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Perturbations
Evoking concern about disruptions to the desire for a comfortable, prosperous, untroubled life, Perturbations leads us through all its gloriously chaotic uncertainties. Check out Gary Beck's entire catalog at wintergoosepublishing.com
128 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2017
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About the author
Gary Beck
111 books35 followersGary Beck has spent most of his adult life as a theater director and worked as an art dealer when he couldn't earn a living in the theater. He has also been a tennis pro, a ditch digger and a salvage diver. His original plays and translations of Moliere, Aristophanes and Sophocles have been produced Off Broadway. His poetry, fiction and essays have appeared in hundreds of literary magazines and his published books include 28 poetry collections, 11 novels, 3 short story collections, 1 collection of essays and 2 books of plays. Published poetry books include: Dawn in Cities, Assault on Nature, Songs of a Clerk, Civilized Ways, Displays, Perceptions, Fault Lines, Tremors, Perturbations, Rude Awakenings, The Remission of Order, Contusions and Desperate Seeker (Winter Goose Publishing. Forthcoming: Learning Curve and Ignition Point). Earth Links, Too Harsh For Pastels, Severance, Redemption Value, Fractional Disorder and Disruptions (Cyberwit Publishing). His novels include Extreme Change (Winter Goose Publishing). and Wavelength (Cyberwit Publishing). His short story collections include: A Glimpse of Youth (Sweatshoppe Publications). Now I Accuse and other stories (Winter Goose Publishing) and Dogs Don’t Send Flowers and other stories (Wordcatcher Publishing). Collected Essays of Gary Beck (Cyberwit Publishing). The Big Match and other one act plays (Wordcatcher Publishing). Collected Plays of Gary Beck Volume 1 and Plays of Aristophanes translated, then directed by Gary Beck (Cyberwit Publishing). Gary lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 2, 2017
This review is only the opinion of one person. So, as always, do not let my star count override your judgement of content. More on the stars, counting, and my rating challenges later. Let’s get to the good stuff: Beck’s work.
Beck often does social commentary, and the opening poem, Pledge, is an interesting (and somewhat cynical) example. You will find this again in Punishment Camp. Beck has moved (imho) more strongly into communicating an experience, for example The Wonder of Birth, where we find this: “Children are stars /fallen from a dimness, /until the freedom thump....”
There are personal relationship experiences here, some of which are touchingly sad, as in Last Stop, where we find this: “Then you stood up with /your surprising thighs, /passed me like a woman strutting /before the passenger’s approving eyes /as I felt stripped naked,...”
Living in a mixed and perhaps unfriendly neighbourhood is captured in Remote Companions: “My neighbors’ faces are closed doors /and their forbidden apartments /leak sounds of mysterious events.” The poem goes on from there, believe me.
There is sex here, but it is not graphic while well done; for example in Construction Site we find this: “Shall I tell myself /my hands have never touched /the softness of your hips, /my mouth the aphrodisiac of your lips, /when they have learned to fit you?”
For another reflection on sex and love, turn to Past Yearnings, where Beck shows that he can rhyme very well when he chooses to do so.
Beck rhymes again in Lost Search, which is difficult to describe in a sentence. Buy the book and turn to this poem.
For a spin on voyeurism, turn to Peeper. Here Beck has close rhymes which seem natural, while conveying a personal experience.
I have reviewed Beck before. This is both like and unlike his earlier work. If you enjoyed Beck’s voice in earlier books, you’ll find that here too. But you will also find more ‘reach’ into your gut with conveyed experience. Some of these poems are complex; my notes include ‘reread this one’ at least a few times. Beck is worthy of your time and attention.
All that said, how do I come up with a star count? Here comes the boilerplate:
My personal guidelines, when doing any review, are as follows: five stars means, roughly equal to best in genre. Rarely given. Four stars means, extremely good. Three stars means, definitely recommendable. I am a tough reviewer. Beck is maybe at four point four nine stars here, and that’s only one opinion. Your personal rating may well be higher. Four stars from this curmudgeon is a strong recommendation. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Beck often does social commentary, and the opening poem, Pledge, is an interesting (and somewhat cynical) example. You will find this again in Punishment Camp. Beck has moved (imho) more strongly into communicating an experience, for example The Wonder of Birth, where we find this: “Children are stars /fallen from a dimness, /until the freedom thump....”
There are personal relationship experiences here, some of which are touchingly sad, as in Last Stop, where we find this: “Then you stood up with /your surprising thighs, /passed me like a woman strutting /before the passenger’s approving eyes /as I felt stripped naked,...”
Living in a mixed and perhaps unfriendly neighbourhood is captured in Remote Companions: “My neighbors’ faces are closed doors /and their forbidden apartments /leak sounds of mysterious events.” The poem goes on from there, believe me.
