Hydra and The Bananas of Leonard Cohen

[jarkko]

Look what I found at the Amazon bookshop:


(Haven't seen the book yet but I'm sure we're going to have
here a review written by Partisan!)

Jarkko

[jarkko]

This is from the US Amazon:

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Basic Books; (September 2003)
ISBN: 0465027598
Pre-order price 18.20 USD

Editorial Reviews
Book Description
On an idyllic Greek island, the garden of sixties icon Leonard Cohen inspires a poet to question and ultimately celebrate the meaning of his own life.
English poet Roger Green left the safety of God, country, and whiskey to immerse himself in an austere and sober life on the Greek Island of Hydra. But when Green discovered that his terrace overlooked the garden of sixties balladeer Leonard Cohen, he became obsessed with Cohen's songs, wives, and banana tree. Hydra starts with a poem the author wrote and recited for his fifty-seventh birthday (borrowing the meter of Cohen's "Suzanne," and ripe with references to the song), with Cohen's ex-partner Suzanne, who may or may not be the subject of Cohen's song, in the audience. By turns playful and philosophic, Green's unconventional memoir tells the story of his journey down the rabbit hole of obsession, as he confronts the meaning of poetry, history, and his own life. Beginning as a poetic meditation upon Leonard Cohen's bananas, Green's bardic pilgrimage takes the reader on various twists and turns until, at last, the poet accepts the joy of accepting his fate.

About the Author
Roger Green is an English poet living on the Greek island of Hydra. Among his publications are several books of poetry, including Wolvercote Dreaming and Notes from Overground by Tiresias. In 1987 the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary published his translation of the Akathistos Hymn by Romanos the Melodist.

[lizzytysh]

What a great discovery, Jarkko ~ and a delightful book cover it is! Green has certainly assured himself a measure of audience by linking himself to Leonard. I hope the book turns out to be as excellent as it "promises" to be, with its weavings to Leonard and his life, and the self-examination by Green.

[jarkko]

The book has been officially published now.
It's featured on a new page in the "Art Inspired by L.C."
section of The Files: http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/roger2003.html
Jarkko

PS. Partisan - this is something for you!!!

[catherine]

Officially released NOW?
I've owned that book for almost a year and have also tried to share
my thoughts on it on another threat.
It's one of the funniest books I've read, with references to Suzanne,
Greek mythology (which at times was a bit hard for me to understand
and the reason I asked for help here) and the ultimate presence of a fruit
most important. Great.
Please tell me what you think of it.

[jarkko]

If you have a look at the date of my message you will
see that it was posted in 2003... THEN it was NOW
--- Unfortunately have not yet found time to read the
whole book.

[tom.d.stiller]

Welcome back, Caroline-catherine. It was a long trip on your bus this time, it seems

[lizzytysh]

And with this posting, I've finally gotten caught up on one section ! Yes, taking the easy way, doing the shortest ones first. I see with Jarkko's thread, I don't need to point Catherine to the 'calendar' .

Just did. I'm so looking forward to this. I'll be so glad to finally meet you Tom ~ might you want to bring a few CDs along [save on postage] ? I'm looking forward to a slower, more relaxing time than New York afforded, in light of responsibilities.

Linmag ~ Get your and your crew's names on that list .

~ Lizzy

[catherine]

[Wybe]

Roger Green Nov11, 2016.

https://youtu.be/FVUOQc9iW78

[HugoD]

How I miss Hydra watching this video