BOA Blog

Rattle gave Nikola Madzirov's collection of poetry, Remnants of Another Age, an outstanding review.  Published by BOA Editions, this collection was described as "intriguing," "fresh," and "clever."  The review goes into great depth to praise the voice and nature of history in Madzirov's collection. According to Rattle, Madzirov uses a speaker that conveys much by presenting issues that are "shown to the reader rather than described."  The voice of the poems' speaker is unique and refreshing as it creates an air of privacy.  The reader becomes a witness as he or she is placed outside the "you" and "we"s of the poetry. ...

[caption id="attachment_1032" align="aligncenter" width="205" caption="Nikola Madzirov. BOA poet."][/caption] Nikola Madzirov's bilingual Macedonian-English collection of poetry,  Remnants of Another Age (published by BOA Editions), received a glowing review from World Literature Today.  The review comments on the beautiful integration of spiritual and physical, past and future, personal and universal.  Madzirov's poetry evokes elements of mythology which aids in unifying the variety of themes he addresses. Nikola Madzirov interlaces all aspects of reality into lyrical and moving work.  His poetry features both the history of the Balkan region as well as his own personal lived experiences and reflections.  Madzirov looks through historical and mythical perspectives to communicate the "migrations, exiles,...

Deborah Brown, author of recent BOA release Walking the Dog's Shadow, for which she won the A. Poulin, Jr. Poetry Prize, was selected today by the Academy of American Poets to have her poem "Reprise" showcased on their website as the Poem of the Day. "Reprise," which is found in Walking the Dog's Shadow, speaks of love and fame and a history of ourselves as a people in the little things in which we find ourselves. Congrats to Deborah Brown, and points to the AAP for exceptional taste. Reprise by Deborah Brown Better than a lover's heart, the immortality of...

Adam McOmber, the author of BOA's This New and Poisonous Air, had a recent discussion with Time Out Chicago's Jonathan Messinger about the historical elements in his new book. Though all of the tales in his debut collection of short stories are steeped in the uncanny and the macabre, McOmber says that he is "really interested in using elements of the fantastic in a serious way, not the whimsical elements of the fantastic you see in some short stories." His draw to history is apparent as well, as in his stories "The Automatic Garden," and "There Are No Bodies Such...

Tara Betts reviewed Barbara Jane Reyes' poetry collection, Diwata, with hopeful and inspiring words.  Diwata, published by BOA Editions, mixes the creation narrative of Adam and Eve with traditional Filipino stories.  Her poetry features women with strength and agency who not only play a major role in creation narratives but are creators themselves.  The mythical creatures of Diwatas, Duyong, and Aswangs weave together a narrative of female empowerment and creativity.   Betts' review presents Reyes' collection as a beautiful tapestry of blessings and curses, blame and power.  She suggests that each female character "develops [Diwata] into a story of home...