| Title | : | Punching Out |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0814321917 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780814321911 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1990 |
Daniels' second book of poetry takes readers inside an auto factory with Digger, a young man whose initial reaction of shock and dismay at the difficult working conditions prompts him to find ways to cope with the dehumanization he experiences there. The book is a series of tightly woven poems that play off one another so that the book accumulates tension and energy as it progresses.
Daniels treats his characters and their work with respect, giving them a dignity that factory condition deny them. Opting for blunt, straightforward language, Daniels does not try to "poeticize" the factory but rather injects the factory into his poetry.
Daniels treats his characters and their work with respect, giving them a dignity that factory condition deny them. Opting for blunt, straightforward language, Daniels does not try to "poeticize" the factory but rather injects the factory into his poetry.
Punching Out Reviews
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I just re-read this book today, after thinking about how hard it is to write about work, the kinds of work I've done. Daniels makes it look easy. This collection grows with each poem, culminates in an empathetic portraiture of the working class. I've had jobs that have made me feel this way. He really gets it.
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VERY well done collection. Daniels is a master. Interesting and engaging. This is a formidable task...writing a book of poems through the eyes of one character...but Daniels does it well.
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Ah, Detroit… The perfect place to get stuck in a doomed factory job, drink a bottle of Lysol, and get your throat torn out by a vulture, in that order. And then write about it.
