The Easternmost House

By Juliet Blaxland A Graph Review

   
Paperback, mine priced at £9.99.     Published 2018 by Sandstone Press
244 pages, with b&w photographs and one line drawing.

‘Contents’ Containing:  Influences, the twelve months and a Tailpiece

Moving smoothly from beach combing, collecting orange buoys to whirlwinds, to sandstorms and natures ways of changing sand/land patterns to murmurations of those taking photographs of said murmurations of starlings, to  brindle greyhounds and camouflage, leading to bitterns (not being seen.) All in a few beautifully written pages in ‘March.’ This being a brief summation of the style of Juliet Blaxland in ‘The Easternmost House.’

Admittedly you must love the luxury of detail of life and all that exists in and around a landscape on the edge of a sea-savaged, soft-cliffed, coast. Suffolk, of course, is the particular but you will be charmed wherever you come from.
A remarkable writer using a monthly calendar to give a glorious use of personal memory and visual description of the year in Suffolk.

Words flow like coloured ribbons and you need to accept the seeming wayward amble they take you. For they take you to the heart of living and nature.

The quote on the cover by 
John Lewis-Stempel: ‘Destined to be a 21st century classic. Just brilliant.’
Agreed! No more to say!

Journeys to Helpston

‘Journeys to Helpston’ by Alan Cudmore

This is a short paperback recently published by Alan Cudmore on Ronald Blythe and his long association with John Clare, Helpston and The John Clare Society.

At Ronald Blythe’s hundredth birthday event in Sudbury, Alan Cudmore was recognised as Ronnie’s oldest friend, to which Alan was happy to admit, having first met Ronnie in 1951.

The book:  JOURNEYS TO HELPSTON, Ronald Blythe and the John Clare Society is available via the Sales Officer of The John Clare Society, price £5.00 plus £2.25 postage.      www.The John Clare Society

The book has several b&w photos, two colour plates and several b&w line drawings.

Contents covers a resume of Blythe’s life, more specifics of his family and his start as a librarian. Following this, of his becoming a writer, how he ended up living at Bottengoms Farm, Wormingford and his love of Suffolk and areas of East Anglia. Of the friends he made while living near Aldeburgh. His deep and passionate involvement with the beginning and years of The John Clare Society and his regular visits to Helpston, the Festival and his presidential addresses.  We read about the suggestion and subsequent placing John Clare in Poet’s Corner, Westminster Abbey plus brief ‘reminiscences’ of others such as Edward Storey, Mary and Peter Moyse and Trevor Hold to name a few.

Not forgetting there is a list of the 35 books written by Ronald Blythe, including the favourites: ‘Akenfield’ and ‘At Helpston’….. but I shouldn’t limit it to those two….. because I really must include his latest volume: ‘Next to Nature.’

This brief outline does not do justice to the knowledge and detail contained in this short book about Ronald Blythe, a cornerstone of The John Clare Society.  I thoroughly recommend it to all interested in the Society and connections to its history, as well Ronald Blythe himself.

 

 

David Smith

Our Sister Killjoy

Ama Ata Aidoo. First published 1977 This cover is of the first edition in the Longman African Classics series, published 1988 in paperback only.

The observations of a young woman from Ghana, Sissie, who travels to Europe with a degree in English Literature and travels first to Germany and then to London.

This prose poem, nearly fifty years after it was first written describes first impressions of a strange world: the German language, a mix of fellow travellers on the course, in addition to a German woman who befriends her.

In London she meets other Africans who moved there for work or their education and felt unable to return home due to their apparent obligation to earn money and send that home to support relatives.

During these journeyings we see through her eyes, read her thoughts and words, discover her surprise at what she finds and at times her naivete. Throughout, she talks and argues on points of colonialism, feminism, and the need for the educated diaspora to return to their home countries to help build their independent countries. Varying from her forthright youth and conviction on a subject, she balances the writing with a calmer view of observation on herself and surroundings, and an opposing argument. In the ‘London’ section, she gives voice to those making the common decision of remaining abroad and sending financial support to families in Africa. She is also reminded of the ‘kudos’ of having a relative living in Europe. Pros and cons of this life take turns. A culminating ‘discussion’ towards the end of the book is both fiery and having elements of debate. Tucked neatly through the pages are quiet moments of reflection and softer touches of life such as how she negotiates others and herself in the second section titled ‘The Plums’

