Kae Tempest

Award-winning rapper, award-winning poet, collaborator with the Royal Shakespeare Company, all before turning 30. Whatever Kate Tempest produced by way of a first novel, it was bound to attract attention.

Derived in part from songs on her album Everybody Down, The Bricks That Built The Houses is a rattling yarn centred on Harry, a petite gay drug-dealer, and Becky, an aspiring dancer. Harry encounters Becky at a rave and surprises herself by opening up to Becky on her secret life. Becky in turn shares a secret of hers. The two part with Harry wondering what just happened.

Tempest spins a plot that depends on a complicated set of relationships, and I'm reluctant to go into it too much. Similar to a song on an album, Tempest shifts the focus to a character, gives the backstory and then gradually starts to reveal unexpected connections. In doing so, Tempest pulls off a few terrific plot twists.

This book works as a taut crime novel, but Tempest's writing lifts it out of the ordinary genre novel. There is tenderness and empathy for her characters, and at times there is a rhythm and syncopation to the writing that remind one of her music and poetry. I'd happily give this book five stars, except that I did feel a bit let down by the ending.

… (more)

Neen, niet elk gedicht in deze bundel is alle sterren waard. Jammer genoeg vind ik de bundel zelfs zwakker worden naar het einde toe, maar ook dan is hij nog absoluut lezenswaardig.

De bundel staat wel vol met zes, zelfs zeven sterren waardige dichtregels en de eerste helft is onwaarschijnlijk sterk.

In sommige gedichten voel je de beat en hoor je de ritmische stem van Tempest bijna fysiek de dichtregels proclameren.

Een bundel die existentieel en zinnelijk is en vlijmscherpe maatschappij kritiek combineert met tijdloze relevantie. En dat allemaal toegankelijk en swingend. Straf. Heel straf.… (more)