Life Gets in the Way by Chris Husband - REVIEW

A book review by Victoria Walsh

Life Gets In The Way is not a novel; it’s a book of poems, but it is much more than a novella of sonnets. Chris Husband pulls his content from rich and diverse life experiences. He is reflective and candid about his past, sharing humorous and poignant moments. Expect to feel Husband’s shyness and humiliation as a young boy, but despite shyness, he finds joy in creative activities with his siblings. Early exposure to storytelling and performance laid the groundwork for his later poetic pursuits.

In Husband’s early career as a junior reporter, he tried to overcome the challenges presented by his propensity for shyness, discovering that personal interaction was not, at that point, his strong suit. Husband performs his poetry now, so he’s got over his shy disposition to tell anyone who will listen to his viewpoint. Husband says, ‘Poetry is an outlet.’ Throughout his life, he has used poetry as a means of expression, serving as a therapeutic outlet. However, in the early days, he kept his talent tightly under a bushel for fear of ridicule.

Life Gets In The Way refers to life’s interruptions. Like most people, everyday life gets in the way of pleasurable and, often, creative pastimes when daily life can take over. Husband is no exception. Meeting his wife rekindled his passion for poetry; love became a source of inspiration, leading to a resurgence of creative expression through love sonnets to his long-suffering soon to be wife.

Husband’s journey included a significant moment of sharing his work publicly for the first time at an art gallery. This experience and subsequent performances helped him overcome his fear of public speaking and make the most of his identity as a performer. To embrace this new phase in his life, Husband set himself a challenge to write a poem every day and share it on Twitter. The sharing exercise helped him to gain confidence and connect with a supportive community, ultimately encouraging Husband to face his fears and perform live. Finding your voice is a great thing, no matter your age.

Husband enjoys excellent natural humour and uses self-deprecating remarks to connect with his audience. His introspective style is relatable and engaging, as he shares personal anecdotes mixed with a hefty dose of wit and honesty. Our poet's story is heavy on resilience, promoting personal growth. He navigates various challenges and life changes, using his creative talent as a constant source of personal fulfilment and solace.

Enough about Husband; let’s get to grips with his poems. I love the poem called ‘I didn't know and nobody told me’ - here’s an excerpt:

I didn't know, and nobody told me,

That this would be the time,

The time to enjoy,

The time not to be a man,

But is time to be a boy.

I didn't know, and nobody told me,

Through those endless summer days,

And carefree, friend-filled nights,

That times would simply drift away,

Like pale, untethered kites.

I didn't know, and nobody told me,

To drink it in, for soon enough,

In your wrinkles will be but a trace,

And the mere essence of the boy,

The theme of the poem is poignant to anyone over the age of 50. It is a bittersweet reflection on the passage of time and the preciousness of childhood. Husband laments about not fully appreciating his youth and the carefree moments that came with it. The poem consists of three stanzas, each beginning with the refrain, ‘I didn't know, and nobody told me.’ This repetition emphasises Husband’s regret and has a recurring theme of missed knowledge that most people his age can relate to.

The World is My Oyster is his version of my family saying - ‘the world is my lobster.’ I love this part of the poem:

But I am allergic to a world that is

Unobtainable,

Untouchable,

Unwelcome

To anyone.

I agree with Husband, who wants a world that is unobtainable, untouchable, and unwelcome to anyone? There’s a poem for all creatives, in fact, for all people who have a voice but can’t find a way to express it.

Chris Husband is an author and poet who has published two collections of poems, ‘Chips for Tea and Other 10-Minute Tweets’ and ‘Food for Thought.’ He is part of the Lancashire Poetry Relay Team, a poetry entertainment group, and regularly performs with and without them.

Husband is a British poet whose references to growing up in the 1960s/1970s are familiar. Many will recognise famous brands like Kia-Ora, Cherry B, Cresta and Snowballs. Music is mentioned, and so are notable places. You have hit the jackpot if you love a well-written verse mixed with nostalgia. To finish this review, let’s give Husband the final word:

I wandered lonely as a cow

That grazes high o'er vale and hill

When all at once, upon the brow

A host of hikers standing still.

Beside the lake, under the trees

Ordnance Surveys flapping in the breeze.

Is this poem familiar? It should be, or maybe you need to read the book to get the poetic reference.