Sun 11 Jun 2006
Books round up
James W Wood
SNACKS AFTER SWIMMING
Freight, £9.95
Books round up
James W Wood
SNACKS AFTER SWIMMING
Freight, £9.95
Garish, overwrought and pretentious, the typography and production of this book suggest it might be possible to judge a book by its cover. There are four writers worth reading among the 27 represented: these names apart, this collection will give support to those who believe creative writing programmes are self-indulgent covens for the creatively impoverished. Jennifer McCarthy confirmed the accomplishment shown in her piece by being picked up by Penguin; elsewhere, Jane Alexander, Jason Donald and Kate Orson show promise. Otherwise, it's solipsistic egotism relieved only by numb flirtations with the erotic. The poems are terrible and the turquoise typeface does not entice. Those looking for the best in new Scottish writing should look elsewhere.
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