LitPick Review
This is a wonderful book to tuck into a backpack while heading out for an afternoon of rambling, or a great book to leave on the end table to enjoy reading at the end of the day. The individual poems contained in this book convey a naturescape easily envisioned in the mind's eye. This is not a book of just nature poetry; these verses peel back the surface of childhood understanding of literature, history, and nature, and the reaader is able to get a glimpse of thoughtful insights personal to the author. His self-reflection can be a mirror to the reader's own thoughts and emotional growth.
Opinion:
As an American who has spent time in the English countryside, I enjoy being transported to the British isles within the poetry of Dodd's book. I enjoy how Dodd takes images of history and nature, and weaves them into a poetic reflection of life in many of the verses. As a self-proclaimed "Anglophile," I love the references to British history and many times envisioned hearing these poems read by a distinguised gentleman in a wood-paneled pub. References to King Arthur, Shakespeare, Browning, and other English people and places bring back memories of a semester I spent in England studying British literature. The only negative I perceive is the book's lack of consistency in typeface. I thought maybe it was purposeful, but then I noticed it looked like it was a copy-and-paste job done without thought to consistency.
