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casparb's review
Jay's a brilliant NB poet described by Ali Smith on the blurb as a modern Auden which feels a little unnecessary but I'm sure they'll take it. Anyway a harsh but hoping collection drawing rings between the New Cross Massacre of 1981 and Grenfell. It chokes like smoke and I was on the Leuchars train platform no less.
I'm curious about what they're up to these days they've obviously all the talent but nary a whisper has reached me
I'm curious about what they're up to these days they've obviously all the talent but nary a whisper has reached me
thebookboy's review
4.0
A powerful and eye-opening collection of poetry that doesn't hold back the righteous anger and frustration surrounding two landmark instances of racial injustice and tragedy - the 1981 New Cross Fire that killed 13, and the Grenfell Tower tragedy that claimed the lives of 72 individuals in 2017.
Jay Bernard has obviously done a lot of research into these incidents, and the poems are an interesting blend of looking at these tragedies from both close and outside perspectives. As ever, with all poetry collections I thought there were some poems that were more powerful and affecting than others, but in general this is a very strong collection that uses few words to make a considerable impact.
My one, fairly minor criticism would be that I don't think many of the poems were particularly memorable and that a lot of them ultimately felt quite similar - obviously the themes explored are consistent, but I think a little more variety would've elevated this collection further.
3.5/4 stars
Jay Bernard has obviously done a lot of research into these incidents, and the poems are an interesting blend of looking at these tragedies from both close and outside perspectives. As ever, with all poetry collections I thought there were some poems that were more powerful and affecting than others, but in general this is a very strong collection that uses few words to make a considerable impact.
My one, fairly minor criticism would be that I don't think many of the poems were particularly memorable and that a lot of them ultimately felt quite similar - obviously the themes explored are consistent, but I think a little more variety would've elevated this collection further.
3.5/4 stars
moony_reads's review
5.0
How do we memorialize those who have suffered injustice and have been forgotten? Bernard begins this collection with a brilliant, powerful introduction. Outlining the research into the 1981 New Cross Fire (also known as the New Cross Massacre) that claimed 13 young lives. Many believe it to have been a racist attack and the reverberations are still felt today, so Bernard parallels it with the Grenfell Tower fire, an eerily similar case.
Bernard's writing is poignant and thoughtful and respectfully embody the voices of those lost their lives, those who lost loved ones, onlookers and protesters, whilst some of the poems reflect Bernard's own experience with gender, sexual, national and racial identity, studying their own place in Britain as a queer black person, stating "I am haunted by this history, but I also haunt it back."
The book forms an insightful, thought provoking, heartwrenching journey and provide convergence for them to occupy a space in history that they should rightfully have, rather than being forgotten.
I picked this up in the library as I have been struggling through a reading slump and sat reading it in a window overlooking the skyline of South London. I live incredible close to New Cross so learning about the irreversible damage the fire caused to the community through such brilliant words was heartbreaking.
Bernard's writing is poignant and thoughtful and respectfully embody the voices of those lost their lives, those who lost loved ones, onlookers and protesters, whilst some of the poems reflect Bernard's own experience with gender, sexual, national and racial identity, studying their own place in Britain as a queer black person, stating "I am haunted by this history, but I also haunt it back."
The book forms an insightful, thought provoking, heartwrenching journey and provide convergence for them to occupy a space in history that they should rightfully have, rather than being forgotten.
I picked this up in the library as I have been struggling through a reading slump and sat reading it in a window overlooking the skyline of South London. I live incredible close to New Cross so learning about the irreversible damage the fire caused to the community through such brilliant words was heartbreaking.
friendlypoet's review
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Deportation