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Alexa, what is there to know about love?
‘Someone who knows their way round both a joke and a bittersweet narrative.’ The Times
‘Part John Cooper Clarke, part Frank Sidebottom . . . all brilliant.’ Esquire
‘Bilston is a magician with words’ Guardian
Alexa, what is there to know about love? is a wonderful collection of poems about love in all its forms, covering everything from romantic love to familial love, to long-distance love, and even love on the internet.
The collection also features poems about the true passions for many booklovers, reading and literature, and the odd one about the subject causing many of us politics. With titles like ‘Hold My Hand While We Jump Off This Cliff’ and ‘Remembrance of Things Pasta’, there’s something for even the most jaded romantic within these pages.
The perfect, witty gift for Valentine’s and beyond.
‘Part John Cooper Clarke, part Frank Sidebottom . . . all brilliant.’ Esquire
‘Bilston is a magician with words’ Guardian
Alexa, what is there to know about love? is a wonderful collection of poems about love in all its forms, covering everything from romantic love to familial love, to long-distance love, and even love on the internet.
The collection also features poems about the true passions for many booklovers, reading and literature, and the odd one about the subject causing many of us politics. With titles like ‘Hold My Hand While We Jump Off This Cliff’ and ‘Remembrance of Things Pasta’, there’s something for even the most jaded romantic within these pages.
The perfect, witty gift for Valentine’s and beyond.
89 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
58 people are currently reading
536 people want to read
About the author
Brian Bilston
18 books157 followersBrian Bilston is a poet whose work has been shared widely on social media over the last few years. He has been described as the 'unofficial Poet Laureate of Twitter'.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
February 16, 2022
Not his greatest collection. | found most of the poems played on very obvious puns and the humour was single-tone. They were overly twee and instantly forgettable.
The one standout poem was The Caveman's Lament which almost makes up for the other 60.
The one standout poem was The Caveman's Lament which almost makes up for the other 60.
April 2, 2021
Ar Braienu Bilstonu laikam bija tā, ka vispirms trāpīju uz viņa grāmatu “Diary of a Somebody” un pēc tam uz viņa Twitteri (brian_bilston), kur viņš spēlējas ar dažādām dzejas formām un tēmām (atgādina Vērdiņa eksperimentus ar “Gatavā dzeja”). Arī ārēji smieklīgā dzeja var būt nopietna un runāt par svarīgām tēmām. Bet galvenokārt, protams, tā liek pasmaidīt.
me think about her when sun rises
me think about her when sun sets
me say to her how much me love her
she tell me love invent not yet
me make cave all warm and cosy
me lie bearskin on cave floor
me play song of love on bone flute
she choose cave of Tim next door
(pāris panti no dzejoļa “The Caveman's Lament”)
me think about her when sun rises
me think about her when sun sets
me say to her how much me love her
she tell me love invent not yet
me make cave all warm and cosy
me lie bearskin on cave floor
me play song of love on bone flute
she choose cave of Tim next door
(pāris panti no dzejoļa “The Caveman's Lament”)
February 3, 2021
I'm a huge fan of Brian Bilston, the so-called 'unofficial Poet Laureate of Twitter', since I first came across him, when his moving, poignant, clever Refugees poem was read out on an episode of the Backlisted podcast. This is his third book, and like the first two, quite wonderful. Full of quirky, clever, thoughtful, observational, wry short poems. A quick read, but a book i'll return to and dip into time and again (as I do the first two). And the poem about Brexit is worth reading out loud, as a form of catharsis. Often.
March 16, 2021
A wonderful book of poems to brighten any day! Just what I needed!
June 16, 2021
Within the first few minutes of this audio book I said ‘wtf’ but I enjoyed the poem about the library and the pasta.
January 25, 2021
And indeed there are many poems that focus on the age old questionsof love in all its many forms. Here you will find love poems for the ages; for the past; for the future. All quirky, all clever and all deliciously original. Take for example Five Clerihews for Doomed Loves, a tribute to some of the most iconic recorded lovers. No spoilers here but I will say that the poets views of Romeo and Juliet had me cheering in agreement!
