Sunday, September 25, 2016




Self's Blossom




SELF’S BLOSSOM, by David Russell

This book opens with descriptive writing as it elaborates on the surroundings Selene wandered through in her daily life as well as her present surroundings - on vacation, on the mock primeval coast of Central America, where she intended to blossom into that person she has longed to be through true sexual abandonment with an unknown.  

As she strolls through her new surroundings, mentally painting a not so pretty picture of the corrosive nature of the elements upon things man-made and nature-made, looking through the eyes of a spirit that on some levels had been corroded by life’s unpleasant experiences, she makes just that comparison.

Janice, her friend and sometimes roommate since college days, was constantly warning Selene to take a stance to enjoy life as it is instead of holding out based on her ideals, often to the point Selene felt ridiculed and yet she decided to do just that on a long overdue holiday she sacrificed to afford.

Although she loved Janice as friends love, she viewed her continuous chatter in these terms:

“They unload onto others certain ideals, desires and 
generalizations, mainly borrowed and without understanding 
their sources, which they cannot really handle themselves—
basically to get them out of their own heads, and turn them into 
tinselly mirrors for their own delusions of superiority. They do 
the same with their own past insecurities and mistakes, using 
rebuffs as part of their insulation. Such people are not generally 
receptive to others’ points of view, so it was with Janice.”

Selene with her circumspection, recognized oftentimes people made statements of what they felt logically with no true understanding of the words themselves or the impact those words had on other people because they indeed are not receptive to anyone’s point of view but their own. 

While on holiday, Selene moved from her ‘sea lover’ to her first romp with a total flesh and blood stranger, much younger than herself.  It was quick but pleasurable and when the act was completed, she turned and walked away - so simple.  

But she longed for that encounter that had some kind of meaningful exchange - then she met Hudson, seeing in him from the start someone who could play the game according to her rules.  Anticipation built on mutual flirting, a kiss stolen here, a touch , an adventure, meaningful conversations, shared thoughts and emotions - understanding.

Finally exploding into an electrifying sexual tryst that was bound to live on long after the encounter itself.  Written with words that draw you in allowing you to reflect, even engage in the building prospect of a thrilling outcome without the rawness.  Subtle foreplay building with each meeting; honesty and awareness.  

Will Selene’s inner being blossom in the end?  Were there acts that deteriorated the connection like the constant pounding of the ocean against the shores corroded landscapes, but left beauty is the backwash?  Take her journey by reading the book; accept her point of view and flow with her ability to strip away the caution with which she normally lived life, based on previous occurrences both lived and viewed, that usually inhibited her ability to truly live. 

Ride with her through insecurities and her knack for reality checks along the way,  yet in this instance she desperately attempted to avoid the invasions of those inner thoughts of apprehension and to live only in the moment.  Well written, builds to a climax while carrying you to that climax with expectations.

                                                                       Reviewed by:  Connie Jordan
                                                                                                 September 24, 2016

Not sure why the margins are not right - too tired to figure it out maybe next time

Friday, April 22, 2016

Something to Think About: WHEN DOES SLANG TURN INTO JUST BAD GRAMMAR

Something to Think About: WHEN DOES SLANG TURN INTO JUST BAD GRAMMAR: WHEN DOES SLANG TURN INTO JUST BAD GRAMMAR I know I use slang on occasion more so when I speak than when I write and it is easy to ...

WHEN DOES SLANG TURN INTO JUST BAD GRAMMAR



WHEN DOES SLANG TURN INTO JUST BAD GRAMMAR

I know I use slang on occasion more so when I speak than when I write and it is easy to fall into that pattern in an attempt to ‘keep it real’ in writing however, there is a line that should not be crossed between slang and bad grammar.  Sometimes I have even wondered if slang attempts to cover things like dire spelling skills.

I have listed below several websites that help to understand the rules of writing and though the rules are changing, in terms of what is acceptable, understand that slang ‘dates’ your writing, has the ability to narrow the audience that can relate to your writing, creates stereotypes and on some levels distracts the reader.

I hope these links are helpful, they are for me!
 

THE USE OF SLANG





CHECK YOUR GRAMMAR


Quiz - When to use 'ed' at the end of Verbs



 
CHANGING THE RULES



Keep Writing!! 


Thursday, March 3, 2016

Something to Think About: BOOK REVIEW:  Pieces of My Reflection, by JustasPo...

Something to Think About: BOOK REVIEW:  Pieces of My Reflection, by JustasPo...: BOOK REVIEW:  Pieces of My Reflection , by JustasPoetic   Pieces of My Reflection Discussions of love which were not seen through rose...

BOOK REVIEW: Pieces of My Reflection, by JustasPoetic

BOOK REVIEW:  Pieces of My Reflection, by JustasPoetic


 Product Details Pieces of My Reflection



Discussions of love which were not seen through rose-tinted lenses; there was always pain included.   These poems had a certain flow although they were mostly free verse. They moved with a fluid charm that floated you in and allowed you to feel the journey of love gone astray and the crash landing of loneliness that ensues once you love someone and lose someone.

I have to admit that it took me a poem or three to get into the words, as jaded as I am on the topic of love. But these were, for me, realistically communicated allowing you to feel the ecstasy of love, when it’s good and the vacuum of loss depicted in the words.  In the poem I Wish, the author somewhat wrapped up how I felt at times, in life, as I was reading.

                                                       I wish for numbness
                                                A ceasing of this ever-growing
                                                      Ache I have for you
                                                   Crystal-clear yet opaque
                                                      I can’t understand
                                                   Why I utter your name
                                                      When my lips part
                                                    Caught up in your web…

It goes on to describe the wish for revenge on some level by stating without hesitation:

                                                I wish I could put my hand
                                                      In the wound
                                            And cause your body to shutter
                                                      In agony…karma

But in the end, she embraces the pain that she feels and the pain expressed by the words she read from her lover as if she felt their pain as well. Or was it the pain elicited by the words of goodbye written and left behind for her to read?

I also enjoyed reading, among other poems, The Last Time which explores her memory of the Thursday that she had last spoken to the perpetrator of her grief.  She recalls it was a Thursday because of the mixed emotions she experienced as a result of that phone call, as she thinks back on it. But more importantly, she remembers it was a Thursday because on that day her transformation was complete.

                                                 …It was a Thursday
                                                         I remember
                                                   It was the last time
                                                 I answered the phone
                                                      With my heart

I could go on from there with the imagery evoked by the words written; but instead I’ll let you read the book.


                                                         Reviewed by: Connie Jordan
                                                                                   March 3, 2016

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Something to Think About: BOOK REVIEW: Marry Your Billionaire, by C. J. Ana...

Something to Think About: BOOK REVIEW: Marry Your Billionaire, by C. J. Ana...: BOOK REVIEW:  Marry Your Billionaire , by C. J. Anaya Marry Your Billionaire Exploring the fallacies of Reality TV along with the de...

BOOK REVIEW: Marry Your Billionaire, by C. J. Anaya


BOOK REVIEW:  Marry Your Billionaire, by C. J. Anaya


Product Details Marry Your Billionaire


Exploring the fallacies of Reality TV along with the deceit and desperation of those who attempt to find true love or at least a comfortable life by finding a billionaire husband Midge is dragged into this situation by her father, Corbin Knightly, a producer/director now traversing the niche of reality TV.

After six years of estrangement from her father, caused by Midge wanting her own life and not wanting to go into the business of her farther, Corbin sends for Midge with an offer to reinstate her trust fund provided she appear on his Reality TV program.  Since she needed the money for her last semester of schooling, she agrees with the thought in mind that she would be eliminated during the first rounds of elimination.

That did not happen since the billionaire who was the object of the program had a previous run-in with Midge and thought he was in love with her.  In the end, he refused to eliminate her and Midge became the third wheel standing between Brody Prescott the billionaire who had a damaged image caused by a woman scorned spreading lies and Felicia Davenport the perpetrator of the damaged image of Brody Prescott.

Midge, who refused to believe in Brody’s confessions of love for her, based on a scheme she overheard between her father and Brody which left her thinking this was all about manipulation, the problem with this is that she only overheard part of the conversation before anger stirred and she left in a huff. 

A one dimensional love story – how it started, how if flounder, how it was reinvigorated and the devious schemes perpetrated by Felicia to get the billionaire of her dreams, if only for his money - the book rarely deviate from this theme.

There were some twists and turns in this read. However, by it being so one dimensional, all based on the devious intentions of Felicia and Brody’s non-relenting pursuit of Midge, the story was told in a way that at times pulled you into the drama.  A fun read for a young adult or those who want a peek behind the scenes of these Reality TV shows that seem to be on the rise.


                                                                        Reviewed by:  Connie Jordan
                                                                                                    February 26, 2016