What Critics Say
"Ioannou's work, at its best, has a street–wise toughness, coupled with an eye for detail that is
effective . . . The strength of [Motherpoems] lies in the range of emotional responses
to motherhood that Ioannou captures. She's covering new territory and saying something that needs
to be said." – Louise Longo, Books In Canada
?It [Motherpoems] is a little blue book of 52 pages, but large in the tenderness and emotions of motherhood.
The poetry comes alive, as a living, breathing, steady heartbeat, and right away the reader
enjoys its realism and wisdom.? – Dorothy Cameron Smith, Media Club of Canada Newspacket
[Motherpoems] "Poetry that aches with beauty. Poetry that flashes photographs inside your brain.
Poetry women can feel and breathe." – Book Looks, The Compleat Mother
"There's a generosity of spirit here [Spare Words]–a measured, but still
joyful approach to
life that's as pleasing for its maturity as for its freshness . . . this poet [is] one who's studied life
and can present it honestly and warmly." – Rosemary Aubert, Poetry Canada
Review
"While [The Crafted Poem] is undeniably helpful to the audience for which it is intended (aspiring young poets), its
level is basic; it is a primer of good advice and sensible observations, a poet speaking to would–be poets."
– David Kent, Canadian Book Review Annual
"[In Familiar Faces/Private Griefs, the section] "Private Griefs" is generated
by strong emotion and an often bitter sense of loss, and is by
far the more compelling section. In particular, Ioannou's poems about her father
are excellent poetic achievements, and strike a chord of recognition in the reader."
– Lynne Kositsky, Canadian Book Review Annual
". . . sensitive and poignant lyrics [Familiar Faces/Private Griefs]. She deals with
the loneliness
that comes from the loss of loved ones . . . in a way that confirms the commonality of our
concerns and emotions. . . . Poem after poem exhibits the spiritual and sensory power that
accompanies the image, the metaphor, the precise word." – Barbara J. Graham, CM:
Canadian Materials
[Writing Reader–Friendly Poems] "Even experienced writers will benefit
from Ioannou's concrete suggestions, but her conversational style and good
use of illustrative examples make this a work particularly well suited to the novice poet....
Aspiring poets will find this compendium of advice a useful aid to personal blue–pencilling.
Public and school libraries with heavily used creative writing collections may want
to consider this volume for purchase." – Louise Reimer, CM: Canadian Materials for Schools and Libraries
[Writing Reader–Friendly Poems] "She gets right to the point, telling the
author exactly what to do. Using examples sparingly, but effectively, this is the kind of book that a writer would actually
use because it is so concise. However, this is not a book for a beginning poet....
It would be very suitable, though, for a reminder guide to someone already familiar with
much of the information, or for a teacher using this as a guide with students....
recommended for senior years in Manitoba schools."
– In Search of Canadian Materials
"[In Clarity Between Clouds] Ioannou sings the praises of human nature and its
strong ability to
learn through hardships . . . an experienced poet who possesses a gift for expressing emotions that
surface in the most unexpected situations. The most ordinary details of life, such as balance sheets
and kitchen decor, become inquiries into human thought and reflections of very real, accessible
feelings . . . a thoroughly enjoyable, highly recommended light read." – Carol Holland, Vox
Magazine
"Commendably, [in Clarity Between Clouds] Ioannou subverts the speaker's
implicit faith in lost
determinacy to the extent that she emphasizes the delusory nature of orders and origins. . . .
Ioannou's work blossoms in the present tense, capturing the transmutative effects of light and the
progress of seasons, gardens, and 'indigo' skies." – Mark Cochrane, Essays on Canadian
Writing
Susan Ioannou's Clarity Between Clouds celebrates the powers of light and sight.
