Typewriter Rodeo: Real People, Real Stories, Custom Poems

by Jodi Egerton, David Fruchter, Sean Petrie

What began as a playful idea among friends has made its way around the world, inspiring laughter, high-fives, hugs, and tears from New England to Brazil. Typewriter Rodeo celebrates poetry, spontaneity, and above all, the power of human connection.

Both a visual feast and a reference book in the style of Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York , Typewriter Rodeo collects custom, typewritten poems from “rodeos” worldwide, portraits of recipients, and their personal stories. Typewriter Rodeo began in Austin, Texas, when four poets brought their typewriters to a maker fair and began offering spontaneous, custom-composed poems to an enthusiastic crowd. The event quickly blossomed and rodeos began popping up all over the world.
 

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

Published April 3, 2018

Reviews

[Sarah Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read for any Texan! I loved how this book shows how creativity and spontaneity joins together to create these typewriter rodeo poems! I also enjoyed the background/poet’s notes about each poem. I would love to go and get a poem from these creative writers sometime!

I think this would be a great resource for teaching writing to children- (of course with preparation- making sure not to show the ones with curse words.)

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like everything about Typewriter Rodeo. I find the concept of writing free, custom poems on the spot based on a theme provided by the requester quite fun and unique. I like that the poems are written on old typewriters and any mistakes must be incorporated into the final product. I appreciate the background story of how 4 friends brought the concept to reality, and have since travelled the country writing poems, and I really enjoy the finished product.

Very visually appealing, this is a book that you can read straight through (as I did), or pick up and open it at any point. For each of the poems, we are given the background of the requester (with pictures of some); that too adds to the uniqueness and relatability of the effort.

I thought perhaps the poems might be trite, or weak, given that they are written on the spot with the poet not really knowing the requester, but I was very wrong on that!! These poems are insightful, beautiful, and, according to the requesters, surprisingly on the spot.

I highly recommend taking the time to read this book. My only negative comment is that I read an e-ARC of this book, and some of the pictures of the poems were very light and hard to read no matter how I adjusted my screen. Don't let that stand in your way though, that happened in only a small percentage of the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for allowing me the privilege of reading and reviewing this book in exchange for an honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Jellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

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I was lucky enough to receive this book via a Shelf Awareness giveaway and I am under no obligation to review it, however, I must!

I’ve never been one to read poetry, I mean, Rupi Kuar’s collections were the first ones I’ve purchased since Poe in high school! As much as I hate to admit it … it’s been a while. So while I was happy to win a book, it wasn’t a book I typically would have picked up.

Typewriter Rodeo initially started out as a playful idea by four poets and their typewriters in order to have a booth at Austin’s first Maker Faire (2013) in Texas. The premise was for them to create free and personalized poems on the spot in 5-10 minutes.

At first glance, it seemed like a great coffee table book until you kept reading and bam! Typewriter Rodeo becomes so much more with each poem you read. It makes it so much more incredible that these writers come up with poems ranging in topics from love, “anything”, to baby goats wearing sweaters. The poems are beautiful, heartfelt, silly, thoughtful, funny, and any other emotion you can think of. I know I personally had to hold back a few tears while reading (I devoured half the book during my lunch break at work, otherwise, the tears would have been free-flowing).

Typewriter Rodeo establishes themselves as the poetry version of “Humans of New York” with content that will leave you wanting your own personalized poem.

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review can be found on RoamingReader.net

[Janelle Bogart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a darling, darling book. I’ve never been a huge fan of poetry. The reason partially stems from the fact that I was forced to read cannon poets in my undergrad such as John Donne and Ben Johnson, both of whom made very little sense to me. Poetry has seemed frivolous, yet confusing to me with all the strange rules it can or cannot follow. I’ve always felt that poets have this inside joke between themselves that I could never quite grasp.
“Typewriter Rodeo” changed that mindset completely. The concept is genius: 4 creative friends get together at events and write poems on their typewriters for strangers who in turn provide the topic for their poem. What ensues in this compilation made me laugh out loud, cry uncontrollably and pause in deep thought. What a treasure this collection is! The poems perfectly encapsulate the emotions that stem from the topics they’re built off of and provide a modern twist to an art form I previously considered dull and boring.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry written on typewriters--what could be more perfect than that? Typewriter Rodeo is a look at a group of four poets that take their trusty tools on the road and write free poems for people on the spot.

I remember hearing about this group a few months ago and sharing an article because I thought it was a great concept. Now that their journey is put together it a book, it's a fun look at what they can do, how they can impact lives, and how much fun poetry can be (even when people don't think they like poetry). Along with great content, this book also has a great look to it--the layout makes you feel like you are digging around on the top of a writer's desk. This would make a great coffee table book for anyone that appreciates poetry and great human interest stories.

