The Alphabet Not Unlike the World
Description
In her highly ambitious second collection of poems, Katrina Vandenberg takes her inspiration from the alphabet.
A meditation on the hump of a camel, and what it hides. A reminder that tomatoes belong to the nightshade family, and a vision of the plant as Adam's downfall. The Book of Kells, gold-leafed and extravagantly decorated by monks. Titled for letters of the Phoenician alphabet, and employing such innovative forms as the ancient ghazal, these poems are richly grounded in objects both humble and exotic. Vandenberg explores the intersection of power and forgiveness, and deciphers the seemingly indecipherable in emotionally poignant ways. "What will protect us?" one poem asks. "The words will be our weapons. In the end."
Moving between the physical and the abstract, the individual and the collective, The Alphabet Not Unlike the World unearths meaning--with astonishing beauty--from the pain of loss and separation.
Praise for The Alphabet Not Unlike the World
Two poems from the collection read on NPR on Garrison Keillor's "The Writer's Almanac"
Vanderberg [shows] remarkable restraint when telling stories. She trusts her reader enough to leave these spare images uncluttered with explanation. More important, her reader can trust that fine writing and poetic logic will carry these poems as they travel across the wide spaces between what we understand.”
-- Elizabeth Hoover, Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Vandenberg’s second collection takes the alphabet and its evolution as form and reservoir of associations as its subject...This is a rich subject...The flashes of inspirationif antlers / are trees in silhouette”are genuine.
Michael Autrey, Booklist
"Thanks to Katrina’s clear crystalline poems, all women will remember adolescence as it moves through family, and all men will have something new to understand. Vandenberg's calm observations create a harmony of thought in this lyrical and resonant collection. Each poem is a story with a stunning purpose."
Washington Independent Review of Books
Praise for Katrina Vandenberg
Katrina Vandenberg uses playfully intoxicating metaphors to launder the simplicities and eccentricities of life.”
--Flaunt
Praise for Atlas
Katrina has always traced the patterns and rhythms she discovers so readily in life. In Atlas, she translates those patterns and rhythms into poetry.”
Paula Evans Neuman, The News-Herald
The debut poetry collection of Katrina Vandenberg employs a language and flair for expression that transcends time while drawing upon personal family artifacts, memories, ideas, and friends.”
Betsy L. Hogan, Midwest Book Review
What a gift to have these poems in the world! Katrina Vandenberg is an expert witness to the verities, pathologies and moments. The stain of blood on this Atlas is exquisite. Here is the record of an honest pilgrim--a book of treasure maps and vital stats--a mighty work in words.”
--Thomas Lynch, author of The Undertaking
