Portrait of the Artist as a Pair of Feet

We should start with the feet. Not because there is anything special or distinctive about them, but simply because they are what grounds him to the earth. Literally. They are the wheels, the tracks on which he runs - both metaphorically and semi-literally. In real terms they are feet that have not been without their … Continue reading Portrait of the Artist as a Pair of Feet →

“Mythos”

If "Mythos" had not been written by Stephen Fry, I do not see how it could have been a best-seller. Indeed, even now I struggle to believe that Fry wrote all of it. It's like Homer meets 'Eastenders' or 'Dallas'. Some parts of the book (too many in fact) just make you cringe: inane dialogue … Continue reading “Mythos” →

Let’s not make the same mistakes next year…

Perhaps that should be the only resolution any of us make when facing into a new year. After all, it is bound to cover a number of bases..! Twelve months ago - almost to the day - I posted a review / preview of my writing years, '17 into '18. The stand out? That I … Continue reading Let’s not make the same mistakes next year… →

“The Distal Point”

Fiona Moore's "The Distal Point" is segmented into three reasonably discrete section: personal mourning, what might be loosely termed 'the political', and 'the rest'. Finding it difficult to cope with too many back-to-back pieces on the same theme - and especially those whose subject matter is deeply personal (I'm really struggling with Hughes' "Birthday Letters"!) … Continue reading “The Distal Point” →

“An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris”

This is a funny little book. And it is a little book - in almost every sense of the word! What's more, it defies description: it isn't poetry and it isn't fiction, yet it isn't entirely non-fiction either. "An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris" is the result of Perec sitting in the same … Continue reading “An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris” →

“A Town Like Alice”

The first thing that struck me about Nevil Shute's "A Town Like Alice" was how old-fashioned it was. I don't mean old-fashioned in the sense of the language it used; the words weren't, for example, 'Dickensian' or 'Austenesque'. It was rather that the sentiment that lay behind it seemed to belong to another era completely. … Continue reading “A Town Like Alice” →

Two new readings

First, about a visit to Deauville, France when on holiday: And second, sitting in a supermarket cafe - part fantasy, but mostly reality! Comment

‘Cocktails in the Infinity Pool’ – a reading

A reading of my poem 'Cocktails in the Infinity Pool', plus the mp3 version of three earlier readings. 'Cocktails in the Infinity Pool' 'A Cracked Voice' 'Approaching the Border' 'Waves are not water' Comment

Readings – updated

I recently published a couple of readings which, I discover, are probably only playable for people with Macs. Apologies. I have now updated the files to the more standard mp3 format and republished the posts: ‘Coast’ – a reading ‘Gas Street Basin’ – a reading Please try them out!