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Reviews for Super Elastic Traveling Sound Circus
Midwest Book Review - November 5, 2006 - 5 Stars
Written by accomplished novelist G. C Rosenquist, The Super Elastic Traveling Sound
Circus is a poetry collection assembled from metaphors drawing on all five senses.
Each brief, free-verse poem touches upon the common elements that bind humans
together as surely as the uniqueness that sets individuals apart. From cosmic concepts
such as string theory to painful yet disturbingly common incidents such as divorce to
the mysterious beauty of a sea flower, each topic speaks to a different element of the
mystery of life. "Circle": I was born in the ocean / I was one-celled once / I know where I
came from / Where the hell am I right now? // I left it all behind / I crawled up into the
mud / to be where my future lies / Be neath the beating sun
Book Pleasures - November 2006
Established writer and poet, G.C Rosenquist has penned his first poetry book, Super
Elastic Traveling Sound Circus, which consists of fifty diverse and very metaphoric
poems.
The book begins with a statement from the author on the meaning of the book and what
motivated him to compose these poems.
“A poem, to me, is a novel condensed to its most important and essential
elements…This is a raw open wound: do I want the reader to know this?”
Expressing a variety of emotions in his words, the poems are well written, insightful and
very symbolic. Each poem conveys a message and I liked how Rosenquist wrote a
small paragraph at the top of each poem, to add more meaning to its work.
On the whole, the book is a galactic journey, an open wound, a philosophical discourse,
or maybe just a simple explanation of his life.
My favorite poems in the book are: Friendship Down, Kite, Coma, Circle and Old Man.
There was a special meaning and wit to those poems and I was able to relate to the
sentiments they communicate. Quotes:
Kite: “That for a kite to fly / It must be anchored to the ground”
Circle: “I went to the mountaintops / I found the truth up there / Didn’t like what I was told
/ So I went back home again”
Old Man: “You see me through eyes that deny their age / With spider-leg fingers, paper-
skin wrapped / Brown leaf bones and a weathered, velvet head / You’re much stronger
than I am”
Lighthouse Literary Reviews - 5 Beacons - November 2006
When I finished this poetry book I thought of it as an eclectic collection of all things that
could possibly run through your mind at any given moment. I especially loved the one-
liners at the beginning of the poems that explained the author’s thoughts and feelings
while writing. To me, this is what provided the hook. Often when reading poetry, I am
at a loss for what the words actually meant to the author. Here there was no question.
Easier to relate and effortless to read, this collection was a winner…. I love the circus!
Paulette Roeske - Professor, College of Lake County
"Come right on in," G.C. Rosenquist invites in Super Elastic Traveling Sound Circus, an
apt title for this moveable feast, chock full of energy and earnest good will. The "bright
bang blasts" that drive the heart in "Pulsar" never stop, never slow. We're always
"squirming through the squeeze" as it's put in "Wormhole," one of the collection's
highlights. These innovative poems are unified by the distinctive voice of their plucky
narrator, characterized by jazzy, alliterative lists replete with action verbs and a
surprising array of images, as in "Firefly," for example, a compelling oath of rampage
that skids to its final, perfect line: "Cross my burning heart." And there is wisdom here,
too, in the heedable warning in "Galaxy" that advises, "Beware the blizzard you idle in"
or in the epiphany that concludes
"Glass:" "I know now why I'll never find you/You've become glass and I see right
through you." "Divorce (A Comedy)" and "Sunday Morning in the River" are true
originals that typify this collection which is, at once, smart, funny, volatile, and
energizing. G. C. Rosenquist's new collection, Super Elastic Traveling Sound Circus,
gives back far more than the price of admission.
Curled Up With A Good Book / August 2007
The poet states in the foreword that the idea for this collection came about as a result
of personal upheaval occurring in his life. Often, poetry is penned as a release, and
situations don’t necessarily take a “universal” tone. Instead, the poetry becomes a
reflection or a reliving of the pain of the moment, and only the poet understands the
deeper meaning of each selection. Is that the case with this collection? Step inside the
big top and see what the ringmaster has to say.
