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The Talking Horse and the Sad Girl and the Village Under the Sea: Poems
by
Mark Haddon
From the phenomenally bestselling author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time comes Mark Haddon’s first collection of poems.
That Mark Haddon’s first book after The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is a book of poetry may surprise his many fans; that it is also one of such virtuosity and range will not.
The Talking Horse and the Sad Girl and th...more
That Mark Haddon’s first book after The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is a book of poetry may surprise his many fans; that it is also one of such virtuosity and range will not.
The Talking Horse and the Sad Girl and th...more
Paperback, 80 pages
Published
April 11th 2006
by Vintage
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0. Fine Author, Worse Work
Mark Haddon is a fine author. There is no question that he is a master of prose and deserves all the attention The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time received. That said, I don't have a high view of some parts of this book. In some sense you can't keep a good author down, and even in their worse works they will shine in some places anyway. There are a few niggling concerns I have with his poetry that I want to give, then I want to say what I liked about it.
To...more
Mark Haddon is a fine author. There is no question that he is a master of prose and deserves all the attention The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time received. That said, I don't have a high view of some parts of this book. In some sense you can't keep a good author down, and even in their worse works they will shine in some places anyway. There are a few niggling concerns I have with his poetry that I want to give, then I want to say what I liked about it.
To...more
I sometimes wonder if my opinion of this book has devalued my integrity as a literary critic. I loved it, and so few other poetry lovers seem to. Perhaps in the same way some people are moved to tears by a Rothko painting while others see nothing but a big red blotch, readers of this book will find their hearts profoundly stirred only if they want them to be. Haddon's poetry captivated me because for the most part, I felt without thinking. It asks you to trust it. I found trusting it a very enjo...more
Oy. I know I'm not an expert at reading poetry, but I've enjoyed a fair bit of it. This book, not so much. Sorry. I wish I could say why in terms that would help you - but all I can say is that *to me* it seemed like almost all of these were playing with words & allusions to no actual purpose. No insights, no revelations, no new perspectives. Ok, a couple did reference that exact attitude, did briefly explore what it means to be a poet and what a poet's role is... but those seemed more like...more
A collection of poems written by Mark Haddon, the celebrated author of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME, ranging from short paragraphs to a multi-section story and covering a wide range of topics from books to the death of a loved one.
Most noticeably Haddon uses a TON of language and symbolism. Some of it is very light like terms using the word dog and onomatopoeia for barking noises. Other times it is rich with classical allusions and obscure references. Thus it can provide grea...more
Most noticeably Haddon uses a TON of language and symbolism. Some of it is very light like terms using the word dog and onomatopoeia for barking noises. Other times it is rich with classical allusions and obscure references. Thus it can provide grea...more
Apparently I'm in the minority here, but I really, really liked this, especially his translations of Horace. Short Fuse and Rescued are remarkably good. I'd like to see him try Catullus. I'll admit that sometimes he gets a little too clever, and sure, he relies heavily on allusions, but those are not in and of themselves bad things. When they work, they really work, and I think many of these poems work very well indeed.
On the cover of 'The Talking Horse...' there is a quote saying "Haddon should join Simon Armitage on the school syllabus" which I initially thought was odd praise. After reading the collection I think I understand where it is coming from: they are the sort of poems that are fantastic to analyse because the writer knows exactly what convention or sound to use in what significant way, but this doesn't make good poetry! I'm not a huge Simon Armitage fan but I definitely think there is more to him t...more
A book of poetry with a definite twist to it. The poems all flow beautifully, but you really have to read carefully and think hard to determine the meaning of some of them. Some of them are very dark, and I like the others better.
This was actually glorious. I knew Haddon's name was familiar but I couldn't figure it out until I'd read the inside. He has such style with his words. It's always such a nice blend of old classics and new ways of poetry. I loved it.
I love this book! The poems are so vivid and imaginative and so varied - from the surreal to the quietly insightful, from the funny to the moving. I've read the book twice and may read it again.
Sep 18, 2011
Lucik
added it
Vecchio, nuovo, preso in prestito, blu
Il giorno in cui ci siamo incontrati.
Questa busta inaspettata.
La mia maglietta del San Francisco Mime Troupe che indossavi per gingillarti nell'appartamento, le cui maniche tagliate si abbinavano
Ai tuoi occhi.
Quella notte senza sonno.
Questa notte senza sonno.
La faccia che indosserò per stringerti la mano e augurarti il meglio.
Il modo in cui mi sentirò quando lo faccio.
"Paper Moon". La nostra canzone.
"Jesu,Joy of Man's Desiring".
Il mio Ella Live at...more
Il giorno in cui ci siamo incontrati.
Questa busta inaspettata.
La mia maglietta del San Francisco Mime Troupe che indossavi per gingillarti nell'appartamento, le cui maniche tagliate si abbinavano
Ai tuoi occhi.
Quella notte senza sonno.
Questa notte senza sonno.
La faccia che indosserò per stringerti la mano e augurarti il meglio.
Il modo in cui mi sentirò quando lo faccio.
"Paper Moon". La nostra canzone.
"Jesu,Joy of Man's Desiring".
Il mio Ella Live at...more
i think i like mark haddon the novelist more than mark haddon the poet, but maybe that's just me. the book is entertaining, though.
