Perhaps the most interesting thing about Richard Ford's "Wildlife" is how little actually happens. It covers a three day period during which.... But I don't want to give it away! The journey (shouldn't there always be a journey?) is for the teenage boy, Joe, and we see the whole thing through his eyes. What's also … Continue reading “Wildlife”
Category: Reading
“Baby Schema”
I'm afraid Isabel Galleymore's collection Baby Schema just isn't for me. It annoyed me, and I ended up skim-reading the last few poems. Partly this was because of the mono-theme underlying the work throughout (sadly a common approach for some modern collections); the reader gets little relief. Also, in general I struggle with self-indulgent poems … Continue reading “Baby Schema”
“The Piano Tuner”
"The Piano Tuner" is splendid - just like Daniel Mason's "The Winter Soldier". You might argue that it is slightly too drawn-out in the middle, but perhaps that is a textual parallel to the situation in which the central character finds himself. Overall, the writing is - of course - rather fine. The reader is … Continue reading “The Piano Tuner”
“The Forward Book of Poetry 2024”
I can't be sure (how can you be?) but I think this year's Forward Book of Poetry is better than last year's - whatever "better" means... But I am still dismayed by the gimmicks some people use in order to appear 'original', and consequently the work that can get labelled as 'poetry'. For example, there … Continue reading “The Forward Book of Poetry 2024”
“The Years, Months, Days”
I wonder if you are more conscious of cultural divides when one is separated by language above all else? It probably depends who you are. Many, I'm sure, would put religion or colour or politics at the top of that list - and then fight you for it. If I struggled with Yan Lianke's "The … Continue reading “The Years, Months, Days”
“Nemesis”
There's a simple bottom line here: I like the way Philip Roth writes. And "Nemesis" is no exception. There is something unfussy about his style, the way he paces his work, the emotional depth he manages to achieve... It's also fair to say that some of his subjects - particularly those relating to religion - … Continue reading “Nemesis”
“Sturge Town”
There are some wonderful pieces in Kwame Dawes's collection "Sturge Town", and lots of those "I wish I'd written that moments". So let me recommend it to you right off the bat. But... If I was being picky, for me the book had some downsides: I thought it was too long (there were just too … Continue reading “Sturge Town”
“Liberation Day”
You can see why Booker Prize winner George Saunders is so revered as a short story writer, and why his Substack - where he is incredibly generous in his responses to his subscribers - is so well supported. "Liberation Day" bristles with innovation and good writing. Having said that, its two dystopian stories - set … Continue reading “Liberation Day”
“No one belongs here more than you”
Having found Miranda July's "No one belongs here more than you" in the remainders room of Waterstones, Lincoln, I decided to give it a try. It's amazing what you can find in a Waterstones' remainders room! I really liked these short stories - and I've no idea why the book was for sale where it … Continue reading “No one belongs here more than you”
“The Largesse of the Sea Maiden”
I like Denis Johnson's work; there seems to often be something slightly off-kilter about it, a 'slant' view of the American world he inhabits. Or should I say inhabited. For some reason - presumably thanks to the contemporary edge to his stories - I had always assumed that he was still alive, and it was … Continue reading “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden”
Ian Gouge - Writer 