Thanks to NetGalley and Simon&Schuster for the eGalley of The Best American Poetry 2024. Because I was reading Billy Collins's new collection, it was fun to see one of his poems in this collection. I appreciated Mary Jo Salter's introduction giving some explanation of her process and choices as guest editor. Presenting the poems in the order of the poet's last name makes for an eclectic collection in which each poem is a separate experience. This collection gives the reader an overview of contemporary poets and the journals that publish them. I recommend this collection for all submitting poets, and lovers of contemporary poetry.

"The Best American Poetry 2024" is a rich and thought-provoking anthology of some of the most remarkable contemporary poetry in the United States. Edited by David Lehman, this collection showcases a diverse range of voices and styles, offering a glimpse into the vibrant landscape of American poetry today.

The anthology features poems that explore a variety of themes, including love, loss, identity, politics, and the human experience. The poets featured in this collection demonstrate a mastery of language, form, and imagery, inviting readers to engage with their work on a deeper level.

While some of the poetry may be challenging or complex for readers who are new to the genre, the overall experience of reading these poems is rewarding and enriching. The collection encourages readers to grapple with difficult themes and to appreciate the beauty and power of language.

Lehman's selections not only celebrate the talents of established poets but also highlight the work of emerging voices in the field. This anthology serves as a testament to the continued relevance and vitality of poetry in our contemporary cultural landscape.

Overall, "The Best American Poetry 2024" is an outstanding collection that showcases the diversity and richness of American poetry. This anthology is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the genre and engaging with the work of some of the most talented poets writing today.

I think this was a fine collection of poetry, but it definitely leans academic in tone. If you're interested in more experimental styles of poetry this book is probably not for you. This is definitely a collection of poems for people who have studied poetry rather than for people who are new to it. I think many readers will find it unapproachable in nature. I personally love anthologies because you get to experience such a wide range of voice, but potentially readers should consider their own thoughts towards anthologies before picking this one up.

Overall, I thought this book was just fine but not anything spectacular.

Thank you Netgalley for a peek into this collection. I wouldn’t say run out and purchase it today. It arrived on shelves yesterday, but if you know someone who appreciates collegiate writing this may be the book. Most of the poems selected are from the New Yorker , Hopkins review, journals and such.

There are a few nice surprises “ APoem For Europa” from NASA website.
Haiku Garden, Pinsky’s Proverbs of Limbo
And two poets I favor Terrance Hayes (How to Fold) and
Jane Shore’s The Hat

The Best American Poetry 2024 continues the long tradition of this esteemed anthology series, offering a snapshot of the most vibrant, innovative, and resonant voices in American poetry today. Curated by guest editor Mary Jo Salter, a renowned poet known for her mastery of form and sharp intelligence, this edition presents a carefully chosen collection of 75 poems that reflect the diversity and dynamism of contemporary American poetry.

Mary Jo Salter’s editorial choices reveal her keen sensitivity to both the technical precision and emotional depth that characterize today’s poetry. Her selection showcases an array of styles, voices, and themes, ensuring that the anthology not only highlights individual brilliance but also captures a broad cross-section of what American poetry is in this moment. From explorations of personal identity and cultural history to meditations on nature, politics, and human relationships, the poems collected here speak to the multifaceted concerns of poets and readers alike.

One of the hallmarks of The Best American Poetry series is the inclusion of commentary from the poets themselves. This year's edition is no exception, offering readers a unique window into the minds of the poets as they reflect on their creative process, the inspirations behind their work, and the challenges of writing in our current cultural climate. These insights lend an additional layer of richness to the poems, making this collection both intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging.

Salter’s introduction and David Lehman’s series preface provide valuable context and thoughtful reflections on the current state of American poetry. Both essays assess the evolving landscape of the art form, considering how poets today navigate the pressures of innovation, tradition, and the personal versus the political. Salter’s own poetry is known for its wit and confrontation of the inexplicable, qualities that seem to inform her editorial approach as well, as she has chosen poems that balance technical craftsmanship with emotional resonance.

The diversity of voices in The Best American Poetry 2024 is one of its great strengths. Poets from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives come together in a tapestry that reflects the ever-changing American landscape. Readers will find poems that challenge, comfort, provoke, and inspire—a testament to the continued relevance and vitality of poetry as an art form.

However, as with any anthology, not every poem will resonate equally with all readers. Some may find certain selections more obscure or experimental than others, which can be both a strength and a challenge of the series. That said, The Best American Poetry has long been known for offering readers a range of voices, including both established poets and newer talents, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

Final Thoughts:
The Best American Poetry 2024 is a thoughtful and dynamic collection that will appeal to both longtime fans of the series and those new to contemporary poetry. Mary Jo Salter’s editorial vision shines through in her careful selection of poems that are at once innovative, accessible, and deeply reflective of the times we live in. With insightful commentary from the poets themselves and illuminating essays by Salter and Lehman, this edition reaffirms the importance of poetry in grappling with the complexities of the modern world. A must-read for anyone interested in the current state of American poetry.

