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The Poets' Corner: The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family Audiobook
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(4.03) - 221 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From listening to his grandmother recite epic poems from memory to curling up in bed while his father read funny verses, award-winning actor John Lithgow grew up with poetry. Ever since, John has been an enthusiastic seeker of poetic experience, whether reading, reciting, or listening to great poems.
The wide variety of carefully selected poems in this book provides the perfect introduction to appeal to readers new to poetry, and for poetry lovers to experience beloved verses in a fresh, vivid way. William Blake, Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, and Dylan Thomas are just a few names among Lithgow's comprehensive list of poetry masters. His essential criterion is that "each poem's light shines more brightly when read aloud." This unique package provides a multimedia poetry experience with a bonus MP3 CD of revelatory poetry readings by John and the familiar voices of such notable performers as Eileen Atkins, Kathy Bates, Glenn Close, Billy Connolly, Jodie Foster, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Lynn Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, Gary Sinise, and Sam Waterston.
Every reader will enjoy reciting or listening to these poems with the entire family, appreciating how each one comes to life through the spoken word in this superlative poetry collection.
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"This is Lithgow's collection of fifty poets and their poems. An eclectic mix of old and new, British and American, with a bit of biographical material. I enjoyed the book and came across a number of poets I had not heard of and poems I had not heard. The book includes a CD of poetry read aloud - a good idea. I would recommend the book to others to refresh your memory of old friends and to make new ones."
— Bob (4 out of 5 stars)
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“What happens when you combine the important works of fifty stellar poets with actors as diverse as Jodie Foster, Billy Connolly, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Lynn Redgrave, Gary Sinise, and Sam Waterston (to name but a few) and commentary from actor, writer, and poetry lover John Lithgow? You get an outstanding audio presentation that truly matches its billing as The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family.”
— Audiofile
The Poets' Corner Listener Reviews
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" Good survey. Lots of poets I had not yet read. And I found a few I really liked: Elizabeth Bishop, William Gilbert, A. E. Housman, Christina Rossetti, and Gertrude Stein. "
— Rachel, 12/17/2013 -
" I love poetry as a whole. I tend to skip over the depressing poems if they never show any bright sides. Elizabeth Bishop has a poem, Filling Station, kind of dark, but her words are so descriptive. I felt I was viewing the old gas station, absorbing the details. "
— Cheryl, 11/20/2013 -
" This is definitely one for audio book format, thoroughly enjoyable in every way. "
— Stephanie, 11/15/2013 -
" loved this book. my thoughts are in verse and poem form, i see the world differently. i love and seek after books that show me the beautiful world that i am very attune to already. "
— Mirielle, 11/13/2013 -
" Sometimes just a poem will do. I keep this one handy "
— Wilma, 10/10/2013 -
" Having little understanding for modern poetry, I was delighted by some of the more clasic poems. The others were okay; no more. "
— Lt., 9/17/2013 -
" I love reading poems the calm my nerves and they are just peaceful to read. "
— Avani, 9/15/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this collection. I listened to the audio book and really enjoyed the different voices that brought the poems to life. "
— Amy, 3/14/2013 -
" second time reading. Always inspiring me to read more than I have time for. "
— Larry, 2/16/2013 -
" Though I'm not passionate about poetry I enjoyed the book and CD. "
— Jolene, 2/14/2013 -
" A surprisingly enjoyable read, this book provides a little insight into each of the poets, followed by a sample or two of his/her work. It also gives some interesting resources to hear recordings of some poets reading their work aloud. Can't wait to read some more. "
— Claire, 11/26/2012 -
" This is a nice way to be introduced or reintroduced to some classic poetry. I was hoping for a little more excitement or silliness. Still, a very nice book that may bring Lithgow enthusiasts along to the poetry party. "
— amy, 10/25/2012 -
" My favorite kind of poetry anthology, organized alphabetically and chosen by John Lithgow, a poetry fan. "
— Barbara, 8/14/2012 -
" Such a wonderful collection of the world's poetry "
— Chrissy, 7/12/2012 -
" This is a wonderful survey of the best and the brightest (American, British and white) poets and their famous works. The short bios of each help you to understand the context in which they were writing. John Lithgow as your guide makes it even better~his love and appreciation is infectious. "
— Janet, 11/12/2011 -
" I loved this book. His love of poetry and the strong memories itgives him is so evident. An even greater treat was when i discovered theaudio version. Fantastic! "
— Jennifer, 9/19/2011 -
" I'm half way through and am enjoying the selected poems immensely. John Lithgow's comments are enlightening and make the poems more approachable. This is a good collection for young readers. "
— Susan, 7/19/2011 -
" This was amazing. I could listen to John Lithgow and Gary Sinise read poetry to me all day long. A great collection--I will be buying this in print as well as on audio so I can re-read and re-listen at my leisure. "
— Lynda, 7/11/2011 -
" This is a must have poetry book. I am a big fun of John Lithgow. He has done a wonderful job in this compilation. The book came in with a MP3. My children and I enjoy the animated reading of many poems. "
— Leticia, 6/9/2011 -
" I love reading poems the calm my nerves and they are just peaceful to read. "
— Avani, 5/11/2011 -
" My favorite kind of poetry anthology, organized alphabetically and chosen by John Lithgow, a poetry fan. "
— Barbara, 4/2/2011 -
" loved this book. my thoughts are in verse and poem form, i see the world differently. i love and seek after books that show me the beautiful world that i am very attune to already. "
— Lila, 11/21/2010 -
" Good survey. Lots of poets I had not yet read. And I found a few I really liked: Elizabeth Bishop, William Gilbert, A. E. Housman, Christina Rossetti, and Gertrude Stein. "
— Rachel, 6/18/2010 -
" A CD comes with this that has the poems read by big voices like John Lithgow. Such an excellent way to hear the nuances of a poem! "
— Mary, 3/2/2010 -
" A lovely easy-entry poetry anthology. Covers all the big poets and gives a very readable intro to each one. "
— Laura, 5/12/2009 -
" The book includes a CD. I have put this on my "to purchase" list. "
— Louise, 1/28/2009
About the Authors
John Lithgow is an author of the New York Times bestselling Dumpty series as well as several children's picture books. His recordings for kids earned him four Grammy nominations. As an actor, he won two Tony Awards, six Emmys, two Golden Globes, and two Oscar nominations. He has starred in the hit TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun, Dexter, The Crown, and Perry Mason and in critically acclaimed films such as The World According to Garp, Terms of Endearment, and Bombshell. He has performed on Broadway twenty-five times and in England with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.
About the Narrators
Kirby Heyborne is a musician, actor, and professional narrator. Noted for his work in teen and juvenile audio, he has garnered over twenty Earphones Awards. His audiobook credits include Jesse Kellerman’s The Genius, Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, and George R. R. Martin’s Selections from Dreamsongs.
Dame Helen Lydia Mirren is an award-winning English actor of stage, screen, and television. She began her acting career with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1967 and is one of the few performers who have achieved the triple crown of acting, having won the movie industry’s Academy Award for Best Actress, Broadway’s Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, and television’s Emmy Award for her performance as police detective Jane Tennison on the acclaimed series Prime Suspect. She is also an AudioFile Earphones Award-winning narrator.
Glenn Close is best known for her many Oscar-nominated roles in film, including the psychotic mistress in Fatal Attraction and in an Emmy-winning role on FX’s Damages. In her career she has been Oscar-nominated five times, won three Tony awards, an Obie, three Emmys, two Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Mark Bramhall has won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration, more than thirty AudioFile Earphones Awards, and has repeatedly been named by AudioFile magazine and Publishers Weekly among their “Best Voices of the Year.” He is also an award-winning actor whose acting credits include off-Broadway, regional, and many Los Angeles venues as well as television, animation, and feature films. He has taught and directed at the American Academy of Dramatic Art.