Gatehouse Reviews

2009-06-24T12:16:00.003+01:00

Artweeks

For the last few years we at the Gatehouse have been doing on a Wednesday night at 5.00-7.00. It has been very therapeutic, you can see al your pain, worries and frustration fall away from you. Before I came to Oxford, the creativity that God gave me did not have any avenues of expression. But places like the Gatehouse and the ACT art group and other places in Oxford you can do the art and express yourself. As an artist we have been it artweeks before. But this year Andrew had the idea of going around all the art sites or as many as I could.

So on the 9 May (Saturday) I set off on my journey . . . One of the first art sites I went to was the Bartlemas Chapel (Joanna Gilmour and Wendy Hughes) their art was textiles. I have been looking for that place for a few years now. But with the artweeks site I found it.

As I went around the art sites they were very varied like: ceramics, pottery, furniture, wood, glass, mosaic, jewellery, metalwork, mixed media, painting, drawing, paper, papier mache, photography, digital art, printmaking, etching, sculpture, installations, engraving, textiles, group exhibitions and non-selling exhibitions. I bought a map of Oxford and I was a bit rusty in using it.

One of the art sites was in the Prince of Wales pub in Iffley. The weather was very hot, so when I went into the pub I asked for a bottle of water. I went to pay for it and the barman said, “If you’re doing that it’s on the house (for free).” In all I visited 45 art sites. I enjoyed it very much but my feet were a bit sore and it was nice to sit down sometimes.

I had to cut short the art site visits because I had a chest infection. I would really like to thank Setareh and Paul and the rest of the people who help at the art class and Andrew. I am really looking forward to going to as many art sites as I can next year, God willing.

Shaun Quirk

Shaun's sponsorship page is on justgiving

You can see a selection of work from the artgroup on
flickr

2009-04-01T14:50:00.011+01:00

Meeting Bill Heine (author of "Heinstein") at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival

The Gatehouse Bookclub met the author of this year's choice. He read from chapter ? , which describes the attitude of his producers at BBC Radio Oxford to his idea to invite a homeless person called "Matt" to co-present his programme during Homelessness Week. I think most of us were quite surprised at such blatant prejudice against the homeless could be so common even amongst members of such a reputedly liberal profession as broadcasting.

Despite the fear expressed, the show went off well and must certainly have changed the attitude of many listeners. hearing this set us off on a discussion of the reasons people are so fearful of the homeless, perhaps, as one person suggested, a kind of "reverse jealousy". You've made it but dont like to be reminded about those who haven't.

Bill was asked about his favourite guest and this turned out to be Gordon Brown, much to everyone's surprise. BH found himself doing a live interview with the PM during his visit to Oxford and whatever he may have felt about his policies, found him to be a very warm human being in contrast to Tony Blair, who he's also interviewed but found much more shallow.

Someone asked about some of the less pleasant incidents related in his book, for example when a local police firearms officers had him round the throat accusing Bill of having set him up. He'd visited the studio to talk about guns and gun crimes and ended up dropping one of his guns in Radio Oxford waiting room - Bill confronted him about that on air which caused several years of bad blood between him and the police.

He also couldn't get away without talking about his iconic shark art installation that since 1986 has graced the roof of his Headington Home and is now world famous.
All in all it was a lively session and Bill was an interesting and accessible guest.

2009-02-12T18:00:00.010Z

Bill Heine, autobiography "Heinstein" Gatehouse Bookclub's 2009 choice.

The Gatehouse is supported by the
Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival.

The Gatehouse Bookclub is part of that relationship.

If you like reading, then we have a stack of review copies.

Share your thoughts, whatever they are, on Bill Heine's book.

Share your thoughts, whatever they are, via the Gatehouse's own website.

Meet the author at the festival.

Chat informally over tea and cakes in the Festival tea-room.

Maybe even speak to the press or appear on radio.

I haven't seen the book yet but it looks interesting, with lots of cool pictures of Oxford life, without being too much like hard work.

Watch this space - contact me direct at the Thursday night session (chris)
or Adele or any other member of gatehouse staff to get involved.
Or email me at:

chris@homeless.me.uk

---------------------------
Bill Heine's Publisher - website

Details from the back cover:
‘Heinstein of the Airwaves’ is a late-in-life coming of age story about pushing the boundaries when that’s no longer innocent. It’s a portrait of a place — Oxford — and the nightmares that lurk among the dreaming spires. It’s a picture of a very private person who has a very public shark sticking out of his roof. If you like contradictions, read it.

Local BBC broadcaster Bill Heine upset the police so much they refused to speak to him for two years and stopped giving the station travel information. Bill angered a convicted paedophile so much he put out a contract on Bill’s life. ‘Heinstein’ is an area where the main character has to dodge virtual bullets from both sides.

In twenty years on BBC Radio Oxford Bill has met a fascinating mix of people from world-famous celebrities to passionate local campaigners. Here he brings us the highlights of these meetings. The book is an insight into how a good broadcaster treads the line between challenging his listeners and interviewees and keeping their trust — and that of his employer. It’s also an up-close look at the underside of a city more often eulogised than criticised.

