Alan Garner's "Thursbitch" is a novel set in a Welsh valley that masterfully manipulates time and language. The story unfolds in a way that is both unsettling and captivating, blurring the lines between reality and myth. Garner's unique style creates a sense of mystery and unease, leaving the reader questioning the nature of time and perception. The novel is considered a departure from traditional storytelling, showcasing Garner's experimental approach to narrative structure. It's a short but impactful read that stays with the reader long after finishing.
Ariana Reines's "Wave of Blood" is a hybrid work encompassing poems, diary entries, and public addresses, reflecting on the six months following the October 2023 Gaza war. The book grapples with the genocide, the author's family history (Holocaust survivors), and the pervasive violence and anxiety of contemporary culture. Reines uses poetry to confront personal grief and explore the limitations and possibilities of language in the face of unspeakable tragedy. The work ultimately seeks to find power and meaning amidst powerlessness, emphasizing introspection and responsibility.
In our last episode of the year, Kate Wolf speaks with the poet, playwright, and performance artist Ariana Reines about her latest book, Wave of Blood. A hybrid text that includes poems, diary entries in verse, and various forms of public address, Wave of Blood spans the six month period between October 2023, after the outbreak of war in Gaza, and April 2024. In it, Reines wrestles with the genocide and what she calls “the mind of war,” as well her own ancestry as the descendant of Holocaust survivors, her late mother, and a contemporary culture steeped in violence, shame, and anxiety. Searching for power within a moment of seeming powerlessness, and for words in a time of unspeakable tragedy, the writing in the book seeks to address the recent past with deep introspection and personal responsibility, while also upholding poetry as a way to “open the space of the miraculous—and keep it open. Forever.”
Also, Kathryn Davis, author of Versailles, returns to recommend Thursbitch by Alan Garner.
LA Review of Books