Book Review: Vaster Wilds
Realistic and disgusting details of life are the showstoppers, as is the contrasting glory of the American wilderness.
Claudia likes to have a few books on the go at once, and one of them is usually a poetry collection. Her areas of special interest include classical antiquity, contemporary poetry, classic fiction, the ecology of Aotearoa, crafts, the occult and vegetarian cooking. Though always on the hunt for information, a book with a bit of humour is her ideal read. She loves reading about imperfect people, animals, the psychology of interpersonal relationships, the land of Aotearoa and our relationship with it. Some of her favourite authors are Wendy Cope, Anne Carson, Tusiata Avia, Rebecca K Reilly, Elena Ferrante, Donna Tartt, Douglas Adams, Rebecca Hawkes and George Orwell.
Realistic and disgusting details of life are the showstoppers, as is the contrasting glory of the American wilderness.
Intermezzo can be described as the next episode in Sally Rooney’s series of novels about young adults and adult-adults figuring out what to say to each other.
Gay expertly walks the tightrope of light and shade, dispensing wit at appropriate times while not shying away from the sombre and harrowing.
Though long dead, Catullus is an accessible poet for the modern reader because he wrote candidly about love, jealousy, hate and politics.
Realistic and disgusting details of life are the showstoppers, as is the contrasting glory of the American wilderness.
Sections of the book are punctuated by poems and photographs, one of which confirms that, yes, in 1969 Professor Ricketts was very cool.
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