. . . In each case
the moment inspires a luminous apprehension associated with love, grace, ease, or certainty. At
their best, the verses seem effortlessly melodic. . . . I am especially impressed by the assurance of
these poems, which observe but do not strain or moralize. Is this the attitude of midlife, as the
book's subtitle suggests?" – Jon Kertzer, Canadian Literature
[Where the Light Waits] "In a time when young poets are rushing into print, mad
to publish
books and madder for
celebrity, it is refreshing to read a poet who quietly has taken the time to learn her craft and allow
it to mesh with experience. . . . Those who are familiar with seeing Ioannou's poetry in the
periodicals and anthologies over the past two decades might be surprised to learn that this is only
her fourth book. Her work has appeared in most of the major literaries in this time. Small wonder,
then, that only a few years after publishing Clarity Between Clouds, she can follow
with another superb collection. What we are seeing is the quiet unfolding of a substantial and
excellent body of work by someone who belongs in the company of our most skilful poets." – Ted
Plantos, People's Poetry Letter
[Where the Light Waits] "Much like the short stories of Alice Munro in which the
ordinary is
made extraordinary, Susan Ioannou's poetry elevates simple nature and everyday experience into
the realm of the wondrous and sublime. Commonplace sights and events trigger inquiries into the
spiritual, and tiny miracles are everywhere, waiting to be discovered. . . . In her poems there is no
separation between inner and outer landscapes, only a dynamic
interaction, an intertwining. By immersing ourselves in the nature that surrounds us, we plumb
our own inner depths, journeying further into ourselves. . . . Through elegant imagery, Ioannou
paints a world in which each small thing, each moment is
whole and beautiful, to be cherished for its simplicity, yet exists also as a miracle of complexity, a
piece of a larger intricate puzzle. The ability to express this paradox is the hallmark of Ioannou's
immense talent." – Nicole Hesse, University College Alumni Magazine.
[Where the Light Waits] "These wide–ranging poems, which take for inspiration
storms and gardens as well as pulsars and galaxies, mostly begin or end with people growing older
or observing youth, blending the rhythms of nature's cycles with those of the human body and of
human life. . . . They are thought–provoking to be sure." – Chris Knight, Canadian Book
Review Annual
"A Real Farm Girl is a glorious reading experience for a young girl or boy. Its
action occurs on an old–fashioned farm complete with chamber pots under the bed, chickens laying eggs for young
girls to gather, weasels to prey on the chickens, barn cats, pigs, cows to milk, and even a bull.
Young Mary's dad is away at war so she spends time on her grandmother's farm where she learns
farm ways so she can prove she belongs." – Karen Shewbridge, St. John's
Telegram
"[A Real Farm Girl] The author gives a realistic description of family farm life
as it was 50 years ago." – Deborah Dawson, Canadian Book
Review Annual
"[A Magical Clockwork] "There are numerous handbooks advising beginners
on how to write poems. This one is different in that nearly all the examples are drawn from
contemporary Canadian poets. . . . I am sympathetic to Ioannou's intentions, applaud
her enthusiasm, and am grateful for her generous comments on one of my own poems. My
unease, I suppose, stems from my doubt whether such books ever succeed. Ultimately,
every poet must find his or her poetic voice; it is a lonely endeavour and takes years to achieve.
Still, poetry–writing beginners, if they read with a cool detachment, will find some interesting suggestions here"
– W.J. Keith, Canadian Book Review Annual
"[A Magical Clockwork] is highly detailed and well researched,
and potentially an invaluable guide for students and readers of poetry, especially
those trying to lessen the number of brow–creasing rereadings it sometimes takes
to understand a poem." – Desi Di Nardo Online
"A Magical Clockwork succeeds at examining the fundamental elements of a
poem, making it an ideal read for anyone who is just beginning to delve into the world of poetry.
I would also recommend it to established writers as a valuable reminder that there are still many
lessons to be learned from reading other people's work." – Leila S. Goldberger, Writer's Block
[A Magical Clockwork: The Art of Writing the Poem] "What better way to get
the student writing than to focus on perception and language construction; to have the writer
revel in the plasticity of sound and image while pushing the connotative and denotative meanings
of words? This is a good book by a good poet and perfectly priced for the financially strapped
student. It is written in a fresh, colloquial but precise prose style that demonstrates the verities and
virtues of which it speaks. The clockwork pinwheels of metaphor glisten and spin throughout." –
Richard Stevenson, The Danforth Review.
[A Magical Clockwork: The Art of Writing the Poem] ". . . it's the classy
educational tour that encourages readers not to be page turners, but to go deep. . . . Here's a
guarantee: you'll come away impressed from this tour. Read Ioannou's book and recommend it to
all your friends, those who feel awkward and excluded by poetry and those who love and care
about what makes a good poem." – Jannie Edwards, Poetry Spoken Here.
