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Up in the Attic
The brand new collection of verse from the nation’s favourite poet, Pam Ayres. With the same magic that has enchanted her fans for more than four decades, Pam’s new collection is by turns hilarious, reflective and profound. From the dubious joy of being an exhausted, panic-stricken hostess in ‘The Dinner Party’ or feelings of unease about pub tableware in ‘Don’t Put My Dinner on the Slate!’, to a poignant reflection of war in 'Down the Line'and the bittersweet nostalgia of ‘Up in the Attic’, this new collection will tickle and move readers in equal measure.
- GenresPoetry
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
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43 people want to read
About the author
Pam Ayres
81 books39 followersPam Ayres is a poet and published author of children's books. Some of her published credits include Guess Who, Guess What, Piggo and the Fork Lift Truck.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 15, 2025
Another volume of Pam Ayres' delightful and amusing poetry is always a welcome addition to any private library and this one makes its entrance in mine and, once again, it does not disappoint. Poignant, thought-provoking and comical, just some of the emotions that her words bring out in the reader; even some of the illustrations bring out that comical feeling, such as the airline departure area in 'Flight Time' where the airline's banner reads 'Naff-Air'! One is in no doubt where that particular poem is going and even in the second verse, the line 'Wish I wasn't going' pops up! In that poem, security, boarding, sleep, the aircraft toilet and fear come under the spotlight and demonstrate Pam's feelings towards the whole operation.
In 'Don't Put My Dinner on the Slate' Pam highlights something that only came into my consciousness within the last 12 months. At a cricket match with a friend the conversation went on to dining out and he and his family had just done so. When he told me that not only had they eaten off a slate but they also cooked their meal themselves alongside the table. This was something new to me and it was definitely not something that I would indulge in but, politely I kept my thoughts to myself and commented, 'Oh, very nice'. Now I can at least release my inner thoughts as Pam spells it all out, leaving the reader in no doubt how she feels about the whole operation. I particularly liked her understated line, 'Plates are very useful, they have stood the test of time' so it is no surprise when she exclaims, 'Please don't put my fish and chips on slates and tiles and planks'. And her finishing line, with the final word rhyming with paella, 'I'm afraid I might have paid for added salmonella' is, if you pardon the pun, food for thought!
Her poem 'Pitiful' also resonates with me because in her introduction to it she remarks that her dad, Stanley, would remark 'pitiful' when he surveyed a DIY job that he felt had not been done to the best of one's ability. Again in the introduction to the poem she tells us that her husband 'sees himself in the role of handyman ...', appropriately leaving the rest of the sentence unsaid. I should just add that this reminds me of my own Dad who was superb at most DIY projects - particularly erecting my shelves in 'The Book House' when I was a bookseller - and he knew that I was totally useless. Indeed so much so that at the end of one project (shelves again) he handed me a tool and said 'I am giving you this because it is the only tool that you are fit to use'. It was a hammer! So when Pam describes the DIY projects of the poem, 'Oh, it's pitiful, pitiful, absolutely pitiful,/The most pathetic thing you've ever known', then remarking, 'A conundrum to bewilder:/Why I didn't marry a builder'. And her final line, 'I might as well have left the job alone'. As I say, I know the feeling so I always did ... leave the job alone that is!
There are plenty of sparkling poems in the collection but I can't end without mentioning one with which I fully empathise. That is 'Until I Hear the News'. She relates all the forms of media and all the doom and gloom that they present with the final line of the five telling verses saying it all, 'So all the world will know, I am throwing in the towel.' Rather sad to say, 'Hear, hear'!
There's plenty of truism in the verses and they are all excellent and thoroughly recommended.
In 'Don't Put My Dinner on the Slate' Pam highlights something that only came into my consciousness within the last 12 months. At a cricket match with a friend the conversation went on to dining out and he and his family had just done so. When he told me that not only had they eaten off a slate but they also cooked their meal themselves alongside the table. This was something new to me and it was definitely not something that I would indulge in but, politely I kept my thoughts to myself and commented, 'Oh, very nice'. Now I can at least release my inner thoughts as Pam spells it all out, leaving the reader in no doubt how she feels about the whole operation. I particularly liked her understated line, 'Plates are very useful, they have stood the test of time' so it is no surprise when she exclaims, 'Please don't put my fish and chips on slates and tiles and planks'. And her finishing line, with the final word rhyming with paella, 'I'm afraid I might have paid for added salmonella' is, if you pardon the pun, food for thought!
Her poem 'Pitiful' also resonates with me because in her introduction to it she remarks that her dad, Stanley, would remark 'pitiful' when he surveyed a DIY job that he felt had not been done to the best of one's ability. Again in the introduction to the poem she tells us that her husband 'sees himself in the role of handyman ...', appropriately leaving the rest of the sentence unsaid. I should just add that this reminds me of my own Dad who was superb at most DIY projects - particularly erecting my shelves in 'The Book House' when I was a bookseller - and he knew that I was totally useless. Indeed so much so that at the end of one project (shelves again) he handed me a tool and said 'I am giving you this because it is the only tool that you are fit to use'. It was a hammer! So when Pam describes the DIY projects of the poem, 'Oh, it's pitiful, pitiful, absolutely pitiful,/The most pathetic thing you've ever known', then remarking, 'A conundrum to bewilder:/Why I didn't marry a builder'. And her final line, 'I might as well have left the job alone'. As I say, I know the feeling so I always did ... leave the job alone that is!
There are plenty of sparkling poems in the collection but I can't end without mentioning one with which I fully empathise. That is 'Until I Hear the News'. She relates all the forms of media and all the doom and gloom that they present with the final line of the five telling verses saying it all, 'So all the world will know, I am throwing in the towel.' Rather sad to say, 'Hear, hear'!
