Episode 50: Re:Verse

Poetry is on the menu for this milestone 50th episode of the Book XChange - and why not? The world's only double-barreled bibliophile podcast takes on the challenge of reading poetry in our hyper-fueled, attention-challenged 21st century: is reading poetry worth the struggle? What is the value of slowing down, focusing one's attention and taking on poets and poems you've never tried before? And of course, who are some of the poets who have impacted us, changed our view of reading poetry and maybe even changed our way of seeing the world? Reading poetry can be an immensely powerful and insightful experience for those who have the patience and curiosity to give it a try. Remember, the mind is like a parachute: it works a lot better when it's open. We hope you'll join us as we talk about the individual poems, poets and experiences we've had listening to poets reading their work that have stayed with us, in many cases, for years.

Website: anchor.fm/book-change

Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com

MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA

BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:

What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:

'Omeros,' Derek Walcott -

'The Bad Guys Won!,' Jeff Pearlman -

What John is currently reading/plans to read next:

'Soulstorm: Stories,' Clarice Lispector -

'The Candy House,' Jennifer Egan -

Poets/Poems discussed in this episode:

Mary Oliver -

Seamus Heaney, "Personal Helicon" and "Postscript" -

Louise Glück -

Walt Whitman -

Yusef Komunyakaa, "Thanks" and "Ode to the Maggot" -

R. S. Thomas, "The Belfry," "Kneeling," "The Empty Church" -

Richard Wilbur -

Derek Walcott, "Omeros" -

Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:

We will be on a brief hiatus for the rest of May, but plan to return some time during the month of June with Episode 51, a review of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jennifer Egan's new novel, 'The Candy House.'