Böcker av Jessie Jones

Finalist, A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry and Raymond Souster AwardIn tarot, the Fool represents continual beginnings, not being able to see or think past the excitement and potential of a new start. The Fool is also associated with zero -- a literal loop.Like Anne Carson writing poetry in the style of the poet alchemist Arthur Rimbaud, Jessie Jones renders her reflections with acerbic brilliance. In her debut collection, she examines the sensual, cruel, pleasing, and depraved state of being human in the twenty-first century. All pro, she's ready to stage a coup d'état.Reflective with a kind of circular logic edging toward a darker surrealism, these poems are at times comically satirical, but always grounded in fresh ethos. A pleasure of language and circumstance, where passengers on a boat peer through "a thick, absorbent mist" and the poet moves "through/the city like a bundle of kindling./ All day I wait for a bit of friction/ to transform me," The Fool sets its sights on a world riddled with panaceas designed to course-correct our lives.

We've all had them - but can Dayna find the diamond amongst the rough?A hilarious and high-concept novel about love in the 21st century for the Facebook generation, published in the run-up to Valentine's Day.Everyone's had rubbish boyfriends but Dayna Harris seems to have had more than her fair share.Now, aged 27, Dayna lies on her maternity bed, thinking back, with every excruciating contraction, to the ghosts of boyfriends past. Against a nostalgic soundtrack of 90s pop classics, we're taken on a journey of her romantic history, beginning with Simon, with a penchant for cuddly toys and the libido of a rabbit.On to earnest Chris, an aspiring musician and professional vegetarian. He's lovely but he and carnivore beauty therapist Danya are chalk and cheese.Then there's Cockney geezer Archie. A joker and entrepreneur, she falls hook, line and sinker for him. But then he starts making excuses not to see her - but not for the reason she thinks.A brief blip at an uber-cool party with drop-dead gorgeous artist Gabriel is followed by Mark, kind to kittens, old people and small children and too good to be true. Until Dayna finds out his shocking secret....Just as she's despairing of ever finding The One, Cristian walks into her life. Dressed like a male model, he knows all the right people and treats her like a princess. So why doesn't her heart sing?A chance encounter with all of her exes brings her to the present day - and the maternity ward. But who's the daddy?