Book of Longing: The First Poetry Collection in Twenty Years―Timeless, Illustrated Verse by Leonard Cohen

I've considered myself a Leonard Cohen fan for many years now, but I often wonder why. I don't appreciate or admire the famous "ladies' man" aspect of his career, and don't even enjoy listening to any of his music before the late 80's, when his youthful, boyish voice seemed to have oozed (or cooed) this persona. This is unfair of me--he also wrote some wonderful songs and literature in that time. But I find his early career can't compare with his later--confirming my growing hypothesis that artists generally improve with age (Beethoven with his Ninth Symphony, Bach with his Goldberg Variations and Art of Fugue, T.S. Eliot with his Four Quartets, etc.)--and I'm not really interested in his work published before "THE FUTURE". (And I for one prefer his aged, gravelly bass voice to his earlier, folk-singer treble.) All that I write as a preamble to my review: This present book of poetry is a delight, and seems to get better each time I read it. I recently re-read his "STRANGER MUSIC: SELECTED POEMS AND SONGS", which I remember liking much more some years ago, only to find myself questioning his powers of expression and articulation, in the past. (That collection includes pieces from the beginning of his career but only up to "THE FUTURE" album.) I seldom felt moved by or sympathy with the poems, songs, and prose in that collection; much of it seemed Dadaistic, even, whether Cohen intended such or not. And not in a complimentary way. But "THE BOOK OF LONGING" is "an odd collection of jazz riffs, pop-art jokes, religious kitsch and muffled prayer," as he describes his novel "BEAUTIFUL LOSERS" apparently, in "A Note to the Chinese Reader" (somewhat enigmatically included in this present book). There are Cohen's own drawings (in a variety of mediums) scattered liberally throughout the book, most of them poems in themselves (with script or text accompanying them). But the sheer variety of material is what makes this interesting. There are humor, pathos, romance, tragedy, optimism, pessimism, spirituality, respectful irreverence, clarity, obscurity, prose, poetry, and visual art in this book. Perhaps most importantly: Cohen has developed a very smart sense of humor over the years, and does not spare himself. And these pieces showcase this. Whereas his past material frequently contained an often repugnant self-centeredness and vanity, his more recent works (such as this volume) are lighter (in the best sense of that word); he must've learned well from his Zen training, however much he himself would disagree (and does disagree, in some of these poems!) I think that most of his best work is contained in this book. It is a sort of companion to his "TEN NEW SONGS" album, which features several of these poems set to music. Furthermore, his collaboration with Philip Glass and Glass's singers and musicians on the "BOOK OF LONGING" album of music--featuring many more of these pieces set to music--is also very interesting.

Leonard Cohen's Book of Longing Aside from being a creative genius in a multitude of artistic disciplines, Leonard Cohen is an old man. And with age comes wisdom. Take for example, this stanza from "Better." better than art is repulsive art which demonstrates better than scripture the tiny measure of your improvement No dummy, this guy. But then, you knew that already. Twenty years in the making, Book of Longing [Ecco/HarperCollins]was written on southern California's Mount Baldy and in Los Angeles, Montreal and Mumbai. The author of twelve books and seventeen albums of music, this collection of poems follows his highly acclaimed 1984 publication, Book of Mercy. Containing his own wonderful, playful and provocative line drawings, Book of Longing is a celebration of one of contemporary times' best and truest flesh-and-blood examples of unlimited artistic expression. Leonard Cohen's poetry is loaded with Bukowski's truth and simple statements, but without the ugliness. There are tons of love poems, reflections on drinking and God (oops, I mean "G-d"--he's Jewish, you know), loneliness, philosophy, aging, friendships, food, sober highs, celebrations of the body and sex, sex, sex. But it's all done with manners--a classiness Bukowski never knew-- a masculine sensitivity that's never maudlin, and a ripe, heavy, juice-laden life that few words in print have ever had the strength to carry. There are some moments when Cohen veers into classical meter and rhyme, but he pulls it off with the smart currency of the lyric, and yet somehow, even in the hipness, he can still manage to make the reader tear up: And fragrant is the thought of you The file on you complete Except what we forgot to do A thousand kisses deep There is unresolved anger and hurt: I could not kill the way you kill I could not hate I tried, I failed and Fare thee well my nightingale I lived but to be near you Though you are singing somewhere still I can no longer hear you But mostly, in all its spiritual, physical and emotional forms, there is truth: This is it I'm not coming after you I'm going to lie down for half an hour This is it I'm not going down on your memory I'm not rubbing my face in it anymore I'm going to yawn I'm going to stretch I'm going to put a knitting needle up my nose and poke out my brain I don't want to love you for the rest of my life I want your skin to fall off my skin I want my clamp to release your clamp I don't want to live with this tongue hanging out and another filthy song in the place of my baseball bat This is it I'm going to sleep now darling Don't try to stop me I'm going to sleep I'll have a smooth face and I'm going to drool I'll be asleep whether you love me or not This is it The New World Order of wrinkles and bad breath It's not going to be like it was before eating you with my eyes closed hoping you won't get up and go away It's going to be something else Something worse Something sillier Something like this only shorter And when the reader gets to the last page, they know it can never be it. There is no choice but to turn back to the first page and start again. O my love don't you know that we have been killed and that we died together

CD of poetry. Great for seniors and others with impaired vision.

