A thinker's book. Wonderful to read Rukeyser wrestle with and explain life, art, thought. She is by turns poet, biographer, essayist and character. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Her art and criticism explore the same themes. The effect is surprisingly consistent in a book comprised of several incomplete selections. If you have any doubts, find a poem or two of hers and try it on for size (Gauley Bridge, for example). If you're fascinated, try this volume. Here's a sample. Rukeyser on poetry (from The Life of Poetry): "A first-rate scientist, or a fine prose writer, is able to say, 'How can I know a good poem? I can tell an honest piece of work in my own field from a phony piece of work, but how can I tell a fine poem from a phony poem? And what has to be said to such a question is that these are people who cannot trust their emotional reactions, their total reactions."

Muriel Rukeyser was certainly a terrific and fascinating poet. These are strange and striking creations, and originality is present on every page. I don't know how she got stuck with Adrienne Rich as her introducer, but one may skip that and go on to a memorable experience. Rukeyser was a true original.

This is a competent book, but I have not had the kind of emotional response other reviewers have had to this.

I do have the impression that this poet would be witty and pleasant over coffee, which is a compliment to any book.

I have re-read books before, but, never have I read the same book every week for 10 weeks running. You find more in Jan's words each time you read her book. She if gifted at expressing her feelings and experiences in life.I begin to shed tears just thinking of this book-[yes,men do cry! because we love more as we get older-see the book] I plan to buy many copies to share. I dropped the author a brief note congratulating her after my 8th re-read- I should have done it sooner. I am looking forward to breaking the cycle by moving on to her next work. Buy the book!

For those of us who have followed her poetry over the past two decades, this book is a long-awaited reason for celebration. Heller Levi is among the best of the NY poets of the 70's and 80's, gifted with both the highest level of poetic craft and a piercingly insightful perspective on how people love.