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Sunday, November 29, 2020

Book Review: Joseph Ridgwell The Emperor’s Nose & Other Tales (East London Press. 2019) 93 pages

 

This is U.K. writer Joseph Ridgwell’s third collection of short stories which follows his excellent small press publications Oswald’s Apartment & Other Stories (Blackheath Books, 2010) and Ridgwell Stories (Bottle of Smoke Press, New York, 2015). The book consists of ten short stories and Ridgwell uses a variety of points of view, genres and techniques to keep our “optics” closely adhered to the page.

 

Interestingly, Ridgwell sent me an early “proof” copy of the book with the title spelt “emporers nose”. He says of the proof, “Me and the editor were so focused on eradicating as many typos as possible from the MS, that the title was somewhat overlooked. It was the French poet Tom Buron who pointed out what would have been a disastrous mistake, after viewing an online image of the cover just weeks before we were due to publish.” He adds, “I think the printer had only made 4 copies with the spelling mistake, so it wasn’t as bad as it might have been.”


Ridgwell says passionately of the book’s construction and cover, “As you know these books are limited edition and each book is bound by hand. The printer had never attempted a short story collection before and he found it a struggle. He was used to doing small books of poetry. Some copies of EN are a little out of line, but I think it adds to their charm.

 

“The only thing I insisted on was that the book would be blurbless. I wanted a clean finish to the book and as you can see it doesn’t even have my name or the name of the collection on the spine. The printer used expensive card for the cover and high quality paper for the insides.

 

“It’s my belief that when producing a small press book, it should be of a higher quality than mainstream books. That might sound a bit snobby, but I prefer to put out books that look good as well as read well.

 

“And I’m not a book snob, for as you know, my work has appeared in countless DIY zines and pamphlets.”

 

Asked about how the choice of stories was assembled, Ridgwell says, “It was quickly decided that there would be a running line-up of 10 stories. The trouble then was picking ten, as I had over fifty stories to choose from. I can’t tell you how many times I changed the running order, but eventually we settled on 10 stories that we thought gave a broad overview of my work. The cover layout and design was by Jacob Louis Beany and this is acknowledged in the front piece.

 

“I am more than happy with how the book turned out, and am certain more editions will appear in print at some later date.”

 

The Emperor’s Nose & Other Tales  is a highly readable collection of short stories. Ridgwell is quick to establish his settings and characters. His language is very accessible and he uses sharp, credible dialogue to propel his stories. Ridgwell keeps you guessing as to what will happen next  and although some of the endings are shocking, they are always well prepared.

 

As in his classic Ridgwell Stories, Ridgwell experiments with his narrative point of view. Five of the stories, ‘Nepal (Goddess of the Valley), ‘Honduras’, ’The Carassius Racket’, ‘Good Time Girl’ and ‘Island Nights Entertainment’ feature Joe as the first person narrator and usually revolve around a backpacking adventure or catching up with old mates like Ronnie from Burrito Deluxe (Leamington Books, Edinburgh, 2015) or Nicole from The Buddha Bar (Blackheath Books, Blackheath, 2011). 

 

The best and most imaginative of these stories is ‘The Carassius Racket’. Ronnie has adopted an alias, Mickey Modern because the cops are after him for earlier transgressions of the law. His latest scam involves him opening a chain of Goldfish Bowl nightclubs whose primary source of income is through the outlandish scheme of selling Nordic moonshine derived from alcohol enhanced fish to millennials. As Ronnie incredibly explains, “These fish have evolved a second set of proteins that take over in the absence of oxygen and convert lactic acid to alcohol, which is then dispersed through the fish’s butt… the longer they are in freezing, airless conditions, the higher the alcohol levels in the fish become.” The young people who frequent his bars lap the stuff up- and with zero hangover.

 

Perhaps the best and craziest stories in the collection are when Ridgwell branches out and engages in third person or omniscient narrations. This freedom allows the writer to create stuff without being bound by the concrete of reality.

 

‘The Blind Man of Billingham’ is an outstanding cautionary tale which uses elements of science fiction in the H.G. Wellsian tradition. The protagonist, Robert Southey, has been blind since the age of 2. Enter a couple of prominent scientists- Roger Hangton-Smith, psychologist and Emeritus Professor of Neuropsychology at Oxford University and the ambitious American ophthalmologist Trent Bloodman.

 

Bloodman is pioneering a corneal transplant stem-cell procedure and offers Robert £100,000 to be a part of his experiment, in the hope that if successful, he may be awarded a Nobel Prize- thus achieving immortality.

 

Like Wells in his early 20thCentury novels, such as The First Man On The Moon, Ridgwell provides the reader with brief but seemingly credible science, to suspend their sense of disbelief. 

 

Another highly memorable short story in the collection, one of the longest in the collection is ‘Leaving Kafr el-Sheikh’. Ridgwell uses an omniscient narrator to trace the tragic plight of four young Egyptian economic migrants who undertake considerable risks to illegally travel to London to meet up with one of the boy’s cousins. They see Ra as a role model- with his high-performance car, adorned “in plenty of bling” – with a beautiful girl beside him.

 

The boys’ journey is one of hardship and terrible tragedy. Ridgwell deconstructs their hopes and dreams- through a series of realistically drawn events. 

 

The best short story in the collection, I reckon is the titular piece ‘Emperor’s Nose’. It is an outrageous narrative in which the sadistic petty crims Bud and Raoul scheme to raid the mansion of ‘The Emperor of Scent’, the fabulously wealthy Edward Bond, and take him hostage and demand he pay a ransom for his release. Bond has made his fortune through the artist genius of his olfactory glands- in the words of Bud- his “conk.” 

