Journal Live - Journal Culture Central

Poem of the Week!

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

The final one in our sequence from October Poet Mario Petrucci. I've found them terrifyingly topical, what with the resurgence of the nuclear power debate and the controversy over nuclear weapons. Makes you want to go out and join the CND.

UKRITYE
Ukritye ('The Shelter') is the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl complex.

Even the robots refuse. Down tools. Jerk up
their blocked heads, shiver in invisible hail. Helicopters

spin feet from disaster, caught in that upward cone
of technicide - then ditch elsewhere, spill black running guts.

Not the Firemen. In black rubber gloves and leather boots
they walk upright, silent as brides. Uppers begin
to melt. Soles grow too hot for blood. Still they shovel
the graphite that is erasing marrow, spine, balls-
that kick-starts their DNA to black and purple liquid life.
Then the Soldiers. Nervous as children. They re-make it -

Erect slabs with the wide stare of the innocent, crosshatch
the wreck roughly with steel, fill it in with that grey

crayon of state Concrete. In soiled beds, in the dreams
of their mothers, they liquefy. Yet Spring still chooses

this forest, where no deer graze and roots strike upwards.
Fissures open in the cement - rain finds them. They grow

puff spores of poison. Concrete and lead can only take
so much. What remains must be done by flesh.

Mario Petruccio
(From Heavy Water)

Poem of the Week!

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Another one from Mario Petrucci- this one should make you ponder for the week!

FENCE

This side of the fence
is clean. That side
dirty. Understand?

You must forget
that soil is like skin.
Or interlocking scales

on a dragon. Dirty
Clean - is all that matters
here. Imagine a sheet

of glass coming down
from the sky. It's easy
no? On this side

you can breathe
freely. Your cow can
eat the grass. You can
have children. That side
you must wear a mask
and change the filter

every four hours.
You ask - What if my cow
leans over the fence?
Personally I say
it depends which end. But
we have no instructions

for that. It is up to you
to make sure your cow
is not so stupid.

Mario Petrucci
(From Heavy Water)

Whitley Bay Book Group: Meetings Tonight!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Attention book lovers of the North- tonight is the night for the October installmentof the Whitley Bay Book Group. The idea is very simple: pick your meeting, read the book and come along armed with opinions for a drink, a cake and an evening of friendly literary chat with other like minded souls. Or, if you fancy just seeing what goes on, just come along and listen!

At: The Trojan Rooms, South Parade.
Date: Wednesday 14th October 2009
Time: 7.30pm- 9pm
Book: Talk of the Town by Jacob Polley
More information: http://whitleybaybookgroup.wordpress.com/

Hope to see you there! x

Poem of the Week!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Here's the second one from our October Poet, Mario Petruccio.

BREATHINGÃ¢ÂÅ¡(Chernobyl, 1986)

They had to teach meÃ¢ÂÅ¡
from scratch. Teach me

ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ to breathe. As though
Ã¢ÂÅ¡ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ I had fallen out of space or

up from water and breath
Ã¢ÂÅ¡was labour - each breath

ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ a pang to draw me back
Ã¢ÂÅ¡ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ from the brink. In. Out. In

this world life is indifferent.
Ã¢ÂÅ¡You must will it in. Will it

ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ out. I look at my son -Ã¢ÂÅ¡
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ those white cheeks that

tight frown andÃ¢ÂÅ¡
I wonder how I can

ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ breathe. He says - Mama
Ã¢ÂÅ¡ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ when you go to sleep to-

night please don't forget to
Ã¢ÂÅ¡breathe. Please. He is

ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ not allowed to run. Or
Ã¢ÂÅ¡ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ jump. Like that boy who

hanged himself with a
Ã¢ÂÅ¡belt. I watch him. And he

ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ watches me - when I doze
Ã¢ÂÅ¡ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ on the red sofa he rests a

hand to check the rise and
Ã¢ÂÅ¡fall of my chest. Tells me he

ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ will teach me in his dreams -Ã¢ÂÅ¡
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ will teach me to breathe if

I teach him how to fly. If
Ã¢ÂÅ¡you go with Grandpa he

ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ says - will you be able to
Ã¢ÂÅ¡ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ breathe? He says this and

his cheeks run wet and
Ã¢ÂÅ¡he runs short of breath so

ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ we sit once again to
Ã¢ÂÅ¡ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ teach each other how -

deep and slow. We are
Ã¢ÂÅ¡flying ÃÂ ÃÂ I tell him. We are

ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ breathingÃÂ ÃÂ he replies.

