The Call Home by Susan Johnson

Publisher: Poetry Box (April 15, 2023

Language: English

Paperback: 42 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1956285345

5 Stars

 

 

I had the opportunity of hearing Susan Johnson read some poems from this book, and immediately ordered a copy. Usually, when I hear one or two poems from a book and then buy the book, I find those were the two poems I truly love, while the others are okay. As some of you may know, I have a nasty habit of dogearing the bottom corner of the page I love. For whatever reason I did not begin to do that while reading this book. I can honestly state my favorite poem in this book is all of them!

 

The poetry begins with “Along Scatter Creek” which begins with an epigraph of a Japanese Proverb, “The pebble in the brook secretly thinks itself a precious stone.” then goes into the poem, first line being: “And aren’t we each a pebble,” And with that first poem, first line, we are not only invited into these poems, we are expected to expand our lives, to partake of the non-calorie deserts brought to us.

 

Each poem in this book is a “precious stone” just waiting to be picked up, looked at with wonder and marvel at its beauty, then carefully put back in the creek to be found and marveled at a later date. Or put in your pocket to grace your dresser top.

 

The last poem, “Teach Me” is a call to Heron to teach Johnson, and each of us, the wonder he embodies, with the last line, “Teach me quiet consent to the call home.”

 

Johnson’s poetry is narrative, accessible, exquisite pictures painted with words. 

Persian Knots: Confessions of a Foreign Bride by R. P. Ferris

 ASIN: BOCWQRZM19

Publisher: R.P.Ferris (March 17, 2024)

Language: English

Paperback: 368 pages

ISBN-13: 979-8989909100

5 Stars

 

I had things to do yesterday. A workshop in the afternoon, a seminar in the early evening, my usual bedtime, &c. I made a gross error—I started reading this book, and about 6 hours later, I put it down. Truly, a one-sit read! Yes, I missed the workshop, the seminar, and my usual bedtime. The book is that good.

 

Persia and surrounding countries have long interested me—their culture, their foods, the lands. I now feel like I’ve been on a journey to a land, Iran, I will never have the opportunity to visit. I absolutely loved the descriptions of the country and people. I knew people who were in Iran when the Shah’s regime failed. They told me interesting stories, but Ferris brought that time  alive—the uncertainty, the fear, the emotional roller coaster. For a history buff, this book is a fascinating read. For someone who loves to travel to different lands with new and at times strange, cultures, foods, humor, this book is a calorie-free desert.

 

If you are an armchair adventurer, this book is for you. The only thing I could wish for, is that she’d put some recipes at the chapter ends. However, that one thing isn’t enough to knock the rating down from its 5 Star rating. ;-)

The Warrior’s Apprentice (Vorkosigan Book 2 of 16) Kindle Edition –Lois McMaster Bujold

 ASIN: B005DNGSUU

Publisher: Spectrum Literary Agency, Inc. (July 19, 2011)

Language: English

File Size: 993 KB

Text to Speech: Enabled

Print length: 372 pages

5 Stars

 

I’ve been told that one of the things all successful writers must learn is to know when to kill their darlings, and then do it. Unfortunately, authors and readers don’t always agree. She killed one of my chosen darlings, one of my most favorite characters. How dare she!!! Well, I guess she thought it was time, and since we’ve never met, she couldn’t have called for my input. Drat! (I’m still hoping he’ll get resurrected, but it’s a fading hope.)

 

Bujold has the perfect timing to write these books. The action never gets bogged down, there is enough humor to chuckle and snort and now and then laugh out loud (even when she does kill the wrong darling!). The sub plots thicken or are other wisely solved. And the adventure just keeps going.

 

Science Fiction at its best!

Death Wins a Goldfish: Reflections from a Grim Reaper’s Yearlong Sabbatical –by Brian Rea

 Publisher: Chronicle Books; Illustrated edition (February 5, 2019)

Language: English

Hardcover: 176 pages

ISBN-13:  978-1452172552

5 Stars

 

Death works in a cubicle farm with a bazillion other Deaths. Who knew? He reports to work and discovers a note from Human Resources telling him he has a great many unused vacation days—a year’s worth, to be exact, and starting Friday this week, he will be on vacation. A year-long vacation. 

 

This book is truly all about living, not dying. He keeps a journal of things he does, from upgrading his wardrobe to attending a carnival where he wins a goldfish and now has a pet, to dating apps to traveling to warm climes and hot spots. He even takes up painting!

 

The journal entries are fun, but the drawings are delightful. At first glance, it almost looks like a child’s book, but as you get into it, the reader will find it is anything but a child’s book. It’s for every workaholic out there. Life is for living, and living is not being crammed into a cubicle farm 24/7, no matter how much you love your job, or how indispensable you are. 

 

I do wish the goldfish played a bigger role, and had shown up on most (all?) pages, once introduced to Death and us.

Sebastian (Ephemera Book 1) Kindle Edition --by Anne Bishop

 ASIN: B000PC0SD2

Publisher: Ace (February 7, 2006

Language: English

Text-to-speech: Enabled

File size: 705 KB

Print length: 460 pages

5 Stars

 

If I have told myself once, I’ve told myself a bazillion times, “Self, DO NOT BUY the entire series at the same time! You will never pause between books to write your reviews!” I confess, and humbly apologize if this review is also a partial review of Book 2, 3, and or 4. I know better, but I must be honest, if the series is by Anne Bishop, the temptation is too great! And I’ve never been disappointed.

 

Once again, Bishop has come up with a fantastic series, where certain people (Landscapers) can communicate with the world, Ephemera. And there are Bridges who can open gateways/bridges between the countries or lands that are cared for by the Landscapers. And, there are Wizards, who for the most part are not nice people. Oh, and demons. Oh, yes, the demons are wonderful beings.

 

While Bishop’s other universes tend toward darkness, Ephemera has a nice balance, and some downright humorous situations. Sebastian lives in the Den of Iniquity, a land his cousin, Glorianna Belladonna cares for as a Landscaper and built for him. Several sub plots, which get finished before those dreaded words, “The End.”

 

Once started, I had a hard time putting the book/s down. Yes, this book is erotic, and sexy, and I really, really, Really, did not want to reach those dreaded words, “The End.”

Belladonna (Ephemera Book 2) Kindle Edition --by Anne Bishop

 ASIN:   B000PC0SMI

Publisher: Ace (March 6, 2007

Language: English

File size: 3609 KB

Text-to-speech: Enabled

Print length: 477 pages

5 Stars

 

Belladonna follows Sebastian, another page burner. Sometimes it pays to buy the whole series at the same time and just binge read. Which is what I did. This book was a tad darker than Sebastian, but I couldn’t put it down. Due to some things going on in my life, I needed to binge on books by an author whose work I know, and I chose wisely. There is enough conflict in this book that kept me on the edge of my seat, but not enough that I had nightmares when I turned the light off at night because I couldn’t keep my burning eyes open any longer.

 

The Eater of the World has been set free. He killed most of the Landscapers and Bridges who were close to his cage. Glorianna Belladonna is the only one who can re-cage the Eater. Can she do it? Will her brother, Lee, help her? What can Sebastian do? Well, who wrote the series? 

 

Bishop is one of the best authors, one of the best world builders I’ve ever read. And her universes are not the same one between series. I feel my reviews don’t do her justice, so just trust me, her books are fantastic and great reads.

Bridge of Dreams (Ephemera Book 3) Kindle Edition --by Anne Bishop

 ASIN: B006LTZJA0

Publisher: Ace; 1st edition (March 6, 2012

Language: English

File size: 1783 KB

Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Print length: 447 pages

5 Stars

 

The trilogy ends. Sebastian had his book, Belladonna hers, and now Lee, the Bridge, has his. I’m truly sorry the series is ended; I enjoyed these books tremendously. Not only did the Devil get his due, so to speak, but it was great fun to see the characters grow into who they truly were.

 

In this book, Lee is captured, tortured, and eventually finds himself in an Asylum. The only ones who know what he is, are cut off from seeing him; but not before they manage to let him know, that he can’t escape, because they will follow him home to kill his sister, Belladonna. Now blind, among strangers, he must learn new ways to trust, to see, to love.

 

I truly didn’t want this book to end, because the next book is a stand-alone novella in the same universe, but not more about the people I’ve grown to enjoy immensely. Alas, the trilogy ended, no matter how slowly I read. Fortunately, they are mine, and I can reread whenever I want.