This book may have been written long ago but has been an intriguing and influential prose-poem from the first. I believe this is still a text studied in Ghana and Africa. I hope it is studied as a ‘Literature in English’ text and in English/ International courses. No doubt still valuable in Sociology and Post-colonial studies. The book needs to be read as a whole, but for me, the poetry sections, which fit perfectly but frequently change the pace and tone of the ‘story,’ are the highlights. Okay, I may have been around when Longman first published the book (a series started and run by the brilliant Anne Walmsley) but it has taken me 35 years to read this for the first time. I have read it start to finish in almost one sitting. I just wish I had read it sooner

Check out the other works by Ama Ata Aidoo. You can also read her biog. details on this site: https://literarymama.com/articles/departments/2016/02/a-profile-of-ama-ata-aidoo-draft

Incidentally, I did read Lamming’s, In The Castle of my Skin (hardback) and Selvon’s, Lonely Londoners (Longman Caribbean Writers) when they were first published by Longman all those years ago. They are also still high on my list of recommendations of classic books to read.

CD Review: Melodys of Earth and Sky. Toby Jones reading John Clare, music by Julian Philips

Kate Romano on Clarinets, Ionel Manciu on violin

poetry editor, consultant: Simon Kovesi

Melodys of Earth and Sky: Album launch at the Stapleford Granary



Date, 31st March. Arrival time, after 18.00 for a glass of wine and usual chatter, plus the opportunity to buy a copy of the NMC album before an 18.45 stroll upstairs to the performance room.

As a first-time visitor to the Granary, I found it easy to get to, easy to park and a lovely bright and attractive venue. The walls highlighted with a selection of fascinating prints.

But back to the launch: About fifty of us settled in the large room with a vaulted ceiling.
We were welcomed by Simon Kovesi with a brief rundown on the original idea of celebrating John Clare’s first book, ‘Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery’ and how this element came about in conversation with composer Julian Philips. Coincidentally Julian had been pondering on Clare and his folk collection. Long story short, it became a collaboration of Clare words connected by compositions Julian based on nine of the folk tunes Clare collected. NMC completed the idea by recording all for the cd.

A selection of 9 refined from his 263 collected tunes (‘In a good musical hand,’ Julian noted) to fit on the cd, between the texts. The ‘texts’ are read by Toby Jones, a long-time admirer and reader of Clare, (as was his father), so it was particularly pleasing that he was able to be there, completing a full cd line-up.

So, we had Toby Jones, Ionel Manchu and Kate Romano entertaining us with thrilling words and music for an hour. Sections being introduced by Julian. Not all the cd content, but almost. As Toby read, each following music traced the mood of his words through such varieties of love or storm or humour.

Personally I found the words and music integrated beautifully. Toby’s readings brought out the beauty, quality and variety of Clare’s words whether on Eternity, First Love, Thunderstorms, Toping, A Mother’s Advice, or Gypseys. Finishing with an excerpt from August ((Shepherd’s Calendar) 
These exceptional readings were separated by violin and clarinet, playing with and teasing each other in Julian’s original settings of: Garden Gate, Young Huzzar, Morgiana in Ireland, Polka, I’ll be Married on Sunday, Morgan Rattler, and finally three hornpipes merged into one.

Apologies for listing lists but space is short.  And each item is valued in itself to create a brilliant evening. Okay, I have to add a side-line here: The hornpipe, the finale, might well be my favourite as it was using the bass clarinet throughout. I especially like hearing and seeing the bass clarinet. But don’t tell anyone.

The whole evening was tremendous, so glad I was able to sit in the front row. Yes, I would happily see it all again and am delighted to have the cd with its additional music and text.

CD, £12.99,  available direct from:  https://www.nmcrec.co.uk 

David

Tom’s Bad Stories

A Graph Review

Published July 2021

This is a series of very short stories, ‘found’ using the text of words and definitions from the dictionary. Illustrations from the book are used as individual additions to the pages or in a couple of cases in splendid collage of colour. Available via Amazon and its sellers.

The stories sneak up on you. The simplicity of the text, the pre-1950 uses of language and its norm filter through, with the Standard Janet and John, not forgetting Tom’s Englishness reminding us how it was. The stories threaten to undermine our memories by thrusting us into the dark, as it were, so unlike the images. But not in this artists placement! Highlighting along the way that the old sexism of the 50’s is still with us.

The time and effort of the artist in producing the series of ‘found’ stories and the re-arrangement of the images to illustrate them warrants applause. This is certainly a ‘found’ book that deserves to be bought for both amusement and serious consideration of how little we may actually have developed over the last seventy years.

