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Underground > Books, Criticism & Writing >

AL Kennedy; A space for discussion

Sebastian Flyte

12:42 / 13.06.07

Within the past month or so I have discovered AL Kennedy, via her two most recent novels Paradise and Day.

She ties me in emotional knots with her use of language, and I can't get enough of her.

What do the rest of you think of her, and would anyone care to suggest where I should go next with her work?

Happy Dave Has Left

13:05 / 13.06.07

I had a little contact with her work (and I do mean a very, very little) while studying a Scottish lit course at uni. 'Night Geometery and the Garscadden Trains' is a fantastic short story. I'm normally a bit of a Slave to Plot, in that I have a very short attention span for self-identifying literary novels where not much happens. In the story I mentioned above, not much happens, but it's so beautifully written that it just breaks my heart. And in a wider sense, a lot happens, only it's inside the reader's head.

Sebastian Flyte

13:13 / 13.06.07

Yes, that sounds like Kennedy to a tee.

I rather enjoy self-indulgent literary fiction a la Pynchon or Ballard, but I wouldn't put Kennedy in that area.

Her novels aren't self-consciously literary, in my view... they're just beautifully written prose that's not plot driven.

Happy Dave Has Left

13:30 / 13.06.07

That's perhaps where I'm missing out, having not touched any of her longer fiction.

She was in the Observer this weekend actually, in the 'writer's rooms' section.

*googles*

Here we are.

And here's the Guardian primer.

Sebastian Flyte

14:01 / 13.06.07

"So there I'll be - lying down, backed into a corner in a room the colour of blood."

*sigh*

I'm such a sucker for a cheesy line, at times.

Happy Dave Has Left

14:17 / 13.06.07

You have to go and read where she reviews the reviews of her books.

Sampler:

Bad: "A.L.Kennedy: making misery tedious."
Julie Morrice - Glasgow Herald
ALK says: I never did get that made into a T-shirt and am, therefore, at fault.

Silly:

"Furthermore, it is really difficult for a reader to stick at it when there appear to be so many mistakes in grammar and punctuation that the author's attempt at experimental writing is fatally undermined."
Mike Maran - Cencrastus
ALK says: "Appear to be - you mean you aren't sure ? "

It strikes me that AL Kennedy's style of wit would go down a storm round these parts.

Happy Dave Has Left

14:18 / 13.06.07

Oh, and welcome to Barbelith Sebastien, by the way. I see this is your first post.

Sebastian Flyte

14:43 / 13.06.07

Thank you.

“Among her gifted generation of Scottish writers, she stands supreme, she stands alone.”
Tom Adair - Scotland On Sunday
Possibly the silliest thing anyone has said, yet. But if you ever want to be put on a pedestal, Tom has one and is an enthusiastic reader and nice man and so forth.