Thanks Red Hen Press and NetGalley for the gifted DRC book.

I finished reading SONNETS FOR A MISSING KEY and immediately read it a second time. I find it difficult to write about poetry. I enjoyed this collection as it moved from sonnets to pieces of different structure. There were some very memorable lines. At some point, I’d love to devote time to studying poetry in an academic sense. For now, I have to stick with these simple thoughts.

Percival Everett has become one of my authors in the recent years.
I was very intrigued by Sonnets for a Missing Key, but I have to admit it wasn't for me.
There were parts I enjoyed and admired, but overall I couldn't fully connect to it.
It's very inventive and I enjoyed the way language was explored through music and sonnets.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It's Percival Everett. Just read it. You won't regret it. And if you listen, you might hear Chopin in the words.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this poetry book

This was a nice read and I enjoyed quite a few of the poems, this was a fast read and an enjoyable one as well, think I will start reading more poetry from now on

An Unsophisticate at the Tasting Table

Percival Everett is remarkable. I have been treated to a number of his works in the past few years, including the brilliant “James,” “The Trees,” and “Erasure.” His wit, insight, and humor just serve to delight.

Sonnets? I am totally unqualified to judge this collection. I have been exposed to very little poetry, let alone sonnets. I feel like an amateur at a vintage wine tasting event. These pieces were paired with the works of Chopin and Art Tatum– um, okay (?)

What I was able to do was savor bits and pieces of these works. I had to slow down, reread most of these more than once, not rush. So many quick ideas and musings hit home… and then vanished.

Some of my favorites:
“We climbed at the language , the idea that one climbs down. With a little practice, you said, we could, if we wanted, fall up.”

“When you told me you were sick I didn’t believe you and then of course, of course I did. When they told me you were dead I didn’t believe them, and I didn’t and I didn’t and I didn’t I did when you told me. When you told me you were dead I believed you. Even then I had my doubts.”

And, addressing my viewpoint…
“I wanted to see it. I wanted to be free enough to see it…I wanted to be that smart, that free.”

I enjoyed these rich creations, as much as anyone who is intimidated by the art form.

Thank you to Red Hen Press and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #SonnetsforaMissingKey #NetGalley

After loving American Fiction, based on Everett's Erasure, and his novel James, I was excited to get my hands on this collection of sonnets. Unfortunately, this really didn’t resonate with me. Some poetry collections cut right through to your soul, but this wasn’t one of them. I tried reading it in different moods and settings, but nothing clicked. The coherence of the tone felt absent, and I couldn't connect with it despite trying to search for hidden meanings and symbolism. While I love Everett’s dry approach to fiction, this poetry collection just isn’t for me.

Thank you Net Galley and Red Hen Press for the opportunity to review this collection.

I can appreciate the concept of this poetry and the way it explores language through musical elements. I know this collection won’t be for everyone, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to experience more conceptual and structured poetry, especially the music lovers and musicians I know! There were some lines that landed so strongly and had this rippling effect, lingering with you, causing you to go back to them—while a lot of the other lines were just well-written, but not as emotive. While I think some of these works might not be completely understood by some readers, there will be readers for whom this book radiates.

An enjoyable and evocative read, Although the overall structure and themes of the book were elusive to me as a first time reader of Percival James poetry, I will seek out more of it.

Truly breathtaking poems that really reflect Everett's talent. While his book James, is still, in my opinion, the best work I have read this year, and probably decade, (and a novel I re-read before reading this just to take notes on that masterpiece) Sonnets for a Missing Key does not need to live up to his magnum opus (or his other magnum opus Erasure) since it is different. And for what it offers, in the form of poignant and hard hitting poems, it delivers on. Hard. Feeling more like a passion project than any of his previous writing, here, Everett's entire collection of poems flow together, to not give anything away, like music to the ear in book form. In other words, gracefully and all well-connected. Something I hate when I read a collection of poems is when it feels like they were randomly chosen and don't work altogether. To me, it is something that plagues collections of poems. Gratefully, Everett makes his poems so precise in their well-chosen nature that make it, to me, worth an extra re-read in truly being able to not just dissect each on their own, but together as a work of art and looking back as to how it all flows together. Another issue I have, this time with poems on their own, is how simplistic sometimes they can be. I am a fan of short and to the point poems, yes, but I also find so many poems overly simplistic that leave the power of it to the lingering imagination of it's reader rather than providing much substance. Gratefully, again, Everett delivers on providing either direct poems that hit with their straightforward and raw prose or either simple and fundamental to the collection that fit in the line of "less is better". As a whole, a worthwhile read.

Sonnets for a Missing Key: And Some Others is a a collections of poems that plays with both musical mode and language. Much like the artwork that marks each page, they follow a path of their own that one can follow, but with some surprises on that journey.

Percival Everett is better known for his novels, including this year's James: A Novel, but has also released several volumes of poetry joined by this one.

Recommended to those interested in Percival Everett or poetry.

Although I read poetry daily, this was not for me. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy. It is beautifully laid out. The cover unique but sonnets? Just because a poem is 14 lines is that a sonnet? I am not a purist but when is a form a form?
Maybe my lack of musical background also interfered, but he is no Art Tatum of poetry. Some lines as other suggested resonate but again a few lines are not enough to label it a 5 star the book.

