The Book Review • 21 June 2025

A.O. Scott on the Joy of Close Reading Poetry

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On this week's episode, A.O. Scott joins host Gilbert Cruz to talk about the value of close reading poetry. And New York Times Book Review poetry editor Greg Cowles recommends four recently published collections worth reading.

Books mentioned in this episode

* "New and Collected Hell: A Poem," by Shane McCrae

* "Ominous Music Intensifying," by Alexandra Teague

* "Ecstasy: Poems," by Alex Dimitrov

* "New and Selected Poems," by Marie Howe

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