Most of the selections deal with love or the diminishing of a relationship. Four poems
really stand out in the collection. “Comet” questions why a person would return to a
failed relationship, even if a significant amount of time has elapsed. The extended
metaphor of the comet traipsing across the sky and being pulled into gravity causing an
explosion is brilliant.
“Time Machine” has a fantastic sound quality. The reader should hear and feel the
machine moving through time. Great rhythm!
“Food Poisoning (Part 1)” and “Food Poisoning (Part 2)” provide a contrast between a
husband suffering from Alzheimer’s and his wife, who is watching him morph into an
unrecognizable individual. Anyone who has had to experience someone affected by the
disease will surely understand the emotional impact of the poem.
The book is divided into two parts. All titles in Part One relate to science or scientific
theory. The poet makes good use of science terms within the poems to form strong
images. Titles in Part Two are varied. A positive aspect is that each selection is
prefaced with a question or brief explanation which helps the reader focus on the
author’s intent.
One problem with writing to draw emotions from within and put them on paper is finding
commonality with the reader. Sure, most of us have experienced love and some of us
have lost love, but several themes of some of the poems will not allow the reader to
empathize. Rosenquist states in the foreword that every person in every culture has
had experience with the topics of his poetry, and that that makes this a strong
anthology; however, over half the poems deal with love or broken relationships. After
awhile, the emotion in each selection becomes too similar. Where’s the novelty of the
love or the loss?
Titles either make the reader gravitate toward a book or pass it by. Rosenquist explains
how he developed the book title: after reading the collection as a whole, he saw brilliant
colors, and the circus metaphor was born. With a tangent toward scientific theory in the
Part One titles, it seems a title based on these ideas might stand out even more. It’s an
interesting contrast.
Overall, there are several strong poems, and the most are enjoyable to read, but some
of the poetry might leave an experienced poetry reader (or poet) wanting more.
Written by accomplished novelist G. C Rosenquist, The Super Elastic Traveling Sound
Circus is a poetry collection assembled from metaphors drawing on all five senses.
Each brief, free-verse poem touches upon the common elements that bind humans
together as surely as the uniqueness that sets individuals apart. From cosmic concepts
such as string theory to painful yet disturbingly common incidents such as divorce to
the mysterious beauty of a sea flower, each topic speaks to a different element of the
mystery of life. "Circle": I was born in the ocean / I was one-celled once / I know where I
came from / Where the hell am I right now? // I left it all behind / I crawled up into the
mud / to be where my future lies / Be neath the beating sun
Book Pleasures - November 2006
Established writer and poet, G.C Rosenquist has penned his first poetry book, Super
Elastic Traveling Sound Circus, which consists of fifty diverse and very metaphoric
poems.
The book begins with a statement from the author on the meaning of the book and what
motivated him to compose these poems.
“A poem, to me, is a novel condensed to its most important and essential
elements…This is a raw open wound: do I want the reader to know this?”
Expressing a variety of emotions in his words, the poems are well written, insightful and
very symbolic. Each poem conveys a message and I liked how Rosenquist wrote a
small paragraph at the top of each poem, to add more meaning to its work.
On the whole, the book is a galactic journey, an open wound, a philosophical discourse,
or maybe just a simple explanation of his life.
My favorite poems in the book are: Friendship Down, Kite, Coma, Circle and Old Man.
There was a special meaning and wit to those poems and I was able to relate to the
sentiments they communicate. Quotes:
Kite: “That for a kite to fly / It must be anchored to the ground”
Circle: “I went to the mountaintops / I found the truth up there / Didn’t like what I was told
/ So I went back home again”
Old Man: “You see me through eyes that deny their age / With spider-leg fingers, paper-
skin wrapped / Brown leaf bones and a weathered, velvet head / You’re much stronger
than I am”
Lighthouse Literary Reviews - 5 Beacons - November 2006
When I finished this poetry book I thought of it as an eclectic collection of all things that
could possibly run through your mind at any given moment. I especially loved the one-
liners at the beginning of the poems that explained the author’s thoughts and feelings
while writing. To me, this is what provided the hook. Often when reading poetry, I am
at a loss for what the words actually meant to the author. Here there was no question.
