Heartbreaking topic but I found the poems as poetry only so-so ( )

4.5 Stars ( )

“October Mourning” is a tribute and memorials to a 5 foot one inch, 105 pound 21 year old who was beaten mercilessly while lashed to a fence by two larger armed men. The crime was horrific and beyond despicable, and it remains in the memories of anyone old enough to recall the crime. The savage murder was committed in Wyoming in 1998 but its impact continues to be felt and experienced.
This is a book largely told in poetry, although there is additional material in the beginning and end and a wonderful set of notes and references.
It is difficult to find good contemporary poetry. Many, many people create things that look like poems, but miss every element of what true poetry is. Poetry captures the reader, it moves and changes them, Its words create almost mystical messages far beyond the literal meaning of what is on paper.
When I read the introduction to “October Morning” in which the author says it is meant to be read sequentially from beginning to end, I felt like this book would end up being no more than a heavy-handed emotional outpouring designed to evoke sympathy and tears in readers. A GR review of the book from a reviewer I respect and follow, said as much. But my experience of the book differs from that of the unhappy reviewer.
For a poem to be good, it must transcend time, reveal something about the human heart and stand on its own. There are many excellent collections of poetry by many fine poets, but even in these, only some of the poems will reach that level. This book is no different. Some of its poems are deeply flawed in a variety of manners.
Also in other collections of actual good poets, there are poems that are universal, evoke feelings beyond their words, stand on their own,
not needing the context of the collection in which they are embedded. This book also fits into that description. Many of its poems, taken out of the context of the book, nevertheless stand on their own and could be reproduced in a good quality anthology of poetry any time.
This book is a snapshot of what hate looks like and of the damage done in its name. The book is an horrific reminder of what human beings are capable of. It is also a tribute to the empathy we can feel toward one another, even across years and the barriers of our dissimilarities. ( )

by Lesléa Newman | Read by Emily Beresford, Luke Daniels, Tom Parks, Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd, Christina Traister
Young Adult Young Adult • 1.25 hrs. • Unabridged • © 2012
On October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming, was viciously beaten, tied to a fence, and left to die. Author Newman’s intimate reaction to this tragedy, a heartrending collection of 68 poems, is narrated by an outstanding cast. The narrators expertly carry the weight of the poems, excelling on verses that combine more than one voice. The poems present unique perspectives, including those of the fence, the moon, the road, even Matthew’s cat. Beautifully articulated, the quiet spaces in each poem add to the emotion, evoking a vast starry sky of memory and loss not soon to be forgotten. Intense, moving, and haunting—a must-listen for ages 14+. E.A.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2013 Audies Finalist, SYNC 2014 © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2012]

Trade Ed. • Brilliance Audio/ Candlewick • 2012

CD ISBN 9781469206219 $29.99 • Two CDs

MP3-CD ISBN 978-1-4692-0651-6 $19.99 • One MP3-CDs

DD ISBN 978-1-4692-0681-3 $14.99



Library Ed. • Brilliance Audio/ Candlewick • 2012

CD ISBN 978-1-4692-0636-3 $54.97 • Two CDs

MP3-CD ISBN 9781469206660 $39.97 • One MP3-CDs

In 68 stunning poems, Newman pays tribute to Matthew Shepard, a gay 21-year-old university student, who was violently killed in 1998. Her poems explore the crime from a range of viewpoints. Author’s Note, Source Notes, Explanation of Poetic Forms.

