Sue Knott's Blog: Knott The Screaming Type, page 3
March 7, 2013
About The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti
I loved this book and felt it was an important book. It gives surprising insights into the Palestinian/Israeli situation while delivering a gripping read with a powerful message of peace and understanding.
I will be interviewing the author on this blog in the near future. Here is some background on the book from another blogger (and some reader reviews thrown in for good measure):
Article About The Almond Tree By Michelle Cohen Corasanti And 11 5-Star Reviews From Tower.Com
5Mar
Novel with Hollywood potential exposes Israel’s lies
Selma Dabbagh
The Electronic Intifada
4 March 2013
There is an increasing trend when reviewing fiction to consider the biography of the writer, as well as the work in question. It should be the case that the reader completes the text rather than the writer (or their life) being drawn upon to explain it. But when writing about a conflict as contentious as the Israel-Palestine one, it becomes more likely that the ethnicity, political and religious affiliations of the writer are considered relevant.
Michelle Cohen Corasanti is a Jewish American and has written a book that many may consider to be inappropriate for her to write, for her book’s central character, Ichmad [sic], is a Palestinian, and not just any Palestinian, but a boy genius whose intelligence far outstrips almost all of the other characters in this book: Israeli, Jewish or otherwise.
The transliteration of the central character’s name as Ichmad rather than Ahmed is an indication of who Cohen Corasanti writes for, as well as where she writes from, as this is the spelling of an Arab name in the way most commonly associated with Hebrew speakers.
As opposed to the multidirectional outlook of the writers in Seeking Palestine, which I recently reviewed for The Electronic Intifada, who appear to write outwardly to an audience unfamiliar with Palestine as well inwardly to other Palestinians, Cohen Corasanti has a clear audience in mind — namely those people who are not aware the realities that she has become painfully aware of and to, it could be safely said, her own kind, i.e. Jewish readers. This is reflected both in the author’s note, where Cohen Corasanti states her desire to “make the world a better place,” and in the quotation at the beginning of The Almond Tree, which is from the Torah: “That which is hateful to you, do not do unto another … That is the whole Torah, the rest is commentary.”
The novel’s main character, Ichmad, is born during the year of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in a village that would find itself within the boundaries of the new State of Israel. The book is divided into four sections that trace different stages of Ichmad’s life, from 1955, 1966, 1974 and ending in 2009 when Ichmad and his wife travel to Gaza from New York and witness the devastating aftermath of the Israeli bombardment.
The Almond Tree is not a book for those with a taste for gritty realism and the Palestinian characters are portrayed with sweetness and affection that is reminiscent of Ruth Prawdha Jahbwala’s depictions of India. It is also not a novel that seeks to challenge the form of the novel and it seems to have few aspirations for creating a work of subtle beauty or stylistic innovation (such as, for example, Ibrahim Nasrallah’s A Land of White Horses), but as a work of fiction, it works.
Compelling
The story may be a familiar one to many readers of The Electronic Intifada, but it is one that has been suppressed. The characters, despite being somewhat one-dimensional, hold the reader’s sympathy and interest; the novel connects emotionally and it compels the turning of pages. The writing is clear, unforced and uncluttered. It is told in a straightforward linear fashion, with no flashbacks or alternative narratives, and keeps a steady, easy pace. It is frequently moving, despite being occasionally rather sappy, with some of the Israeli characters’ transformation from bigotry to understanding, as well the adaptability of Palestinian virgin-from-the-village brides to New York, bordering on the incredible.
The Almond Tree has all the makings of a bestseller or a Hollywood film. It is a rags-to-riches (in this case tent-dweller to international award-winner) tale with love, suffering, death and justice thrown into the mix. The star character thwarts his opponents with the force of his astonishing intelligence, inner kindness, decency and a keen sense of justice. It is pleasing to witness, enjoyable to read.
The power and importance of this book lies in its simplicity, its setting and the place where the indignation of the teller of this tale stems from. Cohen Corasanti’s voice comes through this novel as a person outraged at having been told a lie, with the lie being the nature of the State of Israel, where she lived for many years.
Abuse at every turn
Cohen Corasanti does not pull any punches in exposing the lie she has been told. In the opening pages, Ichmad’s cherubine toddler sister is blown up by a landmine laid on their family’s land that has been expropriated by force. The family house is confiscated, forcing them to live in a hut, which is demolished, pushing them into a tent. Israelis not only evict Palestinians from their land, but also divert their water, exploit them as laborers, impose curfews, refuse building permits, close borders, imprison arbitrarily, methodically discriminate against and humiliate Palestinians with racist slurs and abuse at every turn.
Ichmad’s family are Palestinians from the land that Zionist forces expropriated in 1948, who are forced to deal with the militaristic Israeli state that has been imposed on top of them, which clearly does not want them to be there.
In The Almond Tree Ichmad attains an Arab scholarship against all odds and gains entry to an Israeli university. The tensions being felt by Palestinians in Israeli institutions have been covered by other writers such as Sayed Kashua and Cohen Corasanti does not cover these relationships to the depth or with the type of humor or irony Kashua uses so masterfully in Dancing Arabs. But she does deal with the split identities and selective vision that artificially enforced racial, religious or ethnic divisions can bring about. Israeli students who know Ichmad grow to accept and love him while continuing to loathe other “Arabs,” while Ichmad cannot tell his mother that he has Israeli friends. Similarly. the Jewish American liberal parents of Ichmad’s girlfriend who have brought her up on a diet of peace and love for all mankind cannot take it when she goes out with a Palestinian.
Cohen Corasanti’s approach, in a manner similar to that of Susan Abulhawa in Mornings in Jenin, is one of a steel fist in a kid glove. This novel is already attaining a wide readership, many of whom have been brought up with the lie that Cohan Corasanti is seeking to expose.
The Almond Tree is a compelling book, written from the heart by a courageous writer with an important story to tell.
Selma Dabbagh is a British-Palestinian writer. Her debut novel is Out of It.
**************YES SERIOUSLY, THESE ARE ALL ELEVEN OF THE REVIEWS ON TOWER.COM, AND THEY’RE ALL 5-STAR; ANYONE WOULD *******************************************THINK THAT IT’S A TRULY AWESOME BOOK.**********************************************
Lovely Literature, March 2, 2013
By Harry Threaders
This is absolutely amazing. Everybody should read it at least once.
Related Products
1. I Shall Not Hate 2. David Grossman – To The End of The Land 3. Tasting the Sky – Ibtisam Barakat 4. Ben White 5. Ilan Pappe 6. The Attack – Yasmina Khadra 7. Miko Peled – The Generals SOn 8. Peace not Apartheid – Jimmy Carter 9. Sharon and My mother-in-law 10. Miral – Rula Jebreal”
A Lesson To Be Learned, March 2, 2013
By Draaks
This story is one that will stay with you long after you are through reading it. We follow Ichmad through his life from age 12 to age 60, and in doing so we feel all of his emotions. As Ichmad learns to cope and even put aside his hatred, I believe it can teach us all that no matter how dark things look, if you believe, then you can see light at the end. I won this from LibraryThing Member Giveaway and I highly recommend this book.
A Tree of Peace, March 2, 2013
By Carolee
If you are interested in the Middle East, you need to read this book. The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti is a book that she felt had to write. She worked for five years to complete this story. It is fiction but it felt true. In fact, I found it very difficult to lay it down. I know so much more after reading this book than I did before. This is a serious book but also a hopeful one. Ichmad Hamid is unusually bright boy in mathematics and science. He learned to follow Einstein’s advice and do problems in his head to calm himself during crisis. He lived in a small village of Palestinian people with his parents and siblings. His father is a talented artist and extremely wise about people, war and forgiveness. If you had looked around the inside of his home at the beginning of this story, you would have seen many portraits and pictures done by his father of his family and different times in their lives. Amal, his younger sister innocently walked out the door of their house, into a field and was blown up by a landmine. They cannot bury her. Permits are needed by the Israelis to marry, to travel, to work, to build a home, to go to school to bury, to even buy fruit from was formerly their own trees. There is no freedom in occupied land. When Ichmad was only twelve, his father was imprisoned for a crime that he did not commit. His family was tear gassed out of their home by soldiers who said that they were terrorists. Sarah, one of his sisters tripped and hurt her forehead. Ichmad tried to breathe air into her but she died. The soldiers shot up the house with Uzis and then dynamited the remains. Everything was gone except for a lone almond tree that Ichmad had named Shahida or witness. His father was in the desert in a horrible prison. His mother was still like a child, not educated, bossy and very dependent. His brothers and sisters were all younger than him. How was this boy going to provide enough food to keep his family from starving? How was he going to protect them from the storms of nature and even worse the whims of the soldiers? How was he going to keep his promise to his father make something of himself? I wish everyone single would read this amazing book to be able to understand what it is really like to live in an occupied land. This book is one of hope, resilience and resourcefulness. I received this book from the Library Thing’s Member Giveaway but that in no way influenced my thoughts in this review.
This noteworthy book is one that touches your heart with its exposed frankness, emotion and which is greatly affecting , March 2, 2013
By Lucinda
“…May the battles that we fight be for the advancement of humanity.” This remarkable story is one that comes from the authors inner core, crafted by her personal experiences that make this a raw, candid read that contains such poignancy and intensity as to really touch your heart. Michelle Cohen Corasanti is brave to bear her soul to the world, but it takes not only strength of character but determination to present to the world a `real picture of how things are and to push forward with ones own beliefs as a free human being. The Palestinian dominance within Israel is the central focus of this detailed, thought-provoking narrative as the author wanted to help bring about peace to the Middle East. I feel so privileged to be able to hold this extraordinary work of fiction within the palm of my hand, and to have the opportunity of exploring new things by these words that moved me to tears…hence I can honestly say that this book is quite special. One follows the story of Ichmad Hamid as he struggles through life in the knowledge that he can do nothing, and is utterly and completely helpless to save his friends and family. Living on occupied land his entire village operates in constant fear of loosing all that they hold most dear including their homes, jobs and belongings but most importantly each other. Ichmads twelfth birthday unknowingly to him is the catalyst for great change, as his world is suddenly & unexpectedly turned upside down…His father is imprisoned and his familys home and belongings are confiscated, amidst his other siblings soon succumbing to hatred in the face of great conflict. Ichmad then begins an inspiring journey using his intellect to try and save his poor dying family, and in doing so he reclaims a love for others that was lost through childhood violence, hence hope is kindle… This stunning story embodies the true meaning of love and selflessness, and that great fight that the main character goes through for trying to save all that matters to him in life. It shows readers the actual meaning of life by presenting to one, quite openly the horrors that take place within the far corners of this world and that as you read will take place whilst one contemplates upon this message. Sometimes one must fight for what they believe in, for what you deem to be right and just and for those that you love (consisting of your entire world). There is so much injustice, so much hatred in the world and the divide within social hierarchy is still widening constantly, as new leaders rule with different ideals and those who oppose them feel such wrath. This story really moved me, affected me deeply and which would strike a chord in all our hearts for regardless of whether we come from other continents, speak in different tongues and live by different cultures we all are united together due to the power of LOVE. This in effect is what makes us human and is our adversarys greatest weakness, for though we always strive for peace there is a war raging in another corner of the world. *I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the author for having her book on GoodReads as a `first-read giveaway.*
EXCELLENT, March 1, 2013
By Handsome P
An amazing page turner.
A story of hope amid despair, March 1, 2013
By Charles Ray
The Almond Tree, a first novel by Michelle Cohen Corasanti, starts with young Palestinian Ichmad Hamid watching his baby sister Amal blown apart by an Israeli mine planted near his familys farm. Despair builds on despair as his father Abbas is jailed as a suspected terrorist supporter, another sister is killed, and his brother, Abbas is crippled in a vicious attack. When Ichmad, a brilliant mathematician, wins a scholarship to a university where Arab students are in the minority, he encounters a Jewish professor, a man filled with hate because of his own familys persecution by the Nazis. But, both men learn to respect each other as individuals, and in their growing collaboration, despair slowly turns to hope. The Almond Tree traces Ichmads life from the squalor of Palestinian refugee camps to the ivory halls of American universities, as he and his new friend make advances in science, and, at the same time, develop as individuals. This is an amazing first novel finely crafted, and full of meaning. Its easy to casually dismiss it. Some would doubt that a Jewish writer could possibly enter into the mind of a Palestinian and make the reader see the fear, hate, love, despair, and hope that shapes his mind. But, Corasanti does just that. More importantly, she has capably described both sides in this long-standing conflict from a human perspective, a perspective that is all too often missing from other accounts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to have a better understanding of the human face of war. [...]
Related Products
“Death From Unnatural Causes,” and “Dead Men Dont Answer” by Charles Ray
The Almond Tree, March 1, 2013
By GrammyGeek
…life isnt about what happens to you, But about how you choose to react to it…Ichmad War and conflict lead 2 brothers, Ichmad and Abbas, down different life paths, both seeking the answers to the hatred and tragedies they have witnessed and lived through in their young lives. “The Almond Tree” by Michele Cohen Corsanti brings to light another of mans inhumanity to man. A riveting novel set during the Arab/Israeli conflict, “The Almond Tree” is a testament to the power of faith, love of family and education. Michele Cohen Corsanti has done a tremendous job of bringing realism to story of “The Almond Tree”. This is one of those books that is hard to take a break from and when you do, you cant wait to get back to it. Be advised, there are graphic details of the atrocities that take place. Note: I have received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Moving, March 1, 2013
By Sandy
The author makes this story live with vivid characters and events. You feel like you are neighbors or close friends with the characters. I know this book is fiction, but if what has and is happening over there is anything like the book, we should all be helping to find a solution for the problems there. The book is very readable, and once you start, you dont want to put the book down. Why is there so much hatred of one race, religion, what have you against another? I would recommend this book to anyone, except maybe young people, because of some violent deions. I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Moving, March 1, 2013
By Sandy
The author makes this story live with vivid characters and events. You feel like you are neighbors or close friends with the characters. I know this book is fiction, but if what has and is happening over there is anything like the book, we should all be helping to find a solution for the problems there. The book is very readable, and once you start, you dont want to put the book down. Why is there so much hatred of one race, religion, what have you against another? I would recommend this book to anyone, except maybe young people, because of some violent deions. I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti, March 1, 2013
By Teritree001971
From a devastating openning scene, which doesnt allow the reader to breathe, to a conclusion offerring a glimmer of hope, the reader is drawn in and unable to put the book down until the end. Action, adventure, life, death, love, heartbreak–The Almond Tree offers the reader an exciting adventure in the last place expected. If you are looking for a professional storyline with well developed characters and themes, this is the book for you. The characters are relatable and the reader can imagine their differing viewpoints, whether it is that of Ichmad Hamid or that of his brother Abbas. Even though the story was set in an environment I knew very little about, I had no problem seeing myself in the story along with the characters. I could imagine what Yasmine would feel as she left her country with no way of communicating for the first time. When I finished the book, I could see the different aspects of life Yasmine and Ichmad felt to be important, the wisdom of parents lost on youth until realised in the end. Throughout the story, the reader watches as Ichmad develops from a naive child to that of a gradfather, who finally starts to open his eyes to the world around him. The Almond Tree shows us how the things we choose to do or the way we choose to see events in our lives and respond to them, affects the world around us. At least download the sample of this book, you will not regret it.
I will be interviewing the author on this blog in the near future. Here is some background on the book from another blogger (and some reader reviews thrown in for good measure):
Article About The Almond Tree By Michelle Cohen Corasanti And 11 5-Star Reviews From Tower.Com
5Mar
Novel with Hollywood potential exposes Israel’s lies
Selma Dabbagh
The Electronic Intifada
4 March 2013
There is an increasing trend when reviewing fiction to consider the biography of the writer, as well as the work in question. It should be the case that the reader completes the text rather than the writer (or their life) being drawn upon to explain it. But when writing about a conflict as contentious as the Israel-Palestine one, it becomes more likely that the ethnicity, political and religious affiliations of the writer are considered relevant.
Michelle Cohen Corasanti is a Jewish American and has written a book that many may consider to be inappropriate for her to write, for her book’s central character, Ichmad [sic], is a Palestinian, and not just any Palestinian, but a boy genius whose intelligence far outstrips almost all of the other characters in this book: Israeli, Jewish or otherwise.
The transliteration of the central character’s name as Ichmad rather than Ahmed is an indication of who Cohen Corasanti writes for, as well as where she writes from, as this is the spelling of an Arab name in the way most commonly associated with Hebrew speakers.
As opposed to the multidirectional outlook of the writers in Seeking Palestine, which I recently reviewed for The Electronic Intifada, who appear to write outwardly to an audience unfamiliar with Palestine as well inwardly to other Palestinians, Cohen Corasanti has a clear audience in mind — namely those people who are not aware the realities that she has become painfully aware of and to, it could be safely said, her own kind, i.e. Jewish readers. This is reflected both in the author’s note, where Cohen Corasanti states her desire to “make the world a better place,” and in the quotation at the beginning of The Almond Tree, which is from the Torah: “That which is hateful to you, do not do unto another … That is the whole Torah, the rest is commentary.”
The novel’s main character, Ichmad, is born during the year of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in a village that would find itself within the boundaries of the new State of Israel. The book is divided into four sections that trace different stages of Ichmad’s life, from 1955, 1966, 1974 and ending in 2009 when Ichmad and his wife travel to Gaza from New York and witness the devastating aftermath of the Israeli bombardment.
The Almond Tree is not a book for those with a taste for gritty realism and the Palestinian characters are portrayed with sweetness and affection that is reminiscent of Ruth Prawdha Jahbwala’s depictions of India. It is also not a novel that seeks to challenge the form of the novel and it seems to have few aspirations for creating a work of subtle beauty or stylistic innovation (such as, for example, Ibrahim Nasrallah’s A Land of White Horses), but as a work of fiction, it works.
Compelling
The story may be a familiar one to many readers of The Electronic Intifada, but it is one that has been suppressed. The characters, despite being somewhat one-dimensional, hold the reader’s sympathy and interest; the novel connects emotionally and it compels the turning of pages. The writing is clear, unforced and uncluttered. It is told in a straightforward linear fashion, with no flashbacks or alternative narratives, and keeps a steady, easy pace. It is frequently moving, despite being occasionally rather sappy, with some of the Israeli characters’ transformation from bigotry to understanding, as well the adaptability of Palestinian virgin-from-the-village brides to New York, bordering on the incredible.
The Almond Tree has all the makings of a bestseller or a Hollywood film. It is a rags-to-riches (in this case tent-dweller to international award-winner) tale with love, suffering, death and justice thrown into the mix. The star character thwarts his opponents with the force of his astonishing intelligence, inner kindness, decency and a keen sense of justice. It is pleasing to witness, enjoyable to read.
The power and importance of this book lies in its simplicity, its setting and the place where the indignation of the teller of this tale stems from. Cohen Corasanti’s voice comes through this novel as a person outraged at having been told a lie, with the lie being the nature of the State of Israel, where she lived for many years.
Abuse at every turn
Cohen Corasanti does not pull any punches in exposing the lie she has been told. In the opening pages, Ichmad’s cherubine toddler sister is blown up by a landmine laid on their family’s land that has been expropriated by force. The family house is confiscated, forcing them to live in a hut, which is demolished, pushing them into a tent. Israelis not only evict Palestinians from their land, but also divert their water, exploit them as laborers, impose curfews, refuse building permits, close borders, imprison arbitrarily, methodically discriminate against and humiliate Palestinians with racist slurs and abuse at every turn.
Ichmad’s family are Palestinians from the land that Zionist forces expropriated in 1948, who are forced to deal with the militaristic Israeli state that has been imposed on top of them, which clearly does not want them to be there.
In The Almond Tree Ichmad attains an Arab scholarship against all odds and gains entry to an Israeli university. The tensions being felt by Palestinians in Israeli institutions have been covered by other writers such as Sayed Kashua and Cohen Corasanti does not cover these relationships to the depth or with the type of humor or irony Kashua uses so masterfully in Dancing Arabs. But she does deal with the split identities and selective vision that artificially enforced racial, religious or ethnic divisions can bring about. Israeli students who know Ichmad grow to accept and love him while continuing to loathe other “Arabs,” while Ichmad cannot tell his mother that he has Israeli friends. Similarly. the Jewish American liberal parents of Ichmad’s girlfriend who have brought her up on a diet of peace and love for all mankind cannot take it when she goes out with a Palestinian.
Cohen Corasanti’s approach, in a manner similar to that of Susan Abulhawa in Mornings in Jenin, is one of a steel fist in a kid glove. This novel is already attaining a wide readership, many of whom have been brought up with the lie that Cohan Corasanti is seeking to expose.