Drudge Work is a beautiful tribute to the many different manifestations of love , of the impossibility of one solid definition. A theme returned to in Minutes from a Multidisciplinary Symposium on ‘What is Love. And the simple, churning tale found within Status Update: A Lonely Cloud will fell you with it’s final line.
And for a bookworm like me the shape poem Tsundoku is just perfection. To the point where I am sure Brian Bilston has bugged my home and is tapping into a recurring argument with Mr C!! ( And if you want to know what that argument might be, you will have to buy the book!)
This collection is quite simply a work of quiet, unassuming brilliance. Where the use of the familiar, of the rhyming couplet soothes, enhances and then suddenly, unexpectedly destroys. Within these pages is comfort, humour and delicious levels of challenge. The role of the poet feels like the role of an medieval fool, to entertain but also to speak the truth. To tell the passive onlookers of their beauty and their triumph, but also to expose their weaknesses, their foolishness and at times down right stupidity.
For despite it’s universal themes, this is very much a poetry book for our times. With a comforting, a times sing song voice and a crucial bite Bilston offers us commentary and sharp, powerful insight in to recent political and societal events. The eight lines of The White House will have you reeling and for anyone despairing about the rise of the right, Brexit and wider social conditions there are poems within this book that will have you nodding in agreement , even if that agreement is tinged with despair.
Take for example Hold my hand and let’s jump off this cliff. I defy you not cry out at it’s brilliance and start recommending it to anyone you might make eye contact with in the next week!
There are poems here that will break your heart; Penguins and Bird Watching spring immediately to mind. Others will make you smile, maybe even laugh out loud; ee Cummings attempts online banking is a great place to start.
But each page contains a little gem, a word, a line, a verse, most often a whole poem to tuck away for later and savour, and most definitely to share.
Drudge Work is a beautiful tribute to the many different manifestations of love , of the impossibility of one solid definition. A theme returned to in Minutes from a Multidisciplinary Symposium on ‘What is Love. And the simple, churning tale found within Status Update: A Lonely Cloud will fell you with it’s final line.
And for a bookworm like me the shape poem Tsundoku is just perfection. To the point where I am sure Brian Bilston has bugged my home and is tapping into a recurring argument with Mr C!! ( And if you want to know what that argument might be, you will have to buy the book!)
This collection is quite simply a work of quiet, unassuming brilliance. Where the use of the familiar, of the rhyming couplet soothes, enhances and then suddenly, unexpectedly destroys. Within these pages is comfort, humour and delicious levels of challenge. The role of the poet feels like the role of an medieval fool, to entertain but also to speak the truth. To tell the passive onlookers of their beauty and their triumph, but also to expose their weaknesses, their foolishness and at times down right stupidity.
For despite it’s universal themes, this is very much a poetry book for our times. With a comforting, a times sing song voice and a crucial bite Bilston offers us commentary and sharp, powerful insight in to recent political and societal events. The eight lines of The White House will have you reeling and for anyone despairing about the rise of the right, Brexit and wider social conditions there are poems within this book that will have you nodding in agreement , even if that agreement is tinged with despair.
Take for example Hold my hand and let’s jump off this cliff. I defy you not cry out at it’s brilliance and start recommending it to anyone you might make eye contact with in the next week!
There are poems here that will break your heart; Penguins and Bird Watching spring immediately to mind. Others will make you smile, maybe even laugh out loud; ee Cummings attempts online banking is a great place to start.
But each page contains a little gem, a word, a line, a verse, most often a whole poem to tuck away for later and savour, and most definitely to share.
January 28, 2021
Brian Bilston.
Alexa, what is there to know about Brian Bilston?
A man who can turn the ordinary into witty, sharp, poignant, memorable poetry.
A man who can make you smile on the darkest of days, with a turn of phrase and a well placed rhyme. Time and again.
A man who never disappoints, but leaves you happy, laughing, joyous excited, unlike love which can disappoint, when unrequited.
Brian Bilston's second collection of poetry following You Took The Last Bus Home, is as wonderful, fresh, relevant and brilliant as anticipated. Wonderful observations on love and life. The Poet Laureate of Twitter makes you smile on every page.
Add to his novel Diary of a Somebody and in our dark times, Brian Bilston is a comforting, reassuring light.
