A Year of Reading Aloud: 52 poems to learn and love

by Georgina Rodgers

'In a world in which we tend to look to what's new, to cutting-edge science and to medical breakthroughs for hope in better health, there's something marvellous in the realisation that one of the most beautiful and longest-lasting cures has been here all along - on the internet, on our bookshelves, under our noses. Words - down the centuries, over the ether, across the miles - have power to steady us, to make us feel better.' the ObserverThe ancient tradition of learning and reciting poetry is renowned for its wellbeing benefits - from strengthening the mind and boosting creativity to improving memory. The practice is as valuable as ever in our busy modern day lives, allowing us to focus on the rhythm of the present moment, slow down and switch off.A Year of Reading Aloud celebrates the power of spoken word with a poem to learn and love for each week of the year. Drawing both on familiar favourites and new voices, from Sylvia Plath and Maya Angelou to Instapoets Nikita Gill and Yrsa Daley-Ward - this is a book that will capture your imagination through verse and help you fall back in love with this beautiful art form. Includes a foreword by Rachel Kelly, bestselling author of 52 Small Steps to Happiness and Black Rainbow.

Genres: Poetry

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2018

Reviews

[Brooke Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry is really creative and such an amazing way to express yourself and serious topics. Out of 52 poems I found 15 of my favourite poems. My all time favourite is "'Hope' is the thing with feathers" by Emily Dickinson. I don't know why but this poem is absolutely stunning and gives me hope like the poem suggests, it's an extended metaphor, likening the concept of hope to a small bird, who is perched on the soul of each of us and that even through the most difficult times, hope can sustain us.
8/10.

[Maik Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me more than 52 weeks, but I am overwhelmed of this rich treasure of carefully selected poems which I enjoyed memorising, reading, contemplating and than re-reading again and again. These poems helped me to take time out from a busy life. I recommend this anthology to everybody who likes to get an overview about poems written by women and men over various centuries and who likes to learn them by heart.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentle, uplifting anthology that introduced me to some real gems. I love poetry anthologies because they always lead me to new poets or new poems by poets I already know, and this collection did exactly that.

The standout for me was “Pleasant Sounds” by John Clare, a quiet, mindful celebration of the small natural sounds we often overlook. Lines like “The fall of an acorn on the ground, the pattering of nuts on the hazel branches as they fall from ripeness” stayed with me, and it’s the poem I kept returning to. I also really liked “Leisure” by W. H. Davies, and the sentiments of these two poems echo each other beautifully—both gentle reminders to slow down and notice the world around us.

I also enjoyed discovering “Thinking” by Walter D. Wintle, with its timeless encouragement about mindset and self belief. I couldn’t keep the library copy for a full year, but I still added these three poems to my personal anthology, which says a lot about the strength of this collection.

Thoughtfully curated and very accessible, it’s a lovely choice for anyone wanting to read more poetry or build a gentle weekly ritual of reading aloud.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serving up a variety of poems, I found it an enjoyable introduction to other poets whom I was not familiar with alongside my faves.

Good for those who want to have a start at reading poems and find the style they enjoy.

[Suzanne Ashworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

a book to dip into again and again

[Sophie Ann Gigli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it really helped me to become more interested in poetry and to learn abit about some of the different authors 📖💜

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little collection! Although, I wish old poems didn't use the word "breast" as often as they do...

[María Eugenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

La idea me pareció muy buena: un poema para memorizar cada semana del año... pero al final lo que hice es ir leyéndolos a ratos sin memorizar y sin dedicar una semana a cada poema. 😅
Había algún poema que me dejó bastante indiferente, pero en general me gustó mucho la selección, tanto hombres como mujeres desde el s. XVI a la época actual. También me gusta que cada poema venga con una breve introducción sobre el autor o el poema en sí. Ya dejé varios poemas marcados para siguientes relecturas o para investigar más en profundidad autores que no conozco.