ŷ

Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

All This

Rate this book
All This is wonderful collection of poems. Indicative of the title, the poems range from the conventional lyric/narrative that captures an intense moment of emotion, an epiphany glimpsed briefly out of the corner of the eye, to the more experimental. Some of the poetry use intertextuality, language from other works, to explore meaning, perception, and layers of experience. Other poems play with language, letting it lead into unexpected places, exploring new terrain. In a few, placement on the page conveys the feel of musical notation and phrasing, the page a theatre where the interaction of language makes meaning rather than recreates a remembered event. At times, words in a poem are treated as paint and the sheet of paper as an expressionistic canvas. A book of poetry to keep close by you at all times.

164 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2011

6 people want to read

About the author

Lily Iona MacKenzie

11books98followers
In her youth, Lily Iona MacKenzie, a poet and novelist who also writes nonfiction, frolicked on a Canadian farm in an area almost too small to be on the map. She didn’t practice writing then, but she did learn to pay attention to her surroundings. The clouds in the sky offered images that stirred her imagination and stimulated her dreaming self. Cows, calves, sheep, pigs, chickens, turkeys, dogs, cats, and horses were her early teachers and her main playmates. Those years instilled in her the need to honor those in her care and the realization that being successful involves hard work. As a writer, it includes her dedication to the writing craft and her belief that commitment and perseverance form the machinery that writers depend upon. Visit her blog at lilyionamackenzie.com.


Here are discussion questions for readers of FLING!

Try to answer these questions by using examples from Fling!
1. How is magic (or supernatural elements) introduced in the novel?
2. What is its role in the narrative?
3. What kind of reading agreement has to be established between the author and the reader in order for the magical elements to work?
4. Do the magical realist devices disrupt the logic of the story or enhance it?
5. What specific things give this novel a magical quality?
6. Which character or characters do you identify with the most?
7. How does each character (Bubbles and Feather) reveal herself over the course of the novel. At what point do your sympathies begin to change (if they do)?
8. What role does death have in this book?
9. Does Fling! remind you of any other works you’ve read?
10. How did this novel cause you to think differently about mother/daughter relationships or family dynamics?
11. How does the use of time in Fling! contribute to its magical qualities?
12. What do you think are the novel’s main themes?
13. What role does “the goddess� play in Fling!?
14. In what ways does Bubbles seem mythic or ageless? (not mythic in the sense of implausible)
15. How do the characters in Fling! subvert the stereotypes of older adults?
16. What role does the setting have in Fling!?
17. How would you describe the difference between Heather, Annie, Bubbles, and Feather?
18. What role do the men play in this novel?
19. How does Feather get educated about her mother (Bubbles)?
20. Would you classify Fling! as a coming-of-age novel? Why or why not?
21. Did anything surprise you in Fling!? Did you learn something new about being human?

Here are discussion questions for readers of Curva Peligrosa:


Discussion questions for Curva:
� Curva’s letters from the trail have a unique function in the novel. How does your understanding of Curva evolve based on these letters? What role do Curva’s letters have in the narrative? How does the Old North Trail educate Curva? What difference is there in the first and third person perspectives?
� Poems (”Bone Songs�) appear between major sections of the narrative. What is their purpose? What dimension do they add to the work?
� Sabina appears mysteriously as Curva’s daughter. How does their relationship shift over time? How would you describe their relationship? How are mother and daughter similar and different? Who is Sabina’s father?
� The Weedites collectively play an important role in Curva Peligrosa. How would you describe what they contribute? Who are your favorit

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2 (50%)
4 stars
1 (25%)
3 stars
0 (0%)
2 stars
1 (25%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 of 1 review
Profile Image for Mae Clair.
Author23 books564 followers
November 3, 2016
I don't read much poetry even though I enjoy escaping with a book of poems from time to time. I won ALL THIS in a book giveaway and am pleased to say it's nicely put together. There are a variety of poems here, touching on many different subjects. The author has divided the book into several sections with related poetry beneath each section.

I was particularly fond of those poems that used vivid imagery to evoke mood. There are lovely visuals of wilderness life, coastal living and more sprinkled throughout. Some of my favorite entries are "Tomorrow is epiphany and I wait" "Seizing the Past" "Pursuing Ay" and The (Under) World. I also found "The New New North" interesting in the way it's presented.

Others are sure to find poems that resonate with them. Thank you to the author for providing the book in the giveaway. You'll find this collection a nice one to relax with and ponder over.
Displaying 1 of 1 review

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.