Friday 29 June 2012

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Review: Haiku for the Single Girl by Beth Griffenhagen and Illustrated by Cynthia Vehslage Meyers

Haiku for the Single Girl by Beth Griffenhagen and Illustrated by Cynthia Vehslage MeyersHaiku for the Single Girl by Beth Griffenhagen and Illustrated by Cynthia Vehslage Meyers (review copy) - An uproarious, uplifting and brazenly honest gift book that celebrates the single girl's life in 72 haikus

I feel its approach,
Inevitable as death:
Internet dating.


Unsolicited relationship advice from relatives, disastrous dates, men who wear thumb rings, and the moments of deep satisfaction when a single girl realizes that (unlike her smug married friends) she can do whatever she wants with her time - it's all here in this brilliantly incisive and witty collection of haikus. Every woman - whether single or not - will laugh until she cries, and then start laughing all over again.
From Canongate.tv

As I'd read a comedy poetry book before and really enjoyed it, so I jumped at the chance to review another one.

Haiku for the Single Girl does exactly what it says on the tin. It's haiku poetry about being female and single. Haiku is a form of poetry I've come to quite admire, because on the surface they seem quite simple; three lines, five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables. But that's the whole poem. And I'm rubbish at all things poetry so the idea of writing a poem under strict rules and have it make sense? I'm just not that clever. But the ones in this book are so simple to understand and just hilarious!

The books celebrates and complains about singledom, whether recently single, single for a while, or post-divorce singledom. It covers dating, casual "relationships", and desperate attempts to find someone. It's just brilliant.

There are a number of extremely funny haikus, and I would normally quote a few to you, but considering the fact that younger readers may be here to read some of my YA reviews, I can't quote them as they're a little near the mark. But they had me laughing out loud! So, so funny!

There are a few that went over my head, but I think that's more to do with my own single life rather than with any fault of the poet, Griffenhagen. I just haven't experienced the things she was referring to, so didn't really understand.
Haikus for the Single Girl is a very quick read, but a great one. It's the kind of book I'd force on my girlie friends for a bit of a laugh, whether single or not. It would also make a very cool gift for anti-Valentine's Day parties. It's a great little book, and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Canongate Books for the review copy.



Published: 16th August 2012
Publisher: Canongate Books
Buy on Amazon US
Haiku for the Single Girl Website
Cynthia Vehslage Meyers' Website

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