Confession time: I didn’t managed to finish this one. And actually, I didn’t like it that much. Is that sacrilege?
My reasons for finding it ‘hard’?
- Most of the poems felt too personal, as if I was some kind of Peeping Tom looking in on lives and a relationship when I had no right to be there. Very uncomfortable. And most often I found myself not wanting to be there...
- Although some of the pieces are good – and some phrases exceptional – all too often they feel like unfinished jottings; as if Hughes had sat down, made a rough list, and thought ‘that will do’. Not lazy exactly, but also lacking evidence in some cases of any craft. At least that’s how it seemed to me.
I know the book has won awards, so who am I to judge – but as a reader, you do. You can’t help it. This one will go to the poetry shelf (alongside other Hughes, it has to be said) and probably remain there untouched forever more.
Ian Gouge - Writer 