Why people recommend it
New and Collected Hell by Shane McCrae is a captivating poetry collection that explores complex themes of history, memory, and personal identity through sustained verse. The book was featured prominently on an episode of The Book Review titled A.O. Scott on the Joy of Close Reading Poetry. During the segment, Greg Coles introduced the collection as the top recommendation for the poetry discussion, explicitly noting its unique subtitle denoting it as a single expansive poem. Later in the episode, host Gilbert Cruz returned to the title during the closing recap segment, listing it among the key literary works recommended to listeners. The inclusion of McCrae's book highlights the podcast's appreciation for contemporary verse that challenges traditional structures and demands close, attentive reading. Through these endorsements, the speakers brought significant attention to a powerful poetic work, encouraging their audience to engage with McCrae's intricate exploration of language and form. The enthusiastic mentions by both Coles and Cruz solidified the collection as a standout choice for poetry enthusiasts looking for ambitious and deeply moving modern literature.
Who recommended it
- Greg Coles Recommended
- Gilbert Cruz Recommended
Greg Coles — 2 mentions
“The book on top is called New and Collected Hell. It's by a poet named Shane McCrae. I should say this book has a subtitle. It is a poem. New and collected hell, a poem.”
“The book on top is called New and Collected Hell. It's by a poet named Shane McCrae. I should say this book has a subtitle. It is a poem. New and collected hell, a poem.”
Gilbert Cruz — 2 mentions
“We had New and Collected Hell, a poem by Shane McCrae,”
“We had New and Collected Hell, a poem by Shane McCrae,”