Thanks to NetGalley and Salt Publishing for the ARC.

Most of the poems were okay. I really enjoyed the ones about grief, about the death of his brother. Some didn't make sense to me, but I enjoyed in an abstract or absurd sense. But some gave me the impression that the poet is very pretentious? And that feeling never went away while reading this.

This book is set out in reverse chronology with 7 sections. The section the book opens with are a collection of new poems. Each of the remaining 6 sections contain select poems from each of his previous poetry books. The poems are heavy with references to literature, film, music, historical figures and events and there are also many nods to Italy particularly Genoa where I understand Julian spent a number of years.

I want to preface that literature in general is so incredibly subjective but I find poetry in itself can be particularly so.

The first section certainly has more of an international flavour to some of the poems jumping from Vietnam to Hong Kong to England to Japan and to Germany. I appreciated more of the poems in this section than the others. I enjoyed Edo Venezia the most. Of the new collection, it is the most lengthy of all the poems and a fast paced rollercoaster through time and place. I also found My Teeth are Flayed to be a poignant and sombre commentary on the death and destruction from Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people. And for any lovers or Rupi Kaur, maybe skip the poem titled Speed which details throwing Rupi Kaur’s book, which a student had given him, in the bin.

As I mention in the following 6 sections, there were fewer poems that resonated with me. Of those that did, I quite liked Not a City but a Beautiful Catastrophe, The Eau de Parfum of Mrs Radcliffe, Heat Wave, La Douceur de la Nuit and a Drowned City.

This collection immerses the reader in its quick, liquid writing. With its refreshing language, the poems recount lived politics, lived Genoa with its lived religion, the sea, and its dear octopi. Stannard renders the every day extraordinary through his signature weird and beautiful turns of phrase.

i usually love very observational poetry that is really specific and full of details, but i couldn‘t quite get into this collection. while i did like some poems, like ‘tree in the rain‘ and ‘whoopsie’, the majority simply didn’t really make me feel anything. while many of the poems about italy, if not necessarily my taste, are quite evocative, the german ones seemed very forced to me. there was something honestly quite pretentious about how german words were sprinkled into them, especially because they didn’t really work half of the time and, as a german native speaker, didn’t sound natural to me in their context.
i should also say that the poem ‘speed’ really annoyed me: in it, the lyrical i chucks a rupi kaur book into the bin after a student, described as a “very large girl”, recommends it to them. i’m personally not a fan of her work either and have no issue whatsoever with people sharing their opinion on it and offering criticism, but i really don’t think a white man publishing a poem that makes no other point about rupi kaur’s poetry other than “it’s essentially rubbish” is going to help anyone. it’s unnecessary and honestly reeks of misogyny.

This came at the perfect time. I had not previously heard of "saturn returns" but turns out my saturns returns THIS YEAR on my birthday! This is a powerful, fun, and informative guide to this celestial event.

I actually loved this collection and have reread it two times since. It speaks to me on so many different levels. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this book.

A career spanning gathering of poems spanning 25 years, this collection is perfect for readers who enjoy poetry that combines rich imagery, cultural depth, and a touch of humor. Whether you’re a longtime admirer or a first-time reader, this book offers a wonderful introduction to Stannard’s unique and memorable voice. The central focus is Stannard's time in Italy with his descriptions of beauty, but through this I found difficulty finding a message within it all, and unfortunately with that it struggled to hold my attention.

I really enjoyed reading this selection of poems from an author I hadn't read anything from before. They captured me early on and threw me into another state of mind with every one of them. I enjoyed reading poems from different collections so that I had a great mix of very contemporary themes and those that I liked or even dreaded to remember. Of course, poetry is very subjective so not every single one spoke to me the same but I remember enjoying a fair share for different reasons.

New and Selected Poems by Julian Stannard is a witty, engaging poetry collection that spans 25 years of his career. His style, which is the perfect balance between sarcasm and sincerity, is deeply appealing and accessible to any reader, not just poetry buffs.

Stannard's primary focus is his time spent in Italy, but the poems also reflect other travels. Each poem is more than a description of beauty, they are all laced with wit and aurate perceptions about the world around us. It takes a special kind of writer to craft an effective 2-sentence poem, and Stannard is one of them.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to explore this collection.cc

Julian Stannard’s New and Selected Poems is a collection that brings together 25 years of his work, offering readers a chance to explore the unique style he’s developed over his career. Inspired by his time in Italy, especially in Genoa, the poems celebrate the beauty of Liguria and its culture while also reflecting on life in modern Britain.

Stannard’s love for Italy shines through in his writing, but he doesn’t just focus on its charm—he balances it with sharp observations about the world we live in. His poems combine humor and insight.
This collection is perfect for readers who enjoy poetry that mixes vivid descriptions, cultural reflections, and a touch of humor. Even if you’re new to his work, this book is a great way to discover Stannard’s unmistakable voice.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to explore this collection.