[A Magical Clockwork: The Art of Writing the Poem] "She is a wonderful
instructor: her tone is familiar rather than academic, her analysis is fluid and clear, and examples
are brief and apt. And these are just a few of the book's virtues. Ioannou also draws almost
exclusively upon Canadian examples. . . . Perhaps most importantly, Ioannou lives up to her own
principle–inherited from the Imagist tradition–that 'Precise, concrete language is the
foundation of vivid writing . . .' A Magical Clockwork includes one of the clearest
explanations of rhythm and poetic metre that I have ever come across." – Rob Thomas,
WORD
"I highly recommend this book. A Magical Clockwork is a clear analysis of the
structure of a poem. Ioannou illustrates her arguments with excellent examples. Most of the
excerpts are by Canadian poets and would be very useful for classroom study. I also appreciated
the brief historical context she provided to illustrate her points. Especially interesting was her
discussion of contemporary Canadian poetry: how it evolved and speculations about future forms.
Every teacher of English/Language Arts in Canada should have easy access to A Magical
Clockwork." – Terry Vatrt, CM: Canadian Review of
Materials.
[A Magical Clockwork: The Art of Writing the Poem] "presents a workable
framework that not only respects the craft of poetry–writing but also illuminates what makes
people so passionate about it. . . . The high quotient of contemporary reference all by itself would
make the book of real value in high school English classrooms. As well as analysis of how these
poems achieve particular effects, [Ioannou] offers herself as a generous and informed model of
how to be a reader of contemporary poetry and why it matters." – Margaret Mackey,
Resource Links.
"She believes in the craft and in the importance of poetry itself in the world. This book is
designed to help the reader appreciate and perfect the craft of poetry. It must be made clear that
this is a technical book and not a self–helpy you too can be a poet–type treatise." – Jeffrey Mackie,
Vallum Magazine
"In A Magical Clockwork, Susan Ioannou clearly demonstrates a zealous sense of
poetic mission, a love of poetry, and a healthy respect for the challenges and rigours of writing
poems. Her opening pages show an eagerness to get to her preferred subject, the actual work of
writing poetry, combined with impassioned but impressionistic interpretations of her favourite
poems." – Rachelle K. Lerner, lichen
[Looking Through Stone: Poems about the Earth] "Ms. Ioannou deserves full marks for doing her homework and ensuring that her poems are
technically accurate. Where else can you find poems containing words, which are close to the
hearts of mining people, such as 'magnetometer', 'feldspar', 'GPS–gizmos', 'Precambrian',
'octahedral', 'reclaiming' and 'kimberlite.' . . . While the outmoded stereotype of a miner may
be the antithesis of poetry in some people's minds, perhaps it is time to update the image of the
miner as more of a Renaissance Man, or Woman, who has a sensitive and contemplative artistic side.
The mining sector should embrace this collection of poetry, which shows the industry from a different
and enlightening perspective, as its own."– Peter McBride, Ontario Mining Association Newsletter
"Looking Through Stone: Poems about the Earth casts a rare but welcome
spotlight on the usually ignored inanimate world around us. We were intrigued
and not a little overwhelmed by this unexpected celebration of our m?tier.
As reviewer Andrew Linder astutely points out on Page 18, 'There can never be
too many tools for hard–rock mining. Why not poetry?' . . . Susan Ioannou's passion
for rocks is refreshing. Let's hope it's also contagious." – Norm Tollinksy, Sudbury
Mining Solutions Journal
"It is remarkable that the poet, Susan Ioannou, can find enough separate subjects and maintain
enough interest to produce the scores of works that appear in this short book [Looking Through Stone],
but that just shows how unimaginative we can become about what
is clearly shown to be a rich and evocative field." – Jane Werniuk, Canadian Mining Journal
[Looking Through Stone] "tells of geology's natural history factually and poetically.
It surprises like the best dessert and I could not put it down, before the last page had turned.
Everybody with the least knowledge of English and geology will read the book with
ravenous appetite." – translation from the Danish of Hans Kloster, Lapidomanen
"At first glance one could be forgiven for thinking that Looking Through Stone was some sort of
New Age anthology of poetry about rocks and crystals, but Susan Ioannou has accomplished much
more than simply combining mysticism, geology, mineralogy and poetry. She has managed to take all
of those things and blend them with scientific facts which go beyond mere amateur observations, with
history and myths which are surprising and enlightening, and with passion and beauty, which draws
the reader eagerly onward for the next poem." – Adge Covell, MinersAdvice
"Looking Through Stone: Poems about the Earth would make an interesting resource for
the intermediate science and language arts teacher. The poetic style is solid and the topics interesting and
unusual." – Gail Lennon, Resource Links
"Looking Through Stone is an interesting attempt to take the imagery of verse and
narrative to new dimensions and to thereby enter the parallel universe of art. It does meet Ioannou's
three criteria. The images are readily accessible, falling 'easily and elegantly within the line.'
