books
BOOK
OF THE
MONTH
SUGGS: THAT CLOSE
Suggs (Quercus)
At the start of this autobiography Suggs explains
why he chose not to work with a ghostwriter.
He wanted to focus on the little things, real memories from the
“unfathomable nonsense” of his life. He moves through his childhood
with stories of the London council estate he grew up on, of holidays
in Wales, sneaking into concerts and getting beaten up at football
matches. He writes as a natural storyteller. The tribal violence of
football, music and fashion is turned into “magic and myth”, and
there’s real wit in his descriptions of “crap jobs” and song writing.
It seems that by the time ska band Madness are formed, and we’re
taken through the gigs and the videos and the tours and the famous
friends, they are already breaking up. It moves quickly, but the book is
at its best when he’s piecing together his time with the band.
The fun doesn’t last though as there are passages, like in most autobiographies, where he just
seems to be typing. Stories in the second half about cycling and Italian food don’t have the same
poetry as the earlier chapters, as if he is almost bored in telling them. Still, there’s enough here
to keep it interesting. Madness reform, after all, and became ‘national treasures’, playing at the
Olympics and on top of Buckingham Palace. As a finale, that’s not bad at all.
Of course, the real question is, why is he called Suggs? He chose it at random from a list of jazz
musicians when he was in school. If you knew that already, then you’ve probably had this book
on pre-order. If you didn’t, then it’s just a spoiler. CR Price: £12. Info: www.quercusbooks.co.uk
@mabjones
HEAPS OF POETRY and lashings of
literature on offer over the festive season,
friends! We begin on Sun 1 Dec with TINPA
(This is Not a Poetry Afternoon) at The
Full Moon in Cardiff. This features myself,
Patrick Jones, and a host of others, and
an open mic. We see the fabulous Patrick
Jones once again at Murringer House in
Newport on Wed 4 Dec. Fri 6 Dec then
brings us the monthly On The Border
poetry event at the National Centre for
the Oral Tradition. Former Poet Laureate
Andrew Motion teams up with poetry pixie
Owen Sheers, to form a literary super duo!
This is monthly, so is on again in Jan 2014.
Until then, here is that exclusive poem
from Mr Patrick Jones. Merry Xmas! Mab x
Geronimo in Tonypandy
(for Dennis. Pentre House Residential Home)
SAINTS OF THE SHADOW BIBLE
WHILE NO ONE WAS WATCHING
Ian Rankin (Orion)
Debz Hobbs-Wyatt (Parthian)
Rebus returns, no longer a Detective
Inspector, but demoted to a Detective
Sergeant - and not happy about it.
He’s older, fatter, slower, still smoking
and drinking too much, and still
listening to the Rolling Stones on vinyl
but, despite it all, still on the case.
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