SIPPING BOOKS

Today, I read the steam sequence by Carly Sachs (Washington Writers Publishing House, Washington D.C., 2006). Couldn't put it down. One of the most haunting poetry collections I've experienced. So powerful. Deft. And, it just became the first poetry collection I plan to review for the next issue of Galatea Resurrects.

I rarely have any books I pinpoint ahead of time for reviewing. I basically try to read as many poetry books as I can and the ones I end up reviewing are those which really compelled me to pick up the pen -- or tap on the keyboard -- to write about them.

This doesn't mean I review all the poetry books I want to review. Sometimes, I just run out of time. For the past two issues of Galatea Resurrects, for example, I had drafted but didn't have time to finish reviews on Logan Ryan Smith's 2 POEMS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL, Guillermo Parra's VENEPOETICS, Sam Taylor's BODY OF THE WORLD, Noah Eli Gordon's IN BOX, and one or two others. (Unfortunately, when I don't finish a review within the initial phase of enthusiasm for reviewing it, I sometimes can't pick up the review to finish later.) I suppose it's worth mentioning my list, not just to name some pretty fabulous poetry collections, but also to note -- Galatea Resurrects has review copies of two of the titles: Logan Ryan Smith's chap and Noah Eli Gordon's book. So if you wish to review some titles worth reviewing (and many others; I just updated again today the list of review copies), let Moi know. We even have a review copy of Carly Sachs' the steam sequences. Review copy list HERE.

Meanwhile, here's the latest list of enjoyed books and wines:

BOOKS:
the steam sequence, poems by Carly Sachs

TANGO, poems by Halvard Johnson

ATLAS, poems by Katrina Vandenberg

BIRDS AND FANCIES, poems by Elizabeth Treadwell

ELEPHANT HOUSE, poems by Claudia Carlson

SOUVENIRS, poems by Bronwen Tate

OPEN BOX, poems by Carla Harryman

THE SPOKEN WORD REVOLUTION REMIX, Edited by Mark Eleveld (Sourcebooks, Naperville, IL, 2007)

IMPOUNDED: DOROTHEA LANGE AND THE CENSORED IMAGE OF JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT, Edited by Linda Gordon & Gary Y. Okihiro

LETTERS FROM THE COUNTRY, essay collection by Carol Bly

THE MAN FROM STONE CREEK, novel by Linda Lael Miller


WINES:
1989 Remelluri Gran Reserva Rioja
1991 Mondavi Reserve Cabernet
2003 Dutch Henry chardonnay
1990 Domaine Leroy Vosgne Romanee Les Genieveries
1988 Ch. d'YQuem
1961 Mouton Rothschild
2004 Luce Abbey Vineyards
1998 Chris Ringland shiraz
1989 CNP Rayas
1996 Pingus
1994 Harlan
1994 Nackenheimer Rothenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese

During Memorial Day Weekend, had a guest (a member of the secret organization, Oenophiles For Poetry) for the weekend. We visited Castello di Amoroso because we were curious about the castle built by Darryl Sattui. To get in, we had to be tortured by their wine tasting. This is, of course, the kind of thing where Napa Valley doesn't shine, even as it attracts: a Disneyland type infrastructure that attracts tourists and curiosity-seekers (like Moi), but combined with mediocre liquids in the bottles. The castle, complete with moat-in-progress (won't that just attract mosquitoes?) undoubtedly will serve as a successful attraction as, while not serving great wines, neither are offensive either. We tasted their

2005 Chardonnay
2005 Pinot Bianco
2005 Pinot Grigio
2005 Gewurtztraminer Mendocino
2005 Gewurtztraminer "Dolcino"
2004 "Il Brigante" Red Blend
2004 Sangiovese
2003 Merlot
2003 Cabernet
2006 "La Fantasia"
2005 "Il Raggio del Sole" Muscat

Interestingly, the Il Raggio del Sole which, by their own description, is just "fermented grape juice" was the best offering in terms of product manifesting intention. In this case, the intention was for a low-alcohol juice that could be served over ice cream or other types of dessert. The "Il Brigante" also is a decent lightweight red, good for summer picnics...

Yadda.