The Elements of San Joaquin: poems

By Gary Soto

A timely new edition of a pioneering work in Latino literature, National Book Award nominee Gary Soto's first collection (originally published in 1977) draws on California's fertile San Joaquin Valley, the people, the place, and the hard agricultural work done there by immigrants. In these poems, joy and anger, violence and hope are placed in both the metaphorical and very real circumstances of the Valley. Rooted in personal experiences—of the poet as a young man, his friends, family, and neighbors—the poems are spare but expansive, with Soto's voice as important as ever. This welcome new edition has been expanded with a crucial selection of complementary poems (some previously unpublished) and a new introduction by the author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chronicle Books Digital
• Release date: Apr 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781452170268

Gary Soto

Gary Soto is a National Book Award finalist and a recipient of the Andrew Carnegie Medal, the Hispanic Heritage Award for Literature, the Tomás Rivera Book Award, the NEA Author-Illustrator Civil Rights Award, the California Library Association’s Beatty Award, and the PEN Center West Book Award. He lives in Northern California.

Reviews for The Elements of San Joaquin

[ladycato · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer's program.This re-release of this book of poetry, first published in 1977, is an absolute treasure. I'm a poet born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley, not far from where Soto was raised. While I don't share his experience in a Hispanic upbringing, I related strongly to most every poem because he was talking about my home. My land, my neighbors, the smell of the place, the fog, the joy and the toil of the soil. The Sun-Maid Factory that he lived next to was is where I went for a 3rd grade field trip! Even if I didn't share a home region with the author, I would admire the way he wields language. I can't even count how many times I read a line in this book and thought, 'Wow.' A few of my favorite snippets:from Piedra:"The dark water wrinklingLike the mouth of an old auntie whispering Lord"from Remedies:"It won't be long before the painNapping inside youYawns and blinks awakeAnd Grandma hums prays hums"I will be holding on to this book for insight and inspiration, and I now want to read more of Soto's poetry. Quite frankly, I'm in awe of him. He wrote most of these poems when he was quite young, too. I would very much like to see how his voice matured.

[pardamustang · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Elements of San Joaquin by Gary Soto is a beautiful, haunting collection of poems. Divided into three sections, these poems focus on different aspects. Part one is full of gritty poems illuminating the stark reality of the poor and disenfranchised. One of the most haunting among this section is 'The Morning They Shot Tony Lopez, Barber and Pusher Went Too Far’. For me, this is because, though circumstances may have differed, it brought memories of my cousin's murder. Part Two focuses on scenes of nature and agriculture. Yet, even here, there are echoes and shouts speaking to the futility of life. One of the most evocative is near the beginning of the section, and this is 'Weeds’, emphasising both that futility, as of the farmer trying tirelessly to be rid of weeds, and of life’s tenacity, for weeds are notoriously difficult to extinguish. The last part returns to human experience, looking back to a childhood fading. Highly recommended for all who enjoy well-wrought poetry.***Many thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[joecottonwood · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I met Gary a long time ago (1990's) at an author gig where we were on the same panel. I'm sure he doesn't remember me, but I remember him as open, friendly, vulnerable. I liked him immediately. The poems in this early collection were written 20 years before that meeting. These are the poems of an angry young man, but also a man who is open and vulnerable and clearly talented at writing. Subjects include rape, field work, poverty, hard times. And occasionally, the wonder of the world:StarsAt dusk the first stars appear.Not one eager finger points toward them.A little later the stars spread with the nightAnd an orange moon risesTo lead them, like a shepherd, toward dawn.In another poem he writes:One hundred years from nowThere should be no reason to believeI lived.Not so, Gary, not so...

[hazeleyeflgal · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was pleased to get a copy of The Elements of San Joaquin by Gary Soto. I enjoy poetry, but these seem very dark to me. I could not get into the feelings of the poems. I'm sure they are very meaningful to the author, but I enjoy things that are more uplifting. However, the writing is well done and very thought provoking.