I think it not unreasonable to claim that Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a 'slight' book. Not in terms of size (though it isn't that large) but rather in terms of narrative and style. Not a huge amount happens it seems to me, and there is a lightness in the style which is presumably … Continue reading “Days at the Morisaki Bookshop”
Category: Reading
“This Other Eden”
This Other Eden is certainly up there with Paul Harding's other novels, Enon and Tinkers. It's a bit of a slow-burner to begin with which, given the subject matter, is somehow fitting. Part social and historical narrative, part love story, it lays bare a slice of unsavoury history. We may associate eugenics with the Nazis, … Continue reading “This Other Eden”
Performing “Crash” again was great!
It was tremendous fun to perform "Crash - the last thirty minutes of a life" once more, this time at the inaugural Market Rasen 'WordFest' event on Saturday. It could end up being something I do regularly while I am able to... me performing 'Crash' at the Old Courthouse, Market Rasen, 6th July 2024 The … Continue reading Performing “Crash” again was great!
“Crash” performance is tomorrow!
Clip from the Market Rasen Mail: Really excited to be performing Crash again tomorrow, plus further readings of poetry and prose an hour later! Click on the image above to be taken to the booking page, or the button below for the event website. The WordFest website
“No Map Could Show Them”
A familiar story. Here is another collection of poems which is almost entirely single-themed (woman climbers and climbing) and which, as a result, means many of the poems blend into one another and risk losing their individual identity. Which is a shame. Especially as some of them - like the excellent "Kiss" - might be … Continue reading “No Map Could Show Them”
“Collected Stories” – Peter Carey
It has been many years since I read any Peter Carey: Oscar and Lucinda, and I remember nothing of it. Perhaps because of that I was somewhat thrown by his Collected Stories. Not in the sense of how well-written they are, but rather the strange dystopian worlds many of them seem to inhabit. There is … Continue reading “Collected Stories” – Peter Carey
“17 Alma Road” highlighted on Portobello Book Blog
click to go to Portobello Book Blog
Booking for Market Rasen ‘WordFest’ performances now open!
Booking is now open for events at the Market Rasen 'WordFest' literary day on Saturday 6th July. I have two limited-seating slots: a second performance of Crash, and a more casual 'pop-up' hour of readings and conversation. BOOK HERE. From the reviews of the 2023 Ripon Theatre Festival Performance: A very moving piece of performance … Continue reading Booking for Market Rasen ‘WordFest’ performances now open!
“Birnam Wood”
Eleanor Catton's Birnam Wood is a strange amalgam of a book. For the first two thirds it meanders slowly along without seeming to be getting anywhere particularly significant - and then, as if it has been injected with some illicit substance, suddenly speeds up and turns into 'a thriller' with an ending that has more … Continue reading “Birnam Wood”
The performance is now official!
From the reviews of the 2023 Ripon Theatre Festival Performance: A very moving piece of performance poetry that captivated the audience. Beautifully executed with fabulous imagery. Thought-provoking, soul-baring, and delivered with such poignancy and realism that it left a lasting impression. Crash is impressive solo story-telling, a dramatic homage to T.S. Eliot that counts down the last minutes … Continue reading The performance is now official!
Ian Gouge - Writer 