Roddy Doyle

William Boyd

Philip Pullman

Pico Iyer

Chigozie Obioma

Candice Carty-Williams

Robert Macfarlane

Jackie Morris

Imtiaz Dharker

Andy Miller

Jennie Orchard

The Gifts of Reading

John Wood

Jan Morris

Madeleine Thien

Michael Ondaatje

Alice Pung

Max Porter

S.F. Said

Salley Vickers

Jancis Robinson

Dina Nayeri

David Pilling

Sisonke Msimang

Markus Zusak

'This story, like so many stories, begins with a gift. The gift, like so many gifts, was a book...' So begins the essay by Robert Macfarlane that inspired this collection. In this cornucopia of an anthology, you will find essays by some of the world's most beloved novelists, nonfiction writers, essayists and poets. 'You will see books taking flight in flocks, migrating around the world, landing in people's hearts and changing them for a day or a year or a lifetime. 'You will see books sparking wonder or anger; throwing open windows into other languages, other cultures, other minds; causing people to fall in love or to fight for what is right. 'And more than anything, over and over again, you will see books and words being given, received and read - and in turn prompting further generosity.' Published to coincide with the 20th anniversary of global literacy non-profit, Room to Read, The Gifts of Reading forms inspiring, unforgettable, irresistible proof of the power and necessity of books and reading. Inspired by Robert Macfarlane Curated by Jennie Orchard With contributions by: William Boyd, Candice Carty-Williams, Imtiaz Dharker, Roddy Doyle, Pico Iyer, Andy Miller, Jackie Morris, Jan Morris, Sisonke Msimang, Dina Nayeri, Chigozie Obioma, Michael Ondaatje, David Pilling Max Porter, Philip Pullman, Alice Pung, Jancis Robinson, S.F.Said, Madeleine Thien, Salley Vickers, John Wood and Markus Zusak

Purdah and Other Poems

The Terrorist at My Table

This collection asks crucial questions about how we live - what do any of us know about the person who shares this street, this house, this table, this body. ..".Pakistani poet Imtiaz Dharker reflects on some of the salient themes of lyric poetry: the self in identity flux, migration, travel, time, women and men, politics, particularly politics. Many of these selections directly respond to the fallout of the 2001 World Trade Center bombings for the Islamic community, in particular, and humanity at large."--World Literature Review

Postcards from god was Imtiaz Dharker's first book from Bloodaxe. It combines two collections published separately in India, Purdah (1989) and Postcards from god (1994).

Postcards from God

Imtiaz Dharker was born in Pakistan, grew up a Muslim Calvinist in a Lahori household in Glasgow, was adopted by India and married into Wales. Her main themes are drawn from a life of transitions: childhood, exile, journeying, home, displacement, religious strife and terror, and latterly, grief. She is also an accomplished artist, and all her collections are illustrated with her drawings, which form an integral part of her books. Luck Is the Hook is her sixth book from Bloodaxe. In these poems, chance plays a part in finding or losing people and places that are loved: a change in the weather, a trick of language, a bomb that misses its mark, six pomegranate seeds eaten by mistake; all these events cast long shadows and raise questions about who is recording them, about believing, not believing, wanting to believe. A knot undone at Loch Lomond snags over Glasgow, a seal swims in the Clyde, a ghost stalks her quarry at a stepped well, an elephant and a cathedral come face to face on the frozen Thames, a return ticket is thrown into the tide of Humber, strangers wash in. Even in an uncertain world, love tangles with luck, flights show up on the radar and technology keeps track of desire. Imtiaz Dharker was awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry 2014 for Over the Moon and for her services to poetry.

Luck is the Hook

Imtiaz Dharker's themes are drawn from a life of transitions: childhood, exile, journeying, home, displacement, religious strife and terror, and latterly, grief. Over the Moon is her fifth book from Bloodaxe: poems of joy and sadness, of mourning and celebration: poems about music and feet, church bells, beds, bad language and sudden silence.

Over the Moon

Imtiaz Dharker was born in Pakistan, grew up in Glasgow, and now divides her time between Bombay and London. Her main themes are drawn from a life of transitions: childhood, exile, journeying, home, displacement, religious strife, and terror. She is also an accomplished artist, and all her collections are illustrated with her drawings.

Leaving Fingerprints

This Is Life Seen Through Distorting Screens A Windscreen, Tv Screen, Newsprint, Mirror, Water, Breath, Heat Haze, Smokescreen. The Terrorist At My Table Asks Crucial Questions About How We Live Now Working, Travelling, Eating, Listening To The News, Preparing For Attack. What Do Any Of Us Know About The Person Who Shares This Street, This House, This Table, This Body? When Life Is In The Hands Of A Fellow-Traveller, A Neighbour, A Lover, Son Or Daughter, How Does The World Shift And Reform Itself Around Our Doubt, Our Belief? Imtiaz Dharker S Poems And Pictures In This Book Hurtle Through A World That Changes Even As We Pass. The Book Grows, Layer By Layer, Through Three Sequences The Terrorist At My Table , The Habit Of Departure And Worldwide Rickshaw Ride Each Cutting A Different Slice Through The Terrain Of What We Think Of As Normal. But Through All The Uncertainties And Concealments, Her Poems Unveil The Delicate Skin Of Love, Trust And Sudden Recognition.

Imtiaz Dharker S Cultural Experience Spans Three Countries. Born In Pakistan She Grew Up In Glasgow, And Now Divides Her Time Between Bombay And London. It Is From This Life Of Transitions That She Draws Her Themes: Childhood, Exile, Journeying, Home And Religious Strife. In Her Latest Work, The Woman S Body Is A Territory, A Thing That Is Possessed, Owned By Herself Or By Another. The Title Of The Book Speaks For The Devil In Acknowledging That In Many Societies Women Are Respected, Or Listened To, Only When They Are Carrying Someone Else Inside Their Bodies A Child; A Devil. For Some, To Be Possessed Is To Be Set Free. Dharker S Poems Trace A Complex And Revelatory Journey, Starting With A Striptease Where The Claims Of Nationality, Religion And Gender Are Cast Off, To Allow An Exploration Of New Territories. Strong And Economical, They Raise Issues Of Political Activity, Homesickness, Urban Violence And Religious Anomalies In The Most Ordinary And Unobtrusive Of Settings.

I Speak for the Devil

Glyn Maxwell

Foyle Foundation

Poetry Society

Poems by the Foyle Young Poets of the Year 2011

Fools for Love and Salt

Imtiaz Dharker was born in Pakistan, grew up in Glasgow, and now divides her time between India and London. She draws upon this life of transitions for the themes in her second book: childhood, exile, journeying, home, and religious strife. In this collection the woman's body is a territory, a thing that is possessed, owned by herself or by another. Her sequence, "They'll say, She must be from another country,'" traces a journey, starting with a striptease where the claims of nationality, religion and her veil, and gender are cast off, to allow an explanation of new territories, the spaces between countries, cultures, and religions. The powerful sequence of "devil" poems acknowledges that in many societies women are respected, or listened to, only when they are carrying someone else in their bodies-a child; a devil. For some, to be "possessed" is to be set free. "A pleasure to read."-World Literature Today

Imtiaz Dharker

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