Easier to relate and effortless to read, this collection was a winner…. I love the circus!
Paulette Roeske - Professor, College of Lake County
"Come right on in," G.C. Rosenquist invites in Super Elastic Traveling Sound Circus, an
apt title for this moveable feast, chock full of energy and earnest good will. The "bright
bang blasts" that drive the heart in "Pulsar" never stop, never slow. We're always
"squirming through the squeeze" as it's put in "Wormhole," one of the collection's
highlights. These innovative poems are unified by the distinctive voice of their plucky
narrator, characterized by jazzy, alliterative lists replete with action verbs and a
surprising array of images, as in "Firefly," for example, a compelling oath of rampage
that skids to its final, perfect line: "Cross my burning heart." And there is wisdom here,
too, in the heedable warning in "Galaxy" that advises, "Beware the blizzard you idle in"
or in the epiphany that concludes
"Glass:" "I know now why I'll never find you/You've become glass and I see right
through you." "Divorce (A Comedy)" and "Sunday Morning in the River" are true
originals that typify this collection which is, at once, smart, funny, volatile, and
energizing. G. C. Rosenquist's new collection, Super Elastic Traveling Sound Circus,
gives back far more than the price of admission.
Curled Up With A Good Book / August 2007
The poet states in the foreword that the idea for this collection came about as a result
of personal upheaval occurring in his life. Often, poetry is penned as a release, and
situations don’t necessarily take a “universal” tone. Instead, the poetry becomes a
reflection or a reliving of the pain of the moment, and only the poet understands the
deeper meaning of each selection. Is that the case with this collection? Step inside the
big top and see what the ringmaster has to say.
Most of the selections deal with love or the diminishing of a relationship. Four poems
really stand out in the collection. “Comet” questions why a person would return to a
failed relationship, even if a significant amount of time has elapsed. The extended
metaphor of the comet traipsing across the sky and being pulled into gravity causing an
explosion is brilliant.
“Time Machine” has a fantastic sound quality. The reader should hear and feel the
machine moving through time. Great rhythm!
“Food Poisoning (Part 1)” and “Food Poisoning (Part 2)” provide a contrast between a
husband suffering from Alzheimer’s and his wife, who is watching him morph into an
unrecognizable individual. Anyone who has had to experience someone affected by the
disease will surely understand the emotional impact of the poem.
The book is divided into two parts. All titles in Part One relate to science or scientific
theory. The poet makes good use of science terms within the poems to form strong
images. Titles in Part Two are varied. A positive aspect is that each selection is
prefaced with a question or brief explanation which helps the reader focus on the
author’s intent.
One problem with writing to draw emotions from within and put them on paper is finding
commonality with the reader. Sure, most of us have experienced love and some of us
have lost love, but several themes of some of the poems will not allow the reader to
empathize. Rosenquist states in the foreword that every person in every culture has
had experience with the topics of his poetry, and that that makes this a strong
anthology; however, over half the poems deal with love or broken relationships. After
awhile, the emotion in each selection becomes too similar. Where’s the novelty of the
love or the loss?
Titles either make the reader gravitate toward a book or pass it by. Rosenquist explains
how he developed the book title: after reading the collection as a whole, he saw brilliant
colors, and the circus metaphor was born. With a tangent toward scientific theory in the
Part One titles, it seems a title based on these ideas might stand out even more. It’s an
interesting contrast.
Overall, there are several strong poems, and the most are enjoyable to read, but some
of the poetry might leave an experienced poetry reader (or poet) wanting more.