Poetic Review: Testimony by Anita Shreve
by Jenners • 07/01/2009 • 3 Stars, Contemporary, Fiction, S Authors, T Titles • 18 Comments
I’ve seen that several people have already done the Poetic Review part of the Take A Chance Challenge, and the results have been so fun to read so I thought I would tackle this challenge now. So here is my review of Anita Shreve’s Testimony written as a haiku, limerick and in free verse.
Haiku
Private boarding school
Rocked to core by sex scandal
Where to place the blame
Limerick
There once was a headmaster named Mike
Under whose rule kids did what they liked
But it got caught on a tape
And some called it rape
And the trustees said “Go take a hike.”
Free Verse
A story told in many voices
Each providing a bit more of the puzzle
The whys, the whats and whens
Bored, angry, confused older boys
A reckless young girl
A videotape
A private school
A cover-up
A small town
National headlines
More below the surface than meets the eye
Triggers to the main event
Young lives are destroyed
Marriages are razed
Careers are derailed
Almost no one escapes unscathed
Some events have no “why”
Some futures have no future
Lives can be ruined in a careless instant
Gives you some food for thought
*******
If you’re curious, I’m giving the book 3 stars — not one of my favorites but not a bad read.
Thanks to Hatchette Book Group for providing me with a review copy. Unfortunately, I already promised my copy to a friend so no giveaway for this one.
what a tragedy for a community. I loved your poetic review, nicely done. my poetic review is here thanks for stopping by.
Fantastic review! I loved each poetry style, although I think the Haiku was my favorite. They were just all great though. I am just loving your challenge! I am reading my random book selection (#1) right now, which is Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, and I am not very far in but I like it already!
great poetic review. I love it! Putting it in the hubbub feature on my blog! I really liked this novel.
These are great! Have you shared them with your contact at Hachette? I bet she'd get a kick out of them!
This is great – especially the limerick! You are so creative.
Love it! I am in the process of listening to this book.
I love the poetry review! This is one part of the challenge that I'll be putting off for a while. Writing poetry is kind of intimidating to me.
Great job. I just won this book and can't wait to read it.
I was worried about this challenge, but I had a blast – even if I had to google how to write a Haiku. I've just posted it today.
This particular part of your challenge terrifies me – I really don't think I'm a poet. But yours are great!
I loved the limerick in particular.
This might be the funnest way to review books ever.
I think I have a fellow poet to hang out with now
These are great!! You captured the spirit of these books well in all three forms. Your free verse is my favorite. I'm almost finished with this book so it was fun to read this review right now.
You are so clever!
I love the poetic reviews, but I'm sure I could never write one.
Wow. I'm impressed. Way to go with those poems!
Great job!
The poetry review does look like fun. It makes me want to do mine. Great work!
Super job on your poetic reviews!
Those were terrific! Great job!