Some books just don't travel well through time. "To Have and Have Not" is, I suspect, one such. There are all too obvious examples of where some of the words Hemingway uses - and the prejudices expressed - are clearly not acceptable to a modern twenty-first century readership, and the dated nature of language is … Continue reading “To Have and Have Not”
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“Memory Wall”
Although I first came across Anthony Doerr through his novel "All the Light We Cannot See", if you wanted a more subtle introduction then his collection of short stories then "Memory Wall" wouldn't be a bad place to start. The stories are engaging and well-written, and you somehow feel 'safe' in Doerr's hands. The subject … Continue reading “Memory Wall”
Rediscovering what’s important?
I wonder if that's what 'Life' does, getting in the way, forcing us to take our eyes off the ball, allowing us to forget what's important... In many respects it's also the easy option, isn't it? A kind of abdication. Knowing what matters to us, believing in it, keeping the faith - all of that … Continue reading Rediscovering what’s important?
“Thirteen Ways of Looking”
"Thirteen Ways of Looking" is the novella headlining this collection where it is joined by three much shorter stories. Although the subject matter of each is different, they all share a number of characteristics like tone, voice and style. More importantly, they also have in common the fact that they are really well-written. I admit … Continue reading “Thirteen Ways of Looking”
Number vs. Amount: why is it so difficult?
Call me old-fashioned, but... I'm currently reading a novel - a proper novel, published by a reputable and global publishing company - in which a heinous crime has been committed: an instance of the 21st-century malaise of using 'amount' when one should use 'number'. Who got it wrong? The author in the first place? Or … Continue reading Number vs. Amount: why is it so difficult?
My latest novel – “A Pattern of Sorts” – published today!
We often encounter difficulty when trying to reconcile our memories of events with what actually happened. In the almost inevitable mis-match, our mind plays tricks on us, and what we have recently learned and how we have recently lived gets in the way and colours the past. Pressed to recall his own life, the challenge … Continue reading My latest novel – “A Pattern of Sorts” – published today!
“Rules of Civility”
There's an interesting debate about cross-sex writing, isn't there? It seems to me the popular wisdom is that a man can't write as a woman, but a woman can write as a man. No. That's too simplistic. Perhaps is should be qualified: it's easier for a woman to write as a first-person male narrator than … Continue reading “Rules of Civility”
“Solar Cruise”
Not for me, I'm afraid. I managed about a third of Claire Crowther's "Solar Cruise". Perhaps the subject - being so scientific - doesn't lend itself to poetry; but I'm sure it isn't just words like 'nucleus' or 'electron' which put the breaks on the poetic. The layout of some of the pieces - you … Continue reading “Solar Cruise”
“The Journalist”
In many ways, Harry Matthews "The Journalist" is a remarkable achievement. Having said that, I suspect three-quarters of people who start to read the book may not make it all the way through to the end... "The Journalist" is not about someone who writes for newspapers or appears on television, but rather a man who … Continue reading “The Journalist”
A Pattern of Sorts
My new novel, "A Pattern of Sorts", is published early in August. We often encounter difficulty when trying to reconcile our memories of events with what actually happened. In the almost inevitable mis-match, our mind plays tricks on us, and what we have recently learned and how we have recently lived gets in the way … Continue reading A Pattern of Sorts
Ian Gouge - Writer 