Poetic License

100 Poems - 100 Performers

De: Emily Dickinson, e. e. cummings, William Wordsworth, Billy Collins, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Allen Ginsberg

Narrado por: Jason Alexander, Christine Baranski, Charles Busch, Chris Sarandon, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael York

Why a poetry album? Easy answer: I love poetry. I love reading it. I love memorizing it. I love hearing great actors recite it. As the poet Mark Strand wrote, “Ink runs from the corners of my mouth / There is no happiness like mine / I have been eating poetry.” In the past, when I was full from eating, I have had the audacity to set poetry to music. But, on this audiobook, you will hear the music of the poems. Poetry unadorned. Words. Because in truth, great poetry needs nothing but a great actor, a voice as eloquent and expressive as the poem itself, to lift the poem off the page and into the heart.

I have never done a project that has elicited so much enthusiasm. From the actors arriving at the studio who thanked me for inviting them to participate, "Are you kidding?" I’d say, "Thank you!" to the engineers who would say, "I never got this stuff, but these guys make it so beautiful." This audiobook has been a joy from beginning to end, a true labor of love. And whenever I heard my stomach rumbling during the production process, I always knew I could find something delicious to eat in the studio. Mmmm. Yeats? That hits the spot.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2010 GPR Records - Spoken Word (P)2013 GPR Records - Spoken Word

Variety!!

Would you listen to Poetic License again? Why?

Absolutely!! It was a great listen. It had all different kinds of poems, read by different people. This made it a very fun experience.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the variety and the quality of the readers.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

I loved the reading of the “The Nap Taker” by Shel Silverstein. There are so many good pomes on the audio book it is definitely worth buying.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I couldn't wait for the next poem

Any additional comments?

If you love poetry this is an awesome read / listen! It is an amazing selection of poems / poets with awesome readers!

Fantastic!

The readings are fantastic and so, so many surprises! It was a joy to listen to and I’m sure I’ll be re-listening to this again soon.

Just the poems Mam.

An enjoyable collection of poems but I preferred the Poets Corner collection by Lithgow with its mini summary of each poet and poem to give context.

Worth Reading, Worth Hearing

Great Poetic Anthology! Well read, well acted. Recommend it a listen for every poetry lover.

Absolutely love this!

Thoroughly enjoyed he selections and the performances. Recommended for poetry aficionados. Repeatedly listening to this and wish a volume two was in the works.

License to think

Excellent dramatic readings of some golden oldies and some new favorites that allows for a new way to experience connected emotions and ideas.

What's the problem with no chapter titles?

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Great collection, but frustrating with no chapter titles.

Any additional comments?

Why can't audible title chapters when books have them titled? Especially with a poetry collection, it would seem an obvious addition.

Well done.

An interesting selection well read. I wish it included blurbs about the poet's or the social context in which each post wrote.

Amazing readings!

The readings really make the poems jump to life. The actors did a wonderful job. I hope they will make more of these in the future.

Needs Pausing

I enjoy listening to poetry being read, but I have always valued having a moment to catch my breath before the next poem began. Most of the poems I liked, many were great and I would have loved if the device permitted to more easily play again. It was simply that poetry should be digested, better perhaps, breathed in. There was not a moment for that. If the poems had been gently separated by 10 seconds of music, they would have been easier to pause. As is, I tended to keep a finger on the pause button which interferes with listening. Readers were wonderful...but they need, and deserve some space.