 

Like many of Ridgwell’s stories, it is highly economical and works through dramatic irony- the reader knows the baddies are scheming to pose as delivery men to drop off a crystal chandelier but as Bond plies his rich neighbour Lady Cressida Clalfort-Post with his latest potion loveLOVElove like Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream, they are oblivious to the vileness which is about to be inflicted upon them. 


This is an amazing and varied short story collection which significantly adds to Ridgwell's impressive work. 

 

As Joseph Ridgwell heads towards the big “Hawaii Five-O”, his 7thcollection of poetry ‘She Moves Through The Fair’ will be out later this year through Kilmog Press, who are based in Dunedin, New Zealand. His short story ‘Islands Night Entertainment’ in EN will actually be a chapter from his latest novel- The Island, which is the latest instalment of the Ridgwell saga.



Find out more here about Joseph Ridgwell and where to buy his books: https://josephridgwelljr.wordpress.com

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Book Review: John D. Robinson (poetry) & Marcel Herms (artwork) The Barbed & the Beautiful (Petrichor, 2020) 30 pages


This newly released chapbook is a collaboration between two underground legends: U.K. writer John D. Robinson and the Dutch artist Marcel Herms. The book is hand sewn, printed on quality paper and is partly funded by the Dutch Arts Council. It is limited to a print run of 75 copies.

 

It consists of ten Robinson poems on the left hand side of the page and ten illustrations by Herms on the right. Robinson says of the origins of the book, “Marcel approached me about this project and naturally I did not hesitate: I sent him a selection of poems and then he created an illustration for each poem: As you may be aware, I have collaborated with Marcel on a few occasions and frequently use his artwork for Holy & Intoxicated Publications covers.”

 

Robinson’s poetry continues to gain in readership through the clarity of his imagery and his stark choice of underground subject matter. In the last two years he has published an incredible array of books in both poetry and prose (see the list following this review).

 

In The Barbed & the Beautiful Robinson explores a variety of themes common to his work: the ephemerality of beauty & of passion (‘The Sun’, ‘The Anticipation’), drug indulgence & its impact on memory & relationships (‘Meant Something’, ‘Flesh & Drugs’, ‘The Cuckcoo’), the threat of physical violence ('No Fucking’, ‘The Acceptance’) and the fragility of life (‘A Long Time’).

 

In ‘Meant Something’ Robinson subverts the notion of small talk by forgetting a complement he had only told his partner moments ago, his mind “was wet-sand, a mesh of/ blurred splinters of brokenness.” Interestingly, in a sketch of the same name, Herms represents the pair as a happily adjoined Siamese twins (click on the image to enlarge):

 


(all illustrations and poems used with the permission of the artists)


Asked about the meaning of the book’s title, Robinson says, “The Barbed: I was specifically thinking of barbwire: sharp/ jagged/ dangerous/ often used in war/ (it could be argued that the aesthetics' of barb wire are quite something) and the Beautiful: darkness followed by light, my way of thinking: the title came to me, in one of those all to rare moments, when you are suddenly taken by surprise and without effort: I think the title reflects the works of Marcel and myself.”

 

He adds in a recent Wombwell Rainbow Interview (see the link below): “I think that this gave me a direction with regards to choosing the poems: the words and art are spiky and tender, raging and serene, punchy and embracing: tinted with a sense of humour of crushed glass or soft flowers.”

 

Pressed about his writing routine, Robinson reservedly admits, “I usually try and write everyday - I will settle down mid-way through the evening with a glass of wine and a notebook and pen: on occasions I have an idea of what I am going to write - something that I experienced or witnessed or was told or read about during the day, on other occasions, the poems come from memories that stretch back over 4 decades and I try to capture something of those times and places and characters that I have been blessed to have met: most of what I write each night, remains in the note book but every now and then there is something half decent, which I transfer onto the computer.”

 

Marcel Herms explained to me recently the processes of composition he uses in the chapbook, “I made the work for this book as I always do. Intuitively and from my subconscious mind. I let John’s poetry affect me and started. Using all kinds of different materials, such as acrylic paint, crayons, ink, pencils etc.”

 

Herms says he doesn’t muck around in his art, “I work fast. I let it happen on the paper or canvas. ‘Accidents’ are allowed, spots, things like that. I even welcome them. I can continue with them. That’s how the best things come about. It doesn’t work out if I think about it too long. I don’t have the patience for that either. It has to come out.”

 

Asked about his general view on humanity, Herms says, “That’s quite a question! Unfortunately, I am not positive about humanity in general. Of course, there are good and bad people but as a whole I don’t think we have been very successful. For example, the way we destroy the planet is very concerning to me.”

 

In his illustration ‘Acceptance’ to compliment Robinson’s poem of lurking violence, he represents the persona as a vicious brut with a bottle in his hand. His red head and jutting teeth foreground what appears to be a black cloud. The portrait is both menacing and beautiful. Herms says of his drawings, “I don’t think they are abstract. I clearly see characters. But they are not realistic indeed.”

 


Herms says of Robinson’s poetry, “I really like his work as it evokes very strong images. So illustrating his poems was easy.” In Robinson’s recent Wombwell Rainbow interview he writes resonantly, “Marcel’s work grips my poetry, shakes it, spins it and weaves it with such coloured mystery: the works breathe another level of life into the words, takes them on another journey, a journey few artists dare to take.”

 

The Barbed & the Beautiful is a wonderful synthesis of two luminaries who have created a beautiful and highly inventive work of art.