Mario Petrucci
(From Heavy Water)

Poem of the Week!

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

It's the first poem from our October poet Mario Petruccio, an amazing 21st century polymath, not only a poet but a scientist, ecologist and cultural commentator. I hope you made it along to the screening of Heavy Water his "poem-documentary" at the Star and Shadow Cinema but, if you couldn't make it, you can read along with his poems throughout October and get a flavour of the man and his work.

LAST WISHÃ¢ÂÅ¡(Chernobyl, 1986)

You bury me in concrete. Bury me
in lead. Rather I was buriedÃ¢ÂÅ¡
with a bullet in the head.

You seal me in powder. Cut the hairÃ¢ÂÅ¡
last. Then take the trimmingsÃ¢ÂÅ¡
and seal them in glass.

You wrap me in plastic. Wash me
Ã¢ÂÅ¡in foam. Weld the box airless
and ram the box home.

For each tomb that's hidden a greenÃ¢ÂÅ¡
soldier turns. None decomposes.
Nothing for worms.

A buckle. A pencil. Break one thingÃ¢ÂÅ¡
I left. Give some small part of meÃ¢ÂÅ¡
ordinary death.

Mario Petrucci
(From Heavy Water)

Bumper Book Group Night: Berwick, Newcastle, Hexham and Middlesbrough

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Attention book lovers of the North- tonight is a bumper night with the October installments of no less than 4 regional book groups in Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Berwick and Hexham. The idea is very simple: pick your meeting, read the book and come along armed with opinions for a drink, a cake and an evening of friendly literary chat with other like minded souls. Or, if you fancy just seeing what goes on, just come along and listen!

Newcastle Living Room Book Group
At: The Living Room, Grey St.
Date: Tuesday 6th October 2009
Time: 12.30pm- 1.30pm and 6.30pm- 8pm
Book: Talk of the Town by Jacob Polley
More information: http://livingroombookgroup.wordpress.com/

Berwick Book Group
At: Doolally's Bookshop, Marygate.
Date: Tuesday 6th October 2009
Time: 6.30pm- 8pm
Book: Talk of the Town by Jacob Polley
More information: http://berwickbookgroup.wordpress.com/

Middlesbrough Book Group
At: Uncle Albert's Bar, Exchange Place.
Date: Tuesday 6th October 2009
Time: 6.30pm- 8pm
Book: Talk of the Town by Jacob Polley
More information: http://.blueloungebookgroup.wordpress.com/

Hexham Book Group
At: The Forum Cinema, Hexham
Date: Tuesday 6th October 2009
Time: 7.30pm- 9pm
Book: Talk of the Town by Jacob Polley
More information: http://hexhambookgroup.wordpress.com/

Hope to see you there! x

Darlington Book Group: Meeting Tonight!

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Attention book lovers of the North- tonight is the night for the October installment of the Darlington Book Group. The idea is very simple: read the book and come along armed with opinions for a drink, a cake and an evening of friendly literary chat with other like minded souls. Or, if you fancy just seeing what goes on, just come along and listen!

At: Darlington Arts Centre, Vane Terrace.
Date: Monday 5th 2009
Time: 6.30pm- 8pm
Book: Talk of the Town by Jacob Polley
More information: http://darlingtonbookgroup.wordpress.com/

Hope to see you there! xÃ¢ÂÅ¡

Poetry Room Book Group: Meeting and Special Event!

