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Continue reading →: Book Review: Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats
My rating: 5 of 5 stars It was deeply distressing to me when the movie ‘Cats’ seemingly bombed at the cinemas and was shredded by the newspaper critics. The distress was because I normally can’t abide Andrew Lloyd Webber and feel aggrieved about needing to defend him. But, defend I…
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Continue reading →: Theatre Review: Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig at Northern Stage, Newcastle
For the next few days you can catch English Touring Theatre‘s latest production ‘Reasons to Stay Alive’ at Newcastle’s Northern Stage before the tour continues to Manchester. The production is an adaptation of Matt Haig’s bestseller which takes a journey through the depths of his depression and out to the…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: The Humans by Matt Haig
The Humans by Matt Haig My rating: 4 of 5 stars DISCLAIMER: I have not obeyed my usual rules in writing this review. Normally, I approach every novel with as clean a slate as I possibly can. I try to find out as little as possible about the plot and…
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Continue reading →: Theatre Review – Nigel Slater’s ‘Toast’ at Northern Stage
By Ken Powell Newcastle’s Northern Stage bills this production as a comedy – and it is, gloriously so. But beware, you’ll want tissues aplenty as this adaptation of Nigel Slater’s childhood biography is a painful tearjerker. The play (written by Henry Filloux-Bennett) takes us from Slater’s memories of cooking with…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: Milkman by Anna Burns
Milkman by Anna Burns My rating: 5 of 5 stars If Franz Kafka had been born in Northern Ireland, as a woman, and lived during ‘The Troubles’ of the 1970s, he would have written this novel. Anna Burns has, in effect, written ‘The Trial’ for a modern generation with all…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: Around the World in 80 Words – A Journey Through the English Language by Paul Anthony Jones
Around the World in 80 Words: A Journey Through the English Language by Paul Anthony Jones My rating: 5 of 5 stars Continuing on with my quest to allow Dr Oliver Tearle of Interesting Literature fame to bankrupt me, this review is as a direct result of his own review…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg
No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book is the collected speeches of 16-year-old Swedish girl, Greta Thunberg. The eleven speeches date from September 2018 to April 2019. It’s an extremely short time-frame and, as you might expect,…
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Continue reading →: NEW! Psychology for Writers course
I am delighted to announce my first formal course for writers – one based on twenty years of teaching and ten years as working freelance writer and editor. I am taking bookings to begin from July (you can join at any time) – but places are limited and many have…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ll begin with a confession: I listened to this book rather than ‘read’ it. I often do, seeing no distinction between reading a book and having one read to you – if it is done well. Usually, seeing no…
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Continue reading →: Theatre Review: A Thousand Splendid Suns at Northern Stage
The latest production at Northern Stage, Newcastle, is an ambitious presentation of Khaled Hosseini’s masterpiece, ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’. It takes a brave playwright to take on such a powerful novel which takes place over more than two decades and encompasses several life stories within. Ursula Rani Sarma has achieved…
Hello, I’m Ken.
Welcome to Write Out Loud, my blog dedicated to all sorts of things to do with writing.
This page will be updated constantly every week with book reviews and writing-related stuff.
The blog is the baby sister of my personal blog kenthinksaloud where I write ‘Monday Murmurings’—insights into life and philosophy. Get a clever take on politics with ‘Wednesday Banker,’ and ‘Future Friday’ for the latest in psychology, environment, and tech.
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Write Out Loud (Reviews and Writing) 