Neil Elder reviews Whatever You Do, Just Don't for The High Window

Neil Elder has written a perceptive and generous review of Whatever You Do, Just Don't for The High Window. Thanks to the editor, David Cooke, for commissioning and publishing it. You can read the article in full via this link (clicking on my name will take you straight to it), but here's the first paragraph as a taster...

"Is it considered old-fashioned to produce eminently ‘readable’ poems? Pieces that are accessible and that directly communicate with the reader? If so, then Whatever You Do, Just Don’t is out of joint with the times, because the collection is one of the most ‘readable’ and translucent that I have read in a long time..."

Stephen Payne's new poetry blog

Stephen's Payne's not only an excellent poet but also an excellent critic. And by extension, his new poetry blog promises to be excellent too.

Given his scientific background, a lazy reader might be tempted to describe Payne's approach as forensic and thorough, but that would ignore his honed sensitivity. For instance, the first post on his blog is packed with both emotional and technical insight into Billy Collin's poetry. You can read it by following this link.

John Field reviews Whatever You Do, Just Don't at Poor Rude Lines

Catching up on good stuff that's happened over the festive period: John Field has posted a gorgeously sculpted review of Whatever You Do, Just Don't over at Poor Rude Lines. Yet again, I'm grateful for his huge generosity. Here's a brief quote...
Matthew Stewart’s second collection, Whatever You Do, Just Don’t, offers its own meditation on sun and shadow. Small observations on living between Spain and the UK, family life and, of course, the beautiful game, might seem unrelated but, as the collection unfolds, these elements pull together as a bitter-sweet meditation on love and loss. 

And you can read it in full via this link. 

The Yorkshire Times' Books of the Year

Whatever You Do, Just Don't has been chosen by The Yorkshire Times as one of their Books of the Year 2023. Thanks to Steve Whitaker, the literary editor, for his selection. Here's a quick quote from the article... "...Whatever You Do, Just Don’t is as warming and as compelling as the fine Spanish wine that Stewart blends..." And you can read the feature in full via this link.