Poems To Fall In Love With

Poems to...

by Chris Riddell (Editor)

In Poems to Fall in Love With Chris Riddell has selected and illustrated his very favourite classic and modern poems about love.

This gorgeously illustrated collection, Chris's follow-up to one of the Bookseller's best poetry books of the last twenty-five years, Poems to Live Your Life By, celebrates love in all its guises, from silent admiration, passion and married bliss to tearful resignation. These poems speak of the universal experiences of the heart and are brought to life with Chris's exquisite, intricate artwork.

This perfect gift features famous poems, old and new, and a few surprises. Classic verses sit alongside the modern to create the ultimate collection. Includes poems from Neil Gaiman, Nikita Gill, Carol Ann Duffy, E. E. Cummings, Shakespeare, Leonard Cohen, Derek Walcott, Hollie McNish, Kate Tempest, John Betjeman and Roger McGough and many more.

Genres: Poetry, Romance, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Art, Middle Grade, Classics

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2019

About the author

Chris Riddell was born in Cape Town, South Africa, where his father was an Anglican priest and a member of the ANC. The family moved to England in 1963, when Riddell was one year old, and he spent his childhood in a number of different locations, as his father moved between parishes. Both of Riddell's parents continued to be active in the anti-apartheid movement.

Chris Riddell is an internationally acclaimed writer and illustrator whose many awards include the Nestlé Gold Award and two Kate Greenaway Medals—the most prestigious prize for illustration in the UK. He is the creator of more than one hundred books for all ages, including the immensely popular series the Edge Chronicles and his latest chapter book series, starring the irrepressible Ottoline Brown, which School Library Journal called "exceptional." Chris lives in Brighton, England, with his wife and three children where he invents his amazing characters in a very tidy shed in his yard.

Reviews

[Emilie Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unsurprisingly, I loved this; the art was gorgeous, and the selected poems were beautiful.

I read this as part of my poetry-reading journey, and of course, I trust Chris Riddell's judgment completely, and he did not disappoint. He has this ability to accompany the words with illustrations perfectly and if they spawned from the words. Reading and seeing the poetry through his eyes is such a delight.

It is rare that I find it this difficult to mention which poems I enjoyed the most, but I simply enjoyed all of them immensely.

If you are even the tiniest bit interested in poetry, this is the book you need to read. Chris Riddell's art makes it a completely different experience without taking anything away from the words but perfectly translating their emotional depth.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I follow Chris Riddell on Twitter and thus see a number of his doodles and illustrations and always contemplated what it might be like to have him frame poems - and then, one day, he actually published a poetry collection with his illustrations!

This is the second poetry collection he curated and illustrated and it's love-themed. Perfect for V-day.

The book is divided into 5 chapters:
1) Love and Friendship
2) Beginnings
3) Valentine
4) Let's Stick Together
5) My Life Closed Twice

Not every poem was for me, but that is often the case with collections. However, I was pleasently surprised at the number of old poems because I'm more of a classics kinda girl. Modern poetry often falls flat for me. But Keats? Dickinson? Sappho? Shakespeare? Christina Rossetti? Hell yes. I even enjoyed the more modern ones like Sylvia Plath or Neil Gaiman. Since this was love-themed, there were also pieces by Lord Byron and Percy Shelley in here (I'm not too big a fan of those two, but some pieces really aren't bad).

The highlight, though, was that this book contains my very favourite love-themed poem, Funeral Blues by W.H. Auden!
Though the hitherto-unknown one by Christina Rossetti (Remember) and Neil Gaiman's Dark Sonnet were also fantastic. Heartbreaking but definitely gorgeous.

Surprisingly, one piece - a very good one, actually - in here is by Chris Riddell himself.

This following picture shows my favourite illustration from the book (the poem itself is one of those I didn't enjoy too much):

And this one is one of my favourite lines from all of Shakespeare's plays (and that is saying something since I'm such a Shakespeare fan):


And here is the gorgeous interpretation for Neil Gaiman's Dark Sonnet:







(The illustrations in the book were slightly different.)

So while this wasn't the best collection of poems, I had a very good time and very much enjoyed the art complimenting the words.

I'm glad I got all three collections Chris Riddell has made and I'm very much looking forward to reading the other two as well. For now, though: happy V-day. :)

[Iva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and magical book to come back to very often! :) Longer review: https://sisterdelightbookcaffe.blogsp...

[Kt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! My mum got me this for Christmas because I've always had an interest in poetry but never really knew where to start and this was the perfect place to start!! There's such a range of poets in here, I marked my favourite ones with post it notes and will look into those poets work! I really loved this because their were old poetry and also modern poetry so like I said this is a fantastic place to start if you're wanting to explore poetry!!

[Ecem Yücel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Chris Riddell's illustrations, so, when I saw he selected a number of poems and illustrated them, had to get my hands on that book. I really liked the illustrations and the poems were all beautiful. On a side note, it was also great to read three poems by Neil Gaiman, "Dark Sonnet" being my favorite among them.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourites are:

A lost Language
Love after Love
The Orange
Funeral Blues

[n · Rating 5 out of 5]

favourites: phoebe bridgers (duh), the orange (duh), the hera lindsay bird, postcards from a hedgehog!!!

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things I really like about these anthologies is how varied the poem selections are! I don't actually read all that much poetry in general, but I love seeing which poets/songwriters I particularly enjoy reading from, for example Wendy Cope and Nick Cave. Riddell's artwork is a bonus and his own poem was beautiful - on grief after his brother's passing, I believe (if I remember correctly from one of Riddell's live drawing talks).

Full RTC!

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned:
“I don’t believe in an interventionist god...” Nick Cave

Of course this book has two meanings - such a comfort and emotion filled range. A perfect wedding book gift for a modern couple. Never heard the beautiful librarians poem before - strangely timed considering being surrounded by interviews at work!

