Sophie Collins' book "Who Is Mary Sue?" is another of those eclectic collections of words masquerading under the title of 'poetry'. There are a few poems in the book, but also snippets of prose, chunks of quotation, various flavours of narrative... At one point I was reminded - somewhat obscurely! - of Ezra Pound and … Continue reading “Who Is Mary Sue?”
Category: Reading
Giveaway closed – Thank you!
The Goodreads.com Giveaway for my novella "Losing Moby Dick" is now closed. I just wanted to thank all the 236 people who have registered for the giveaway. With 100 Kindle books available, obviously not everyone will get one. Goodreads will be selecting the lucky winners at random over the next 24 hours.
“Heart of Darkness”
Of course Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" is simply astounding. The kind of book that you can read and re-read through a lifetime and never reach the 'heart' of it - that's if it has a heart that's reachable, of course... What was most interesting was re-reading it using my old, 70p new, Penguin Modern Classics … Continue reading “Heart of Darkness”
“The Refugees”
There is a certain melancholy in Viet Thanh Nguyen's "The Refugees" - which probably isn't that surprising, given its subject matter. More than that, a blend of melancholy and nostalgia. The lead characters in this collection of short stories all face into the dilemma that comes from the juxtaposition of the American and the Vietnamese, … Continue reading “The Refugees”
“Staying Alive”
I don't usually read poetry anthologies, however "Staying Alive - real poems for unreal times" had such great comments - and was so big! - that I thought I'd give it a go. (Though on reflection, how well known are Mia Farrow and Meryl Streep for their poetry criticism..?) It remains unfinished. I've struggled through … Continue reading “Staying Alive”
“Reservoir 13”
"Reservoir 13" is unlike any book I have ever read. It is, in it's own way, something of a tour de force. It is a book in which nothing happens - and everything happens. It is a book in which we wait for something to be revealed, and where McGregor's structure and style enhances the … Continue reading “Reservoir 13”
Get a free book!
From yesterday, Goodreads.com - the website for readers and book lovers - is giving away 100 copies of my novella "Losing Moby Dick" to its U.S. members! Nearly half the books have been requested already, but there's still time for my US-based friends to try and bag one! All you need to do is: log-in to … Continue reading Get a free book!
Goodreads – U.S. Giveaway!
From today, Goodreads.com - the website for readers and book lovers - is giving away 100 copies of my novella "Losing Moby Dick" to its U.S. members! All you need to do is: log-in to Goodreads.com follow the link to find and request the Giveaway That's it! 100 people will be chosen at random from those … Continue reading Goodreads – U.S. Giveaway!
And then I read this…
A few weeks ago I received a request from the Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries for five copies of my novel, "Mirrors". The ALDL are responsible for harvesting copies of new books to be lodged with five of the greatest libraries in the UK and Ireland: the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, the Cambridge University … Continue reading And then I read this…
“The Outsider”
It may be the translation in my admittedly rather old copy of Camus' "The Outsider", but the language is, very occasionally, decidedly archaic. [My copy is, I confess, nearly forty years' old - which is when I read it last. Its pages are yellowing at the edges..!] But the style is also incredibly sparse, even … Continue reading “The Outsider”
Ian Gouge - Writer 