For 2024 the aim remains to post a review at least every other Friday and to complete the Bookpacking reading journey.

22 December 2023

The Fire Hills – Henry Normal

This slim volume is a collection of poems by Henry Normal, better known for his scriptwriting for comedy shows such as The Royle Family and Mrs Merton. And while there is some comedy here (particularly the brilliant ‘Premier League Football – The Rules’), it is not so much laugh out loud as clever wordplay or thoughtful satire.

Another, possibly the main, theme is the natural landscape and built environment of East Sussex, to where the author recently moved. Added in are a few personal reflections on an aging body and on the country’s dysfunctional politics.

The poems are plentiful but mainly short with over a hundred in the 120 pages, so a quick dip in and out is easy and generally rewarding. Although for those who think poems should rhyme, this may not be for you.

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