While I enjoyed Elif Shafak's unique "10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World", I have to be upfront and say that I'm not sure how it made it to a Booker Prize shortlist. I couldn't help but think that the conceit which provides the structure for the first part of the book - that … Continue reading “10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World”
Category: Blog
Published today! “On Parliament Hill”
My latest novel, "On Parliament Hill", has now been published! Her voice is a trigger; a voice which forces Neil to relive the crises and failures of his past - one which offers him the possibility of a positive new future. But before he can decide on what he wants the life ahead of him … Continue reading Published today! “On Parliament Hill”
Think you’re secure with a WordPress ‘Contact’ page?
I was getting tired of being spammed by people using my website's Contact page to do so. Something had to be done. So I added a checkbox that needed to be ticked in order for the contact form to be successfully sent. I thought this might filter out any automated messaging - and maybe help … Continue reading Think you’re secure with a WordPress ‘Contact’ page?
New novel, out next week!
My latest novel, "On Parliament Hill", is published next Friday, the 21st! Her voice is a trigger; a voice which forces Neil to relive the crises and failures of his past - one which offers him the possibility of a positive new future. But before he can decide on what he wants the life ahead … Continue reading New novel, out next week!
“Apierogon”
The irony was inescapable, concluding the reading of Colum McCann's tremendously inventive novel "Apierogon" just as Arab-Israeli violence and tensions escalate to what is perhaps another inevitable war. The irony is that in "Apierogon" McCann presents us with a sliver of hope as two men - one Palestinian, the other Israeli - work together to … Continue reading “Apierogon”
Why I have deleted my Goodreads.com account…
A few days ago I posted a short message on a Goodreads thread asking for anyone who would like the opportunity to review my latest novel prior to publication to get in touch. I did not share my email address. Since then I have been emailed by numerous people all offering to review my book … Continue reading Why I have deleted my Goodreads.com account…
Conrad’s “The…Narcissus”
When I was contemplating this entry, it is surely telling that my primary concern was whether or not I should use the full title of Conrad's novella. My instinct was to do so, but recognising that in these sensitive times certain words can be highly offensive and inflammatory, I have settled on an abridged version. … Continue reading Conrad’s “The…Narcissus”
The downside of looking back too far…
It seemed like a good idea. I mean, I had some free time on my hands after all. Not for right now you understand, but for some point in the future - just in case 'posterity' might ever need it... Over the years I have written (thus far) a number of volumes of poetry, and … Continue reading The downside of looking back too far…
“Flights”
Whatever you do, don't start reading Olga Tokarczuk's "Flights" expecting to encounter a conventional novel - because you won't. It is a fragmented, meandering creation with dozens of vignette's nestling against each other, sometimes in a logical progression - but mostly not. Some of these are as long as twelve or more pages, the majority … Continue reading “Flights”
Published today! “The Homelessness of a Child”
My sixth collection of poetry - "The Homelessness of a Child" - is published today, 1st April. Perhaps long overdue, a fair proportion is an exploration of the hardships and repercussions of my difficult childhood. As the intro says: "By the time Ian Gouge went to university he had already lived in seventeen different places … Continue reading Published today! “The Homelessness of a Child”
Ian Gouge - Writer 