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.
Category: Reading
“Mostly Hero”
For once the blurb in a book is absolutely correct. Anna Burns' 2014 long short story "Mostly Hero" is a little like a Grimm fairy tale reimagined by Quentin Tarantino. It must have been so much fun to write! There is something in the style of the story (not the humour!) which prefigures that she … Continue reading “Mostly Hero”
“Dante and the Lobster”
In another one of those little Faber single-story editions, you will find Samuel Beckett's 1934 tale, "Dante and the Lobster". It's an odd little story: it is interesting because of the clear stylistic influence of James Joyce, yet in an of itself it is somewhat insignificant; there are few clues, for example, as to what … Continue reading “Dante and the Lobster”
“Come rain or come shine”
I have to start by saying that I really like Kazuo Ishiguro's work, and that I have read most of his novels. Indeed, he's probably one of my favourite authors. In 2019, for some unknown reason, Faber decided to publish his 2009 short story "Come Rain or Come Shine" in a single edition to sit … Continue reading “Come rain or come shine”
“Giacomo Joyce”
Published by Faber in a special edition, both in terms of style and its snippets of content James Joyce's very short story "Giacomo Joyce" serves as a way-marker for what is to follow in "Ulysses" and "Finnegan's Wake". Perhaps never intended to be published (it was only ever hand-written) the story is an impressionistic collection … Continue reading “Giacomo Joyce”
“Rivers of the Unspoilt World”
Firstly I need to say that I am a great admirer of David Constantine's short stories. And secondly, I recognise the significant achievement in the three 'long' short stories collected together to comprise "Rivers of the Unspoilt World". But... ...he could perhaps have made them easier to read! I'm talking about format rather than language … Continue reading “Rivers of the Unspoilt World”
“This Fruiting Body”
All too often I find that poems concerning themselves with subjects like climate change and sexual identity try to slap you round the face with their message, or smack you between the eyes. A fair number of the poems in Caleb Parkin's "This Fruiting Body" are far more subtle than that; they manage to get … Continue reading “This Fruiting Body”
New podcast episode!
Just like buses, two episodes for my Walking Thru Fire podcast come along one after the other! My short story - The Piano Player - is now available. I hope you like it. Walking Thru Fire is available on all good podcast services: Audible, Spotify, Apple podcasts, Amazon Music, Deezer etc.
New podcast episode!
It has been far too long since I recorded an episode for my Walking Thru Fire podcast - but I now address that omission. My short story - Closing his account - is now available. I hope you like it. Walking Thru Fire is available on all good podcast services: Audible, Spotify, Apple podcasts, Amazon … Continue reading New podcast episode!
“Life on Other Planets”
It seems that I'm not having much luck in my recent reading choices. I now realise it was supposed to be laugh-out-loud funny, but I'm afraid Matt Cook's "Life on Other Planets" didn't have that effect on me. The occasional smile of amusement perhaps. And I also confess that when I bought it, I didn't … Continue reading “Life on Other Planets”
Ian Gouge - Writer 