Silver: Poems is a 2024 poetry collection by Rowan Ricardo Phillips, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.[1] The book's poems utilize wide variety of techniques—ranging from elegy to terza rima—and discuss broad themes of faith, truth, and crisis, among others. Phillips' fourth collection, it was longlisted for the 2024 National Book Award for Poetry.[2]
 | |
| Author | Rowan Ricardo Phillips |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux |
Publication date | March 5, 2024 |
| Pages | 80 |
| ISBN | 978-0374611316 |
| Preceded by | Living Weapon: Poems |
Critical reception
editPublishers Weekly called the book "Musical and erudite" and said "Readers will take pleasure in this poetical flowering."[3] Library Journal wrote "From fox to car to misty morning, silver glints throughout this polished collection, woven in like meaningfulness in life. A strong entry, appealing for most readers."[4]
Critics observed Phillips' approach to the value of poetry and the capacity of meaning writ large. NPR, in a group of poetry reviews alongside Modern Poetry by Diane Seuss and The Gone Thing by Monica McClure, assessed the book's argument for poetry in "an increasingly isolating and terrifying era".[5] Open Letters Review found the book inconsistent but said "Still, when Phillips is good, he’s really good, conjuring up images as memorable as any in five thousand years of poetry."[6]
Other critics analyzed the musicality of Phillips' poems. The Times Literary Supplement said Silver "is a book full of thought with the sound turned up. Its musical patterning, its syncopations and assonances, is pronounced and central to its movement and arguments".[7] The Harvard Crimson similarly stated "Phillips makes it clear that his goal is not just to make poetry, but music."[8]
The book appeared in several lists. The Guardian named it in a list of the best recent poetry in March of 2024.[9] LitHub mentioned it in a round-up of March 2024 releases.[10] The Irish Times included it in a July article reviewing several books of poetry.[11]
References
edit- ^ Phillips, Rowan Ricardo (2024). Silver. New York: Farrar Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-61131-6.
- ^ "Here's the longlist for the 2024 National Book Award for Poetry". Literary Hub. 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ "Silver by Rowan Ricardo Phillips". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ "Silver: Poems". Library Journal. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ Teicher, Craig Morgan (March 7, 2024). "3 collections take the poetic measure of America in the aftermath of the pandemic". NPR.
- ^ Bies, Eric (2024-04-15). "Silver by Rowan Ricardo Philipps". Open Letters Review. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ Ryan, Declan. "A poet's exploration of faith and the void". TLS. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ Weaver, John M. (March 26, 2024). "'Silver' Review: The Sonorous Music of Paradoxes | Arts | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ Wheatley, David (2024-05-03). "The best recent poetry – review roundup". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ Bellot, Gabrielle (2024-03-05). "Keith Haring! Helen Oyeyemi! Xochitl Gonzalez! 25 new books out today". Literary Hub. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ Evans, Martina (July 28, 2024). "New poetry: Ancient Burial Ground; Cargo; Silver; After You Were I Am". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-11-15.