Two Worlds Exist

by Yehoshua November

Finalist for the 2016 National Jewish Book Award in Poetry

Yehoshua November's second poetry collection, ''Two Worlds Exist,'' movingly examines the harmonies and dissonances involved in practicing an ancient religious tradition in contemporary America. November's beautiful and profound meditations on work and family life, and the intersections of the sacred and the secular, invite the reader--regardless of background--to imaginatively inhabit a life of religious devotion in the midst of our society's commotion.

Genres: Poetry, Jewish

76 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2016

Reviews

[Bogi Takács]

Review possibly later! I just wanted to put a content note that a lot of these poems involve 'disability parenting' and focus on the negatives. I did not expect that going in at all, so I figured you might also want to know.

Source of the book: Spouseperson bought it

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book of poetry. Even though the author and I have radically different idea on theology, he makes his ideas understandable in beautifully written poems.

[Charlie · Rating 1 out of 5]

November's wife has brown hair. They met in college. She has brown hair. They have four children. And by the way, they met in college. He met her, the brown-haired mother of his children, in college, that is.

This collection is worse than his previous one: he is unlearning how to write poetry. At least in God's Optimism there were some poems that stuck out -- e.g. "Tennis" -- but in this there are none. Its poems are overly focused on the quotidian and too repetitive in theme. I am genuinely surprised this book won awards and has a high rating. It is mediocre at best.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slim but beautiful volume of poetry, Two Worlds Exist, is wonderfully evocative. I was fascinated about how much November conveys about his life, beliefs, and family in such concise form, as well, and it's nice to read poetry which embraces my own culture.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

God! Incredible!

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully moving poems that tell the story of a marriage, a man, and the complexity of living. These poems are infused with faith and tradition yet still deeply rooted in the universal. This is what poetry should be. Accessible yet profound.

[Erika Dreifus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Editing to add link to my post about this book on the My Machberet blog: http://wp.me/p4x0h8-bFq.