The Subtext: Everyone Hates Poetry

Donovan McAbee's 'Holy the Body' is a poetry collection that traces experiences of loss, grief, physical decline, and religious questioning through intimate, embodied imagery. The poems move between caregiving scenes, memories of the author's mother, reflections on the body’s aging, and moments of spiritual uncertainty. McAbee employs plainspoken but vivid language to make private suffering and tenderness accessible and resonant. The collection balances vulnerability with wry observation, inviting readers into particular moments that gesture toward universal themes of mortality and grace. It has been presented and read aloud by the author in public events and is his debut full-length book of poems.

Andrew Hudgins' 'Praying Drunk' is a lyric poem that follows a speaker's nocturnal wandering as a vehicle for grappling with faith, longing, and the human tendency toward self-destructive consolation. The poem juxtaposes the speaker's shame and spiritual yearning through striking images and candid voice. Hudgins often blends formal craft with confessional material, and this poem exemplifies his interest in the uneasy intersections of religion and quotidian experience. 'Praying Drunk' invites readers into the messy honesty of spiritual doubt while demonstrating disciplined poetic technique. The poem is frequently anthologized as a contemporary example of faith-inflected American lyric.

In 'Falling', Captain Bill Hoffman is faced with an impossible decision: crash the plane he is piloting, killing everyone on board, or see his family murdered by their kidnapper. The novel is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller that explores the high-stakes world of aviation through the eyes of a pilot, his family, and the flight crew. With detailed backstories and authentic aviation procedures, Newman creates a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story delves into the emotional complexities of the characters and the philosophical underpinnings of the terrorist's motivations, making it more than just a typical thriller.

Zbigniew Herbert's "Selected Poems" offers a diverse collection of his poetic works, showcasing his mastery of language and profound insights into the human condition. His poems often engage with historical events and philosophical questions, exploring themes of memory, loss, and the search for meaning in a complex world. Herbert's style is characterized by its intellectual depth, precision, and subtle irony. He frequently employs allusions to mythology and classical literature, enriching his poems with layers of meaning. His work continues to resonate with readers for its enduring relevance and profound exploration of the human experience.

This book details the almost two-year struggle for survival of the 28-man crew of the Endurance, which was beset and eventually crushed by ice floes in the Weddell Sea during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917. The crew drifted on ice floes, salvaged lifeboats, and eventually reached Elephant Island. Shackleton then led a perilous journey to South Georgia Island to secure rescue, culminating in one of the most remarkable survival stories in history. Lansing's narrative is based on extensive research, including interviews with surviving crew members and access to their diaries and personal accounts.