Reviews
GREATEST HITS Jaam 21, an anthology of writing, 1984 - 2004 edited by Michael O'Leary and Mark Pirie. Reviewed by Trevor Reeves.
A magnificent performance is an apt description of this anthology come 21st issue of Jaam. It is a collection of poetry, mostly, published by 'oldie' Michael O'Leary of ESAW (Earl of Seacliff Arts Workshop) who's been around for donkey's years but doing better and better things each year. Somewhat younger, but with no less and urgent purpose, is his collaborator, Mark Pirie. The pair reproduces work from some pretty much neglected poets and writers, deservedly, in my view. Bill Dacker's collection (2004) is available now. Peter Entwisle has a collection of stories 'Elaine and other stories' that came out in 1992. 'Studio Flat' in this collection and from that book, is quite an interesting piece.Some 93 writers in all encompassing all styles, gender, ages and types. The prose from Hone Tuwhare 'Don't go past me with your nose in the air, you' is beautifully done - so sensitive and real. A master of his craft at work. Women's liberationist, Heather McPherson gives us a strong voice from the past in 'The Wellington Party'. Lovely writing, together with the other strong voices - the late Alan Brunton, the scholarly and prolific Neil Wright, Riemke Ensing, Bernard Gadd and Tony Beyer as fresh as a daisy, and altogether too many others to mention! The older blending with the novel and the new. Nick Ascroft, Jill Chan, Tim Jones and in the 'not to forget' category, Fiona Kidman, David Eggleton, Mark Pirie, Vincent O'Sullivan and Alistair Paterson. Did I leave anybody out - well, sorry. Buy it and see the rest to get a fantastic cross section of NZ's literary history in modern times.

DOUBLE JOINTED. Jenny Powell-Chalmers, with ten poets of her choice. Inkweed Press, Titahi Bay, NZ.
This generous (131 pages) book of shared poems was developed with considerable patience over a period of time, interacting with the ten poets chosen by Jenny Powel-Chalmers. The whole thing sparkles with variety, from Rob Allan's 'Showbiz' through to Peter Olds' earthy wonderment, James Norcliffe's wondrous artwork frozen in time, but mobile, following some unchosen destiny of choice and time. Very thought-provoking. For Emma Neal it comes down to summer pots and whispered asides 'adrift on the wind'. In all of this, Jenny Powell-Chalmers prods and reacts admirably, showing a great grasp of subject matter and styles. Sometimes you forget there are two poets in the one poem, but this is certainly not because the poem could be forgettable. Claire Benyon in 'Superman2' is tart and exact. If poetry is to make fantasy real, this book goes a long way in showing how. John Dolan's 'Collage' is a real tussle, concluding 'Even fossils can lie'. There is much more I could say if I had the space. This book is a 'new look' at poetry in our age. Buy it and explore.

SPIRIT SONGS by Ron Riddell. Casa Neuva, Colombia and Steele Roberts, New Zealand. $20.00
This bold collection of poems, Riddell's 14th, certainly has an international flavour, being released in Colombia, Latin America and in New Zealand simultaneously. Formerly an Aucklander, Riddell snuck away to Latin America to do good things as a poet and environmentalist. Returning to Wellington to direct the Wellington International Poetry Festival. The spiritual and well as physical aspects of man, concern Ron Riddell. A celebration of life and understanding, no less. Reaching out, is Riddell's main impulse. Translations in Spanish accompany most poems. Optimism is his main drive. Things are not 'lost' but 'found'. In 'Meditation' “…..Everywhere this reassure is; / everywhere I find it”. With his wealth of experience, Riddell has cut through the complications to get to the essence. Where other poets see a complicated intellectual word puzzle, Riddell says (In the Stolen land - for the aboriginal people) “How do you steal a continent / How do you give it back?” Riddell is reaching out to us - drop the guns and come with the flowers. “…with a simple handshake, with a gift of love”, in 'The Actors with guns'. As the world spirals into the pit of a giant agony, Iraq, men like Riddell see hope - in “The Doves of Peace' “Has anyone seen / the doves of peace flying home / above the phantom marshes / to roost in the rooftops of Jerusalem?” And after so many questions in 'In El Teatro Exfanfarria', “The man with the knowing smile has gone ahead”. Riddell is a man who knows the world, and who knows the soul. This book is an inspirational read for me, just as I know it will be for the many people who will, I hope, get themselves a copy.

WILD POEMS BY Anne French, Auckland University Press, Auckland, NZ. $31.99.
This is Anne French's fourth book of poems. Always controversial, her poems are no less feisty as in her first book, 'Cretans and Liars' which won the NZ Book Awards for poetry in 1988. Her poetry is inexorably NZ-based, gender-wise, and socially pungent. She is a good ambassadress for our uniqueness, if not isolation, as a nation. Any poet wants to get away from the downsides and get to the upsides. French shows both - 'The Succession of a few sweet months' where the weather is blamed for our moods, ending “When it is all over the cold air comes in”. French's day-to-day living experiences are measured here. Benchtops to hanks of hair, left “….wrapped and waiting for this moment”. ('A Hank of her Hair'). There is a long sequence entitled 'Holiday in Cornwall'. I found it a bit thin - it is a kiwi's entrance into an ancestral past, but there is not enough substance in this sequence for me. I liked 'Time and Distance', “The taste of your final kiss”. I keep promising myself I'll write something like that. Other lines, in 'Heuristic' “If I did not love you / this would be a weather report” appeal. Well, one hopes for a calm sea and a prosperous voyage. Congratulations to Christine Hansen for such an arresting cover design. I recommend this book for a good read.

BRAVADO, Issue No.1., November 2003.
This is a literary magazine from the Bay of Plenty, NZ. The editors are Sue Emms, Owen Bullock and Jenny Argante. Well known names in NZ. Poetry circles. A new magazine, especially in print, is welcome coming from any area in NZ. Bravado has roped in some good writers. Raewyn Alexander in her article has some astute observations. As she says, writing is rarely lucrative. Bernard Gadd is in with a slice of history, so well told, in 'A Kiwi kid's wartime', ending “the young girl pulls her blouse off / when I'm around”. Those were the un-pc days! Tania Brady makes her way around the place in 'expedition into the body'. With some nice revelations about Auckland, James Norcliffe must not be overlooked. His 'Hairline Fracture' meets at a definite point of recognition. Tony Beyer shines - he is so prolific, maintaining always a youthful enthusiasm and vision. Catherine Mair is not to be overlooked. You must subscribe to this magazine.

DESERT BURIAL, a novel by Brian Littlefair. Henry Holt and Company, USA. Reviewed by Judith Wolfe.
This is Brian Littlefair's first novel, set in North West Africa. His experience as an investment consultant in these areas contributes to his unique understanding of the commercial, social and political pressures that lead to environmental denial on the one hand, and the greedy exploitation of the rest, on the other. With startling reality this book brings to your mind cloistered big business undermining the delicate balance of our earthly habitat. The question is, why does all of the earth's rich resources have to be controlled by the rich at the expense of the masses? Brian Littlefair has the reader's mind travelling to inhospitable but exciting places such as the Sahara in Africa and its peoples. Ethnic groups are brought to vivid portrayal, environments and communities are bought off by multinationals while dumping off the vilest of effluents while the world at large doesn't care much. This book is an exciting read, and an informative one, too.

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