My Works, Ye Mighty by Christian Bök

This is not just a book, it is a journey through an art gallery of sorts. Poetic – absolutely. Enlightening – definitely. Profound and engaging, certainly. It is like Bok reaches out his hand and guides the reader through the finite essence of a poem and to the outer edges of existence to find it again.

Through visuals and a clear love of literature, the size of the reader both transforms and transcends through each view within the pages. Touching on the essence and brilliance of his Xenotext project, Bok is known for taking on challenges and wisely maneuvering an array of obstacles while still being connected to his readers.

This text goes beyond what is on the page, while taking a microscopic look at the pages and their words themselves. Well-researched and expertly crafted, My Works, Ye Mighty makes obvious the passion and patience the author and poet embodies as he honours the language, the viewpoints and the engagement of the reader.

“Bok’s imagination is mythopoetic, his methods seemingly both rigorous and mad, with no shortage of mischievous humour.” With a forward by Adien Dubbleboer and Mark A McCutcheon with Athabasca University, they clearly admire the works, past and this one, of Bok, and celebrate his time with the university’s residency program.

My Works, Ye Mighty is a valuable read in that it offers and challenges different ways of thinking.

With imagery of work by Isvan Banyai, Craig Dworkin, Emanuel Goldberg and himself, Bok challenges the concept and perception of the minimal element of writing from Isidore Isou’s claim of the letter being “a fraction of the word” to Stéphane Mallarmé arguing that the book is what constitutes the minimal element of writing. Each critic defending their viewpoint valiantly. The book seems small but within the pages are universes and worlds that stand the test of time and breathe life in their fractions and wholes. Arguably a scientific journal along with being an art exhibit, its orbital effect makes it a worthwhile read that you’ll want to read again after pondering and experiencing life as these experts see it.

Not an easy read, with its concepts and dissection of thoughts, My Works, Ye Mighty is a valuable read in that it offers and challenges different ways of thinking. Hidden within the texts are riddles and conundrums which invite the reader to pause as he reveals and reflects on his own writing journey and process. The essay, broken in to small segments, began with his writer-in-residence presentation at Athabasca University includes and begins with a new poem specifically written for this publication. Scale, through poetry and art in any form, is proven to be important and Bok seems delighted to explain how.

In his acknowledgements Bok concludes, “A Zoom Lens for the Future of the Text” recounts my hope for the endurance of poetry across every scale of existence.” A book like this one is meant to live long after the physical object is placed on the shelve. For anyone who enjoys literature and art, to be challenged in their way of thinking and to ponder their opinion, this is a book that will creep into your brain and never leave.

Born in Toronto, Christian Bök focuses on the intersection of language and science in his work. His first book of poetry, Crystallography, was nominated for the Gerald Lampert Award. His book Eunoia, which won the Griffin Poetry Prize in 2002, is the best-selling Canadian poetry book of all time. Bök has also created artificial languages for science fiction television. His most recent book is The Xenotext (Book One). He teaches at Charles Darwin University in Melbourne, Australia.

Publisher: Athabasca University Press (February 4, 2025)
Paperback: 7″ x 6″ | 96 pp
ISBN: 9781771994347

Sarah Butland

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I am a struggling artist, a challenging and challenged mother who always thinks she is failing, an emerging freelance writer and reporter, an author with my name on several books crossing genres and always hoping to find more readers who enjoy them.

I am also a successful artist, a wonderful and thriving mother of one, a reacher towards both people and dreams despite all of the turned backs and obstacles in my way. I am a thriving freelance writer and reporter, an author loved by enough readers to make it worthwhile and a discombobulated conundrum who loves to hear new music, tell new tales and meet new authors. And I’m doing something I always dreamed of doing – reviewing books to support others as well as myself and my family.