stream of consciousness

In Slip stream Paula Green is conscious of herself and her condition and has composed a series of poems about her movement through a period of illness. Written in the third person, these short poems are immediate and personal but they are also very well crafted. As one says:

"she doesn't try to make poetry

out of her experience but keeps a diary

like a scrap basket, just in case."

I'm pleased she did; it means the poems are understated but full of implication. And I love the references to cryptic crossword clues. Very clever.

Here is a full review from Beattie's blog

Great House

This title of the latest novel by Nicole Krauss is a biblical reference to the House of David. The novel abounds with literary, historic and religious references but it is essentially an exploration of feelings of belonging and loss. Great house is composed of four inter-related stories narrated in two sections. The common thread is a huge desk that is special to many of the characters and forms an essential part of their lives and their creativity.

This book demands deep reading but you are rewarded with allusions and insights and a whole raft of quotable comments. I am still pondering over "I would not pass on a book that I had especially loved to another"

Krauss's previous novel The History of love similarly uncovers layers of meaning through analysing characters' reactions to events. Try both of these if you want an engrossing read.