Every now and again, we are moved to laud the exceptional, behind-the-scenes efforts of our pool of trusted readers, who are weekly (yea, even through the “catch up” months of summer) poring over poems and stories and essays, etc., and rendering thoughtful judgments on their strengths and weaknesses. They are busy people with hectic lives, and we do not pay them, yet these intrepid, dedicated humans read on (occasionally taking breaks to apply more deodorant). Below are some random bits of their brain-work. CR submission readers, we (the staff) salute you!
—This feels awfully fresh and unusual, both in content and form. Some stunning language and insightful connections occur in this piece, but it all has a veneer of self-conscious wit that seems to suit it perfectly, as if the author were winking at us.
—I found these obscure but enjoyed figuring them out, and liked them when I did (if indeed I did).
—Though the story feels familiar, the narration and playful form interested me. Humor-tinged despair sharpens the tragedy.
—Not thrilling, but I like the staccato nature of the images, almost like we’re seeing a flash of them all at once.
—Prose is whip smart in most places, though it falters occasionally into cliche. Might be more meditative, but structurally it’s working and it has patient, emotional climax that makes the eyes water.
—These poems have energy/potential, but some of the language seems a bit clunky at times. Another read?
—The allegory is an interesting one, and I liked the prose style at first, but the story was too long to sustain that style and needed pruning.
—Surreal, compelling images, but the poems are either are too obscure and baffling to make a full enough impact or they offer easy, familiar conceits.
—While some scenes have genuine tension and momentum, the writing is needlessly verbose. Certain details seem either to be extraneous and/or out-of-order. This quality often robs the story of narrative momentum, and the conclusion seems to peter out rather than resonate fully.
—Engaging and interesting experiments, but they trail off into obscurity.
—These have a Zach Schomburg feel and are a bit cloying at times, but I still like them (I just don’t like that they want me to like them so much).