Bill’s view: ‘ Phillip Pullman created a parallel universe outside of Oxford, I’ve looked at what we have right here inside Oxford and found it.’

2008-04-30T14:48:00.003+01:00

Once Upon a Time in the North. By Philip Pullman, £9.99, 114pp,
Isbn 978-0-375-84510-9 (0-375-84510-0)

“Once Upon a Time in the North” by Philip Pullman is the story of how a rather large Armoured Bear by the name of Iorek Byrnison meets an intrepid balloonist from Texas by the name of Lee Scoresby & his Daemon.

In this universe created by Philip Pullman people are accompanied by their Daemon from birth till death. Daemons are in the form of an animal. Where up until very early adulthood they can change shape. Upon reaching a certain age they settle on a final form. In the case of Lee Scoresby his Daemon Hester chose an Arctic Hare. All Daemons are the opposite sex to their human.

I found this book to be an extremely enjoyable read the only problem being that it wasn't long enough. Other books by Philip Pullman are “His Dark Materials” a trilogy of books including: 1. The Northern Lights 2. The Subtle Knife & 3. The Amber Spyglass. All these books are quite epic & all the more enjoyable for it. “Once Upon a Time in the North” is a prequel to “The Northern Lights” filmed as “The Golden Compass”.

In “Once Upon a Time in the North”, Lee Scoresby crashes his balloon in a town where there are large Bears walking around. The Bears can talk. Lee helps a Dutch Captain of a Ship to get his cargo back from a warehouse where its being held illegally. In doing so he be-friends Iorek Byrnison who helps Lee enter the warehouse using his excellent knowledge of craftsmanship or maybe “bearmanship” in this case, scratching a cross on the door after much tapping to find the weakest point then telling Lee to shoot at that point.

Philip Pullman is an excellent author as he's able to put a very realistic image in your head with his imaginative descriptions. In my view this is the mark of a great author and anyone wanting to enjoy some truly wonderful books should read all of his. These include “His Dark Materials”, “Lyra's Oxford” & “Once Upon a Time in the North”. Also having a game at the end of the book was a very nice touch, along with the letters from Lyra.

I hope you enjoy reading my review & enjoy Philip Pullman’s books even more.

Simon

2008-04-25T14:50:00.001+01:00

Mark Johnson II

David –

I finished the whole book, and I do read a lot. I’m a discerning reader. It’s a very good story and that’s a good endorsement. If it weren’t a good book I wouldn’t have read or finished it. I found some parts of it very disturbing. Especially about his childhood, the abuse and being hit by his father.

It rang a bell with me because it was something I’d experienced in my own childhood. It gave me a personal connection with the book.

I’ve also got some experience of the other bits in the book, the drugs and the alcohol abuse. Not that I was ever into these things myself but I know people who were. If anything I related more to how it would be to be on the receiving end of a person like Mark – his parents, siblings, friends etc. I could see it from their point of view – having seen other people in a similar situation. I heard of people whose partners use a lot of drugs.

I thought the descriptions of drug use in the book were very accurate. I’ve seen that in other people. It was obviously upsetting and rough on them – especially if they were on the receiving end of aggression, whether deliberate or accidental, from the abuser. Sometimes when people are withdrawing, they can lash out without really knowing they are doing so – for example they may thrash about and kick out in their sleep. I’ve known people who’ve had a few bruises from that.

But I know, as in Mark’s book, low as things might get, it’s never completely hopeless, there is hope at the end of the tunnel.

I wish there were more books on the market that showed people in his situation. They help other people understand what’s going on. Some people may judge others without even knowing what really up. The ordinary man or woman in the street often judges people like Mark harshly – so maybe his book will help. It would open their eyes to what actually happens in the world. Mark did a very good job. I am looking forward to meeting the author. It’s not so much that I have any questions of him but I would praise him for what he’s done – putting his life down in a book – it’s a very brave of him to do it.

Tips on Reviewing

2008-04-08T14:40:00.010+01:00

Oxford Gatehouse & Night Shelter Bookclub with Mark Johnson at the
Sunday Times Oxford Literary festival

Mark Johnson turned out to be a really good bloke - as you can maybe see from all the photos on this page and via the link to Isisbridge mega collection on Flickr (See link at the end). If you read the book you'll know that he finally got clean and restarted his own Tree Surgery business. Although since he wrote that he's sold the business and works full time for the Prince's Trust where he uses his experience to advise on offender issues and programmes. As you might imagine, his input is going to be different to that which comes from "The Great and the Good".

More photos on the Gatehouse Website and watch this space for more interviews.

Isis Bridge's wonderful photos - including some from the recent Bookclub meeting with Mark Johnson

2008-02-09T15:20:00.007Z

Oxford Gatehouse & Oxford Night Shelter -

Readers Group/Book Club

Mark Johnson, Wasted

Meet the author Mark Johnson at 2.00pm on Thursday 3 April
at Christ Church College, followed by tea in the marquee.

We can meet people at the main gates.
He's also speaking in the evening & anyone interested
can ask for a free ticket.

Andrew W Smith
Project Director, the Gatehouse
18 St Michael's Street
Oxford OX1 2DU

0777 3333 728
www.oxfordgatehouse.org

-----------------------------------------------------
We’re talking about the book “Wasted”

by Mark Johnson.

Si: It was very good, it was quite harrowing in some parts, especially in some parts, especially for me personally, having the same experiences as him, being homeless and being a drug user, although I’m not using at the moment.

CM: So were some of the experiences in the book, ones that you’d experienced yourself?

Si: Definitely, especially that first night, of sleeping on the streets. I was in Oxford, he was in London, but even so he describes how he was very scared and shocked that first night. It’s quite a shock to realise that you’re homeless and that you really have no where to go.

CM: When he had his first night on the streets in London, he had someone to help him out – someone who was already sleeping rough and knew the ropes – did that kind of thing happen to you?

Si: No, I was completely alone. I knew other homeless people but there wasn’t anyone there when I went to sleep rough. I slept in the underground car park at Gloucester green. The reason I did that was that you get the heat of the cars, when you go there its warm but by six o’clock in the morning its quite cold and you get woken up by the sound of the first cars coming in. That’s probably not too healthy with the carbon monoxide coming from the exhausts. I think a lot of people end up taking drugs or alchohol on the streets to numb the effects of sleeping rough. The mental stress of noting having anywhere to go.

Particularly in the book, “Wasted” by Mark Johnson, he had a lot of problems when he was young; his dad beat him up, that kind of thing. I didn’t have that kind of thing at all. My parents were good people, they are still married and there was no abuse. In my family we may have been smacked if we were naughty but we were never kicked or punched so there was never any physical abuse.

CM: At various points in the book Mark goes back to his his family and they try to help him out, did that happen to you.

Si: My parents were very supportive at first but because of my addiction, I stole from them on more than one occasion. At one point when I was withdrawing from drugs, I stole my Dad’s bankcard and helped myself to 40 quid. It was the minimum I needed to get “well” and to get into Oxford to score. The bank prosecuted me and I ended up with eighteen months probation. I did the OSAP (Offender Substance Abuse Programme). So when I went home after that and my dad had had a phone call from his bank, he wouldn’t let me in and so I was officially kicked out.

But now I’m getting on with my parents and reducing my methadone down to 65 milligrammes a day from 95 to 65 in 5ml drops
I’m not using, the last time I used was 5th February.

CM: Well done. The descriptions of drug use in Mark’s book, are they true to life??

Si: Very accurate, really bang on, 100%.

CM: it had the ring of truth about it.

Si: Absolutely, 100%! I didn’t do snowballs – crack and heroin – I would smoke crack and inject heroin. I started by smoking heroin but then moved on to injecting. The fastest way to insanity is to inject crack. I tried a snowball once. It’s a euphoric feeling followed by a numbness brought on by the heroin. You feel the crack first then the heroin. From what he described in the book it was very similar, very accurate.

CM: It’s not all negative is it, he does talk about why people do it. The visions he had when he was in the rave scene. . .

Si: Oh yes, I used to go to Raves; LSD was my drug of choice when I was fourteen. And I think it opened my mind quite a lot but I don’t think it lead on to taking hard drugs, and I don’t think cannabis did either, because I was a heavy cannabis user. I used to sell it as well. Mark did that too, he used to travel around dealing. And that’s it, if you can fund your habit you don’t think what its going to be like when you’re ill,. But eventually your money dries up. On the day before Valentines day about four years ago I got dumped by my girlfriend and mugged by Asian rude boys. And that led to me not being able to pay my dealer who I owed 1900 quid to. So I spent all my profits on crack and heroin, about 100 quid every day for fifteen months, when my money supply run out, I had to go beg for money, which is not a very good thing to have to do.

CM: In the book Mark does some incredible dangerous things, hanging out with criminal types, stealing drugs

Si: I haven’t experience that but I can imagine being in that situation. I’ve never dealt class A but he would have been under the thumb as well from his dealer. They have a lot of power over you if you are addicted to a substance like crack cocaine or heroin.

CM: In the book he goes very, very low. There’s a scene in the book where he’s got his baby on the back seat of the car

Si: He leaves his kid in the flat when he goes out to score. You see for me personally if I had a kid, especially with my current girlfriend who doesn’t even smoke tobacco, I think that would be the saving thing, that would be it, I wouldn’t go near drugs every again. There’s always a danger I could relapse – I’m not completely clean yet.

CM: I got that impression from the book – it’s a bit stop go – takes a lot of attempts before he finally stops using.

Si: Yeah - there’s one bit where he’s on his way to detox services and he finds twenty quid and goes off to score instead. Money is my biggest trigger. I give all my money to my girlfriend on “giroday” so I can save up for something nice, maybe driving lessons or something for the flat.

CM: In the book Mark buy lots of expensive climbing equipment that just sits in the corner of the flat unused.

Si: Yeah but now he’s a successful tree surgeon.

Reading that book for me, sometimes I think I’m never going to get off opiates, never going to get clean. I’m in the very early stages of recovery. I’ve been maintained on methadone for a long time. When I got to the end of the book it gave me hope. He goes very low, its very harrowing and especially if you are on those drugs. You think god I’m never gonna get out of this. Opiates affect the pain receptors that make withdrawal one of the worst feelings in the world. You get feelings in your arms and legs like you’ve got to shake them out. I was banging my arms and legs on the sides of the bed, causing myself pain to distract myself from the pain of withdrawal. That’s why it’s so difficult to get off. People are scared of what that process will be like. He must have known that he could just walk out and score – like at the beginning of the book, he says he’s going to walk out of rehab because he feels so rough.

I’d recommend that book to anyone, drug user or non drug user. I want my girlfriend read it, so she knows what to expect. So it goes low but it shows there is hope, and you can get out of the addiction. Even though I can explain it to her, reading that book gives it a useful perspective.

I read a lot of books, mainly stuff like “The Wheel of Time” series by Robert Jordan. “Wasted” is a really good book, really helpful, really accurate. I’m looking forward to meeting the author.
--------------------------------

MARK JOHNSON will also be interviewed by MARCUS MOORE
in the evening
Wasted
Thursday 3rd April, 6.30 pm
Festival Room 2, Christ Church
£6.30 (we have some tickets for this session too)

Beaten as a child, constantly in trouble at school, Mark Johnson began stealing at seven, was drinking by the age of eight, took his first hit of heroin aged eleven and ended up in Portland prison as a young man. In this searingly honest memoir, Mark chronicles his descent into the depths of addiction and criminality, and his astonishing recovery. Today, he runs his own thriving tree-surgery business, employing and helping other recovering addicts. His story is at once shocking and inspiring – a compelling account of one man's struggle to save himself, and help save others in the process.

----------------------------

2008-01-12T11:23:00.000Z

GHOSTGIRL by Torey Heyden (reviewed by Dolphino)
ISBN 0-00-721864-8

If you want a read that takes you through an emotional roller coaster and makes you think about the story aswell then this is the book for you. Without giving too much away it's a true story of Torey Hayden's time as a teacher of children with special needs.

You get to know the 4 children in her class aswell as Jadie who is the youg child that the story is about. Jadie thinks she can make herself into a ghost and can see the ghost of her friend. She is a voluntry mute because of what is happening to her behind closed doors.

Torey establishes a relationship of trust with her and soon finds out that all is not what it seems. I can guarantee that by the middle of the book you will be shocked but by the end you will be in tears both of relief for her and sadness for the other characters.

Enjoy! I found it hard to put down.

Dolphino

2007-12-04T14:48:00.001Z

ABCTALES AUTUMN NEWSLETTER------------

Dear ABCtales member,

Thereâ€™s some great things happening on ABCtales at the moment so I
thought it
was time to alert you all to them.

First of all we have a new competition based around the theme of
â€˜nostalgiaâ€™. Eminent author Paul Reizin will be the judge, the
closing date
is 22nd December (but get writing now!) and thereâ€™s different
sections for
poetry and short stories. For full details go here:
[http://www.abctales.com/node/567559]

We also recently passed the 15,000 member mark and our 15,000th member
turned
out to be Rachel Mbulwa Manâ€™geli who works in a Childrenâ€™s Library
in
Mombasa, Kenya. As a result weâ€™re appealing to all of you to send her
some
books â€“ full details can be found here:
[http://www.abctales.com/node/567506]

Do respond to this appeal if you can â€“ it is almost Christmas after
all!

Now, an apology for the problems weâ€™ve had over the past week. As a
result
the site has had an enforced upgrade and is running very fast and very
smoothly
at the moment. Every cloud has a silver lining!

Weâ€™ve had some fantastic new writers on the site of late and some of
them are
featured in our Stories and Poems of the Week which showcase the very
best of
ABCtales. If you havenâ€™t been around lately then catch up with some
truly
fantastic stories and poems here: [http://www.abctales.com/node/546293]
and
here: [http://www.abctales.com/node/546292]

This Spring will see the publication of major new novels from two
ABCtales
writers, Joe Dunthorne and Drew Gummerson â€“ more details of those
nearer the
time â€“ but for now you can read their work at:
[http://www.abctales.com/user/spack] and here:
[http://www.abctales.com/user/drew_gummerson]

And the last bit of good news concerns ABCtales member Juliet OC who
has been
awarded a â€˜Highly Commendedâ€™ in the Commonwealth Short Story
competition
for her piece â€˜In Armsâ€™. Congratulations to Juliet from all of us
â€“ for
full details of her incredible success see here:
http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/culturediversity/shortstory/cssc20...
[http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/culturediversity/shortstory/cssc2007results/]

Julietâ€™s latest powerful story on ABC can be found here:
[http://www.abctales.com/story/juliet-oc/just-here-now]

So, loads of good news and more to come in the very near future I
trust!

All the very best,
Tony Cook and the team.

2006-12-09T18:45:00.000Z

christian-bloggers.com Top Story:

A small group of us have started a new site called Christian Bloggers. Our prayer and intent is to bring Christians closer together, and make a positive contribution to the Internet community. While many of us have different "theologies", we all share one true saviour.

Would you be interested in joining Christian Bloggers? Please take a few minutes to have a look at what we are trying to do, and if you are interested, there is a sign up page to get the ball rolling. We would greatly appreciate your support in this endeavour.

May God Bless you and your blogging efforts. We look forward to hearing from you.

Craig Cantin
Christian Bloggers
info@christian-bloggers.com

2006-05-11T10:31:00.000+01:00

'I honestly don't know what Richard Branson is going to say that we haven't already f***ing heard!'

Screw it: Let's Do It –
Lessons in Life by Richard Branson
Questionaire -
email your responses to gatehouse_gatehouse@yahoo.com
or use the feedback function on this blog

Here's some responses:

Did you like the book?
Yes, very readable - Duncan/Steppin Stones
Yes - Lee/ECH

Could you relate to RB's life story?
Not really - Duncan/Steppin Stones
I could relate to RB, a little bit - Lee/ECH

Would you regard RB as a role model or is his life just too different?
Yes, but he also had advantages - Duncan/Steppin Stones

Did you like the RB that emerged in the book?
Yes, he gave credit to others and is loyal - Duncan/Steppin Stones
I liked the RB that emerged in the book.
I think that he gave good credit to others and was loyal - Lee/ECH

Were there things that happened to RB's in his book that you've also experienced – perhaps from his childhood. If so can you say more?
Yes, some. doing things differently to others but making
my dreams come true - Duncan/Steppin Stones

Did the evoke any painful memories or experiences? If so can you say more?
Yes (undisclosed)
Yes the book evoked painful memories - Lee/ECH

Did RB come across as an honest person?
Yes - Duncan/Steppin Stones
Yes, RB came across an an honest person - Lee/ECH

Did you know that RB has learning difficulties – ie `Dyslexia'?
From reading the book Knowing this, does it change your view of him and his book?
Yes
No I didn't know he had dyslexia, but didn't change my view of him - Lee/ECH

Do you read the Big Issue (be honest)
Rarely - Duncan/Steppin Stones
No I don't read the Big Issue - Lee/ECH

The Big Issue has added its support to a marketing campaign called `Quick Reads'. This book is an example. The Big Issue's Jon Bird's has also written something for the campaign. The aim of Quick Reads is to encourage people to read more. Do you think this is a good idea?
Yes - Duncan/Steppin Stones
Yes It's a good idea to encourage people to read more, by using the Quick Reads - Lee/ECH

Would you prefer a more challenging book or were you happy with the RB biography?
A choice of easy and more challenging
Yes I like both easy and challenging reads - Lee/ECH

Would you recommend this book to anyone else?
Yes - Duncan/Steppin Stones

Would you like to meet him?
Yes but he's a very busy man and may not be available - Duncan/Steppin Stones
Yes I'd like to meet him, and do business with him - Lee/ECH

- - - - -

Dear All

I've done a questionaire for readers of the above title -
please do answer and return if you will.
chris

The Questions
Did you like the book?

Could you relate to RB’s life story?

Would you regard RB as a role model or is his life just too different?

Did you like the RB that emerged in the book?

Were there things that happened to RB’s in his book that you’ve also experienced – perhaps from his childhood. If so can you say more?

Did the evoke any painful memories or experiences? If so can you say more?

Did RB come across as an honest person?

Did you know that RB has learning difficulties – ie ‘Dyslexia’?

Knowing this, does it change your view of him and his book?

Do you read the Big Issue (be honest)?

The Big Issue has added its support to a marketing campaign called ‘Quick Reads’. This book is an example. The Big Issue’s Jon Bird has also written something for the campaign. The aim of Quick Reads is to encourage people to read more. Do you think this is a good idea?

Would you prefer a more challenging book or were you happy with the RB biography.

Do you have an suggestions for a future Bookclub choice.
Would you recommend this book to anyone else?

Would you like to meet him?

Any other comments?

Gatehouse bookclub member

Screw It, Let's Do It

Hi everyone!

At Gatehouse we're following Stepping Stones's lead in going with the Richard Branson book
Screw it, let's do it! People identify with him as a role model, especially if they're byslexic (whoops!). The book is one of the Quick Reads and costs £2.99 - £1.00 less with one of Fiona's tokens.

I have half a dozen copies to be given out and have produced the attached poster. Chris will come in on Sundays again and talk to people. Reviews can be put up on the websitre as we did with Stuart.

I'm seriously looking into how we might get Richard to meet the group, and Chris is contacting the publisher for some freebies.

Meanwhile plans for a city-wide newsletter/magazine are taking shape. A group of Gatehouse volunteers are collecting ideas from homeless guests.

Best wishes to everyone.
Do we want to get together in a week or two to catch up? Maybe at SSC?

@Andrew

Andrew W Smith
Project Director, Gatehouse

0777 3333 728
www.oxfordgatehouse.org

2006-04-20T14:10:00.000+01:00

Gatehouse Poetry Club

One Art

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

The practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

...Even losing (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

E. Bishop

Are you interested in a poetry-reading group??
We meet thursdays from 6:30-7:00pm at the Gatehouse.
We all bring a piece of poetry to share -
it does not have to be something you wrote, but it could be!
If you are interested or want to find out more, just join us any thursday.
You are most welcome!
Patricia

2006-03-28T11:19:00.000+01:00

Gatehouse & Stepping Stones Bookclub

If you like reading books,
seeing films,
going to gigs
or plays
and discussing them
you are invited our Bookclub.
Talk to or email:
Bruce (moodyseptic@hotmail.com),
Chris (gatehouse_gatehouse@yahoo.co.uk)
Andrew (gateho@aol.com)

Suggestions for next book:

Charlotte's List

With the movie 'Capote', theres more interest in his
brilliant journalistic novel 'In Cold Blood', which
could open eyes to more ideas on the cult of the
outsider and the writing of a non fiction
novel...though this is quite a dense book.
One way to approach this is reading one of Capotes
short stories 'Music for Chameleons',
which is a prison interview with Bobby
Beausoleil...reading this could generate more interest
in 'In Cold Blood' and could promote a lot of
discussion.

