Sometimes, I read a poem, and I feel a strong connection to the reader's stream of consciousness, the way they muddle through, managing to convey meaning with a few fumbling words. Margaret Atwood's poems are not like that at all. Not only is it obvious that Atwood has studied poetic form, she uses it with ruthless skill, masterfully employing meter, rhyme, pattern, and style in a way that feels both shrewdly specific and hopelessly effortless. Maybe it's a little bit like gatekeeping to say that not all poetry is created equal, but when I compare what essentially feels like word vomit to the precisely chosen words in each of Atwood's lines, I really wish I could send a few free verse poets to take a poetry class. Poetic form feels like it could be restricting, but once you understand where each form excels, it leaves even more space for freedom of expression than any free verse poem could ever hope to achieve. I don't love every poem in this book; some of them make me feel things I'd rather not feel, and others describe experiences that I can't easily empathize with. But I remain in awe at Atwood's ability to create meaning with a few very precise word choices, and I have a great deal of respect for anyone who so obviously understands the craft of poetry and isn't afraid to use it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I am fascinated by the variety of style in Atwood's poetry. I realize this is a compilation of poetry from earlier books so it probably is showing the development of her style. As a poet myself, I'm learning lots about different ways to write.

It has been my joy to read Margaret Atwood‘s work for some time and I frequently share her words with my students in English classes. Atwood may be best known for fiction, but she’s written in graphic novel form, as well as in poetry. Paper Boat is another strong entry from a writer who clearly knows what she is doing. These glimpses of the author’s viewpoint are wonderful introductions, as well as revisits, for readers who enjoy her longer works, including prose.

I was entranced by her trademark lyrical prose and the depth of emotion infused into every page. The narrative beautifully explores themes of loss, longing, and the passage of time, all while maintaining a poignant sense of introspection. Atwood's imagery is striking, evoking vivid scenes that linger long after reading.

I’ve been reading Margaret Atwood for decades, starting with her first novel, The Edible Woman (1969). And although I have read a lot of her poetry in the past, I find that a poem’s meaning changes with the decades and with one’s life experiences. So these poems seem fresh and timely to me.

Although best known for her novels, Atwood has been as prolific a poet as novelist, and as great a master of the form. She began writing poetry at age 6, and began publishing poetry in her college literary journal in the late1950s. Since the early 1960s, she has published 18 poetry collections. She writes of love and death, myth and mystery, politics and the power of language, as well as contemporary themes of gender, identity, the natural environment, and climate change.

This is a lengthy compendium, an abundance of riches, a wonderful gift, but it would be difficult to read straight through. Treasure each piece and savor the collection over time. Return to it again and again. This is beautiful, vivid writing. Atwood is always perceptive, always relevant. She always has something important to say and I’ll always be there to hear it.

I'm really looking forward to the audiobook, too, especially since Atwood reads it.

Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, as well as NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book, which will be published in early October, 2024.

She's such a talented writer, it's always stunning to read her words and experience their depth.

I love the breadth of poetry included in this collection.

It's too much poetry in one go. It's literally her life's work as a poet. But you can always count on Atwood when it comes to musings on love, death, the primal perspective, and nature. You see the waves of time crash with the way her themes coalesce and become. It's a real treat. Much like watching the evening tides take up noise and shape over ancient rocks by moonlight. At one point you're in awe. At other points you wonder when you should leave or stay.

Definitely something wonderful to have by the bedside amongst other readings over a span of a few months or even a year. Because, it's a lot. Like A LOT.

Paper Boat by Margaret Atwood is a book of poetry composed of columns of brief, prickly words. As with her novels the reader is pulled into the writing. The poems are mysterious and mesmerizing and worthy of the work. Recommended for readers who enjoy a challenging collection.

Paper Boat was a story of journey, experience, life. Biographies, autobiographies, memoirs are always a pull for me. This was no exception. Learning of other individuals lives through the lenses of them is always humbling and insightful. Thankful for the opportunity to read this passage and carry new pieces of information with me.

When I first saw this collection on Netgalley, I requested it so fast. I didn't even read the description. I saw "poetry" and "Margaret Atwood," and I was sold! The length of this collection is bitter sweet. On one hand, I found it difficult to make my way through such contrasting pieces without getting fatigued. BUT on the other hand, this is a wonderful collection to have on your shelf and grow with. What I mean is that you could pick up this collection at any stage of life and find a season of Atwood's poetry to steep in. This collection isn't meant to be read in one sitting. It's meant to be poured over, and steeped in over time. I really enjoyed this collection and plan to purchase a physical copy to keep on my shelf and go back to over time.

Anything thing by Miss Atwood is bound to be great! Her writing to me is raw and honest. So I knew I was going to love these poems. Even if you are not into poetry you will find something that you connect with in this collection.

