Last night – Alex Burrett, if you’re reading this I just want to tell you that you’re a genius, and I love your imagination! Read Immortal from his My Goat Ate Its Own Legs collection (Burning House) and I loved it. Reading as a kind of modern legend, Immortal tells the story of a boy’s encounters with a man who not only lives close at hand, but also reputably lives forever. It is not however the character of the boy which I loved the most, nor the character of ‘The Immortal’ (who is both sufficiently enigmatic and creepy). Instead it was an endearing chap who goes by the name of Stuttering Eric. What an adorable fellow! Also loved how Burrett played for a short while with the dilemma that may face an immortal, if he were to find himself buried alive – don’t worry folks it’s not a spoiler, just one of the ‘asides’ of the story. [if you’re interested in reading Alex Burrett’s Immortal for yourself then the Fifty-Two Stories have kindly made it available for free].
08:00 – Ticked off another Mary-Ann Constantine short – The Elephant at Tregaron (from her collection – The Breathing (published by Planet)). Didn’t quite enjoy it as much the last one I read (Nettles), but still a really nice story. Constantine is definitely growing on me.
I’ve been dipping in and out of city-lit PARIS (Oxygen Books) since I received it [Daily Bookshot feature HERE] and this morning I finished the first section “I Love Paris..” , which not surprisingly is composed of literary snippets in praise of the French capital.
With the first section finished what are my thoughts so far? Really positive! This selection is well-considered and certainly eclectic in terms of both author and period choice. Favourites were an extract from Michael Sadler’s An Englishman in Paris, in which the climax is an enthusiastic description of the author’s interaction with a sanisette (public loo), and not surprisingly for me, an elegant de Maupassant description of night-time Paris that comes his short story The Nightmare which includes this sublime description of street lamps – “And the electric globes, just like pale but brilliant moons, like moon eggs fallen out of the sky” – I love that.
21:30 – Been a bit too busy with blog posts and ‘family life’ to get much serious reading done between this morning and now. Sunday’s are always like that for me so I’m not particularly bothered. I am bothered I haven’t finished Tsotsi yet though, but at least I managed to post my forethoughts before I did. I’m going to try and get through as much of it as I can for the rest of this evening so that I can start a new week with a new book, something I always like doing.
About Rob
Hey Rob,
Thanks so much for your very positive review. Much appreciated.
I’ve written my follow-up collection and am just waiting for a response from the publisher of Goat. I was hoping it could be out later this year – but things are looking tight now.
I’ve heard on the grapevine that a small French publisher is seeking the rights for Goat. Do you review in French as well?
All the best with your continuing gargantuan contribution to the world of writing.
Alex Burrett
says:
Wow,
).
Mr. Burrett, I’m deeply honoured. There’s me calling you a genius without ever thinking you’d drop by, and viola here you are. I’m *blushing* now
Seriously though I’m loving your work. I’m only nibbling away at Goat (quite appropriate with the ‘authentic’ bite marks on the Burning House copy), so no full review as yet, but I’ve read enough to know that your inventiveness is bordering on legendary.
Really excited to hear there’s another collection in the pipeline. This year would have been nice, but you know what they say about the best things and waiting. As for the French version of Goat Good luck with that. I’m sure our French cousins will love the collection, so it’s got to happen. As for reviewing in French? I wish. Aside from being able to read Goat in French I’d also be able to read Proust and De Maupassant in the vernacular – what a dream that would be.
Anyway I’ve taken up enough of your valuable time Mr. Burrett. Thank you so much for dropping by and saying Hi, and for passing on such kind although undeserved words. Continued success and if you do get news from Beautiful Books on the follow-up, and you’re passing by…….
)
Warmest Regards
Rob