Alison ([log in to unmask])
on18 Nov 2000 - 21:52 GMT
wrote:-
'I read both books very carefully and many times; the review reflects my
responses to the poems, said as clearly as possible in the space
available. I also hope it's clear what kind of subjectivity is
responding to those books, and the reasons why I said I what did. Anyone
reading can make up their own minds.
We all know what it's like to get bad reviews: that isn't (or shouldn't
be) the point. Are you saying I should lie?'
Dear Alison
Not lie, exactly, but for myself, the review seemed
too damning of the Lauren Williams book. A book
I too read carefully. It's more or less that I think she
has significantly greater merit than Walker, which doesn't
come across in your piece.
Where you say of the piece, 'I also hope it's clear what
kind of subjectivity is responding to those books, and
the reasons why I said I what did' - well, I think that
the church of poetry or Australian poetry should be more broad
than that. There are many poetries just in Melbourne
alone, and I think Lauren comes out of that live readings
school which includes Grant Caldwell, Kerry Scuffins and
funnily enough Lyndon Walker. I also think she's writing
better than those other authors.
It seems your sensibility or your 'subjectivity' is so removed
from this style of writing as to not be able to see differences
between one poet in this area and another. Here is Lauren
Williams on the visual artist Clarice Beckett:-
'Caught forever in art's fine amber
Long gone sounds drift through each frame
each painting a window open
to the quiet generosity of everyday moments
where life mostly happens, unnoticed.'
"My Pictures Like Music"
We seem to have a sincere disagreement, but also
I'm not someone who reviews books I'm likely to be totally
unsympathetic to. Your review seems intolerant
of non-capital P poetry, maybe you could quote
that part directly on Lauren's work so poetryetc
people can see what we are talking about?
I don't think you noticed the good things in the poems
of Invisible Tattoo.
best
Hugh
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