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.