In a recent article I found for this week's poetry news, poet Katy Lederer provides an indispensable book-list of books on poetry:
- Language of Inquiry by Lyn Hejinian (for a philosoph
ical dismantling of poetic language and practice) - Attack of the Difficult Poems by Charles Bernstein (for a philosophical dismantling of poetic language and practice that's funny)
- Ordinary Genius by Kim Addonizio (for writing exercises)
- Real Sofistikashun by Tony Hoagland (for a survey of mainstream American poetry)
- Beautiful and Pointless by David Orr (for a survey of mainstream American poetry that's funny)
- Poetry Home Repair Manual by Ted Kooser (for analytical exercises with personal narrative)
That should be a good syllabus for winter's reading.
Thanks for the great list I hope you can consider reading this list of books about poetry too.
-100 Notes on Violence by Julie Carr
-The Last Four Things by Kate Greenstreet
-The Mystery of the Hidden Driveway by Jennifer L. Knox
Good books about poetry to prepare you for more challenging poetry writing this coming school semester.