Capote; despite being as camp as hell he went into small cells with
notorious killers...Sirhan Sirhan/Bobby Beausoleil
and others, and asked really bolshie questions;
situations that would freak out the most macho of men.
Capote may have been gay, but he had bollocks...and
also had a life that was very alienated and
traumatic...the proverbial outsider.
(I have this short story and could photocopy it for
you.)

Philip K Dicks paranoic novel 'Through A Scanner
Darkly' is surreal, has a drug and paranoia angle but
is also interesting look at the concept of police
states.

Angela Carter though considered a mainly feminist
author is fab, ditto Isabelle Allende (and again uses
a mix of realism and fantasy that could inspire).

Primo Levis 'The Periodic Table'about Auschwitz is
incredible, and gives a lot of insight into surviving
trauma and the guilt that goes with it...something
that helped me out a lot when I was pulling myself out
of my hole and off the streets.

Upton Sinclairs book, 'the Jungle' is amazing and the
fact it helped change legislation at that time makes
it more so,
Its pretty accesssible too.

Orwells 'Down and Out...' goes without saying...could
provoke a rewrite!

'Fear and Loathing in Las vegas' is a good one in some
ways as it could open the discussion up to gonzo
journalism and its fun and accessible.

'Morvern Callar' (can't remember the author) is very
good, and more contemporary, and looks at the
personality/morality disassocation that e culture
produces in a much more personal and less noisy way
than Irving Walsh.

' The Beach' by Alex Garland is a good read and would
probably be appreciated and mulled over.

Read on to see some of the comments from our last book choice:
‘Stuart a Life Backwards’ by Alexander Masters.
Tells the story of a friendship between a writer and illustrator (‘a middle class scum ponce, if you want to be honest about it, Alexander) and a chaotic, knife-wielding beggar whom he gets to know during a campaign to release two charity workers from prison. We have a limited number of review copies to give away.

2006-03-22T18:04:00.000Z

Meeting with Alexander Masters

Alexander came along to a special session of the Bookclub on 27th March at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival. He seemed a nice enough chap and took our various comments in good part - saying later that some of his harshest critics were now homeless people - and mentioning specifically the session he had just with us during which various points were made - for and against the book:

Such as:
'The book goes on a bit - too wordy'

'Is it all true or has the author made some of it up?'
To which Alexander assured us it was all true,
and that he had resisted attempts to jazz it up.

Others thought:
'The book is more than fair to Stuart - perhaps too fair?

'It does challenge people's views about homelessness - but some of the bad language is a bit much and is going to confirm a lot of prejudice - not all homeless are so crude or impolite.'

Even so:
Many have recommended the book to friends and wished they could have met Stuart to see what he was really like.

Many thought it was a story that really needed to be told and were happy that Alexander had managed to tell it like it is - and wanted to know whether that was a common reaction to the book?

Others thought that no book can really tell the whole story - you have to have done it (been homeless and all the other things) to really get it - so the book is a pale reflection of the reality ? Some thought the author had failed to show enough of the positive side to homelessness. It isn't all tough - some even thought Stuart seemed partially to blame for his predicament - he had some good chances but then blew them - one rough sleeper thought they would have done better had they had Stuart's chances - several thought that there was an element of 'bad luck' in being homeless - all this tends to strengthen people's view about the homeless - ie that they are to blame for their own troubles although others thought it was -
whats your opinion - was there anything in stuart's life that was of value??

Again - the issue of bad luck or not enough good luck was what many see as the crucial factor in homelessness. The book is supposed to be about the homeless but Stuart isn't really homeless - he has a nice flat, etc - which many of oxford's real rough sleepers would really die for?

Many people liked what they read about Stuart but weren't so sure about the author. Some felt the author's 'voice' got in the way of Stuart's Others thought Alexander was a bit of a mystery although in the time we spent grilling him, we got to know him and what made him tick a lot better. I guess we's all want to thank Alexander for writing such a thought provoking book and for agreeing to spend so much time responding to our comments whilst defending his own corner so eloquently

2006-03-13T18:39:00.000Z

Stuart: A Life Backwards (Jane's Questionaire)
(Please leave a comment, see previous comments & reviews below)

Is this book fair?

Is it possible to portray Stuart fairly, given that he's a pretty complicated guy?

Will this book challenge people's attitudes and opinions of people who are homeless?

Would you recommend this book to anyone else?

Would you like to go for a pint/coffee with Stuart? With Masters?
(This will be happening on monday 27th March)

There's a real contrast between the author's voice and Stuarts
- is this good?

