A poem

I just thought I might share one of the family portrait poems I've done. Some of you may have seen this before, but some of you may not. Have a great weekend everyone.

worn

 

She looked faded,

like a comfortable old pair of jeans.

 

There was no vigor

in her halting marionette-like walk,

and her bosom hung emptily

on a rounded belly.

 

The right hand,

poised for its habitual cigarette,

shook from the awkward absence.

 

A fluff of whitened auburn

framed her sagging face

powdered with

expanded flecks of rust.

 

Her weary eyes hid

like saphires

in the folds of her face.

Wednesday=Book Review Time--Julie

Up for today:  HOME by Julie Andrews

Why I bought it? It this month's read for my book club. (It just came out in paperback in May.)

Synopsis:  It is a memoir of Julie Andrews' early years. She tells some of her family's history and goes through how she got started in show business.

What I thought? At the beginning I was worried that I wasn't going to like it. There were a lot of vignettes and disjointed facts that didn't really flow, but as the book got going it was very interesting. I'm a big fan of Julie Andrews, and so I was intrigued by the subject matter, and that helped a lot. There are a lot of great details. I enjoyed the sound of her voice too. She has lived an amazing life with lots of ups and downs. It's very open an honest. She was lucky in a lot of ways, but I loved the fact that she rose above her past and really made her own luck. 

My rating: **** out of 5

Cleanness Score: 4 out of 10, a little language and some adult situations

Where does the path lead?

Those of you who've been around a while may remember the family trip we took last fall picking apples. We went up to that lovely spot in Virginia again. No apples this time. Just hay in the fields next to the orchard. A path had been mowed through the hay so we could have our weenie roast, etc. It was a gorgeous day with lots of good company and music.

Here I was arriving at the picnic site and looked back up the path we had just come. At one end of the path was food at the other a gorgeous homage to the day.

In photography a path is nice to have. It visually leads the viewer into the picture and emphasizes your subject. The path in this picture leads to the clouds. As you know I love clouds. They can really make the shot.

In writing we lead the reader down figurative and sometimes literal paths. What we put at the end of those paths can make it worth the readers while or leave them frustrated. A book I read last summer drove me absolutely crazy, because it kept leading me down pathways that left me unfulfilled. I kept thinking that when I got to the end of the novel that everything would come together and all those winding paths would make sense. They didn't, and I felt betrayed. That made me not want to read the author's work again, but I'm sure I will give her another chance eventually.

Do your paths all lead someplace essential for your story?

Another day, another distraction

Today's distraction: Field Day!

It seems like every time I turn around there's another something keeping me from writing (and blogging). Life seems to rear it's pushy head and take precedence. One of these days I might actually make progress on my writing, but, as for today, it ain't happening. I get to sit out in the muggy NC air and watch my sweet littlest one compete in Field Day. All day. Actually it will be very cute, and I will take lots of pictures, but... No writing will get done. Sigh.

Wednesday=Book Review Time--YA fairies

Up for today: WINGS by Aprilynne Pike

Why I bought it? I picked it up because of the cover. It is so cool. I love the wings made out of flower petals. The colors are so pretty, etc., etc. Nice job cover crew. The book hook inside the front cover was interesting, so I passed it to my daughter to see if she was interested. She was too, so cha-ching. Purchase.

Synopsis: Laurel has been homeschooled her whole life and begins her first year of public school. She has a problem though and it's not your everyday kind of thing. Her back starts sprouting something that looks strangely like wings. She has to discover who she really is and what she has to do to fulfill her destiny.

What I thought? I enjoyed the uniqueness of the story quite a bit. It unfolds with romance and mystery. There were some slow spots where I started drifting away, but for the most part it was a fun read. The writing could have been a little more crafted, but most teens won't fault it for that. The book is engaging and fresh with an interesting twist on the fantasy world.

My daughter's rating: ****1/2 out of 5 stars. 

My rating: **** out of 5.

Cleanness Score: 3 out of 10, There was some kissing and several references to sex. Nothing explicit though. Only a couple swear words. Mild violence.

And the winner is!

You guys are going to love this. There was a bit of a snafu with the drawing. I'm sure I'm the only one who can't draw a name out of a hat without complications. I ended up with two. Don't ask! But. Hey. It works in your favor. So. The winners are...

Alexa AND Yunaleska

So Yuna and Alexa email me at lacmoss@gmail.com and we will make our arrangements for you to get your prizes. 

Congratulations to the winners!

And thanks to all the participants. We will have to do this again.

Wednesday=Book Review Time--Ghost Stories

Don't miss Monday's contest if you're just checking in today. Go to Monday's post and follow the rules to be sure you get in the drawing. The deadline is Thursday night at midnight--eastern time.

Up for today: THE SUMMONING by Kelley Armstrong

Why I bought it? Actually this time it was not me who picked out the book. My daughter did while we were running errands at Target. We ended up with about 7 books on that trip. She said I should read it.

Synopsis: Chloe sees dead people and can hear them and talk with them. She gets sent to a group home for kids who have "issues" and is diagnosed with schizophrenia. She wonders what is up with the other kids there. Things get interesting as she learns what the other kids problems are.

What I thought? I enjoyed it pretty well. The story is engaging, and I was entertained. Some parts put you right on the edge of your seat. I didn't love it though. There were some really slow spots, too. It is the first in a series, and the second one is out already. The ending does not wrap anything up. I was disappointed with that. You're left completely hanging. I liked it enough to want to read the 2nd. My daughter will want it, I'm sure. She said the first was slow in a few spots but still really good.

My daughter's rating: ****1/2

My rating: ***1/2 

Cleanness Score: 4: It has some gruesome ghost descriptions, but no language or sexual situations.