these are a few of my favourite things

Two new magazines from the Canterbury area: the fabulously designed ZONE (see www.zonepoetrymagazine.com) and Splinter (www.facebook.com/splintermag). A few years back it was hard to imagine productions like these appearing in this part of Kent. I used to think it was because of the proximity to London (big bands tend not to play here either) but Canterbury is no closer to the Wen than Brighton. Both mags have been out for a bit but will have launches soon. Splinter’s is for a new issue and will be held in London at the Betsy Trotwood, 7.30 on Tuesday November 26; the ZONE reading will take place in Canterbury at the Veg Box aka Free Range on November 29th (with readings and performances by Allen Fisher, Simon Smith, Sam Bailey and Juha Virtanen) at 7.30. There will be a further ZONE launch on December 12th in Keynes Lecture Theatre 5, University of Kent.

Four books from all over the place: from Australia Cameron Lowe’s Circle Work (www.puncherandwattman.com) and Tim Wright’s weekend’s end, from Baulking Ewes Press (sorry no site address for this one: it’s a ‘fugitive’ production); from Japan Paul Rossiter’s From the Japanese (not translations but poems covering Rossiter’s time in Tokyo from 1981 to the present, see http://isobarpress.com ); and from here Juliet Troy’s Lots, a beautifully handmade object containing poems that ought to get to a bigger press before too long.