Our very own publication of poetry, edited by one of our long standing VCN members - Heather Kay, was recently reviewed in 'Speaking English' - the Journal of the English Speaking Board International, by Tish Nicoll.
"This Anthology is a delight from beginning to end, with a vibrant and exciting mix of poems and prose, which leads you from one experience to another; from one theme to another, in a seamless cocktail of pieces old and new. It is like meeting old friends, some almost forgotten and at the same time finding new friends that you wished you had met many years ago!
It will be no surprise to anyone who knows of the wonderful work of the Voice Care Network to discover the theme of the Anthology is the voice and language. In fact the collection is the result of a session at the VCN Annual Study Meeting when everyone was asked to bring a poem to share. Heather Kay, editor of this excellent anthology on voice describes the criteria for inclusion as requiring a positive response to the following:
'Does this piece celebrate, describe, explore aspects of the speaking voice or its effects? The variety and power of language? At the same time do the words leap off the page? Arrest the listener, stretch the vocal range, challenge the articulation?'
I picked up the book to glance through it and found myself reading poems aloud and time whizzed past! In the forward, David Crystal describes it as 'a linguistic firework display, sparkling with all the colours of the auditory rainbow.'
This is a book for anyone who loves language and words, has a curiosity about the effect of voice and speech, a recognition of the 'need of the heart for silence' and a knowledge of 'things beyond words.' This is a book with something for all ages, to stimulate imagination, recall past memories and ............to experience.
With thanks to Tish Nicoll who took the trouble to write this review
'Voice Catcher: An Anthology' is available from Angela at the VCN Head Office info@voicecare.org.uk or 01926 864000.
ISBN 978-0-952452-4-7 Price £10 + £1.20p+p