With the final section, it almost . . . achieves a 'seamless whole.' – John Cunningham,
Prairie Fire Review of Books
"Looking Through Stone . . . uses geology as the basis for reflections on self, soul, and society . . .
each mineral and metal is a 'philosopher's stone,' a touchstone, permitting and supporting the poet's speculation." –
George Elliott Clarke, The Chronicle Herald.
"There is in poet Susan Ioannou's Looking Through Stone an interesting development of the idea
of the poem as 'stone' that makes it a 'both solid and beautiful' undertaking. But it's more than simply a collection
of poetry, or a typology of stone poems (as the book is divided about equally between the geological and mythical–folklorish):
she offers the reader an even interestingly wider window on ecology in general." – Conrad DiDiodato, Word–Dreamer:poetics.
"Ioannou's poems [Looking Through Stone] are straightforward, mostly narrative and primarily descriptive. They are readily accessible
and written in simple language. Beyond geological terms, they contain no arcane words, contorted structures,
convoluted metaphors or complex imagery, nor do they contain jingling rhymes. Like the rocks they describe,
these poems are direct and uncompromising. The world of bioscience has long had its poets; anthologies
abound with fine word–paintings of animals and plants. The world of geoscience is much overdue for a
similar treatment and spotlight. In this collection, Susan Ioannou has made a valuable contribution to this
enterprise. And, along the way, she amply succeeds in showing us different ways to look through stone." – Alwynne B. Beaudoin,
GEOLOG, The Newsmagazine of the Geological Association of Canada.
[Looking Through Stone] "Ioannou's perspective on the larger human contexts of minerals is sweeping, convincing. She ranges through
ancient history, folklore, mythology, medicine, spirituality, technology, finance, and environmentalism, and she
leaves no stone unturned. . . . Ioannou's best poems crystallize imagery and meaning into finely cut and glimmering stones. What holds the
book together, therefore, is not its multiple and occasionally contradictory perspectives on the purposes of minerals,
but rather the poet's unswerving fidelity to earth and its language. As she listens and writes, we miraculously hear
the stones speak, and 'their syllables bristle and throb / more than full of themselves.' " – Monika Lee, Vallum Magazine.
"Writer, editor, and teacher Susan Ioannou
shares the wisdom of her experience in this collection of essays [Holding True: Essays on Being a Writer]
that are–variously–cautionary,
encouraging, satirical, and pragmatic . . . reflections on the submissions she received while
fiction editor at Cross–Canada Writers' Quarterly are amusing as well as admonitory
(and, unfortunately, do not seem to have dated one bit)." – Bernard Kelly, paperplates.
"Several of the stories by Ioannou were
slightly reminiscent of the writing style of Lucy Maud Montgomery, while other stories reminded me of the
British author Barbara Pym. Nine to Ninety: Stories across the generations has something for everyone.
A very entertaining and delightful book with stories that will touch your heart." – Paula, Canadian Book
Clubs, Book Reviews Forum.
"It is a difficult task to write stories that appeal to several generations. When writing this type of book, the
author must find a common perspective to engage her readers. In the example of Nine to Ninety,
author Ioannou imparts gentle lessons in humanity in her stories, relating them with clear prose and humour.
Social perceptions and misperceptions are a theme in the book. . . . It also draws our attention to the
assumptions individuals make about themselves and each other?an important learning opportunity for young adults."
– J. Lynn Fraser, CM.
"The women portrayed in [Nine to Ninety: Stories across the generations] come from
different generations but the author depicts each with sensitivity;
her characters are captivating, from the inquisitive Lucy to the grumpy Elaine. We come to realize that women are
not only mothers, sisters, daughters, and grandmothers, and Ioannou's portrayal of their complexity pushes home
the truth that women are distinct. Her rendering is both tender and tough. These are women with whom we want
to sit down and share a cup of tea. And the tea is just fine, Susan Ioannou. Just fine."
– Mary Barnes, Prairie Fire Review of Books.
"Social perceptions and misperceptions are a theme in [Nine to NinetyCM: Canadian Review of Materials, Vol. 17, 2010.
[Looking for Light] "The fruitful exercise of a poet who writes about the impossibility of
creation" – Anne Burke, News from the Feminist Caucus (The League of Canadian Poets).
