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Lake Nora Arms
Lake Nora Arms skillfully navigates the "blue hallways" of memory and longing, drawing on tastes and touches as if for the first time. It immerses and envelops us in a mythical place that readers have wanted to return to ever since the book was first published. As Redhill writes, "I want you to sleep in Lake Nora Arms" - and now you can.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Michael Redhill
30 books161 followersAka Inger Ash Wolfe.
Michael Redhill is an American-born Canadian poet, playwright and novelist.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Redhill was raised in the metropolitan Toronto, Ontario area. He pursued one year of study at Indiana University, and then returned to Canada, completing his education at York University and the University of Toronto. He was on the editorial board of Coach House Press from 1993 to 1996, and is currently the publisher and editor of the Canadian literary magazine Brick.
His play, Building Jerusalem, depicts a meeting between Karl Pearson, Augusta Stowe-Gullen, Adelaide Hoodless, and Silas Tertius Rand on New Year's Eve night just prior to the 20th century.
Michael Redhill is an American-born Canadian poet, playwright and novelist.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Redhill was raised in the metropolitan Toronto, Ontario area. He pursued one year of study at Indiana University, and then returned to Canada, completing his education at York University and the University of Toronto. He was on the editorial board of Coach House Press from 1993 to 1996, and is currently the publisher and editor of the Canadian literary magazine Brick.
His play, Building Jerusalem, depicts a meeting between Karl Pearson, Augusta Stowe-Gullen, Adelaide Hoodless, and Silas Tertius Rand on New Year's Eve night just prior to the 20th century.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 14, 2019
Lake Nora Arms is not a real lake, but Lake Nora Arms embodies the all-Canadian cottage experience. In this collection, Redhill describes the (mostly) tranquil awe one feels in nature, along with some reminiscences on moments in relationships that occurred at the lake...whatever lake that might be. One thing I didn't like is that he frequently writes about "you;" this might mean anything from a lover, a childhood friend, a parent or grandparent, or townsperson. While I appreciate the variety in subject matter, the juxtaposition of these relationships is jarring. The book is split into three sections...I guess I'm too stupid to figure out why this is, but it would've been more effective if the different relationships were confined to separate sections. There are five prose poems, none of which I liked. I also found his writing to be obvious self-indulgent and "clever," as in:
or
or
It's not all bad. I appreciate Redhill's diction and his attention to sound in his poems. And some of his nature poetry is simply beautiful: "the stars seem to brighten for our sake—/they appear like berries on the lake/glowing near the boat, close enough to gather" ("Nightfall," p. 67). There are a few gems in Lake Nora Arms, but it's not worth visiting again.
Poems that I liked:
"Tilted in from the hallway, eyes quick: Joanne," "True Story," "The Physical World," "Nightfall," "The Loon."
=5/47 (10.6%) poems that I liked.
Water claimed so many of us,
our attraction to it was
pure addiction. Water
laughed it off, saying
HOH HOH HOH.
(from "The Story of Water," p. 10)
or
9:00 Rise
9:15 Ratatouille
9:25 Shwarma
9:45 Soursop
10:15 Tarragon grilled fish
10:45 Capers
11:20 Petits fours
(etc. until "11:25 Bed")
(from "I am Ruminating Over You," p. 18)
or
Bell telephone is here.
They've wired the frontier.
Looo loo loo loooooooo
Kit-deee kit-deeee kit-deeee
Drrrrrringggg drrrringgg drrrringggg.
(from "Lake Nora Quartet," p.40)
It's not all bad. I appreciate Redhill's diction and his attention to sound in his poems. And some of his nature poetry is simply beautiful: "the stars seem to brighten for our sake—/they appear like berries on the lake/glowing near the boat, close enough to gather" ("Nightfall," p. 67). There are a few gems in Lake Nora Arms, but it's not worth visiting again.
Poems that I liked:
"Tilted in from the hallway, eyes quick: Joanne," "True Story," "The Physical World," "Nightfall," "The Loon."
=5/47 (10.6%) poems that I liked.
August 29, 2016
114. Lake Nora Arms by Michael Redhill
These joined poems, first published in 1993.were interesting but I found them a little obscure. It may have been my mood at the time, maybe my summer cottage experiences as a child couldn’t evolve into the adult ones discussed in Redhill’s poems. I couldn’t pass through what he refers to as the “blue hallways of memory.” I couldn’t find it on the map, although instructions were given, ending with the instructions to use your imagination. I was surprised to find that this collection has been made into an a capella musical production. I like Redhill’s fiction, especially his Inger Ashe Wolfe mysteries, but somehow this poetry did nothing for me.
These joined poems, first published in 1993.were interesting but I found them a little obscure. It may have been my mood at the time, maybe my summer cottage experiences as a child couldn’t evolve into the adult ones discussed in Redhill’s poems. I couldn’t pass through what he refers to as the “blue hallways of memory.” I couldn’t find it on the map, although instructions were given, ending with the instructions to use your imagination. I was surprised to find that this collection has been made into an a capella musical production. I like Redhill’s fiction, especially his Inger Ashe Wolfe mysteries, but somehow this poetry did nothing for me.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews