On 22 May 2024, 7:30 PM, The Word hosted a poetry reading event in collaboration with poets Phil Hall and Mark Goldstein. Bookstore owner Adrian King-Edwards welcomed spectators in the space, which had been transformed to hold a few rows of seats where one would ordinarily find towers of books. While the last few audience members filtered in, King-Edwards got started by narrating so-called “adventures of a book-seller.” Laughter filled the room as he spoke of finds in huge mansions brimming with natural history manuals—and discovering Leonard Cohen’s highschool yearbook in a thrift store.
Mark Goldstein then took to the front of the room and introduced his newest project, a collection of Paul Celan’s poetry translated into English. He explained the process of “responding to” the original work rather than simply translating it, then segued into reading a selection of poems. His performance style was deliberately calm and slow, building intensity to mirror the melancholy of Celan’s material.
King-Edwards then welcomed Phil Hall to the front. Moving directly to his reading, Hall conjured dreamscapes, fairylands intermingled with mundane towns and warped memories of childhood, his tone alternating between the whimsical and prophetic.
With 49 years of experience, The Word creates a welcoming atmosphere where the bookworm and the poet alike immediately feel at home, whether they are visiting to browse the impressive collections of books or to attend an event such as this.
Readings happen often, so be sure to check their to attend the next one!
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