Literature and Poetry Reviews, Home of the Virtual Poetry Circle
Out of 13 entrants, Random.org selected #11
Sandra of Fresh Ink Books said, “I’m disabled but I live directly across from a park where everyone walks their pets. So every day, Frodo (my white English Bull Terrier with black eye patch) sits with me and watches the world and their furry friends go by, or even stop by to say hello. It’s perfect for both of us.
I’m not usually one for animal stories but I love this cover and story subject so much I really want to read it.”
Congrats!
Eve Marie Mont‘s Free to a Good Home is a delightful read about Noelle Ryan whose husband, Jay, has finally told her his deepest secret — he’s gay — effectively obliterating her dream and forcing her to reassess her life. Noelle has a successful, if stressful, career as a veterinary technician, but she occupies most of her time with her family and the dogs at the shelter, rather than coping with her own problems. She’d rather solve everyone else’s problems and be the good person that everyone leans on when they need consoling or help.
“‘Sure,’ I say, handing him my cup. He’s cute. Messy brown hair, crinkly eyes, and that sexy clenched jaw thing. Too cute. A turn-your-brain-to-clotted-cream cute.” (page 32)
Noelle is passionate about saving animals and finding them homes, but she’s also passionate about helping people, including her WASP ex-mother-in-law, Margaret, who made her marriage miserable. However, what will get to readers is how much of a doormat Noelle is when it comes to Jay; he asks her to do many unthinkable favors including taking care of his mother. Many readers will want to scream at this character and beat her back to her senses. While Jay is not a bad guy per se, he crosses the line in his relationship with Noelle, which effectively prevents her from moving on with her life even after she meets a gorgeous musician named Jasper.
“‘Luxwood Victorian Gardens.’
‘They make it sound so pleasant. Like you’re staying in some luxurious estate, Blithewold Mansion for the physically impaired.’
‘Well, they have to do that to get people in the door. They can’t very well call the place Let-Us-Steal-Your Independence Gardens.’
‘Feed-Us-Flavorless-Food-Courtyard.’
‘Watch-Jeopardy-Until-You-Die-Village.'” (page 193)
However, Mont’s writing is engaging and dramatic and even humorous. If you love animals and a bit of romance in your summer reading with a good dose of drama, Free to a Good Home will fit your needs.
About the Author:
Eve Mont lives with her husband, Ken, and her shelter dog, Maggie, in suburban Philadelphia, where she teaches high school English and creative writing. Free to a Good Home is her first novel, which was released on July 6, 2010. She is currently working on her second novel.
http://www.literaryescapism.com/new-author-challenge10
This is my 37th book for the 2010 New Authors Reading Challenge.
Yusef Komunyakaa‘s Dien Cai Dau is another collection of Vietnam War poetry. The poet, who received the Bronze Star and edited The Southern Cross, dedicates this book to his brother Glenn, “who saw The Nam before” Komunyakaa did. His poems put the reader in the soldiers’ shoes, allowing them to camouflage themselves and skulk around the jungles of Vietnam from the very first lines of “Camouflaging the Chimera.” Beyond skulking in the jungle, hunting the Viet Cong, Komunyakaa discusses the weight of war as soldiers trudge through the landscape with their equipment and what they’ve done and seen. Weaving through the tunnels looking for the enemy or searching the thick forest, soldiers are constantly reminded of their emotional and physical burdens, though they find joy in some of the smallest moments.
One of the beautiful aspects of Komunyakaa’s poetry is his vivid sense of how even the most beautiful elements of nature have a darker side. In “Somewhere Near Phu Bai,” Komunyakaa writes “The moon cuts through/the night trees like a circular saw/white hot. . . .” and in “Starlight Scope Myopia,” he suggests, “Viet Cong/move under our eyelids,/lords over loneliness/winding like coral vine through/sandalwood & lotus/.”
Beyond the nature imagery and the immediacy of the war, some of these poems have an analytical quality much like a general planning out the battle moves. Each move of the soldiers is reflected in the carefully chosen words and lines, and the effect is genuine, creating a suspense and fear readers would expect soldiers to experience.
A Greenness Taller Than Gods (Page 11)
When we stop,
a green snake starts again
through deep branches.
Spiders mend webs we marched into.
Monkeys jabber in flame trees,
dancing on the limbs to make
fire-colored petals fall. Torch birds
burn through the dark-green day.
The lieutenant puts on sunglasses
& points to a X circled
on his map. When will we learn
to move like trees move?
The point man raises his hand Wait!
We’ve just crossed paths with VC,
branches left quivering.
The lieutenant’s right hand says what to do.
We walk into a clearing that blinds.
We move like a platoon of silhouettes
balancing sledge hammers on our heads,
unaware our shadows have untied
from us, wandered off
& gotten lost.
Dien Cai Dau by Yusef Komunyakaa is an excellent collection that will allow readers to join the fight in Vietnam, feel the fear and anxiety of soldiers, and see just how many enemies soldiers faced — the Viet Cong and the jungle. Komunyakaa is a poet with incredible insight from propelling emotions off the page through images to using carefully chosen words and phrases to vividly paint the scene. Dien Cai Dau is one of the best poetry books about the Vietnam War and often reads like prose.
This is my 6th book for the 2010 Vietnam War Reading Challenge
This is my 8th book for the Clover Bee & Reverie Poetry Challenge.
This is week 2 of the Paco’s Story read-a-long, and the second set of discussion questions were posted on Wednesday, July 14 for Chapters 3 and 4.
If you missed the first round of questions, check them out. You also can check out my previous post for section 1.
Like the other chapters, readers only see Paco through the eyes of other characters or the unknown/ghost narrator. We learn that Paco is on medication to keep the pain away, but how much medication would it take to keep the images of war out of your mind?
One of the most memorable passages for me is in Chapter 3: “He [Paco] is not really asleep, hunched as awkwardly as he is, but mighty groggy from the several additional doses of medication — muscle relaxers and anti-depressants — to the point of a near-helpless stupor. . . . Paco is in constant motion . . . ” (Page 35)
As readers move through these next two chapters we see Paco move from location to location — from the bar to the diner to the antique store to the barbershop –but in a way, he’s motionless as he sits and listens to each person or people he meets — silent. Paco is a dichotomy in this way, and it makes him an enigma.
The narrator continues to demonstrate the reactions to Paco the war veteran and we learn a bit more about his recovery, but do we get to know Paco? Should this story be told by Paco? Readers may like to understand his inner thoughts, but I wonder if he thinks much beyond the moment. He seems focused on finding a job and a place to stay, but not much else.
Even if you aren’t participating in the Vietnam War Reading Challenge, we hope that you will join us for the Paco’s Story read-a-long. Until next week.
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro’s 8th Confession is read by Carolyn McCormick, and does a fine job differentiating between the characters. In this book, Lindsay Boxer is confronted with a personal, life-changing decision and is bogged down in several high-profile cases. Rich men and women are being murdered in their homes, but there is no cause of death — at least any that Claire can find during autopsy or through toxicology tests.
“Claire waved a computer printout, said, ‘Toxicology was negative. No poison, no opiates, no narcotics, no nothing. Cause of death? No idea. Manner of death? No idea. Something stinks, and I don’t know what,’ she told us, ‘but the likelihood of these two individuals, with completely negative autopsies and completely negative toxicologies, expiring at the same time is statistically astronomical.'” (Page 111)
Meanwhile, Cindy Thomas uncovers the murder of Bagman Jesus, a local homeless man, who she believes is revered by his community. Investigating the murder becomes her obsession, but she also finds herself tied up in another passion — Richie Conklin, Lindsay’s partner and secret desire.
Readers will see the sparks fly between these friends and between the sheets in this thriller. Unfortunately, there seems to be too much of a focus on the bedroom, and very little focus on the investigation — whether Lindsay is mulling over her feelings for Rich or her love for Joe, her live-in boyfriend. Once the focus is back on the killer, readers will be sucked into trying to uncover for themselves how the murders are being committed.
The audio, just like the book, is fast-paced. However, 8th Confession is not as strong as some of the other books in this series.
This is my 12th book for the 2010 Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge.
I’m still recuperating from my quick little birthday camping trip for my hubby. He loves camping, so some friends and I set it up so it was a surprise. I prescheduled this post because I knew I’d be tired.
Also, in case you haven’t been by The Printed Page lately, Marcia has decided to step down from hosting Mailbox Monday, but she’s created a fantastic blog tour for Mailbox Monday with new hosts each month through 2011.
I’ll be hosting the meme in 2011, and I’m excited. I hope you’ll consider throwing your name in the hat and join the fun.
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. Just be warned that these posts can increase your TBR piles and wish lists.
Be prepared for your TBR to explode after reading these posts.
Here’s what I received:
1. The Cougar Club by Susan McBride, which my mom lent me after she won it at Bermudaonion’s blog and loved it.
2. Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons, which came with a few surprises — Walkers Shortbread and Revolution Earl Grey Lavender Tea. I wasn’t expecting this book, but it came with a nice note from the author and a recipe for her grandmother’s Baumtorte. This also is from Hachette’s Reagan Arthur Imprint.
3. Heredities by J. Michael Martinez, which I received from the American Academy of Poets. This collection won the Walt Whitman Award.
What did you receive in your mailbox?
I recently read and reviewed The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri, and TLC Book Tours and Harper Collins are offering 1 copy for a giveaway.
U.S. and Canadian residents only are eligible.
Deadline is July 17, 2010, at 11:00 PM EST.
1. Leave a comment about what place(s) you’d visit in Ireland.
2. Blog, Tweet, Facebook, or spread the word about the giveaway and leave a link in the comments.
Good Luck!
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, re-released by Harper Collins, is a book I remember reading in middle school. I was always a reader, but when it came to this book, I had misgivings. I wasn’t sure I’d like the book at all, especially given the bland cover:
Would you want to pick up this book and read it for fun? But what amazed me then is that this book stayed with me long after I’d read it, unlike many of the other books we had read in class. Racism was not something we thought about in my tiny classroom, which was mostly white until I neared graduation in high school. We lived in our own little bubble where we thought everyone was equal because that’s what we were taught. Talk about ignorance.
Once we went through the incredible story, the teacher brought in the movie. I was amazed by how this movie made this wonderful book come to life on the television. I cannot tell you what happened to that copy of the movie or the book, but I’m sure they were used repeatedly until they couldn’t be used anymore. This is one book that I will have to add to my collection, especially since its 50th Anniversary edition is ready!
You should check out the other celebrations across the Internet for this masterpiece.
Welcome to the 53rd Virtual Poetry Circle.
First, I want to call you attention to the poll I’m hosting about whether or not my reviews should have ratings as well.
I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a unique rating system for my blog. Take a second and let me know what you think.
Ok, now that all the housekeeping is out of the way, let’s get back to the Virtual Poetry Circle.
Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.
Keep in mind what Molly Peacock’s books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don’t like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.
Today we’re headed back to the classics. Though we are past Independence Day, it’s never too late to post a revolutionary poem from 1775.
A Political Litany
by Philip Freneau
Libera Nos, Domine.—Deliver us, O Lord, not only from British dependence, but alsoFrom a junto that labour with absolute power, Whose schemes disappointed have made them look sour, From the lords of the council, who fight against freedom, Who still follow on where delusion shall lead them. From the group at St. James's, who slight our petitions, And fools that are waiting for further submissions— From a nation whose manners are rough and severe, From scoundrels and rascals,—do keep us all clear. From pirates sent out by command of the king To murder and plunder, but never to swing. From Wallace and Greaves, and Vipers and Roses, Whom, if heaven pleases, we'll give bloody noses. From the valiant Dunmore, with his crew of banditti, Who plunder Virginians at Williamsburg city, From hot-headed Montague, mighty to swear, The little fat man with his pretty white hair. From bishops in Britain, who butchers are grown, From slaves that would die for a smile from the throne, From assemblies that vote against Congress proceedings, (Who now see the fruit of their stupid misleadings.) From Tryon the mighty, who flies from our city, And swelled with importance disdains the committee: (But since he is pleased to proclaim us his foes, What the devil care we where the devil he goes.) From the caitiff, lord North, who would bind us in chains, From a royal king Log, with his tooth-full of brains, Who dreams, and is certain (when taking a nap) He has conquered our lands, as they lay on his map. From a kingdom that bullies, and hectors, and swears, We send up to heaven our wishes and prayers That we, disunited, may freemen be still, And Britain go on—to be damned if she will.
Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions. Let’s have a great discussion…pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence.
I’ve you missed the other Virtual Poetry Circles. It’s never too late to join the discussion.
Also, don’t forget the 50th Virtual Poetry Circle giveaway for participants.
This is week 1 of the Paco’s Story read-a-long, and the first discussion questions were posted on Wednesday, July 7 for Chapters 1 and 2.
Paco’s Story is about the soul survivor of the Fire Base Harriette massacre where Alpha Company was obliterated. Heinemann’s writing is raw and honest, and in the first Chapters we’re introduced to Paco through an unnamed narrator, who could be the ghost of a soldier killed in action during the massacre. Readers learn that Paco is the soul survivor from Alpha Company, and his survival had a serious impact on a medic who until he met Paco had failed to save many soldiers injured in the Vietnam War.
The unnamed narrator is brutal in his honesty about Paco’s injuries and the devastation suffered by soldiers in the field. He wants to tell his story, Paco’s story, even if people are unprepared to hear it or don’t want to hear it at all. This is a story that must be told. I wonder if that is how Heinemann felt while he was writing this novel — did he believe that this story was his calling, something he had to tell.
Even if you aren’t participating in the Vietnam War Reading Challenge, we hope that you will join us for the Paco’s Story read-a-long. Until next week.
