Reviews

See my book reviews on Amazon.com
See menu of all book reviews on this site

This is a book of poems by this thoughtful song writer, poet and composer.  McKuen is known for his folk songs reflecting on the absurdities or mystical possibilities of life.  This set of poems made me think of a song I used to sing in a band band I led in college.  We recorded the song "Suzanne" by Leonard Cohen in 1971.

Cohen and McKuen are in the same category in my memory and thoughts, and I sometimes confuse them.  McKuen's "Jean" was a song in "The Pride of Miss Jean Brodie" as was Cohen's "Suzanne."  I have always been drawn to his haunting style and lyrical poetry leading the mind into spiritual insights beyond the mundane.

McKuen's mystifying voice and hypnotic lyrics lure the listener into the spiritual realities only slightly hidden behind the bustle within and around us.  As I read the poems in this little volume, I could hear his soulful voice delivering the lines some of his old songs.

I happened upon this volume in a used book store, discovering for the first time that he also wrote poetry not intended originally as songs.  It is too bad that this volume of reflections is currently out of print.

Here he presents reflections on life and relationships in the surrealistic and mystical style of the late 60's and early 70's.  The title reflects the sense of amazement, awe and wonder I sense in his music.  As I look upon the wonders of the universe and the complexity of life, I feel a majestic wonder at it all, and discover a kindred awareness in McKuen's poetry.

These odes present some insightful comments about religious structures that bind rather than free people.  The weary, regimented ordinariness of common religion is enough to wear down any lively soul!

The believer can find respite here, a comfort that there are others who are weary of the pretense and institutionalization of "faith."  Meanwhile the skeptic will find some ironic satisfaction that another has observed the absurdity of much of common religious life in our society.

See this book on Amazon.com.
See my book reviews on Amazon.com
See menu of all book reviews on this site
See my reading lists
Many other books have review notes with the reading list entry

OBJ

Review posted on Amazon 31 July 2005, expanded 1 March 2009
Posted on Thoughts and Resources 4 March 2009
Rewritten 30 January 2015

Orville Boyd Jenkins, EdD, PhD
Copyright © 2009 Orville Boyd Jenkins
Permission granted for free download and transmission for personal or educational use.  Other rights reserved.

filename:  mckuenfieldsofwonder.html