Oxford Times
A letter in The Oxford Times:
Moved to tears
'Sir
— I would like to bring to your attention a wonderful poetry book that I
have recently read. It is called Poems from Grace Cottage, and is
written by a local poet called Patricia Huth Ellis (Charlbury). This is
the first poetry book that I have read since leaving school 30 years
ago.
It was lent to me by a friend who also loved it and was desperate for me to read it too.
My
initial reaction was "Oh no not poetry!", but it's a small book, and I
thought I would give it a go. It's absolutely brilliant! I have it by my
bedside, and read and re-read it most nights.
The poems are very
readable, and cover a broad variety of subjects. I found I could relate
to many of them and was moved to tears by one of them. I am so excited
to be reading poetry after all these years, that I wanted to share my
experience with others.'
-Katie Townsend
Chadlington
Elizabeth Howard
'Really, really special'.
Andrew Lawson, photographer
'Delightful book. It is a pure pleasure'.
Di Alexander, Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard
Poems from Grace Cottage, by Patricia Huth
Ellis, is a thoughtful volume of poetry from someone who feels deeply
about life, love and the knocks that make people the way they are.
The
poems range widely, from the miracle of a tiny swallow hatching in
Suffolk and returning year after year to its birthplace, to the despair
of a redundant shipyard worker from Middlesbrough.
There are poems about the countryside, about love or the lack of it,
about the need of human beings for one another, about cruelty and
thoughtlessness.
Patricia Huth Ellis
puts a lot of herself into her poems. She describes being the odd one
out at school, the trauma of leaving a much-loved house, and the pain of
admitting to her granddaughter that, yes, she did know Grandpa, she had
lived with him for 20 years.
Less painful subjects, like trying
to get to sleep and love of England, are treated with the same
thoughtfulness, and terrible events like the Aberfan disaster are made even more poignant by her handling of them.
The
best thing about this poetry is that the reader can so easily identify
with it. It's not always easy to think, "That's just how I feel," but
you can't help it when reading Patricia's heartfelt pieces.
This is a book which you might buy as a gift, have a sneaky peep at it and then keep it for yourself.
Mary Sheepshanks, Novelist and Poet
'They are moving, thought-provoking, occasionally off-beat, accessible,
witty, hit-the-emotional-nail-on-the-head, observant and entertaining.
And they are poetry. I love them.'
Vera Stone
'The poems are like delicate water-colours. I know your poetical images
will stay with me and will read your lines again and again.'
Pat Devlin, Warrington
These poems should have a wide appeal as they are about everyday
occurences & feelings, & most of us can identify with the
emotions expressed. They couple simplicity of style with profundity of
meaning; one of the shortest, "Love Unlocked", offers one of nicest
meanings of love I have ever read.
