Ploughshares Winter 2009: Guest Edited by Tony Hoagland

Ploughshares Winter 2009 is a special issue guest edited by Tony Hoagland. The issue features new work by some of the most exciting voices in contemporary literature, including fiction by ZZ Packer, Jonathan Franzen, and Amy Hempel; poetry by Billy Collins, Jane Hirshfield, and Carolyn Kizer; and essays by Sven Birkerts and Joyce Carol Oates.

Ploughshares Winter 2009-10 Guest-Edited by Tony Hoagland

by Colleen Murphy

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	602 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	304 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Item Weight	:	4.8 ounces
Hardcover	:	188 pages
Dimensions	:	5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
Paperback	:	144 pages

FREE

In his to the issue, Hoagland writes: "This issue of Ploughshares is a celebration of the power of literature to change our lives. The stories, poems, and essays in this issue will make you laugh, cry, and think. They will challenge your assumptions and open your eyes to new possibilities. They will remind you of the beauty and wonder of the world, and they will inspire you to live your life to the fullest."

The issue opens with a powerful story by ZZ Packer, "The Antlers of Water." The story is set in a small town in the American South, and it follows the lives of two sisters, one of whom is struggling with addiction. Packer's writing is both lyrical and unflinching, and she creates a vivid and unforgettable portrait of a family in crisis.

Jonathan Franzen's story, "The Discomfort Zone," is a darkly comic tale of a man who is struggling to come to terms with his own mortality. Franzen's writing is sharp and witty, and he skewers the pretensions of the modern world with surgical precision.

Amy Hempel's story, "The Dog," is a moving and elegiac meditation on loss. Hempel's writing is spare and understated, but it packs a powerful emotional punch. This is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

The poetry in this issue is equally impressive. Billy Collins' poem, "Picnic in the Ruins," is a whimsical and thought-provoking meditation on the passage of time. Jane Hirshfield's poem, "The World's Weight," is a powerful and moving exploration of grief and loss. And Carolyn Kizer's poem, "What I Came To Say," is a wise and witty reflection on the meaning of life.

The essays in this issue are also thought-provoking and insightful. Sven Birkerts' essay, "The Emptiness of the Image," is a meditation on the role of images in our culture. Birkerts argues that we are becoming increasingly addicted to images, and that this addiction is leading to a loss of our ability to think critically and to experience the world in a meaningful way.

Joyce Carol Oates' essay, "The Fiction Writer's Dilemma," is a passionate defense of the art of fiction. Oates argues that fiction is essential for understanding the human condition, and that it has the power to change the world.

Ploughshares Winter 2009 is a superb issue that is sure to please readers of all ages. The stories, poems, and essays in this issue are thought-provoking, insightful, and beautifully written. This is an issue that you will want to read and reread for years to come.

Ploughshares Winter 2009-10 Guest-Edited by Tony Hoagland

by Colleen Murphy

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	602 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	304 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Item Weight	:	4.8 ounces
Hardcover	:	188 pages
Dimensions	:	5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
Paperback	:	144 pages

FREE