Greek Mythology, by in60Learning.com: #BookReview.

On 24/05/2018 By stuartakenIn Book, Literature, Reading, Review4 Comments

Subtitled ‘Beyond Mount Olympus’, this small book is a short introduction to the broad and complex area of the Greek Myths. A bold undertaking to attempt to condense centuries of myth and legend, featuring a myriad heroes, gods, goddesses, nymphs and satyrs, this slim volume does its best. Inevitably it is superficial and, at times, …

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Writers, Quirky? Surely Not!

On 22/03/2018 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Literature6 Comments

The infographic below came to me via the custom-writing blog I think many visitors to this site might find it interesting, so here it is for your delectation. Enjoy!

love of the monster, by AM Roselli, Reviewed.

On 09/05/201709/05/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Literature, Poetry, Reading, Review, Uncategorized

Poetry can be sublime, complex, evocative, tantalising, inspiring, provoking, sensual, thoughtful, engaging and many other things. AM Roselli’s poems manage to fit all these qualities. I first encountered AM’s remarkable poetry and artwork via her website, anntogether.com, to which I was directed by another friend online. I was engaged at once. This is a woman …

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Submit, Publish, Repeat, by Emily Harstone, Reviewed.

On 01/01/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Literature, Reading, Review2 Comments

This little eBook is worth its modest price for the links alone. It’s a basic journal setting out the process, pitfalls, opportunities and rewards relating to writing for literary journals. With chapters on Why You Should Submit…, How To Know When Your Work is Ready…, Basics of Submitting, and many others, it provides useful information …

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The Bloody Chamber, by Angela Carter, Reviewed.

On 22/10/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Literature, Review3 Comments

I ‘won’ a copy of this book in a giveaway entered online. When the paperback arrived, I was delighted, as I was about to go on holiday and expected it to make good poolside reading. This is an anthology of singularly dark, complex and richly written tales. Most are based on the elements of fairy …

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Future Gone, by Alexandar Tomov Jnr, Reviewed.

On 30/06/201630/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Literature, Review

Translated from Bulgarian by Margarita Dogramadzyan. This collection of short stories is bizarre, dreamlike, surreal. The stories themselves hold both intelligent insight and moral lessons. Unfortunately, either the translation or the original writing lack proper editing. They read like first drafts. The thoughts are put down but there’s no sign of revision and they therefore …

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The Bridport Prize Anthology 2015, Reviewed.

On 22/04/201622/04/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Literature, Prizes, Review2 Comments

I bought a copy of this paperback to see what sort of work might win the prizes in this much respected annual contest for writers. I’m intending to enter this year, so I wanted to discover what quality and style of work is considered good enough. Each year, the judges for the three categories of …

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The Red Room, by Joan Barbara Simon, Reviewed.

On 10/03/201630/07/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Literature, Poetry, Reading, Review

I have never read anything like this. Now, there’s a statement. But what does it mean? This book is subtitled, ‘a portfolio’ and that’s a good description of the range of contents. First, let me advise potential readers that this is material for adults. Those who seek gentle reassurance in romance and the sweet murmurings …

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Navigating Nightmare Ecstasy, by The Junk Talk Poet, Reviewed.

On 05/02/201630/07/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Literature, Poetry, Reading, Review

I’m cautious about reviewing poetry: it’s an esoteric art form with echoes of the world of the contemporary arts. In other words, a field full of the pretentious attempting to bamboozle the unwary, and too often succeeding. It differs from the world of visual art in the amount of cash thrown at it, of course, …

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The Story of an Hour, by Kate Chopin, Reviewed.

On 02/12/2015 By stuartakenIn Fiction, Literature, Review

A morality tale? A parable? An account of a dream? This work of literature treats the reader to some subtle and detailed imagery as it progresses through the short tale. The female protagonist is fleshed out in enough physical detail to render her as a real woman in the reader’s mind. But it is her …

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