“October Mourning” is a tribute and memorials to a 5 foot one inch, 105 pound 21 year old who was beaten mercilessly while lashed to a fence by two larger armed men. The crime was horrific and beyond despicable, and it remains in the memories of anyone old enough to recall the crime. The savage murder was committed in Wyoming in 1998 but its impact continues to be felt and experienced.
This is a book largely told in poetry, although there is additional material in the beginning and end and a wonderful set of notes and references.
It is difficult to find good contemporary poetry. Many, many people create things that look like poems, but miss every element of what true poetry is. Poetry captures the reader, it moves and changes them, Its words create almost mystical messages far beyond the literal meaning of what is on paper.
When I read the introduction to “October Morning” in which the author says it is meant to be read sequentially from beginning to end, I felt like this book would end up being no more than a heavy-handed emotional outpouring designed to evoke sympathy and tears in readers. A GR review of the book from a reviewer I respect and follow, said as much. But my experience of the book differs from that of the unhappy reviewer.
For a poem to be good, it must transcend time, reveal something about the human heart and stand on its own. There are many excellent collections of poetry by many fine poets, but even in these, only some of the poems will reach that level. This book is no different. Some of its poems are deeply flawed in a variety of manners.
Also in other collections of actual good poets, there are poems that are universal, evoke feelings beyond their words, stand on their own,
not needing the context of the collection in which they are embedded. This book also fits into that description. Many of its poems, taken out of the context of the book, nevertheless stand on their own and could be reproduced in a good quality anthology of poetry any time.
This book is a snapshot of what hate looks like and of the damage done in its name. The book is an horrific reminder of what human beings are capable of. It is also a tribute to the empathy we can feel toward one another, even across years and the barriers of our dissimilarities. ( )

This book of poetry is written from the perspective of the author, Leslea Newman. As she states, it is her version of the events involving the attack and murder of Matthew Shepherd, a twenty-one-year-old gay man who was "lured away from a bar by two young men, then savagely beaten, tied to a fence . . ., and left to die," as the book's jacket so eloquently states. The book begins with an Introduction that shares details surrounding Shepherd's death and explains Newman's connection to Shepherd. She never met him, but she was the keynote speaker at an event he helped to plan for the University of Wyoming's Gay Awareness Week. The book then moves into 68 poems written in various poetic styles meant to capture the feelings and emotions of the objects that were part of the scene, of the people who were both a part of the scene and affected by the scene, and of everyone affected by hate crime. Near the end of the book, Newman inserts "Imagine," a further explanation of her part in all this and a call to action to all those looking to end homophobia. She ends the book with an explanation of the poetic forms she used in the book.

This book is a must-read text for anyone trying to empathize with what it is like to be affected by homophobia and hate. It will make you sad, it will make you angry, it will make you think, and, hopefully, it will make you do something about it.

Finally read this. The fence was heartbreaking. ( )

October Mourning is a collection of poems written by Leslea Newman surrounding the murder of Matthew Shepard, a college aged gay student from the University of Wyoming, in 1998. Newman was on her way to speak at the University when this murder happened, and it is something that has stuck in her head ever since, causing her to write multiple poems from different points of view on the night that this hate crime was committed. From the fence to the murderers, Newman covers every aspect of the night that is stuck in many people's minds forever.

As far as LGBTQ literature goes, this one is quite different than other things available for young adults. Most things are fictional accounts, dealing with the students trying to accept themselves, or be accepted by their fellows peers. I think October Mourning is much more powerful than these other books, just because it is a true story, and some of the poetry that is included is absolutely breathtaking, as well as difficult to read. It is difficult to imagine that there are people that actually believe that gay people need to be punished as Matthew was in this particular book, and allowing students to have this perspective may help in leading to the acceptance of these individuals. October Mourning fits into the category of LGBTQ young adult literature in that it gives another side of the story, one that students and other readers might not necessarily think about. It is definitely deserving of the Stonewall Book award that it won a few years previously.