 

Buy the chapbook here: https://uitgeverijpetrichor.nl/product/the-barbed-the-beautiful/

 

 

Resources:

 

Check out more about Marcel Herms here:  http://marcelherms.nl

 

Robinson & Herms discuss their wotk in detail in this excellent piece:  Wombwell Rainbow Interviews: The Barbed & the Beautiful by John D. Robinson and Marcel Herms 19 November 2020: https://thewombwellrainbow.com/2020/11/19/wombwell-rainbow-book-interviews-the-barbed-and-the-beautiful-by-john-d-robinson-and-marcel-herms/

 

 

Latest Releases: John D. Robinson

 

Find out more about his recent publications here:

In Pursuit of Shadows' (Analog Submission Press: 2018): sold out

'Hitting Home' (Iron Lung Press: USA); 2 editions: sold out 

 

'Echoes of Diablo' (Concrete Meat Press 2018): UK:  https://adrianmanning.wixsite.com/concretemeatpress/post/2018/08/16/new-chapbook-by-john-d-robinson

‘Too Many Drinks Ago’ (Paper and Ink Zine Publications, UK, 2018): sold out

 

‘Pushing Away the Hours’ (Alien Buddha Press, USA , 2018): https://www.lulu.com/shop/john-d-robinson/pushing-away-the-hours/paperback/product-23872337.html?page=1&pageSize=4

 

Hang in There (Uncollected Press, USA, 2019)

Sharks and Butterflies (Cajun Mutt Press, USA, 2019)

Songs Of Samsara (Cyberwit Press, India, 2020)

Red Dance (Uncollected Press, USA, 2020).

 

Upcoming: Always More: New & Selected Poems- Horror Sleaze Trash (November, 2020).

Friday, November 20, 2020

Book Review: John Yamrus FIVE DOGS (Concrete Mist Press, York PA, USA, 2020) 62 pages

Following the success of his earlier dog-centred books, in particular, Yamrus’s best selling collection of poetry BARK now in its fourth print (Epic Rites Press, 2010), he has published FIVE DOGS– a memoir in which he recalls the five dogs he has shared in his life with his wife Kathy.

 

In a recent email, Yamrus explained to me the backstory to Five Dogs:

 

“when i was looking for someone interested in publishing my next book of poetry (to be called SMALL TALK), which was complete and looking for a publisher in these crazy covid times, Concrete Mist Press jumped at the chance to bring it out. in talking with the editor/publisher Heath Brougher, he expressed his excitement at being able to publish me, and over the course of a few weeks he talked about how much he loved BARK and that if i ever did another book about dogs he'd love to publish that, as well...

 

“i liked the idea, but, knowing that i'm not a juke box and besides, BARK was just too good to try and write new dog poems to compete with them...so, i was at a loss...and then one morning that thing about The Zoomies came to me and i was off to the races. the book really did write itself, and the biggest challenge for me was deciding what NOT to say.”

 

In the opening page, Yamrus introduces us to the concept of ‘the zoomies’ in an interesting and striking way which should appeal to dog lovers: 

 

“every dog we’ve ever had (and there’s been five of them)

got the Zoomies at one time or another. it makes you

wonder what gets into their heads…they could be lying

there, half asleep, in the sun or in the shade…and then, all

of a sudden the head perks up, the eyes get wide and it’s off

to the races, around and around the yard…into and out of

trees…behind and through shrubs and bushes and around

benches and tables and chairs.”

 

According to Yamrus, “it’s the closest thing to the perfect description of Joy you’ll ever see in your life. it’s one of the thousand million reasons why we love dogs the way we do.” 

 

If you are unfamiliar with zoomies, here’s a link to a popular youtube dog video if you are up to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqCQQkOPAi0

 

Interestingly, Yamrus describes his layered, digressive literary style “like an attack of The Zoomies- i sometimes go around and around and around in what seems like circles.”

 

This book is directly aimed at dog lovers and there are millions of them out there. Yamrus doesn’t have any kids and says “our whole world revolves around our dogs.” After the couple moved into their first house, “with a front porch, a back yard and everything, for Kathy, that everything would have to include a white picket fence and a dog.”

 

It took Yamrus about two weeks to write Five Dogs. In a recent conversation with Barb Emnett,  who describes herself as a Dog Mom (see the link below) he told her that the purpose of the book was to show “how crazy dogs are and how they can drive you crazy but also about how much fun they are.” 

 

Like much of Yamrus’s previous work, Five Dogs is minimalistic, lower case and first person/ conversational in style. His tone is empathetic and he sometimes directly addresses the reader and encourages us to reflect on our own dog-human relationships. 

 

What’s clever about the book is its improvisational feel and Yamrus’s ability to write about his strong emotional attachment to his dogs without resorting to tear-jerking sentimentality or self-pity. He tempers his love & joy of his dogs with moments of great hilarity and the sad, dissembling truth of their impending deaths.   

 

In the core of this slim book, Yamrus devotes individual chapters to the dogs in his life: MIKA, PHOEBE AND ITO, ABBY and STELLA. The concluding chapter OOGIE AND OPRAH, in part involves his dog Phoebe, but is more about a rescued dog Oogie they came across at the vet’s and who is represented in the harrowing poem ‘and all the sick, perverted’. It is one of four of his dog poems in the collection, which were previously published in BARK.

 

In his recent conversation with Jane Stahl of Studio B (see the link below), Yamrus says that in the book he is “interested in shining a light on the stupid things, the little things” that guide our lives. He is interested in writing about “what dogs do to us and for us.”

 

Yamrus does not provide detailed portraits of his dogs but deliberately creates minimalistic, highly selected anecdotes to create a vivid impression of their individual personalities. He often leaves it to the reader’s imagination to fill in his artistic gaps to recall their own fond or foul dog memories. 

