The Philosopher’s Daughter —by Lori Desrosiers

 Nonfiction / Poetry

98 pages / 286 KB

5 Stars

 

I have a bad habit—if I’m truly enjoying a book, I read fast. Poetry should be read slowly, each poem savored. The feel of it in the mouth as you read it aloud, the taste of the spice, the texture of the meat and the vegetables, the subtlety of the dessert—all should be given their own time to be enjoyed. But sometimes when I’m starving, I just want more, more. I did try to slow down in reading this book, but the mouth feel was too good, I wanted more, and I didn’t want to wait.

 

I have a second bad habit—I love good poetry, and I’m book poor. Fortunately, I own my own copy of The Philosopher’s Daughter, and will go back to enjoy the poems, individually, and give them, each and every one, the reverence they are due.

 

My third bad habit—I dog ear pages of the books I own. The bottom corners. When a poem speaks to me, grabs me, evokes laughter or tears, is one I know I want to read again and again, I dog-ear the bottom corner. About a third of the poems in this book are dog-eared. There isn’t a poem in this book I didn’t like, but so many reached out and touched me—from “Conducting in Thin Air” to “Night Writing.” 

 

These poems are about family, about life, and even to someone not “into” poetry, I think they will be accessible and enjoyable. 

Sometimes I Hear the Clock Speak —by Lori Desrosiers

 Nonfiction / Poetry

68 pages

5 Stars

 

In many respects, reading this collection of poems was a trip down memory lane for me although we were raised on opposite sides of the country many of our childhood memories are very close.

 

We both learned of reveille and taps at summer camp, we both played violin. Well, she played, I tried. I haven’t a musical bone in my body.

 

We each have a best friend in our life by the same name. Her first poem is after a sculpture by Isamu Noguchi. There are sculptures in Seattle by him. 

 

There is a poem in the book I didn’t find beautiful, but my favorites are mostly in the second part, Echoes and Voices. At least my favorites the first time I read the book. When I read it again, those will change because I will change.

 

As another reviewer says, these poems are “quiet and delicate, but can soar like violins and waxwings.” Nothing more needs to be said.

Case of the One-Eyed Tiger (Corgi Case Files Book 1) —by Jeffrey Poole

 One of the funnest books I’ve read in a while. I laughed out loud in several places. The writing style was fun, and it’s a delight to find a cozy with a male protagonist. The corgi stole the show. Realistic? I don’t know, and frankly, my dear... I read fiction for escape, and this was a fantastic escape.

 

Zack Anderson is a writer, newly widowed, and inherits his wife’s aunt’s winery. Zack doesn’t like wine. He also doesn’t care much for art or cell phones. He arrives in a small town (suspiciously like Jacksonville, OR) and immediately ends up meeting an old friend, acquires a dog, and gets arrested for murder. All before spending the first night in his new home!

 

A fun and delightful book. Looking forward to book 2.

Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega Book 4) —Patricia Briggs

 Fiction / Urban Fantasy

1350 KB

5 Stars

 

Living forever isn’t always easy. There are a lot of goodbyes to be said when your non-were friends and family grow old and die. But that’s one of the prices one pays to live forever—you have more time, and more goodbyes to be dealt with. And Anna must help Charles deal with his best human friend dying. As well as deal with a witch who is raising havoc with the human family of the local pack. 

 

People often say they’d like to live forever, but would they really? This book brings that conundrum to light. Joseph, the BFF of Charles, is dying. Charles can save him. Joseph’s father can save him. Except for one small thing, and if either of them do it, they will have the Marrock to deal with—Joseph doesn’t want to be saved! 

 

Boy Howdy! Make sure your cinch is tight, ‘cause you’re goin’ for a ride with this one.

For other reviews of Patricia Briggs' books, go here: http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/search?q=patricia+briggs 

The Woman and the War Baby --by Bill Ransom

 Nonfiction / poetry / memoir

160 pages

5 Stars

 

Perfection. Pure. Simple. Not one word too many, not word missing. Memories of childhood, or adulthood, of war, of peace. Images seared into your eyes, your brain, by the sheer beauty of a master wielding his pen.

 

Want to know what it feels like being in a war? Instructions on page 142. Or what four-wheel drive really is? Page 127. Love in a fish camp? Page 81. The beauty of dawn on Lake Kapowsin? Page 50. I won’t say these poems will answer all your questions on life, but these poems will give you a better understanding of what it means to be fully alive in the human form.

frank: sonnets --by diane seuss

 Nonfiction / poetry

152 pages 

5 Stars

 

I have never cared to have

an affair with the sonnet—

too much form, too much rhyme, 

too much all the same same. 

Are these truly

sonnets? I dunno, but I do 

know I love them. The ones

with humor, the ones so

hard to read I cried, 

forgot to breathe,

the ones that taught me

my life has been easy. It is

time for me to reconsider

and embrace these Seussian sonnets.

 

My apologies to Ms. Suess. Her book is fantastic. Buy it. Read it.

Golden Poppies: A Novel —by Laila Ibrahim

 Fiction / Historical

297 pages / 2710 KB

5 stars

 

I read another of Ms. Ibrahim’s novels, Paper Wife, and loved it. Serendipity came with Golden Poppies. I had recently read Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. and this novel fit right in with that book. I had not gone many pages before I realized this was the third book of a series. Having read the previous two first might have given me more back story, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will pick up the other two books and read them, but I didn’t find them necessary to enjoy this book. 

 

The story takes place primarily in Oakland CA in the 1890s about two families, one African American one European American. Prior to the Civil War, the white family owned the black family, the matriarch of the white family was raised by the matriarch of the black family and a strong bond developed between them, which was passed down to their families. I found this story engrossing and enjoyable. It offered me hope for our future, that all may yet discover we are connected by the web of life.

 

This book is not an apology for slavery, it does not paint a romantic picture of it. The white woman was a child, raised by the black ‘mammy’ and loved her more than she loved her own mother. She had not yet been taught to see black people as other than black people.

 

Highly recommend this book.