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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2018 :: RMTnews 30 I have to say I prefer to hear poetry live, spoken word as it is meant to be. I have heard Janine recite her work on many occasions. Always a class act either as a Poet on the Picket line, at Loud Women gigs or at numerous benefit events. I was pleasantly surprised therefore how well her poetry works written down. This latest volume is her homage to a demographic the establishment would be ill advised to ignore “Somewhat like the angry youth But rather longer in the tooth We're gobby, feisty, loud, uncouth We're disaffected middle aged woman” Forty four poems imbued with the blossoming of maturity and covering everything from Harvey Weinstein, Grenfell Tower, Tory Glastonbury, climate change, violence against women and the rise of the far right. Most are topical, many are humorous, some rhyme, some don’t, but they do have a rhythm and style that is very much Janine. She writes to entertain, but makes you think at the same time. She can invoke emotions like anger and compassion in equal measure. Some are short. Nine lines in Settling Accounts say all you need to understand the punch line. “He drinks, And she pays for it” Others are lengthy and paint pictures like all good stories. Night Tube which is about her work on London Underground makes you smile as she recounts stories “from those going home from the lock-in, to those going out to clock in” A real slice of reality that is better than any TV documentary. If you want a respite from the daily grind then dip into this great collection and enjoy. You will be educated and entertained in equal measure. Bob Oram ACROSS 7 Servant (4,3) 8 System of government (7) 10 Type of mushroom (6) 11 Persuasive speech (8) 12 Squeal (4) 13 Steep slope (10) 14 Mutually destructive (11) 19 Lose weight (10) 22 Tide (4) 23 Arcade (8) 24 Tradition (3,3) 25 Conspiring (7) 26 Chopper (7) DOWN 1 Overlay (7) 2 As a result (8) 3 Form (6) 4 High rising (8) 5 Distort (6) 6 Glowing (7) 9 Relating to spiders (11) 15 Feel loathing (8) 16 Not metal (8) 17 Annual manual (7) 18 Arched roof (7) 20 Wrestling hold (6) 21 Make possible (6) £50 PRIZE CROSSWORD The winner of last month’s prize crossword is P Hobbs, Bideford. Send entries to Prize Crossword, RMT, Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NWI IJD by Date September 14 with your name and address. Winner and solution in next issue. Last month’s solution... Crossword sponsored by UIA Book review DISAFFECTED MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN Poems by Janine Booth (Roundhead Publicans)