 

In the chapter ‘Stella’ he enthusiastically writes about how his dog sleeps on the family bed and takes over :

 

“besides, if you’re still reading this, you probably have your

own dog and you probably do the same thing…and

more…and you probably like it just as much as i do. and

you know and i know that there’s nothing better in the

world than giving up your spot on the bed to a dirty, stinky,

smelly ball of fur who stretches out and pushes you around

and more than likely farts and lights up the whole room

with the glory of the smell, never even waking up, probably

just rolling over and pushing you around again.”

 

Yamrus reveals to us everyday events- his trips to the breeder, his sense of joy in seeing a pup for the first time, he shares with us his favourite snaps of his dogs, he chuckles as he tells us about a dog’s obedience class or an inept response to an intelligence test. 

 

Yet Five Dogs is not all about the joy of having a companion dog. Yamrus also includes the darker side to having a dog- the tests, the diseases- the small tragedies, and briefly- the deaths.



The front cover of Five Dogs features a slightly blurred photo of Yamrus with Stella, his current dog #5. He is embracing the dog and both are staring directly at the camera. The back cover also features Stella during a thunderstorm. The dog is terrified and has jumped on the lounge obscuring the amused writer while his wife Kathy takes the shot. 

 Five Dogs  is a whimsical, reflective book with a yelp of melancholy. As I flipped through the book I remembered once again the crazy dogs in my own life- Waldo, Leo, Maggie, Terra, Sugar- and more recently Woody- and all of the scattered "shit" they have left behind! As Yamrus writes in 'Stella', "maybe that's why i'm sitting here writing about my dogs. they deserve to be remembered, too. /and appreciated."

 

The book is available through Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dogs-John-Yamrus/dp/1636251188

 

 

Resources:

 

Visit John Yamrus’s website: http://www.johnyamrus.com

 

B Inspired- 24 October 2020 – John Yamrus- Five Dogs- the New Book and the Stories that Inspired It! John Yamrus talks to Jane Stahl about the dogs in his life. (30.39):

https://anchor.fm/jane-stahl/episodes/John-Yamrus-Five-Dogs--the-New-Book-and-the-Stories-that-Inspired-It-elfrkn?fbclid=IwAR1TjOOBsZJPr2_AEFT8sVWFkpTk_z1yQVTRmAVMJkoYv38Y5ydsvqN-Hks

 

Reading Eagle- In new book, Berks author John Yamrus shares recollections of his dogs’ lives (Don Botch, 18 October 2020): https://www.readingeagle.com/living/in-new-book-berks-author-john-yamrus-shares-recollections-of-his-dogs-lives/article_57604ad8-0d8f-11eb-893f-97831b929d01.html


Read my 2013 review of Bark on Bold Monkey here: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-interview-john-yamrus-bark.html

Friday, November 6, 2020

Update: Most Read 100 Posts on BOLD MONKEY as at 2 January 2023


Hello dear reader, today I updated the stats for the most viewed material on the blog. There hasn't been much movement, particularly of new entries. You need more than 500 views to make it into the top 100. Click on any link you deem interesting.

Hits to date: 510,319. Thanks for reading BMR! 

Top Hits: 1 June 2010- 2 January 2023

#100 Book review: John Yamrus Selected Poems (2021)
John Yamrus is the king of minimalism in poetry in America. His poetry is insightful, funny and highly entertaining. Despite this collection having been written over five decades there is a remarkable consistency in the work: 

#99 Book Review: Wolfgang Carstens Bulletproof
Wolfgang Carstens digs death. He is fascinated how death thrusts a stake through our identity, our consciousness: how it ends all our hopes and dreams for the future. But in Carstens’ fiendish, creative hands, death can also be seen in terms of a celebration, a renewal, a beer in the hand amongst equals. I wrote the Introduction to the book: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2016/12/wolfgang-carstens-bulletproof-grey.html

#98 Alexander Rane 'Let It Enfold You' (Bukowski Leg Sleeve Tattoo)

#97 Featuring William Taylor Jr
These are terrific poems by the Tenderloin resident: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2015/02/featuring-william-taylor-jr.html

#96 Book Review: Mike Meraz- She Poems
She Poems is a candid, diverse collection of poems about fledgling relationships. The poems are clearly crafted and arranged. As you read through the collection, the words might provoke you to recall your own special moments of youthful love and innocence: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2015/10/book-review-interview-mike-meraz-she.html

#95 Book Review: HANK
This is the first full-length biography written about Bukowski. It establishes the chronology of the significant events in his life- his terrible childhood, his struggle to become a writer, the women in his life and his eventual literary successes and rising popularity: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-neeli-cherkovski-hank-life.html

#94 Book Review: Lawrence Gladeview: Just Ignore the Beer Stains
This is the first full-length collection of poetry by the 28 year-old Gladeview, who lives in Colorado. The poems are short narratives of less than 100 words and are characteristically geared towards making a dryly humorous personal or social observation about ordinary events: 

#93 Book Review: Brian Rihlmann- Ordinary Trauma
This is a new entrant into the Top 100. Brian Rihlmann is a new voice in the alternative small press. His writing is compellingly raw and candid. His first full-length collection Ordinary Trauma is highly entertaining and easy to read: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2020/03/book-review-interview-brian-rihlmann_16.html

#92 Book Review: James Darman- the buddha doesn't live here
After reading this book again recently there is a possibility that Darman is the pen name of Rob Plath: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2014/04/book-review-james-darman-buddha-doesnt_5.html

#91 Book Review: Barry Miles Bukowski
This is a highly engaging and lucid account of Bukowski’s mad, full-on life. Barry Miles attempts to unravel the man from the myth, pointing out how Bukowski’s celebration of the low life was probably 50% fact 50% fantasy:

