This may be damning with feint praise, but William Boyd's "The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth" is the kind of book you should take on holiday with you. Inoffensive, easy-to-read, unchallenging; perfect for the beach or to snuggle up with by a fire in a country cottage. It's well written - which is one of the … Continue reading “The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth”
Category: Reading
“Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods”
There is a great deal in Tishani Doshi's "Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods" that, one might argue, has more the narrative than the poetic about it. Snapshots from Doshi's life, travels, encounters. In spite of this almost semi-prosaic style, there is a great deal here that is engaging, warm. I confess that part … Continue reading “Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods”
What’s in a number?
I now have the grand total of six ratings on Goodreads.com for "Losing Moby Dick". Not many, I know, but you've got to start somewhere. I had hoped - after a 'Goodreads Giveaway' - more of the 100 people who'd received the e-version of the book would have read and rated it, but beggars, choosers … Continue reading What’s in a number?
“The Road”
They should make Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" compulsory reading for every politician of every hue in every country. Right now. For all their protests, groups like Greenpeace would do well to buy a few copies and mail them out to Presidents, Prime Ministers and Dictators with a simple instruction: 'Read this!'. It is the most … Continue reading “The Road”
“Darke”
Let's keep it simple to begin with: Rick Gekoski's "Darke" is a good book. It deals with some big issues honestly, sensitively, as well as starkly and unrelentingly. Is there a 'but'..? Sort of. As I was reading it, I couldn't help but feel boundaries blurring between author and character - especially perhaps in the … Continue reading “Darke”
“The Displaced Children…”
The strongest attributes of Failsal Mohyuddin's "The Displaced Children of Displaced Children" combine to create a kind of calm, reflective tone; one which suits his excursions into history and place. The poems are, in part, political, familial, intensely personal; and some of their imagery is almost casually excellent. Having said that, some of the poems … Continue reading “The Displaced Children…”
“Silent House”
I was immediately unsettled during the early pages of Orhan Pamuk's "Silent House" (translated by Robert Finn) with the consistent use of the first person - but where the 'who' that first person represents changes from chapter to chapter. It's initially very disorienting! But once you get used to it - and recognise that in … Continue reading “Silent House”
“Venus as a Bear”
This may seem a little harsh, but for me there's little of merit in Vahni Capildeo's collection "Venus as a Bear". Some of the 'poems' in here are, frankly, nonsense. For example, here's the first half of a whole piece: I. the voice of the seed II. you said III. … Continue reading “Venus as a Bear”
“Ricantations”
The Spanish names and phrases that are woven into Loretta Collins Klobah's "Ricantations" endow it with a certain charm, even for the non-Spanish speaker like me. The poems have a lilt to them, and are clearly rooted in the Puerto Rico that is laid bare and celebrated in this volume. The sense of place and … Continue reading “Ricantations”
“Men Without Women”
I'm biased, I admit it. But I just love Haruki Murakami. His collection of short stories - "Men Without Women" - are typically him: whimsical, slightly weird, about love, relationships, loneliness. They are subtle stories too. Often Murakami explores what it is like to be human - specifically to be a man - by putting … Continue reading “Men Without Women”
Ian Gouge - Writer 