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Richard Siken
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Crush (Volume 99) (Yale Series of Younger Poets) Paperback – April 11, 2005

by Richard Siken (Author), Louise Glück (Foreword)
4.8 out of 5 stars 1,088 ratings
#1 Best Seller in Erotica Fiction Writing Reference
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The 2004 winner of the Yale Younger Poets competition: a powerful, confessional, erotic collection 
 
An Atlantic choice for “Best American Poetry of the 21st Century (So Far)”
 
Finalist for the 2005 National Book Critics Circle Award in Poetry
 
“Siken writes about love, desire, violence, and eroticism with a cinematic brilliance and urgency that makes this one of the best books of contemporary poetry.”—Victoria Chang, Huffington Post
 
Richard Siken’s Crush, selected as the 2004 winner of the Yale Younger Poets prize, is a powerful collection of poems driven by obsession and love. Siken writes with ferocity, and his reader hurtles unstoppably with him. His poetry is confessional, gay, savage, and charged with violent eroticism. In the world of American poetry, Siken’s voice is striking.
 
In her introduction to the book, competition judge Louise Glück hails the “cumulative, driving, apocalyptic power, [and] purgatorial recklessness” of Siken’s poems. She notes, “Books of this kind dream big. . . . They restore to poetry that sense of crucial moment and crucial utterance which may indeed be the great genius of the form.”
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  1. Print length
    80 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Yale University Press
  4. Publication date
    April 11, 2005
  5. Dimensions
    7.46 x 5.66 x 0.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0300107897
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0300107890
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“One book I keep returning to is Richard Siken’s Crush. . . . The poems are vivid, heaving things, stuffed with obsession and surprises. . . . The poems aren’t comforting, but they’re invigorating. This is a book about thrashing around in the great big world, being messy, being alive.”—Elizabeth A. Harris, New York Times Book Review

“Siken writes about love, desire, violence, and eroticism with a cinematic brilliance and urgency that makes this one of the best books of contemporary poetry.”—Victoria Chang, Huffington Post

An Atlantic choice for “Best American Poetry of the 21st Century (So Far)”

“Vital, immediate, and cinematic in scope, [Siken’s] verse offers sharply observed vignettes of longing, love, and pain.”—Library Journal (Best Poetry of 2005)

“Crush embodies an impressive unity of sex, the currents of feeling that carry us helplessly, fleeting encounters that often promise physical transcendence but leave us unloved or emotionally drained. . . . Crush is a vivid, fast-paced book that may be read as a single, powerful sequence.”—Antioch Review



“Every poem in Crush is every bit as immediate, engaging, and absorptive as the best films; [Siken] holds the reader rapt, making it almost impossible to look away from the beautiful and troubling scenes he sets. . . . Siken’s breathtaking debut possesses all the ingredients of poet Charles Harper Webb’s formula for great poetry: wit, passion, and impropriety. Through his powerful use of the second person, Siken reaches out to you, the reader, pulls you into his picture show, makes you the reluctant star. By the end of the collection, you are left feeling implicated, participatory.”—Kathleen Rooney, New Hampshire Review

“Siken’s debut collection, 15 years in the making, hurls the reader into a world of nerve-wracked love—relationships haunted by obsession and futility expressed with such eloquence as to make the pain of it strangely alluring. With sophisticated wordplay and provocative shifts between first and second person, Siken expresses a frustration with earthbound details and bodily confinement. He effectively juxtaposes holy wishes with mundane images—making them both seem beautiful by some strange lyrical alchemy—throwing love in with the sock drawer.”—Nell Casey, poetryfoundation.org

“An explosive, frantic splash of language and imagery that depicts both tremendous tenderness and vivid violence between male lovers. Richard Siken writes a pulsing, rambling, surrealistic, and cinematic verse. . . . While the language and energy and pure sensational vision of this poetry might seep into your soul like the whiskey so often invoked in these pages, you will taste the salt of blood on your tongue after you finish reading Crush—and you will never look at love and the comfort it promises the same way again.”—Maureen Picard Robins, Rain Taxi

Finalist for the 2005 National Book Critics Circle Award in Poetry

Winner of the 2005 Thom Gunn Award for Gay Poetry, sponsored by The Publishing Triangle

About the Author

Richard Siken lives in Tucson, Arizona. He is cofounder and editor of the literary magazine spork.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press; 32037th edition (April 11, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 80 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300107897
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300107890
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.46 x 5.66 x 0.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 1,088 ratings

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Richard Siken

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
1,088 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this poetry collection to be among the best first books of poetry, with deep emotional impact and surprising humor throughout. They describe it as captivating and powerful, with one review noting how it blends themes of love and violence. Customers appreciate the author's talent, with one review specifically praising Richard Siken's brilliance.

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56 customers mention "Poetry quality"52 positive4 negative

Customers praise the poetry in this book, describing it as amazing and among the best first books of poetry, with one customer noting its interconnected structure.

"...Despite this, the book also has humorous elements and is very witty. With time and discussion, greater depth can always be found in the poems...." Read more

"...Siken’s confessional style and vivid imagery create a compelling and immersive experience that is both unsettling and enthralling." Read more

"Crush is a three part collection of poetry. The first two parts are almost flawless while the third has some moments of weakness...." Read more

"Great poems and great quality print" Read more

26 customers mention "Emotional content"23 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, finding it intense and evocative, with one customer describing it as an immersive experience.

"...style, this collection becomes a treasure trove of lyricism, confrontation with reality, and heartfelt reflection...." Read more

"Richard Siken's Crush is a visceral collection that plunges readers into the depths of desire and obsession with a cinematic urgency...." Read more

"...the final poem "Snow and Dirty Rain manages to summarize the emotional journey of the collection and brings a sense of closure...." Read more

"...Violent, haunting, tender, unflinching. I think my favorite adjective for these poems is "seductive."..." Read more

6 customers mention "Impact"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's impact positive, with reviews noting its experiential depth, life-changing nature, and how it leaves a lasting impression, with one customer describing it as very approachable.

"...Unlike many other collections of poetry, it can still be appreciated on an experiential level by those who do not have extensive prior knowledge..." Read more

"...with raw emotion, blending themes of love and violence that leave a lasting impact...." Read more

"...about the author and then rereading the poems, they changed their meaning for me completely...." Read more

"There is no book of poetry like this one. Louise Glück's intro is voraciously spot-on. This book sits right up there with Plath's Ariel...." Read more

5 customers mention "Evocativeness"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book evocative and captivating, with one customer noting that the scenes are so alive.

"...a compelling and immersive experience that is both unsettling and enthralling." Read more

"...The scenes are so alive, so vivid, so intense and immediate. Very cinematic poetry...." Read more

"...I highly, highly recommend this collection of poetry--it's captivating, raw, and thought-provoking, and difficult to put down...." Read more

"...The overall prose and tone of his writing is dark and captivating, it is almost seductive." Read more

5 customers mention "Romance"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the romantic elements in the book, with one review noting how it blends themes of love and violence, while another describes the prose as both heartbreaking and erotic.

"...Each poem is charged with raw emotion, blending themes of love and violence that leave a lasting impact...." Read more

"...Violent, haunting, tender, unflinching. I think my favorite adjective for these poems is "seductive."..." Read more

"...Siken seems like a hipsters dream come true--sexy, violent, crushed, and ironic...." Read more

"...His tone is conversational and beautiful, and his prose boarders on the heartbreaking and erotic. I highly recommend this collection." Read more

4 customers mention "Power"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book powerful, with one noting its raw energy.

"...Beautiful, moving, bizarre, and powerful." Read more

"...His use of language is unique and both beautiful, powerful and hints at the greater sadness that often comes along with being gay...." Read more

"Dark and Beautiful. The raw energy is powerful and Siken touches on so many relevant themes as a gay man. I highly recommend the book." Read more

"Powerful, eloquent, moving, emotional, gripping, and masterpiece. These are only a few words to describe this collection of poems...." Read more

4 customers mention "Talent"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's talent, with one describing him as brilliant.

"...richard siken is a wonderfully talented man." Read more

"He is a very talented poet. Gorgeous work" Read more

"...A fantastic book and fantastic author." Read more

"Richard Siken is brilliant. I've read it through several times and bring it with me everywhere...." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the humor in the book, noting it is filled with surprising elements.

"...Despite this, the book also has humorous elements and is very witty. With time and discussion, greater depth can always be found in the poems...." Read more

"...Although the poems are often tragic they are also filled with surprising humor. "..." Read more

"...seems like a hipsters dream come true--sexy, violent, crushed, and ironic...." Read more

Copy Looks Used, but Content is 5 Stars
4 out of 5 stars
Copy Looks Used, but Content is 5 Stars
This poetry is electric, but my (supposedly new) copy looked used when it arrived. $10 isn’t worth the inconvenience of returning, but it’s definitely annoying.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amalia H.
    5.0 out of 5 stars CRUSH makes poetry come alive again
    Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    CRUSH is an exceptional book of poetry that does not lose in depth of artwork and mastery when compared to other historical masterworks. Despite this, it is still very approachable. Unlike many other collections of poetry, it can still be appreciated on an experiential level by those who do not have extensive prior knowledge about poetry.
    However, it is not light reading. The main themes are personal reflection on the experiences of living as a gay man, using the medium of film as a tool throughout to address stereotypes, storytelling, and the way we transition between different stories that we tell about ourselves. Despite this, the book also has humorous elements and is very witty.
    With time and discussion, greater depth can always be found in the poems. After taking the time to sink into Siken’s style, this collection becomes a treasure trove of lyricism, confrontation with reality, and heartfelt reflection. This is one of the few books that really inspired me to continue writing poetry.
    His style is unique and well-developed throughout. Siken is a master of phrasing and incorporating colloquial language into his poetry. Overall, on a stylistic level and content-wise, this is a really exceptional book. I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in poetry, but especially people who have lost interest and are looking for something to ignite their imagination again. For those people who wish to appreciate the genre and are looking for a more accessible way into poetry, this may not be the first book to go to, but it could be one of the first few.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Mickie Kennedy
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Cinematic Journey Through Love and Obsession
    Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Richard Siken's Crush is a visceral collection that plunges readers into the depths of desire and obsession with a cinematic urgency. Each poem is charged with raw emotion, blending themes of love and violence that leave a lasting impact. Siken’s confessional style and vivid imagery create a compelling and immersive experience that is both unsettling and enthralling.
    Helpful
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  • Keshia Dee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect poems
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2025
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    Loved them
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  • Antoine de Saint-Exupery
    5.0 out of 5 stars Poetry that reels you back in again and again
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Crush is a three part collection of poetry. The first two parts are almost flawless while the third has some moments of weakness. That said, the first two parts are so good that the third part can not detract from their power.