In teaching this book in classrooms, it might be helpful in a poetry unit, because at the end, Newman gives definitions of all the different types of poetry that she uses, all the different forms and such. In addition to learning about poetry, students can also learn about the LGBTQ lifestyle, allowing for "teachable moments" when it comes to these individuals. It will also be helpful if/when these sorts of students are in classes. Overall, October Mourning would be a very useful tool in the middle/high school classroom. ( )

"This is the one book I've reviewed so far this year that I believe must be read by everyone ages 14 and up. It takes less than an hour to read; but it will likely stay with the reader for a long time to come. Highly recommended for both YA and adult poetry collections." -- Ingram News and Reviews for the Youth Librarian

Matthew Shepard was murdered in 1998. The author of this book was the Gay Awareness Week speaker at his university just a week after his death. On the ten year anniversary of the occasion, she wrote poems as a way to capture the event and some of her reactions. She used a range of poetry forms, used quotes as a way to launch different poems in the short volume. I found it to be moving and caused me to be contemplative. It was a bit didactic at times. It took a short bit of my time to read the book, it was time well spent, and the book will stay with me awhile. ( )

Narrated by Emily Beresford, Luke Daniels, Tom Parks, Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd and Christina Traister. I remember hearing about Matt Shepard's murder but did not pay much attention to the details. This performance in audio hit home for me the raw emotions tied to this awful event and made me see the hugely powerful impact it had on GLBTs everywhere. A powerful listening experience. ( )

This slim volume of 68 poems chronicles the events that led to the death of Matthew Shepard, the University of Wyoming student who was brutally beaten, robbed and left tied to a fence one very cold October night in 1998. Lesléa Newman explains in the introduction that one of the last things Matthew did was attend a planning meeting for Gay Awareness Week that was set to begin. She was the event’s keynote speaker. She arrived on campus the day he died.

As a work of historical fiction, OCTOBER MOURNING uses several poetic forms and devices to imagine specific moments from before that night and after. Some of the poems are written as monologues from people and objects: the doctor, one of the attackers, Matthew himself, the fence, the truck. There are concrete poems, haikus, and rhymed couplets; while a few are simply lists, and some are in the style of William Carlos Williams’ famous apology poem “This is Just to Say.” Explanations of the poetic forms used are included at the end of the book, making this a great resource for poetry studies, and while the poems are meant to be read as a whole, there are a number that could easily stand alone for classroom discussions.

View this book as a poetic exercise alone and you’ll be impressed with the way the different forms highlight and capture the emotional impact of each carefully crafted poem. The majority of the poems are short and very accessible. It’s the visual imagery that is heartbreaking. Take, for example, the poem “What You Can Do in Eighteen Hours” which starts out in a relatable way with “Write a term paper/Cram for a final/Fly across the ocean” but concludes, “Wait to be discovered/lashed to a fence/Shivering under a blanket/of stars.”

View this book in its historical context and dare to be left dry-eyed. In writing OCTOBER MOURNING as a very personal but public tribute to Matthew Shepard, Lesléa Newman chose verse to fully explore feelings of fear, hate and grief, but also empathy and understanding. This little book shines a glaring light on a senseless tragedy and makes a powerful plea for compassion. As Lesléa Newman states, “Because only if each of us imagines that what happened to Matthew Shepard could happen to any one of us will we be motivated to do something. And something must be done.”
( )

A handfull of the poems were extremely moving. My complaint is about the poems from the viewpoint of inanimate objects. Fence, road, pickup truck, etc. The overall story lost some of its poignancy with these. It's a story that should hit hard and emotional from start to finish. ( )

I have never listened to a poetic narrative, but this was just beautiful, despite the tragedy behind it. I think I actually got more out of the poems hearing them then if I would have read them.

A gorgeous book filled with poems from the point of view of everything from Matthew's cat, the fence, the deer, the stars above him, and more. It hurt my heart, but reading these beautiful words also healed me. ( )

Beautiful and affecting, Leslea Newman's poetic elegy to Matthew Shepard is a must-have for school and teen libraries. ( )

On October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepard was pistol whipped in the head with a .357 Magnum, beaten, tied to a fence, and left for dead in 30 degree weather by two men who hated gays. Police reports stated the only surface on his body not covered with blood were the tear tracks on his face.