*Book provided by NetGalley

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a free ARC in exchange for a review. This is a fun book to browse through. I can see taking a few of the different ideas and using them in my Creative Writing classroom. I like the way the authors talk about how they challenged themselves not to cross out mistakes but, instead, to use the start of a mistake to take them somewhere else. So, for example, they want to write "thought" but accidentally type "tr." They decide to write "trust" instead and see where that unexpected change takes the poem. I also like the idea of writing poems inspired by those around them. I want to go to a wedding where they are!

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typewriter Rodeo

Real People, Real Stories, Custom Poems (part 1 of 2)

by Jodi Egerton; David Fruchter; Sean Petrie; Kari Anne Holt

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Poetry

Pub Date 03 Apr 2018

I am reviewing a copy of Typewriter Rodeo through Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley:

Something that begun as a fun idea amongst friends has grown into something much bigger. It has inspired laughter and high-fives, hugs and tears from New England to Brazil.

This book is part reference book, part visual feast, done in the Style of Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York!

I give The Typewriter Rodeo Volume 1 of 2 five out of five stars!

Happy Reading

[Manuel Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is why I love visiting book stores, used book stores and libraries - you never know what your going to find or discover. "Typewriter Rodeo" is an idea developed among friends to creative typewritten poems for free, on the fly, at literary and social events. The is a collage collection of many of those poems with photographs and narratives of some of the subjects and recipients of their efforts. Love the idea, loved the outcomes, loved the spontaneity and seemingly magical connections created in the process. A real and beautiful expression of the power found in human connection. Made me want to go out and buy an old typewriter..

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard Sean Petrie read one of these poems aloud and it gave me goosebumps, so I knew I would adore this book. I just wasn't prepared for how much I adored it. It is SO FULL of SO MUCH GOOD STUFF, I am at a loss for words. I should commission a Typewriter Rodeo poem about how their collection of poems, plus some of the stories behind them, lit my heart up like a hot-air balloon full of immortal lightning bugs.

The way these little word-gems about love and strength and hurt and an octopus on the moon come into creation and sail out into the world...it gives me hope. It doesn't matter the tiniest bit if you think you like poetry or not - this book will make you smile.

[Michelle Willms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was simply amazed at the concept of people sitting down at an event with typewriters and creating poems on demand for hours (or days) at time. This book describes how a few brave souls attend events (such as ComicCons) and do just that. It also provides some examples of poems created at a few of the events.

I devoured this book in a couple of hours and will definitely be reading it again. It was a fascinating read and I'd highly recommend it.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free of charge. My review is given freely.

The Typewriter Rodeo is a fun ride through the world of improv poetry. There is nothing particularly earth-shattering about the poems, but the writers appear to have a special intuition when it comes to whipping up on the spot an arrangement of words that will have meaning for the receiver.

[Ally Weng · Rating 5 out of 5]

First encounter probably would be “hire type writer” in London Southbank, and then I found this book at Indigo Edmonton and then, understood it’s originally from Austin, Texas.
Some of the short poems and stories did make me shed a tears or two, I was so touched in “love chapter” ...
highly recommended!!

[Madison Reiling-Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wonderful part about such a book is the genuine taste of humanity. From tears, to laughter, to sorrow, to joy, this compilation of works from the Typewriter Rodeo crew is unparalleled. We consider it an honor to be featured in such a beautiful collection.

[Alene · Rating 5 out of 5]

What started out as a playful idea turned into a travelling gig around the globe. This book highlights some of the stories and poems created by four poets, who write free poems on the spot on any topic. Some great stuff in this book. I'm blown away by their talent, creativity, and dedication.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The idea of an on the spot poem is pretty magical. Reading about that moment of connection between strangers, the inspiration, as well as all those cool, imperfect poems... even better.

[James Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beutiful poems about real people. I love the one on page 66.

[Brenden Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a couple of typewriter poetry books before, but none were what I wanted. This book is the exactly what I wanted, and it’s inspired me to dust off my own typewriter!

[L.B. Sedlacek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read! Such talented poets writing very creative poems. If you’re a poet, this is a must read - you’ll learn quite a bit about how to write spontaneously and differently and it’s worth it!

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want a lego typewriter

[Dina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad I stumbled across this gem on Netgalley. This is inspiring me to get back into writing poems and makes me want to go out and buy a typewriter. I would love to attend an event some day.

[Sanah]

Poetry is so personal, it's difficult to like all forms of it. I didn't love all the poems here, but I did like some of them. I think for poetry lovers it's good to read whatever is out there and get a sense of what the audience is reading, but personally, I wouldn't go out of my way to pick up this particular set of poems.

[Wheeler · Rating 2 out of 5]

The use of photos instead of typography for the poems starts as cute and quickly becomes hard to read. It also makes the book feel unprofessional.
The author and subject notes feel unnecessary in many instances.

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typewriter Rodeo is a celebration of the creative process. It is a unique combination of images, prose, and poetry, showing the reader the process of arriving at works. I recommend it as a collection that is quite unlike many others.