Stunningly BrilliantReviews
Poems (2007)
Stunningly Brilliant
Choosing to stay with traditional forms of versification
and particularly focussing on spiritual themes, the richness of his mind and the
precision of his expression combine to cover a huge range of human experiences
with profound honesty, often with a wry sense of humour, honest sensuality and a
compassionate regard for whatever subject matter he enriches.
His insights into the human condition both startle and delight.
He is a major poet with exceptional talent that grows with everything he writes.
– Mr D F Nash, Amazon UK
Superb
and unique
Andrew Staniland has a voice like no other poet currently writing in English. He writes in verse that is polished, romantic, reminiscent of a great 19th-century poet like Keats, yet his sensibility is lustrously contemporary. These are poems to roll around the tongue and relax on in the mind. A wonderful writer, and a great discovery.
– B. Fryer, Amazon US
The Genius of Psyche
The finely crafted, lyrical prose of this novel is cause enough to recommend it. Its brilliance, though, lies in the author's tantalising exposition of the myth of Psyche as an allegory for the modern spiritual life. Eschewing any straightforward reinterpretation of the myth in a contemporary milieu the author favours the retention of the classical purity of the original, but recounts it against a lusciously vivid series of imaginary backdrops derived from some of the great works of art that have themselves taken Psyche for their inspiration. Ingeniously, he then makes accessible the themes of the myth by presenting the whole drama as a piece of imaginative theatre performed and intimately appreciated by a group of actors, whose inner worlds the author reveals through another level of relationship, by interposing his own personal connection with them. The result is a fascinatingly multi-faceted and graceful dance between the myth, the actors who play its dramatis personae and the author to reveal the inner beauty of spiritual experience. The author's intuitive touch in the interpretation of this myth, the casting of his characters and the congruities of his imagined stage sets are as masterly as they are subtle. His obvious sense of fun makes this novel a joy to read, and his delight in the detail of every day life brings the myth authentically to life. "Genius isn't an infinite gift", the author comments, "We should be grateful for it". This novel is a work of genius and I am grateful to have read it.
– Tony Doubleday, Amazon UK
Brilliant Poetic Novel
What a wonderful book. So affirmative, so effortlessly good. It has great warmth and an unfailing sharpness. It is paradoxical in its expressive lucidity: taking on the inexpressible, the sublime, the whatever, the allever. This wonderful multi-levelled return to the loveliness of the myth has a relevance to everything. The style is radiant and deeply infectious but inimitable. This is surely pure neo-Keatsian post-modernism. The references reach out everywhere and the occasional aphorisms have an exactness of wit in every sense of that loaded word.
Everyone who loves poetry, has hope for the inexhaustibility of the novel form, is possessed of a sense of humour and is not unfamiliar with how gentle irony can be, should, must, has to buy this brilliant book.
– Mr D F Nash, Amazon UK
Staniland's style is beautiful, original, open and
rigorous. His books are compelling, and no more so than his sensuous novel 'The
Weight of Light' that traces a woman's journey of growth and transformation. The
tightly crafted prose is somehow light and lucid and, with effortless skill,
Staniland's words burst open a world of memory and recognition for the reader.
If 'The Weight of Light' is delicately rendered in charcoal, then Staniland uses
a sturdier palette in 'The Beauty of Psyche', painting such vivid, bold, and
memorable characters in a witty and startlingly imaginative 're-make' of the
myth. It is easy to drink up the pages quickly but Staniland's language, like
poetry, deepens on reading again. Profound, incredible stuff.
– kategowar, Amazon UK
The Beauty of Psyche is based upon the story of Psyche and Eros (Cupid) in The Golden Ass by Apuleius. The action of this version of the story takes place in a Parisian Theatre. Nonetheless, as with the original version story of Psyche and Eros, Psyche’s beauty enrages Aphrodite. Eros is then sent to destroy Psyche but instead he falls in love with the woman.
The Beauty of Psyche reads much like a Greek play. The style is flowing somewhat flowery narrative with dramatic, sarcastic, and witty remarks sprinkled throughout the conversation. These aspects create an energetic, fast paced piece that challenges the reader to keep up with the action while enjoying the embedded bits that add spice and depth to the actual story.
