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Peace, Love and Potatoes
This volume by the inimitable poet, comedian and performer John Hegley brings together poetry, prose and drawings on the themes closest to his heart. Contemplating subjects from painting, France and family to Daleks and of course potatoes, these pieces are by turns funny, moving, thought-provoking - and always original.
120 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 10, 2017
A fantastic collection of poetry, funny, deep, moving and sometimes even unconventional, it has peace in it, love in it and potatoes in it.
The humour made me smile several times in it, sometimes it ends on a quirky one liner or quick thought out rhyme but sometimes it can be quite subtle.
The poems are mostly auto biographical but not maudlin (as a lot of poems that other writers write about themselves can be) but still touching, heartfelt and well balanced, and I really get a feeling with some poems that the poet is really exposing his soul to you, while still managing to keep the poems mostly in verse (or, at least, some semblance of thoughtful order in it's more prose like versus) which is an impressive poetic feat.
There are three main types of sorts of writing in here, with the normal poetry, then you have dialogue based script form and then mostly prose, but you get used to it and it adds a touch of the innovative and unconventional to the collection that sets it out from other collections.
The poems are often accompanied by illustrations (mostly) contributed by the author, that however lacking in technical artistic aesthetics (I think that's the point) add to the character and humour of the poems.
After seeing the writer perform live twice now, his brilliant engaging performances full of quirky humour and a lively energy, it is interesting to see how well his work adapts to paper, helped of course, with the additional ingredients I have noted before.
My favourite poem I have to say would be the shortest, and it is also the title poem, It's just, well, lovely.
The humour made me smile several times in it, sometimes it ends on a quirky one liner or quick thought out rhyme but sometimes it can be quite subtle.
The poems are mostly auto biographical but not maudlin (as a lot of poems that other writers write about themselves can be) but still touching, heartfelt and well balanced, and I really get a feeling with some poems that the poet is really exposing his soul to you, while still managing to keep the poems mostly in verse (or, at least, some semblance of thoughtful order in it's more prose like versus) which is an impressive poetic feat.
There are three main types of sorts of writing in here, with the normal poetry, then you have dialogue based script form and then mostly prose, but you get used to it and it adds a touch of the innovative and unconventional to the collection that sets it out from other collections.
The poems are often accompanied by illustrations (mostly) contributed by the author, that however lacking in technical artistic aesthetics (I think that's the point) add to the character and humour of the poems.
After seeing the writer perform live twice now, his brilliant engaging performances full of quirky humour and a lively energy, it is interesting to see how well his work adapts to paper, helped of course, with the additional ingredients I have noted before.
My favourite poem I have to say would be the shortest, and it is also the title poem, It's just, well, lovely.
July 21, 2018
When I first read Hegley I thought he was great - a second rate Roger McGough is still (potentially) a very good poet. But his stuff doesn't mean a whole lot to me these days. This was a crawl. A repetitive crawl. A very repetitive crawl...
May 17, 2023
An insight into the poet himself through poems, wordy snapshots and drawings. Deceptively simple but a bunch of writing that lingers with the reader and hints at the fact that Mr Hegley is really one of the romantic poets. A modern romantic with a comic twirl. Lovely.
September 9, 2025
I have a collection of John Hegley's poetry books. This has become my new favourite. It contains a range of themes, but is mainly about his family (and family history). It is interesting, humorous, thought provoking and very warm hearted.
November 7, 2018
A bittersweet collection which will always remind me of a wonderful evening seeing him live with somebody special.
November 7, 2019
Read aloud.
April 28, 2020
An eclectic mix of unexpected twists and turns. It writes it’s right. Sometimes It rhymes Sometimes it doesn’t. But every time it makes me think and smile enigmatically. Thanks4that John.
December 31, 2016
More of a 2.5
January 24, 2013
For my video review of the book, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkteXF...
Peace Love and Potatoes is a poetry anthology by John Hegley. I was attracted to the book initially because it was bright blue and orange and subsequently I ended up writing on the floor of Waterstones for 15 minutes screaming until I regained most of my sight. Once I did however the tagline of 'Comedy's Poet Laureate' meant that I had to buy it there and then. So naturally I went home and bought it off Amazon for cheaper.
The poems themselves are quite a hodgepodge of subject matters, though there are some running themes including family, grandparents, upbringing and childhood to name but a few. The poems can be heart warming and quite reflective one moment and then utterly bizarre and satirical the next. One example is the first poem in the book:
Read Alien Address.
As promised on the front cover as well, the poems are quite a humorous collection, but whilst some are funny as a side thought, others are dedicated to making you chuckle, often taking very bizarre scenarios and even making some recommendations on the best ways to keep your temper in check:
pg 94.
The collections also contains a few nods to literary greats such as Daniel Defoe and John Keats, indeed the latter the collection dedicates no less than three poems to. For me though the slightly tongue in cheek pop culture references are what makes the poems for me, some are very nostalgic and slightly escape me if I'm honest, where as others, are very modern:
pg. 95
And just as if this liberating collection of frantic free-verse and desperately funny poems wasn't enough on its own, the collection is peppered with several illustrations credited as 'largely by the author'. The illustrations themselves are pretty child like. They're certainly not going to end up in the Tate any time soon. Even so it adds a wonderful element of charm to an already charming and witty collection of poems.
Peace Love and Potatoes is a poetry anthology by John Hegley. I was attracted to the book initially because it was bright blue and orange and subsequently I ended up writing on the floor of Waterstones for 15 minutes screaming until I regained most of my sight. Once I did however the tagline of 'Comedy's Poet Laureate' meant that I had to buy it there and then. So naturally I went home and bought it off Amazon for cheaper.
The poems themselves are quite a hodgepodge of subject matters, though there are some running themes including family, grandparents, upbringing and childhood to name but a few. The poems can be heart warming and quite reflective one moment and then utterly bizarre and satirical the next. One example is the first poem in the book:
Read Alien Address.
As promised on the front cover as well, the poems are quite a humorous collection, but whilst some are funny as a side thought, others are dedicated to making you chuckle, often taking very bizarre scenarios and even making some recommendations on the best ways to keep your temper in check:
pg 94.
The collections also contains a few nods to literary greats such as Daniel Defoe and John Keats, indeed the latter the collection dedicates no less than three poems to. For me though the slightly tongue in cheek pop culture references are what makes the poems for me, some are very nostalgic and slightly escape me if I'm honest, where as others, are very modern:
pg. 95
And just as if this liberating collection of frantic free-verse and desperately funny poems wasn't enough on its own, the collection is peppered with several illustrations credited as 'largely by the author'. The illustrations themselves are pretty child like. They're certainly not going to end up in the Tate any time soon. Even so it adds a wonderful element of charm to an already charming and witty collection of poems.
March 23, 2013
How does John manage to remember all this stuff about his parents, his childhood, his schooling, his holidays, his family etc. My memories only flicker in comparison. I am surprised he has any room in his brain for the present, never mind the future.
April 27, 2014
I've never really read much comedy poetry but this book is full of pure nonsense, but at the same time each poem has a deeper meaning than jut silly sentences ordered in rhyme. There's even some witty riddles as well as poetry. I recommended this to young and old poetry readers.
November 5, 2012
Genius, as ever. Particularly the letters to and from his French Grandmother
January 13, 2013
Funny and some moving poems about his family
June 4, 2013
Love this collection. Brilliant as usual
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews