Actual Air by David Berman
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Book Reviews of Actual Air
Book Review: Suburban Kids With Biblical Names
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was a kid, my mom used to always say that she'd be home from work in time to take me to soccer practice. But she rarely was. Luckily, I lived across the street from the soccer field and I was seldom late. However, I lived in a little apartment with my mom and sister and kids sometimes commented about it. "At least I don't live in some crummy apartment" they'd say. Something else happened in soccer that was bad. We were supposed to bring orange (pronounced ar-inge on the East Coast) slices or pop (again, sodas on the East Coast) to a designated game. When it was my turn to bring orange slices, my mom was late. All of the kids were complaining that they wouldn't have these citrus delights to suck on durning half-time. The coach felt bad for me and wouldn't tell the other kids who was supposed to have brought the orange slices. But my mom showed up halfway through the game with the orange slices and all the kids looked at me said "Oh, so it was you that was supposed to bring them." I just feel sorry for the kid who brought grapefruit juice instead of pop.Book Review: Hey, musicians really can write!
Summary: 5 Stars
(I figured I'd put this at the top so people would catch this -- Berman announced a nice while ago that he has another book of poetry/prose on the way currently titled "Richard Simmons 1950-?")
I found Actual Air through David Berman's band Silver Jews, and since then I think I enjoy his writing even more than his music (which is hard to imagine). Berman manages to keep a cool slice of wit while not taking it too far, has a nice regard for the strangeness in the world around him, and is probably the best "Americana" poet I've ever encountered. A few poems fumble in a few spots with overly awkward language (which really just seems like slightly more hurried diction), but otherwise this is a very good first release for a poet. I forgot we still had those these days -- clever poets.
Book Review: As good as a Jews album, which is a good thing....
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this because I love the Silver Jews and Berman's words are probably the best part of their music. Like his lyrics, this is brilliant, thought-provoking, and clever... not pretensious at all in my opinion (see guy below). The best description that keeps popping into my head is "full of revelations".. maybe *that* is pretensious but that's what i think. My favorite "revelation" (or "pretensious" moment, if you think): "As a way of getting in touch with my origins / every night I set the alarm clock / for the time I was born, so that waking up / becomes a historical reenactment". Simply a very enjoyable, funny read all the way through. If you like the Joos, get this. If you like this, get some Silver Jews. If you don't know either...try one!Book Review: Actual Air made me taller and more handsome!
Summary: 5 Stars
Saint David the prolific is once again saving our souls. The book carries an honesty and clarity rare in modern poetry, or modern life for that matter. The works here harken back to a time earlier this evening, as you sat at the table, staring at your glass of milk and wondering why your older brother never calls you. It's a simple choice for you, read it now or spend hours agonizing about the time you wasted without these words in your heart. When your heart swells you will understand. May the Silver Jew ride off into the sunset, in a chevy nova listening to steppenwolf. Berman, I salute you.Book Review: changed me
Summary: 5 Stars
actual air makes me feel proud to be an American. If this book came from america , and I came from America, things feel better now. I don't know how proud the author is of America, but that's beside the point.I am in the process of telling everyone I know to buy this book , because it is very good. Very good is not enough to say about how good it is, but I feel uncomfortable expressing more fanatical praise, although I probably should - just to get the point across about how very very good the book is. Imagine how good it might be. It is better even, than that.