Sun is Open

The Sun is Open is a poetry book that explores the life and death of the author's father, who was murdered by the IRA in 1984. It uses a boxed archive of public and private materials to piece together a history and a life, moving between child and adult voices, past and present. The book is rich with exquisite and surprising language, pain, and wisdom, and employs a grammar that makes everything significant. It is described as meticulous and painstaking work, negotiating and nudging the meanings into alternative senses. The book was named Poetry Book of the Month by the Observer and TLS Book of the Year.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 15 September 2021
Publisher: Penned in the Margins

Winner of the John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize and the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize, The Sun is Open is a groundbreaking debut that explores the life and death of the author's father, who was tragically murdered by the IRA outside their Belfast home in 1984. Through a meticulous and innovative approach, the book weaves together a complex tapestry of public and private materials, shifting between child and adult voices, past and present. With its rich and surprising language, The Sun is Open offers a profound exploration of grief, loss, and the complexities of memory.

At the heart of the book lies the author's attempt to decode the fragments left behind by her father's life and death. Each page is filled with exquisite and surprising language, evoking a range of emotions from pain to wisdom. The author's meticulous attention to detail is evident in her use of grammar, as she carefully crafts each word to fit the constraints of different forms, from inches of newsprint to entries in an Account Book. This meticulousness creates a sense of tension and urgency, as the reader is drawn into the intricate web of ethical considerations and transactions that unfold throughout the book.

The Sun is Open also delves into the complexities of memory and its role in shaping our understanding of the past. The author explores the ways in which memories can be fragmented, distorted, or reconstructed, and how these processes can influence our perception of history and our relationships with others. Through a series of ethical considerations and transactions, the book invites the reader to consider the moral implications of our actions and the impact they have on the lives of those around us.

One of the most striking features of The Sun is Open is its use of language and form. The author employs a grammar that emphasizes the significance of everything, from the mundane to the profound. This approach creates a sense of wonder and awe, as the reader is forced to reevaluate their own perceptions and assumptions about the world. The book's use of various forms, such as poetry, prose, and found text, adds to its richness and complexity, allowing the author to explore a wide range of themes and emotions.

Overall, The Sun is Open is a stunning debut that offers a profound exploration of grief, loss, and the complexities of memory. Through its innovative use of language and form, the book challenges the reader to think critically about the world around them and the role that language plays in shaping our understanding of the past and the present. It is a testament to the power of poetry to heal, transform, and inspire, and a must-read for anyone who seeks to explore the depths of the human experience.

Weight: 190g
Dimension: 138 x 216 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781908058928