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

We have a very special event planned for the October chapter of the Poetry Room, Newcastle's finest (only?) book group dedicated solely to poems. Rather than meet as usual in Blackwells Bookshop, the members and hosts (esteemed poets in their own right!) are decamping to the Star and Shadow Cinema for a showing of Heavy Water, a 'poetry documentary' about the nuclear accident at Chernobyl, written by Mario Petrucci (directed by David Bickerstaff and Phil Grabsky). Based on eye-witness accounts, collected in Svetlana Alexievich's book Voices from Chernobyl, this tells the story of the people who dealt with the disaster at ground-level: the fire-fighters, soldiers, 'liquidators', and their families. Petrucci's poem won the 2002 Daily Telegraph/Arvon award and is published by Enitharmon Press. On screen the poetry is read by David Bickerstaff, Francine Brody, Juliet Stevenson, David Threlfall and Samuel West.

Mario Petrucci has been described as a '21st century Renaissance man'; ecologist, physicist, war poet and creative writing tutor, he is also appearing at the Durham Book Festival on Saturday 31 October, 8 pm.

Our screening of the film at the Star and Shadow cinema on Tuesday 6 October at 6.15pm will be followed by a chance to discuss the issues raised by the film - the potential of poetry and other media, as well as poetry and the wider world generally.

The Star and Shadow is at the top of Stepney Bank, Ouseburn/Byker, opposite The Tanners. (Metro: Manors/Buses: 12, 22, 39, 40, 62, 63, 106, 301, 302)

Durham Book Festival

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

It's that time of year again- time for the annual books binge which is the Durham Book Festival. The line up is packed with fabulous treats this year: check out the highlights below...

DURHAM BOOK FESTIVAL: 23 October- 1 November

Nick Hornby in conversation with Lynn Barber about adapting her memoir to film, and Nick presenting his new novel, Juliet, Naked
Comedian Jack Dee telling us how he went from being a cheery young fellow to the grumpy middle-aged man we know today, thanks to a series of truly awful jobs he had to endure.
Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy presenting an evening of poetry from her and new North East women poets.Ã¢ÂÅ¡
Book group favourite Kate Mosse introducing her new novel, The Winter Ghosts.
Writer of the hilarious A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian Marina Lewycka will be talking to novelist and journalist Amanda Craig about forming unlikely friendships across cultural divides

The 31st October will be of particular interest to book group followers: at 4pm the author of the October Book of the Month Jacob Polley with be chatting to fellow poet turned novelist Sean O'Brian to discuss their recent forays into the world of fiction. As if that wasn't enough, before that (2pm) author Tommy Wieringa, author of our December book, will also be at the Gala Theatre in the company of local literary enfant- terrible Richard Milward to talk about his novel Joe Speedboat. You don't even need to move venues and all for the bargain price of ÃÂ£4/ ÃÂ£3 per event! Don't say we're not good to you.

You can join the mailing list to get all the latest information about the festival at www.bookfestival.org.uk and you can book tickets for events from the Gala Theatre in Durham on www.galadurham.co.uk or on 0191 332 4041. I'd advise you to move fast- tickets are already flying out the door.

Sunderland Book Group: Meeting Tonight!

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Attention book lovers of the North- tonight is the night for the October installment of the Sunderland Book Group. The idea is very simple: read the book and come along armed with opinions for a drink, a cake and an evening of friendly literary chat with other like minded souls. Or, if you fancy just seeing what goes on, just come along and listen!

At: Cafe Roco, 1/2 Burdon Rd (Opposite the Winter Gardens)
Date: October 1st 2009
Time: 6pm- 7.30pm
Book: Talk of the Town by Jacob Polley
More information: http://sunderlandbookgroup.wordpress.com/

Hope to see you there! x

October Book of the Month: Talk of the Town by Jacob Polley

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:00:28 +0000

Welcome (back) to the book club and apologies for the temporary hiatus- I've been struck down by computing problems- but we're back just in time for the New Writing North "Simul-Read", a very tricky way of saying that all the book groups are reading the same book this month! So, get reading Talk of the Town by Jacob Polley...

