Long Overdue Book Review

McKay, Claude, and Joan R. Sherman. Selected Poems. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 1999. Print.

Reviewed by Toni Gott, Los Osos High School, Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.

 

     The book of selected poems by Claude McKay as a whole tells the story of living in a prejudiced world. Claude McKay, a black man, endured many struggles, and conquered many downturns in life. The prevelent use of imagery, similes, mataphors, and select diction thouroughly succede in telling the story of a hard life, as well as motivating others through their struggles.

     McKay describes scenes, people, and situtaions in many of his poems. The use of key diction played an important role in pulling the reader into the time and place. The majority of the poems were set in the time of the "Harlem Shadows." This is key because it adds to the feeling of restlessness and struggle.

     The poems portray extreme plausability, for we know that in fact the black population went through a time of strugles. However they may be plausable, they also may be biased. This man had endured these hardships and therefore may display his resentment for the situation by exaggerating slightly.     

     Overall, the collection was remarkable, bringing me laughter, gasps, and tears. I recomend this book to anyone looking for inspirational poems, appicable to any life situation.