[Looking for Light] "Recent and recommended...A fine (capstone) collection" – Brenda Keble,
paperplates.
[Looking for Light] "In this engaging third period work, poet and career editor Susan Ioannou relentlessly
questions the adequacy of words to capture the gleanings of her keen-eyed, open-eared
travels through space and time?even words that hang themselves upon the catch-nail of love."
– Ron Charach, author of cabana the big and Prosopagnosia
"People's Poet Chris Faiers writes in praise of Susan Ioannou in his introduction to her book of
poems Looking for Light, calling her one of Canada's 'best and wisest poets'. I have no
quarrel with that description and there is much evidence within the covers of this particular
volume to demonstrate what Faiers cites as 'true poetry', beauty, knowledge, and song....
"Reading this book involves being invited on something of a journey, a quest for meaning.
In the opening section of the book we travel to distant places, sometimes in the company of
great poets like Shelley, revivified in landscape and architecture. In Beyond Knowing,
section two of this collection, we are invited to question the meaning of existence, what
Ioannou refers to as "my uneasy wonder" In Passing Seventy, part three, we look into
the aging self and wonder "is it / our own dreaming / undreaming we exist". And the
grail at the end of this romance might be language itself, as she writes in her coda,
"...I have chosen words to be my light / and darkness too". This journey is well worth
taking. We pose these questions in service of deep need. And although we may not
receive an answer, still we go looking for the light. And along the way we shine
the light of language and see further into the darkness than might otherwise
not be possible." – John B. Lee, Verse Afire.
"Susan Ioannou is a highly-skilled crafter of words. Looking for Light does not betray
her deft sense of language or fail to offer astute observations of subjects that are both
familiar and frightening. In some sections she is focused on grieving, in others she
articulates her understanding of basic physics in a way that will leave some of us
shaking with reluctance to ever try topping her explanations. She has a grasp of
the element of time that stretches beyond her own stand on this earth and her
poetry manages both to enlighten and delight us....Ioannou has a unique but unassuming
way of phrasing images...Her images are clear and sharp, drawing the reader
so close they can imagine her breath as she reads the words aloud." – Sharon
Berg Review Site.
"Susan Ioannou's Looking for Light charms and delights. It also feels like a
final statement, as if it's a summing up and a glancing back across the creative process."
– James Gifford, Prairie Fire.
In For the Love of Lazaros,"Ioannou offers up to the reader a very
special and enigmatic work 'in memory', as the back cover notes, 'of more than
50 years together.....' Particularly powerful are the haikus which allow the reader
to stop and consider a brief moment in time (as haikus should.) These short pieces
remind the reader of the tiny moments in life we all remember, just as we remember
small moments in a relationship. Pieces such as 'Silence, morning mist. / Beside the
hedge a black cat. / Fallen leaf quivers.' allow the reader to pause and focus,
just as this collection focuses on a memorable life lived together..... A moving
collection which ends with poems of 'Loss', 'Grieving', and the heart-achingly
beautiful poem 'Afterwards', which leaves the reader with '...promises strewn on the wind.'
– Ronnie R. Brown, Verse Afire.
"The Dance Between is a suite of spare and striking poems about women, in various
stages of life's rhythms. Susan Ioannou's epigram speaks of the moment between 'what you
once were, / and what you are now becoming' as being that dance.... balanced with
tragedy and loss are poems of new beginnings: fledgling ballerinas and a golf lesson, first
writing workshops and first connections, as well as resilience. Despite dark images, the
narrator 'uncurls poems towards the light.'... Often there is the undertone of longing and
yearning, yet resilience and light shine through overall. The poet explores opposites, and
not just the tension between them, but, as the title suggests, the lively dance between,
'never to be known, and so, / unable to be forgotten.' " – Kate Marshall Flaherty,
Verse Afire.
Biographical Reference
1. Contemporary Authors, Gale Research
2. Encyclopedia.com
3. International Who?s Who in Poetry, Europa Publications
4. International Who's Who in Poetry and Poet's Encyclopaedia, Cambridge Biographical Centre Publications
5. International Authors and Writers Who's Who, Cambridge Biographical Centre Publications
6. Prabook, World Biographical Encyclopedia,
7. The Canadian Literary Archive, University of Manitoba
8. VIAF: The Virtual International Authority File
9. Who?s Who in Canadian Literature 1983-1984 and 1997-1998
10. York University Clara Thomas Archives
See also above Profiles and Interviews
Updated July 2023
Return to Meet Susan Ioannou
