Poetry review – FAMILY MATTERS: Rosie Johnston surveys a third volume of poems from members of the ‘Dark Angels’ writing group, compiled by its founder, John Simmons
Plan Nine from Outer Space. Review by Alan Price. Everyone knows that Ed Wood’s Plan Nine from Outer Space has a huge cult following. A film so ineptly directed that it has become a classic good bad film: a delirious guilty pleasure that people have ascribed a weird dream-like quality to which makes the film special.
Poetry review – WIDDERSHINS: Merryn Williams finds an authentic mixing of sadness and hope in a new collection by Kathryn Daszkiewicz
Poetry review –THE HUMAN CORE: Charles Rammelkamp finds a convincing account of human motivations in this lively collection by Wade Stevenson
Poetry review – HATCHERY: Pat Edwards admires the honesty and tenderness as well as poetic craft in Elizabeth Osmond’s account of work in a maternity ward
Poetry review – ENGLISH LAUGHTER: John O’Donoghue finds hope in the humour and fair-mindedness that Alan Morrison perceives as being vitally English characteristics
Poetry review – STILL LIFE WITH APOCALYPSE: Charles Rammelkamp is grimly fascinated by Alan Catlin’s poetic reporting of multiple disasters
Ai Weiwei. Review by Barbara Lewis. This book accompanies the exhibitions Ai Weiwei: The Art of Defiance at Patrick Derom Gallery, Brussels, Belgium (September 19 – November 14) and Ai Weiwei: Life – Revolt – Poetry at the Emile Verhaeren Museum, Sint-Amands, Belgium (September 21– December 13)
Poetry review – THE DINGO’S NOCTUARY: Kimberly K. Williams admires the commitment and passion behind this remarkable book by Judith Nangala Crispin
Poetry review – HERE & THEREAFTER: Lucy Winrow admires a poetic exploration of family history by Alice Miller
Poetry review – GOYA AS DOG: Jennifer Johnson appreciates the work of both authors in Donald Gardner’s translations of poems by Stefan Hertmans
Poetry review – AGAINST FALLING: John Forth follows Linda Anderson through an exploration of the birth, life and afterlife of poems
By Michael Bartholomew-Biggs • added recently on London Grip, books, literature, poetry reviews, year 2026 • Tags: books, John Forth, literature, poetry