A book for which one feels incredulous gratitude ... Her essays are sympathetic little masterpieces to which she brings storytelling capacity and an intensity that absorbs as the best fiction does ... Elspeth Barker retains her gorgeous prodigality as a writer even when focusing on minor subjects.
The originality of her writing springs from every page ... She is deliciously mordant and much less sentimental about humans than animals ... Joyous, startling, funny, lush, dark and complex.
[Barker] had the unusual quality of being able to both shock and soothe ... These small, absinthey sips of Barker are a break from one’s usual mental cage.
Even the shortest pieces here are memorable. Barker’s prose is poetic but not inflated, visceral but smooth ... Notes from the Henhouse is a vibrant, jubilant testament to both her life and work.
Warm, witty, and insightful, this book reveals the rich inner world of an unassuming woman with a gift for transforming the mundane realities of her existence into narratives filled with magic and wonder.
Spellbinding ... The personal reminiscences are the real attraction, showcasing Barker’s lyrical prose and frank introspection. Poignant and poetic, this enchants.
