Monday 14 December 2020

Inherent - Lucia Orellana Damacela and Medusa Retold - Sarah Wallis

 Inherent by Lucia Orellana Damacela is an evocative collection of poems examining a life through childhood to motherhood where all stages seem cemented by poignant and significant memories beautifully and delicately expressed in some intense and touching poems. The italics in the title are no accident and the subtle play on words hints of the deeper intent.  It’s very much a suite of poems from the female perspective. 



The poet’s Ecuadorean roots are expressed and explored in vibrant verse that allows us to vicariously experience an environment hitherto unknown to most of us. With a word or two we are treated to a sensory experience - 

‘Melt a lime candy 
under the sun’s tongue
hyphenate kisses
interlock shadows.

Grab the sunset by it’s colours
— drips from an orgasmic orange 
wipe it from mouths
Preserve the thirst.’

Subliminally intertwined is the love and bond with the natural world and the natural landscape, especially the sea. The subjectivity of poetry rules sublime and some of these verses touched me more deeply than others. Those that explore the enduring paradox of life. In the Ink-Carved Rusty Path for example the poet observes 

‘with oxygen that gives life
and oxygen that corrodes 
in every stroke.’

Rain Noir is an exquisite homage to that substance that has been in much abundance lately! Housekeeping is another favourite where emotions and states are compared to every day tasks. Something Borrowed - a poet’s expression of genetics! 

‘ I don’t have my mothers eyebrows;
I’m just passing them along.‘

It’s a cohesive group of poems that describe life - the highs and the lows, beautifully observed, beautifully expressed.

Not uncommon to see comparisons of a work of fiction offered in reviews. Comparisons perhaps with other books in a similar genre or style, or other authors. Not so common in poetry I think. Because poets tend to have such a unique and stylised voice. But thematically one can look at collections of poems and see some comparisons that can both illuminate and enhance both pieces of work.

And so we come to another poet’s work - Medusa Retold by Sarah Wallis. On the surface it couldn’t be more different until you start to read and experience the parallels between these two books.



The poetry is direct, strong and you have a sense of anger bubbling beneath the consonants. Sometimes Nuala’s voice -

‘But I see a warning face staring in the mirror
and have to cover up the truth, can’t stand her staring
back at me with her snake tattoo rippling into muscle’ 

sometimes not - 

‘....she becomes what she always had the potential to become
the Godhead, the steely-eyed Gorgon, the Medusa re-born’ 

 I felt the poem followed the tradition of true epic, narrative poetry. A story is told of identity and rage where the emotion dominates the narrative. Female identity and female rage.

But, I hear you ask, what does any of this have to do with an expat Ecuadorian?! Well, I felt both books ooze with the spirit of the female. The woman striving to find and understand herself and her place in this often hostile world. The natural world, particularly the sea is important in both sets of poems. For Nuala the creatures are her comfort at times, yet the sea she revered is instrumental in fuelling her rage. Inherent sees the harmony of nature offering a peace and a catalyst for memory. In Inherent the poet is finding herself through the various stages of life we go through, childhood, motherhood, bereavement and so on whilst in Medusa Retold Nuala is looking for herself. There is a restrained peace in Inherent which contrasts with the tension and despair of Medusa Retold with its undercurrent of fury. 

Two books  - both alike in dignity to quote the bard, compelling, thought provoking and providing some literary entertainment for poetry lovers.

My thanks to Kayla Jenkins for offering me the opportunity to read, review and compare these two gifted chapbooks. 

Friday 11 December 2020

Hungry - Grace Dent

 Sometimes I get annoyed by memoirs and autobiographies. People who have been thrust into the spotlight, perhaps from reality TV, a successful music deal maybe, or an exceptional sporting triumph,  seem to feel that they should write a book about their lives. Even if they’re still quite young. And I find myself wondering why, and questioning their motivation.


Not so with this memoir of Grace Dent’s. For I think this is truly a memoir. In fact I also think it’s a kind of social history book! Such an amazing depiction of social life in the 80s and 90s. Resplendent with recognisable artefacts, anecdotes and customs from those years that so many of us can relate to. There was such a sense of “I remember that!”  That little piece of nostalgia that has the ability to both warm your heart and make you sad in one fell swoop. Brownies! Cadburys Fruit and Nut! Sara Lee! The picture portraits were so vivid from somebody who lived through a vibrant age but also was perceptive and observant enough to pick out the meaningful and salient points of those times. It was all from the authors perspective of course, but there was a broader consideration that you don’t always get from autobiographies and memoirs.

One of the most refreshing things about this book is not just about what it is but also what it isn’t. It isn’t a self absorbed, self aggrandising resume of somebody bigging themselves up about their life. No, this is a book about lives, yes, Grace Dent’s. But also the lives of others with some appealing accounts about members of her family and beyond. You ended up feeling you got to know, not just Grace, but the members of her family too. Such was the quality of the writing that you developed your own affection towards them all.

It comes across as an incredibly honest piece of work. And it will have you laughing and crying. I was very moved towards the end, I struggled to put it down. I just wanted to read on and on. That’s normally something you say of an edge of the seat thriller. It’s a balanced book which makes it a very satisfying read. There is humour, there is emotion, and there is impartial observations also. This book is full of grace (pun thoroughly intended) and dignity without being staid. It sparkles.

