In October, I attended (via Zoom) the DPL program “Spoon River Anthology” which was performed by Paddy and Jon Lynn. Excellent program! When I tried to figure out how long it has been since I had read the book (in high school?), I decided I needed to read it again. Danville Public Library has the book and the audiobook. But the program was on Saturday and the library was closed until Monday. Later that day, I was in the Habitat for Humanity Restore and there was the book! I purchased it for 50 cents and I “Spent the Weekend with a Book.”
Later, I checked out the audiobook which was a different experience just listening to the residents of the cemetery reciting their short poetic story about their time here in Spoon River. What a wonderful and innovative piece of writing! I found out the author, Edgar Lee Masters, is an Illinois native and that fictional village of Spoon River is about the actual Illinois Spoon River Valley.
As a teen, I didn’t realize how innovative it was and that it was an unusual style of poetry (and it was assigned reading) so I would have rated it lower than 5 stars but now as an adult, I really appreciate those things and it is an Illinois author! So bonus points for that!
Review by Melody W.