Book Reviews

[CH]

There is indeed a Graham Street in Henrietta - and it's named for a nearby town to the west called Graham, which happens to be where I was born.  (No monument has yet been erected, though .)

And you're invited! Free rural digs 11.5 miles north of Henrietta, any time, commemorative visit to Graham Street included.

[glee]

OK something to set my sights on.

[Urpal]

Has this review been posted on here before?

http://www.blurt-online.com/book_reviews/view/89/

It may well have been, but it felt fresh to me when I just came across it whilst looking for something else.

[glee]

New to me I think.

[Max Dembo]

BEAUTIFUL WASTE- DAVID McCOMB
VAGABOND HOLES
Never has the adage about judging a book by it's cover
been more appropriate. To be fair 'Rock'Roll books are
probably the most reliably rubbish of any form of non
fiction. Usually one can rely on some good pictures and
an amazing ammount of misinformation. In this V.H.
is true to form. The less one knows about the band and David the better. Take for instance Dave Nicholls piece which
manages to erroneously attribute Phil Kakulas' 'I'm not
losing sleep' to David. 'I can't wait to see your gun' to Alsy
and claims it shows 'homosexual subtext'.
To be fair anecdotes are difficult things but I found the
pieces which made no claim to be 'deep' but merely recounted
memories by far the best parts of the book , Judith Lucy,
The ex Triffids, Nick Cave were truly touching though it's
regretable the original date they were written isn't included,
as it would be a mistake to assume these were all written for the book. However the book truly shines in the choice of
photographs, which are marvellous.
Of the two the real treasure is the small plainly presented
collection of David's poetry. The lack of comment is sadly
indicative of the iimidation with which poetry confronts
even the most big headed amongst us. I'd forget reading
John Kinsella's introduction and start at the poems.
If you revere Dave's lyrics as much as is regularly claimed
what better place to start your investigation of the form?
Max Dembo