Graph Review: Storm Large, Crazy Enough

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Using my graph system,I could have started higher, but then it would have been practically a straight line at 90%. A good score but boring to look at. Can't have that can we?  The only way to better the book would have been a couple more photos, maybe inserted pages to improve on the very few grainy ones included. But now that leaves the option for the next update on Storm's career.


I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Admittedly you may not find it easy to read as it covers severe mental illness and a family’s distress, especially on the youngest, a daughter called Storm. Her language, like her life, is 'colourful.' A memoir that is so tough to read; how hard was it to write? Cathartic, I hope.

A sharp, vicious, alarmingly easy to read, full of drama, ego, downright dangerous, lucky to survive, beautiful book full of harm, love and fighting for a life to grow into.
Throw into the mix the world of musicians, bands, gritty nightclubs and gigs around San Francisco and the wider circle of the U.S. with a young woman who had built a hard outer shell to protect her fragile inner and you have a roller-coaster story. A page-turner you never want to end, except in some more positive scene, without a ‘gotcha.’    But, of course, there is one final ‘Gotcha.’

For me, her life hinged on ‘you’ll be crazy too, it’s in the genes’, part of a throw-away sentence by a doctor to a young, sensitised child. This memoir, I hope, lays bare a tough life lived through to a now, ever improving story of a strong and beautiful woman. A singer with extraordinary gifts and strength of voice, performance and presence.

‘Simply awesome.’

Published by Free Press, a Simon & Schuster imprint.          

978 1 4391 9241 2            $16.00.     Paperback.       267pp

Matelot, A Graph Review

 

 

By Michael Cullup

A Graph Review:  66 to highpoints of 68,                                            nearly more.

Published by Greenwich Exchange.

9781906 07595 8.        Paperback

112pages plus 6 page glossary.   (surprisingly useful!)

In the first sentence of the forward,  Michael Cullup offers ‘an apology for Matelot, which might in some places, cause offence.’      This is a well-placed warning.  However he then explains  that the period he writes of, National Service shortly after the Second World War when the Cold War is increasing its pressures, was a time when ships and ship-mates were so much different to the world of today.

We first enter via Victoria Barracks, Portsmouth, 1955 and can follow his naval career through the 24 poems to his final exit, his final V-sign.  From training to shipping-out, crewing and stoking and extensive shore-leaves where the events and language become bawdy, violent and drunken.

There is no excuse, life was as it was and we can see the matelots, the characters and assorted other services in their almost bizarre life on-shore as well as aboard.  There is violence, there is comradeship and it is an essay on life in the navy for the ordinary seaman, the National Service recruit.

I had a great-uncle who was a ‘stoker’ in the merchant navy during the First World War and I suspect his experiences were more similar to ‘Matelot’ than I could imagine.  From reading this collection, as Michael Cullup intended, you see vividly the world they lived in; its intensity and excesses of ‘compensating’ for a cramped male-only, testosterone-filled lifestyle.  There are several books available as ‘Matelot,’ make sure you add the author in your search.  This is the only one as a collection of poems and taking place in the mid-fifties.  It wins on its immediacy, and realism of the events of a life at sea and ashore.

Once you have followed his story, from start to bar, to next-stop, to more bars and ports and the  Discharge you may well need to  pick a book with some softer escapism.  However I found myself picking poems randomly to reassure myself that I could not have survived let alone thrived in ‘stoker’ conditions.  All the more applause to Michael Cullup for his oh-so-vivid recall of life and detail.

Boats (about submarines),  Emergency: Fishguard and Sea-Time are three poems that I have re-read and would consider as nearest to our imagination of naval life and easily stand-alone poems.  But dig deeper into the others for the real-world of the mid-fifties. A great read but not for the soft-hearted.

All a brief quote, a taster of life at sea and shore-leave:

A small sip: first verse from   Leave:

Aggie Westons. / Pompey, Guzz, it always seems the same:/ a canteen, plastic and chrome, / crowded corridors, / matelots everywhere./ at weekends, / kitbags and gear,/ the flotsam of drifting lives, / litter the place. / Everyone seems pissed, / or half pissed.

Graph Review of: Don’t Forget to Love: an ep by Emily Lee

A Graph Review

of the ep: ……..Don’t Forget To Love.  By Emily Lee

Merits more points than average of 75, should be avge 80,  only wish cd was more easily obtainable.

