Serena’s Articles at Savvy Verse & Wit, Page 319

2009 Challenge Wrap-Up

January 6, 2010 by Serena

I haven’t done my 2009 Challenge wrap-up yet, but I figured today would be as good a day as any.

I also have two challenges from 2009 that spill over into 2010, but I’ll give you a progress update at the end of this post.

First up is the WWII Reading Challenge I co-hosted with Anna from Diary of an Eccentric at War Through the Generations. I initially set out to read 5 books for the challenge, and actually exceeded my goal. I read 10 books! I only read one of the books I originally set out to read.

Here are the links to my reviews for the 10 books I completed for the challenge:

1. Reading by Lightning by Joan Thomas
2. Bloody Good by Georgia Evans
3. T4 by Ann Clare Lezotte
4. Now Silence by Tori Warner Shepard
5. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
6. Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
7. Night of Flames by Douglas Jacobson
8. Searching for Pemberley by Mary Lydon Simonsen
9. Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino
10. Words That Burn Within Me by Hilda Stern Cohen

I hope you take the time to check out those reviews if you missed them. There are some great books in that list and one of them was my top pick for 2009.

I also participated in the Everything Austen challenge in which you could read Jane Austen’s books, spinoffs, or watch movies. All in all, you could mix and match to reach the six items required, which is what I did. I didn’t start this challenge with a specific list.

I read five books for the challenge and watched one movie. Check out my reviews below.

1. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange
2. Pride & Prejudice (2005) movie
3. The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini
4. A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward
5. Willoughby’s Return by Jane Odiwe
6. Searching for Pemberley by Mary Lydon Simonsen

You also will find one of these books in my top picks of 2009.

OK, as for the ongoing challenges through mid-2010 or thereabouts, this sums up my progress:

The Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge ends on June 30, 2010, and you must read the entire series, which for me is 9 books since I had never read these before. I’ve only read two books for this challenge, but I fully expect to catch up and finish this one. Click on the links below for my reviews:

1. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
2. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

I signed up for the Valparaiso Poetry Review challenge a bit late, but since I had already reviewed poetry earlier in 2009 and those reviews counted toward my totals, I signed up for the highest level of reading 11-15 books.

These are the ones I’ve read:

1. How to Read a Poem by Molly Peacock
2. Becoming the Villainess by Jeannine Hall Gailey
3. Green Bodies by Rosemary Winslow
4. Apologies to an Apple by Maya Ganesan
5. Carta Marina by Ann Fisher-Wirth
6. More of Me Disappears by John Amen
7. Fair Creatures of an Hour by Lynn Levin
8. At the Threshold of Alchemy by John Amen
9. Holocaust Poetry compiled by Hilda Schiff
10. Words That Burn Within Me by Hilda Stern Cohen
11. Vampire Haiku by Ryan Mecum

You will find one of these books in my top picks of 2009. While I have met the lower end of the scale, I plan to read more through the end of the challenge on May 16, 2010.

Also, I’ve been cleaning up some sidebar stuff and I decided to use thumbnail images for the 2010 Challenges; you can find those in the right sidebar under the Best of 2009 Amazon.com shelf.

How did you do with your challenges last year?

Filed Under: challenges, everything austen challenge, WWII Reading Challenge

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds

January 5, 2010 by Serena

Abigail Reynolds’ Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World examines what it would have happened in Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen had Elizabeth Bennet not refused Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal. Lizzy is stuck in a situation in which she is forced to accept Darcy’s proposal, or at least she feels that is the case. The marriage happens quickly and Lizzy is filled with anxiety about her role as Mrs. Darcy, what to expect from her husband, and how to overcome her prejudice against her him.

“Was his pride so great that it did not occur to him she might refuse him? Elizabeth opened her mouth to deny his allegation, but before any sound could emerge, she recognized the danger.” (Page 6 of ARC)

Reynolds has a firm grasp of Austen’s work and her Pride & Prejudice characters, and that knowledge shines through as we follow Lizzy and Darcy into their alternate universe. From misunderstandings to barbs, Darcy and Lizzy spar with one another and hide their true feelings as they fear the other’s reproach. The servants and the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, are just as they should be — hovering on the outskirts and ready to lend help when necessary.

“But when he turned his head sideways on the pillow, his eyes clouded with the drug, she leaned towards him to meet his lips with her own. It was a gentle kiss, but his lips were hot against hers. Elizabeth almost shook with the emotion of it.” (Page 108 of ARC)

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World is a treat that will transport readers into regency England with a set of new and old characters. Lizzy and Darcy may be one of the greatest classic love stories, and Reynolds‘ spin on the love story reads like a classic. Lizzy is still strong-willed, but tentative in her new marriage and her new circumstances. Darcy is a bit harsh at times, but readers will forgive him his transgressions. Readers should be cautioned that there are some intimate scenes that give this novel a more contemporary feel. All in all, this is a delightful variation.

***Giveaway Details***

Sourcebooks is offering 2 copies of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World to U.S./Canadian readers of this blog.

1. Leave a comment on this interview about what you would like to ask Abigail Reynolds.
2. Leave a comment on my review of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
3. Blog, tweet, Facebook, etc. this giveaway and leave a link here.

Deadline is Jan. 11, 2010, 11:59PM EST

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy from the Sourcebooks for review. Clicking on titles or images can bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary, though appreciated.

This is my 1st book for the Jane Austen Challenge 2010!

Filed Under: fiction, giveaway, Jane Austen Challenge 2010, Read in 2010, reviews, sourcebooks Tagged With: abigail reynolds, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World

Jane Austen Challenge 2010

January 5, 2010 by Serena

The Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object is hosting the Jane Austen Challenge 2010! And you knew I would join, didn’t you?

Here are the reading levels to help you choose:

Newbie 2 books by J. Austen, 2 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)
Lover 4 books by J. Austen, 4 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)
Fanatic 6+ books by J. Austen, 5+ re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)

The challenge runs from Jan. 1, 2010, through Dec. 31, 2010. You can change your reading level during the challenge, any book format counts, and books can overlap with other challenges.

OK, so I guess you are interested in what level I’m signing up for . . . Yes, I am crazy about Jane and the other contemporary versions. These books could change as well.

I’m a Lover

Here are my possible Jane Austen books:

Persuasion by Jane Austen
Lady Susan by Jane Austen
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Love & Friendship by Jane Austen or Sandition by Jane Austen
Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen or Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Here are my possible Spinoff, rewrites, etc.:

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters
Impulse & Initiative by Abigail Reynolds
According to Jane by Marilyn Brant

What will you be reading for this challenge?

Filed Under: challenges, Jane Austen Challenge 2010

New Year’s Read-a-Thon Wrap-up

January 4, 2010 by Serena

I think the holidays have scrambled my brains or turned them to mush because when I initially signed up for the New Year’s Read-a-Thon, I thought great I would finish reading The Bum Magnet and Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Little did I know, I had a date with Mr. Darcy in the latest Abigail Reynolds’ novel, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World.

So, after initially continuing to read The Bum Magnet, I set it aside and nearly finished Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World.

That’s a sad update I know. How’d your read-a-thon weekend go?

Filed Under: New Year's Read-a-Thon

Interview With Abigail Reynolds, Author of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy

January 4, 2010 by Serena

Abigail Reynolds, who wrote Pemberley by the Sea (which I reviewed), has written other variations of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice characters and situations. In her latest novel, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World, Reynolds examines what would have happened had Elizabeth Bennet not refused Mr. Darcy’s proposal.

Abigail took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few interview questions for her tour stop here. Please give her a warm welcome, and stay tuned for giveaway information.

1. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World is just one of a number of Pride & Prejudice variations you’ve written. Is this the first one you’ve published through Sourcebooks? How did that come to pass?

The first variation I published through Sourcebooks was Impulse & Initiative, and this is the second. There are four more on the way, including the brand-new Mr. Darcy’s Obsession coming out in October 2010. I took an unusual road to publication. I wrote the variations for fun and posted them on the internet, then eventually self-published them just for myself and for some of my online readers. To my astonishment, Deb Werksman, acquiring editor of Sourcebooks, found them on the self-publishing site and bought the publication rights. Now Sourcebooks is gradually bringing out the entire series. I’d never have guessed in a million years that I’d be published!

2. Your variations on Pride & Prejudice look a significant turning points in Jane Austen’s novel and asks the question “What if?” (such as the ill-fated proposal from Darcy to Elizabeth, which she promptly refuses). Do you have other major scenes from other Austen novels in mind for a similar series of books?

I love all of Austen’s novels (well, maybe I don’t exactly love Mansfield Park, but I admire it), but none of them play out in my head the way Pride & Prejudice does. Part of the appeal is that I love the characters so much. When I’m writing, my characters take up residence in my head for months on end, so it’s helpful if they’re characters I like! I’m not sure I could put up with, say, Emma in my mind for such a long time, given that I always want to strangle her when I read Emma.

3. Do you have any particular writing habits, like listening to music while writing or having a precise page count to reach by the end of each day or week?

I tend to write late at night, often with solo classical piano playing in the background because it puts me in a Regency frame of mind. I often pick up Pride & Prejudice or Jane Austen’s letters and read a couple of pages to get the rhythm of her language going, and sometimes I even type some of it out to get myself started.

4. Who is your favorite Jane Austen hero and why?

Mr. Darcy, with Colonel Brandon as a close second. Darcy’s shift from his early unpleasant behavior to his later changes fascinates me, and of course his devotion to Elizabeth for her wit and intelligence rather than her beauty is a major item in his favor!

5. Most authors using classic characters and stories to spur their own creations fell in love with those characters and stories early on, but wanted something more. Is this how you felt about Pride & Prejudice? What motivated you to craft your own tale based upon Jane Austen’s story?

I’ve always thought that Pride & Prejudice was too short for my taste, and I wish Jane Austen had written out all those scenes she refers to in passing, just so I could have a little more Elizabeth and Darcy. You won’t be surprised to hear that Pride & Prejudice is my favorite book, and it’s gotten to the point where I sometimes talk back to the characters. One day I was re-reading the scene at the Lambton Inn for the umpteenth time. When Darcy left giving Elizabeth only a long, serious look, I wanted to scream, “No! Don’t do it! Tell her how you feel! Give her some hope! She can’t read your mind, idiot!” I was so annoyed with him that I sat down and started writing From Lambton to Longbourn, just to show Darcy what I meant. Yes, sometimes I’m a little too obsessed with Pride & Prejudice!

6. Why choose Jane Austen novels versus other classic authors’ novels.

Sheer love of the characters and of Jane Austen’s voice and world view. As one of my characters says in Pemberley by the Sea, I like my coffee with cream and my literature with optimism. There isn’t that much classic literature that deals with loveable characters and ends happily ever after. I like books that can be comfort food of the soul. I don’t think I could take the darkness of Charlotte Bronte for long, for example.

7. Which books have you been reading lately, and are there any you would like to recommend?

I’ve just finished Marilyn Brant’s delightful According to Jane, which tells the story of a modern young woman who has Jane Austen giving her advice in her head. Another recent favorite is Robin Kaye’s hysterically funny Romeo, Romeo. I’ve also been reading Maria V. Snyder’s Poison Study series with my teenage daughter. I’d happily recommend all of those!

8. Finally, following Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World, do you have any other projects in the works? Do they deal with other classic literature or do you see yourself flourishing in the Pride and Prejudice market?

I’ve finished the first draft of another Pride & Prejudice variation, and I have some ideas for a Pride & Prejudice sequel in my mind. I’ve been working on a series of modern novels that continue the story of Pemberley by the Sea (which is being re-released in mass market paperback in Spring 2010 as The Man Who Loved Pride & Prejudice) but aren’t directly Jane Austen-related, but it remains to see if those will ever see the light of day because the market for general contemporary romance isn’t strong these days. I write for love more than for the market, so I write whatever my muse sends me, but the Pride & Prejudice related stories are the ones that are most likely to be picked up by a publisher.
Thanks for inviting me!

Thanks Abigail for answering my questions and for writing fun novels with our beloved Elizabeth and Darcy!

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on image and title links will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate Page; No purchase necessary, though appreciated.

***Giveaway Details***

Sourcebooks is offering 2 copies of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World to U.S./Canadian readers of this blog.

1. Leave a comment on this interview about what you would like to ask Abigail Reynolds.
2. Leave a comment on tomorrow’s review of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
3. Blog, tweet, Facebook, etc. this giveaway and leave a link here.

Deadline is Jan. 11, 2010, 11:59PM EST

Filed Under: giveaway, Interviews Tagged With: abigail reynolds

Mailbox Monday #63

January 3, 2010 by Serena

Marcia at The Printed Page and Kristi of The Story Siren both sponsor memes in which bloggers share what books they’ve received in the past week. I’m going to continue calling these Mailbox Mondays, but The Story Siren also has In My Mailbox.

Here’s what arrived in my mailbox thanks to a going out of business sale at the Waldenbooks!

1. The Weight of Silence by Heather Gundenkauf

2. The Reserve by Russell Banks

3. The Diplomat’s Wife by Pam Jenoff

4. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

5. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

6. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

7. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

8. Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian

What did you get in your mailbox?

FTC Disclosure: I purchased all of these books; Clicking on the book images will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary, though appreciated to keep those international giveaways going.

Filed Under: mailbox monday

Cheers to a Prosperous 2010

January 1, 2010 by Serena

I hope you all had a safe and fun night. Hubby and I spent our time watching movies and eating Chinese food!

If you missed my best of 2009 list, click here.

If you missed by D.C. Literature Examiner interview with John Amen, click here and here.

Also, I’ve posted a new article about John Shors and his work with a Vietnam charity.

The Virtual Poetry Circle will return next Saturday, Jan. 9, 2009.

Have a great day everyone! I’m reading this weekend as part of the New Year’s Read-a-Thon as well, so I won’t be online much!

Filed Under: announcements

2009’s Best Books for Me

January 1, 2010 by Serena

2009’s Best Books For Me:

I’m going to do my breakdown of best books I’ve read this year, though some of these may not necessarily have been published in 2009, but earlier in the decade.

I read 63 books in 2008, and my goal for 2009 as to read more than that. I surprised myself by reading 100 books in 2009 and reviewing all of them! I also started including more poetry reviews and interviews here on the blog and at 32 Poems blog and the D.C. Literature Examiner.

However, my personal writing goals of working each week toward a poetry or novel word count did not stick, and I stopped posting writing goal updates sometime during the year — heck, it was so long ago that I stopped I don’t even remember when. I also did not finish editing my poetry manuscript! Big FAIL!

OK, 2009, it’s time to say goodbye. I’m going to start of with the books I think were the worst.

You can click on the title links for my reviews or click Amazon.com images in the right sidebar widget for Best of 2009 if you want to purchase the books through my Amazon Affiliate page, which helps keep the blog running, though there is no requirement to buy.

Not Worth Checking Out of the Library (ending with the worst):

5. Now Silence by Tori Warner Shepard

4. The Traitor’s Wife by Susan Higginbotham

3. The Michael Jackson Tapes by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

2. Follow Me by Joanna Scott

1. The Kingmaking by Helen Hollick

Now that the nitty gritty is out of the way, lets get to the best books I’ve read this year:

Best Book I’ve Read for the Everything Austen Challenge:

A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward

Best Book I’ve Read for the WWII Reading Challenge:

Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino

Best Humor Book of 2009 (I only read three, so take this with a grain of salt):

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies by Michael Spradlin

Best Photography Book of 2009 (I only read and looked through 2, take this with less than a grain of salt):

Visions of America by Joseph Sohm

Audiobooks to Die For out of 10 (no particular order):

Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea

Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

The Whole Truth by David Baldacci

Best Young Adult Fiction of 2009 (I only read 5 this year):

Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart

Best Chicklit Book of 2009 (this is a tie for me):

Millie’s Fling by Jill Mansell

Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews

Best Poetry Books of 2009 (ending with the best):

6. More of Me Disappears by John Amen

5. Fair Creatures of an Hour by Lynn Levin

4. Secret Love Poems by Arlene Ang

3. Rubber Side Down edited by Jose Gouveia

2. Apologies to an Apple by Maya Ganesan

1. Becoming the Villainess by Jeannine Hall Gailey

Some honorable mentions for 2009 that I adored (no particular order):

The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl

The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris

Dragon House by John Shors

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

When She Flew by Jennie Shortridge
Keeper of Light and Dust by Natasha Mostert
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Best Books I Read in 2009 (to the top pick for the year):

10. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

9. The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

8. Breathing Out the Ghost by Kirk Curnutt

7. Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah

6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

5. The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner

4. The Painter From Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein

3. Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly

2. Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji

1. Words That Burn Within Me by Hilda Stern Cohen

Which were your favorites this year?

Have a Happy and Safe New Year!

Filed Under: Best of 2009

New Year’s Read-a-Thon

December 31, 2009 by Serena

Bookworming in the 21st Century, which is a new blog to me, is hosting a read-a-thon over New Year’s Weekend.

Start Time is 5PM Dec. 31, 2009
End Time is 10 PM Jan. 3, 2010

I don’t have a time commitment in mind, but I hope to read some books this weekend! I want to at least finish Persuasion by Jane Austen and The Bum Magnet by K.L. Brady.

I’ll probably have a post ready when the read-a-thon is over, and I’ll let you know how it went.

Filed Under: New Year's Read-a-Thon

Vampire Haiku by Ryan Mecum

December 31, 2009 by Serena

Ryan Mecum’s Vampire Haiku mixes humor and poetry in diary form for vampire William Butten, who was turned in 1620. He falls in love with a beautiful woman on the Mayflower named Katherine, who turned him into a vampire. Soon he’s parted from his love to roam America on his own and make his own friends. There are tales of some well known historic figures from Davy Crockett to Amelia Earhart and famous events in history like the Civil War and Woodstock.

Readers may initialy be attracted to the cover haiku, which also appears on page 37:

“You know that your drink
is down to the last few sips
once the toes curl up.”

Butten has a twisted sense of humor, but readers will enjoy is little anecdotes about becoming a vampire and bumbling around learning how to feed, etc. Mecum uses his linguistic and historic knowledge to create fun and witty haiku. Although they are not precisely haiku in the traditional sense, they mostly adhere to the form’s syllable count. It is fun to see Butten reveal insider knowledge about the deaths of Davy Crockett and other major historical figures. In some cases, the poems will have readers cringing in disgust.

“Discarded band-aids
are rare unexpected treats.
My version of gum.” (page 113)

There are even moments in the book where the vampire makes fun of the modern vampire crazes from the goth kids to the latest vampire movies. One of the best haiku in the book is about the Twilight movie:

“Those were not vampires.
If sunlight makes you sparkle,
you’re a unicorn.” (page 117)

Will Butten ever find his true love, Katherine, or will he stop searching for her and settle down? Overall, those interested in humor and vampires will find Vampire Haiku to be a treat. I’m looking forward to reading Ryan Mecum’s Zombie Haiku next.

I’m counting this as my 11th book for the poetry reading challenge.

By the way, I unintentionally read 100 books this year and reviewed all 100! This is quite an accomplishment for me, since I’m a slower reader than most. Yipee!

FTC Disclosure: I purchased my copy of Vampire Haiku by Ryan Mecum. Clicking on title links or images will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary.

Filed Under: 2009-10 Valparaiso Poetry Review, poetry, purchased, Read in 2009, reviews Tagged With: Ryan Mecum, Vampire Haiku

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies! by Michael P. Spradlin, Illus. Jeff Weigel

December 30, 2009 by Serena

The holidays are a time for merriment and getting together with family and friends to celebrate and share. Part of the holidays has always included caroling, at least for some people. My husband and I love to sing, though we don’t sing well, but we like to make up lyrics from time to time. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies! by Michael P. Spradlin and illustrated by Jeff Weigel is the perfect collection of remastered Christmas Carols to liven up the holidays. There’s even an introduction by the witty and dark humored Christopher Moore.

First, can you tell what classic novel this line’s beginning resembles?

“It is universally acknowledged that there are very few literarypursuits which cannot be improved with the addition of zombies, which are to the written word as cheesy goldfish crackers are to life in general; those little cheesy goldfish crackers also improve nearly everything.” (Page VII)

Christopher Moore certainly has a unique perspective on literature and how it can be improved, but in the case of the zombie Christmas carol book, he may be correct. Spradlin’s lines are well placed and maintain the rhythm of the original carols. Family members young and old will love to sing to these revised songs — from It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, I mean, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies to Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly, oops I mean, Deck the Halls With Parts of Wally.

Zombie, the Snowman (Page 39)

Zombie the Snowman was a jolly, happy ghoul,
With a corncob pipe and some boy’s nose
And two eyes he got at school.

Zombie the Snowman is a fairy tale, they say;
He was undead, it’s so,
But the children know how he came back to life one day.

There must have been a virus in
That old silk hat they found,
For when they placed it on his head,
He began to dance around.

Oh, Zombie the Snowman was alive as he could be,
And the children say he ate brains all day,
And they ran from that Zombie.

Thumpety, thump thump,
Thumpety, thump thump,
Look at Zombie go.
Thumpety, thump thump,
Thumpety, thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

Zombie the Snowman knew the brains were fresh that day,
So he said, “Please run, because it’s lots more fun when I eat your brain that way.”
Down through the village with a femur in his hand,
Running here and there all around the square,
Sayin’, “Decapitate me if you can!”

He chased them through the streets of town
And at a traffic cop,
And he barely paused a moment when he heard the cop’s brain pop!

Zombie the Snowman
Had to hurry on his way,
But he waved good-bye, sayin’, “Please do cry,
I’ll eat your brains someday!”

At a short 81 pages, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies! is a fun read and will have you giggling and guffawing and singing. Chock full of gruesome and surreal drawings of zombies in Santa Claus suits and other holiday outfits are eye-catching, and add additional verve to the carols. This humorous Christmas carol book would make a great stocking stuffer and an after-holiday gift. Heck, it would just be a fun gift for birthdays, anniversaries, and any other occasion.

FTC Disclosure: My husband purchased this copy for me. Clicking on title or image links will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary.

Filed Under: humor, purchased, Read in 2009, reviews Tagged With: christopher moore, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies, Jeff Weigel, Michael P. Spradlin

Words That Burn Within Me by Hilda Stern Cohen

December 29, 2009 by Serena

Hilda Stern Cohen’s Words That Burn Within Me is a collection of photographs, essays, stories, snippets of interviews, and poems detailing Cohen’s experiences during WWII and the Holocaust as a German resident. (Please check out a recent reading from the book at The Writer’s Center). Cohen’s husband, whom she married in Baltimore, Md., in 1948 following her release, discovered her notebooks after her death and set about his journey to have his wife’s writing translated from German and published. In some cases, the poems are included both in English and in German.

“Our physiognomies were ageless. There were wild, unfocused eyes, silent, indrawn lips, and haggardness around the cheek and neck . . . only defined and exaggerated by hunger.” (Page 49)

This harrowing story follows Hilda through her early years in Nieder-Ohmen, Germany, and her transfer to schools in Frankfurt as the Nazis gained power. From Frankfurt, she is transported with her family and young beau Horst to Lodz, Poland, only to face devastating circumstances, the loss of Horst, and more and be transported to Auschwitz. In a series of essays and interviews, Hilda talks about happier times in her village and with her sister, the trials of childhood and being bullied, but soon the reality of politics sets in and her family is forced to leave their ancestral home.

Forced Labor (Page 54)

My numbed brow drops on the machine,
I fold my captive, tired hands.

A dangling yellow bulb sheds smoky light,
Dusk falls, the day grows pale.

The harried working hours are almost done,
The evening mist is waiting to embrace us.

What binds us in our common chains
Will only hold us while we work —
Night will find each of us in separate gloom.

Cohen’s writing is sparse but detailed in its observations of those around her in the ghetto and the concentration camps. Her keen eye examines the impact of starvation on her fellow neighbors and on her family members, and it also sheds light on how well her family and herself cope with their situation. She eventually teaches herself Yiddish after joining a literary group because she only speaks and writes German, which is not what the majority of the Lodz Ghetto understands. Readers, however, will note a sense of detachment in her writing, almost as if she is reporting the events as she observed them rather than as she felt them. On the other hand, they will hear the anger and disappointment in her voice, especially when she speaks of the last words her father utters about her mother upon her death.

“There was a strange role reversal that took place psychologically, as it did also later in the camps. Adults who had lived a life from which they had gained certain expectations were suddenly confronted with an abyss. There were no signs, no gateposts, none of the usual milestones that one could follow. Everything had fallen away.” (Page 33)

Words That Burn Within Me is well assembled mixture of interviews with Hilda Stern Cohen’s essays, stories and poems. While the collection does illustrate one Jewish woman’s journey during WWII and the Holocaust, it stands as a testament — a record — of how inexcusably these humans were treated and how their debasement impacted their lives, their relationships, their faith, and their souls. Through well tuned description and controlled emotions, Cohen takes the time to record everything she saw during the war and the Holocaust to ensure that it becomes a warning to others. A powerful collection and a must read for anyone learning about this time period and the horrors that should never have happened.

This is my 10th book for the WWII Reading Challenge at War Through the Generations!

I’m not sure if this will qualify for the Poetry Review Challenge, but if it does, this will be book #10.

FTC Disclosure: I purchased my copy of Words That Burn Within Me from The Writer’s Center following a reading by Hilda Stern Cohen’s husband and her interviewer Gail Rosen. Clicking on image and title links will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchases necessary.

Filed Under: 2009-10 Valparaiso Poetry Review, essays, memoir, poetry, purchased, Read in 2009, reviews, WWII Reading Challenge Tagged With: Hilda Stern Cohen, Words That Burn Within Me