It was a pretty good selection of poems. Not sure I really liked Haddon's poetry style, but it was pretty good.
Coolest cover ever with a moveable paper wheel...unfortunately, I only liked a couple of the poems contained within.
unlike most poetry collections (i've been reading recently), i really loved most of the poems in this one.
May 12, 2008
Erica
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who love bad poetry.
Shelves:
2008
This is Mark Haddon's new book of poems.
I did not like it.
There is one poem that I felt lukewarm feelings for. Read it below.
Overall Grade: 1 out of 5 stars.
Days
Leuconoe, stop examining your
Babylonian horoscopes
and wondering what kind of death
the gods have got in mind for us.
We'll never know. Accept it.
This winter pummeling the ocean
on the pumice rocks of Tuscany
may be our last.
Or not. Be sensible and pour the wine.
This life's too short for longing
and the clock spins as we speak.
Days come and...more
Love poems and I definitely loved this. Nice.
the title is way cooler than the poems...
Oct 24, 2012
Katrina
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
poetry,
borrowed-from-library
Great author, but aside from a few gems in this collection, his poetry is rather...for lack of a better word: bland - and forgettable. Shame, I generally really like his work.
OK, so it gets better from around page 30. Maybe I need to re-read the first 30 pages now that I 'get' him a little more. Having not read Buchan I missed most of the allusions in that particular piece, however I think one poem from within it stands alone quite beautifully anyway:
Chapter 10 - Aura
So small a thing
that little room of sleep,
yet it was sealed to him.
He walked the empty street.
Hot breath of baking.
Garbage in the gutters.
A bicycle. The derelict
torches of the stars.
Chapter 10 - Aura
So small a thing
that little room of sleep,
yet it was sealed to him.
He walked the empty street.
Hot breath of baking.
Garbage in the gutters.
A bicycle. The derelict
torches of the stars.
Some of these are haunting and some are funny and some are just weird. I like his way of looking at the world.
I liked Mark Haddon's Curious Incident novel. But I read his poems before I read this. I enjoyed the novel more I must say but the poems are very well written nevertheless. And I did enjoy reading them, though some of the subject matter of the poems seem a bit obscure. Still, he's a very good poet and this is worth checking out if you're into poetry.
Great poetry and the actual structure of the book is really cool. There is a paper wheel in the cover and you can turn it to see the highlighted poems and a little picture to go with it.
I'm fond of 'This Poem is Certificate 18' and enjoyed 'Nuns' and 'Christmas Night, 1930'. Some real nice imagery in those, but quite a lot of this shit left me cold...
this book was ok. poetry was kind of silly and light nothing really that exciting. they remind me of blue glass. pretty to look at but kind of see through.
I love love love the cover.
The poetry... well... It seems like, for such a short book, the collection should have been more cohesive. It was a bit scattered.
The poetry... well... It seems like, for such a short book, the collection should have been more cohesive. It was a bit scattered.
I couldn't follow the logic of the book's organization. And most of the poems fell flat for me. Haddon is definitely a better novelist!
I bought his book of poetry because I loved the Curious Incident so much. This is so-so. Didn't love it, but I didn't hate it.
I picked it up from a clearance table because it has a cool cover. Now I understand why it was on a clearance table.
Published only because of his success with Curious Incident, not because of its own merits, which are few.
I read these out-loud while a guitarist and a drummer practiced beneath my feet.
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Mark Haddon is a British novelist and poet, best known for his 2003 novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. He was educated at Uppingham School and Merton College, Oxford, where he studied English.
In 2003, Haddon won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and in 2004, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize Overall Best First Book for his novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-t...more
More about Mark Haddon...
In 2003, Haddon won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and in 2004, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize Overall Best First Book for his novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-t...more
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“Miaow
Consider me.
I sit here like Tiberius,
inscrutable and grand.
I will let "I dare not"
wait upon "I would"
and bear the twangling
of your small guitar
because you are my owl
and foster me with milk.
Why wet my paw?
Just keep me in a bag
and no one knows the truth.
I am familiar with witches
and stand a better chance in hell than you
for I can dance on hot bricks,
leap your height
and land on all fours.
I am the servant of the Living God.
I worship in my way.
Look into these slit green stones
and follow your reflected lights
into the dark.
Michel, Duc de Montaigne, knew.
You don't play with me.
I play with you.”
—
8 people liked it
Consider me.
I sit here like Tiberius,
inscrutable and grand.
I will let "I dare not"
wait upon "I would"
and bear the twangling
of your small guitar
because you are my owl
and foster me with milk.
Why wet my paw?
Just keep me in a bag
and no one knows the truth.
I am familiar with witches
and stand a better chance in hell than you
for I can dance on hot bricks,
leap your height
and land on all fours.
I am the servant of the Living God.
I worship in my way.
Look into these slit green stones
and follow your reflected lights
into the dark.
Michel, Duc de Montaigne, knew.
You don't play with me.
I play with you.”
“This is how we leave the world,
with the heart weeping,
and the hope that distance
brings the solving wonder
of one last clear view
before that long sleep
about the weather's changes”
—
4 people liked it
More quotes…
with the heart weeping,
and the hope that distance
brings the solving wonder
of one last clear view
before that long sleep
about the weather's changes”
May 03, 2010 04:26pm