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”
Category: Reading
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.
“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”
Ian Gouge - Writer 