Piercy, Marge, Circles on the Water: Selected Poems of Marge Piercy, Alfred A. Knopf, 1982.

Published more than twenty years ago, this book has never been out of print. It is arguably the best overall introduction to Piercy's poetry, including some of her best-known work on heartfelt, often controversial topics. Titles include "Barbie Doll," "Rape Poem," "Right to Life," and "For Strong Women."

———, Sleeping with Cats, William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2002.

This is Piercy's memoir in which she openly and honestly reflects on many aspects of her life, from love and marriage to creativity and death. A lover of cats, she uses them here to help divulge her innermost feelings. In the book, she notes, "Cats continue to teach me a lot of what is important in my life, and also, how short it is, how we need to express our love to those for whom we feel...