Reading August Kleinzahler's selection of Thom Gunn's poetry (in Faber's 'Poet-to-Poet' series) I confessed I really struggled - not with the selection made, but with the source material. It wasn't just that I felt the poems hadn't travelled well across the years (the selection covers 1954-2000), nor perhaps any translation from California to the UK, … Continue reading “Thom Gunn”
Category: Reading
“Monsieur”
I have just finished re-reading Lawrence Durrell's Monsieur - my first reading of the book being many years ago, not that long after finishing The Alexandria Quartet. I remember being spellbound by the latter, though I worry now that memory may only be a byproduct of a certain fondness for the rosy literary hue... This … Continue reading “Monsieur”
“Kid”
I don't think it would be inaccurate to say that I haven't quite made up my mind about Simon Armitage. Clearly his 1992 collection Kid isn't entirely representative of what he's writing now, so perhaps it is better to see it as a way-marker on his journey - it was thirty years ago after all! … Continue reading “Kid”
“To Hell on a Fast Horse”
In To Hell on a Fast Horse, Mark Lee Gardner's portrayal of both Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett just about manages to maintain a balance between fact and fiction, the romantic and the repellant. It also keeps a pretty decent handle on the reality of late nineteenth century New Mexico, Texas at al. This … Continue reading “To Hell on a Fast Horse”
“Stories and Texts for Nothing”
The most remarkable thing about Samuel Beckett's Stories and Texts for Nothing is the percentage of the short 'nothing texts' which prefigure or overlap Waiting for Godot. Even to the extent of remarkably similar - if not repeated - phrases. Not surprising really given that they were all written around the same time, 1945-1950. There … Continue reading “Stories and Texts for Nothing”
New podcast episode!
I have just published a new episode on my Walking Thru Fire podcast. I am intending to read all of the poems from my collection Not the sonnets; in this episode I read sonnets 15 thru 21. Walking Thru Fire is available on all good podcast services: Audible, Spotify, Apple podcasts, Amazon Music, Deezer etc.
“Reality and Other Stories”
Although I liked John Lanchester's "The Wall", I have to confess to a little disappointment with "Reality and Other Stories". This is partly down to the nature of the stories - more subject than style (I've never been into the supernatural) - and partly down to the fact that I think he has been let … Continue reading “Reality and Other Stories”
New podcast episode!
I have just published a new episode on my Walking Thru Fire podcast. I am intending to read all of the poems from my collection Not the sonnets; in this episode I read sonnets 8 thru 14. Walking Thru Fire is available on all good podcast services: Audible, Spotify, Apple podcasts, Amazon Music, Deezer etc.
‘Bound’ – a work-in-progress
I am in the process of working on Bound - a new poetic monologue in the manner of Crash - and have made a recording of a draft version of the piece. As it is intended to be staged, I need you to imagine an almost bare stage apart from a desk and chair facing … Continue reading ‘Bound’ – a work-in-progress
New podcast episode!
I have just published a new episode on my Walking Thru Fire podcast. I am intending to read all of the poems from my collection Not the sonnets; in this episode I read sonnets 1 thru 7. Walking Thru Fire is available on all good podcast services: Audible, Spotify, Apple podcasts, Amazon Music, Deezer etc.
Ian Gouge - Writer 