Year of the Dog

The powerful second book from Paredez (This Side of Skin) invokes a wide range of literary forms and artistic mediums, including rhymed verse, prose poetry, photographs, and archival material, unified by an ongoing concern with the past and its quiet presence in the cultural landscape. As Paredez writes, “Trudell signals his location over the radio: Even the rocks which seem to lie dumb as they swelter in the sun thrill with memories of past events connected with the fate of my people.” These poems suggest that a shared repertoire of symbols, myths, and stories proves essential for fostering a sense of community. Yet, at the same time, this vocabulary must be expanded, revised, and modernized in order to be of service. For Paredez, the individual experience is rich with family narratives and shared memories, as well as the larger movements of culture: “When I enter/ this world,” she warns, “I’ll enter as Hecuba... purpled/ and yelping griefbeast,/ my mother’s spangled handiwork.” In addition to offering expertly crafted voices, Paredez has a gift for storytelling through form. This is an astonishing book. (Apr.)