Also, recently released (1st Sept)  by Emily Lee another   cd:     Dance my Demons Away

Have to confess to one favourite vocal being ‘In the Balance’…..from Karmina Burana.  Sometimes a few assorted arias/ duets of Puccini, Verdi et al of mezzos and sopranos as my mood or playlist takes me.

Nothing better than to binge on Marianne Faithfull with ‘Before the Poison’ et al.  plus many assorted others thrown in from even further back from jazz and blues of Billie Holiday and what some would call ‘folk’ from another huge assortment of singers from Sandy Denny to Eva Cassidy.   Okay, huge gaps, known and unknown not ignored just not included……

I  have labelled a very few above as regulars but I do try to listen randomly, or deliberately to contemporary singers.  Yes, I have found lots to like in different ways and could drift on listing many well-established singers (Dixie Chicks, Storm Large) and assorted new (to me) like Jorja Smith who are going to be a permanent fixture on my favourite playlist.  Huge array of talent, all of them.

However, when I want to sit and listen to voice, words and music I currently fall back onto Jane Silberry’s  ‘Maria’ cd.  Within that the final, long, track is ‘Oh My My’ which just has to be listened to the final note.

There is any amount of superb singers, writers, musicians out there, old, contemporary or in the wings that deserve to be heard. I wish I had the time and memory to look more.

What’s this got to do with an Emily Lee review of ‘Dont Forget To Love’, an ep  cd released in 2015?    It’s because I have only just heard her sing and it was live on acoustic guitar (a Joan Baez song), and later listened to this ep.     Five of her own beautifully crafted and produced songs with style and variation that held together whilst showing her ability and vocal confidence. Emily and a guitar. ……. Not forgetting the intro. on first track, for me a pleasant surprise……

Tracks:    Mr Moonlight;   Special;   Don’t Forget To Love;   Ain’t Man Enough;   Blue.

 

As a contrary customer I might have put  ‘Ain’t Man Enough’ last.   But then I deserve a slap on the wrist for saying that because it wasn’t anything to do with me!!!!     It’s tough but if I had to choose one of the above it should be ‘Special’, because it is!   An ep of music and words to last a lifetime.

I have listened to the ep from first to last about six times in four days. More times than I have listened to numerous other cds over two or three months.   I don’t know who wrote the ‘about’ notes on her website; looks a bit tooo much (for me) but then it sounds like that personality over the various  tracks.  I do hope she is one of the many, many-talented singers, writers, musicians to make it in their careers.       With Emily, tread carefully, you won’t know what hits you when you listen.  You will be hooked!

Sept 1st, was  release date for her second ep, ‘Dance My Demon Away’ at a launch at the Lexington, London N1..    I was unable to go so missed out on the event of Emily Lee and a 10 piece band……. even worse……..is the problem that I can’t get the cd yet.   But will!

Meantime visit her on youtube for a taster: Emily Lee:  Sleep With A Stranger. Good song, good video!

’Don’t Forget to Love‘:   A thoughtful, provoking, sensitive yet at times steely performance from an artist who will push on to even greater music.   This album will sit as my top-tip for some time……….unless the new one is as good, then it will be a fight!

Fifteen Things They Forgot To Tell You About Autism. A Graph Review

A Graph Review.          Definitely gets points all in the 80s. Nearly broke through to 90 but couldn’t quite give that all-time high.    Almost regret it!!!

 

Fifteen things they forgot to tell you about autism.

By Debby Elley,

Co- founder of AUKIDS Magazine, with Tori Houghton

 

Jessica Kingsley Publishing.        Paperback.  £12.99

published spring 2018                      978 1 78592 438 5

Books on this subject are coming thick and fast these days.  This is not a complaint as the more information and practical help that gets into public awareness is surely much the better for everyone.  My problem is that there is so much more to choose from that time allows only a fraction of the books to be looked at and some read and reviewed.

I could list numerous titles that have been popular, informative and no doubt sold well but it is safer for me to refer you to:   Books Education.   website for a whole range of publishers and Educational books, or go to Jessica Kingsley site for a good range of a single publisher.

Let’s get to grips with  Fifteen Things……:

I have got to page 40 of 209 pages of text and several more of glossary and further information items.   Can I call this a ‘Joyous Book on Autism’?   Already I love the style, the humour, the simplicity and the skill of Debby Elley in her understanding and explanation of autism. This book already ought to be a staple read for parents and clinicians alike.  Debby Elley is the mother of autistic twins is well versed in the subject!!

