Welcome to KIWIreviews - product reviews
•  click here to return to the homepage  •
Welcome visitor.Join us or log in

Product reviews on kiwireviews.nz : Friday 29th March 2024 - 06:18:32

QuickSearch for:    What is QuickSearch?
QuickJump to:    What is QuickJump?
logon name: p/w:  

I want to:

You Are Here...

Home > Categories > Books > Non-Fiction > The Ode Less Travelled - Unlocking the Poet Within. review

« Live - Friday 13th reviewLive - Friday 13thTemeraire reviewTemeraire »

Score: 9.8/10  [1 review]
5 out of 5
ProdID: 823 - The Ode Less Travelled - Unlocking the Poet Within.
Written by Stephen Fry

The Ode Less Travelled - Unlocking the Poet Within.
Price:
$37.95
Sample/s Supplied by:
Click to search for all products supplied by Penguin Random House

Disclosure StatementFULL DISCLOSURE: A number of units of this product have, at some time, been provided to KIWIreviews by Penguin Random House or their agents for the sole purposes of unbiased, independent reviews. No fee was requested, offered nor accepted by KIWIreviews or the reviewers themselves - these are genuine, unpaid consumer reviews.
Available:
18th November 2005

The Ode Less Travelled - Unlocking the Poet Within. product reviews

'One of the many joys of being Stephen Fry's editor is his ability to surprise me,' says Sue Freestone. She knew he'd really done it this time when he revealed to her that he'd always had a secret passion for poetry and that his next project was a book about how to write poetry. His book will give everybody the tools to write poetry; covering the full spectrum of the different poetic forms, structures and techniques. According to Stephen it will make writing poetry fun, easy, satisfying, fulfilling and delightful. Here is a taste of Stephen's own efforts:

Lesbian Sappho made this form
With two beats to the final line
Her sex life wasn't quite the norm
And nor is mine

A gift format perfectly formed hardback for closet poetry writers everywhere.

Check out Penguin Random House onlineClick here to see all the listings for Penguin Random House Visit their website They do not have a Twitter account Check them out on Facebook They do not have a YouTube Channel They do not have a Pinterest board They do not have an Instagram channel They do not have a TikTok channel



Tags:
-none-
Other listings you may be interested in:
The 8-week Training Programme - Level 1 ScienceThe 8-week Training Programme - Level 1 Science
Rating: 6.8
Best-Ever Barbecue RecipesBest-Ever Barbecue Recipes
Rating: 8.3
NZ : The Essential Touring Atlas - 1st EditionNZ : The Essential Touring Atlas - 1st Edition
Rating: 10.0
Chronicles of Stone: #3 Tribal AshChronicles of Stone: #3 Tribal Ash
Rating: 7.3
The Shadow GirlsThe Shadow Girls
Rating: 9.3
The Twice-Lived Summer of Bluebell JonesThe Twice-Lived Summer of Bluebell Jones
Rating: 9.3
Blood of DragonsBlood of Dragons
Rating: 8.0
The Lost PuppyThe Lost Puppy
Rating: 7.0
Those Pesky RabbitsThose Pesky Rabbits
Rating: 9.5
Peek A Boo FarmPeek A Boo Farm
Rating: 10.0
Pig the StarPig the Star
Rating: 10.0
The True Colours of Coral GlenThe True Colours of Coral Glen
Rating: 7.3
Miniwings #6: Moonlight the Unicorn's High Tea HiccupMiniwings #6: Moonlight the Unicorn's High Tea Hiccup
Rating: 9.8

Product reviews...

Everyone is welcome to post a review. You will need to Join up or log in to post yours.

Click here to read the profile of diogenes

Review by: diogenes (Rob)
Dated: 21st of December, 2005

Link to this review Report this review

 

This Review: 9.8/10
Value for Money:
Score 9 out of 10
Interesting Facts:
Score 10 out of 10
Accuracy:
Score 10 out of 10
Personal Choice:
Score 10 out of 10

I suspect Stephen Fry's book will be an unexpected hit this Christmas and in the following year.
When I first picked up the book, my initial thought was that this is a brave subject for Fry to tackle, let alone admit to writing poetry. However, when thinking back over his career, it doesn't seem that surprising for him to want to write a book on this subject, and be able to write it well. Fry is the ultimate logophile and his passion for the English language shines through everything Fry tackles and is certainly very evident in The Ode Less Travelled.

The book is superbly illustrated with numerous pristine examples of poetry from the greats. Each example is carefully chosen and illuminates each section of the book very well, and these excerpts are included in some of the exercises. Yes, exercises - Fry really does want each reader to practice what he teaches. I am finding myself muttering ti-tum, ti-tum, ti-tum as I am reading each example and when I am reading other poetry, and I guess in time, when I feel fit to tackle the subject, muttering the iambs when attempting my own work.

Whilst Fry's goal is to encourage people to write poetry and find their own voice in verse, The Ode Less Travelled will also serve to help the reader to get more from existing poetry, by reading it aloud, looking for the iambs, meter, caesurae and enjambments (and quickly become familiar with the terms). I can honestly say that I have learnt far more in just the first few pages than any English teacher was able to teach me at school.

Fry does deserve the ultimate accolades possible for writing this book in an non-academic way; keeping it simple and informative (without being condescending), making it fun, keeping it alive with exquisite examples and humour - it is indeed a rare skill. If Lynne Truss got the world more interested in grammar being 'cool', then maybe Fry can do the same with poetry.

Whether the reader becomes a proficient poetry writer, a more informed reader or just increases the passion for poetry, will be a testament to Fry's work. Great book and well worth a place on your own book shelf, or to buy for any budding poet - The world of poetry will thank you for it.





Random listing from 'Books'...

Score: 9.0
Product reviews for listing 2708: Annexed
Written by: Sharon Dogar

Product image for AnnexedEveryone knows about Anne Frank and her life hidden in the secret annex - but what about the boy who was also trapped there with her?

In this powerful and gripping novel, Sharon Dogar explores what this might have been like from Peter's point of view. What was it like to be forced into hiding with Anne Frank, first to hate her and then to find yourself falling in love with her? Especially with your parents and her parents all ... more...

Go to the listing

General Disclaimer...

Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page. Creative Commons Licence All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.

"Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action."
Benjamin Disraeli