Beautiful collection of poetry for modern times. My only regret is not reading this in a quiet cabin near a stream.

Phillis Levin’s An Anthology of Rain is a meditation in miniature—a collection that doesn't just explore the weather, but inhabits it. These poems don’t rush; they accumulate, one precise image at a time, until you’re soaked in reflection. Levin has a rare ability to capture a moment in language so spare and exact it feels as though she’s sketching in fog, each line revealing only what needs to be seen.

Rain, in Levin’s hands, becomes more than backdrop—it’s memory, silence, transition. She writes into the pauses between things: between seasons, between people, between words. The result is a collection that feels both intimate and atmospheric, grounded and dreamlike. Her formal control is impeccable, but it never calls attention to itself. Instead, it frames the emotional undercurrents like a window misted over, the world beyond it slightly obscured and all the more beautiful for it.

This is a book to be read slowly. To sit with. To return to after storms—both literal and emotional—have passed. Levin reminds us that language, like rain, has the power to erode, to reveal, and to cleanse.

This was a lovely collection. Each poem was a delightful little moment I could step into and spend time with and I felt as though I was doing a sort of mindfulness practice. The poet uses simple, clear images to great effect. I also enjoyed seeing the use of forms like the tanka.

I have to admit that I am not normally a reader of poetry, but made an exception for this book. Although poetry can be (for me) a bit intimidating and difficult to understand., I found this book to be challenging at times, but more relatable and easier to understand. This book is an excellent one to take your time with, reading a poem or two a day, and really letting the words settle in. The theme of rain and water carries throughout the book, making it a soothing read. Thank you for Netgalley for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review, and for allowing me the chance to enjoy poetry.

This collection breathes culture and epitomises the human experience. Each poem presents human bonds and emotion in such a beautiful way. My favourites within this collection are "Duel of Roses" and "Metamorphosis".

I'm really sorry but this wasn't for me. Levin writes well with a keen ear for rhythm and language, but I didn't enjoy this at all.

At first I thought this book was about water. So when I read the book, its not all about water. There were a couple of short stories which were very good. Fun read. The poems are about many different things and I loved it. Good book and a must read

I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review

„An Anthology of Rain“ was the first time I have read something by Phillis Levin. Since I was not familiar with the poets work before, I did not know what to expect getting into this book. It is overall a nice collection of poems and Levin has an interesting style of writing that leads to a visual storytelling through her poems. Some of my personal favourite poems were „Light Meter“, „Secret Rites“, „Hat Saga“, „Giacometti’s Shadow“, „ORB“ and „Wooden Spoon“. As an art history student it was also nice to see the mention of some artists and their works, such as Giacometti, Vemeer and Bernini.

Thank you To NetGalley and Barrow Street Press for letting me read this ARC.

A beautiful poetry book filled with prose about longing, identity and the history of self and the world. I found some of the longer poems to be more tangible and relatable compared to the shorter ones. I identified with “secret rites” as it explored the emotional attachment to friendships and lovers as they grow apart. I found comfort in the weaving of natural elements into the prose.

Thank you for this wonderful poetry book NetGalley, Barrow Street Press & Phillis Levin.

The poems in this wonderful collection were a delight to read, varied as they are in structure, tone, and length. Some tell a story, while some capture a moment in time or a short musing on the poet's observation of nature. As I was reading, I often felt as though I was there, observing with her. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and I recommend it to poetry lovers and those who are wary of poetry but would like to explore further.

I was provided with a digital ARC of this book thanks to the publishing house, Barrow Street Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are completely my own.

This is the first collection of poetry I read by this author, and overall I quite enjoyed it. It's never easy to review poetry, because a lot of it is tied to the emotions and the image the words convey, and this anthology, like it could be easily guessed by the title deals with nature. Not only nature, but also how it is tied with humankind and our emotions. Some of these poems were truly stunning, others I felt were a bit repetitive, and I would have liked to see more variety, but that's a personal preference. I would read some other collections by this author for sure.

Lovely collection of poetry! Each one it's own little piece of something new. I do recommend giving this a read.

An Anthology of Rain showcases the work of a poet who is concise and economical with language and imagery. It is undeserving of the criticism I've seen about Levin's use of line breaks - these line breaks act as Levin's poetic breath as she writes in a variety of forms from perfect tankas to prose poems exploring the expanse of childhood.

Levin has a mature voice and style that ensures this collection is a pleasure to read and savour because she is a poet secure in her storytelling. From the flash fiction-esque poem 'Man in Red Shoes' capturing a brief sighting of colour on the street, on the feet of a stranger, to the unwinding of nostalgia and sibling love present in 'Mapmakers: A Sketch', Levin's work is thoroughly enjoyable and evocative.

I’m no means an expert in poetry, but I had a hard time enjoying this book because for a lot of the poems, some of the line breaks seem abrupt or jarring, disrupting the poem’s cadence - and this strategy is repeated for a lot of poems. Some of the poems truly have beautiful and evocative imagery.

However, I also found many to be melancholic in nature and hard to connect to, although perhaps the book’s title An Anthology of Rain should have been a giveaway. It could be just me as I enjoy the rain and see it more as a symbol of hope, but this wasn’t my cup of tea.

Thank you to Barrow Street Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review.