07/02/2023
“Mark Osaki has shown himself to be one of the best poets of his generation.”
-- David Rains Wallace
Author, The Klamath Knot: Explorations of Myth and
Evolution
“I have found the poetic voices of Asian Americans to be among the strongest and most original in contemporary English literature. Among those writers, none impress me more than does Mark Osaki.”
-- Joseph Bruchac, The Greenfield Review Press
“Mark Osaki belongs to no school, follows no master, and has stayed on the far margin of the business part of poetry. His spare style is a vehicle for an outsider’s view of our world. His poetic toughness is not for those who regard poetry as comfort. He is paring his experiences closer to a powerful reporting, as only poetry can report.”
-- Leonard Nathan
“Mark S Osaki undertakes to illuminate the difficulty of establishing one's home in a nation not one’s own. These often soulful poems speak to us as members of families, as lovers, as travelers, journeys a reader is rewarded for taking.”
-- Carole L. Glickfeld, Author, Swimming Toward the
Ocean
“Thoughtful, timely writing that demands further attention.”
-- Kirkus Review
“Mark Osaki brings a rich poetic voice to his collection of poems in his recent book "Best Evidence". He captures past and present moments, expressing hope through pain and personal loss. His work is subtle in nuances, yet possesses a keen clarity of vision and ultimately celebrates life itself.”
-- Elizabeth Hack, Editor, San Francisco Peace and Hope
“A well-done collection of poems seen from an Asian perspective of being an American. Interesting and enlightening.”
-- Goodreads
“Mark Osaki’s mastery of language and his ability to elicit in his reader introspective thoughts/emotions is evident in his poetry. If you are looking to learn more about racial prejudice, war, and its resultant psychological aftereffects, this is definitely the book for you.”
-- Online Book Club
“Highly Recommended”
-- Jenny Colvin, Librarian, Furman University and podcaster
(Reading Envy).
“Four Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The book Best Evidence by Mark S. Osaki contains a fascinating collection of award-winning poetry. It’s filled with poems that provide unique views on the issues of race, politics, war and many other topics that the average person usually doesn’t talk about. That’s what makes it such an unforgettable book. I give Best Evidence a rating of 4 out of 4 stars, because Mark S. Osaki's collection of poems is illuminating, well edited and allow the reader to indirectly have a unique perspective of the results of historic events when it is difficult to find the words to explain what happened.”
-- Azrevread Reviews
“A well-done collection of poems seen from an Asian perspective of being an American. An interesting and enlightening collection.”
-- Evilcyclist's Blog
“BEST EVIDENCE is a sparkling collection of lyrical and deftly-written poems. Its wide range means that there is something sure to appeal to the poetry lover in any reader. Osaki handles complicated family dynamics with the same dexterity as he approaches war and s*x, masterfully describing the world in the way that only someone who has truly lived can.”
-- Christine-Marie Liwag Dixon for IndieReader
“Mark S. Osaki’s Best Evidence goes beyond giving readers a sense of completion; it reaches into the past, present, and even an unseen future. It is for poetry lovers and humanitarians alike. It pulls at the heartstrings and makes the reader think more deeply about even the most mundane aspects of their own lives. Osaki’s work utilizes the same sort of deceptive simplicity found in the writing of such poets as William Carlos Williams. However, it is this very plainness which makes the poems accessible and more effective. Osaki uses straightforward language which lures readers into a seemingly-mundane, everyday conversation. Then, as the poem progresses, the rug gets pulled out from under the readers’ feet with the introduction of an emotional or thematic twist that leaves them awestruck.”
-- US Book Views
"Mark Osaki's poems are among the most powerful, evocative and fearless I have encountered. His recent book, Best Evidence, is evidence of the talent, subtlety, power and creativity this extraordinary poet brings to his work. Osaki is a man who shows his vulnerabilities and wounds, yet plants them in gardens of grace, beauty and truth. Remarkable work. Be sure not to read it just once.”
