BOOKS WITH WINE & VICE VERSA

One of the most worn native cliches is 'Every Romanian is born a poet.' It could be a noble declaration, if it weren't so pathetic. Being a poet is bad enough, being born one is hopeless.
--from Andrei Codrescu's introduction to Born in Utopia

I wonder if much attention is being paid to Born in Utopia: An Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Romanian Poetry, edited by Carmen Firan and Paul Doru Mugur with Edward Foster (Talisman House, 2006). To quote Midwest Book Review which put it on its Bookwatch last month, it's "an omnibus assembly of poetry by dozens of Romanian authors. All poems are sublimely translated into English; some are from the years of the tyrannical regime of Nicolae Ceausescu, others are during the cultural proliferation that followed. A one-of-a-kind treasury of Romanian pride and literary art."

The poems are fabulous. And it is presented with an educational as well as witty essay By Andrei Codrescu. I hope to present a review of it in the next (May) issue of Galatea Resurrects, but I recommend you check it out. It's not just filled with poem-gems; it's historic and a lovely way to learn about Romanian poetry.

Meanwhile, here's latest list of recently-relished w/h/ines:

BOOKS:
SKIRT FULL OF BLACK, poems by Sun Yung Shin

BROKEN WORLD, poems by Joseph Lease

IN NO ONE'S LAND, poems by Paige Ackerson-Kiely

THE ANIMAL HUSBAND, poems by Christine Hamm

NIGHT SEASON, poems by Mark Lamoreaux

SUPER 8, poems by Richard Lopez

SELECTED POEMS by Fanny Howe

SOS POETRY by Mairead Byrne

AT THE EDGE OF THE BODY, poems by Erica Jong

a(A)gust, poems by Akilah Oliver w/ collages by Brenda Iijima

THE LATE ROMANCES, poems by Eric Pankey

BORN IN UTOPIA: AN ANTHOLOGY OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ROMANIAN POETRY, Ed. by Carmen Firan and Paul Doru Mugur with Edward Foster

JOYFUL NOISE: AN ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN SPIRITUAL POETRY, edited by Robert Strong

MEM 4, anthology zine edited by Jill Stengel

I CELEBRATE MYSELF: THE SOMEWHAT PRIVATE LIFE OF ALLEN GINSBERG, biography by Bill Morgan

REMINISCENCES OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE, memoir by Ellen McGowan Biddle

A YEAR IN SAIGON: HOW I GAVE UP MY GLITZY JOB IN TELEVISION TO HAVE THE TIME OF MY LIFE TEACHING AMERASIAN KIDS IN VIETNAM, memoir by Katie Kelly

PACK OF TWO: THE INTRICATE BOND BETWEEN PEOPLE AND DOGS, investigative journalism/memoir by Caroline Knapp

UNFORGETTABLE MUTTS: PURE OF HEART NOT OF BREED, profiles by Karen Derrico

THE SECRET LIFE OF COWBOYS, memoir by Tom Groneberg

CHINESE TAKEOUT, novel by Arthur Nersesian

JAMES, THE CONNOISSEUR CAT, novel by Harriet Hahn

JAMES, THE FABULOUS FELINE,FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE CONNOISSEUR CAT, novel by Harriet Hahn

GOING POSTAL, novel by Terry Pratchett

CROSSING VINES, novel by Rigoberto Gonzalez

WINES:
1997 R.B.J. "Theologicum"
1968 Castillo Ygay Reserva Rioja
1989 Barbaresco Asili
1993 St. Hallett Old Block shiraz
1993 St. Francis Old Vines Sonoma Valley zinfandel
1989 Ch. Cantemerle
1994 Von Strasser cabernet NV
2004 Latour pinot noir
2004 Dutch Henry chardonnay
2004 Caymus cabernet