Second unexpected Cave listen within one sitting (with one of the most pure set of love lyrics possible)... surely a sign for my next book read purchased several months ago?!?
Juliet Stevenson an unexpected radio 4 narration crush! Definitely buying a print copy as a gift of love to myself - I’m already imagining the hardback version in my hands

[➸ Gwen de Sade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the selection, my favourite authors were among them.
Also, it contains my favourite love poem of all time, from Shakespeare:

“Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.”

[David Ellcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection of poems, lyrics and thoughts, accompanied by some amazing drawings. I could, personally, have happily seen the two Edward Lear poems replaced with some other, more substantial pieces, but it’s not my collection, so...

[kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

merci joy de paris <3

[Charvi J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The selection of poems could have been much better, the Gaiman poems were an absolute miss. But as always, Riddell delivers the most beautiful artwork!

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love you. im glad i exist.

[Ain Ashura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful.

Some of my favourites:
64 Squares by Rachel Rooney
Mad Girls Love Song by Sylvia Plath
Wedding Thoughts: All I Know About Love by Neil Gaiman
Dark Sonnet by Neil Gaiman
Love After Love by Derek Walcott (one of my all time fave poems and I was pleasantly surprised to see it included in this collection)
The Taste of a Biscuit by AF Harrold
Funeral Blues by WH Auden
Tomorrow When You Will Not Wake by Jan Dean

[Katja · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many lovely poems in this and I like Riddell's style (I adore his illustrations for Neil Gaiman's Sleeper and the Spindle short story, for example) but as a whole this left somewhat "eh" feeling. Not bad but not as fantastic as I expected it to be. Still, it would make a nice gift for somebody who wants to get into poetry because the styles are varied and all of the poems are quite short.

[Evelyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some well known and some lesser known poems accompanied by beautiful illustrations, a keep sake 💕

[Zellian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I did, a collection of poems was what I have been keeping an eye out on for awhile now but as some may know - collections of poems can be a hit or miss.

Of the poems in the books I felt like between a quarter and a third of the poems I liked, the others I couldn't connect to in any way. There are some classics like Emily Bronte, William Shakespeare and Sappho but I feel like since I didn't know a lot about some of the writers I didn't care for much of the book.

There are definitely some great poems in here though! Neil Gaiman is always a hit I feel, Postcards From a Hedgehog by A.F Harrold was a fun read. Hollie McNish wrote Like Otters which made me feel all warm and fuzzy where as Chris Riddell's I Can't Remember What We Talked about gave me the opposite. The illustrations that are throughout the book are amazing, the whole book inside out is wonderful on the eye. The illustrations match very well to the poems, keep you interested in that sense but aren't over-powering to the few lines that are on the page where they become a distraction.

There is newer day poets, classics and some surprises mixed in here which is great if you're really trying to find a great mix in poetry but I just felt like it wasn't for me, someone who hardly jumps into this genre.

[Sintija Ūzuliņa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, childish, heartbreaking, hopeful, simple, devastating, romantic, extraordinary etc., etc.
A collection of poems where everyone will find something to their liking.

I think that the poems themselves can best describe what the book is about:

Dear Mum,
Lovely weather today.
Just saw a really pretty girl.
Not sure how to approach her.
She makes me really shy
but just all warm inside.
I rolled up into a ball.
Wish you were here,
love Simon.
/A.F. Harrold/
___________
Oh lift me from the grass!
I die! I faint! I fail!
Let thy love in kisses rain
On my lips and eyelids pale.
My cheek is cold and white, alas!
My heart beats loud and fast;-
Oh! Press it to thine own again,
Where it will break at last.
/Percy B. Shelly/
___________
My heart has made its mind up
And I'm afraid it's you.
/Wendy Cope/
___________
This is everything I have to tell you about love: nothing
This is everything I have learned about marriage: nothing
/N. Gaiman/
___________
I really don't know what I love you means.
I think it means don't leave me here alone.
/N. Gaiman/

[Carolien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have my youngest daughter to thank for this selection. An interesting collection of poetry ranging from Sappho to Neil Gaiman and beautifully illustrated in his inimitable style by Chris Riddell. I enjoyed the selection and read a few every day.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks again @liz for giving me this Christmas gift last year! I really enjoyed reading poems out of the collection whenever I felt like it. I fell in love with the illustrations even more so than with the poetry itself. I was a bit disappointed by the ending segment being so dark and gloomy though (but tbh i just decided not to read it)

[Morvling Bookink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I did, I don't know why but the art didn't seem detailed enough, and the whole thing felt a bit rushed, and some of the poems I thought were bad.

I really like the concept of this though - artist chooses poems and illustrates them. I'm usually a huuuuuge fan of Chris Riddell himself too.

[Ceri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was over the moon to discover this book. I equally love the illustrations and the poems... just stunning. I really like how it includes all my favourite classic poems but introduces me to some fab new ones too!

[rather_b_reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid poetry collection. I already knew 2/3 of the poems, but it was nice to be introduced to some new ones. As with any collection, I liked some poems more than others, but a great introduction to easily enjoyable poetry.

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a random collection of poems and short stories. Some I loved, some felt awfully out of place, like a can of Pepsi spilled into an old bottle of wine.

[steph!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a lovely book!! Happy to say I stuck Post-it willy-nilly across the pages of poems that I really liked and by the time I was done at least a quarter of the post-its were used💗💗

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Illustrations and some really good poetry.

[Chiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a lovely collection of poems and such perfect illustrations to go with them!

[Valeria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations once again and some beautiful poems as well. I greatly enjoy reading these before bed.

[Saša Varjohukka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!
A very special gift from a very special friend! Thank you! For everything!