I will always love everything Atwood releases. I’d never actually read any of her poetry before, and I think this volume was the perfect primer to get started. It encompasses such a wide span of her career and gave me a glimpse into a new aspect of Atwood’s writing that I can’t wait to explore further.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=4.5 | 😘=3.5 | 🤬=3 | ⚔️=2 | 15/16+

summary: a bunch of Atwood poems from the last like 60 years

thoughts: this is… SO much poetry. it’s a lot! and much of it was very, very good. this is something to be savored, slowly, over a long period of time.

This book of poetry by Margaret Atwood is a collection of poems she's written throughout her life and career. Her poetry style changes a bit as does her subject matter so it is really fascinating to read through it. I think Atwood's poetry is not necessarily for everyone, and the wide range of poetry time points means some of it feels much more relatable or interesting than others. A good book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 out of 5 stars

What a long span of time this book covers: over six decades of scribbling thoughts on paper (keyboard?).

This was quite a bit longer than the other books of poetry I got for review from NetGalley/Knopf, and while I enjoyed this book, I think it was my least favorite of the six. That is not to say it is bad by any means, I just feel like I did not connect with these like I did the other books. For some reason, at lot of these felt more like micro-stories than poems.

Still, I have my favorites: two gardens, procedures from underground, he is a strange biological phenomenon, some of the untitle ones from Power Politics, late august (hands down my favorite, but I could not tell you why), two-headed poems (which was a little longer than most of the other poems), the arrest of the stockbroker, earth, disturbed earth, semptember mushrooms, and wlaking in the madman's wood.

Her poetry like her fiction is beautiful I loved getting the chance to read this collection .Will be dipping in and out and cherishing each poem.Thanks#netgalley #knopf

Margaret Atwood will always be my favorite author. That being said, 'Paper Boat' is a collection of breathtaking poems from her six decades of work as a published poet, If you are only familiar with her work though 'The Handmaid's Tale,' or even if you have not been introduced to her poetry, be prepared to be enveloped with a transcendent experience. Granted, I would enjoy anything she writes, but I find that there is a certain comfort found in the enigmatic created by Ms. Atwood, mainly because you are aware that she is along with you for the ride.

Huge book of new and selected poems from Atwood’s first published book up through 2023, so wide swaths of her life represented. Atwood is one of my favorite writers but I found her poetry a little tough…some of it just did not seem to want to let me in.

Much of her early poetry is about love. . I picture her reciting it to her beloved in various rooms of a sparsely furnished farmhouse somewhere.

Some of my favorites, and they came from throughout the book, were: “The Immigrants,” “Five Poems for Grandmothers,” “Sunset II,” Mothers,” “How to Tell One Country From Another,” “Flowers,” “The Last Rational Man,” (which I would like to send to Mitt Romney, Liz Cheney and a few others) “Songs for Murdered Sisters,” “At the Translation Conference” and “Scattering Wood.”

Habitation

Marriage is not
a house or even a tent

it is before that, and colder.

the edge of the forest, the edge
of the desert
the unpainted stairs
at the back where we squat
outside, eating popcorn

the edge of the receding glacier

where painfully and with wonder
at having survived even
this far

we are learning to make fire

And some other gems, just excerpts:

if you don’t have hands like theirs
large and capable, the hands
of plump muscular angels,
the ones that blow trumpets and lift swords.
They shift him carefully, tuck in the corners.
It hurts, but as little as possible.
Pain is their lore. The rest of us
are helpless amateurs.

A suffering you can neither cure nor enter -
there are worse things, but not many.
After awhile it makes us impatient.
Can’t we do anything but feel sorry?


Sunset, now that we’re finally in it
is not what we thought.


How much havoc this woman spills
out of herself into us
merely by being
unhappy with such finality.


On this side of the table
women do not say No.
There is a word for No, but women do not say it.
It would be too abrupt.
To say No, you can say Perhaps.
You will be understood,
On most occasions.


Where have you gone? If anywhere,
dear ones and twos and threes

Margaret Atwood's "Paper Boat: New and Selected Poems, 1961-2023" is a vivid collection that showcases her mastery of poetic craft, rich in imagery.

Throughout the work, Atwood explores themes of transformation, perception, and natural cycles, skillfully blending the surreal with the tangible to create a dreamlike yet grounded quality. This anthology demonstrates Atwood's distinctive voice, offering readers a journey through her unique perspective on the human condition, nature, and the mythic undercurrents of everyday life.

Paper Boat by Margaret Atwood is exactly what it says it is ... a collection of poems; and it'll blow you away. If you're thinking of reading this then, most likely, you already know who Margaret Atwood is. As you should. This selection of poems is beautiful, wonderful, peaceful yet chaotic, just like everything else she writes.
Best read with a cup of tea (or something stronger).

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.