Olga Tokarczuk's "Primeval and Other Times" is simply stunning; a plethora of literary squares woven together to make a quilt that lays bare what it means to be human. Unvarnished, all of life is here: the tragic, the mystical, the sad, the violent, the superstitious, the unavoidable. And - ultimately - the powerlessness. It seems … Continue reading “Primeval and Other Times”
Category: Reading
“Love and Other Thought Experiments”
I have to say that I'm not really sure how Sophie Ward's "Love and Other Thought Experiments" made it to the 2020 Booker Prize longlist. Perhaps they were seduced by the surreal nature of the narrative, both its timeline and how it shifts through different versions of reality. Perhaps they were recognising the quality of … Continue reading “Love and Other Thought Experiments”
“The Snows of Kilimanjaro”
To call Ernest Heminway's "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" a collection of short stories is a mis-labelling. Indeed, it could be argued that very few of the eighteen tales within the book qualify as a 'short story'. Many are very short - almost vignettes - and a number, which all centre around the same character - … Continue reading “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”
“Selected Poems” – Lawrence Durrell
If his "Selected Poems" (Ed. Peter Porter) is anything to go by, Lawrence Durrell's poetry has not travelled well through time. Whilst they may have been stylistically appropriate for the 30s and 40s, I fear that do not sit well in the twenty-first century. Many seem contrived and clumsy, with (sometimes inconsistent) rhyming schemes shoe-horned … Continue reading “Selected Poems” – Lawrence Durrell
“Seize the Day”
On one level it's really difficult to 'like' Saul Bellow's "Seize the Day". This isn't because the book is badly written - quite the opposite! - but rather because of Tommy Wilhelm, its main character. Bellow has succeeded in drawing for us a remarkable picture of a serial loser, one with whom it is difficult … Continue reading “Seize the Day”
“Randomly Moving Particles”
Andrew Motion's "Randomly Moving Particles" is, in many ways, a quite remarkable tour de force of free verse; indeed, it is so 'free' that I am reminded of the narrative qualities of Robin Robertson's award-winning "The Long Take". Nowhere is the power of his work more in evidence than in 'How Do the Dead Walk', … Continue reading “Randomly Moving Particles”
“Portnoy’s Complaint”
Usually I really like Philip Roth's work, but I'm afraid "Portnoy's Complaint" didn't quite hit the spot. Written as one huge monologue, the language used - relaxed, conversational - certainly fits the bill; and having been promised something explosively funny, there were undeniably 'laugh out loud' moments. Having said that, however, the book poses a … Continue reading “Portnoy’s Complaint”
Why you shouldn’t believe everything an Amazon page says about a book…
As a writer and Indie Publisher I am always grateful that my distributor and the Nielsen book registration service have direct feeds into major on-line retailers. This facility means that, as soon as a book is published, it usually appears on global websites within 24-48 hours. However, what appears is only as good as the … Continue reading Why you shouldn’t believe everything an Amazon page says about a book…
“About Grace”
I hesitated before deciding to read Anthony Doerr's "About Grace"; the blurb on the back cover suggested a novel that explored some dark and difficult emotional territory. And it did. I expected pain, helplessness, a sense of loss - all of which the novel delivered. And some of it was beautifully rendered: Winkler's panic early … Continue reading “About Grace”
“in the event”
John Birtwhistle's latest collection of poetry, "in the event", is an intriguing and eclectic mix; a real pic'n'mix of the traditional and modern, the poetic and the prosaic. It is a 'something for everyone' kind of book. Which, in a way, is both a strength and a weakness. There are 'statement' pieces - the more … Continue reading “in the event”
Ian Gouge - Writer 