VINEGAR HILL Poems

If sound could have a texture, Tóibín's voice would be velvet. In this audiobook, his first published collection of poetry, Tóibín's delivery is rich, luxuriant. The poems are wide ranging in both topic and tone, but his voice remains consistently deep and gentle, with a lovely Irish accent that adds musicality. While poetry is a delight to hear, especially when read by the author, this collection would benefit from a slower, more deliberate pace. Sometimes a piece is delivered too briskly to allow time for the lyricism to sink in, and the ability to look back over a stanza is not an option. One need not be a poetry connoisseur to appreciate these pieces, though. Any close, patient listener will enjoy this collection. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2022]