This town's as full as a lovebird's egg.

"This town's as full as a lovebird's egg."
- Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood

This book has languished on my shelf.
Ignored.
Left alone.

I bought this book years ago. It was a deal. It was a steal. It was $2 at Goodwill. I recognized Dylan Thomas and knew it was a Folio edition. $2? Value? Done. I brought it home, put it on the shelf. Thought about it only narrowly. I figured it was a book of poetry. Poems. Fights against the dying of the light and whatnots.

Nope. It is certainly poetic. Lyrical. Whimsical. A play, however. Meant for many voices. An innovation for Radio. Meant to be read. Think of later James Joyce, but something easy to understand. A well-spoken lust dream in a Welch coastal town.

So, ignored on the shelf? Why now? I'm trying and dying to read 100 books, during the first 100 days of either the year (closer) or year + Trump's 100 days (more than 100 I guess). So on days when I don't have 4+ hours to read, or the book I want to read is bigger than 240 pages, I generally use small books of poetry or philosophy to bridge a larger book into smaller bites without violating my first rule (1 book a day). So, yes, I am anal retentive about even things I enjoy.

So, back to Under Milk Wood. If you have the opportunity to read it, read it. If you have the opportunity to listen to either Dylan Thomas & Co read it, listen. Richard Burton & Co is also a nice treat.

Some of my favorite lines:

"It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobble streets silent and the hunched, courters'-and-blackrabbits' wood limping invisible down to the shoeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboat-bobbing sea."

"From where you are you can hear their dreams."

"And before you let the sun in, mind it wipes its shoes."

"And high above, in Salt Lake Farm, Mr Utah Watkins counts, all night, the wife-faced sheep as they leap the fences on the hill, smiling and knitting and bleating just like Mrs. Utah Watkins."

"...who kissed her once by the pig-sty when she wasn't looking and never kissed her again although she was looking all the time."

"Time Passes. Listen. Time passes. An owl flies home past Bethesda, to a chapel in an oak. And the dawn inches up."

"There is no leg belonging to the foot that belongs to this shoe."

13 people found this helpful

always

how perfect. sweet and sad. the writing and the voices are masterful. my favorite book

1 person found this helpful

Thomas has a way with English language that is almost unbelievable in it's scope of expression

My family was from a small Welsh town. We go back periodically for visits. I think I have met all the characters in Under Milkwood. Richard Burton's performance' and all the others in the recording for that matter, was beyond superb.

1 person found this helpful

Timeless, Wonderful - a masterpiece

A classic - that I have read many times but wanted to have handily on ipad to listen to at any given moment. It is magical...shut your eyes - and follow along the streets, meet the people - a masterpiece - of writing and reading.

3 people found this helpful

Not the cast I was expecting.

I had tapes of this years ago which I played to death and remember very well. several of the characters are different in this version.

Lyrical, melodic play for voices brought to life

This beautiful prose play is brought to life by an excellent cast lead by Richard Burton. The wonderful turn of phrase and intimacy of the inner thoughts are well realized, punctuated by Dylan Thomas ' mastery of the English language. The listener follows the townspeople through a surreal dreamland of memorable characters and language. this play is a masterpiece, masterly performed and should be heard by all. A big thank you to Audible for making this classic available to all.