-- Peter Damm, Author, At the Water's Edge
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because of the fragile and transparent humanity that shines through these pages and for the unadorned but effective way to convey feelings and emotions. The clarity, both in style and content, of Best Evidence is so remarkable that anyone who reads it cannot fail to notice its lack of flaws. This is the true work of a master.”
-- On Bookshelves
“It takes a lot of thinking to really appreciate or understand poems, but the words alone are lovely and deep that to ruminate every meaning is wonderful to do. Congrats to the author for his ability to express his thoughts and tell the story in a beautiful and creative way.”
-- A. Rickenbach, Author’s Spotlight
“Poet Mark S. Osaki covers a number of poignant topics in Best Evidence. Each poem in the four sections gives you a glimpse of a formative moment in Osaki’s life or expands your viewpoint on conflicts in the world. Some poems, like the powerful ‘Chinese Camp, California,’ speak of a larger cultural experience and the nuances of navigating identity as an Asian American. Others still, like ‘Gun Song,’ show the psychological and cultural impact of war. In each new work, Osaki captures powerful moments of longing and loss.”
-- Jennifer Reed, BookJunkiez
“Evocative, deceptively straightforward and wry poetry that delivers a shock to the system.”
-- New York Quarterly Magazine
“There is poetry and there is poetry. Some is pleasant but forgettable, usually conjuring pretty images and inspiring temporary esthetic and/or romantic feeling. Mark Osaki’s poetry stays with you. Not that it doesn’t include visually and esthetically memorable images, but it also stirs visceral feelings. Osaki’s collection varies from profound or grim to ethereal or amusing (and) encourages one to move closer to this gratifying art form.”
-- Boze Hadleigh, Author, Broadway Babylon
“Four out of four stars. The poems in Best Evidence are brilliantly and beautifully written. My favorite of all the poems is Silver Star; The way he explained the state in which a dead soldier laid and the thoughts of living is just beautiful. The poems speak of times past, the present and of things to come. They tell of war, the bitter truth of patriotism, ethics, cherished things and experiences. There is so much that Mark S. Osaki says in this collection and so much for the reader to learn.”
-- Glena Saruma, Online Book Club
“Best Evidence is a poetry book in which Mark S. Osaki records some of his thoughts on some very mundane things on the one hand and important things on the other. In this book, he writes short poems on photographs, a girl in a photograph, war, the son of Odysseus, racial prejudice, the effects of war on the mind, death, etc. They all force readers to look inward and think deeply to decipher the meanings that lay beneath the words. Do you want a poetry book that will make you wonder about your life and that of every other person? Do you wish to read short poems that are written in the most basic form yet present you with epiphanies about what you call the norm? If the answer is yes, I recommend that you read this book.”
-- Francess Benhangag, Books Forum
“All the poems provided in this book were presented in the form of a narrative. They were written in simple languages that will allow the readers to understand the author’s experiences and emotions. The book contains both short and long poems that complement each other. None of the poems looked out of place, as they all flow together in unison. The author provided quotes by popular people at the beginning of some poems to prepare the mind of the reader. He provided quotes from Macbeth, a Japanese fable and many more.
My favorite poem out of all the poems is the one titled “Turista”. This is a poem in which the author compared his previous life in his home country to that which he is experiencing now. I felt all the differences that the author was describing, as he used the election as an example. Reading this particular poem got me emotional as I can relate to it. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I will recommend this book to lovers of poetry with varying themes.”
-- topdan30, Amazon Reviews
“3 out of 4 stars.
Poetry is a kind of art that can leave almost no one indifferent. Best Evidence by Mark S. Osaki is a collection of poetry in which the author addresses some themes of everyday human life very skillfully and lyrically.
I really like the author’s expressive way of writing. With great ease, he managed to pour so many different emotions into the verses of the poems. The book touches on various aspects of human life, and I think almost everyone can recognize themselves in these verses. In addition, I like the delicate way Osaki portrays certain erotic scenes.”
-- Online Book Club
