Beyond Our Kennel - John Hegley

Advantages: Funny, childish, funny...
Disadvantages: Childish, funny, childish...

...John Hegley, John Hegley, John Hegley. Hegley: a man bespectacled but despising of glasses; a man who has seen the back of his fathers hand more often than he should have done; a man who looks somewhat in need of a shot or two of Mr Muscle. John Hegley calls himself a poet, and here is his explanation: “The first time I wrote in verse I was about ten, I wrote about my den And someone said it’s like a real poem Miss And Miss said it is a real poem, John. I’ve been a poet since then.” What a thoroughly great explanation. Yes he is certainly a poet as this fourth collection of his poetry testifies. However, obsessive, hilarious, mealy-mouthed John Hegley could also easily be mistaken for a comic in the great British tradition of the stand-up “I’ll stand here and you can laugh AT me” tradition. I was lucky enough to attend a “poetry... Read review

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Advantages: The world's best poet?
Disadvantages: Not up to his regular form

...Well Ciao’s category for John Hegley has contained Those Were Your Father’s alone now for far too long, hence him reposting this op from the other side. But when the chips are down, this is still not much of a help, as despite Hegley being one of the world's most enjoyable poets on the database, Can I Come Down Now, Dad? is probably the worst one he’s written. (Although, note ~ theediscerning hasn’t caught up with the last one or two yet.) That isn't to say it isn't a very decent read, for it is. It's just that here the brilliant wordplay and forceful rhythms take a back-seat, for what the back cover calls "pathos". Well, perhaps suppose it was a sign of Mr Hegley maturing a bit, or certainly branching out a bit more. But since this book appeared in 1991, he has reverted to type in spectacular, dogged style. That... Read review

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Advantages: Some fun
Disadvantages: Less verse

...Having been a John Hegley fan for many years, ever since his first tentative steps onto television, followed by a little slot at an anti-whaling rally in Trafalgar Square (of all things), theediscerning is ever keen on seeing new books by him in the library. The Sound of Paint Drying is the latest, and is roughly number eight-and-a-bit in the list (the bit being a short privately published thing, added to The Family Pack compendium for us completists). However, with the second half of the list branching out into short stories, playlets, and extended sequences of light frippery that lost the Hegley edge, the books have long since lost any potential five-star status, although consistently keeping up a strong appeal regardless. Would this latest hardback fare better, on a recent train journey? For those few who have not read or heard... Read review

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