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Chronic Observer
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 30, 2020
Chronic Observer does exactly what it says on the tin: it's an observation, a report of the little things which make the human condition. The whole reads like a thread, a puzzle of people, nature and else, sketched along like a painting coming to life. Both in free verse and in rhymes, Doug Stuber build worlds, not only in his poems but, also, as fragments within some poems too.
My only reservation would be the political tone, creeping in at times. There is no cynicism but hope, and, as far as I am concerned, justified anger (although I am certainly not one to be nostalgic about the hippie generation!). Thing is, I tend to be warry of poems turned into Manifesto, as I find it difficult to appreciate a text when it's lost in politics -they usually read either like a rant or a preach, and both put me off (unlike the punchy 'Genocide, Slavery, Greed' or the incisive 'Down By The River', 'Corporate Suckered Us' sadly falls into that trap). It's not all political, though. 'To Be Human', the cheeky 'Bob', the musing of 'We don't', the sad 'The Mangrove Blues' are among personal favourites; and if you are asking yourself like he does:
'Just what are we supposed to
Accomplish
In this leftover culture?
Apathy soup or
Mindless decadence? Meatloaf or gold?'
I think bearing witness is a good place to start, and this collection is a nice point of view.
My only reservation would be the political tone, creeping in at times. There is no cynicism but hope, and, as far as I am concerned, justified anger (although I am certainly not one to be nostalgic about the hippie generation!). Thing is, I tend to be warry of poems turned into Manifesto, as I find it difficult to appreciate a text when it's lost in politics -they usually read either like a rant or a preach, and both put me off (unlike the punchy 'Genocide, Slavery, Greed' or the incisive 'Down By The River', 'Corporate Suckered Us' sadly falls into that trap). It's not all political, though. 'To Be Human', the cheeky 'Bob', the musing of 'We don't', the sad 'The Mangrove Blues' are among personal favourites; and if you are asking yourself like he does:
'Just what are we supposed to
Accomplish
In this leftover culture?
Apathy soup or
Mindless decadence? Meatloaf or gold?'
I think bearing witness is a good place to start, and this collection is a nice point of view.
August 21, 2023
Some Writer's Just Pull-up Your Soul!!!
Chronic Observer is that essential piece of literature within your library that should be read every year.
Doug Stuber was magnificent!
The poetry, the description, the written verse was captivating.
Whether birds, snow, insects, or humans Stuber was one with nature.
He observed it with laser focus and flawless precision.
His writing was the same way.
These poems give the reader so much joy.
There are so many poems and many more reasons to spend time with Stuber.
I revisit this compilation once each year. Stuber is stately
as he observes life and tells us from his vantage point what he notices and why we need to be part of what he's taking in too.
5-Star read and highly recommended!!!!
Chronic Observer is that essential piece of literature within your library that should be read every year.
Doug Stuber was magnificent!
The poetry, the description, the written verse was captivating.
Whether birds, snow, insects, or humans Stuber was one with nature.
He observed it with laser focus and flawless precision.
His writing was the same way.
These poems give the reader so much joy.
There are so many poems and many more reasons to spend time with Stuber.
I revisit this compilation once each year. Stuber is stately
as he observes life and tells us from his vantage point what he notices and why we need to be part of what he's taking in too.
5-Star read and highly recommended!!!!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews