Plainwater

by Anne Carson
Plainwater cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Essays / Essay Collections
Technical:
  • ID: 745
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-09-19
  • ISBN: 9781101911273
  • Publisher: Vintage
  • Published: 2015-03-18
  • Reviews: 3

Anne Carson's 'Plainwater' is a collection that showcases her extraordinary imagination and linguistic prowess. The book features a mix of poetry and prose that stretches the boundaries of literary form, blending classical and modern traditions in a way that is both succinct and astonishingly beautiful. Carson's work includes imaginative pieces such as a present-day interview with a seventh-century BC poet, miniature lectures on diverse topics like orchids and Ovid, and a pilgrimage in pursuit of the anthropology of water. /n/nThe writings in 'Plainwater' dazzle with their invention and enlighten with their erudition. Carson's unique style combines the rhythm and vivid metaphor of poetry with the discursive nature of the essay, creating a collection that is both intellectually stimulating and aesthetically pleasing. Her exploration of various themes and her ability to juxtapose different traditions make this book a standout in contemporary literature.

Reviews
Ark Books · 2018-08-28
dazzling 4.20

The collection is seen as a microcosmic model of the author's work, working by aggregation. The writing is described as dazzling in its intellectual range and emotionally wise.

The reviewer from Ark Books sees Plainwater as a microcosmic model of the author's broader body of work, highlighting how individual pieces aggregate to create a cohesive whole. They are particularly impressed by the intellectual range of the writing, which dazzles the reader. The emotional wisdom in the essays and poems is also noted, as it awakens and provokes thought. The reviewer appreciates the unique structure and form of the collection, which adds to its overall impact.

Quick quotes

    Plainwater acts as a microcosmic model of Carson's work as a whole, it works by aggregation.

    Carson's intellectual range dazzles the reader, even as her emotional wisdom awakens and provokes.

    The unique structure and form of the collection add to its overall impact.

Ken Craft Author · Ken Craft · 2018-06-08
engaging 4.50

The mix of essays and poetry is described as flavorful, with the poetry being the dominant element. The writing stretches the boundaries of language and literary form.

Ken Craft highlights the unique blend of essays and poetry in Plainwater, noting that the poetry is the dominant force. He appreciates how the writing stretches the boundaries of language and literary form, creating a rich and engaging reading experience. The reviewer finds the collection to be a flavorful mix, with each piece contributing to a deeper understanding of the author's vision. Craft also notes the juxtaposition of classical and modern traditions, which adds depth and complexity to the work.

Quick quotes

    Plainwater is a flavorful mix of essays and poetry, it really amounts to poetry, whether in traditional lines and stanzas or hidden in paragraph form.

    The writing stretches the boundaries of language and literary form.

    The juxtaposition of classical and modern traditions adds depth and complexity to the work.

Matilda Magtree · 2015-01-16
insightful 4.00

The collection is described as a journey, with the author as a pilgrim rather than a novelist, focusing on the road itself. The writing is introspective and reflective, offering a unique perspective on travel and relationships.

The reviewer captures the essence of Plainwater as a journey, both literal and metaphorical. They appreciate the author's approach as a pilgrim, emphasizing the experience of the road rather than a structured narrative. The writing is introspective and reflective, offering a unique perspective on travel and relationships. The reviewer finds the collection thought-provoking and evocative, highlighting the author's ability to blend poetry and prose seamlessly. The essays and poems are seen as a testament to the author's extraordinary imagination and her ability to capture the nuances of human experiences.

Quick quotes

    A traveller becomes addicted to the horizon.

    She tells us that she is a pilgrim, not a novelist, 'and the only story I have to tell is the road itself.'

    The writing is introspective and reflective, offering a unique perspective on travel and relationships.

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