Those that are familiar with The Golden Ass, Plato’s Allegory, and Greek theatre will likely find much more depth and a higher degree of understanding of this piece than those reading this type of material for the first time. Nonetheless, those new to Greek literature may find this work to be the perfect introduction to these old masters.
– Tami Brady, TCM Reviews
I never realised daily routine like getting up, switching off the alarm clock or just getting ready for work can be expressed so beautifully. Delphine Romand is a single French woman living in London. The book is about her thoughts, work, friends, music, relationships, family and her life. The author makes you fall in love with words and Delphine's world. That he is a poet gives Staniland the added advantage. His visual style of writing makes the characters come alive. He has a unique style. He uses extremely short sentences, disregards the regular novel format, rebelling against convention, adding almost a lyrical quality to the book.
The story is not a poem but prose, though the poetic quality is unmistakable. It isn't narrated directly like Alfred Noyes' poem "The Highwayman" nor is the meaning disguised like Robert Frost's beautiful poem "Nothing gold can stay". It is a novel that manages to meet midway between the two with a dash of humour. The digs at New Age gurus will make you grin. If you are unmarried or single, you will be able to relate to portions of the world and thoughts of Delphine or her friends. If you are married, it will remind you of someone in your circle of friends or acquaintances whom you may have wondered about. It is almost uncanny how the author has managed to get into a woman's head.
The book reminded me of Bryan Adams' song "Have you ever really loved a woman?". If you thought literary fiction was boring or just picturesque speech as I did, you will be pleasantly surprised after you read this uniquely lyrical book!
– Deepa Kandaswamy, Windows and Aisles
An Extraordinary Novel
I've just finished this wonderful novel. Words fail me but
I'll try. It is magnificent, subtle, profoundly beautiful and totally
extraordinary.
It is written so exactly yet with such compassion. I have
never read anything before that so successfully explores the contours and
dimensions of spiritual practice. It is, in turns, (and often altogether in the
same sentence) wise, humourous, deeply moving, generous and lyrical.
The originality and confidence of the writing is beautifully crafted,
both structure and narrative. And exploding with wisdom and joy.
It has an encompassing originality - or what are for me such lovely gentle
juxtapositions of ideas.
It is a book about the Light which could only be written by someone who is of
the Light.
– Mr D F Nash, Amazon UK
Staniland's style is beautiful, original, open and
rigorous. His books are compelling, and no more so than his sensuous novel 'The
Weight of Light' that traces a woman's journey of growth and transformation. The
tightly crafted prose is somehow light and lucid and, with effortless skill,
Staniland's words burst open a world of memory and recognition for the reader.
If 'The Weight of Light' is delicately rendered in charcoal, then Staniland uses
a sturdier palette in 'The Beauty of Psyche', painting such vivid, bold, and
memorable characters in a witty and startlingly imaginative 're-make' of the
myth. It is easy to drink up the pages quickly but Staniland's language, like
poetry, deepens on reading again. Profound, incredible stuff.
– kategowar, Amazon UK
The Weight of Light is a story-poem of Delphine’s life. Delphine is a fairly average woman living an ordinary life of home, friends, love, work, and spirituality. She has no superpowers. She isn’t rich and glamorous. She doesn’t have a grand love affair. She’s pretty much like you and me moving through her life and being moved by her life.
Though, at first, a book detailing Delphine’s very normal life may sound a little mundane and downright boring, this book is quite surprising. Most striking is that the narrative is primarily in third person. This intriguing aspect allows the reader to gain insight not only into the actions of the main character but also allows the reader into Delphine’s mind as well. Moreover, this life account is basically one complex smoothly flowing poem. This novel aspect is unique and entertaining allowing the reader to fall deeply within the work beyond the actual text and into the deeper feelings and insights of the piece.
– Tami Brady, TCM Reviews
Classical, pungent,
witty, impassioned
A blank verse classical tragedy with some cracking lines; a pungent exploration of the role and value of art in society; a witty and allusive comedy of the writing life with laugh-out-loud instincts; an impassioned plea for tolerance across divides of belief and prejudice ... a rigorous but generous talent is at work here. Warmly intelligent, oscillating effortlessly between irony and sympathy and shot through with Staniland's trademark humanity, these four plays impress and delight.
– Nostromo, Amazon UK