The Poets' Corner: The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family

There once was a book on my iPad,
When piped into ears made them glad;
Adoring the poems of Keats,
and too the bohemian beats,
I mostly wish John Lithgow were my dad.

Poetry is unknown territory for me, and this was a wonderful listen. John Lithgow is enthusiastic and informative, and the readings are very good. No issues with the selections, and was glad there was no heavy analysis.

I have listened to this several times and each time I enjoyed it more. There is "just enough" biographical information about each poet as well as suggestions for additional reading. All of the narrators are terrific. If you are new to poetry or a poetry lover, you'll enjoy this one. Highly recommended.

I have long been a fan of good poetry but knew little or nothing of the art behind the words. This was a fantastic introduction for me to the world of poetry, the history and great names in the area - as well as providing me with a lot of very good poems to think over and work through my mind. Liked it a lot.

No, it is something I have returned to several times and still working my way through parts of it.

Lithgow does a great job with this. You can hear the excitement he has for poetry in his narrative. Was a great cross-section of poets, and great selections. Those who read the poems did so with the energy intended. Bravo!

I love the reading of Edward Lear's ``The Owl and the Pussycat" and ``The Jumblies"

(hope you can correct the grammar in the above question)
The narrators read the poems with all the energy, emphasis and spirit intended.

Loved it!

MORE!

Poetry is so much more interesting to listen to than to read, unless one is in love with the sound of one's own voice, that this must be a purely rhetorical question.

John Lithgow's grandmother. And the Jumblies. After all, they went to sea in a sieve, they did!

Lithgow doing the bulk of the reading makes this less of a book than a long conversation with the author. As to the guests, they could not have been more perfectly suited. Billy Connolly stood out as particularly exceptional reading "To a Mouse" and "The Owl and the Pussycat." In the first case, the only other potential reader that comes to mind seems a bit too serious for a poem about a "Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie." In the second, Connolly's humor is perfectly suited to the task.

Third Poet from the Sun

Brilliantly cast readers

My 3-year old son has me playing Billy Connolly's Owl & the Pussy Cat over and over, while my students were riveted by the Cavalier poet as we studied the English Civil Wars in history class.

The casting is superb. Gary Sinise gives, of course, a genius, understated reading. Morgan Freeman's We Real Cool absolutely captures the language and purpose of these deceptively simple words (although, he could read a Take Out menu and sound exquisite). And the ladies - Kathy Bates, Helen Miren, Jody Foster...

I fell in love with poetry again, having remembered that it is meant to be read aloud, not studied and deconstructed in a classroom. It has changed the way I teach.

An ideal Christmas gift for all the teachers in your life.

I loved listening to this book for the language of poetry.

Listening to John Lithgow's stories of his grandmother reciting poetry.

The poem about the carriage that broke down on its' 100th birthday.

This is a great book for getting people interested in poetry again.

I have always loved poetry,and this collection was recommended to me.I am on my second
run through and am transported once again by the mellifluous tones of John Lithgow and the terrific renditions of his chosen presenters.The eclectic choice of poems, surprise and delight.

Most often the chosen poem is not the most recognisable by the poet,something a little
off kilter to tease and encourage further exploration.

John Lithgow is mesmerising,His perfect pitch,his beautiful diction,and his erudite introduction to each poet was entertaining as well as educational.

If you like poetry you will love this book. John Lithgow may not be the most scholarly poetry critic in the world - but that's what I liked most about this book. His comments about each poet's life as well as their poetry is, if not amazing, at least entertaining. The readers of the poems, which in some cases is John Lithgow, and in other cases other notable actors and readers are all great. If I found other books like this I would buy them.