Driving Cars* A Book Review by Deborah Taylor

Driving Cars: Poems about Getting Here, There and Everywhere, in Automobiles

(A Highland Park Poetry Publication) 2019 – 66 pages

Edited by Jennifer Dotson and Mary Beth Bretzlauf

Review by Deborah Taylor

Driving Cars…is a delightful and dynamic collection of poems by a diverse, talented group of poets. It is a truly compelling and engaging read. From the 3-line haiku to the much longer pieces, there is a plethora of poems for everyone to appreciate and enjoy.

The themes are symbolic of mobility; freedom; short and long journeys; shared via or associated with automobiles. Poems depict many twists and turns and the highs and lows people experience as they navigate the highways, byways, and crossroads of life. The book contains four sections: Tune Ups; Foreign or Domestic; Road Trip; and Memory Lane. It was fun leisurely reading a section at a time and savoring each, before proceeding to the next one.

I was most fascinated with the cover, before ever opening the book. Special compliments to John Adorjan, photographer, for his exquisite images of fabulous cars that graced the front and back cover of the book. His photographic artistry (including beautiful scenic backdrops) is show stopping in its own right. While the poems portray experiences with automobiles and actual road trips, they ultimately represent real human stories, precious memories, true passions, cultural patterns, navigational challenges, and the sentimental journeys in people’s lives.

Driving Cars…is a poetic treasure that successfully captures the beauty and excitement of automobile enthusiasts and others; as they collectively journey down long and winding roads of life together.

Poets include: Emma Alexandra, Herb Berman, Mary Beth Bretzlauf, William Carey, Tricia
Marcella Cimera, Gail Denham, Charlotte Digregorio, Jennifer Dotson, Michael Escoubas,
Mike Freveletti, Kathleen Gregg, Kate Hutchinson, Annie Jenkin, Tricia Knoll, Chuck Kramer,
Candace Kubinec, Kerry Ann Leaf, Lennart Lundh, Radomir Vojtech Luza, Bonnie J. Manion,
Dave Marcus, Joan McNerny, Mikki Mendolsohn, Khalid Mukhtar, Lakshmy M. Nair, Jen “Pen”
Richards, Marjorie Rissman, Donna L. Ritter, Barbara Robinette, Joris Soeding, Jacqueline
Stearns, Maggie Stewart, Merle Tovian, Sylvia Riojas Vaughn, Curt Vevang, Lynn White,
Neurine Wiggin, Michael M. Wright, R. M. Yager, and Mantz York.
To learn more about Highland Park Poetry visit:
http://www.highlandparkpoetry.org/

Reviewer's Bio:
Deborah Taylor is a former Chicago librarian, teacher and avid reader.
Taylor is a member of Poets United to Advance the Arts.