(This is my first time reading from this collection). I am not familiar enough with New York City enough to understand half the poems, and I'm not a writer so many others don't hit home. You know those books that sell 50 Essays that Got Into Harvard? It's like if those essays were poems. I kept reading because "Japan" hit home closer than any poem in a while and I was hoping to replicate that feeling.

I look forward to this collection every year. It is always filled with a wide array of poets and poetry styles. This collection is personfor someone who is interested in reading more poetry but doesn't know where to start/what they like.

I have to preface this by saying I don’t read poetry. In school, I always hated the poetry units. But, as I've gotten older, I’ve found myself enjoying poems here and there scattered about the internet. So I thought I’d give this one a try. It must have something I like in it. Something that speaks to me—right? This book is one of those books that has to be savored, it can’t be devoured in one or two sittings like most books I read. (At least by someone like me, who isn’t used to reading poetry.) This book has work I really enjoyed, and some I didn’t. It had poems that were easy to decipher, and others that weren’t. I even had to look up a few words, but that’s great because I was looking for something new. Something different from my normal reads. I wanted something that would give my brain a workout, and The Best American Poetry 2024 did just that. I haven’t found a favorite poem in it yet, but Mary Jo Salter’s intro endeared me to her. Her intro convinced me that there would be something in the book that would speak to me louder than the others, and I can’t wait to find it.

One of the things I appreciate most about this series is how each guest editor’s unique taste shapes the collection. This year, Salter’s influence is evident in the mix of well-known poets and emerging voices she’s chosen. Many of the poems feature ruminations on aging and on human interactions with technology, which seem to be on the mind of Salter herself.

Standouts for me included Julia Alvarez’s “Amenorrhea,” with its haunting meditation on fertility, and Billy Collins’ “The Monet Conundrum,” which cleverly plays with the idea of repetition and difference in art. These poems lingered with me long after I’d turned the page, and I found myself returning for another read.

That said, not every poem resonated with me. Poetry is such a subjective experience, and while some readers might find a particular poem deeply moving, others might struggle to connect with it. There were moments when I found myself feeling a bit disconnected, especially with some of the more experimental or stream-of-consciousness pieces. However, that’s the beauty of an anthology like this—it offers something for everyone, even if not every piece hits the mark.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This anthology offers a diverse collection of poems, ensuring there's likely something to appeal to everyone. I found the experience of reading through it enjoyable enough. Apparently, each year, a new editor curates the selections, so the final result is strongly influenced by that editor's preferences. This year, most of the poets included are already pretty well known within the poetry world, but there were some interesting choices that made the read worthwhile.

reading this series for the second year in a row & my past issues with anthologies as a whole remain present in full force. mary jo salter’s selection for 2024’s edition is certainly timely and quite broad, but ultimately our personal tastes in poetry diverge & i found myself frustrated or bored with several of the poems she included.

For me, most of these went over my head. I normall enjoy works like there where I am shown poems/stories/etc that introduce me to new authors. However, these ones didn’t speak to me and many of them were difficult to follow and understand. Poetry is so subjective and this just wasn’t for me.

I enjoyed the poems in here. Some were spiritual. Some were about very ordianry experiences. poetry meeting both the extremes of the mundane and deified.

Every year, I look forward to the best series. These are an annual buy for me and I devour them in the Fall months. This one is one of the best editions and I would highly recommend!

Another great collection from this anthology series. I'll be looking for more and recommending this one.

Fantastic, broad ranging showcase of poetry and different poetic voices in 2023 from various sources.

I've read and owned many "Best American Poetry" books in the collection over the years, but I have to say this one is the best I've read. It contains numerous terrific poems with different styles, some well know authors and some not, and most of these poems are those kinds of poems you want to dog-ear the pages on and re-read again & again! I will be buying a paperback copy as soon as this book is released and look forward to reading them again for many years.

This anthology certainly does contain what could be considered the "best" poems. The poems are either thoughtful or fun, and the vastness of topics and styles means that there is something for everyone. The introductions were fantastic and set up what to expect quite well, and I enjoyed the discussions about poetry and appreciated the thoughts on AI and what that means for the arts. This book is a needed addition to poetry lovers and would make teaching poetry to the next generation easier.

I have always read the Best American Poetry, since its inception, and I buy the book every year. This edition is a treat, with a varied group of poets and poems and poetic forms,

I’ve been reading this series off and on for thirty years and this is my favorite edition by far. This year’s editor picked so many poems that I really enjoyed. So often in the past most of the poems have seemed overly academic, pretentious, odd, or (forgive me) boring, and I had pretty much given up on ever enjoying these books. I marked so many poems in this year’s to come back to, though. I am definitely a fan of Mary Jo Salter as an editor.

As examples, here is the end of Julia Alvarez’s Amenorrhea:

Month after month
I neither bleed nor bear.
This woman’s barrenness
revives the poet’s fear—
the line stops here.

Or Billy Collins’ poem, The Monet Conundrum:

Is every one of these poems
different from the others,
he asked himself,
as the rain quieted down,

or are they all the same poem,
haystack after haystack
at different times of day,
different shadows and shades of hay?

If I could only own one year’s anthology, this would definitely be my pick.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.