For those who don't know Leonard Cohen or only know his music, his writing in poetry will be a great pleasure and a wonderful surprise. I am happy to have Cohen's books in print format. Food for the soul.

Talk about a searcher with an amazing gift of gap. Leonard Cohen can convey emotions and wisdom with his particular brand of songwriting. A poet at heart, he can not be separated from songwriting and poetry. The written word is his forte, and his searching ways, a true example of a seeker. I find him to be of the world, but also of the spirit, and that is what makes his songs and poems potential gems. Not all his body of work, for who among us can produce 100% exceptional? Knowing and having read his biography, I have a new found respect for this man. Unique in more ways than one, long periods of time when he immersed himself in the rigorous way of convent life. Periods when he joins the active world around us, others when he retreats to gather precious missing parts, I suppose (but what do I know?-can only guess). Leonard Cohen has earned his right to be admired by mere mortals, such as myself, for his immense body of work, and by his clash with the material world. Just recently he basically got ripped off from his life savings, and he had to go on the road (to the delight of many) to fill the coffers again. On that alone I will confess I have not read this particular Book of Longing, for it was a present to a person I have not seen again so I can not ask for an opinion. But knowing how the person I sent the book to loves him, and from knowing about his ways myself, I can safely say that for those who love his works this book will not disappoint. I shy away from poetry outside of song, maybe because of the fact that I find it much easier to appreciate it when accompanied with music. Amazon keeps asking to review this book, so there it has been reviewed. 4 Stars (based on overall likeness of the man?).

Leonard Cohen has been a BIG favorite of mine for 40-something years. His music is some of the most recorded stuff on the planet. Even if his voice is an acquired taste, other performer love his songs enough to make their own versions. Cohen's poetry in this book is no different than his music -- great stuff. Some is exactly the same as his best lyrics, and some is changed to match the written word better. This book is a fantastic book of poetry. The only person on the planet back in the 60/70's who wasn't blown away by Bob Dylan was Leonard Cohen. That's because his songs were better. Dylan's imagery was far out, ahead of it's time. Cohen's poetry though written for it's time, was also out ahead of it. I like Cohen's stuff more but Dylan is no slouch either. Anyhow if you like personal poetic conceit this book will do it.

These are the writings of a seasoned poet. Many are lyrical in the sense of a catchy tune. Good entry point for those who like Cohen's music, but don't have the patience for academic poetry.

I love Cohen's music but I really can't listen to it very long without it affecting my mood. This book is perfect! I got it yesterday: I was 60 pages into it before I came back up for air! The poems are meant to roll around in your mind until the words have touched you like they were intended. Open, raw, humorous and one of a kind. Cohen stays true to form and touches his readers in places we thought were private, but then you realize: you are incredibly happy that he managed to find his way in. This was one of his later works and now I'm interested in finding more (and working my way back) to the younger man. I highly recommend this book!

El libro es todo lo que cabe esperar de él, que es mucho ya de por sí. La edición no es lujosa, pero es bonita y cuidada, hecha con mimo y con una calidad aceptable.

This is more than just a book; it resembles a photocopy of Cohen's diary. Not only his scribbles and notes and poems it holds his thoughts, moods, and reflections at different points in time. I read it in parts and in bits and pieces. It travels between the absurd and the obvious - a beautiful play with thoughts and words.

Bought as a gift. Lovely book for fans

Embora a qualidade da capa deixe a desejar, não subtrai a beleza da obra do Leonard. Recomendo

Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen is a beautifully crafted collection of poetry that showcases the depth and brilliance of Cohen’s introspective mind. Each poem feels like a personal conversation, weaving themes of love, loss, spirituality, and aging with his characteristic wit and self-awareness. What struck me most was the balance between profound introspection and tongue-in-cheek humor. Cohen’s ability to reflect deeply on the human condition while poking fun at his own vulnerabilities is both disarming and endearing. His words linger, inviting you to reread and discover new layers of meaning each time. The accompanying illustrations add a unique, personal touch, giving readers a glimpse into the multi-faceted creativity of the artist. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Leonard Cohen or new to his work, this book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates thought-provoking poetry with a dash of humor. Highly recommended for quiet evenings of reflection and inspiration.