Some novels travel better through time than others, I feel; and maybe it's not surprising that Virginia Woolf's work can struggle a little. Between the Acts is, I think, one such novel. The technical artistry and innovation is clearly there to see, but the novel suffers in terms of distance because of the world it … Continue reading “Between the Acts”
Category: Blog
“prisoner’s dilemma”
Although prisoner's dilemma is an early Richard Powers novel (1988) it's right up there: splendidly written; intricately constructed narrative; just enough tension - those big unanswered questions - which keep you going right to the end. And the characters - Pop and his clan - do indeed 'pop' off the pages. There is a great … Continue reading “prisoner’s dilemma”
Recent Substack highlights
"when you see anything of mine that you don’t like remember that I’m sincere in doing it and that I’m working toward something." - Ernest Hemingway A selection of recent posts from my Substack site. "Writing until the light goes out" "Writing until the light goes out" Buy discounted books direct from the printer
“Jealousy”
Weird. Alain Robbe-Grillet's Jealousy is seriously weird. Structurally so. It's as if he has taken a 3 or 4 page short story, photocopied it multiple times, then cut the pages up between paragraphs before throwing them up in the air and then entering them into the 'narrative' however they fell. Consequently there is a great … Continue reading “Jealousy”
Trailers for my latest work
https://videopress.com/v/fH3fb96d?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fiangouge.wordpress.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F03%2F9781068449819-small-poster.png&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true https://videopress.com/v/cokqyOTl?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fiangouge.wordpress.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F03%2F9781068449857-small-poster.png&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
About my 2025 novel – 2
“To the Lighthouse”
The first time I read Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse was around forty-six years ago. I have just re-read it. Not only that, but I was reading from the self same book I purchased in 1980! Boy, are the pages yellowed and dry! I had forgotten just how wonderful the novel was. It seemed to … Continue reading “To the Lighthouse”
About my 2025 novel – 1
“The Rest of Our Lives”
For me, Ben Markovits' The Rest of Our Lives really only got going once the protagonist was started on his road trip. Everything that came before seemed slightly confusing, as if I was being given too much information, too much back story. My conclusion was to wonder whether the book actually started in the wrong … Continue reading “The Rest of Our Lives”
Recent Substack highlights
"when you see anything of mine that you don’t like remember that I’m sincere in doing it and that I’m working toward something." - Ernest Hemingway A selection of recent posts from my Substack site. "Writing until the light goes out" "Writing until the light goes out" Buy discounted books direct from the printer
Ian Gouge - Writer 
