This Just Blew Me Away

I wasn't quite sure what I was in for when I downloaded this book. O.K., illustrated poems - I get that. Who didn't grow up with ripping action illustrations accompanying a school days classic like "...the midnight ride of Paul Revere"? I sort of expected something along those lines, and just hoped I'd like the artist's style. I was totally out of line on that.

The book opens with a brief foreword/essay about how poetry and sequential comics art complement each other. The essay felt a bit like the author was trying too hard to justify his effort, but I'm glad I read the whole essay. It got me thinking about the relationship between the poetry and the sequential art, and it turns out that there's a good bit to think about while enjoying this book. As the author/artist suggests, consider rhythm, stress, repetition, juxtaposition, contrast, and the challenges of translation and interpretation. By the end of the book I almost felt like I owed the author/artist an apology for doubting him.

I was amazed to see that for each poem Julian Peters adopted a different, distinct style and medium. Impressionistic, realistic, collage, watercolors, oils, pencils, inks - each poem is treated in a completely distinct fashion unlike anything that came before or comes after. It looks exactly as though each poem was illustrated by a different artist.

And each treatment suits, complements, and enhances the poem. So, for something like "Invictus" we get a muscular, ripping, pen and ink adventure sequence. For "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" we get just lines of colors and naif collages that suggest freedom and captivity, with the poem carefully penciled into the lines. In "Hope is the Thing With Feathers" a brightly colored bird flies through black pencil sketches of scenes of hope and despair. Hughes's "Jukebox Love Song" looks like someone sent Edward Hopper to Harlem with a box of watercolors and an order to lighten up. Wordsworth's "The World is Too Much With Us" rendered in iPhone text messages? Inspired.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. This is a playful, deadly serious, creative, marvelously accomplished book that will delight those who like their poetry with a side of Della Robbia Blue. And if you wonder how it could even be possible to present T.S. Eliot or Dylan Thomas in a comics or graphic form, well this book has those answers. A wonderful find.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

Seeing great poems illustrated in this way was absolutely incredible. As a very visual person myself, it definitely added a lot to the already beloved poems.

This was a wide collection of 24 poems with beautiful comics attached to them. I really loved the different styles of comic art for each poem. The art felt like it was tailored to the poems and really brought each of them to life. I really enjoyed this collection because while I knew some of the poems, most of them were new to me. And the poem’s that i did already know were brought to life with the comic strips.

This was a wonderful collection of poems that I believe would be appealing for both kids and adults. I feel this could be the perfect way to introduce poetry to kids without overwhelming them. This is also a great way of understanding what a poem is actually talking about and understand the meaning behind the words.

*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*

Have you ever read poetry with illustrations? Written like a comic but instead of dialogues, there are verses of poems, Poems to see by is a beautiful collection of artist, Julian Peters' interpretation of some well known poems. I loved how in the preface of this book, he talked about the similarities between poetry and comics - something I had not thought of before. He also mentioned how teachers have used his work to help students understand a poem and I can totally see the scaffolds that art offers to the young mind to understand the complex ideas in many of these poems.

The illustrations were in multiple mediums, drawn in crayons, water colours, felt pen, I loved seeing how each brought a different feel to the poems, while matching the mood at the same time. It has been a long time since I have done any proper art (the drawings for my bullet journal aren't very detailed) and Poems to see by was a visual journey into the feel of many of the works.

This is an amazing collection I would go back to to feast my eyes. I am thankful to the publisher for making the ebook available through NetGalley.

This small poetry collection features the poetry of Western classics such as Maya Angelou, Emily Dickenson, T. S. Elliot, and Edgar Allan Poe- but through the lens of the author's art interpretations. The art styles were beautifully done with intricate detail; each poem's art takes on a different mood and style that fits the poets' aesthetics. I would recommend this for poetry readers of all levels.

Poems to See By art Julian Peters, 160 pages. POETRY, GRAPHIC NOVEL
Plough Publishing House, 2020. $24.
Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL, HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Peters takes 24 classic poems and breathes new life into them by illustrating each work in a comic-strip format. The poems cover a variety of topics, but all of them invite the reader to look at the world and themselves differently.
I was captivated from the very first poem, excited to see what amazing things Peters would continue to do with the poems he had chosen. By using illustrations to help readers visualize the poems, readers gain new perspectives to consider. My favorite thing about this book is that each unique poem also gets a unique illustration; Peters uses all different art styles throughout the book, and the variety only made me more excited to see what would come next.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Note that there were a few illustrations missing in the review copy that I received (they had the text of the poem with “artwork to come” instead of art), but most were included so I thought I had seen enough to give a fair review. I liked that Peters used different styles for various poems, and there was a good mix of poems here. Some didn’t resonate with me, and some did, which is why I gave this book 3 stars. If this seems like your cup of tea, I would definitely give it a try.

"Poems to See By: A Comic Artist Interprets Great Poetry" takes 24 classic poems written by well-known authors and turns them into a powerful visual interpretation. I truly loved the illustrations, and they made me appreciate the meaning of each poem. It's not every day that we get the chance to experience something so unique and special. Julian Peters did a wonderful job bringing every poem to life. He gave each reader the opportunity to revisit classical works with themes that can be applied to our everyday lives.

Without giving any spoilers, I would say that my favorite illustration was the one accompanying the poem by Emily Dickinson. I truly felt all the emotions, and my imagination was left wondering.

This is a fantastic book, and I recommend it to anyone who loves poetry or who wants to experience poetry from the point of view of a visual learner.

#PoemstoSeeBy #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley, Plough Publishing House, and Julian Peters for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

"Poems to See By" by comic artist Julian Peters put new images to classic poetry. He tells a story of pictures put to words that have for decades captivated readers' imagination. His images and scenes revitalize some of the greatest works of poetry ever written and inspire readers in new ways.