Wonderful and highly recommended.
Alexa, what is there to know about Brian Bilston?
A man who can turn the ordinary into witty, sharp, poignant, memorable poetry.
A man who can make you smile on the darkest of days, with a turn of phrase and a well placed rhyme. Time and again.
A man who never disappoints, but leaves you happy, laughing, joyous excited, unlike love which can disappoint, when unrequited.
Brian Bilston's second collection of poetry following You Took The Last Bus Home, is as wonderful, fresh, relevant and brilliant as anticipated. Wonderful observations on love and life. The Poet Laureate of Twitter makes you smile on every page.
Add to his novel Diary of a Somebody and in our dark times, Brian Bilston is a comforting, reassuring light.
Wonderful and highly recommended.
March 7, 2021
Another brilliant, hilarious collection.
Brian Bilston just keeps getting better. This collection is full of wonderful rhyming poetry about the times we live in, from grappling with technology that doesn’t understand us, to expressing frustration and anger at Brexit, but all done in a way that raises a smile. The world is a better place with Brian Bilston’s poems in it.
Brian Bilston just keeps getting better. This collection is full of wonderful rhyming poetry about the times we live in, from grappling with technology that doesn’t understand us, to expressing frustration and anger at Brexit, but all done in a way that raises a smile. The world is a better place with Brian Bilston’s poems in it.
October 9, 2022
Enjoyable; not the equal of his debut.
April 25, 2021
absolutely brilliant poems! some gave me goosebumps, others made me laugh out loud - highly recommend
April 14, 2021
Funny, sweet, heartwarming and moving, Bilston weaves our everyday observations into some lovely poetry about... well.. about love! This probably won't be poetry that lasts throughout the ages, as it is extremely poignant and of the time, but that is exactly what makes it so touching and beautiful reading it now. I will definitely keep dipping in and out of this book, and I feel many people living now will greatly appreciate it. I love how it's so silly, yet it is able to suddenly hit you with a profound feeling of comfort, appreciation for love or other emotions.
January 25, 2021
I really enjoyed Diary of a Somebody, so I grabbed this as soon as it came out. There were some really laugh out loud poems in this small collection, but also that didn't resonate as much with me, although I am sure they will with others.
The Caveman poem was a personal favourite.
If you haven't come across this poetry before I would say this is a great place to start.
The Caveman poem was a personal favourite.
If you haven't come across this poetry before I would say this is a great place to start.
July 11, 2023
There’s some moving stuff in here, some which didn’t do much for me, but the reason I bought the book was because I saw the poem Tsundoku. It’s a concept very dear to my heart: I have two main hobbies - reading and buying books. The poem is written to look like a bookcase, neat at the top and things shoved in haphazardly at the bottom.
There’s lots of BB’s trademark clever observations on love, viewed from many perspectives, even including a little politics. All in all, a joy to read and something for everyone.
There’s lots of BB’s trademark clever observations on love, viewed from many perspectives, even including a little politics. All in all, a joy to read and something for everyone.
January 11, 2021
Brian Bilston is the poet for people who don't like poetry. The People's Poet, if you will. He's a master of words and always manages to strike just the right emotional balance in his work.
In this latest collection we see a melding of ancient and modern, for example Plato and Google. The poem which lends the book its title is superb - funny, moving and poignant. There were a few stand outs for me, as follows:
"There's A Supermarket Where Once The Library Stood" is an important piece of social and political commentary.
"Serenity Prayer" is particularly relevant in this first month of 2021.
"57 Varieties" is Brexit in a tin.
The final line in "The White House" is shockingly brilliant.
Homelessness and domestic violence slipped into a poem about "Metrics" is skilful and striking.
"Composition" hit me right in the feels.
"She'd Dance" casts ageing and bereavement in a beautiful light and brought a tear to my eye.
Overall a great collection and a lovely gift for someone special, starting with yourself.
In this latest collection we see a melding of ancient and modern, for example Plato and Google. The poem which lends the book its title is superb - funny, moving and poignant. There were a few stand outs for me, as follows:
"There's A Supermarket Where Once The Library Stood" is an important piece of social and political commentary.
