Don't call me a gentleman; call me a Whitman. When I speak of myself, I am really speaking of you."
August 5, 2016
4 1/2 stars. This is a wonderful book. It has a great effortless flow.
"Hang my heart in your basement
like a punching bag:
a gift to your pissed off fists."
...writes B. Diehl.
Two great poets come together in this little gem. A must read.
"Hang my heart in your basement
like a punching bag:
a gift to your pissed off fists."
...writes B. Diehl.
Two great poets come together in this little gem. A must read.
August 26, 2015
so good.
October 3, 2015
Full disclosure: I won a free copy of this book from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
I was a little bit thrown off by the formatting of this book -- the poems alternated between the two authors, and the only way to find out who wrote each was by looking at the table of contents. In fact, they were actually listed in the table of contents in such a way that it seemed like I would be reading all of Diehl's poems and then all of Joseph's. I had to go back halfway through and look at the page numbers in the table of contents to realize how it was actually laid out. The two authors' styles were different enough that I kind of wish I had read them one at a time regardless of the order they were featured in the book.
I really enjoyed this little book, though. The writing was fresh and honest. Diehl's poems were very funny and striking in their specificity. Joseph's were raw but very playful in terms of form - one of his that particularly stood out to me was "Grave-robbing e.e. cummings," a sly parody of cummings's writing style.
Both writers have distinctive writing styles and clearly have great writing careers ahead of them. I definitely look forward to reading more from both of them in the future.
I was a little bit thrown off by the formatting of this book -- the poems alternated between the two authors, and the only way to find out who wrote each was by looking at the table of contents. In fact, they were actually listed in the table of contents in such a way that it seemed like I would be reading all of Diehl's poems and then all of Joseph's. I had to go back halfway through and look at the page numbers in the table of contents to realize how it was actually laid out. The two authors' styles were different enough that I kind of wish I had read them one at a time regardless of the order they were featured in the book.
I really enjoyed this little book, though. The writing was fresh and honest. Diehl's poems were very funny and striking in their specificity. Joseph's were raw but very playful in terms of form - one of his that particularly stood out to me was "Grave-robbing e.e. cummings," a sly parody of cummings's writing style.
Both writers have distinctive writing styles and clearly have great writing careers ahead of them. I definitely look forward to reading more from both of them in the future.
August 17, 2016
I try to avoid poetry, really I do, I think I read to much of it in High School and now it is just too boring for me. But this one was a nice relatively fast paced albeit small read. I enjoyed the overall feel of it and it gave me a somewhat introspective aftertaste after finishing it. It was time well spent!
November 20, 2015
I was intrigued by it. I enjoyed it immensely once I got started.
November 15, 2015
I have read this about 5 times, at times I did not understand some of the writings. Over all I did enjoy this book , I will continue to read it for more understanding.
May 12, 2016
I won a free copy of Temporary Obscurity through Goodread's First Reads Giveaway! Hopefully I'll be able to read and write a full review of it soon.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews