What is the difference between Naked and Nude? This is a question that passes back and forth between the stories in Nuala Ní Chonchúir’s third collection of tales “Nude”. In these stories we read of individuals of both sexes as they attempt to fulfil their desires and come to terms - or are broken apart - by their frustrations, in these tales we follow lovers in various states of undress, and of love, we have examples of nudity as a weapon, and tales so heartbreakingly naked that all the defences have been removed, stripped away. This book has tales so beautifully written that the horror, only visits later and tales of a slow pervading fear that your choice will be your undoing, no matter how beautiful it seemed at the choosing.

In the preface we read that Nudity can be a garment worn out of choice, as though one was sky-clad and with that premise comes a certain sensuality, an idea that you could allow yourself to be clothed with the gaze of a loved one and yet where is the line between nude and naked drawn. Is it in who has control, who has the power,or is there a far more subtle shade to it than this, Nuala explores this idea via the artists and models, by the lovers and those left bereft, left naked by their experiences.

In this collection of twenty tales, there are some that will make you smile, even laugh, some will leave you with questions concerning your attitude to the naked form, whether as living flesh or as works of art and others will just break your heart. Nuala writes with a sexuality that explores all it’s nuances, she writes of individuals, people, you, me with all the bumps and bits we’d rather keep hidden, highlighted, but highlighted with a poets sensibility, leaving us with this beautiful sensual collection of stories.

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