Sean O’Brien’s collection Europa comes at a fitting time for a poetic exploration of European and British identity. It’s a heavy read, moving across the continent, but still retaining the ability to focus in on the details in breathtaking and meaningful ways. The collection opens with ‘You Are Now Entering Europa’ – a title whichContinueContinue reading “Europa”
Category Archives: Books
Selected Poems by Kate Clanchy
It is the delicacy with which she transforms the mundane that makes Clanchy one of my favourite poets and this selection opens with ‘Slattern’ from her debut collection of the same name. In terms of the sequencing of the collection, this is a beautiful note on which to open, where she explores the notionContinueContinue reading “Selected Poems by Kate Clanchy”
The Wild Places
One of the greatest things about my MA course was being introduced to the joys of sublime non-fiction writing. For me, Macfarlane is at the top of an illustrious list. I came across Landmarks when researching the notion of an ‘untranslateable’ word for my poetry manuscript and fell in love with his poetic turns ofContinueContinue reading “The Wild Places”
The Bricks that Built the Houses
I’ll start by admitting something – I really wanted to dislike this book. Not because I’m not a fan of Kate Tempest’s work – I find her performance style invigorating and was swept away by the anger in the voice of Let Them Eat Chaos. So, why was I so keen to find fault? Jealousy? Resentment?ContinueContinue reading “The Bricks that Built the Houses”
Crudo, Olivia Laing
Olivia Laing’s novel Crudo reviewed.
Normal People, Sally Rooney
One of the biggest novels this year reviewed
Nicola Heaney 