There is sex here, but it is not graphic while well done; for example in Construction Site we find this: “Shall I tell myself /my hands have never touched /the softness of your hips, /my mouth the aphrodisiac of your lips, /when they have learned to fit you?”
For another reflection on sex and love, turn to Past Yearnings, where Beck shows that he can rhyme very well when he chooses to do so.
Beck rhymes again in Lost Search, which is difficult to describe in a sentence. Buy the book and turn to this poem.
For a spin on voyeurism, turn to Peeper. Here Beck has close rhymes which seem natural, while conveying a personal experience.
I have reviewed Beck before. This is both like and unlike his earlier work. If you enjoyed Beck’s voice in earlier books, you’ll find that here too. But you will also find more ‘reach’ into your gut with conveyed experience. Some of these poems are complex; my notes include ‘reread this one’ at least a few times. Beck is worthy of your time and attention.
All that said, how do I come up with a star count? Here comes the boilerplate:
My personal guidelines, when doing any review, are as follows: five stars means, roughly equal to best in genre. Rarely given. Four stars means, extremely good. Three stars means, definitely recommendable. I am a tough reviewer. Beck is maybe at four point four nine stars here, and that’s only one opinion. Your personal rating may well be higher. Four stars from this curmudgeon is a strong recommendation. I really enjoyed reading this book.
December 4, 2017
Society and humanity team up.
By: Cathy Porter
While reading Gary Beck’s latest poetry collection, Perturbations, I’m drawn to comparisons to the latest release from Lizzy Goodman, “Meet Me In The Bathroom,” --covering the rebirth of rock in New York from 2001-2011, in the words of the musicians and players, big and small, who helped revitalize the scene during those crucial years in our history. What’s the connection? In both Mr. Beck’s recent collection and the Goodman book, I find an intriguing dynamic between the societal and the personal. In the Goodman book, the best sections are when various individuals discuss their emotions after 9/11 in the music community of New York. In Mr. Beck’s collection, the poems I find the most riveting are the ones where the author focuses on the personal, but always keeping in mind societal aspects of all of our lives. Reading the collection, I can see the skyline of Manhattan; imagine the characters as they maneuver through the grime of life.
The author moves in and out of life, love, and everyday chaos in a collection that feels more personal than previous works. In “Remote Companions,” the main character struggles with imagining others suffer as he does: “it’s hard to see our neighbors and friends/with the same torments.” I feel many of us, when going through various traumas, have a hard time realizing that we really are not that different from most people, and most of us DO suffer in life-just some more than others, but all eventually taking a turn. “Night Shift” takes a look at shift workers, and all who have worked “the odd hours.” As someone who used to work many “odd hours”, this poem has stayed with me, cemented in my brain. “Common Sparrow” is a definite highlight, and in my opinion, a wonderful love poem without coming off overtly sentimental or over the top: “I passed my hand/across the smoothness/of your freckled back”/. Beautiful. A nice break in a book that covers some familiar ground of society’s ills, and all the problems of living in a big city, dealing with love, loss and torment.
If you are familiar with Gary Beck’s work, I see no reason why this collection shouldn’t take your interest further. It is a bit different in terms of more poems dealing with the personal, but overall, it ties in nicely with his other releases. There is something here for everyone. A great collection that will hold your interest. Highly recommended.
By: Cathy Porter
While reading Gary Beck’s latest poetry collection, Perturbations, I’m drawn to comparisons to the latest release from Lizzy Goodman, “Meet Me In The Bathroom,” --covering the rebirth of rock in New York from 2001-2011, in the words of the musicians and players, big and small, who helped revitalize the scene during those crucial years in our history. What’s the connection? In both Mr. Beck’s recent collection and the Goodman book, I find an intriguing dynamic between the societal and the personal. In the Goodman book, the best sections are when various individuals discuss their emotions after 9/11 in the music community of New York. In Mr. Beck’s collection, the poems I find the most riveting are the ones where the author focuses on the personal, but always keeping in mind societal aspects of all of our lives. Reading the collection, I can see the skyline of Manhattan; imagine the characters as they maneuver through the grime of life.
The author moves in and out of life, love, and everyday chaos in a collection that feels more personal than previous works. In “Remote Companions,” the main character struggles with imagining others suffer as he does: “it’s hard to see our neighbors and friends/with the same torments.” I feel many of us, when going through various traumas, have a hard time realizing that we really are not that different from most people, and most of us DO suffer in life-just some more than others, but all eventually taking a turn. “Night Shift” takes a look at shift workers, and all who have worked “the odd hours.” As someone who used to work many “odd hours”, this poem has stayed with me, cemented in my brain. “Common Sparrow” is a definite highlight, and in my opinion, a wonderful love poem without coming off overtly sentimental or over the top: “I passed my hand/across the smoothness/of your freckled back”/. Beautiful. A nice break in a book that covers some familiar ground of society’s ills, and all the problems of living in a big city, dealing with love, loss and torment.
If you are familiar with Gary Beck’s work, I see no reason why this collection shouldn’t take your interest further. It is a bit different in terms of more poems dealing with the personal, but overall, it ties in nicely with his other releases. There is something here for everyone. A great collection that will hold your interest. Highly recommended.
November 5, 2017
-I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Perturbations, by Gary Beck, is a collection of poetry that details the beautiful, yet shattered portrait that makes up humanity.
The poems discern the seemingly trivial characteristics that life possesses. From an empty pledge of loyalty taken from an unknowing child, to a summer camp specifically designed for torture, Beck quietly illustrates the aspects of what makes us iridescently imperfect. With each poem comes the clear depiction of timeless values that each generation continues to pass down. The experiences we have, from love, to event nostalgia, are illustrated within the these pages that will leave readers astounded.
One of my favorite poems in this book was titled Common Sparrow, a poem about comforting a child, and watching them in a way a mother bird would watch over her tiny sparrow. When I read this, I couldn’t help but remember the times when my baby nephew would sleep in his cradle, or the night when my parents first brought him home from the hospital. He looked so tiny, and I couldn’t help but feel like everything in the world was out to get him. Still, whenever I read this poem, I thought of it as a sort of lullaby, one that reassured me that everything was going to be fine. Just like this poem, the words in this collection provide a gentle, soothing atmosphere that allows the reader time to reflect and ensure that they understood the meaning behind these poems.
Because of this, I would give this collection an overall rating of a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Beck draws from the bittersweet traits of life, if only to weave it into an embroidery of words readers will find enjoyable. I loved this book, and will recommend it to poetry lovers of all ages.
Perturbations, by Gary Beck, is a collection of poetry that details the beautiful, yet shattered portrait that makes up humanity.
The poems discern the seemingly trivial characteristics that life possesses. From an empty pledge of loyalty taken from an unknowing child, to a summer camp specifically designed for torture, Beck quietly illustrates the aspects of what makes us iridescently imperfect. With each poem comes the clear depiction of timeless values that each generation continues to pass down. The experiences we have, from love, to event nostalgia, are illustrated within the these pages that will leave readers astounded.
One of my favorite poems in this book was titled Common Sparrow, a poem about comforting a child, and watching them in a way a mother bird would watch over her tiny sparrow. When I read this, I couldn’t help but remember the times when my baby nephew would sleep in his cradle, or the night when my parents first brought him home from the hospital. He looked so tiny, and I couldn’t help but feel like everything in the world was out to get him. Still, whenever I read this poem, I thought of it as a sort of lullaby, one that reassured me that everything was going to be fine. Just like this poem, the words in this collection provide a gentle, soothing atmosphere that allows the reader time to reflect and ensure that they understood the meaning behind these poems.
Because of this, I would give this collection an overall rating of a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Beck draws from the bittersweet traits of life, if only to weave it into an embroidery of words readers will find enjoyable. I loved this book, and will recommend it to poetry lovers of all ages.
December 12, 2017
Perturbations is a magnificent collection of poems from Gary Beck. The poems are about many things we face in our lives. From birth to death, love and loss, and loneliness. We start with the Pledge of Allegiance and go from there.
Gary Beck has such a way with words that you feel part of every poem. I will be honest, I’m not really a poetry person so there were a couple poems that I had to go back and reread. To think about the whole picture, not just what you see when reading the poem but feel too.
Function speaks of “exuberant spring” and how “I sit on depression bed.” Sanctuary about an apartment where you “take refuge in a secret haven.” A Defeat hits home with “crippled, strength fled, wingless, unable to seek refuge.”
This is a great collection of touching poetry that I strongly recommend checking out. It would be the perfect addition to anyone’s shelves.
I received Perturbations from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Gary Beck has such a way with words that you feel part of every poem. I will be honest, I’m not really a poetry person so there were a couple poems that I had to go back and reread. To think about the whole picture, not just what you see when reading the poem but feel too.
Function speaks of “exuberant spring” and how “I sit on depression bed.” Sanctuary about an apartment where you “take refuge in a secret haven.” A Defeat hits home with “crippled, strength fled, wingless, unable to seek refuge.”
This is a great collection of touching poetry that I strongly recommend checking out. It would be the perfect addition to anyone’s shelves.
I received Perturbations from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews