Clare Brown

Don’t Ask Me What I Mean is a comprehensive guide to the last fifty years of British poetry –written by the poets themselves. In this collection of short essays, published in celebration of the golden anniversary of the Poetry Book Society, the reader will find Philip Larkin writing on The Whitsun Weddings, Louis MacNeice on The Burning Perch, Paul Muldoon on the etymology of ‘quoof’, Carol Ann Duffy on difficulties with gonks and Simon Armitage on the Dead Sea scrolls – as well as rare contributions from Ted Hughes, Seamus Heaney, Kingsley Amis, R. S. Thomas, Andrew Motion, U. A. Fanthorpe, Jo Shapcott, Geoffrey Hill, Michael Donaghy, Elizabeth Jennings and many, many others. Together these statements give an intellectually dazzling, candid and deeply personal account of a turbulent and fascinating period in -our recent literary history. They will also afford the reader a unique insight into some of the most remarkable minds of our time.

When a white family moves to the affluent Black community of New Nigeria County, a "misunderstanding" between neighbors escalates until the entire town is swept up in the drama in this hilarious and whip-smart full-cast audiobook, written and performed by TikTok star Clare Brown. New Nigeria is a good, clean, All-American town. The husbands are smiling and handsome, the wives are strong, rich, and powerful, and Nat Turner High is the best public school in the state. Yet, the citizens of this idyllic community find themselves in a rapidly changing country and, to be perfectly honest, some of them are a teeny bit uncomfortable with it all. When a New Nigeria community leader Car n makes a frantic phone call to the local police about a "potential gang member" roaming her cushy Malcolm X Estates neighborhood, it turns out the boy is her new European American neighbor, Jake Smith, and the misunderstanding quickly becomes the talk of the town. While Jake's mom, Meghan, is hurt by her new neighbor's behavior, Care n works tirelessly to preserve the safety (and the property values) of her beloved community. As the two women work toward their own version of equity, their conflict continues to escalate, setting off a chain of cringe-worthy confrontations that send the good citizens of New Nigeria into a tailspin. New Nigeria County is a hilarious, razor-sharp debut, flipping the script to expose uncomfortable truths through wildly entertaining comedy. This dynamic audiobook, created for the listening experience, is perfect for fans of Abbott Elementary, Dear White People, and Such a Fun Age.

When chronic insomniac James Beauman joins a study group on dreaming and sleep disorders, he thinks he is simply the 'control', as he never dreams. But under the direction of psychologist Huw Reeves, the 'dream laboratory' starts to dominate his waking thoughts, particularly when he meets and falls in love with Delphine, whose dreams are terrifyingly intense. Then suddenly and inexplicably Delphine walks out and James is forced to confront their past and his own history. Why did she leave? Has he been sleepwalking through his own life? And could it be that Reeves' plans for the group, and Delphine in particular, are something rather more sinister than a good night's sleep?