Review of Jordi Alonso’s “Honeyvoiced” (2014)

Review posted on Indigo/Chapters and Goodreads

"Dip into me" Fragment 141, p. 66

Jordi Alonso's homage collection to Greek poet Sappho and the sensual-erotic tradition is a warm embrace even for those clueless on Greek histories, such as myself. The woman-woman love champion Sappho ("saphhic" from her namesake; "lesbian," from her home on Lesbos island), whose poetry birthed a new exploration of love, is thoroughly appreciated in Alonso's work.

Alonso blends the personal and the historical, making me wonder where Sappho ends and he begins. He uses her fragments, since much of her work is lost to history, and imagines the work in its full form. Though, it is not complete imitation, rather interpretation. My favorite fragments in the collection are #40, 46, 52, 110, and 141.

Alonso is heavy on themes that are now quite cliche: smörgåsbord of food (honey, fruits, figs, milk, wines), flowers and shrubs, and various intimate movement (dribble, flowing, dancing, embracing). But the cliches don't feel tiresome or old. Although, after a while, you might get hungry--in more ways than one.* WINK *

I can say, though, as a non-expert on Greek histories and religions, I am missing bits and pieces of what makes Alonso's work so great. This is very much a collection for the expert and the enthusiast.

(Note, I hesitate here to say "mythology" as the Greek gods and Hellenistic deities very much have their legitimate devotees both present-day and ancient...I wouldn't call Christianity "Abrahamic mythology")

I admit I am so removed from the base material and its allusions, that there are inevitable holes in my comprehensio of Alonso's full message and imagery. But nonetheless, I enjoyed it still. Going back to do even minor, surface level learning on specific locations, religious ("mythological") figures, and other references was a real treat especially when I was able to return to the work and connect it all back Honeyvoiced. Shout out to Wikipedia! The people's 21st-century Alexandria.

If you want to explore Sappho, sensual and lyrical poetics, or just classics/classical study, Honeyvoiced is where you need to be.

Visit Jordi Alonso's website!