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”
Category: Reading
“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”
“Proof of Life on Earth”
There is a tightrope poets walk when they are writing personal poetry i.e. poems which tackle specific instances or relationships in their lives. Because the poet is intimate with their subject, often there are references and images in the poem which work solely because they are privy to the other half of the handshake. So … Continue reading “Proof of Life on Earth”
“Isaac and the Egg”
There is nothing wrong with Bobby Palmer's "Isaac and the Egg". Indeed the central conceit as to whether the egg is real or simply a figment of Isaac's imagination - or some kind of metaphor for his mental and emotional state - is handled well and maintained throughout. Perhaps what's even more satisfying is that … Continue reading “Isaac and the Egg”
“The Stranger in the Boat”
Although I am not a religious person, the essentially Christian message behind Mitch Albom's "The Stranger in the Boat" didn't really bother me. I think you have to take it for what it is (a little bit like Young's "The Shack", which is a wonderful novel) and move on. If such a theme bothers you, … Continue reading “The Stranger in the Boat”
“Antarctica”
Although Claire Keegan's collection of short stories, Antarctica, has won numerous plaudits, there was something about them which bothered me. It was as if there was something missing - or, more likely, something I hadn't spotted. Perhaps I was put off by the title story which I found unrealistic and a little clichéd. If the … Continue reading “Antarctica”
“The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida”
The 2022 Booker Prize Winner probably isn't really my usual cup of tea - although having said that, from a certain angle, Karunatilaka's book does resemble Haruki Murakami (one of my favourite authors). "The Seven Moons" is, I suppose, 'fantasy' of the gentlest kind, even if there is a rawness and violence about it. What … Continue reading “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida”
Ian Gouge - Writer 