"Serenity Prayer" is particularly relevant in this first month of 2021.
"57 Varieties" is Brexit in a tin.
The final line in "The White House" is shockingly brilliant.
Homelessness and domestic violence slipped into a poem about "Metrics" is skilful and striking.
"Composition" hit me right in the feels.
"She'd Dance" casts ageing and bereavement in a beautiful light and brought a tear to my eye.
Overall a great collection and a lovely gift for someone special, starting with yourself.
March 29, 2022
A slim volume, but wow! I'm not a great one for poetry, but I know what I like and I very much like Brian Bilston's work.
In my view, this is a lovely collection, based around the concept of love and technology (with a few less-than-loving Brexshit poems), which are by turns ethereal, thoughtful, happy, wistful and occasionally sad, but always sharp, witty and clever. Some superb wordplay here.
I read much of it one evening thus week, whilst in COVID-19 isolation, accompanied by a glass or two of Malbec. Time on one's own doesn't get much better than that!
In my view, this is a lovely collection, based around the concept of love and technology (with a few less-than-loving Brexshit poems), which are by turns ethereal, thoughtful, happy, wistful and occasionally sad, but always sharp, witty and clever. Some superb wordplay here.
I read much of it one evening thus week, whilst in COVID-19 isolation, accompanied by a glass or two of Malbec. Time on one's own doesn't get much better than that!
January 11, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
I loved this! This was sweet and charming and perfectly nice to read. It made me genuinely happy and it also sounds so nice when read out loud! I'll admit, the start of the last section got a bit much and didn't feel like it gelled in well with the rest of it, but the book made up for up!
I loved this! This was sweet and charming and perfectly nice to read. It made me genuinely happy and it also sounds so nice when read out loud! I'll admit, the start of the last section got a bit much and didn't feel like it gelled in well with the rest of it, but the book made up for up!
February 25, 2021
The poems in this book were delightful! Mostly, they were humorous, and covered a variety of topics.
I loved Codebreaking - a unique take on a love poem very similar to something you would see from Shakespeare.
Another favourite was the ironic Ten Rules for Aspiring poets - this one made me giggle.
And finally, I enjoyed the political poems as well, particularly Hold my hand and let's jump off this cliff edge. It perfectly captured the way many people feel about Brexit.
All in all, a worthwhile way to spend an evening, with a great book of poetry.
I loved Codebreaking - a unique take on a love poem very similar to something you would see from Shakespeare.
Another favourite was the ironic Ten Rules for Aspiring poets - this one made me giggle.
And finally, I enjoyed the political poems as well, particularly Hold my hand and let's jump off this cliff edge. It perfectly captured the way many people feel about Brexit.
All in all, a worthwhile way to spend an evening, with a great book of poetry.
March 1, 2023
I first spotted Brian Bilston sharing his poems on Twitter, and they are so fab and make me smile so much that I regularly send them on to friends. This anthology of his poems are also fab and have also made me smile. He's called the 'Banksy of poetry' and that's probably a good description. Quirky yet meaningful.
April 3, 2021
A delight!
November 29, 2021
Another brilliant book of poetry from Brian Bilston. A brilliantly clever and creative writer who never fails to make me smile with his work. Inspirational!
May 17, 2022
A delightful collection of poems - some poignant, some political, some just pure whimsy.
June 2, 2022
A perfect light-hearted collection of poetry. I enjoyed it so much!
June 20, 2022
Listened on Hoopla, will probably listen again.
October 23, 2022
a very lovely book of poems
May 13, 2023
Love me some rhyming poems. Parts I and II were fantastic, III and IV not so much.
February 26, 2025
Wonderful collection of poems about love. Often funny but at times he hits with deeply beautiful verses that brings tears to your eyes.
February 27, 2021
I've been a fan of Brian Bilston for ages, so I snapped up this collection when it was on sale. I loved it - some familiar poems and some new, funny, geeky, touching and profoundly moving by turns. Lovely.
January 4, 2023
now I'm no poetry expert, but this was cute as fuq
August 1, 2023
The Bad Salad was just too good, several other absolute gems in this collection
January 6, 2022
Impeccable
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews