Review of ‘North of All Borders’ by Irene Hossack

Irene Hossack’s ‘North of all Borders’ is an impressive collection. I came away affected by the truth of her poetry, by that which I recognised. She has the power to shock as well as make the reader feel a part of her reality. The collection is about one woman, her life and experiences. It is also about us all. 

I loved the memories her poems evoked. Her love of Glasgow. And of words. She weaves these memories and the ordinariness of family, with the beauty around. ‘The Asylum Seekers’ is thoughtful and real. ‘My Father’s Mother and ‘Fairy Liquid’ jolted me out of my easy mood. She led me on only to hit me right in the gut. In ‘April’ she took my breath away. The emotion conveyed in that last line – wow! 

I loved this collection of poetry and will read it again and again. I see something different, something new each time.