There's plenty of truism in the verses and they are all excellent and thoroughly recommended.
January 5, 2025
My first experience reading Pam Ayres and likely to be my last. Of the collection, Fear and Jean's Poem stood out to me the most - they kept a gentle humour yet were different and evocative.
Before anyone clamours for my head on a pole or reckons I need a funnybone transplant, I'm not of the generation that would have listened to Pam Ayres at her prime. However, I do enjoy many of Wendy Cope's offerings, who is a poet of the same vintage, so it's not just down to generational differences. I reckon a key factor other than my age is that I've come across a lot of Ayres imitators over the years without realising it, and it's left a few scars. Usually they're on Facebook harrumphing about the youth (or pronouns, or electronic devices) these days in simple rhyme, and accompanied by old black and white photos of scabby-kneed kids in short trousers.
Out of an odd guilt for pulling a face at the first few poems, I've read some GR reviews to get some other viewpoints, and a common observation is that her poetry is for those who hated studying it at school (it'll also help if you're a dog person). Her work is straightforward with A-A-B-B or limerick rhyming patterns yet it remains observational, and heck, I can't criticise that in the same way I won't criticise vampire novels. They might not be things I enjoy and are often unfairly judged, but the arts should have something to offer for everyone, and rightly bloody so. One person's twee is another person's comfort.
Another GR recommendation was to listen to Ayres instead as she is primarily a comic performer, so I found some of her festival recordings on YouTube. She seems like a smashing lady to have a stiff drink and a natter with, but watching her at work didn't add any magic. As with any other live comedy, being in the same room plus the ability to connect to the material are essential ingredients for me.
A 2 sounds about right. Perhaps I'll revisit in my sixties and get something out of it then.
Before anyone clamours for my head on a pole or reckons I need a funnybone transplant, I'm not of the generation that would have listened to Pam Ayres at her prime. However, I do enjoy many of Wendy Cope's offerings, who is a poet of the same vintage, so it's not just down to generational differences. I reckon a key factor other than my age is that I've come across a lot of Ayres imitators over the years without realising it, and it's left a few scars. Usually they're on Facebook harrumphing about the youth (or pronouns, or electronic devices) these days in simple rhyme, and accompanied by old black and white photos of scabby-kneed kids in short trousers.
Out of an odd guilt for pulling a face at the first few poems, I've read some GR reviews to get some other viewpoints, and a common observation is that her poetry is for those who hated studying it at school (it'll also help if you're a dog person). Her work is straightforward with A-A-B-B or limerick rhyming patterns yet it remains observational, and heck, I can't criticise that in the same way I won't criticise vampire novels. They might not be things I enjoy and are often unfairly judged, but the arts should have something to offer for everyone, and rightly bloody so. One person's twee is another person's comfort.
Another GR recommendation was to listen to Ayres instead as she is primarily a comic performer, so I found some of her festival recordings on YouTube. She seems like a smashing lady to have a stiff drink and a natter with, but watching her at work didn't add any magic. As with any other live comedy, being in the same room plus the ability to connect to the material are essential ingredients for me.
A 2 sounds about right. Perhaps I'll revisit in my sixties and get something out of it then.
October 7, 2023
Pam never fails to impress with her topical and relatable poems.
Her skill is making the extremely difficult appear effortless, unpretentious and simple. This she does by succinctly placing exactly the right words in exactly the right sequence. The resulting rhythmic timbre has the power to make you laugh out loud; Round and round the car park or tug at your heartstrings with the poignant Down the Line.
I simply love her work.
Her skill is making the extremely difficult appear effortless, unpretentious and simple. This she does by succinctly placing exactly the right words in exactly the right sequence. The resulting rhythmic timbre has the power to make you laugh out loud; Round and round the car park or tug at your heartstrings with the poignant Down the Line.
I simply love her work.
December 7, 2020
Perfect for a fun, light-hearted read! The poems are mostly comical (and wonderfully observational), although there are a small number of deeper, poignant poems towards the end of the book. I love the way Ayres always turns our deep-seated, and often subconscious, observations into brilliantly witty poems. She has a talent of turning straw into gold!
July 4, 2021
From the diverting (a cycle on air travel, rummaging in the attic) to the thinky (a 'Geriatric Juliet' and an ode to her sister), with lots of dogs and charm, Pam's collection is terrific. Retails at £16.99, which is far too much.
February 27, 2024
Pam Ayres at her usual best with some very moving poetry and poems about daily life. Very relaxing and good to read in quick time slots like when waiting for someone to be ready to go out. Recommended as always.
January 17, 2020
A superb collection of poetry, wonderfully relatable and so easy to read and enjoy. Witty and truly heart-warming. I loved this collection.
January 19, 2020
For me, this was lacking in her usual sparkle.
February 5, 2020
Great book as usual
March 11, 2020
A different type of read for me, I loved that I could pick up and put down frequently and another great poem was to follow. I used this as a light, quick read. I would recommend it!
September 21, 2020
Absolutely brilliant. Just the sort of tonic I needed during this pandemic. Could not stop giggling out load. Thank you Pam Ayres.
March 30, 2021
Fantastic, laugh out loud read. You can relate in so many ways. Read in one sitting and wanted more.
December 20, 2021
I read this for a book list challenge and found it a lovely, light and funny read.
January 30, 2022
A lot of fun poems here, some stronger than others, but it's the superbly moving Geriatric Juliet and Until I Hear the News that will linger the longest in my memory.
September 13, 2022
An excellent book of poetry - very entertaining.
March 25, 2023
Good to go back to a childhood fav.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews