Tess of the Durbervilles by Thomas Hardy

I've always been put off Thomas Hardy's work: the only work of his that I've ever read before is 'Channel Firing', a poem in the anthology 'Up the Line To Death', full of the best poetry the First World War produced. I don't know what put me off; maybe it was watching part of the depressing story of Tess on the BBC a couple of years ago, or my mum telling me that "Dickens does humour. Hardy doesn't". Whatever it was, I am absolutely loving this book.

It's a classic, and I know that everyone has already read it, but I am looking at it with newly converted eyes. It is truly amazing. Apart from the fact that it must have been very controversial at the time it was published, and that Hardy must have been quite a brave man to write and publish such work (insisting, in the sub heading, that Tess remains " a pure woman" even after her rape, murdering someone, etc) I find that it is beautifully written. Hardy's turn of phrase it absolutely deft, his meaning is always sharp and concise and yet the language used is very dreamlike and almost poetic. One of my favourite phrases so far has been "the spectral, half-compounded, aqueous light". Aqueous light! Genius!! And although it is a sad story, there are touches of humour and hope throughout the book.

I also think he writes characters very well. My view of Tess before I began the book was that of Gemma Arterton in the BBC adaptation. She was a character whom I couldn't relate to; she was very pathetic and naive and too stupid to keep herself out of trouble. Tess in the book is the complete opposite. She stands up for herself, and even though she senses danger she almost sacrifices herself to try and do the best she can for her family. Even after her rape, and the death of her baby, she refuses to be beaten. She is determined to make a life for herself. She refuses to crawl in a corner and die. She's a spirited, clever heroine. She's aware of the dangers around her but is bound by her overiding sense of responsibility, and most of all, I get the impression that Tess knows herself. Despite being embarrassed by her past, I don't think she is ashamed of herself. As for the other characters in the book, Hardy writes the human condition perfectly: Angel's hypocrisy and Alec's undertone of darkness even after he has turned over a new leaf for example. He writes humans very observantly and well.

I love the imagery in the book. Apart from the "aqueous light" (love that phrase!!!!!!!) a lot of emphasis is placed on Tess's face, particularly her mouth. There's the sense that her good looks lead her to her doom, but at the same time Tess can speak sharply and perceptively and smile. It's just something I've noticed as I've been reading the book. Tess's mouth seems a crucial, emphasised part of her character.

So. I haven't finished the book yet but I highly recommend it, and I will definitely be reading more Thomas Hardy in the future.

The Soho Leopard by Ruth Padel

Ruth Padel is one of Britain's foremost poets but sadly she seems less well-known than the likes of Carole Ann Duffy. If you haven't come across Padel before, she's a descendent of Charles Darwin, has a real way with words and yes, she is the one who used some very devious tactics trying to get a job at Oxford University. But you have to forgive her this when you read her poems. She should probably be given on a plate any poetry job you care to name.

I'm reading Padel's collection of poems entitled 'The Soho Leopard'. It isn't her most recent but it is fairly new, and from the very beginning it is clear that her poetry is what I can only describe as beautiful, and tackles a range of subjects, but mostly depicts the sheer beauty of animals and humans and life. In 'Tiger Drinking at Forest Pool', she uses the phrase "flame of the crackle-glaze tangle", which is the first line in ages that has put a huge dopey grin on my face as I read it. What beautiful language - say it allowed, taste it on your tongue. Magic. This sets the tone for the rest of the poems in the collection - tongue-tinglingly exciting English with a magical, almost narrative thread to each poem. In 'Surfaces' there is the line 'soft-soot open-mouth kiss of pulsing gills'. She uses words like 'oolithic' and 'ormolu'. Every poem is just that - pure poetry.

One of the most stimulating and enjoyable books I've read in a long, long time. Just thinking about it makes me smile again. It's finger-licking good.