Rampike has been around for years, and has, at times, been an important outlet for Canadian poetry and fiction. The works in this collection are a mixed bag. I liked Alexandra Leggatt’s two poems with their evocations of longing, memory and new experiences. I liked R.M. Vaughan’s Six Love Poems for George-Jacques Danton, if for no other reason than the Stompin’ Tom reference (although there is more to like in it). I enjoyed the interview with U of Toronto English professor Linda Hutcheon who always has interesting insights to offer – in this case mainly on post-modernism and feminist art forms. But the rest of the collection left me cold. What could have been an interesting interview with Canuck poet/novelist Matt Cohen (then writer-in-residence at the Metro Toronto Library) is spoiled by the questions. The first four are “You must be very busy?” “You have to evaluate their manuscripts and offer comments?” “So, you’re the writer-in-residence there for part of this year?” and “Do you still shoot pool with Ray Ellenwood?” (KR)
Over 15,000 Zine Reviews & Growing!
