'I absolutely LOVED this book. When you read the haikus you can actually envision the smells and feelings of summer. You can even see what the author sees. At the end of the book is the history of the haikus. Hey interesting history. You also have a glossary to help you understand what some words are. I would love to read more if P.J. Reed books, when they are available, ' by CP.
'A couple of reasons I may not like Haiku Summer were stacked up against it before I even started reading the first poem. For starters, P J Reed creates this dreamy version of summer in Devon that is hard for me to relate with. Summers are hot and humid in India, huddled together with frequent power cuts and high electricity bills (yes, even after all those cuts). Then there is this sense of lethargy, I so despise, that often takes over, making me want to do nothing but sleep in the afternoon. Adding to my dislike for summers is the fact that I am not a fan of poems. But here's the thing. Of all the different kinds of poems there exist, haiku is what I like the best. They are short, have a Japanese origin (a bit of a Japanophile here), and leave plenty of space for individual interpretation.
As for Haiku Summer, P J Reed brilliantly managed to transport me to Devon (her inspiration), where the warm months are more vibrant and visually attractive. Her poems are subtle when they need to be and direct at other times. It's often not difficult to picture what led the author to write the haiku, and considering she manages to do that in three lines says a lot. Adding to the book's charm is the little introduction to haiku at the end. The small chapter talks about the origins of the art form. There's another chapter that provides tips on how to write haiku. Although I went through the book in one sitting, it's a little gem that I can see myself opening from time to time. During these re-readings, I hope to give each haiku more time. By doing so, I not only wish to travel again to a different part of the world but also use these poems as initiators for an introspective journey that might help make me love Indian summers, ' Raghav, India.
