Ambush at Still Lake
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Carcanet Press Ltd
Published:27th Jun '24
Should be back in stock very soon

A Telegraph Book of the Year 2024
A Financial Times Poetry Book of the Year 2024
Caroline Bird's new poems show us the ambush of real life that occurs in the stillness after the happy ending. This is a collection about marriage, lesbian parenthood, addiction and recovery in which a recurring dream is playing out: a world where mums impale themselves on pogo-sticks, serial killers rattle around in basements, baby monitors are haunted by someone else's baby and, through it all, love stays and stays like a stationary rollercoaster that turns out to be the scariest, most thrilling ride in the amusement park.
Her editor welcomed the book in these terms: 'It is bleak, repellent and hilarious in an American Psycho-ish way. Hectic and vivid.'
'Vegetable crisps.
The words yawn like a black hole,
sucking my eyes backwards
into my head until I see
my own brain glowing
like a radioactive cauliflower.'
'These poems are skillfully written. They are full of conceits, taken to logical and comic lengths until they reveal the absurdities in everyday life. Whether talking about children, love or death, the way Bird takes words literally and to extremes triggers the laughter muscle. Yet, like all good comedy writing, the poems possess grains of truth that make the reader reflect on the human experience. A great collection, and a most enjoyable read.'
Rennie Halstead, London Grip
'Caroline Bird's latest work, Ambush At Still Lake, evokes the nostalgic charm of classic Hollywood cinema, weaving together elements of cartoons, westerns, and black-and-white movies. However, beneath its cinematic veneer lies a deep emotional resonance, illuminating the transformative power of love. Through its masterful storytelling, Bird deftly illustrates how a singular moment can serve as a poignant testament to the enduring capacity for renewal within the human heart.'
Roger Robinson
'A clever, funny and moving reflection on life's dramatic turns and their aftermath.'
Maria Crawford, Financial Times
'Bird's great skill as a storyteller is in action…These poems are full of fantastically vivid images.'
Lenni Sanders, TLS
ISBN: 9781800174122
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
84 pages