Always Beginning

Library Journal

Kumin concludes her essay "Swimming and Writing" with advice from master poet Rilke: "Keep holy all that befalls." In this wonderful miscellany, Kumin weaves together all the disparate elements of her life, and, yes, she makes them holy. As a writer, Kumin wears many hats: A Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who has written novels and essays, she recently wrote a mystery (Quit Monks or Die!, LJ 7/99). Her latest work begins up close and personal with a series of journal entries. In one, she recounts a late night spent midwifing a foal in her New Hampshire barn; in another, she is left shaken after an airplane accident while en route to Japan. More than the in-depth look at the poetic life promised by the title, this memoir also offers an intriguing look at modern country life, shares Kumin's experiences of being both a mother and an artist, and delves into the her deep 18-year friendship with Anne Sexton. Also included are several poems with Kumin's own discussions on form and content. The prose is highly readable, full of humor and insight, and each essay brims with a kind of grace. Highly recommended for all collections.--Doris Lynch, Monroe Cty. P.L., Bloomington, IN Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\