Kirjahaku

Leslie Harrison's collection marks the arrival of an assured new poetic voice. Chosen as the winner of the 2008 Bakeless Prize in poetry by guest judge Eavan Boland, Displacement addresses questions of place and, of course, displacement--from marriage and home--and explores the aftershocks of being uprooted physically and emotionally. Paired with Harrison's natural, keen sense of rhythm, the central themes of impermanence and loss are heightened by the poems' impeccable structure. In a masterful display of formal precision, the collection is filled with "engaging contradictions," says Eavan Boland. In her introduction, Boland writes, "There is a poignancy, poise, and a presence about this book and about its traffic between secrecy and disclosure that allows it to have an unusual force, and a true grip on its reader. This is a real lyric journey; and the reader will take it, too."

Fifteenth-century theologian and philosopher Nicholas Malebranche said that attentiveness is the natural prayer of the soul. The title of this third collection by National Book Award finalist Harrison means both to pay attention to, and to be concerned by. These strange and moving poems take as one of their central tenets that the act of paying attention engenders care, empathy, and love. From the widest lenses--history, time itself, the abandoned machines of space, ancient plagues, and the moon--to the smallest creatures we share the imperiled planet with--mice, wood frogs, birds, bats, and bees--the poems of Reck ask what it means to live and how we can love in our historical moment, beset as we are by climate change, pandemic, war and cataclysms great and small. An early poem invites-- "Come be with me we have tickets for the end/ of the world." By turns funny, bitter, and deeply lyrical, this is a book of love, attention, concern, and grief.

Fifteenth-century theologian and philosopher Nicholas Malebranche said that attentiveness is the natural prayer of the soul. The title of this third collection by National Book Award finalist Harrison means both to pay attention to, and to be concerned by. These strange and moving poems take as one of their central tenets that the act of paying attention engenders care, empathy, and love. From the widest lenses--history, time itself, the abandoned machines of space, ancient plagues, and the moon--to the smallest creatures we share the imperiled planet with--mice, wood frogs, birds, bats, and bees--the poems of Reck ask what it means to live and how we can love in our historical moment, beset as we are by climate change, pandemic, war and cataclysms great and small. An early poem invites-- "Come be with me we have tickets for the end/ of the world." By turns funny, bitter, and deeply lyrical, this is a book of love, attention, concern, and grief.

After years of hunting terrorists in Europe, operative Valentine Frankland is called back to Washington to deal with an old enemy. As expected, Val is given a hostile reception when he reunites with what is left of his old team, but when he meets new team member Susanne Wilder, something unexpected happens--he falls in love. For the first time in years, Val doesn't know what to do. His love for Susanne is undeniable, but every time he lets someone get close, tragedy strikes. He can't imagine a life without her, but his enemies are everywhere. Their love puts Susanne's life in danger. Val decides to resign and walk away from the life he has known so that he and Susanne can be together, but his enemies are not dissuaded so easily. When there are multiple attempts on his life--one of which nearly succeeds--Val resists the urge to retaliate, even when he suspects the involvement of one of his own team members. But when Susanne is kidnapped, all bets are off . This time it's personal, and he will stop at nothing to make his enemies pay.

After years of hunting terrorists in Europe, operative Valentine Frankland is called back to Washington to deal with an old enemy. As expected, Val is given a hostile reception when he reunites with what is left of his old team, but when he meets new team member Susanne Wilder, something unexpected happens--he falls in love. For the first time in years, Val doesn't know what to do. His love for Susanne is undeniable, but every time he lets someone get close, tragedy strikes. He can't imagine a life without her, but his enemies are everywhere. Their love puts Susanne's life in danger. Val decides to resign and walk away from the life he has known so that he and Susanne can be together, but his enemies are not dissuaded so easily. When there are multiple attempts on his life--one of which nearly succeeds--Val resists the urge to retaliate, even when he suspects the involvement of one of his own team members. But when Susanne is kidnapped, all bets are off . This time it's personal, and he will stop at nothing to make his enemies pay.