Poem: George
George Last night I dreamt of Club Tropicana again. The pool house with inflatable donuts on the heated water, at the end of his garden in Highgate, with a view across Hampstead Heath. He’d wake late, smoke a joint, record demos. He loved throwing his acrobatic voice around the basement studio. After lunch he’d look for men online. He’d bought the bed especially, it fit … Continue reading Poem: George
Poem: Me and Kenneth Williams
Me and Kenneth Williams We met over suds in the Russell Square laundrette. Afternoons, we lie together on his single bed slacks, socks, shirts and v-neck sweaters on. Watching or not watching each other’s closeness. The national anthem plays on the television. The Beeb keeps us in taxis and sensible shoes. I feel favourite for now, I’ve been given the spare door key but also … Continue reading Poem: Me and Kenneth Williams
REVIEW: The Europeans – David Clarke & Shrines of Upper Austria – Phoebe Power
No doubt the poets of the future will look back on the era we currently suffer through and wonder how any of us wrote any poems at all, let alone ones about politics. The ongoing and ever-evolving horrors of Brexit have infused themselves into our lives almost completely and I would find it impossible to write about a subject so contentious, difficult, and evolving every … Continue reading REVIEW: The Europeans – David Clarke & Shrines of Upper Austria – Phoebe Power
REVIEW: So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed – Jon Ronson
So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson My rating: 4 of 5 stars Really interesting. Read this as a way to stay off twitter as much as possible. Ultimately the cases of public shaming Ronson gets into are very interesting and ones I remember from when they occurred. The link between twitter and the idea of a dark ages mob justice is interesting and … Continue reading REVIEW: So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed – Jon Ronson
Poem: The Taxidermist
The Taxidermist The squirrel had been in the freezer for weeks, wrapped up tightly in Tesco bags wedged between the frozen fish and quorn. His evening was just beginning, giving me a quick kiss whilst putting on his rubber gloves. The bathroom was soon heavy with blood and borax. He used a scalpel and nail scissors to slip out the organs and to tease muscle … Continue reading Poem: The Taxidermist
REVIEW: The Naked Civil Servant by Quentin Crisp
The Naked Civil Servant by Quentin Crisp My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was my second reading of this book, first reading for was a few years ago. I came back to it because I have been craving more queer voices and I have a great love for the early to mid twentieth century queers whose struggles we all need to remember are close … Continue reading REVIEW: The Naked Civil Servant by Quentin Crisp
REVIEW: The Fish Can Sing – Halldór Laxness
The Fish Can Sing by Halldór Kiljan Laxness My rating: 5 of 5 stars What a beautiful and complex book. It takes in themes of nationhood, the role of parents and grand parents, heroes and the complexities attached to being a creative person. The book works in a funny, meandering way where we learn a lot about the people of Iceland in the form of … Continue reading REVIEW: The Fish Can Sing – Halldór Laxness
Poem: Vogue
Vogue Whitney Houston, Eartha Kitt Gladys Knight and Bessie Smith. Ellen, Björk, and Britney Jean on the cover of a magazine. George Eliot, Austen, Jane Intellectuals, eternal fame. Nicki Raps, Madonna’s grand Beyonce and Babs Streisand They have style, they have grace Nichelle Nichols explored space. Michelle Obama, Malala too, Hillary Clinton, we love you ! Ladies with an attitude Women that are in the … Continue reading Poem: Vogue
REVIEW: Call Me By Your Name – Andre Aciman
Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman My rating: 5 of 5 stars A universal and beautifully real novel which runs along so easily and wonderfully. Narrated by Elio, the younger of the two, you feel his fears, the thrill of his growing obsession with Oliver and, at moments, his fantasies made real. The novel has a few differences to the film (which is … Continue reading REVIEW: Call Me By Your Name – Andre Aciman
REVIEW: Northanger Abbey – Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love Austen. Her wit and wry humour is something I have enjoyed immensely for a number of years. Knowing her other novels well, this one does have a slightly different atmosphere and tone at moments. For the first half of the book, it feels very much like a standard Austen, a witty comedy … Continue reading REVIEW: Northanger Abbey – Jane Austen
