I do not honestly know how I feel about this book. In general, it had a good flow to it but it was hard to follow and understand each part. I got confused on some of the sections and had to read them numerous times. I think there was a lot of thought that went into this book but I feel like only a certain audience will enjoy it. ( )

I’m not sure what to make of this. It’s very pretty writing, but seems ultimately very pointless. Basically, each piece is a page of two antiphonal paragraphs which sort of connect to each other; one seems to respond to the other.

There’s not much commonality between the pieces, bar the Australian setting. I guess they could be considered prose poetry; it does come across as rather poetic.

To be read in small doses; more than 2 or 3 at once tends to be a bit cloying.

Update: Finally finished. My overall take is that it seems too much of a slog to read; really it should be read maybe one piece a day, maybe 2, one in the morning, one in the evening, but makes it take too long. I would not recommend reading the pieces back-to-back; they need time to settle in your mind as individual prose poems.

Please note: this book was provided for me to read and review by the publisher. You can rest assured however, that this is (as always) an honest review!

Speculate: A Collection of Microlit is a collection of prose poetry by Australian authors Eugene Bacon and Dominique Hecq. In each of the two halves of the book, one author begins with a poem, and the other responds with a poem of their own. The ideas bounce back and forth like a tennis match, picking up on themes or details in the previous piece, and working them into their own. Each poem is short, none longer than a page, some only a few sentences, but all are rich in imagery and evocation. Some were lofty in their themes, and others spoke of everyday occurrences.

The two authors span a great width of diversity -- one a career author and university lecturer, the other a Black immigrant who gave up a career in computing for one in writing. Yet there are also points of similarity and relateability between them. Both are women, and both live in the same city (the city I live in!), with its unique quirks and secrets. To watch them play off against each other was fascinating. I don't read much poetry, and certainly not an extended collection (the book is 136 pages long), but I found myself being drawn in and pulled towards the end by the linked nature of the pieces.

The book itself, though an ebook, is beautifully decorated throughout with monochrome watercolour backgrounds and motifs. I was pleasantly surprised at this level of detail and care. A nice touch is that the alternate poems are in italics, so I was easily able to keep track of which author had written each piece.

I enjoyed this collection much more than I thought I would, and would like to read more prose poetry and microlit in the future.

Would I read more by these authors? Yes!

Several years ago I saw the idea that Twitter and cereal boxes and poetry are all governed by the same constraints. And Microlit is a new genre of fiction that works at that intersection. In this book then the authors Hecq and Bacon, provide another intersection by commenting on each other's short works with a poetic response.

The material is abstract, fanciful, cultural and even comical. Small bites when you need stimulating company for just a moment. A true pleasure to read!

This thought-provoking collection of Microlit incorporates prose poetry, speculative flash fiction, and cameo-like word sketches. The book is divided into two sections, with Part 1 featuring Eugen’s writing first, with Dominique’s response to it on the opposite page, then in Part 2 this interaction is reversed as Eugen responds to Dominique’s work. Sometimes the responses continued a theme, sometimes took it in a completely different direction, but they always succeeded in generating a conversation between the two authors … sometimes deeply reflective, sometimes full of teasing repartee, sometimes provocatively challenging. Although some of the pieces are as short as a couple of sentences, and none any longer than a page, the interchanges between the authors added depth and complexity to the ideas being explored. I always found myself wanting to re-read each piece, sometimes several times, not only to reflect on their thought-provoking, insightful ideas and imagery, but to relish their imaginative, expressive use of language.
I loved the sense of fun which emerged from their verbal riffing: interchanges which frequently felt akin to, and just as enjoyable, as listening to one of my favourite jazz groups. As I was reading I found myself wanting to join in, to add my own thoughts, ideas and improvisations. I really enjoyed this interactive element which was, I felt, encouraged by the free-flowing nature of the authors’ exchanges, as well as by their explicit ‘invitation’ in their introduction to their collection.
Although this is a relatively short book, I think it’s not one to read quickly but is best enjoyed in small ‘doses’ in order to enable the magic of it to develop in those spaces which, with the best writing, occur between reading, reflecting and gradually absorbing what you’ve read. I’ve only recently become aware of Microlit but I love how it can encompass a range of ideas and themes in such a succinct, yet powerful, way.
Extra layers of pleasure in reading this book were provided by not only the striking cover, which is eye-catchingly bold and satisfyingly tactile, but also the imaginative interior design. Most pages feature graphics, some of which are simple, others more complex and intriguing and I loved the shaded grey monochromatic background, with the contrasting white typeface, to some of them. All the time I was reading, I felt these designs, the work of Meerkat editor Tricia Reeks, were constantly adding a powerful extra dimension, that they were enhancing the ‘colourful’ prose from both authors.
In many ways this has been a difficult review to write, not because I didn’t enjoy it (by now it will be clear that I did!) but because I know I can’t possibly do justice to the range of feelings, themes, ideas and reflections which the authors explore. All I feel I can do is to encourage anyone who loves playing with language, words and word association, and who relishes being encouraged to ‘think outside the box’, to get hold of a copy of this collection from two remarkable wordsmiths. Their individual styles may be different, but their creative collaboration has resulted in a ‘whole’ which feels so much greater than its constituent parts. It has been a joy to share (and feel part of) their intimate conversations and to gain a sense of the mutual respect which underpins their relationship.
With thanks to Meerkat Press for providing me with my copy in exchange for an honest review. ( )