When I received the email invite to read Black-inked pearl:
A girl’s quest by Ruth Finnegan, I was intrigued by the description: “An epic
romance about the naive Irish girl Kate and her mysterious lover, whom she
rejects in panic and then spends her life seeking.” A story about a lost love
and a lifetime spent searching for it again. The opening chapter was
breathtaking and I loved the imagery of the search, turning back to find your
love has gone. Unfortunately, I was unable to finish it.
I’m sad when a book gets a place on my “Did Not Finish”
list. It’s a list that no author wants their book to be on. I read 11 chapters,
75 pages and I was lost. Hopelessly lost. According to the book’s Goodreads
page, the story is the interlacing of between this world and another. The story
did flow like a dream with ambiguity and odd occurrences that often happen in
dreams. The publisher, Garn Press, regard the book as a “rare work of genius, a
novel that is unparalleled in modern times on dream, dementia, and truth.” The classic themes of passion, troubles,
torment and grief in the novel are reminiscent of Homer, Soranzo’s Adamo and
Milton’s Paradise Lost, Shakespeare’s sonnets and James Joyce. Maybe this is
why I was unable to finish because despite reading Shakespeare’s sonnets in
high school and I have never read these classic works.
I’m sorry, Ms. Finnegan, you captured me with the opening
chapter. I loved the line “But his figure lost in the mist, her footmarks, the
way, lost in the water.” It sent chills through me. Sadly, I couldn’t follow
the story. I wanted to so bad because the language was so beautiful. I
couldn’t. If you are a fan of or even familiar with the classic works mentioned
above, you may enjoy this. I might look in to these classic works myself and give
this book another go. For now, it has to be shelved. A sad day for a bookworm.
Miss Fortune by
Albina Hume is a memoir of one woman’s journey from poverty in the Ukraine to
animal activism in Africa. It is a life which many of us can hardly imagine but
a classic story of picking yourself up from the dust and creating a great life
in any way possible.
The story opens with a prologue, Albina is eagerly awaiting
the arrival of her wedding invitations which features a butterfly as a
representation of the beginning of new life. She lives on a ranch in Africa
with her fiance, John, who works to save the white rhinos from extinction. The
short, then, flashes back to childhood and life in the Ukraine. She struggled
with the pronunciation of the letter “R” and was horribly teased because of it.
She would spend her life trying to avoid all words with Rs, which would be
proved hard in a language with strong R pronunciations like Russian. She would
be educated in boarding schools and when she has her diploma in hand, she would
try to find a job. Only the doors to steady work would be closed to her as
employers discovered she was a villager. She soon gets into deep debt, trying
to make a living and turns to exotic dancing in order to pay those off. She
would soon find herself in Greece, where she would fall in and out of love as
she is used and betrayed by men who lied. She would eventually turn to a
marriage agency which leads her to John and his ranch in Africa.
I received a PDF copy of this book which was hard to read at
first, mainly because I have never read a book in this format before. But once
I figured it out, the book was a fast read because it kept me intrigued. Her
story seems only like it was written for a movie. Her story was all the more
heart wrenching because she lived it. As I read her descriptions of her
journey, her disappointments, her struggles, I found myself horrified that this
was her journey but I rejoiced with her as she found love and a new purpose in
her life. I recommend Miss Fortune as
a life story which will inspire and encourage other to take their life
circumstances and change them for the better.
Today in history, in 1849, Edgar Allan Poe is discovered in
a gutter in Baltimore, Maryland. Under very mysterious circumstances, he was
found delirious. It would be the last time he would be seen in public. Poe is
considered a part of the American Romantic and Gothic Movements and nicknamed
the Father of the Detective Story. Though he was never a financial success in
his life, Poe has become of one America’s most enduring writers whose poems and
stories have captured by the imagination and interest of generations of readers
from around the world. His life and death would be clouded with mystery
seemingly mirroring his stories.
Poe’s most famous poem is, of course, The Raven. Published in 1845, it portrays a supernatural atmosphere
in which a talking raven mysteriously visits a distraught man, lamenting about
the loss of his love, Lenore. The poem traces the man’s descent into madness.
Sitting on a bust of Pallas (also known as Athena, the Greek goddess of
wisdom), the raven further the man’s distress with the constant repeating of
“Nevermore.” My favorite rendition of The Raven was portrayed by The Simpson’s
Halloween special The Treehouse of Horror (October 25, 1990). Another of Poe’s
poem would be his last, Annabel Lee
(1849), tells of one man’s love for the beautiful Annabel Lee even after her
death. The story of the two fell in love in a kingdom by the sea with a love so
strong that it made the angels envious. A love so strong that it extends beyond
the grace with their souls forever entwined. He dreams of her every night as he
lies by her side, at her tomb by the sea. These two poems are my favorite of
Poe’s poems. Imagines of what overwhelming grief can do to someone’s mental
health.
While many people are more familiar with The Raven, Poe was wrote many detective
stories featuring C. Auguste Dupin. Dupin is considered the first fictional
detective who displays many traits as other famous fictional detectives as Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes (first appearance in 1887) and Agatha
Christie’s Hercule Poirot (first appearance in 1920). The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841) is recognized as the first
modern detective story which Poe referred to as one of his “tales of
ratiocination” (French for reasoning). In this story, Dupin must solve the murders
of two women which witnesses heard but didn’t recognize the language and a hair
which doesn’t appear to be human. The
Mystery of Marie Roget (1842) is the first story to be based on the details
of a real crime. The murder of Mary Cecilia Rogers was the inspiration, who was
found in the Hudson River in July 1841 after a mysterious disappearance. A
third story, The Purloined Letter (1844),
was the last to feature Dupin and a case about a stolen letter from inside a
locked office.
Everyone is familiar with Poe’s horror stories. One of the
most famous, The Tell Tale Heart
(1843) tells the story of a man who commits a premeditated murder, dismembers
the body and hides it under the floorboards. His guilt is manifested by the auditory
hallucinations of the dead man’s beating heart. The Cask of Amontillado (1846) is a story that I read in middle
school about a man who seeks revenge on a friend, who he believes has insulted
him. He seals his friend inside a catacomb underneath an Italian city. The Masque of the Red Death (1842) is a
story of a prince’s desperate attempts to avoid a dangerous plague that he and
other nobles hide in his abbey. The story takes place during a masquerade ball
in which a mysterious figure dressed as a Red Death victim enter and makes his
way among them.
After the death of his wife, Virginia in 1847, Poe began to
suffer poor health and struggled financially. His final days are a mystery. He
left Richmond, Virginia on September 27, 1849, supposedly on his way to
Philadelphia. He would turn up in Baltimore on October 3rd. He was taken to Washington College Hospital
where he would die on October 7th with his last words, “Lord, help
my poor soul.” There are many theories about the cause of death: “congestion of
the brain,” alcoholism, rabies, epilepsy, and carbon monoxide poisoning. The
mystery of his death only adds to the mystery and haunting themes of his poems
and stories. If you are not familiar with Edgar Allan Poe’s poems and short stories,
I highly recommend reading them, especially during the spookiness of Halloween.
The Lifeboat by
Charlotte Rogan is a story about a life and death situation. A lifeboat adrift
at sea where plots and schemes are made. It leaves one women fighting for her
life and freedom as she is on trial for murder.
The year is 1914 and the ship Empress Alexandra has left
Europe with many of its passengers escaping the outbreak of World War I. A fire
soon breaks out board the ship. Newlywed Grace Winter makes it aboard Lifeboat
number 14 with crew member John Hardie and numerous other passengers. As each
day passes on the lifeboat, tensions build and tempers flare as the chance of
rescue get slimmer and slimmer. Mr. Hardie, who had taken charge, seems to have
lost his mind and the others mutiny resulting in his death. When they are rescued,
Grace and two other women are accused of first degree murder. What really happened
aboard the lifeboat? Will Grace go free or be convicted?
I checked this book out of the library but had to force
myself to sit down and read it because it was due to back soon. Once I started
reading, I could not put it down. I was able to finish it in a few hours. The story
was intriguing. I wanted to finish to see how Grace is recused and what events
led to her being accused of murder. I can’t really say anymore because it would
give away main points. I enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone who
enjoys a survival story with a twist.
The View, a TV
talk show, which claims to be a place five women from different points of view
together to discuss the headlines of the day since it began airing in 1997.
Recently, the show came under fire for criticizing and mocking a Miss America
contestant, Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson. Since everyone is familiar with the
segment and the ongoing outrage and backlash, I will not rehash it here.
However, I do want to extend my appreciation for the millions of nurses. To the
nurses who were a part of the happiest moment and the devastated moments of my
life. I don’t remember your names but you have left an impression on my heart
and memory.
To the nurse who sat by my side while I was in labor with my
daughter, Abby. The nurse who talked with us and helped pass the time as best
as possible. The nurse who guided my husband as we prepared for the stage to
bring our daughter into the world. And when the doctor was stitching me from
the episiotomy and didn’t listen when I said I could feel the needle, the nurse
who quietly gave me another dose of pain medication through my epidural. The
nurse who brought my newborn daughter to us and quietly shooed my mom out of
the room. The nurse who stood in the background as my husband and I marveled at
the new person in our lives and stayed with us until they took me to my recovery
room. It’s been almost four years since then and I still remember. Thank you
for the amazing job you did that day.
To the nurses who attended me while I was
in the hospital desperate to stay pregnant with Ziva and ultimately rushed into
an emergency C-section. To the nurse who held me as the anesthesiologist put in
the spinal block. The nurse who let me squeeze her arm even when I left nail
marks. The nurse who reassured me that she would not let me fall. To the nurse
who was at my bedside when I woke up in the surgical recovery room and made
sure I was as comfortable as possible. To the nurse who brought my daughter in
so I could hold her for the first and last time. To the nurse who would come in
and check my vitals. She always apologize for waking me up and she come in,
checked and was out as quickly as possible. To the nurse who I saw in my
aftercare. I was given an appointment I didn’t need but still took the time to
listen to my story, cried with me, prayed with me and even recommended a great
doctor.
To the nurse who sat with me in the ER exam room and made
sure I was comfortable. Many people don’t know this but on August 13th
of this year, I suffered a miscarriage which sent me to the ER. This nurse made
sure I was comfortable and warm because, of course, I had the exam room right
next to the ambulance door. The nurse who apologized for the wait and explained
what the doctor was waiting for before coming in with my results. The nurse who
turned down the lights so my husband and I could get as much sleep as we could
while we waited. The nurse who didn’t
hesitate when she saw that we were ready to go home, got my discharge papers
and sent us home with best wishes.
I’ve heard many good and bad stories about nurses. I’ve had
a few bad ones too. However, the great nurses are the ones which stand out in
my mind. I think I would have a hard time doing the job that they do. And for
the women on the The View to openly
mock a profession which they do not understand and will need throughout their
lives is just plain stupid. To the millions of nurses who work tirelessly every
day for patients and doctors who may or may not appreciate what you do, I say
thank you. I have seen what you do and I appreciate you. To me, you are the
hero of the medical field.
Shoo, Fly! You Can’t
Eat Here by Liller Hamilton is a story of how a common housefly becomes an
unwelcome guest at a school lunch table. Each children with a healthy item for
their lunch, shoos the fly away until the fly gives up and leaves. The book
offers the opportunity for discussion with children about healthy eating
habits.
When the book arrived, my 3 year old daughter immediately wanted
me to read it to her. As she knows how annoying and pesky flies can be, she
laughed and imitated the children as they shooed the fly from their delicious
food. Reading along and seeing the different healthy options, my daughter would
put out the ones she loved (which was all of them). I recommend Shoo, Fly! You Can’t Eat Here for any
family’s library or classroom library was another tool to introduce to children
healthy food options.
The Hobbit or There
and Back again by JRR Tolkien (1892-1973) was first published September 21,
1937. A fantasy novel which has gripped the imaginations of its readers since
its publication. It was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and was awarded a
prize from the New York Herald Tribune for best juvenile fiction. It is the
quest of home-loving Bilbo Baggins to win a share of a treasure guarded by the
dragon, Smaug. He is accompanied by 13 dwarves who seek to reclaim their home
under the Lonely Mountain. The book was such a success that a sequel was
requested by the publisher. The Lord of
the Rings was published in three parts: The Fellowship of the Ring (July 29, 1954), The Two Towers (November 11, 1954) and The Return of the King (October 20, 1955) to great success and
established Tolkien’s Middle Earth in the hearts and minds of generations.
The genre of The
Hobbit is the narrative models of children’s literature. It is one of a
handful of children’s books to be accepted into mainstream literature. Another
example would be J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Although Tolkien’s books
are now shelved with adult fiction while the Harry Potter series is still found
in the children’s sections of bookstores. The writing style of The Hobbit is unpretentious and
straightforward narrative which provides details in a down-to-earth and causal
style. This style draws in the reader into the reality of Middle Earth as
events of a past long ago rather than a mystical world of another place.
Tolkien was highly influenced by William Morris’ reconstructions
of early Germanic life in The House of
the Wolfings (1888) and The Roots of
the Mountains (1889). Character names such as "Gandolf" and the
horse Silverfax were used by Tolkien as tribute to Morris. Tolkien’s The
Necromancer was influenced by Samuel Rutherford Crockett’s The Black Douglas (1899), a tale about the fall of the great House
of Douglas is the focus of this romance set in 15th century Scotland. George
MacDonald’s The Princess and the Goblin
(1872) influenced Tolkien to create his goblins. MacDonald’s works also
influenced Tolkien’s thinking on the role of fantasy with his Christian faith.
Tolkien drew heavily from mythology. In particular, Norse mythology for the
Dwarfish runes. Also the Old English epic poem of Beowulf, the hero of the Geats who comes to the aid of the king of
the Danes to defeat the monster Grendel. Beowulf
is the oldest surviving poem (8th – early 11th
century) in Old English and is cited as one of the most important works of Old
English literature. Tolkien was among the first to present Beowulf as literature not just history in his lecture Beowulf: the
Monsters and the Critics (1936), a lecture which is still required reading in
some Old English courses.
There are many themes present in The Hobbit. Some scholars believe that the book is a parable for
Tolkien’s World War I experiences. The hero who is plucked from his home,
thrown into a far-off war with traditional types of heroism were futile and ingenuity
helps him survive. The classic quest
which tests the hero’s strength, resolve and abilities to see it though. The
quest also influences the maturity and personal growth of Bilbo by the novel’s
end is in contrast with the dwarves’ arrested development. Bilbo learns to survive
by his wits and stands up in the face of great danger. Bilbo learns to overcome
greed and selfishness in order to prevent war over greed for the treasure.
The Hobbit has
never been out of print and is considered a classic among other works like The Pilgrim’s Progress, Gone with the Wind,
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and many and many others. It was named the
most original and best fantasy ever written by the Schools Library Association.
It is geared toward boys between 11-14 years old; however, every one of all
ages can enjoy Tolkien’s books. Of course, the Peter Jackson’s films have
helped bring Middle Earth to broader audience. If you have never read The
Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings, I highly recommend it.