What about Master's categories of homelessness?
Its a bit 'us' and 'them' (e.g. he writes "It
isn't a bedsit and employment they need; it is a
new brain." ). Is this too easy? Is he just re-enforcing stereotypes?

Masters seems to want to know why Stuart is the
way he is (aka someone/something to blame). Is
this the right question to be asking? Would knowing ‘why’ make a
difference?

Masters should have written about his own life,
its a bit parasitic to write about someone elses?
Has Master taken advantage of Stuart?

Based on what we learn about him, would Stuart like this book?

2006-03-13T18:38:00.000Z

gatehouse virtual community

2006-03-12T10:40:00.000Z

More on Stuart a Life Backwards
(This time from Stepping Stones)

Because the book is written "backwards" it's harder to be
sympathetic with Stuart, 'tho it's interesting stylewise. It makes it
appear that his childhood experiences with school, bullying,abuse, and pain are like mitigation for later behavior rather than an understandable basis for his path to violence,substance abuse,crime,etc.

Though Masters himself is from a different world,and he did veer from being sympathetic to "cut and dried" in his attitude to homelessness I think Stuart would mostly liked the book - though there could have been more humorous anecdotes, which may have stopped the book dragging a bit after the midway point.

Many homeless people have a sharp/"near the knuckle" sense of humour which can be essential to survival/dealing with their situation.

As to the author's assertion that the homeless "need a new brain", apart from showing up his occasional callousness, he could be right in a way. Unfortunately, after any long period of time people become institutionalized and any treatment like
perhaps cognitive behavior therapy (if offered!) become harder to gain
positive results from - not to mention that people with chaotic lifestyles
would find it near impossible to take part in such regular treatments.

I hope this book might make people think about their attitudes to homelessness, but it may well confirm things they already thought as well. I
would happily have a coffee with either of the 2!....cheers,

B
pp (Stepping Stones)

2006-01-30T18:47:00.000Z

Stuart: A Life backwards
By Alexander Masters

ISBN 0007200374, Price £7.99 01/02/2006, Perennial / HarperCollins

A collective review, facilitated by Chris
with the help of (so far) James, Lisa, Saleem, Sean, & Shaun.

I could see why some of Oxford’s ‘Homeless’ might find this book irritating, perhaps even angry making. All the more reason I’d say, why it should be read by those whom it claims to describe. The book’s subject, lives, or should I say lived in Cambridge before his suicide in ??

It’s wednesday night and my regular session with the Gatehouse laptop ‘café’. The computers are busy but no one needs my assistance at that moment. James, one of Oxford’s ‘homeless' poets, plops himself down beside me for a chat (I’m not sure how he feels about the label ‘homeless poet’, hence the inverted commas.)

James knew all about Masters’ book. Initially he’d been a fan but after the serialisation on BBC Radio Four, he was beginning to find it a bit of a wind up.

‘It’s written for a particular, intellectual market ‘ was his opening gambit. I wonder who he has in mind – me perhaps or even the other ‘helpers’ at the Gatehouse? ‘Far too negative.’ he says. ‘Nihilistic?’ I interject. ‘Yes that too but mostly just negative’. He went on to tell me how many ‘homeless’ people are quite positive about what they are doing. Maybe it’s time to get rid of the word, ‘homeless’ it’s a bit of a trap, a stereotype. The ‘homeless’ are trapped by the word and trapped by the ‘homeless industry’. I’d heard similar views expressed by John Bird in the pages of the Big Issue, in his book and indeed at last year’s special lecture at the literary festival. Homeless industry – there’s some truth in that – work on this gatehouse literary project has definitely become part of my livelihood - there’s no way around it. But then again so what? And what’s the alternative? And indeed, the whole of this very issue is exposed, warts and all, in Masters’ book. But there again, that’s what you’d expect from a ‘smart alec’ journalist?

Maybe we need another word, maybe we need to start thinking of it more the way they do in Ireland – they have transients, travellers or something like that, but somehow it’s not such a fixation, just like being in transit from one state to another – and therefore in need of some temporary assistance.

I see James’s point but it’s a tricky one. On reflection I wondered whether this new word needed something of vibe ‘self-employed’ which does, as they say, cover a multitude of ‘sins.’ Personally I think the rot really set in after the 1980s, when proper jobs began to disappear, and a whole bunch of us became ‘self-employed’ or if you are very middle class, ‘freelance’. In the world of the ‘self-employed, there are winners, losers and those getting by OK. Afterall, we all do need to live simpler less wasteful lives – sooner or later. The writing is surely on the wall for the age of endless consuming?

Sunday night - back at the Gatehouse, this time armed with copies of the paperback and the enticement of a free copy for anyone who will read it and share their opinions. Déjà vu, walking round the tables with an earnest expression and piles of worthy books – don’t go there. I end up giving my own copy away to one of the computer club regulars. He reads the back cover blurb and likes what he sees. He tells me how a writer takes a risk when he tells such a story. Jimmie Boyle did that back in the 1970s and suffered for his ‘sins’. So respect for anyone who has the bottle to tell it like it is. And that really is respect from someone who undoubtedly has their own, equally interesting tale to tell and indeed the desire to do so, so watch this space.

