American Amnesiac

American Amnesiac is filled with poems that can be enjoyed on their own, but it has the momentum to encourage the reader to take it all in at once. This is a monologue by a man lost without his carefully crafted identify, surmising that the cost of recreating his identity (which was false anyway) is too high, or at least silly. This is a book about all of us, thinking about who we are (who we want people to think we are) instead of feeling our lives, living them fully, and taking moments as they come. We are, according to John Doe, pose-holders and created characters, too busy crafting our public selves to care about the corruption that we feed and feed upon. Its tone is smart and matter-of fact, without being arrogant.But, do not fret, this book is filled with wittiness and giggles. It is playful and filled with juxtapositions of language and imagery that scratch a surreal itch. It is a treat to read.This book invites readers to consider their real complicities and just how absurd so many of us are (this reviewer included). If you know someone who wants insight into the modern, mainstream American psyche, hand them this book.

This kind of poetry doesn't really do it for me, but I met Diane Raptosh, and she really does have a knack for poetry. There are some really beautiful verses and ideas here, and if you DO enjoy poetry, it's a great read.

Raptosh pressures us to think, grab our dictionaries, turn-off the electronics and read. I look forward to reading her 5th book of poetry.

This wonderful, book-length monologue depicts our national condition, amnesia. Raptosh's John Doe, aka Calvin J. Rinehart, is an American everyman who suffers from loss of identity but articulates flooding memories of who we Americans are, our immersion in trivia, social media, bits and pieces of important information, our warping values.Raptosh based these poems on the ghazal form, adapting it to suit the demands of Rinenhart, his mind, and his world. Advocates of the "pure" Urdu ghazal will be frustrated, but any reader should recognize her precise and focused language: imagery, rhythms, word-choices, stresses. All the technical aspects of poetry work together, synergistically, in these poems. John Doe's voice is unforgettable.The poems are a dense collage of themes, topics, attitudes, too many to list here, so I'll mention just one: the recent court decision granting corporations the "rights" of free speech that individual persons have. Political, aesthetic, medical, scientific, historical, cultural topics enter John Doe's speech and are quickly replaced by other themes.If you care about contemporary poetry, American or not, if you care about our cultural amnesia, our word-salad of media, then this book is for you. It deserves wide reading and rereading, discussion, and all that goes with literary excellence.

I found myself laughing out loud - definitely a first for a book of poetry. Incisive and witty. Highly recommend.