LPR's generous reception: gracias

The generous reception LPR has received since it was officially launched last week has been humbling. I'd like to express my appreciation to those bloggers who've made mention of it, including Ron Silliman, who singles out particular pieces today, and ends with giving LPR a "big tip of the hat" at the end of his post. Thank you, as well, to those who have offered private notes. LPR recently received it's first "letter to the editor:" the e-mail put "letter to the editor" in the subject line so I've taken that as permission to post it. The letter in question doesn't address any specific piece in this first issue, but does suggest a very interesting question regarding the question of "eligibility" as far as which books can be commissioned for review at LPR. I'll be sending it on to our web master later today. So check our "Letters to the Editor" section in a few days.

In the meantime, LPR would like to reiterate its invitation to readers to contribute "letters to the editor" that respond to the pieces in the issue, with particular attention to Eric Murphy Selinger's "Gringo with a Baedeker, Cortez in Kevlar." It's a long piece, and originally appeared in Parnassus: Poetry in Review earlier this month. It's worth the time for its scope (sixteen books, including three anthologies). I can't think of another essay that's as extensive on Latino poetry. If there is an essay out there that is, I'd like to know about it. My model for this section is the lively discussion Poetry has managed with its Letters section.