Which books do we ever get round to reading – and which fall by the wayside and remain unread? Popular book reviewer on Youtube, Sanne, ponders…. You can follow Sanne at her Youtube channel, booksandquills. If you have a seemingly endless list of books you want to read – my sympathy as a fellow sufferer. And if you have a book or three that you … Continue reading Books yet to read
exhibition of contemporary art and poetry, covering Eastertide, Resurrection to Ascension. Continue reading Online exhibition, Edinburgh
American poet Dobby Gibson (featured in blog posts on previous 2 days) took time during his New Year to give us the low-down on what poetry book inspires him to write poetry. Also, a personal note on how the writing of his next book is progressing….
Dobby Gibson: The book I’m reading now is a 2017 book I’m rereading for probably the tenth time already. It’s called “There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé” by the American poet Morgan Parker.
This book is a total delight. Parker combines the unpredictable swervy-ness of a New York School-style of poetry with a wit, urgency and voice that is contemporary and completely her own. It was the most exciting book of poems I read in 2017. It’s a book that makes me want to write poems (the best kind!).
Looking for new books to read in the new year? The Guardian UK newspaper has come up with a reading list of diverse writing in English. If you look at the reading lists on many University courses of English Literature, they are predominantly white, male writers. Have a look at the Guardian list for alternative, equally well written books in English by a worldwide range … Continue reading Reading a wider world
I found myself writing this encouragement to a young writer approaching a course in Literature at University – but much of it is useful to any beginning writers: 1. Believe that you are a writer already. This is tough. You think “But I haven’t had my first novel published!” “But I haven’t sold my first filmscript…..” and the minute you say “I’m a writer” to … Continue reading 7 actions for beginning writers
Intriguing – you can now listen to the “Sound of Music” without the music – simply the audio of what happens with the characters – storms, birdsong, phone ring….. It looks like – and sounds like – this: So, if you are an extreme fan of the film – or you just love living life to a dramatic soundtrack – then put this on in … Continue reading Living the Sound of Music
I am doing the Knowledge – of world poetry. (Today, it’s poet Moniza Alvi)
“Doing the Knowledge” is a phrase used normally to describe how taxi drivers learn the map of London by going through it, so they know routes to take their passengers there. I am exploring the little-known-to-me or unexplored writings of poets
from outside the British Isle.
My guide and basic map is a book with 4 DVDs “In person: world poets” filmed and edited by Pamela Robertson-Pearce and Neil Astley of Bloodaxe Books. Fifty-nine poets are featured, and they have also been videoed reading their poems and giving some small introduction.
I happened upon the book when I recently visited a large chain bookshop (but, nevertheless, a genuine real-life shelves/stairs/cafe bookshop). And there I confronted my own mortality: 4 floors of books…. clearly there was no way that I
could read them all in a lifetime, even if I began immediately and did nothing else for the rest of my life. (As if to underline the mortality idea, the sign in the shop was classical temple design and therefore unfortunately looked like the entrance to a mausoleum). As with all unconquerable projects, you just 
make a sigh and make a start. So I dived into the poetry section.
