My only other gripe is that Lloyd has chosen to write the book in an American-type accent, which seems odd for someone usually so proud of his broad Cardiff lilt. This aside, it’s an extremely well put together, immensely enjoyable read, whether you know much about Mitchum or not (I didn’t), and a good bet for 2009 Welsh Book of the Year. And as a champion of the city and literature of Cardiff, you can’t get much better
than Lloyd, even though his support of Cardiff City FC is slightly questionable. I was surprised that he lowered himself to asking me if I might have a spare ticket for the Cup Final! He’s one of those who seems to think that just coming from Cardiff and knowing a few results makes him a fan – we want to see your arse down the Bob Bank a bit more often Mr Robson!
Robert Minhinnick
Robert Minhinnick was an ever-present in my youth. If he wasn’t popping over to the school to read us his meandering tales of visits to foreign climes, and encouraging us to take up the creative whatsitsname, I would see him at Porthcawl’s Friends of the Earth office, where I did the odd spot of work, goaded into it by my friend Julian. I’m about as green as a Texan oil dealer these days, but I believed in it all at the time. Minhinnick had a scary wife, Margaret – even her accent was scary – who kept him and everyone else in check. Essentially, he hasn’t changed in all these years. He’s still a dour, serious, but
well intentioned man. He’s just been given 20 odd grand to write some essays about immigration. Yet, I discovered at the Hay festival, he’s tight with his money. I sat down with him and a friend of his who looked like he could just about afford the clothes he was wearing, yet he willingly parted with £2.50 for a mag. Minhinnick on the other hand had the cheek to assume he’d get a free copy! The nerve of the man! No-one gets a free copy of this magazine. Not even my girlfriend. But then, perhaps that’s one reason why I haven’t got one.
“Dinner Time” by Holly Howitt is available now from
www.cinnamonpress.com “Eva Shell” by Kate North is available now, also from
www.cinnamonpress.com ”Oh Dad!A Search for Robert Mitchum” by Lloyd Robson is available from
www.parthianbooks.co.uk
21
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32