Wrestling Li Po for the Remote by Kevin Stein


Wrestling Li Po for the Remote
Title : Wrestling Li Po for the Remote
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0984651055
ISBN-10 : 9780984651054
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 112
Publication : First published March 1, 2013

In this fresh poetry collection, Kevin Stein tussles with the current American moment’s skewed notions of social and aesthetic value. His gallery of subjects is bracingly contemporary, including Gold Star Mothers who’ve lost a child to war, nightshift factory workers, estranged veterans, guitarist Les Paul, one couple’s yard sale romance, a dog’s Valentine poem, and even riffs on toilet paper, Herodotus, congressional discord, and league bowlers. To each, Stein brings both empathy and an astute eye for cultural foibles. He maps his poetic province from this welter, grappling with Li Po’s quest for lyrical detachment as well as the counter urge for communal engagement. These poems—formally inventive and refreshingly accessible, at turns darkly humorous and trippingly caustic—pull no punches. They pose fundamental questions of self and art in the modern era.

Wrestling Li Po for the Remote Reviews

  • Michael Brockley

    Kevin Stein's WRESTLING LI PO FOR THE REMOTE is a contemplative collection of poetry which blends the language of academia and contemporary culture to cast a lyrical narrative on coming of age in the heartland, race in America and ageless philosophy. The poems are tightly constructed creatively crafted musings which seem more charged as the reader professes through the collection. "Keeping Score," "Is Beautiful," "Cat Church Communion" and "Sputnik Summer" are among the highlights.

  • Kyla

    This is a lovely, complex collection and the latest by the current Illinois Poet Laureate. Stein's background as a professor of English Literature and Creative Writing are evident throughout, as the collection features lots of wordplay that is ripe for discussion and dissection. Topics range from the very personal to the broad and philosophical. Stein's personality shines through as a pervading blend of wry and tongue-in-cheek commentary.

  • Mckinley

    A lot of word play and word speculation. Poetry is definitely about the 'word'. The first poem "Field Guide" goofs on that and what sort of poem a poem is based on the language. I liked it. Some of the rest I didn't like as much but that's typical of a collection of poems for me.

  • Kevin Kizer

    Review along with author interview coming soon.