I borrowed this book from the library.

As I delved into its pages, I very soon realized that I had a strong desire to own it.

This book has the potential to be an invaluable resource and a wonderful companion in enhancing my reading of Frost's poetry.

The detailed analysis, the in-depth exploration of his themes and the beautiful interpretations presented within its covers have truly captivated me.

It offers a unique perspective that enriches my understanding and appreciation of Frost's works.

Owning this book would allow me to refer back to it whenever I need to, to deepen my knowledge and to fully immerse myself in the world of Frost's poetry.

I can envision myself sitting in a quiet corner, with this book in my hands, losing myself in the beauty and wisdom of Frost's words.

It has become an essential part of my literary journey, and I cannot wait to make it my own.

I started reading a book and got through several chapters. At first, I found them to be kinda interesting. The stories and the way they were told had a certain charm that kept my attention.

However, as I continued reading, something changed. I began to feel bored. The plot seemed to drag on, and the descriptions that once seemed so vivid now felt a bit dull.

I realized that I apparently don't have the mind of a poet. I don't have the ability to fully appreciate the beauty and depth of the words and the emotions they convey. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this kind of literature.

But still, I'm glad I gave it a try. It's always good to step out of your comfort zone and explore new things. Even if it doesn't work out in the end, you can still learn something from the experience.

I have a profound love for Robert Frost. His works have always held a special place in my heart.

This book that I have come across is truly a remarkable and excellent means to gain a deeper understanding of the individual who lies behind those truly incredible poems.

It offers a unique perspective, delving into the life, experiences, and thoughts of Frost. Through its pages, we can uncover the inspiration that led him to pen such masterpieces.

It allows us to see the man beyond the poet, to understand the emotions and circumstances that shaped his creative genius.

Reading this book has been an enlightening journey, further enriching my appreciation for Robert Frost and his literary contributions.

It is a must-read for anyone who has a passion for poetry and wishes to explore the inner world of one of the greatest poets of our time.

An exceptional book indeed!

I had known little about Frost save for the famous poems that had been widely传颂. However, this particular work offers a wonderful exploration of his life and significance.

It delves deep into the various aspects of Frost's existence, from his personal experiences to the cultural and historical context in which he lived. Through this exploration, we gain a much deeper understanding of the man behind the poetry and the profound impact his works had on the literary world and beyond.

The author's meticulous research and engaging writing style make this book a truly captivating read. It not only provides valuable insights into Frost's life and works but also invites readers to reflect on the broader themes and ideas that his poetry encapsulates. Whether you are a die-hard Frost fan or simply someone interested in literature and the human experience, this book is well worth your time and attention.

The author has provided a list of books related to Jay Parini.

"The Last Station: A Novel of Tolstoy's Last Year" has received 3 stars. It likely offers an engaging fictional account of Tolstoy's final days.

Several other books by Parini are marked as TBR (To Be Read). "Borges and Me" piques curiosity as it explores the relationship between the author and the renowned writer Jorge Luis Borges.

"Empire of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal" promises to be an in-depth biography of the controversial author Gore Vidal.

"Robert Frost: A Life" and "One Matchless Time: A Life of William Faulkner" are also on the TBR list, suggesting that Parini has delved into the lives of these two literary giants.

Overall, this list gives a glimpse into the diverse range of subjects and authors that Jay Parini has explored in his works.

An interesting biography of a poet offers a captivating exploration into the life and character of the renowned wordsmith. It delves not only into the more familiar folksy side of Frost, which endeared him to many with his simple yet profound portrayals of rural life and nature. But it also uncovers the darker side that often remained hidden beneath the surface. This biography peels back the layers, revealing the complex emotions, inner turmoil, and perhaps some of the less savory aspects of his personality. By presenting both sides, it provides a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the poet. It shows that Frost was not just a one-dimensional figure, but a multi-faceted individual with his own set of flaws and virtues. This makes the biography all the more engaging and thought-provoking, as it challenges our preconceived notions and invites us to look beyond the surface and discover the true essence of the poet.

