E. O. Parrott (1924–1990)

There are several ways to become well-versed in poetry:

Read widely: Reading a variety of poets and poetry styles will help you understand the different techniques and structures that poets use, as well as the themes and ideas that are commonly explored in poetry.

Practice writing poetry: Try writing your own poems, experimenting with different structures and styles. This will help you develop a feel for the rhythm and flow of language, and will also help you understand how to craft a poem effectively.

Attend poetry readings and workshops: Poetry readings and workshops can be a great way to learn from other poets and to get feedback on your own work.

Take a class or workshop: Many schools and community centers offer classes or workshops on poetry writing, which can provide structured instruction and guidance.

Join a poetry group or community: There are many online and in-person communities for poets and poetry enthusiasts, which can be a great resource for finding new poets to read and getting feedback on your work.

By reading widely, practicing writing, and engaging with other poets and poetry enthusiasts, you can become well-versed in poetry.… (més)

An amusement, not an education.

The joke here is that most of these tiny parodies assume that the reader has already read the original, so that they're in on the joke. It's not a bad idea, mostly it works. Sometimes it does give a precis of a book that you have not read (although it's often clearer to understand if you do at least know the author). But the one thing this clearly doesn't set out to do is to act as short-form Cliff Notes on anything. At most, you might be able to pass off a dinner party joke about it. And yes, this bok is certainly aimed at people who want to pass off dinner party jokes, even about books they haven't read.… (més)

I don’t remember where I first heard about this book that prompted me to put it on my A-list wishlist. But, I was disappointed. I guess I was expecting something like a book of even more condensed cliff notes, since I knew that it contained information for quite a few books. Now that I’ve finished it, I can say that the number is 153 (in a 180 page book). Which, of course, did not do a speck of justice to any of them. For the books I had not previously read, only a handful of the entries yielded up a decent sense of the book. For the books that I HAD previously read, the entries provided a laugh.

The rules given to the participating authors were (1) length, and (2) “the summaries must be entertaining as well as enlightening. Any form could be employed – verse or prose, parody or pastiche, limerick or haiku, cautionary tale or letter – anything went so long as the desired result was achieved.” (From the introduction.) I think the desired result must have been for a favored group of British authors to see how witty they could be in brevity. I know what it WASN’T – to give the reader a real taste of the literature discussed. In no way did it live up to its title.

I give you the shortest entry. “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” by D. H. Lawrence. (Encapsulation written by Wendy Cope.)

Smart girls make passes
At the working classes.

There ya go. Now you’re ridiculously well-read.… (més)