Some of the poets featured in this new collection include: Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Seamus Heaney, Thomas Hardy, William Wordsworth, e.e. cummings, Dylan Thomas, W.B. Yeats, and T.S. Eliot, among many others.

The illustrations with the words bring out new meaning that you might not have "seen" before or ideas that you didn't realize were there. I thoroughly enjoyed both the works chosen and the accompanying artwork. This was a great find!

I received this eBook free of charge from Plough Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I did not receive any fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

This book is a collection of classic poetry, beautifully illustrated for kids and adults alike to enjoy. Ports like Edgar Allan Poe, William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, and more are featured in this fun collection. I would use this book in a classroom to expose students to classic poems and to increase their interest in poetry.

In Poems To See By Julian Peters pays tribute to 24 classic works of poetry written by well known poets by presenting them with inspiring artwork to match each poem. I loved the way he used different styles of art for each poem. For me this was an amazing and very original way to experience poetry. Love this collection! I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.
#PoemstoSeeBy #NetGalley

I think this was an amazing way to give tribute to the amazing poems before us. We can look at the poems in a visual away and it reminds us how good these classics are.

The idea is brilliant and I want more books like this one on the market! However; I have problems with some drawing styles since it was really hard to read the poems and because the failed to catch my attention. I like the proposal, however.

I can’t believe this isn’t done more often. It’s a magnificent way to experience poetry. Great for visual learners. Very diverse artistic styles. A great selection of poems. I hope the quality of the printing and binding reflects the work.

The poems chosen by Julian to illustrate are interesting. Mostly American and British authors, of the 19th and 20th century. Langston Hughes and Emily Dickenson are

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And even though it is all done by the same illustrator, the interpretations vary widly.

Even poems that I know so well, such as William Wordsworth's "The World is Too Much With Us" has a modern interpretation.

And although we have the poems in our heads, it is enlightening to see how others, such as Julian, sees these, and illustrates these. Breaths new life into things that thought we knew.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

What a great way to read poetry, especially those who may not like poetry. Graphic art accompanies each poem to illustrate the ideas, and makes great sense to visual learners. This is in short clips, like a book of short stories. This would be amazing to use with those with dyslexia, ESL students, reluctant readers, or those who have to read poetry but wouldn't be caught dead doing it. Loved this title. Would love to see more.

I LOVE the originality of the concept behind Poems to See By: A Comic Artist Interprets Great Poetry. What a wonderfully creative, unique way to introduce/reintroduce some of the great poems to new generations!

Julian Peters' visual interpretations really help bring these "old" poems to life, and make them very understandable. I was immediately spellbound by the book and couldn't put it down until I finished it.

An absolutely delightful read. I'd like to see more of this type of book available to our youth. Well done, Julian Peters!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Plough Publishing House for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Inspired by the beauty of poetry, Julian Peters has created a wonderful collection of images depicting 24 classic works written by poets such as Emily Dickinson, William Ernest Henley, Maya Angelou, e.e. Cummings, Christina Rossetti, Robert Hayden, Langston Hughes, Seamus Heaney, Thomas Hardy, Jess Gallagher, Edgar Allan Poe, and more.

Peters said, "I wanted to pay tribute to the way these poems made me feel, to spend time with them, to pull them in as close to me as possible in the way that felt to me, as someone who draws comics, the most natural."

I read a digital ARC and some of the poems don't have artwork yet. I love the way Peters used different styles for each poem. My favourite is Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Poems to See By illustrated by Julian Peters is a collection of illustrated poems broken into groups of seeing -- nature, love, time, death and others. Julian Peters is an illustrator and comic book artist living in Montreal, Canada, who specializes in adapting classical poems into graphic art.

Many of the best poems are presented in the collection from Invictus to The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.  Some of the poems and art combine to produce emotions such as Conscientious Objector by Edna St. Vincent Millay others light and with a touch humor like e.e. cummings' May My Heart Always be Open.  Maya Angelou's Caged Bird appears to be embroidered on a quilt, and watercolors illustrate Langston Hughes' Jukebox Love Song.  Wordsworth, The World is Too Much With Us is illustrated with a modern theme of cell phones, and Shelley's Ozymandias has a historical twist. 

Great poetry supplemented with a variety of art from pen and ink to manga gives an added appreciation to the original work and sometimes adds a modern touch or interpretation without changing the poem's intent.  A very well done selection of poems and inspiring artwork to match. 

Available March 31, 2020

This was a very pleasant book, although not one I would deem an urgent must-buy for either poetry lovers or fans of adapted works in graphic form. It's a very canonical poetry collection, from cummings to Eliot and from 'Not Waving But Drowning' to a bit of death and glory from Poe of all things, and we get the plain text after each illustrated version. But the key to the book of course is going to be the visual interpretations. And these work, those that managed to surface before the cut-off for my e-proof sampler. They are suitably varied, so the Heaney is desperately wind-blown and colourless, whereas Maya Angelou (yes, that one) gets the patchwork quilting circle approach. But that's not to say more off-kilter choices have not been made – Wordsworth now comes to us via mobile phone messages and memes, which in this instance does actually work, as does the modern politics given to Ozymandias. The media used vary suitably, too – a lot is nicely painted, or at least looks water-colour, only for Yeats to be dressed up like a manga. Many times the text appears within the image as part of it, and not just as caption. If anything knocked the marks down, I think it's a misreading of the Poe – I'm sure he enters her sepulchre for a nightly kip, and not just stays beside it like a lovesick sea otter waiting for a beachcomber – and that for all its merits it will probably best serve as the publishers suggest, as evidence for school use of how poetry can be reinterpreted by other creators. It sounds daft to knock a book for doing what the publishers want, but I would have thought this format could perhaps have done more.