City Poet: The Life and Times of Frank O'Hara

Rating:
Summary: Brings you into the life of O'Hara
Review: City Poet goes past the Frank O'Hara that readers get to know so well through his poetry. If you have read and enjoyed O'Hara's work, this book gives you the biographical background to bring your appreciation full circle. It is no quick read, but it allows you to appreciate the man behind the words through meticulous interviews with everyone who knew him.

Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Bore
Review: It's not surprising that Brad Gooch, a professional homosexual, writes a book that makes Frank O'Hara appear to be nothing more than another professional homosexual. Actually, Gooch may be right. O'Hara is an incredibly minor figure in American poetry, and this books devotes too much print to a third-rate writer who would probably best be forgotten.

Rating:
Summary: Boring -- too much about sex
Review: This book focused way too much on O'Hara's sex life and not enough on his work. The prose style is tedious, and I found myself skimming it through all the excruciating details about the poet's various lovers. The reader snoozes, O'Hara loses.

Rating:
Summary: Not as bad as some would make out
Review: This happens to be one of those heavy biographies that for better or worse include everything the author ever found out about his subject, much of which isn't worth recording. Biographers should learn that just because something's a fact doesn't make it interesting. Having said that, this book isn't without its virtues. I found the passages dealing with his interaction with artists and co-workers informative. It was very interesting to discover that O'Hara's college roommate was Edward Gorey - what an odd couple. Also, the details of O'Hara serving as Cecil Beaton's secretary were enjoyable. I did learn some things about O'Hara's sexual adventures that made me cringe (having lived through the plague years my view is compromised). Mr. Gooch has written a book full of facts and trivia - it's certainly a worthwhile chronicle of O'Hara's life. If you're looking for a more intimate portrait I recommend "Digression On Some Poems By Frank O'Hara," for a more academic look at his work look for "Poet Among Painters."