Author of ‘Uniquely Human’,  by Dr.Barry Prizant.………., another book I highly recommend, says frequently that if you can’t quite find the answer to a child’s difficulties then talk to the parent as they are likely to have at least a part solution, directly or indirectly.  I have no doubt badly paraphrased this.  I mention it as in Debbie Elley we seem to have a parent who is able to talk sensibly and oh so knowledgeably on autism.     Roll on ‘Pick & Mix and Autism Sundae Dessert!!  in all conversations and courses ( read her book for explanations…)

See page 45, first sentence:         “If we shore up their self-belief, value their differences and stop trying to make them be like everyone for 40 seconds, we’ll see that we have some very original thinkers on our hands.”

And page  114:    ‘ Its important to remember that a child’s view of the world begins and ends with their parents.  Your expectations become theirs.  If you are disappointed in them, they will be even more downcast about themselves.’

I am not going to  quote the page but see also page 142 on the need for ‘re-telling and adding the reason why….. ie fully explain the logic of ‘why’ something should or should not be done…….      Not  a proper explanation but  me encouraging you to read the book.

This book most certainly speaks to parents, especially those that are trying to understand any diagnosis on an ASD child.  It may confirm their suspicions or be a shock and have need of support in putting professional words and practice into common usage and action.    Having said this, I believe that now, those working closely with children and families in some professional way have the opportunities through training and mentoring to work with sensibility and understanding.  Also, dare I say it, on the supportive approach parents and families require for helping children develop to the maximum.   Finding the support system may still be difficult as help is  spread much too thinly, but it is there.  There also many parent-started and run (with professionals too) charities all over the country offering help, support and most of all, a sense of community.  You might need to search a little that suits you and your family.  The beauty of today is that they can be web-based so available nationally, even internationally, as well as physically local.

I finished reading this book in good spirits.  As Debby says right at the beginning, she is a ‘positive’ person and her aim is to clarify terms and activities into understandable practice. as well as developing techniques to help reach potential.

She is always positive, fun to read, imaginative and humorous in style.  She is obviously serious about the subject and the Aukids magazine she, and her co-founder Tori Houghton run and continue to look for offering help and support to parents of autistic children.   I must mention that they have autistic workers in their charity office from whom they ask advice on subjects from their perspective.

Any criticisms?   Well, maybe that although she admits times can be difficult (numerous examples given) her skill in humour and ‘positivity’ seems to slide over the hard times.  But, there you go, it’s attitude of mind.  Proving that her mindset is the way to go.  See a problem, sort it or seek advice from trusted adviser……. and stick to a positive attitude and problem solving by using as many ‘outside boxes’ as you can find…….And proving that my glass is half-empty; however it is beginning to look half-full after reading this.

A fun, exciting, informative guide to autism and emphasising the fact that absolutely ‘everyone is different’.

I haven’t seen the physical magazine, just the website; but it looks an ideal magazine to come  through the post!!

see other Books Education listings

Emotions, Learning, and the Brain

Emotions, Learning, and the Brain:     Exploring the Educational Implications of Affective Neuroscience

By

Mary Helen  Immordino-Yang.

Hardback,  £25.50.  Published by Norton.   978 0 393 70981 0

 

Starting with a forward and acknowledgements seemed a little wearisome but it did give a satisfying insight into the thoroughness of the author’s career and research into the contents of this slightly daunting book for the likes of me, an interested non-academic.  What pleasure there was in reading that along with a lengthy string of mentors, researchers, co-workers and teachers, plus her own teaching career; she was also helped by friends and family, (non-neuroscientists) in reading and discussing the ‘essays’ amidst non-academic settings such as ‘accompanied by energetic children and delicious food’.

This and the sheer energy and consideration obvious in the first few pages encouraged this reader to reach the actual ‘Introduction: Why Emotions are Integral to Learning’.  And by the second page I was determined to read the whole book.  With a brief classroom example and a note on scientific advances, it seems the we cannot learn without involving emotional connections within the brain…… you have to be interested!     Not really a mind-blowing sentence from me but explained clearly by Mary-Helen in a way that ticked the “need to know more” boxes.

Yes, its American, and no harm in that for the UK or any world reader.  No complaint about huge depth of research except maybe all the initially looks to be USA……nope, havent checked it out yet so I may be wrong.  There seems a huge amount of bibliographical references so it has been a huge project to complete and be the most up to date

I intend to finish and review this title for ‘Graph Review’ section but it may take a while so I throw it to you as one to consider for yourselves.