October Mourning
A Song for Matthew Shepard
Book - 2012 | First edition
A poetic exploration of the impact of Matthew Shepard's murder on the world, toldt hrough a cycle of 68 poems.
- Details
- Full Record
- Additional Info
Searching for more content…
Searching for more content…0763658073
Song for Matthew Shepard
Opinion
From Library Staff
From Library Staff
Perhaps this was not my “favorite” book for 2012, but it continues to resonate. Newman’s poems explore the perpetration of Shepard’s murder and its’ impact on others (both animate and inanimate). An incredibly powerful read about a dark crime.
The gay hate crime and murder of Matthew Shepard is examined through 68 poems from different viewpoints, including bigoted frat boys, the fence, Matthew's cat, the police and even the evening stars, to expose how this crime affected a whole community.
multcolib_homeworkcenter
Dec 21, 2017
The gay hate crime and murder of Matthew Shepard is examined through 68 poems from different viewpoints, including bigoted frat boys, the fence, Matthew's cat, the police and even the evening stars, to expose how this crime affected a whole community.
From the critics
Community Activity
Summary
Add a SummaryThis collection of poems by Newman is intricately woven to show the different views of the people and objects that were directly and indirectly involved with the 1998 Matthew Shepard case. The brutality and pain compels the reader to continue reading, even if tears are streaming down your face. There is an excellent plethora of various poetry styles displayed in the book, including free verse, pantoum, rhyming couplets, and sonnets. An emotional journey reflecting on a true story, "October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard" is a must read for literature enthusiasts and recreational readers alike.
Comment
Add a CommentPlaying with words as the title does, each of these poems explores different aspects of the Matthew Shepard beating and murder that took place in Laramie, WY in October 1998. The poetry is devastating and moving in its simplicity, bringing an immediacy to its subject as though the tragedy had taken place only days ago instead of years.
As any poet does, she places unspoken words in the mouths of people who may have been rendered all too dumb by the horror of that night. Voices and inner thoughts are given to inanimate objects such as stars, a fence, a truck. The viewpoints range all over, presenting a tattered but wide-ranging glimpse of a hate crime that still resonates with modern readers.
October Mourning was a sad song/story. I enjoyed the book because the author, Lesléa Newman gave different perspectives through out the book/poem. i feel when there are different point of views in a novel the storyline it's self turns out to be a good read.
The text gave an excellent message and i would recommend this book for teens and adults.
FANTASTIC book! This collection of poems by Newman is intricately woven to show the different views of the people and objects that were directly and indirectly involved with the 1998 Matthew Shepard case. The brutality and pain compels the reader to continue reading, even if tears are streaming down your face. There is an excellent plethora of various poetry styles displayed in the book, including free verse, pantoum, rhyming couplets, and sonnets. An emotional journey reflecting on a true story, "October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard" is a must read for literature enthusiasts and recreational readers alike. Rest In Peace Matthew Shepard.
** My favorite poem in this collection is "The Fence (That Night)"