It's 1986, the last day of the summer holidays, and Christopher Hearsey is wondering why his best mate Arthur has suddenly disappeared, and whether lippy Gill Ross a few doors down might know anything about it. The great border city of Carlisle is buzzing with rumours following an act of terrible violence, and in order to begin his search Chris must face down his own dread, not only of the consequences of his own actions, but of local big man Booby Grove, and his psychotic sidekick Carl 'the black' Hole, who is keen to settle an old score. Populated by a menacing and hilarious cast of characters, and moving from the dark aggrieved streets of the city to the agricultural hinterland of the Solway Firth, this is the story of a boy desperate to get out of town, out of a bad situation, even out of his own skin. Written with a moving demotic brilliance, reminiscent of Huckleberry Finn, "Talk of the Town" is an exhilarating and terrifying odyssey.

The first novel from the Carlise poet, the novel was published earlier this year to much acclaim: The Independent praised 'Polley's beguiling prose style [which] tests the limits of language, blending lyricism with brutality; juxtaposing tenderness with vicious criminality.' and it was compared by Books Quarterly to Huckleberry Finn (praise indeed!). In a similar vein to Ross Raisin's acclaimed novel God's Own Country in Book Club terms, I think opinions may be divided on this one but please persevere through the first few chapters and this one might surprise you...

And start posting those opinions below... x

Poem of the Week!

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:37:27 +0000

Emily Dickinson is an American poet who in the latter half of the nineteenth century. She lead a largely reclusive life in her family home and was regarded as a strange, eccentric figure in their hometown of Amherst, Massacheusetts. Little did they know that all the time she was writing some of the most delicate and unusual poetry ever written. Here's her unique take on the summer:

The bee is not afraid of me,
I know the butterfly;
The pretty people in the woods
Receive me cordially.

The brooks laugh louder when I come,
The breezes madder play.
Wherefore, mine eyes, thy silver mists?
Wherefore, O summer's day?

Emily Dickinson

Poem of the Week!

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:27:24 +0000

When recently confronted with the accusation that most poems are, well, a bit miserable, Linda France, wonderful poet in her own right, rose to the challenge and suggested this one. I'd never heard it before but it is lovely and summery and will (hopefully) get you through the miserable weather.

On a Perfect Day

.. I eat an artichoke in front
of the Charles Street Laundromat
and watch the clouds bloom
into white flowers out of
the building across the way.
The bright air moves on my face
like the touch of someone who loves me.
Far overhead a dart-shaped plane softens
through membranes of vacancy. A ship,
riding the bright glissade of the Hudson, slips
past the end of the street. Colette's vagabond
says the sun belongs to the lizard
that warms in its light. I own these moments
when my skin like a drumhead stretches on the frame
of my bones, then swells, a bellows filled
with sacred breath seared by this flame,
this happiness.

Jane Gentry
from A Garden in Kentucky, 1995

New Books for Autumn!

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:30:19 +0000

If you're searching for some summer reading inspiration you're in luck: the new batch of New Writing North book group books have been announced just in time for your holidays. So, pick the group closest to you, read the book and you'll be all set to join in come September!

Sunderland Book Group TONIGHT!

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:51:48 +0000

If you love reading and happen to be in Sunderland, make tonight the night you join a real book group! The group meets tonight (and usually the first Wednesday of every month) at Bar Justice at 6.00pm with reader in residence Laura Sandy. It's incredibly easy to join- read the book, turn up and get talking! All groups are informal and fun, the perfect combination of drinks, laughs, a bit of book discussion and the odd visit from an author. Tonight they are departing from the usual format and having a Summer Reads Party! Whether it's something you love, a classic that you think needs debunking or the book that got you into reading in the first place, bring it along and tell them about it. All washed down with delicious summer cocktails- what's not to like?

Bar Justice
47 West Sunniside
Sunderland
SR1 1BA
http://sunderlandbookgroup.wordpress.com/