Best Poetry Books/Chapbooks of 2008
Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 10:37PM We asked small press editors what their three favorite books of the year were, and the results are really interesting. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I guess I was picturing some sort of consensus. Instead, of the 25 books/chapbooks nominated, only two were mentioned even twice. The “clear-cut” favorite--garnering two first place votes--was Kate Greenstreet’s This is Why I Hurt You, from Lame House Press. End Notebook by Geoffrey Olsen (Petrichord Books) was the other, receiving a second and third place vote. So what this ended up being is a comprehensive “25 Books/Chapbooks You Should Read” list, as opposed to another tired “Best of” list. Shame on us.
Anyway, here are the books that received one first place vote each:
David Gitin’s Rites (Anchorite Press), Brandon Shimoda’s The Alps (Flim Forum Press), Nathalie Stephens’ At Alberta (Book Thug), Karen Volkman’s nomina (BOA Editions), Micah Ballard’s Parish Krewes (Bootstrap Press), CJ Martin’s Lo, Bittern (Atticus/Finch), and Claire Hero’s afterpastures (Caketrain).
Second place vote getters:
Landis Everson’s When You Have a Rabbit (Cy Gist Press), Andrew Joron’s The Sound Mirror (Flood Editions), Chris Vitiello’s Irresponsibility (Ahsahta Press), Daniela Olszewska’s Jane Doe (Dancing Girl Press), Barrett Gordon’s evening (House Press), Kate Colby’s Unbecoming Behavior (Ugly Duckling Presse), Sandra Simonds’ Warsaw Bikini (Bloof Books), and GC Waldrep’s One Way No Exit (Tarpaulin Sky).
Third place vote getters:
Brett Price’s Trouble With Mapping (Flying Guillotine Press), Carolyn Guinzio’s Quarry (Free Verse Editions), Renee Gladman’s To After That (Toaf) (Atelos), Sampson Starkweather’s City of Moths (Rope-A-Dope Press), Kim Chinquee’s Oh Baby: Flash Fictions and Prose Poetry (Ravenna Press), Devin Johnston’s Sources (Turtle Point Press), Danielle Prafunda’s My Zorba (Bloof Books), and Rebecca Loudon’s Cadaver Dogs (No Tell Books).
A rebellious fourth place vote went to:
Mark Lamoureux’s Astronomy Orgonon (BlazeVox Books).
It also ended up being quite a collection of presses; only one (Bloof Books) had even two nominees. And I was glad to see two of my favorite books of the year get their props--Chris Vitiello’s Irresponsibility (Ahsahta Press) and Sampson Starkweather’s City of Moths (afterall, I chose it for Rope-A-Dope Press’ Golden Gloves Chapbook Series).
Thanks to all the editors who responded and of course to all of the poets and publishers who made these books possible.
Reader Comments (15)
Where is the nomination for Hit Wave by Jon Leon (Kitchen Press)? Easily the best chapbook I read last year. It is the best chapbook I read this year, too.
I think you just nominated it! It really is a terrific chapbook.
Thanks for the good words about Chris Vitiello's IRRESPONSIBILITY! And seeing Kate Greenstreet's lovely chap get the top vote is also a heartwarmer.
I agree about Hit Wave. In fact, I bought ten copies to give to friends. Thanks for bring it up Dan!
hey chris, you flatter me and i love every bit of it! thanks for the shout out. it was a good year for books, wasn't it?
chris salerno gave me hocquard's a test of solitude after i finished your book...but i have to say, while i of course loved it, i liked irresponsibility better. seriously. vitiello is vitiello. anyway, there will be a micro-review of it out in the next issue of handsome. and i listed on the No Tell site when Reb put out a call for folks' fave books of 2008.
If Chris and Chris makeout at AWP, I promise to take pictures and post them on this blog. Who says social networking online doesn't produce timeless romance?
what about chris and chris AND chris!
janaka & dan: thanks for giving HIT WAVE a shout-out.
there's a pretty sweet review of HIT WAVE in the new Octopus:
http://www.octopusmagazine.com/issue11/hoy.htm
Wow, what a great list of books/authors and some newer presses to explore. Thanks.
Chris, so, I don't know how I missed your email asking me/TSky about this, but I just found it today. Since this doesn't really "matter" now, anyway, because I'm a tardy loser, here's three greats that weren't on the list:
BOOK-BOOK: Sandy Florian, The Tree of No (Action Books)
CHAP-BOOK: Karyna McGlynn, Alabama Steve (Destructible Heart Press)
HAND-BOUND-CHAP-BOOK: Mary Burger, A Partial Handbook for Navigators (Interbirth Books)
Thanks, Christian! And no worries about being late....thanks for the three new titles! See you in Chicago?
What a delight to see David Gitin's RITES from Anchorite Press in the first place column! I've known David for 35 years and there's never been a Gitin book that isn't a winner. Great to see him/his work get its dues. A whole new generation gets to discover this national treasure thanks to Anchorite Press. And here's to all the small presses doing big things!
can you note which of these are chapbooks?