A Little Book of Sonnets (2015)

Jack Ross, ed.: Poetry NZ Yearbook 2 [Issue #50] (November 2015)

Books and Magazines in brief:

Julie Leibrich. A Little Book of Sonnets. ISBN 978-1-927242-29-2. Wellington: Steele Roberts Aotearoa, 2013. RRP $19.99. 64 pp.

Julie Leibrich: A Little Book of Sonnets (2013)

This is a beautifully bound and presented little hardback volume of verse. There are twelve poems here, flanked by as many colour photographs. I have to admit to certain reservations about the idea of committing oneself to quite so many strictly rhymed Shakespearean sonnets at a time, though. There’s a certain element of technical tour-de-force when they do come off, and a certain disappointment when they don’t. I like the little prose vignettes, and – very much – the images. I don’t think the rhymes always set off Julie Leibrich’s talents to their best advantage, though: perhaps her guest feature in Poetry NZ 17 (1997) is more representative, not to mention her two powerful collections from Steele Roberts: The Paper Road (1998) and Land Below the Waves (2004).

(26-30/10/15)

Poetry New Zealand Yearbook 2 [Issue #50]. ISSN 0114-5770 (2014): 272.

[144 wds]


Poetry NZ Yearbook 2 (2015)


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