I didn't know Elizabeth Bishop from Eve until BookCrosser ottawabill sent me a book of biographies of famous gay authors. I have tried to do a little bit of research of my own on Bishop, and I have found that many sources provide no mention of Bishop's sexuality, which is a shame. This woman's biography was so interesting to me because of her life in Brazil. Having been to Brazil myself, I wanted to know how she used poetry to describe the country.

Permit me to give you this brief biography. Bishop was born in the United States, and grew up in New England and Nova Scotia. With the wealth to travel, she went all over the world. Bishop fell in love with a Brazilian woman of noble birth, and spent an enormous part of her life with this woman in Brazil, until her lover killed herself. Most of Bishop's poetry is of her travels all over the world.

In theis collection we are presented with some of the most stunning poems. We are taken from location to location, witnessing sincere and intimate situations. I especially think she did an excellent job of describing Brazil (a part of one poem states, "There are too many waterfalls here"). It is my hope to release this in Brazil when I go back there one day. Until then, though, I have no qualms about letting this book be enjoyed by BookCrossers that will keep it safe. I am happy to be sharing this with ottawabill; it seems that Bishop earned his interest as well. He'll return it to me when he's finished. This collection will be available until I make my trip to Brazil, and that could be a very long time! I'm labeling the book in Portuguese, though, so it will be prepared to go when the time is right.

It went off today to ottawabill from the humble post office in Underwood, Iowa.

Poor Elizabeth Bishop. She has to spend her winter in cold Omaha and colder Ottawa, when she'd probably much rather be enjoying a more tropical climate.

To be read

I received this in today;s mail on loan form oh-jeez-tower. I will take loving care of it and move it to the top of my reading list so I can return it as soon as possible.

I am not ordinarily a poetry reader but have been much curious about her since oh-jeez's enthusiasm for her drew me in. Of course you know oh-jeez-tower you will help me score major points with the guy in my reading group that I mentioned...he is such a Bishop authority and fan that I may get a hug when he finds out I'm reading her. Of course, I will also really get tested on what I read..so I better pay attention !

I'll journal my impressions just before sending it back so you'll know to start watching for its arrival.

Thanks for the loan my friend.

Release planned for Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at another bookcrosser in a controlled release, n/a Controlled Releases.

On its way home after a well appreciated visit.
Bishop's poems were a strech for me as I am not prone to poetry and I sometimes have to work at seeing the meaning behind the well chosen words that cannot sometimes be so obvious as they are in non-fiction or even prose.

But I enjoyed them and enjoyed the book, connecting as it does several aspects in mmy life - a favorite member of a bookclub I belong to - a much liked friend in bookcrossing - a classic author in the GLBT world - and the romance of a part of the word I know only through the published word.

Thanks for the loan oh-jeez-tower.

Well, it's back now, and I'm letting an Iowa friend take a peek. Thanks for keeping it in top shape, Bill.

Elizabeth Bishop is an interesting poet.... I admit that I did not read every last poem in the book, but the ones I read were straight, to the point, and wonderfully bitter at times. Rock on. I got this book from my buddy OhJeezTower (Josh) and will get it back to him as soon as he returns from a trip to Poland.