Read the rest of my review at: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/october-mourning-a-song-for-m... ( )

5Q 4P (my VOYA ratings). Fourteen years after the death, no, the murder, of Matthew Shepard, Lesleá Newman recalls to mind, and shares with others for the first time, that night that his life was taken out of an act of violence due to hate and intolerance. Newman's poems, like "The Fence," "The Wind," and "The Stars," give the perspective, at times eerie and beautiful, of these elements that we think of as not having a perspective, but Newman gives them one. "October Mourning" paints life as fragile and beautiful, and of intolerance and hate as something that is alive and cruel. I gave this book a 5 for quality because I thought every poem was written with heart and perspective and it really created an internal reaction. I gave a 4 rating for popularity because I think it might take a little push for teens to pick up a book about a horrible incident and one that happened over a decade ago. ( )

I haven't had poetry move me so much in a while. This collection of poems brings to life the horrifying and brutal murder of gay, twenty one year old Matthew Shepard in 1998. Lesbian poet, Leslea Newman (author of "Heather Has Two Mommies") recounts the shameful and shocking incident with true grace and raw emotion. The sixty eight different poems explores the impact of Matthews deaths through fictitious monologues from the perspective of: the fence, the killers, the biker who found him, Matthew himself, mothers across the country, and more. It's a very moving piece of work and definitely deserving of the Stonewall Honor it received. A must read for everyone! ( )

The author Leslea Newman was a speaker at the University of Wyoming a mere few days after Matthew Shepard had been killed in a hate crime, Very moving. ( )

It takes hardly any time to read the poems in this book but I am certain that the images I got will stay with me for a long time. Matthew Shepard was a young man who attended the University of Wyoming. One night he was tricked into accompanying two other young men into a truck and on a deserted highway, beaten and left tied up to a fence. He was discovered the next day, barely alive, and taken to a hospital where he died five days later. The two men were apprehended, tried, and given life sentences. The beating took place days before a campus event to raise gay awareness with the author of this book being the keynote speaker.

The poems are all told from different points of view - different people and different items like the fence that Matthew was tied to and the tree that provided the wood for the box that ultimately housed his ashes. Each serves to paint a picture representative of so many similarly unfortunately tragic episodes. ( )

5Q, 4P
This is one of the most powerful books I've read in a very long time. Leslea Newman has taken the soul-wrenching tragedy surrounding Matthew Shepard's brutal beating and death in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998 and written evocative poetry for every moment from Matthew's first meeting with his killers, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson in the Fireside Lounge in Laramie all the way through to the pilgrimages still being made to Matthew's fence today. Newman was actually scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the University of Wyoming-Laramie's Gay Awareness Week the same week Matthew was killed, so she was uniquely positioned to offer a very personal perspective on the whole situation. Additionally, she draws heavily upon news reports, interviews, courtroom transcripts, and historical research to write her cycle of 68 poems. Many of the poems are told from the perspectives of people involved in the case: Matthew, McKinney and Henderson, the cyclist who came upon Matthew the next morning tied to the fence, and Matthew's parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard. Many of the poems are also told from the perspective of objects that bore witness to the event and its aftermath: the fence, the deer that stood watch over Matthew all night, the tree whose lumber eventually became the box to house his ashes, Matthew's shoes. Newman's tone in these poems runs the gamut from tragic and heart-wrenching ("Where is my boy?" and "Mercy"), to acidic ("A Protester" and "Once upon a time"), to poignant and beautiful ("Stars," "The Wind," and "The Doe"). In all, the poems force the reader not only to relive the horror and tragedy of Matthew Shepard's murder but also the uplifting, nurturing cascade effect it instigated throughout the LGBTQ and ally communities around the nation and the dire need to continue to advocate for Gay Rights so that such a horrible act never occurs again. ( )

I just finished reading this book, which tells the story of Matthew Shepard's murder in poetry - ranging from phantom and villanelles to found poems and haiku. It is stunning work. I am stunned. ( )

A profoundly moving meditation. Pair this one with Marilyn Nelson's A Wreath for Emmett Till. ( )