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Title: Mean Time
Author: Carol Ann Duffy
Narrator: Carol Ann Duffy
Format: Unabridged
Length: 1 hr and 9 mins
Language: English
Release date: 09-21-17
Publisher: Macmillan Digital Audio
Genres: Drama & Poetry, Poetry
Publisher's Summary:
In her prize-winning fourth collection, Mean Time, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy dramatizes scenes from childhood, adolescence and adulthood, finding moments of grace or consolation in memory, love and language amid the complexities of life.
These are powerful poems of loss, betrayal and desire.
Members Reviews:
Three Stars
A bit TOO used!
Only the lucky
Carol Ann Duffy has the dubious distinction of being well-enough regarded, now, that former students who were CRUELLY FORCED into reading her poems will go flocking to the internet to air their wrongs. And here we are! There are four reviews from the same person who has apparently never learned how to single-click the 'submit form' button. This is not fair.
In reply:
"Not a red rose or a satin heart.
"I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love."
And more like it. If that's something that grabs you by the throat and hurls you to the ground--well--that's lucky, and your life is richer for it. If it doesn't--alas!
My Study of 'Mean Time'
Let me begin by saying that Carol Ann Duffy is a poetic genius. She stands alone in the world of poetry with an extreme confidence to tackle taboo subjects such as sex and disease etc. which other poets wouldn't dare speak about. For example; in `Litany' Duffy speaks of subjects that others don't tend to speak of in standard, conventional poems.
"where no one has cancer, or sex, or debts, and certainly not leukaemia , which no one could spell"
Some people may assume that Duffy's work represents the pessimistic views of today's society, but in my opinion, the way you interpret the poets is a personal touch to the understanding of the poems. Duffy has an extreme talent for stimulating the imagination and creativity of her audiences.
`Mean Time' reflects life experiences by Duffy herself which she interpreted and condensed into an anthology of profound poems. My personal favourite from `Mean Time' is `Welltread' as it represents schools in a stereotypical way. For example; in every school there is always one teacher that purposely attempts to intimidate his students, the one person everyone is scared of. This poem also portrays how small situations, when you are young can stay with you for the rest of your life.
"Still smoudlering"
This anthology is for you if you enjoy reading poems that are profound and have meaning. Carol Ann Duffy does not specialise in romanticism like many other conventional poets, but down-to-earth, realistic situations, which everyone can relate to in some shape or form.
I honestly enjoyed analysing this anthology of poems for my English literature A-level, but if I weren't specialising in English, I would've read `Mean Time' for pleasure anyway.
This anthology truly reflects Carol Ann Duffy's best work, and is well worth the time and money.
A review of Mean Time by Carol Ann Duffy.
I think the poems in 'Mean Time' are remarkable, so much so that I believe this selection should be made compulsory for GCSE level English. Duffy after all touches on so many tragedies endemic to the human condition which, while poignant, are also important to take note of. Such tragedies include our inability as humans to return to our past lives, a theme which is evocatively predominant in Beachcomber.
