October’s Monthly Stories and Poems

There are two memoirists with Nigerian heritage in this months pack, each reflecting on what their family and cultural histories have supplied them with by way of tools for figuring out who they are – Poppy Okotcha, explores this through ancient stories and a connection with the natural world, while Glory Edim relates how certain American classic novels were her ‘instruction manual’ during childhood. These are just two contributions to this collection of literature which is concerned with finding a home for ourselves, whether that’s physical or psychological. Is recognition important? Do we need to recognise ourselves or our surroundings? Are we looking for a mirror or a doorway? Paintings, food, photographs – even horses! – offer paths into, or reflections on, past and future.

October’s selections are:

Stories & extracts

‘In the Library: an extract from Gather Me’ by Glory Edim

‘Displacement: Colombo to Jaffna, 1983: an extract from Brotherless Night’ by V. V. Ganeshanathan

‘October: Endings as Beginnings: an extract from A Wilder Way’ by Poppy Okotcha

‘The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse’ by William Saroyan

An extract from Lila by Marilynne Robinson

Poems

‘Drawn to Water’ by James Berry

‘Old Photographs’ by Manglesh Dabral

‘Horses at Midnight Without a Moon’ by Jack Gilbert

‘Like a Beacon’ by Grace Nichols

‘Portrait of My Great Grandmother as the Subject of Gericault's Monomie L'Envie’ by Roger Robinson

By Frances Macmillan (Literature Engagement Lead at The Reader)