David K. Kirby

A collection of previously published essays and review essays by Kirby, centered around four main questions, each with its own eponymous essay: "what is a reader?" "what is a writer?" "what is a critic?" and "what is a book?" Three of these (reader, writer, book) were the pieces I enjoyed most in the volume, but even those I was personally less interested in (review essays about poetry criticism being a bit far outside my wheelhouse) I found well written and compelling. Other selections I particularly liked were "Emerson, Poe, and American Criticism in the Nineteenth Century," "Reviewers in the Popular Press and Their Impact on the Novel," and "Ghosts and Gadabouts." "What is a Book?" itself, in which Kirby explores the contingencies and difficulties of canon formation, is excellent.… (mehr)

It's really hard to call this book a book of poetry. Each poem reads like a short story full of interesting characters and plots. In one 77 page book the reader is transported across countries and cultures. It has been said that House of Blue Light is autobiographical. For example Kirby's characters mention a Barbara and Kirby is indeed married to a woman named Barbara Hamby. I do not know if she is the same Barbara of House of Blue Light's poetry. Maybe she is, maybe she isn't. Regardless, Kirby's poetry is funny, situationally (my word) real, and intensely soulful. In a word, substantial; this was poetry I could sink my teeth into and actually taste something.… (mehr)