#90 Book Review: John Sweet- The Century of Dreaming Monsters
This is certainly one of the best posts ever made on BM. Sweet is an amazing an innovative poet:

#89 Book Review: Brenton Booth- Punching The Teeth From The Sky
This is Sydney writer Brenton Booth's first full length book of poetry. He doesn't pull any punches in this raw, candid collection: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-interview-brenton-booth.html
#88 Book Review: Tim O'Brien Things They Carried
This is an outstanding collection of short stories, partly-biographical accounts & notes which meta-fictionally capture O’Brien’s process of writing about the Vietnam War twenty years after his tour of duty ended in 1970:

#87 Book Review: Karina Bush- Maiden
This is the first collection of poetry by the Irish writer Karina Bush. The book features 39 love poems which have a provocative and raw physical edge to them. The language is openly sexual and thrusts towards wordless spaces, where heightened emotions and energies are given voice: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-interview-karina-bush.html

#86 Book Review: Scott Wozniak Crumbling Utopian Pipedream
Wozniak’s collection consists of forty free verse post-outlaw poems, some of which originally appeared in staunch small online publications. The poems are characteristically shit-faced raw and are dark explorations of Wozniak’s world which is littered with an underclass of junkies and hobos who are trapped and who face, like most of us, “a stacked deck”. Wozniak writes brutally and honestly about some of his true life experiences which bleed and weep and shoot up and vomit on every page: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-scott-wozniak-crumbling.html

#85 Book Review: Rob Plath- Dead is Dead
This is one of best and most intense reviews you will find on BM:

https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2012/12/book-review-rob-plath-death-is-dead.html


#84 Book Review: Catfish McDaris- 27 Hammerheads Circling Ever Closer
This is a highly inventive, bold collection of poetry, flash fiction and extended short stories by the Milwaukee based American writer. The anthology is a rich and diverse body of work and is hugely entertaining.://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2018/06/book-review-interview-catfish-mcdaris.html

#83 Featuring Rus Khomutoff
Find some interesting po-mo poems from this artist: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2018/05/featuring-rus-khomutoff.html

#82 Book Review: Henry Denander Accidental Navigator
This is an underrated collection of poetry by the highly accomplished & accessible Swedish writer & artist: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/henry-denander-accidental-navigator-new.html

#81 RL Raymond Half Myths & Quarter Legends
This is the second poetry collection by R.L. Raymond, a resident of London, Ontario. It consists of 43 carefully crafted poems written in free verse which have a fragmented, pared to the blood & bone feel reminiscent of John Yamrus, the American small press poet. There is an unflinching mystery and understatedness about Raymond’s writing which is difficult to nail down but which is also highly appealing: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/rl-raymond-half-myths-quarter-legends.html

#80 Book Review: Neil Young Waging Heavy Peace
If you are a long term follower of Neil Young’s music you will enjoy Waging Heavy Peace. I found some of the details rather vague and after 502 pages I felt I hadn’t really amassed much information about his life. I did like the free flowing way the book evolved and the dozens of photos included were excellent in supplementing his life story.

#79 Bukowski's Best Poetry Books- A reader's appraisal 25 years after his death of books published during his life time

#78 Book Review: John Yamrus They Never Told Me This Would Happen
This collection features 44 minimalistic poems. The free verse is carefully sliced to the bone and what remains are clean, clear lines. The poems are at the cutting-edge of experimentation in what might be termed literary reductionism & Yamrus adopts many forms, including anecdotal narratives, portraits, micropoems and aphorisms to homerun his ideas.

#77 Book Review/ Interview: Howie Good- Dreaming Red
This is Howie Good’s fourth full-length collection of poetry and consists of fifty-two characteristically short experimental poems in which he adopts a variety of non-traditional forms, including- prose poetry, free verse, found poetry, collage and non-rhyming couplets. The language is simple but has a cut-up feel about it which can alienate occasional readers of poetry.

#76 Interview with Joseph Ridgwell
I interviewed Joe after his out of print books Where are the Rebels?The Buddha BarThe Cross and Last Days of the Cross were to be republished by Ternary Editions, an imprint of the iconic Bottle of Smoke Press: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2018/05/interview-with-joseph-ridgwell-24-may.html

#75 Book Review: The Tricking Post
Mitchell is a highly innovative street poet & you will find here an extraordinary original work:

#74 Jazz Film- Keep On Keepin' On (2014)

This is an excellent documentary film which examines the life of the legendary jazz musician  Clark Terry, which focuses on his remarkable mentorship of the blind prodigy pianist Justin Kauflin as Terry, aged 93, fights to stay alive: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/new-jazz-documentary-film-release-keep.html

#73 Book Review/ Interview: Bill Gainer The Mysterious Book Of Old Man Poems
Gainer's capacity to tap into the blurred, often ambiguous side to our emotional states is uncanny and this is essentially what makes Gainer’s poetry so compelling to read over and over again. Gainer is at his best as a poet when he is sipping on a bourbon, drawing back on a smoke, having a good look around, abandoning all notions of ambition and simply and authentically commenting on the quiet mysteries of the moment.https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-bill-gainer-mysterious-book.html

#72 The Best Trump Cartoons (2016)
Here are ten of the best from the self-confessed genius from 2016: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2016/12/best-trump-political-cartoons-2016.html

#71 Book Review: John Yamrus BARK
In John Yamrus’s twentieth book BARK, he collects twenty-three of his dog related poems. The poems are characteristically written in Yamrus’s pared down, first person/ conversational, free verse style. The poems are often sparked by an ordinary event- a visit to the vet, watching his dog sleep on the couch next to him or attending a dog obedience class: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/book-review-interview-john-yamrus-bark.html

