Hare Soup

by Dorothy Molloy

Dorothy Molloy allows survivors of sexual, physical and social violence to tell their stories as if life's horrors were little more than a passing distraction. The result is a series of finely-wrought poems of black comedy, in which the sinister and hilarious wrestle for supremacy. The settings reflect Molloy's world - Spain, France, her native Ireland - but these themes are universal: suffering, deceit, loss and the struggle for expression.

Genres: Poetry, Irish Literature

55 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I read an entire poetry collection, in two goes, in order. It's very immersive. My favourite is still Les Grands Seigneurs which I used to teach for unseen poetry and works well for comparison with Haversham by Carol Ann Duffy. I like the cadences and imagery in this collection but getting to the heart of meanings will take more work. These are not always as straightforward as they may seem.

[Katey Lovell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hare Soup is a volume that is both unsettling and beautiful. Some of the themes made for tough reading. Personal favourites were Sweet Nothings, The Photograph, Earthing, Burial, Props for the Parting Scene, Small Wedding and Conversation Class.

[Oisín · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting poems. The language is so elastic and visceral.

[scarlettraces · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncomfortable

[Graham Sillars · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely sure what I’ve just read, I didn’t dislike it but I’m not altogether certain I actually liked it either. Strange, ethereal, dark and surreal.

[Randomerde · Rating 4 out of 5]

smugly smart, obscene
nutured adolescent wounds
through cloud ceiling to soil