The Oasis

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>A Poetry Book Society Recommendation.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>Pulsing with the energy of urban life these poems traverse the gritty playful and tender moments that shape our lives. From the thrill of evading the police in 'The Chase' to the nostalgia of 'New Shoes' and the sheer abandon of 'The Amusements' we are pulled deep into a world where chaos and community intersect. With a clarion and uncompromising voice Charles Lang maps a labyrinth of memories blending sharp wit with darker undercurrents as he explores identity masculinity class and ecology. Whether reflecting on family friendships or fleeting moments of euphoria Lang offers an authentic snapshot of working-class lives. T</span><em style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>he Oasis </em><span style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>is a vivid ode to the city's streets and stories a testament to resilience and belonging. </span></p><p></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>Praise for <em>The Oasis</em></strong></p><p></p><p><em style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>You're stopped by the voice in these poems. Lang's Glaswegian idiom is easefully natural versatile and a thrilling pleasure to read. But more than that the deftness of his verse - in its formal dynamism psychological subtlety and tonal range - is hugely accomplished. Sharpness of detail working class experience and rootedness in the local in these poems deliver a generous nuanced conceptually ambitious and emotionally powerful effect. This debut collection announces Charles Lang as one of the best new poets in Scotland.</em><span style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> - Alan Gillis</span></p><p></p><p><em style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>With a calm eye and a companionable level-headedness Lang talks to his reader in his natural accent and tone taking us wryly through the amusements of 'The Amusements' the schemes hatched on the schemes and on into the complications of university and young adulthood. There is a lovely direct clarity and refreshing openness to his work.</em><span style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> - Nick Laird</span></p><p></p><p><em style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>The Oasis is a breathtaking debut-boldly crafted with raw honesty and a captivating quest for beauty in every corner. It challenges in its ways of surveying which are both kind and enthralling. This collection is a remarkable achievement in connecting our inner and outer lives. Formally brilliant and perfectly paced it feels like an exercise in refining our ways of being. </em><span style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>- Supriya Kaur Dhaliwal </span></p><p></p><p><em style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>These poems opened like windows to the streets of my own childhood. The music in the language is succinct and vibrant. The urban experience is brought to life in this collection. A rare perspective indeed.</em><span style=background-color: rgba(254 253 248 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> - William Letford </span></p><p></p>