Description
“Liar Liar” is a much-needed response to the myriad of dangers we all face in an increasingly challenging Covid world, and examines the disturbing lack of coherent response to that challenge from our constitutional governments and how the people of the UK and USA in particular have suffered, often times paying with their lives.
Brian McManus paints compelling lyrical word pictures of the distressing tales of ordinary, everyday people who find their lives torn asunder, and the dearth of both intellect and ability amongst our political leadership for managing and directing a meaningful response to such an all-encompassing pandemic.
If you haven’t read a book of poetry for a while you need to pick this one up – today.
About Brian McManus
Brian McManus lives on the outskirts of Glasgow with his wife and enjoys the company of his children and grandchildren who live nearby. As a former Serious Crime Squad Detective Officer Brian played a central role in the international criminal enquiry following the terrorist bombing of a Pan Am jet airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 with the loss of 270 lives. His collection of poetry, prose and photographs recounting the events of those times was published as Blue Daze, Black Knights – The Story of Lockerbie in 1999. Having now stepped away from the world of work, Brian spends his time reading and writing poetry reflecting on our increasingly challenging world, and in his own small way holding to account those who abdicate their responsibility for managing it and the lack of support for those who inhabit it. Liar Liar, his latest book of poems, are the latest sure-footed steps on Brian’s very important journey, which includes other previous work published in past and pending poetry publications and online. Upcoming poetry projects will include a major focus on the impacts of climate change on our planet and ourselves, of the near prospect of an uninhabitable earth due to intolerable temperatures and rising sea levels and all that along with the ostensible minutiae which feeds into and disproportionately affects all of our lives on a daily basis. Staying healthy in a Covid environment presents its own challenges right across the globe and the poetry pamphlet Liar Liar looks closely at the impacts on the western world and in particular the UK and the USA and the dearth of both intellect and ability amongst our political leadership for managing and directing a meaningful response to such an all-encompassing disease. The increasingly rapid decline of western civilisation and the imminent threats and danger to the existing world order will form yet another investigative strand in an increasingly complex response through the medium of poetry.
“Brian McManus in ‘Liar Liar’ provides a sardonic account of the country’s response to Covid-19: the poems describe medics resorting to ‘council bin bags’ as makeshift PPE, the betrayal of the elderly in care homes, the dishonesty of empty-headed political leaders, the ruthless exploitation of big business and the end of the age of certainties. Every disaster needs its commentators to keep our memories of such times alive and to hold those responsible to account. McManus does that. Yet the pamphlet still ends on a positive note: he suggests that it is the love and compassion of individuals that will ultimately see us through.
These poems are a lasting memorial ‘for those not coming back’: McManus’ account of the Pandemic will surely last longer than the careers of the incompetent leaders he describes.”
Nigel Kent, author of ‘Psychopathogen’ and ‘Saudade’.
Product details
- ISBN-10 : 1913499553
- Paperback : 20 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-1913499556
- Product Dimensions : 14.81 x 0.13 x 21.01 cm
- Official Release Date: 5th November 2020
- Order from Amazon HERE
- Order Signed Copies direct from Brian McManus by contacting him HERE – Signed copies are available direct from Brian for £5.99 with all proceeds being donated to the homeless charity Crisis at Christmas.
Damien B. Donnelly –
Brian McManus Liar Liar.
There is a fatalistic quality to these poems, snapshots of lost lives and missing limbs. But there is also a possibility on each page, on the backlot of these well drawn out mini movies of soldier, nurse, invalid, victim of age or the weight of living; if we can listen to the message behind the madness, if we can see the individual action as greater than corporate greed then maybe we will be allowed to ‘prevent a new wasteland.’
The discomfort, disillusionment and, at times, anger held in these poems are echoes of a global society trying to struggle through from morning to night while guided by the deaf ears of statesmen with ‘no wish to learn,’ turning blind eyes to ‘important lessons skipped.’
What is striking here is the use of rhyme that adds perfectly to the imbalance; the lyrical flow recalls almost a sweeter time while the content puts us directly in the now where lyricism has left us strung up on a note too sharp to swallow. This is a punch bag of a collection, holding nothing back, ripe for today’s readers who have acknowledged that ‘normality is a long-distance place.
The collection itself is steel-tight with authority. McManus is not being brave or bold here, he is simply telling the cold hard truth of our time.
Damien B. Donnelly. Author of “Eat the Storms”.
Nigel Kent –
Brian McManus in ‘Liar Liar’ provides a sardonic account of the country’s response to Covid-19: the poems describe medics resorting to ‘council bin bags’ as makeshift PPE, the betrayal of the elderly in care homes, the dishonesty of empty-headed political leaders, the ruthless exploitation of big business and the end of the age of certainties. Every disaster needs its commentators to keep our memories of such times alive and to hold those responsible to account. McManus does that. Yet the pamphlet still ends on a positive note: he suggests that it is the love and compassion of individuals that will ultimately see us through.
These poems are a lasting memorial ‘for those not coming back’: McManus’ account of the Pandemic will surely last longer than the careers of the incompetent leaders he describes.
Nigel Kent, author of ‘Psychopathogen’ and ‘Saudade’.
VicPickup –
There are some startling truths documented in Brian McManus’ poetry, painful reminders of those who have been failed by the mis-management of the Covid crisis. The poems here are expertly crafted, the characterisation strong, and some real descriptive gems can be found within. And though there is anger and sorrow so deeply expressed, I’ll cling to the wise words in the final couplet of ‘The Awakening’: ‘It’s always darkest just before dawn, / the old days are the olds days, let’s move on.’
Patricia M Osborne –
Written with Enormous Skill.
The reader is in for a treat with this collection of poignant poetry. I was particularly drawn in with ‘Home Comforts’ with its powerful imagery and sound echoes. McManus tackles the subject of Covid-19 with enormous skill. This poetry pamphlet is well-crafted and bound in a beautiful cover. Highly recommend.