    Part One establishes several motifs that wind their way through the poems of parts two and three effectively binding them together. The mood of part one also throws the reader into a sense of claustrophobic grief and yearning that pervades the poems.

    While at times difficult to read, the poems are strikingly honest and immediate. The sexual undertone is both symbolic and explicit at once: in The Torn-Up Road, Siken provides the powerful metaphor of "a boat slamming into the dock."
    Siken frequently uses "You" turning the reading experience into a conversation between the reader and the poet. Although the poems are often tragic they are also filled with surprising humor. "We clutch our bellies and roll on the floor...When I say this it should mean laughter, not poison."

    Part Two is similar to part one but the poetry is even wilder and more tightly focused on the crush. "Boot Theory" is a spectacular opening poem and "Saying Your Names" provides an equally exquisite closing.

    The final section is the most philosophical and at times the meaning becomes opaque as in the mammoth poem "You are Jeff" it is unclear what emotional argument Siken is trying to capture with his extended metaphors.

    However, the final poem "Snow and Dirty Rain manages to summarize the emotional journey of the collection and brings a sense of closure. Siken hits several helpful notes and provides a thesis for the entire collecion: "We can do anything. It's not because our hearts are large, they're not, it's what we struggle with."
    Part
    8 people found this helpful
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  • T Bryant
    5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfied Customer
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The item arrived carefully packaged and in precisely as-described condition. I am happy with my experience, and will definitely buy from this seller in the future.
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  • Madison
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great poems and great quality print
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  • Wolf
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    You won't find m any books like this one! Its a wild ride but fascinating. I read it through in one sitting then read it again.
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  • Emily D. McMillan
    5.0 out of 5 stars I've nearly read my copy into shreds
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    I am in love with this book. I bought it a couple of years ago on a recommendation and have read it over and over and over again. Other reviewers have sung the book's praises brilliantly and I agree with many of their descriptions. Violent, haunting, tender, unflinching. I think my favorite adjective for these poems is "seductive." The way you're lulled into reading a nice little love poem ... and then sent reeling. It's breathtaking.

    "An all-night barbeque. A dance on the courthouse lawn.
    The radio aches a little tune that tells the story of what the night
    is thinking. It's thinking of love.
    It's thinking of stabbing us to death
    and leaving our bodies in a dumpster.
    That's a nice touch, stains in the night, whiskey kisses for everyone."

    The scenes are so alive, so vivid, so intense and immediate. Very cinematic poetry. I wish I could write like this, and I wish there was more of Siken's work out there to be found. I've been searching ....
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Ylenia Vinci
    5.0 out of 5 stars Una nuova esperienza
    Reviewed in Italy on December 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Poesie rabbiose e disperate. Di solito preferisco poeti più "gentili", ma proprio l'impeto e la sincerità di Siken me l'hanno fatto amare. Felicissima dell'acquisto.
    Report
  • Stepan Rerikh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on May 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Bought it for my sister.
    Report
  • Flávia
    1.0 out of 5 stars A entrega foi deplorável
    Reviewed in Brazil on January 6, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    O conteúdo do livro é incrível, mas que palhaçada pagar caro pra receber um livro rasgado. Amazon.com.br decepcionou nisso, ja tive uma entrega cancelada com outro livro e agora este livro que paguei caro veio com esse rasgo na capa.
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    Flávia
    1.0 out of 5 stars
    A entrega foi deplorável

    Reviewed in Brazil on January 6, 2025
    O conteúdo do livro é incrível, mas que palhaçada pagar caro pra receber um livro rasgado. Amazon.com.br decepcionou nisso, ja tive uma entrega cancelada com outro livro e agora este livro que paguei caro veio com esse rasgo na capa.
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  • Aryan Verma
    5.0 out of 5 stars loved it
    Reviewed in India on February 8, 2025
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    my girlfriend loved it!
    Report
  • Meagz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful contemporary poetry
    Reviewed in Canada on October 8, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I am absolutely in LOVE with Siken. His poetry is inspiring and soulful. It's so good that I have been taking it in slowly, because I want to savor it and find the emotion overwhelming all at once. He displays emotion so artfully and I think everyone should read this, even poetry skeptics.

    It's amazing, you should read it.
    Report