in the most recent LRB to reach me over here (Vol 20/19), of Barry
MacSweeney's "Book of Demons", John Kinsella's "Poems 1980-94" & "The
Silo..." & Martin Harrison's "The Kangaroo Farm." Maybe it was
mentioned on this list, but I missed it if so. Cogent, enthusiastic &
balanced appreciations of all four books. The BM almost a summary of
his life-work with a closing sentence that touches a chord for me in
reading "Demons" & the recent "Postcards from Hitler" [not reviewed by
Wheale]:
"Yet the risks that MacSweeney takes with a reader's goodwill seem to be
justified by the delinquent beauty and wounded humour which his writing
also offers."
The context for that sentence is a discussion of the poem "Pearl Against
the Barbed Wire" - & even as I write this, I realise I've not finished
reading "Demons" & am ready to agree with a statement that requires at
least the reading. Human beings! Well, back to the books for me - I
may be in full agreement when I'm done. Meanwhile Wheale's review is
worth reading. Perhaps a Collected will indeed follow from Bloodaxe.
Pete.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|