A poetry handbook is the first book about writing that I think I have read, and it was excellent. Oliver breaks down poetry like a true craftsman, technically, presenting different techniques and dissecting them for the reader. She peppers her analysis with often humorous opinions on the craft or particular techniques and writes so precisely, so elegantly, that although this book is prose, so much of it read like poetry.
She is not judgemental on poetic content but generally encourages authenticity, whilst also creating space for aesthetics and practice. Alongside poetic techniques, she offers advice for the entire poetry writing process including the nature of revision, how to manage workshops, even how to read poetry!
The core idea of this book I think is the ability for Oliver to break down poetry technically rather than artistically, and in those smaller divisible parts she makes the artform so much more accessible, revealing a path to not only writing, but a way to view and find joy in poetry.
ehhere 
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