Later:
It's a week or two since we got our first few copies of the book. Today another dozen arrived courtesy of the publisher. The author is speaking at the Oxford Sunday Times Literary festival in March, and will lead a reader's group before his lecture. So we will be well briefed! Opinions about the books are still quite mixed, but everyone is still reading, which tells you something I suppose. It's becoming a common refrain now, that all the reader feel that Stuart, who seems so articulate, should have been 'allowed' to tell his own story rather than being the subject for someone else's writing. Perhaps it is a tribute to Masters talents as writer that he is able to bring Stuart to life so convincingly that you want him to speak for himself. Only of course he can't - I don't think I'm giving away too much if I say the book ends with Stuart's suicide.

Well these minor faults aside, there is still something quite compelling about this book. Maybe it's those little touches - like now I know what those little brass studs are you see outside many london buildings. The bureaucrats equivalent of the 'line in the sand.' - Step over that and you're nicked! Or the secret life of multistorey carparks (maybe that should be the multistories) - places I tend to avoid if I can - especially the one in Oxford's Westgate centre - ever since a friend went off to fetch his car and came back with horror stories of shopping trollies hurled from the top floor! That these concrete monstrosities should have a secret life was a revelation to me - that 'rough-sleepers' might actually live there - or find some sort of sanctuary there when the weather is bad. Most of Oxford 'rough-sleepers' seem to camp out on the various meadows that encircle the town. It's what i'd do - I much rather camp in a wood than take my chances in the carpark or shop doorway.

Preview this book on Google Print

2006-01-25T21:09:00.000Z

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Work in progress by Shaun

The night is dark inky black, suddenly bright searchlights pierce the blackness. About 300 Heinkels and Messerschmitts fly in formation. Bombs fall, shrapnel shells burst into the formation of aircraft. Some of the planes are hit by gunfire and burst into flames and crash upon the houses of London below. The year is 1940 this is the Blitz.World War two is one year old. A boy stairs out of a window as bombs fall and explode in the street. A woman runs gathering her four children and rushes out to the Anderson Shelter in the Garden. This is the opening scene from the film The Chronicles of NARNIA, {The Lion, theWitch and the Wardrobe}.

Ever since I became a Christian 13 years ago the one name I have always here is C.S.LEWIS. I have read the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. But this year 2005 the story came to life on the big screen.

The next scene is the train station where thousands of children our being evacuated into the countryside because of the war in the cities. Then we see a beautiful old steam train ploughing threw the English countryside. The children are dropped at a rural station and are picked up by Mrs Macready in an old horse and cart. Then the journey begins to the big old mansion. The children then settle in to big house. One day while playing a game of hide and seek the big adventure begins. Lucy cannot find a place to hide so she runs into the room where the wardrobe is.

The wardrobe stands against the wall of a long room and covered over by a canvas sheet. Lucy pulls off the sheet and enters the wardrobe to hide. Moving further and further backwards Lucy brushes up against fur coats and then begins to feel something that is shaper, bristly like trees. Lucy turns around and she has entered the wintry land of Narnia. Here she meets a faun called Mr Tumnus they have a nice tea together and Lucy goes back to the Wardrobe.

On her return her brothers Peter and Edmund and her sister Susan do not believe her story. Lucy goes back to Narnia later on this time Edmund goes after her and he meets the Witch and he comes under her power. She tricks Edmund into believing it would be a good idea to bring the other children to her palace. The witch then leaves and he meets up with Lucy. They go back together through the wardrobe and Edmund does not tell the truth, at this Lucy cries.

Later on all four of the Pevensie enter Narnia by hiding in the wardrobe after an accident. Mr Tumnus is taken prisoner by secret police, and then the children meet a pair of talking beavers who take them for some shelter. The beavers then tell them that when two sons of Adam and daughters of Eve accept the four thrones of Narnia this will overthrow the witch’s power.

The story moves fast, the beavers then say that Aslan the Lion and founder of Narnia are on the move. Edmund under witches spell and rushes of to meet her. Meanwhile Peter, Susan and Lucy find Edmund is missing from the beavers home. They then set out to find Aslan and they do after meeting Father Christmas on the way. Edmond finds the witches castle but is taken prisoner, but rescued before he dew to be killed. Then the witch calls for a truce and demands Edmunds return because he is a traitor. The witch is right to demand this because of ancient law. Aslan permits it because witch does not know everything. Aslan takes Edmunds place and is killed. But Aslan comes back to life, and he rushes to the big battle with some reinforcements that he has set free. He then kills the witch and the Pevensie children are made Kings and Queens of Narnia. They live long time they reach adulthood before going back through wardrobe and they are children again in there owe time. This then is the end of first adventure in Narnia will not be the last but that another story.

As a Christian I have read the Bible and I could see the parallels between scripture and film. You could see the Gospel themes of betrayal, death, resurrection and redemption. The way that Aslan gave himself for Edmund and way the stone spilt in two. Then Aslan came back to life on the third day. This is good film and I thoroughly recommend in to anyone as a family film.

Gatehouse Reviews

Oxford Gatehouse & Oxford Night Shelter - Readers Group/Book Club

Oxford Gatehouse & Oxford Night Shelter -

Readers Group/Book Club