Tobias Hodgson has released his debut collection of poems ‘Fantasies’, a book of ghastly and hilarious monologues where the joke is almost always on the narrator. Quote trickles down the page of this odd pocket poetry book I bought in Otto next door to The Bunker. With a striking white and blue-striped cover, you’ll likely spot Tobias’ physical release stocked at your favourite cafe across Sunderland.
Putting out a bewk book, that you can see and hold and feel, was something Tobias specifically set out to do. “I’m not really a fan of internet poetry as a medium,” says Tobias. “And I feel like poetry books are what will last. If something’s a digital file, it can always be edited or erased, but when it’s paper and ink it’s kind of final in its release. “I wrote the majority of the poems in a two-month period in June/July this year. I kind of liked the idea of how Bowie would do an album, just go into the studio for a month and write and record, release what came out. I like that about writing— this is how I feel now.”
It was no surprise to see Otto packed out with friends, family and supporters to celebrate the release of Hodgson’s first anthology. Tobias confidently led the room through two sets of poems before speaking to your pals at Gan On, taking an intermission to sign and sell plenty of books on the night, in addition to those who’d already read it. Heard over a loud latte machine and a crying baby was the nervous laughter of Tobias’ crowd. Some people were in on the joke whereas some didn’t know what to make of it. His schlemiel protagonists are often awkward, obsessive and cringe-inducing, making their eventual downfall all the more satisfyingly funny.
“Maybe it’s the classic British thing to do,” admits Tobias. “I love all the classic British comedies, like The Office, where all the serious moments have this sort of comedic underlay. And I like the idea of comedy and characters being self-contained stories, that no matter how bad or how embarrassing it gets, they’ll still be there the next episode.” Music fans in the North East will have already enjoyed Tobias’ project New Romantic Era, a kind of Pet Shop Boysy electronic music where the lyric is as dry and esoteric as his poems.
As accomplished as the humour though is the sensitivity in his more serious poems, where the narrator’s self-consciousness touches on themes more grounded in reality. The jokes are memorable, but they really excel in sandwiching the intimate ideas, some of which are lingering. Like ‘Beans [Eating beans on toast off Ellie]’, where this bizarre fetish is eventually franchised as a restaurant. Or ‘Stalking Rosie Soulsby’, where the voyeuristic protagonist stalks and eventually woos his romantic interest by mimicking her interests, but hubrisly scares her off by knowing her too well. It’s nice to see someone have the drive to self-publish a proper book of poems, especially when they’re only fresh out of college, but it’s clear the writing is there as well. Fortunately, Tobias plans on making this a regular thing and has already committed to his next writing period in late autumn, hopefully out in time for Christmas. Get your copy of Tobias Hodgson’s ‘Fantasies’ at a coffee shop in Sunderland city centre, or on Amazon where you can also find a digital copy.
