Jollimore who?

When Chico State philosophy professor Troy Jollimore’s first book won the National Book Critics Circle Award for poetry in 2006, one of the board members wrote, “Who the hell is Troy Jollimore?” It’s a good question, considering that he came out of nowhere—well, actually, he came out of Chico—to win one of the more prestigious American poetry prizes. But Jollimore is a damn fine poet, and his prize-winning book, Thom Thomson in Purgatory, combines the best of philosophical musings with character-driven dramatic monologues. He uses humor and carefully crafted, precise language to introduce ethical and philosophical ideas in a less painful and more artistic fashion than expected, which is why his work is such a treat. Don’t miss Jollimore this Monday, March 23, at the Sacramento Poetry Center. Best of all, it’s free!