I embarked on this reading journey a week or two ago and have been progressing at a leisurely pace.

I am truly savoring the gradual revelation of Robert Frost's remarkable talent and success. So far, what I like the most is how adeptly Parini portrays the poet's life and work.

However, I have a bit of a gripe with some of the literary criticism. I have been skimming through those parts, only reading intently when I come across something fascinating in his interpretations.

And when I prefer my own perspective, I skim even faster. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any Frost enthusiasts out there.

My sister-in-law was kind enough to lend me this copy, which is inscribed by the author. The author was a fellow student of my sister-in-law at Middlebury when Frost was there.

Now, I have finished the book. It is extremely well-written, and I would recommend it to anyone who desires a deeper understanding of this poet's life and work.

It offers valuable insights and a captivating narrative that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

Great read!

Frost was indeed a fascinating man and poet. His works have left an indelible mark on the literary world. This article does an excellent job of helping to dispel the erroneous and negative perception that has sometimes surrounded Frost's memory in the past.

Often, people may have had a one-sided view of Frost, perhaps influenced by certain interpretations or rumors. However, this piece delves deeper into his life and works, presenting a more comprehensive and accurate picture. It shows that there was much more to Frost than meets the eye.

By highlighting the positive aspects of Frost's character and his contributions to poetry, this article enriches our understanding of him. It reminds us that we should not be too quick to judge based on incomplete information. Instead, we should take the time to explore and appreciate the true essence of a person like Frost.

"Never again would the birds' song be the same.

And to do this to the birds was why she came."

When Maurice Thompson first read "My Butterfly", he wrote that he recognized "an appeal to sympathy lying deep in one's sources of tenderness" and "thought of all the probable disappointment in store for young Frost all his life."

The whisper of a scythe.

I have been one acquainted with the night.

I have walked out in the rain--and back in rain.

I have outwalked the furthest city light.

These lines from Robert Frost's works seem to carry a profound sense of mystery and melancholy. The first two lines about the birds' song and the reason for someone's coming create an air of anticipation and a hint of something unknown and perhaps tragic. Maurice Thompson's reaction to "My Butterfly" adds another layer, as he perceives the underlying appeal to sympathy and contemplates the potential disappointments in Frost's life. The mention of the whisper of a scythe further intensifies the sense of an impending change or an element of fate. And the lines about being acquainted with the night, walking in the rain, and outwalking the furthest city light paint a vivid picture of a solitary figure, perhaps lost in thought or seeking something beyond the ordinary. Overall, these snippets of Frost's poetry invite us to explore the depths of human emotion and the mysteries of life.

I am truly glad that I had the perseverance to read Parini's biography of Frost all the way to the end. It presented an account of an extraordinarily remarkable life, both of the poet and the person himself.

Frost's journey was filled with numerous challenges and triumphs. His works not only captured the essence of nature and human emotions but also delved deep into the human condition. Through the biography, we get a glimpse into his creative process, his struggles with self-doubt, and his unwavering determination to express himself through poetry.

Moreover, the biography also sheds light on Frost's personal life, his relationships, and the events that shaped his character. It shows that behind the great poet was a complex individual with his own set of joys and sorrows. Reading this biography has not only enhanced my appreciation for Frost's poetry but has also given me a newfound respect for the man behind the words.

Jay Parini's memoir about Borges has been sitting on my to-read table for over a year.

I am truly excited to read it. However, a trip to Bread Loaf, where the ghost of Robert Frost haunts the hills, led me to this book before the memoir.

I had forgotten how much I love reading biography. When I was young, it was my favorite genre.

This particular book is one of the best I have read. It is measured and thought-provoking. The compelling analyses of the poems had me reading late into the night. I simply could not put the book down and read the entire thing in two long, lingering sessions.

