by Kelly
I can’t think of a more perfect book for me.
The Haiku Apprentice, written by Abigail Friedman, combines global travel — my long-time love — with memoir — my favorite sort of book to read — with haiku — my current literary obsession.
And you want to know the best part?
The book rocks!
Which was such a relief. Considering all the things it had going for it, my expectations were admittedly high. But lucky, lucky me, The Haiku Apprentice rose to meet — and exceed — each of my overblown hopes.
Since turning its final page, I’ve recommended this book to several people who’ve asked me about the ins-and-outs and whys-and-hows of haiku.
The book offers lessons about the history and culture of haiku while surrounding these themes with an overarching travel tale.
The author, Friedman, is an American woman living in Japan and working as a diplomat. One evening, while attending a work function, an older Japanese gentleman invites her to join his haiku group. She doesn’t consider herself a poet, but decides to attend on a lark.
However, before she herself knows what’s happened, she gets hooked on haiku. What follows is her attempt to understand the essence of haiku. Her quest is to discover what makes haiku “Japanese.”
The book really helped me understand the ideals for which haiku strives. Plus, at the end, it offers suggestions for how to form a haiku group (something I envision myself doing one of these days).
If you’re just starting out in the haiku world, or if you’ve been haiku’ing for a long time, or if you don’t care a lick about haiku and just want to read an interesting travel story, I totally and unequivocally recommend The Haiku Apprentice.
Find it on Amazon: The Haiku Apprentice: Memoirs of Writing Poetry in Japan
Great to see your enthusiasm for haiku. You’ve written an engaging summary of Abigail’s book — and a lovely invitation to read it. You might also want to read William J. Higginson’s The Haiku Handbook (Kodansha, 1989; the best book out there that covers haiku history and provides guidance on writing haiku in English) and Cor van den Heuvel’s The Haiku Anthology (3rd edition from Norton, 1999; the best collection out there of English-language haiku).
Michael
Comment by Michael Dylan Welch — August 11, 2009 @ 8:58 am
I started reading this when we had just moved to New Hampshire two months ago and was surprised at how quickly I was drawn in. It really is a fascinating read whether you are into haiku or not.
Well, all the work involved in moving has gotten the better of me and I wasn’t able to finish it. But once we are settled (I think soon!) this will be the first book I pick up again.
Comment by Alison — August 11, 2009 @ 10:52 am
Kelly - Of course you’re talking about haiku and memoir. I’m not surprised in the least. Have to say though that I still would love to see your travel memoir - either in or out of haiku form.
Alison
Comment by Alison Bergblom Johnson — August 12, 2009 @ 5:55 am
Hi, Kelly - It was really fun for me this morning to read your review of my book. I’m so glad you liked it! I’m in Afghanistan now, and I thought to myself, “Oh, I better start writing something about Afghanistan, too.” I am on a military base and there is a “Spoken Word” night here, where people stand up and read poetry. I haven’t been to it yet - but it sounds like a great idea.
Enjoy the day,
Abigail
Comment by abigail friedman — August 21, 2009 @ 8:37 pm