Scan barcode
jenny_hedberg's review against another edition
reflective
4.0
Favourite poems:
Waking with Russell (my all-time Paterson favourite)
The Forest of the Suicides
The Reading (for its lovely rhythm)
Twinflooer
Waking with Russell (my all-time Paterson favourite)
The Forest of the Suicides
The Reading (for its lovely rhythm)
Twinflooer
emsemsems's review against another edition
3.0
I prefer his later work than this one, but there are a few gems in this book that I'll definitely come back to and read again at a later date.
mt_gilley's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
A dazzling collection of poems - enigmatic, formally inventive, sometimes scabrously witty, emotionally insightful. Don Paterson always has a brilliant way with the poetic voice, but what struck me most here is how in the midst of technical virtuosity he'll stun you with revelations of character, thought, feeling that seen perfectly inevitable and yet still you don't seem them coming
_eleanor_k's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
i preferred the first three quarters; the range of styles, imagery and the strong Scottish influence woven throughout were v beautiful, as were the descriptions of love and home. There was a few descriptions in one poem that felt a little unself-aware (like, bruh, no you do not become one seamless body when youre receiving a hand job, someone else is giving and you are receiving, its a different relationship) however this same poem was also one of my absolute favourites and made me literally loose my shit over the imagery and the passage through time in a bed. The only other poem where I was a little bit ooh idk was the black box one, just felt like the scientific vocab felt a lil' out of place and a few (unless i just didnt understand the metaphor which is HIGHLY likely) felt like they were maybe a bit misused?? idk, this is very likely that its just that i didnt understand it :))
aportablemagic's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
nobodyatall's review against another edition
2.0
Difficult to read.
I really enjoyed "The Rat" though, (http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/rat) which is amusing considering its theme. Like the poet within that poem I don't understand the craft enough to enjoy the rest of the collection.
I really enjoyed "The Rat" though, (http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/rat) which is amusing considering its theme. Like the poet within that poem I don't understand the craft enough to enjoy the rest of the collection.
boyblue's review
4.0
Mummy Bloggers currently gush on their blogs and social media about the joys and trials of having children as if they were the first humans to ever give birth.
Don Paterson has written a couple of poems that will tell you more about parenthood than all the parenting advice rolled into one from everyone bar your mother.
He's also got the knack for writing about things that most authors struggle with or tend to cliché.
from My Love
It's not the lover that we love, but love
itself, love as in nothing, as in O;
love is the lover's coin, a coin of no country,
hence: the ring; hence: the moon -
no wonder that empty circle so often figures
in our intimate dark, our skin-trade,
that commerce so furious we often think
love's something we share; but we're always wrong.
or this section from The White Lie
no one at one with all the universe
can touch one thing; in such supreme divorce,
what earthly use are we to our lost brother
when we must stay partly lost to find each other?
and the ending.......
and that there might be time enough
to die in, dark to read by, distance to love.
and this from A Talking Book
By all means, turn the page or close the book.
But first, imagine how this world would look
were it not duly filtered, cropped and strained
through that pinhole camera you call a brain
by whose inverted dim imaginings
you presume to question it. So many things
are hidden from you.
A Talking Book, and The Black Box are the best and better than the third instalment of The Alexandrian Library. The highlights reel however (for those both short of time and attention) would be The White Lie, The Rat, Walking With Russell, The Reading, and A Gift
Don Paterson has written a couple of poems that will tell you more about parenthood than all the parenting advice rolled into one from everyone bar your mother.
He's also got the knack for writing about things that most authors struggle with or tend to cliché.
from My Love
It's not the lover that we love, but love
itself, love as in nothing, as in O;
love is the lover's coin, a coin of no country,
hence: the ring; hence: the moon -
no wonder that empty circle so often figures
in our intimate dark, our skin-trade,
that commerce so furious we often think
love's something we share; but we're always wrong.
or this section from The White Lie
no one at one with all the universe
can touch one thing; in such supreme divorce,
what earthly use are we to our lost brother
when we must stay partly lost to find each other?
and the ending.......
and that there might be time enough
to die in, dark to read by, distance to love.
and this from A Talking Book
By all means, turn the page or close the book.
But first, imagine how this world would look
were it not duly filtered, cropped and strained
through that pinhole camera you call a brain
by whose inverted dim imaginings
you presume to question it. So many things
are hidden from you.
A Talking Book, and The Black Box are the best and better than the third instalment of The Alexandrian Library. The highlights reel however (for those both short of time and attention) would be The White Lie, The Rat, Walking With Russell, The Reading, and A Gift
More...