#70 Book Review: Doug Draime- Fire On the Mountain
This Holy & Intoxicated publication features the posthumous poetry of the late, great American poet Doug Draime (1943-2015). In Fire On The Mountain, Draime demonstrates that he was a witty, playful and deeply human poet. Find the review here: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2019/04/new-release-1-may-doug-draime-fire-on.html

#69 Book Review: Glen W Cooper Some Natural Things
These are gentle, evocative free verse poems which explore the well trodden themes of failure, the loss of love, discovery, small pleasures, growing old- without the sentiment or bullshit: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/book-review-glenn-w-cooper-some-natural.html

#68 Interview with George Douglas Anderson

In this interview with UK poet & publisher John D. Robinson, Anderson talks about his chapbook Fuckwits & Angels here: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2019/08/interview-with-george-douglas-anderson.html


#67 Book Review: Jarrod Gilbert Patched
This is a complex and comprehensive study of gangs in New Zealand since 1950. It is accessible to the average reader but is written in a flat, matter-of-fact tone: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-jarrod-gilbert-patched.html

#66 Book Review/ Interview Zarina- Iron
Zabrisky’s collection IRON consists of four short stories which are easily read in an hour. The writing is clear & highly sensuous & which immediately sweep the reader into her quirky, dark world. The stories are raw but with an extraordinary vividness and unusual immediacy: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/zarina-zabrisky-iron-epic-rites-press.html

#65 Featuring Alan Wearne

Leading Australian poet generously gives BM first electronic rights to post his epic verse novella "In Our Four Dominions": https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2016/12/featuring-alan-wearne.html

#64 Book Review/ Interview: Paul Harrison Corrugator 
This is an important short collection by an Australian writer that blows rings up the ass of the usual unreadable academic excrement that passes as poetry:  http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/book-review-interview-paul-harrison.html

#63 Book Review/ Interview: Scott Wozniak & Janne Karlsson Killing Our Saints
Killing Our Saints is fascinating collection of confessional poems from an addict who has lived the life and who now feels the urgent need to tell us about it in a raw, honest way- without the bullshit or pretence. 

#62 New Release: George Douglas Anderson THE EMPTY GLASS (2020)
This is Anderson's first book of short stories. There is some crazy shit in there as attested by some readers of the book. Find one tame short story here: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2020/02/new-release-george-anderson-empty-glass.html

#61 Book Review/ Interview: James Valvis How to Say Goodbye
This is a rich and immensely enjoyable collection of poetry worthy of multiple readings. Valvis is and authentic American voice of the underclass.
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Jim%20Valvis

#60 Book Review: Charles Bukowski: Portions From a Wine Stained Notebook (2008)
The academic David Stephen Calonne compiled this collection of uncollected Bukowski stories & essays (1944-1990) for City Lights. After struggling through many posthumous ECCO publications, I found this a refreshing read.

#59 Book Review: Charles Bukowski Absence of the Hero (2008)
This is the companion volume to editor Calonne’s Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook (2008). It is full of gold for the Bukowski reader.

#58 Book Review: SLIM SPIRES- SLIM (2012)
The language in this bikie book of Speare's memoirs is shitfaced raw & his stories are often about his personally meted out justice & the immense satisfaction he derives from his beatings.

#57 After the Bomb: Good Night and Good Luck- The Screenplay and History Behind the Landmark Movie
This brief overview provides students with valuable links to some additional material related to the film: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/after-bomb-good-night-and-good-luck.html

#56 Book Review/ Interview: RL Raymond Sonofabitch Poems (2011)
This is RL Raymond's first volume of poetry. This is an intelligent, well thought out collection, brimming with ideas, skilful word play and bold experimentation:

#55 The Best Tim O'Brien Vietnam Books
In this post I try to briefly assess Tim O'Brien's books related to the Vietnam War: Find it here: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-is-best-tim-obrien-vietnam-war-book.html

#54 Book Review: John Yamrus Small Talk
The American writer John Yamrus continues with his unique brand of minimalistic poetry:  https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2021/03/book-review-john-yamrus-small-talk.html

#53 Book Recommendation: Michael Dransfield Collected Poetry
This post was made to alert overseas readers to Dransfield's enormous contribution to Australian poetry & where to find some of his stuff.
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Michael%20Dransfield

#52 Mathew J. Hall Pigeons and Peace Doves

This is hall's first collection of poetry. It won the 2015 Blood Pudding Press Poetry Chapbook
Contest: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2015/09/mathew-j-hall-pigeons-and-peace-doves.html

#51 New Release: George Anderson The Rough End of the Pineapple (2020)
This is Anderson's first full-length poetry collection. It is a book of portrait poems of the dispossessed: of the fucked-up, deranged sad losers he has had the absolute privilege of meeting: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2020/07/new-release-george-douglas-anderson.html

#50 Book Review: Charles Bukowski The Captain Is Out To Lunch
In a series of diary entries, Bukowski documents his life between 28 August and 27 February 1993. His tone is subdued and he is fully aware that he may die at any moment.

#49 Book Review/ Interview: William Taylor Jr. An Age of Monsters (2011)
This is Taylor's first book of short stories. He is a clever, natural born story teller who loves to describe people and relationships, especially when things fuck up.


