Tropic of Squalor audiobook

Palpable and concentric - the poems in this book are sequestered parts of the pageantry and pace of life.

What can I say? This is classic Mary Karr: No holds barred poems about life in the Tropic of Squalor, that is, under the curse. Ms. Karr's observations are poignant and almost always have a comic element, even if it's dark. The poems are full of familiar themes for those who've read her memoirs. I don't read a lot of poetry, and my taste runs toward poets like Frost and Yeats and Dickinson, but I keep trying, mostly unsuccessfully, to expand my horizons. My favorite poetry of Karr's are the lyrics produced by her collaboration with Rodney Crowell on the album "Kin."

“Tropic of Squalor” ranges in subject from the personal to the political. Many of the poems have an autobiographical voice, and an early poem, “Illiterate Progenitor,” speaks to life with a father “undiluted by the written word.” This poem inspired me to write about my own family. And although Karr never mentions political figures by name, astute readers will understand the subtext. As with her memoir “The Liar’s Club,” Karr infuses some poems with a fair amount of “crazy.” Karr has structured the last half of the collection as “The Less Holy Bible,” which borrows titles of biblical books reframed as indictments of those who call themselves Christians but who have abandoned any semblance of Christianity in their lives. “Numbers: Poison Profundis,” comments on polluting the bayou: “We live on a scab, that’s what I’m saying./How much is that worth?” Reviewers who criticize this collection as “too dark” don’t understand poetry’s responsibility to illuminate our lives and world, even its dark spaces. If I were to compare Karr’s tone to another poet, I’d turn to Sylvia Plath. As a poet, Karr hasn’t reached Plath’s iconic stature, but this collection does illuminate that which needs a light shone on it.

I don't read poetry often but I first encountered Mary on an On Being podcast, which I've listened to multiple times. I've read her memoir and then saw her live at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn. She read poetry aloud from this book and spoke about her inspirations. She is hilarious and so real. I especially love the ones of NY and her experience in the city -- articulated so well.

It has been a long time since I read a volume of poems which made me say "Wow!" more than a couple times. Karr's poems rarely disappoint, and this collection is an absolute joy, despite the suffering (probably because of it) the artist pulls us through like a cranky firefighter.A number of pieces had me stopping at the end to catch my breath or pray, not for anyone in particular, but about a universe in chaos. Some poems address the dead (the poet's father, a friend who had taken his life, the late Franz Wright), while others take the reader on trips where it is difficult but necessary to see the world in a sacramental light: subways, psych wards, and broken down houses. Most of the book is taken up by a twenty-poem sequence, "The Less Holy Bible." Here, Karr does not translate the books or give us modern interpretations of them, but instead imbues the spirit of their characters into the living world (the effects of the 9/11 attacks, for instance, are a recurring topic). They may seem irreverent, but I think they are holy, sacred in a sense that transcends religion, but does not deny it.This book is written in the plain English that has always made Karr's verse both powerful and necessary amidst the over-academic and double dense works that are the hallmarks of contemporary verse. But don't you dare confuse the writer with the Instagram "stars" who do nothing but re-format cliches of faux empowerment and angst onto pretty backgrounds. This is poetry with life because it has wrestled several incarnations of death.

I like Karr’s prose much better than her poetry, but there are some gems in the second half of this book, including a couple of searing 9/11 poems.

This collection is dark and thought provoking in the way only amazing poetry can be.

Goodreads wants to know “what did you think of this book?” I’m not even sure how to put it- there was like a buzz, a thrill that I experienced reading these poems, a familiarity with the landscape and an excitement of discovery as I read descriptions of that land that had not occurred to me. The section of biblical reimagining(s) is pure brilliance. I couldn’t wait to flip back to the first page and read these all over again. And again.I love these poemsI love this bookI love this poet

Viper Rum was the first of Mary Karr's work that I read and I was hooked. she's a great poet, and this volume is fantastic. As a poet Karr remains a tried and true storyteller and uses all the things I love about poetry to make these moments stick, sound, rhythm, white space, double meanings...a great volume.

Karr is getting better with age. This is so good.

All spiritual writing should be this grungy, this clear-eyed, this smart.

The first half of the collection was hit or miss for me, but "The Less Holy Bible" section was captivating from start to finish. In that latter half, Karr takes vignettes the hustle and bustle of NY and describes them with religious reverence, painting a vibrant portrait of overlooked people and small moments that make up a singular city. Standout poems "The Burning Girl," "XIV. Lamentations: The More Deceived," and "X. Psalms: Carnegie Hall Rush Seats."

I'm a big fan of Karr's memoirs, and this is my first of her poetry collections. It certainly did not disappoint. As with her prose, the writing here is sharp and concise, descriptions are vivid, and her concepts are unique. The poems are all relatively short and powerful. Having read her other works and knowing her voice, it comes through here loud and clear. Karr is a keen observer, and an expert and turning inner reflection into witty writing.