The book was especially brilliant when it came to the sense of sound - a concept I first heard about last week at Bread Loaf.

Who knew that this poet, so firmly fixed in our imagination with New England, was actually born in San Francisco? His life never really settled down either. Most people associate him with Ripton, Vermont, and New Hampshire, yet he was constantly on the move - even enjoying buying and selling homes. A farmer of sorts, he loved long walks and the land. He also wasn't the curmudgeon I had imagined. He welcomed students to his cabin and talked their ears off well into the night.

My favorite chapter was the one on his trip to Russia. I also loved the chapter on his three years in England before the war.

Some quotes from the book offer further insights into Frost's thoughts and character.

“Frost was in high spirits, meditating on poetry: “Every poem has its own little tune,” he said. “That’s the way it comes to me, as a tune. You got to know how to do that, say it so you get the tune, too. Rhyme. You can’t do it without that. Most of the time. You got to know how to take care of the rhyme.””

“Reeve thought that Frost “seemed to feel out of things” when several Russians began to sing the praises of Akhmatova. He tried to rescue the situation by praising Frost, and made remarks meant to draw attention his way. But the old poet turned on him, furious: “No more of that, none of that, you cut that out,” he snapped. When Reeve tried to explain what he meant, Frost hushed him, saying, “Cut it out.” Frost declined to recite any poems, but encouraged Akhmatova to do so, and she offered two poems in Russian; her nobility and passion communicated itself, even though Frost did not understand what she was saying. He thanked her sincerely. “It’s very musical,” he said. “You can hear the music in it. It’s very good.”

“Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.”

““The sound of sense” was an idea he would develop carefully in the coming year and return to throughout his life. Its chief formulation occurs in a letter to Bartlett written the following February: I give you a new definition of sentence: A sentence is a sound in itself on which other sounds called words may be strung. You may string words together without a sentence-sound to string them on just as you may tie clothes together by the sleeves and stretch them without a clothes line between two trees, but—it is bad for the clothes. The number of words you may string on one sentence-sound is not fixed but there is always danger of overloading. The sentence-sounds are very definite entities. (This is no literary mysticism I am preaching.) They are as definite as words. It is not impossible that they could be collected in a book though I don’t at present see on what system they would be catalogued. They are apprehended by the ear. They are gathered by the ear from the vernacular and brought into books. Many of them are already familiar to us in books. I think no writer invents them. The most original writer only catches them fresh from talk, where they grow spontaneously.” Frost continues for several pages, culminating in the “greatest test” of a piece of prose or a poem: “You listen for the sentence sounds. If you find some of those not bookish, caught fresh from the mouths of people, some of them striking, all of them definite and recognizable, so recognizable that with a little trouble you can place them and even name them, you know you have found a writer.” He elaborates in another letter to Sidney Cox: “Just so many sentence sounds belong to a man as just so many vocal runs belong to one kind of bird. We come into the world with them and create none of them.”

These quotes and the overall content of the book provide a fascinating look into the life and work of Robert Frost.

An outstanding biography of Frost has been presented. I firmly believe that one of the most remarkable strengths of this text lies in Parini's in-depth exploration and profound interpretation of the crucial passages of poems that span throughout Frost's entire life. This detailed analysis not only offers valuable insights into Frost's poetic genius but also enriches our understanding of his creative process and the evolution of his themes.

To enhance the overall value of this reading experience, it is highly recommended that you have a copy of Frost's collected works by your side. By referring to the original poems as you read the biography, you can establish a direct connection between the poet's life events and the words he penned. This immersive approach allows you to fully appreciate the significance and beauty of Frost's poetry, while also deepening your appreciation for the man behind the masterpieces.

In conclusion, this biography of Frost, with its focus on the analysis of key poem passages and the suggestion to read alongside the collected works, provides a comprehensive and engaging exploration of one of America's most beloved poets. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Frost's life, his poetry, or the art of literary biography.