Poetry Reading Group

Through unique and brilliant contemporary poetry books, we seek to exchange thoughts and ideas on how we interpreted the collections. The aim is for everyone to learn from each other and become better poetry readers.

Join us in the bookshop for an autumn evening of poetry discussion. For Black History Month this October, we have chosen the brand new collection from Caleb Femi: The Wickedest.

This is a minute-by-minute depiction of a typical night at a legendary monthly house party known as ‘The Wickedest’. Here, we meet a vivid cast of characters, young and old, all surfing a revelry steeped in camaraderie, community, desire and a spirit of jubilant defiance.

A modern epic, The Wickedest explores the institution of shoobs or house parties and their vital role within working-class communities. The poems range from classical English sonnets to experimental forms and are immersively interwoven with photographs, text messages and ephemera. The collection playfully dissembles parties – in space, sound, law and bureaucracy – to document the precarious existence of our nightlife venues.

In Caleb Femi’s inimitable, cinematic style the book builds to a crescendo that is at once euphoric and grief-soaked. The Wickedest calls us to cast our minds to the moments we stood surrounded by our loved ones on a dancefloor, arms outstretched, and freed ourselves from the weight of reality to float.

We welcome poetry readers of all levels, so if you're brand new to the form, we hope that this informal conversation will be interesting to you!

‘Atmospheric and intoxicating’ CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS

‘A joyous, lyrical read‘ YOMI ADEGOKE

‘Hypnotic and freewheeling’ GUARDIAN

Caleb Femi returns with a landmark, life-affirming new poetry collection, The Wickedest.