#48 Book Review/ Interview: Frank Reardon Nirvana Haymaker (2012)
Reardon is a tireless & highly committed poet whose tenacity in pursuing the word should be an example to us all. His enthusiasm & openness in sharing his ideas about his writing craft at length in the accompanying interview is invigorating: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/book-review-interview-frank-reardon.html

#47 Five Best Ned Kelly Tattoos Online
I created this post after coming across a wonderful Ned kelly tattoo on the beach: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2018/01/5-best-ned-kelly-tattoos-online.html

#46 Book Review: Charles Bukowski Hot Water Music
This is an under-rated book in the Bukowski cannon.  I list and briefly explain the content of the best 12 short stories of this 36 story collection: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/charles-bukowski-hot-water-music-black.html

#45 Book Review/ Interview: Jack Henry CRUNKED
These are stark, unembellished underground poems which are sometimes highly confrontational in subject matter which Jack Henry explores with uncensored abandon; including- drug use, prostitution and mental breakdown.
#44 From Serbia With Love: Another Bukowski Tattoo Narrative (2016): https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/from-serbia-with-love-bukowski-tattoo.html
A bloke from Serbia was keen to show me his Bukowski tattoo. He also sent along some Buk inspired poetry in English and Serbian.

#43 Book Review: Pierre Bayard How to TALK About BOOKS You Haven’t READ.
A brilliant but smart-ass student gave this book to me as a present. Bayard controversially posits that skimming books, in say ten minutes without actually reading them, does not in any way prevent you from commenting on the ‘depth and richness’ of a text. This clever, intellectually tricky book will become a classic in post-modern literary criticism: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/book-review-pierre-bayard-how-to-talk.html

#42 Book Review: Charles Bukowski Screams From the Balcony- Selected Letters 1960-1970 (1978)
This is the first and best volume of Bukowski's selected letters. His correspondence with his early publishers, E.V. Griffith & the Webbs and the writer Douglas Blazek make this book essential reading for any Bukophile.
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/charles-bukowski-screams-from-balcony.html

#41 Book Review: Rob Plath a bellyful of anarchy

Despite its rough edges & excesses- this is perhaps the best book of poetry published by Epic Rites Press: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2010/07/bbook-review-rob-plath-belly-full-of.html


#40 Featuring New Zealand writer Terence Rissetto

This is the muttha fukka who introduced me to Bukowski when I was working as a fleeso in NZ decades ago. His work is riotously funny with a subversive edge.  http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Terence%20Rissetto


#39 Book Review: Charles Bukowski Dangling in the Tournefortia (1981)
Not on the top shelf of Bukowski's poetry. There is a complacency and lack of urgency in this collection.

#38 Book Review: Mather Schneider He Took a Cab (2010)
Schneider writes about his job as a cabbie in Tucson Arizona. One of my favourite collections of poetry:http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/book-review-mather-schneider-he-took.htm

#37 Book Review: John Yamrus doing cartwheels on doomsday (2010)

If you want to find out more about the sensation that is Yamrus- this is the first book of his you must read:http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/book-review-john-yamrus-doing.html

#36 Book Review: The Outlaw Bible of American Outlaw Poetry
This is a classic, wide ranging mammoth volume of outlaw poetry- but with its obvious limitations.
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/outlaw-bible-of-american-poetry.htm

#35 Bukowski Interviews: Sunlight Here I Am: Interviews & Encounters 1963-1993.
This David Stephen Calonne compilation consists of 35 interviews with Buk over 30 years. It creates a varied & hard-to-nail-down portrait of Bukowski. Another essential Bukowski text:


#34 BOOK REVIEW/ INTERVIEW: Rob Plath there's a fist dunked in blood beating in my chest (2010)
American writer, Rob Plath, in this significant collection of confessional poetry, dismantles his ego, strips his soul to the bone and bares his frail emotional guts for all to see.

#33 Book Review: Mather Schneider Drought Resistant Strain
This is one of my first book reviews. I studied Schneider's fine poetry collection to see if I could write criticism:

#32 Caesar Campbell The Outlaw & the Hitman
This is the third volume of Campbell's shit-raw auto-biography about his exploits as an outlaw Australian biker: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com/2018/11/book-review-caesar-campbell-with-donna.html

#31 Book Review Charles Bukowski The People Look Like Flowers At Last (2007)
This ECCO collection gives me the shits. From the feel of the book's spine to the thinness of the writing. Unfortunately, there are even worse post-Buk volumes of poetry to follow.

#30 Book Review: Charles Bukowski SOUTH OF NO NORTH 
I make a short assessment as to what are the best 10 short stories in this excellent collection: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/charles-bukowsk-south-of-no-north-black.html
#29 A Bukowski Tattoo Narrative

This post derived from received an unusual request I received from an Argentinean reader. He had read my review of Bukowski’s Portions From a Wine-Stained Notebook and sought help about a phrase in the story ‘Distractions in the Literary Life’ which first appeared in High Times (June 1984). He wanted to use a phrase from the story and tattoo it onto his body.

#28 Book Review: Charles Bukowski Play the Piano Drunk
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/book-review-charles-bukowski-play-piano.html

#27 Book Review/ Interview: Peter Bakowski Beneath Our Armour
This post includes one of my first interviews & Bakowski is generous with his time & he offers many tips to budding writers. All of Peter Bakowski's books are worth reading and I strongly urge you to buy them. Interestingly, he corresponded with Charles Bukowski just before he died & a letter to Bakowski (5 March 1993) appears in REACH FOR THE SUN: Selected Letters 1978-1994 Volume 3. Proud to say that Bakowski spoke to my class for about an hour on how to flex their creative juices a couple of years ago:
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/book-review-peter-bakowski-beneath-
our_3726.html

#26 Book Review: Paul Harrison Meet Me At Gethsemane
A fine first collection of confessional poetry by one of the best small press poets in Australia:
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/book-review-paul-harrison-meet-me-at.html

#25 Book Review: Wolfgang Carstens Crudely Mistaken For Life

This is Carstens first book of poetry in which he dwells into his favourite topic from a variety of perspectives- DEATH!: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/book-review-wolfgang-carstens-crudely.html

