📖 Book Review ~ January Conversations, with dogs by Di Slaney

Valley Press
January 2025

Illustrations by Jane Burn

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book

In this tender, observational journey through the rhythms of winter walks and quiet companionship, Di Slaney captures the feeling of crisp air, frosted fields, and the warmth of connection – inviting readers to reflect on the solace of routine and the stories carried by every wagging tail.

📖 My Review…

Those who know me understand that I am more of a cat lover than I am a dog person however, I enjoy country walks and come upon many interesting people out walking their dogs and am often struck by the way that dog walkers have a penchant for conversation and how they all seem to know each other and how they often wonder where my dog is as if walking without a dog is rather lonely.

Starting on January 5th, and taking us through to the 25th January, each poem is accompanied by a lovely bright illustration which captures the essence of each poem so beautifully that it becomes a real delight to turn each page. Each poem is so well observed, I felt as if I was alongside the author, and her dog, as they walk their walks through muddy fields, glimpsing hawks, and runners and tall men with Mohican haircuts. The verses are delicately done, spare of words, sometimes succinct but always emotive with a real sense of purpose. Difficult to choose a favourite as they all deserve praise but I think 20th January and meeting a ‘widowed friend in the wood’ was so poignant, it stuck with me, and needed more than one reading.

A way with words is a phrase much used, often maligned, as it’s only when you read something by someone who really does have a way with words that you appreciate what a privilege it is to read something so beautifully put together. Coming in at forty-two pages, with twenty-one poems, you can comfortably read the poems in just a short time and yet I found myself going back over the ones I had read, maybe reading the pamphlet a couple of times and finding something different to observe each time. 

January Conversations, with dogs would make a lovely gift for anyone who likes dogs, walking in nature or just appreciating the gentle observations of country life.

About the Author

Di Slaney lives in an ancient farmhouse on the edge of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, where she runs livestock sanctuary Manor Farm Charitable Trust and independent publisher Candlestick Press. She has a degree in English and European Literature from the University of Warwick and an MA in Creative Writing from Nottingham Trent University. Di was the winner of The Plough Poetry Prize 2022, and her poems have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4, widely anthologised, and highly commended in the Forward Prize 2016 and Bridport Prize 2020. She is Poet in Residence at Nottinghamshire Local History Association.

Jane Burn is an award-winning poet, hybrid writer, artist and illustrator who lives for most of the year off-grid in Northumberland. Her illustrations have been used for many poetry book covers.

Website 

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