Grace Dent loves her family. That unconditional love with all its ups and downs. I think if I had to sum up what this book is about. I would say it’s about  - love.

Thanks to Readers First for my gifted copy.

Wednesday 9 December 2020

Finding Freedom - Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand

 In many respects this is an unusual choice of book for me. Non-fiction generally takes a lower place in my pecking order than fiction. And the subject matter isn’t one I would generally go for. But I can never explain the way I’m drawn to some books.


I found this to be a very readable and entertaining account of the lives of two of our royals. It interested me on two levels. As something of a history buff the whole concept of ruling royalty and the monarchy fascinates me.  I look back to the almost obsessive desire of people to become king/queen and rule the country. People who killed, schemed and plotted and spent a whole lifetime in some cases preparing their offspring for the role is in stark contrast with how things are today. (I'm thinking here of Margaret Beaufort and Henry VII!)The other thing is I struggle with the concept of somebody being born into that situation and having no choice in the matter. Is the privileged background any compensation for not having a life of freedom? And I guess this is the thrust of the book to examine how Prince Harry and Megan Markle arrived at the situation they are now in. 

Without knowing very much about it and just casually gleaning headlines from news reports when their discontent first surfaced I immediately thought of Edward VIII and his abdication so that he could be with the woman that he loved. However on reading this book the situations don’t really have any parallel. This situation is more complex certainly in Prince Harry’s case. Losing his mother at such a relatively young age has clearly caused him much anguish to put it mildly. I found it completely understandable that he should want to live a life away from the spotlight given what happened to his late mother.

And then of course historically royal marriages have always been within the domain of political intrigue, arranged to further cooperation between countries and improve the political situation. Love never entered into it! And the protocols of prospective partners pasts often impacted upon the royal marriages. I’m not gonna mention The Crown because I don’t have Netflix and I’ve never seen it! But I do remember the furor about Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend. How dare you fall in love with somebody who isn’t suitable! Like you have a choice.

Prince Harry fell in love with Megan Markle. A woman of colour and a divorcee. Maybe he learned from lessons of the past but he remained true to his heart and married the woman he loved. And of course she was the target of much media manoeuverings. Of the tabloids and social media. Many accusations as to her intentions.

So this book is really to show Megan and Harry as real people rather than people caught up in the royal family shenanigans. And to try and set the record straight from some of the potential inaccuracies put out there from the media. I think it does that. I found it readable and interesting and I found it engaged my sympathies towards both Prince Harry and Megan Markle. Two people wanting to raise a family out of the spotlight. I don’t see anything wrong with that. But because of the circumstances of birthright to do so becomes an issue. 

It's a subject that remains contentious. This book will have its critics as well as its devotees. One has to hope that it's unbiased although I'm not entirely convinced. There are always two sides to every story.

My thanks to HQ stories for a copy of his book.

Sunday 6 December 2020

The Word Trove - Elias Vorpahl

 This is one of the most unusual books I’ve ever read. It’s quite enchanting. And for somebody who sees themselves of something as a wordsmith and a word lover it’s perfect. There is a fusion of fairytale, with something of a debt to Lewis Carroll (and I don’t think the author would disagree with me!) and fantasy. But also something of the parable or allegory. There are some universal truths here nestling sweetly within the intelligent and clever wordplay.



The story is about a Word who has lost their meaning. And the story takes us and the Word on a journey to rediscover that meaning. The book is beautifully arranged and beautifully illustrated. The Word takes a journey through language, through life, encountering some diverse characters on the way. I guess the thrust of that journey is for Word to rediscover their meaning, to rediscover who they are and what their place is within the world. 


It’s a novella rather than a novel but it’s one of those books where quality has far more worth than the quantity. So much is contained within its pages. A little whimsy. Some piercingly intelligent truisms in an imaginative and creative story that could appeal across the generations.


I’ve already mentioned Lewis Carroll but it also created something of the atmosphere you find in, perhaps, a fairy story by Grimm, it’s not all sweetness and light. I also found the book very visual, not just because it had some exquisite illustrations, but I could picture it as some kind of animation. 


There is a balance of gentleness and excitement. It has all the elements of a perfectly crafted story in a traditional sense. What is interesting and quite breathtaking is that the original is written in German. And it’s been translated. Well it won’t be the first German story to have been translated that’s for sure. But it’s a story about language. It plays with words. And one of the big challenges for any translator is to capture the nuances of the original language so that none of the author’s intent is lost. For a book like this the challenge must have been enormous. So I think a big shout out for the work that the translator, Romy Fursland, has done because it really is quite a stunning achievement.


This has been a difficult book to review. To précis it would be a disservice. The essence of it is immense. There is a desire on my part to quote great chunks of it but really you need to read it for yourself. You need to allow yourself to become enveloped and enmeshed within words, within language and follow Word on their journey, meet Mad. Meet Rhyme and Reason. Fear the vocal cords. Visit Langwich. Participate in the Linguistic Games. Listen to Wherefore. Am I speaking in riddles? 😉 You see what I mean? I don’t think this book can be reviewed. I think it’s been reviewing me.