Eimear McBride's A Girl is a Half-formed Thing is a difficult book to read. Firstly this is because of the style in which it is written: fragmented, jerky, linguistically inaccurate, often illiterate. It seems like stream of consciousness with about a quarter of the words removed. And with stuttering where there are words. Impossible for … Continue reading “A Girl is a Half-formed Thing”
Category: Reading
“The Silence”
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with Gillian Clarke's collection "The Silence". All the poems are entirely competent, 'poetic'. Yet for me they lack any kind of universality, something to which I can relate in such as way as to be moved or inspired or feel the work relevant. Reading them feels a little like skimming … Continue reading “The Silence”
“Crash” – a new performance this year!
Following its debut performance at the 2023 Ripon Theatre Festival, I will be performing my dramatic poem Crash - the last 30 minutes of a life at the inaugural "WordFest" event in Market Rasen this summer. The performance will be on Saturday 6th July at 10:45 in the Old Magistrates Court, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, UK. … Continue reading “Crash” – a new performance this year!
“High Ground and other stories”
Is it impossible not to think of James Joyce and "Dubliners" when reading the first story in John McGahern's "High Ground and other stories"? I was instantly transported - and instantly enthralled. Wonderful stuff. And if I worried that the effect would be temporary and I might find everything was downhill after that, then I … Continue reading “High Ground and other stories”
More reviews from the “17 Alma Road” ‘book tour’
Ian Gouge has written a delightful novel that reminded me of the writing style of Virginia Woolf and Ernest Hemingway. I’m my opinion this novel deserves to be up there with these literary greats. - Persephone Sometimes a house is even more than a home. Have you ever visited a house that shines so brightly it … Continue reading More reviews from the “17 Alma Road” ‘book tour’
“The Paper Men”
William Golding's The Paper Men made me feel uncomfortable; no so much from the subject matter, but because it didn't 'feel' like Golding (who I generally think is superb). The main character's drunkenness didn't seem uniformly portrayed and in some places was unconvincing - though in others, brilliant. In too many places the book felt … Continue reading “The Paper Men”
First reviews from the “17 Alma Road” ‘book tour’ (1)
This was a very deep and descriptive novel that analyses the memories that houses hold and its told through fictional characters. I have great admiration for the way Ian Gouge writes and the wisdom he shares throughout this book. If you like a reflective novel that is a relaxed read then this is the book … Continue reading First reviews from the “17 Alma Road” ‘book tour’ (1)
“Malone Dies”
It's difficult to know what to say about Samuel Beckett's fiction. Bizarrely - and counter-intuitively - the obvious choices might tend toward the trite: "it's hard", "it's rubbish", "I didn't understand a word", "utterly profound" etc. You may know where you stand on this spectrum. And Malone Dies is no easier or harder than anything … Continue reading “Malone Dies”
“egg / shell”
I need to be careful... Undoubtedly, there are some good poems in Victoria Kennefick's "egg / shell". Let's start there. The collection concerns itself with two profoundly serious topics: a woman's experience of miscarriage, and the dissolving of her marriage when her husband decides to make the transition away from being a man. I cannot … Continue reading “egg / shell”
“The Humbling”
The thing that strikes me the most about Philip Roth's "The Humbling" is how totally inappropriate the title is. Simon Axler, the lead character, isn't humbled - he's crushed. 'Humbling' suggests someone merely cut down to size, made to see the reality of their situation (but gently perhaps); it even hits at the possibility of … Continue reading “The Humbling”
Ian Gouge - Writer 