The poems confront environmental degradation with a mix of philosophical depth and emotional resonance. The reviewer notes a shift in Solie's style, finding it both compelling and occasionally challenging.
Rachel Hadas delves into the themes of environmental degradation and personal reflection in this collection. She finds that Solie's poems are deeply philosophical and emotionally resonant, tackling issues like abandoned malls and soil contamination with a mix of honesty and erudition. Hadas appreciates the poetic craft but also notes a shift in Solie's style, which she finds both compelling and occasionally challenging. The collection is seen as a significant contribution to contemporary poetry, offering a profound exploration of the intersection between nature and human activity.
Quick quotes
The poems in Karen Solie's new book, Wellwater, face despoliation unflinchingly: abandoned malls, chemicals in the soil.
The nervy musing we learned to expect from a Solie poem has started to get in its own way.
Wellwater demonstrates a poet writing at the height of her powers. In poems that are supple, philosophical, bracingly honest and ribbed with erudition.