In this collection of poems, Jennifer Lagier transports readers to California's rural Central Valley during the 1950s and '60s, a time of transitional upheavals. Her poetry explores disintegration of the nuclear family, a young girl's traumatic journey into womanhood, stifling cultural and religious influences, small town sensibilities, and the toxic legacy of pesticide poisoning.
The third in the Camille series, CAMILLE MOBILIZES gives us the ever-feisty Camille, a woman who intends to RESIST, both literally and figuratively. Like so many women in America now, Camille refuses to go down without a fight.
All poems included in the poetry collection successfully explore the deepest emotions of the soul. It is quite remarkable that the poet has discarded the obsolete or worn-out phraseology. The poems are endowed with intense imagination, dreamy grace and subtle suggestion. All these poems become quite charming due to 'maturity, manifested in technique, of feeling in relation to thought'.
In Camille Abroad, the audience returns to the wry, irreverent, sensual world of Jennifer Lagier's existential anti-hero, Camille. As she matures, her adventures range from sultry to bemused senior citizen, from Big Sur to Paris, Spain, and back to her beloved California coast. These poems challenge readers to come along for a sometimes rueful, often humorous, frequently erotic ride.
These poems aptly show profoundly imaginative power. No doubt, the poet is an adept in the intimate and convincing analysis of emotions.
The poems provide an ample proof that the poet is full of powerful imagination and profound feelings. The style in all these poems is quite simple devoid of any artificial vocabulary.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Monterey, Jennifer Lagier is a seasoned poet and educator with deep roots in the local literary community. With twenty published books and contributions to numerous anthologies, her work reflects her rich experience in teaching and editing. Lagier’s notable poetry collections include "Harbingers" and "Meditations on Seascapes and Cypress," with her upcoming release, "Weeping in the Promised Land," anticipated in Fall 2023. She actively supports poetry through her editorial roles and community readings.
Exploring the intersection of personal and national turmoil, this collection reflects on a fractured society while delving into the author's own complex relationships. Through ekphrastic poetry, it shifts focus from chaos to a quest for tranquility, celebrating nature and the solace found in gardening and scenic walks. Ultimately, it emphasizes the transformative power of writing as a means to achieve a more settled and satisfying existence amidst the surrounding turbulence.
The collection showcases Jennifer Lagier's profound connection to the natural world, reflecting her morning walks along the Pacific coast. Each poem serves as a testament to the ecosystem's resilience and vulnerability, highlighting her keen observations. Crafted with elegance, these pieces represent the culmination of Lagier's lifelong dedication to her craft, making this collection her finest work.
In Harbingers, by Jennifer Lagier, you will find the sharp eye of the photographer, the passion of the environmental activist, and a prayer for the survival of the Earth. As the poet takes you on coastal walks on the Monterey Peninsula, she reveals her delight in all natural things and her fears about global warming. Elegantly crafted poem jewels, a joy to read Jennifer Lagier has published ten books of poetry. Her poems have appeared in a variety of national and international literary magazines and anthologies. She taught with California Poets in the Schools and is now a retired college librarian/instructor. Jennifer is a member of the Italian American Writers Association and Rockford Writers Guild. She co-edits the Homestead Review and maintains websites for Ping Pong: A Literary Journal of the Henry Miller Library, The Monterey Poetry Review, and misfitmagazine.net. She also helps coordinate the Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium's Second Sunday Reading Series and designs the chapbook for the Blue Light Press Summer Writing Workshop.