{"product_id":"the-explosion-takes-both-legs-j-b-stevens-9781953665201","title":"The Explosion Takes Both Legs: Noir Poems from the War in Iraq","description":"In a punchy collection of poetry packed with humor and grit, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Explosion Takes Both Legs: Noir Poems from the War in Iraq\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, former U.S. Army infantry-officer-turned-crime-writer \u003cb\u003eJ.B. Stevens delivers both action and insight\u003c\/b\u003e into \u003cb\u003ehow Americans go to war\u003c\/b\u003e in the 21st century. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDespite the \u003cb\u003ecan't-miss, explosive nature\u003c\/b\u003e of some of his war stories, his poems are also often \u003cb\u003efilled with stoic, deadpan grace\u003c\/b\u003e. For example, he begins \"A Ghost in an Arabian Desert\" with ... \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"After we returned, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eWe had a ceremony and the commander said many nice things, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eI got a Bronze Star.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eMy mother and father and brothers met me at the base, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBecause my fianc馥 had cheated and left, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAnd my brother brought me ice-cream. [...]\"\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePunchy, pithy, and poker-faced! Full of grit and heart and dogged determination! \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eContains bonus short-fiction from J.B. Stevens! \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHERE'S WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:  \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"As meditations on war, these poems are revelation. Soulful, hell bent, fearless, riddled with pathos and hard won psychological truth. While Stevens draws upon his combat experience in Iraq for source material, what illuminates these poems are his abiding humanity and his preoccupation with the mysteries of the human heart. True war stories, but make it poetry.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e-Gabe Hudson, author of \u003ci\u003eDear Mr. President\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e◆◆◆◆◆ \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"J.B. Stevens' writing is a unique fusion of war poetry, pulp fiction, and pop culture references. Sometimes, he's a red-star cluster warning of danger. Other times, he's an artillery-delivered illumination round. Regardless, his work is stunningly insightful and explosively entertaining. Read on for some mental fireworks, delivered on-time and on-target!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e-Randy Brown, author of \u003ci\u003eWelcome to FOB Haiku\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSo Frag \u0026amp; So Bold\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e◆◆◆◆◆ \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Stevens' poetry is like watching old school fight clips on YouTube all night long. Like binge watching \u003ci\u003eDiners, Drive-Ins, and Dives\u003c\/i\u003e with your crush under the stars. It's going home after a long day of work and blasting Nirvana through your stereo. It's making the perfect s'mores after finally getting the campfire going. Which is to say, J.B. Stevens' \u003ci\u003eThe Explosion Takes Both Legs\u003c\/i\u003e is a haymaker straight to the heart, and it's beautiful.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e-Shawn Berman, author of \u003ci\u003eMr. Funnyman\u003c\/i\u003e and editor of \u003ci\u003eThe Daily Drunk \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e◆◆◆◆◆ \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"War as close-calls, confusion and waste. These poems keep coming at you, relentlessly, like one punch after another. Collectively, they will leave you reeling.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e-Bill McCloud, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Smell of the Light: Vietnam, 1968-1969\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e◆◆◆◆◆ \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"'They are gone, and I hope it didn't hurt.' Through his honest and direct depictions of death, survivor's guilt, and the alluring simplicity of war, J.B. Stevens documents how to be a veteran is to forever miss a part of yourself still out on the unfinished patrol. You don't laugh in the face of death because you want to die, you laugh because it's the best way to go. Haunting and visceral images that stick with you long after reading.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e-Zakariah Johnson, author of \u003ci\u003eMink: Skinning Time in Wisconsin\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eEgg on Her Face: Stories of Crime, Horror, and the Space in Between\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e J. B. Stevens\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1953665209\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781953665201\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Middle West Press LLC\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/04\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 84\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.30lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.20d","brand":"J. B. Stevens","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44311085744383,"sku":"9781953665201","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_0eb3f396-4cfe-4574-8a1f-f2403da93e49.jpg?v=1695721000","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-explosion-takes-both-legs-j-b-stevens-9781953665201","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}