#24 Book Review: David Stephen Calonne Charles Bukowski

Calonne is the best academic currently collecting & writing about Charles Bukowski. Here he presents a concise, insightful overview of Buk's life work: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/david-stephen-calonne-charles-bukowski.html


#23 Book Review/ Interview: Scott Patrick Mitchell Songs for the ordinary mass
This post still receives many hits from his fans in Russia:
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/book-review-scott-patrick-mitchell.html

#22 Book Review: Charles Bukowski Pleasures of the Dead
This is one of my first reviews. It rails against the poetry collection, & in a later update, it provides some basic research into where the poems first appeared:
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2010/06/book-review-charles-bukowski-pleasures.html

#21 TV Review: TV Series: Bikie Wars
To their credit, Channel 10 attempted to dramatise the 1985 motorcycle dispute at Milperra in Western Sydney. I commented on each episode as it unfolded:
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/bikie-wars-brothers-in-arms-2012-six.html

#20 Book Review: Richard Brautigan Watermelon Sugar
This is a wonderfully eccentric short novel by the master.
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/book-review-richard-brautigan-in.html

#19 Essay: The Art of Mourning- Billy Collins On Death (2015): 
Following the sudden death of my brother Bob, I wrote this essay: https://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/an-mourners-guide-to-billy-collins-on.html

#18 After the Bomb: Best Cold War Films
This was an overly ambitious post. I hoped to provide some detailed reviews & guidance to students as to what I understood to be the best Cold War films. Instead what is offered disappointingly so far are a few internet links to relevant films & resources which are easily available anyway. I haven't finished with this post:

#17 Book Review: Bel-Ami
This French classic is highly recommended to show the duplicity & moral depravity you require to make it to the top. The recent film is ambitious, but in the end, disappointing in their attempt to adapt De Maupassant: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/book-review-guy-de-maupassant-bel-ami.html

#16 Book Review: David Spiteri The Prez

The publication of this fictionalised narrative of Australian outlaw bikie life brought grief to Spiteri & he chose to hand in his colours & donate his custom-built Harley to his club. Spiteri still owes me a beer: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/book-review-david-spiteri-prez-harper.html


#15 Book Review: Charles Bukowski Post Office

As legend has it, in 1969 the small press publisher John Martin offered Bukowski $100 a month to quit his job as a mail-sorter in the LA Post Office & to write whatever interested him. This novel was the first instalment in the pairs' extraordinary collaboration: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/charles-bukowski-post-office-originally.html

#14 Book Review: John Steinbeck Travels With Charley
This review remains one of my best:
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/book-review-john-steinbeck-travels-with.html

#13 TV Review: The Principal SBS TV Drama (2015)
This new series is worth watching and now out on DVD:  http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/tv-review-sbs-drama-series-principal.html


#12 The Best & Worst of Bukowski's posthumous ECCO poetry publications.
At last count there are 11 ECCO post Buk-death poetry books published by ECCO. Probably about 4000 pages worth. Some quality stuff but a lot of questionable material which Bukowski probably wouldn't have wanted published in his lifetime. I keep my commentary to a minimum in this post & simply list what I consider Buk's best to worst poetry books published by ECCO after his death in 1994: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-best-and-worst-of-charles-bukowskis.html  The post was linked to a 2015 New York Times article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/10/books/review-on-writing-a-charles-bukowski-collection-of-rants-and-musings-in-letters.html

#11 Book Review: Charles Bukowski The Last Night of the Earth Poems

This is Bukowski's last poetry collection published before his death. I believe it is one of his best:

#10 Book Review: Charles Bukowski Ham On Rye
This is the most auto-biographical of Bukowski's novel and charts his early life in LA before he decides to leave:
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/book-review-charles-bukowski-ham-on-rye.html

#9 Book Review : Charles Bukowski Come On In
I reckon this is Buk's best posthumous collection:
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/book-review-charles-bukowski-new-poems.html

#8 Book Review: Charles Bukowski Factotum
This is easily Bukowski's best novel:
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/book-review-charles-bukowski-factotum.html

#7 Book Review Barry Crump Wild Pork and Watercress
I reviewed this book in anticipation of the upcoming New Zealand film 'Hunt For The Wilderpeople' which the film is based on: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/book-review-barry-crump-wild-pork-and.html

#6 After the Bomb Book Reviews: The Best Cold War Novels
I use this post to briefly examine the merit of Cold War literary texts. There are 22 to date:
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2898768564399502953#editor/target=post;postID=5077914493296447050;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=59;src=postname

#5 Book Review: Charles Bukowski Women
This post provides a short review, but more importantly, a sampling of some of Bukowski's choice quotes:
 http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/book-review-charles-bukowski-women-1978.html

#4 Book Review: JD Salinger Catcher in the Rye
It took a couple of years to develop an interest in this review but now it's humming:
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/book-review-jdsalinger-catcher-in-rye.html

#3 Book Review: Caesar Campbell Wrecking Crew.
This post still keeps ringing up scores on the board. Campbell was a founding member of the Bandidos in Australia. In his memoir, he provides us with dozens of real-life incidents which will make your head spin: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/book-review-caesar-campbell-with-donna.html

#2 What is Charles Bukowski's Best Novel?
Bukowski somehow continues to engage with thousands of readers a couple of decades after he has died. This post has received more than 10,000 hits. Here is an assessment of his novels:
http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/what-is-charles-bukowskis-best-novel.html

#1 The Best Bukowski Tattoos On-line (2015).

This star of BM still scores many hits daily and gained #1 position a few years ago. It briefly examines some of the better Bukowski tatts on-line: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/the-15-best-bukowski-tattoos-on-line.html