I have only read prose from Everett so I can’t say anything about poetry that might have come before. I really liked this. Poetry that follows a structure, a pattern, or as is the case here the way music is constructed, has always appealed to me. This is by no means a warm or particularly inviting book. But the reader the stays with it will be rewarded with poetic compositions that somehow evoke music and stays all their own at the same time

Well, these poems are very different. Free, expressionist, more like jazz than the Chopin Preludes they reference. Each of the sonnets is designated by a key–E b, B minor, D Major, etc.

Some lines grabbed me.

“Time still hunts us, does it not?”

“…the truth is but a series of contingent statements.”

“We project deities onto the night sky, drawings of mammals in the stars, sketches of crabs, of scorpions because they scare us.”

Several poems stood out. B Minor with a child’s drawing and the poet insisting there was an elephant in the scribble-scrabble, not really seeing it but wanting to see it.

Like most poetry, this collection isn’t something to whiz through. Pick it up and read it little by little, opening yourself up without expectations, not needing to command it, just allow yourself to be led where it takes you.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.

A great little collection of poems. I had to read it twice (which is not difficult due to its size) to get what Everett was doing here. I'm a huge fan of Percival Everett's. His novels are all so unique -compared to other novels and within his own bibliography - so I was curious about this poetry. I feel I'll likely read and re-read this one a number of times as I'm certain I missed more in my first two readings than I actually 'got'.

4.5 Stars

A lovely collection of sonnets, of brief glimpses into a moment, first words and last ones, of life, and music, shared as if they are with the coming and going of tides. Of creatures that roam the forests, of rhythm and dancers, music. Of moments that are calm, of memories, of times throughout history, countries and governments. Of finding comparisons between what is and what it might resemble, of time, of death, of truth, of last breaths and sorrow. Of solace. Of peace. Of Life.


Pub Date: 20 Aug 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Red Hen Press

This might be your first Everett.
This might be your first sonnet book.
This might be your first poetry book (probably not).
I highly recommend this book due to Everett’s mastery of words and themes.
First of all, I normalise not fully understanding, grasping a piece of art/fiction, and still enjoying the thoughts, feelings, emotions, sensations it leaves you with.
Second of all, especially the first part (the part before the section called ‘Other Modes’) is dealing with themes of loss, missing and they will speak to readers easily.

I am not qualified to assess the structure of the sonnets and the references to Chopin’s preludes, but Everett is one of my favourite writers and one of the reasons why is his way of creating rhythms and his playing with words. If someone told me that I’d be spending a couple of hours of my 2024 summer reading a new Everett, I would have told them that they’re giving me a couple of dream hours. And so it was.
I am planning to do readings on sonnets and the Preludes and read this book, especially the second part again. Even without the Chopin layer, I enjoyed the interlink between the keys and these sonnets.

Percival Everett's Sonnets for a Missing Key is a masterful collection that defies conventional poetic structures while delving deeply into themes of loss, identity, and the relentless search for meaning. Known for his versatility and intellectual rigor, Everett brings a refreshing and thought-provoking approach to the sonnet form in this unique and compelling work.

Structure and Style

Everett's sonnets are not confined by the traditional 14-line structure. Instead, he uses the sonnet form as a canvas to experiment with language and form. This innovative approach allows for a more flexible and dynamic exploration of his themes. The poems are rich with intertextual references, blending classical and contemporary allusions seamlessly. His command over language is evident in the way he plays with words, creating layers of meaning that invite readers to engage with the text on multiple levels.

Themes and Motifs

At its core, Sonnets for a Missing Key is a meditation on absence and the human condition. The titular "missing key" serves as a metaphor for various forms of loss—emotional, spiritual, and existential. Everett explores the idea of searching for something elusive, whether it be understanding, closure, or a sense of self. The recurring motifs of doors, locks, and keys are employed with precision, symbolizing barriers and the potential for unlocking hidden truths.

One of the standout aspects of this collection is Everett's ability to intertwine personal and universal experiences. His sonnets capture moments of introspection and vulnerability, resonating with readers on an emotional level. The poems also reflect on broader social and cultural issues, offering poignant commentary on the human experience.

Highlights

Several sonnets in this collection stand out for their lyrical beauty and emotional depth. One particularly moving piece is "Sonnet for the Absent," which poignantly captures the longing and emptiness that accompanies loss. Everett's use of imagery is striking, evoking a sense of both despair and hope.

Another highlight is "Sonnet of the Search," where Everett's wordplay and rhythmic flow create a mesmerizing effect. The poem's exploration of the journey towards self-discovery is both profound and relatable, making it a standout piece in the collection.

Conclusion

Sonnets for a Missing Key is a testament to Percival Everett's prowess as a poet and his ability to push the boundaries of literary form. This collection is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant work that will linger in the minds of readers long after they have turned the final page. Everett's innovative approach to the sonnet form, combined with his exploration of timeless themes, makes this book a must-read for poetry enthusiasts and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the human experience.

The first half of this collection was more accessible, therefore better to me than the second. I struggled to follow many of the pieces in the latter section of the book. I am a new reader of this author and while I wasn't blown away, I'd read Everett again based on this collection's poignant moments.

This collection was not for me. I don't think I have read enough sonnets to know if this was good or not, so if you are a sonnet reader/expert please take my review with a grain of salt. As a casual poetry reader I know I struggled to understand these sonnets. However, its is a fast read that you can finish pretty quickly.

Side note: The text formatting in the ARC was off, sometimes it was hard to know when a sonnet began and ended.

Words to music, sonnets to preludes, highs and lows, humour to despair, time and memory, love and loss, life and death, the stars and the sea - the song of life!