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Review
John Siddique is an accomplished writer across several genres, but his fourth collection of poetry ‘Recital: an Almanac’ demonstrates his considerable range within this form has not lessened. Politically alert, he is also a gifted and adventurous love-poet bringing the Japanese art of bondage, Shibari, into Erato's northern court for surely the first time; an excellent nature poet, he writes equally well of childhood, friendship and loss. His work shows an international awareness enriched by an Islamic-Catholic heritage, which must account to some extent for the humour that sparkles through this marvellous book. Anyone interested in the fascinating cross-fertilisation of poetries now revitalising the literature of these islands must read it. (Ian Duhig )
Review
John Siddique's poetry takes the reader on a journey, crossing the border country between love and loss, he charts his family's untold stories. Interested in exploring opposite worlds and seeming contradictions, his poetry is a brilliant balancing act. Sometimes steamy, often moving, The Prize is a bold, brave book with a big, open heart. (Jackie Kay )
John Siddique's writing is playful and poignant. It explores the complexities of a fragmented world – of sex, family, loss and dream-life – with such clear-eyed, unsentimental candour that I go back to certain poems time and again for another immersion. He's not afraid of writing about love, its pain and rewards, its sudden, shocking forces and darkly funny epiphanies – and his poems demonstrate a generosity and humanity so often lacking in more brittle, defensive writers. (Catherine Smith )
His knowledge and love of poetry shines through. (Rachel Feldberg )
ohn Siddique is a powerful, arresting and provocative new poetic voice, on the page, and off it. He writes with a rare combination of directness, ease, and authority and transports his audience through a gallery of moods and registers in just as wide a range of forms. His work is visceral, sensuous, searing, playful, and deeply moving. (Gavin Wallace )
John Siddique is one of Britain's most interesting and original poets. He probes the contradictory jumble of contemporary Britain revealing the daily heroism and bravery of the urban sprawl that he clearly knows well. (Elizabeth Rosa Horan )
John Siddique's writing is playful and poignant. It explores the complexities of a fragmented world – of sex, family, loss and dream-life – with such clear-eyed, unsentimental candour that I go back to certain poems time and again for another immersion. He's not afraid of writing about love, its pain and rewards, its sudden, shocking forces and darkly funny epiphanies – and his poems demonstrate a generosity and humanity so often lacking in more brittle, defensive writers. (Catherine Smith )
His knowledge and love of poetry shines through. (Rachel Feldberg )
ohn Siddique is a powerful, arresting and provocative new poetic voice, on the page, and off it. He writes with a rare combination of directness, ease, and authority and transports his audience through a gallery of moods and registers in just as wide a range of forms. His work is visceral, sensuous, searing, playful, and deeply moving. (Gavin Wallace )
John Siddique is one of Britain's most interesting and original poets. He probes the contradictory jumble of contemporary Britain revealing the daily heroism and bravery of the urban sprawl that he clearly knows well. (Elizabeth Rosa Horan )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Siddique's poems were written over the space of one year, and using the lunar cycle as a central theme he explores love, hope, childhood, absence of a parent, nature, as well as bombings and shootings in London. He writes about each subject with the same honest, well-crafted verse that tells it like it is. Every word on the page counts, is carefully considered, weighed up and deliberated over before being allowed to stay. Some pieces are autobiographical, others looking out at the world and all its' goings on - from nature writ large to the way our police force deals with suspected terrorists. Yet they are all interconnected, as we are.
There is a humbleness here; and acceptance that some things we simply cannot change - they are bigger than us. Like the wind, the sea, or the people we choose to love: `We cannot tame the wind or the sea. Cannot/make them roll or blow our way. Taming ourselves/comes first, then we may laugh at them, scream at them.' - Facing You. Like nature's cycles, the book itself is a cycle, beginning with a beginning and ending with a poem entitled 'The Death of Death'. This acknowledges art's limits to completely heal us, and this is necessary. 'This is what I ask of each book, / it is why each writer fails. We can but try.'
Siddique looks inwards at his own happiness, suffering, confusion, complacency, but also out at what is going on in the world and links the two. His love for people is apparent, and his work is contemporary yet has a timeless quality to it.
The book is about us - humanity - at its best and worst. He is reaching out, he wants to connect us with what goes beyond the mundane, the ordinary, he wants us to question what is going on in our world today, and document some of its traumas. This documenting is vital.
An intelligent, brave, witty writer, Siddique presents each poem as a gift to us all and by asking questions answers some, and invites the reader to think of more. The book is one that will stay with you for some time, and one that you will want to return to again and again.
There is a humbleness here; and acceptance that some things we simply cannot change - they are bigger than us. Like the wind, the sea, or the people we choose to love: `We cannot tame the wind or the sea. Cannot/make them roll or blow our way. Taming ourselves/comes first, then we may laugh at them, scream at them.' - Facing You. Like nature's cycles, the book itself is a cycle, beginning with a beginning and ending with a poem entitled 'The Death of Death'. This acknowledges art's limits to completely heal us, and this is necessary. 'This is what I ask of each book, / it is why each writer fails. We can but try.'
Siddique looks inwards at his own happiness, suffering, confusion, complacency, but also out at what is going on in the world and links the two. His love for people is apparent, and his work is contemporary yet has a timeless quality to it.
The book is about us - humanity - at its best and worst. He is reaching out, he wants to connect us with what goes beyond the mundane, the ordinary, he wants us to question what is going on in our world today, and document some of its traumas. This documenting is vital.
An intelligent, brave, witty writer, Siddique presents each poem as a gift to us all and by asking questions answers some, and invites the reader to think of more. The book is one that will stay with you for some time, and one that you will want to return to again and again.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Siddique's poetry is fresh and easily accessible. Whilst being highly personal it also highly relevent, not only to wider contemporary issues such as the london bombings but also on a very human level - Siddique makes observations on life that we all acknowledge on a subconcious level, but often fail to notice. Like some of the best comedians, it is these subtle observations that allow the reader to identify with Siddique's work. I particularly enjoyed the poem "Bonfire" which creates a truthful and vivid portrayal of all 13 year old girls whilst giving a melancholic glimpse of the death of Lindsay Rimer. Each poem is carefully selected and the book is structed in a very deliberate and thoughtful way. Each poem whilst being a piece in its own right, belongs in the book and has its only particular place and meaning because of this. The book is marvellous and I would further recommend the audiobook version of Recital as the poems come to life when read out loud, Siddique being well known for his ability to capture an audience with his readings.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This collection was a pleasure to read and deserves many re-readings. The poems manage to be both personal and universal in a very natural, balanced way. They also come together as a whole to create a wider impression that sheds further light on the individual pieces. This draws you back to enter into the poems again and find subtle themes working away in and amongst them. The book can be read on many levels and repays the time you choose spend with it. It is worth at least 5 stars.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Don't give up your day job
Is this a collection of 'poems' or is it just a series of words strung together in a way that we often see in novice's attempts at poetry? Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2009 by Daisy Miller
Life-affirming poetry
Siddique's poetry is clear, concise and has an immediacy that will appeal to many. Recital: an almanac is a thoughtful and often thought-provoking collection, intelligent, clear,... Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2009 by AntonB
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