Tao Lin's collection of poetry you are a little bit happier than i am is the winner of the Action Book Prize in 2005, and for good reason. His poetry collection doesn’t concentrate on any one particular theme but more so the thought pattern in everyday life as it seems. The poems are compiled from frozen moments in time captured in writing: fun times on AOL instant messenger, the anxiety of a new crush, depression. All random moments but yet each seems so true about any person whom you pass on the street.
Lin's poems are anything but normal yet still present a life like quality that draws a personal connection with the reader. His state of mind is wicked and extreme but so damn real, if that makes any sense. His depiction of simple things and task that become so wild and extraordinary draws enticement. Things that require no thought before hand and leaves a person to wonder after putting his book down. Bottled water takes on a life of its own, depression seems acceptable and drunkenness and anti-depressants is your only daily does of vitamins. Raw emotion just explodes throughout this book. Not with a bang--there’s no climax--but a sudden burst of connectivity is captured in each poem.
In this collection, Lin brings to life things that don’t take on life form but seem so natural if they were human-like. In poetic terms, Personification is presented but this collection is outlined in free and blank verses, a definite non-traditional approach. His collection locks all unthinkable, random moments in a neatly packaged product. You are a little bit happier than i am is an easy read that will speak your literature language despite your preference in reading. It seems a bit unfamiliar but once again, a correlation will be present.
