If you have been browsing through our BorrowBox collection, hopefully you’ll have found lots of things to discover and enjoy, from high-paced thriller novels to stories to share with the younger members of your family. There are biographies, books on society both now and in the past and books to support your mental health and well being. There are also poetry books and in today’s ‘Staff Insights’ blog, Andrew, Warwickshire Libraries’ very own poet, shares some of his highlights with you.
Plunge into poetry
Especially in times like these, poetry is able to sum up how we feel and express our hopes and fears succinctly. Most of us can recall a line or two from a poem that still resonates with us.
Here is a list of recommended titles for readers of all ages to dip into.
Andrew
Poetry collections aimed at children (though anyone can and should enjoy them!)
A sizzling anthology of the best children’s poetry from poets such as John Agard, Roger McGough, Benjamin Zephaniah and many more. There are poems for every mood; funny, sad, serious and thought-provoking. A must for bookshelves at home and school. Your poetry journey should start here! Listed as an eBook.
This collection of poems from Ladybird includes poems with rockets to poems with mermaids and everything in between. Perfect for young children aged 4+ who are approaching poetry for the very first time. Listed as eAudio.
Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T S Eliot
One you might be familiar with from stage and screen but still one to share and read together. Meet ‘Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat’, marvel at ‘Mr Mistoffelees the Conjuring Cat’ and wonder at ‘Macavity the Mystery Cat’. You can read this one out loud, or sing it if you know the tune! Listed as an eBook.
Poetry collections for Young Adults
Somebody Give This Heart A Pen by Sophia Thakur
A polished performance poet who has stepped on to the printed page to produce a first collection that resonates – whatever your age, background or experience. These poems skilfully encapsulate modern life and its associated issues of identity and belonging with wit and verve. Listed as an eBook.
Toffee by Sarah Crossan
Not technically a poetry collection, more a novel told in verse, ‘Toffee’ by Sarah Crossan is a captivating read. Exploring mental health and friendship, it is a recommended read from this Carnegie Medal award winning writer. Listed as both an eBook and on eAudio.
Poems To Live Your Life By selected and illustrated by Chris Riddell
A mixture of classical and contemporary poetry covering topics ranging from life to death and everything in between. The eAudio version listed on BorrowBox is read by actor Samuel West.
Poetry collections aimed at an adult audience
Inside the Wave by Helen Dunmore
Known to many as a novelist, Helen Dunmore was also a respected poet who wrote several volumes of poetry and the winning poem in the 2012 National Poetry Competition. Here she focuses on the borderline between life and death exploring the bliss and anguish of our journey. Life affirming and uplifting. Listed as an eBook.
The retrospective of his illustrious career that Seamus Heaney started to compile completed with loving attention by the Heaney family. This collection represents those poems he was most proud of. All the greats are here for new readers to discover including ‘Digging’ and ‘Death of a Naturalist’. A must for anyone starting to dip their toes into the poetic waters. Listed as an eBook.
New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, ‘Milk and Honey’ is a collection of poetry and prose about survival. About the experience of violence, abuse, love, loss, and femininity. A go-to book for healing and hope that manages to capture simultaneously universal human experience and the struggles of a young woman today. Listed as an eBook.
The Princess Saves Herself In This One by Amanda Lovelace
The first book in her series ‘Women Are Some Kind of Magic’. Here, Lovelace explores the themes of love, loss, grief, healing, empowerment and inspiration from her own personal experience. She skilfully blends fairy tales with real life outpourings. Very cathartic, very honest. Listed as an eBook.
Collected Love Poems by Brian Patten
A veteran of the ‘Mersey Sound’ with Roger McGough and Adrian Henri, Patten is renowned for his poignant love poems. Honest, sensitive and insight-fully aware of the magical moments, these poems are exquisite and, even at their most solemn, filled with courage and hope. A must for poetry lovers and lovers alike! Listed as an eBook.
Sonnets by William Shakespeare
If you have been watching Sir Patrick Stewart’s daily delivery of one of Shakespeare’s sonnets, this collection brings them together for you to enjoy. Included are ‘background’ notes to the sonnets and a look at how language creates humour, fun, sexiness and romance within the sonnets. Listed as an eBook.
World War 1 Poetry: A Collection of Haunting Verses from The Great War
The big guns of First World War poetry are all here; Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke and the lesser known but no less memorable, depicting the horrors of conflict in verse – the emotional record of these times. Ultimately, this anthology reveals the strength of the human spirit. Listed as an eBook.
If you need any assistance with BorrowBox (or any of our Digital Library resources), you can get in touch with us on email: libraryenquiryteam@warwickshire.gov.uk.
If you haven’t seen them yet, we have a ‘BorrowBox Basics‘ and a ‘Tips & Tricks‘ video to further help you explore the collection and get reading.
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