I LOVE LIBRARY SALES!

The St. Helena Public Library often features a sale of books (including donated books)--paperbacks for 50 cents and hardbacks for a buck. This meant I recently scored a GORGEOUS edition of POLAND / 1931 by Jerome Rothenberg that was published by Unicorn Press.  I told the librarian I thought it so odd to find it on that cart featured above. The librarian replied it was part of someone's personal library donated to the library. Loving the mind of someone who would own Rothenberg's gorgeous book, I looked at the rest of the books donated by that person -- and bought them all! I don't feature them here as they're not poetry but, still. 

As you might glean from the images, POLAND / 1931 isn't just any ol' book. It is wonderfully produced as you can see from the following images, including its colophon:

Instead of bound pages, there are twelve "leaves" which are folded paper that present the text; as "leaves," they are fabulous since they are made out of a handmade Japanese paper, "Hosho." 

When you open the book, there are four photo montages by Eleanor Antin that you can take out of its sleeve:

Rothenberg's poems are already powerful but their impact was enhanced by the nature of the book design.

(click on images to enlarge)

Perhaps this will be the best dollar I'll have spent this year!  Thank you, St. Helena Library!  

Relatedly, here’s an update of my Recently Bought Poetry List of books by poets or about poets/poetry. 

POLAND / 1931 by Jerome Rothenberg

NEXT TO LAST WORDS by Daniel Hoffman 

INFERNO: A POET’S NOVEL by Eileen Myles

THE RAVICKIANS by Renee Gladman

DEEP CITY by Megan Kaminski

PLAN / K. by Kristi Maxwell

A GAME OF CORRESPONDENCE by Valerie Witte

PROVIDENCE by Megan Kaminski

NESTING INSTINCT by Jesse Nissim

THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE by Kate Colby

DEBTS & LESSONS by Lynn Xu

WHEN THEY HAVE SENSES by Rosmarie Waldrop

HANDBOOK FOR HANDS THAT ALTER AS WE HOLD THEM OUT by Kate Schapira

THE ARGONAUTS by Maggie Nelson

ONGOINGNESS: THE END OF A DIARY by Sarah Manguso

LIFE-LIST by Jessica Smith

TRIBUTE by Stephen Romer

I’M VERY INTO YOU: CORRESPONDENCE 1995-1996 by Kathy Acker & McKenzie Wark

FUTURES TRADING: ANTHOLOGY THREE edited by Caleb Puckett

TO SPEAK WHILE DREAMING by Eleni Sikelianos

AGE OF BLIGHT: STORIES by Kristine Ong Muslim

EVERYTHING WE MET CHANGED FORM & FOLLOWED THE REST by Jessica Comola