The Almond Tree is a compelling book, written from the heart by a courageous writer with an important story to tell.
Selma Dabbagh is a British-Palestinian writer. Her debut novel is Out of It.
**************YES SERIOUSLY, THESE ARE ALL ELEVEN OF THE REVIEWS ON TOWER.COM, AND THEY’RE ALL 5-STAR; ANYONE WOULD *******************************************THINK THAT IT’S A TRULY AWESOME BOOK.**********************************************
Lovely Literature, March 2, 2013
By Harry Threaders
This is absolutely amazing. Everybody should read it at least once.
Related Products
1. I Shall Not Hate 2. David Grossman – To The End of The Land 3. Tasting the Sky – Ibtisam Barakat 4. Ben White 5. Ilan Pappe 6. The Attack – Yasmina Khadra 7. Miko Peled – The Generals SOn 8. Peace not Apartheid – Jimmy Carter 9. Sharon and My mother-in-law 10. Miral – Rula Jebreal”
A Lesson To Be Learned, March 2, 2013
By Draaks
This story is one that will stay with you long after you are through reading it. We follow Ichmad through his life from age 12 to age 60, and in doing so we feel all of his emotions. As Ichmad learns to cope and even put aside his hatred, I believe it can teach us all that no matter how dark things look, if you believe, then you can see light at the end. I won this from LibraryThing Member Giveaway and I highly recommend this book.
A Tree of Peace, March 2, 2013
By Carolee
If you are interested in the Middle East, you need to read this book. The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti is a book that she felt had to write. She worked for five years to complete this story. It is fiction but it felt true. In fact, I found it very difficult to lay it down. I know so much more after reading this book than I did before. This is a serious book but also a hopeful one. Ichmad Hamid is unusually bright boy in mathematics and science. He learned to follow Einstein’s advice and do problems in his head to calm himself during crisis. He lived in a small village of Palestinian people with his parents and siblings. His father is a talented artist and extremely wise about people, war and forgiveness. If you had looked around the inside of his home at the beginning of this story, you would have seen many portraits and pictures done by his father of his family and different times in their lives. Amal, his younger sister innocently walked out the door of their house, into a field and was blown up by a landmine. They cannot bury her. Permits are needed by the Israelis to marry, to travel, to work, to build a home, to go to school to bury, to even buy fruit from was formerly their own trees. There is no freedom in occupied land. When Ichmad was only twelve, his father was imprisoned for a crime that he did not commit. His family was tear gassed out of their home by soldiers who said that they were terrorists. Sarah, one of his sisters tripped and hurt her forehead. Ichmad tried to breathe air into her but she died. The soldiers shot up the house with Uzis and then dynamited the remains. Everything was gone except for a lone almond tree that Ichmad had named Shahida or witness. His father was in the desert in a horrible prison. His mother was still like a child, not educated, bossy and very dependent. His brothers and sisters were all younger than him. How was this boy going to provide enough food to keep his family from starving? How was he going to protect them from the storms of nature and even worse the whims of the soldiers? How was he going to keep his promise to his father make something of himself? I wish everyone single would read this amazing book to be able to understand what it is really like to live in an occupied land. This book is one of hope, resilience and resourcefulness. I received this book from the Library Thing’s Member Giveaway but that in no way influenced my thoughts in this review.
This noteworthy book is one that touches your heart with its exposed frankness, emotion and which is greatly affecting , March 2, 2013
By Lucinda
“…May the battles that we fight be for the advancement of humanity.” This remarkable story is one that comes from the authors inner core, crafted by her personal experiences that make this a raw, candid read that contains such poignancy and intensity as to really touch your heart. Michelle Cohen Corasanti is brave to bear her soul to the world, but it takes not only strength of character but determination to present to the world a `real picture of how things are and to push forward with ones own beliefs as a free human being. The Palestinian dominance within Israel is the central focus of this detailed, thought-provoking narrative as the author wanted to help bring about peace to the Middle East. I feel so privileged to be able to hold this extraordinary work of fiction within the palm of my hand, and to have the opportunity of exploring new things by these words that moved me to tears…hence I can honestly say that this book is quite special. One follows the story of Ichmad Hamid as he struggles through life in the knowledge that he can do nothing, and is utterly and completely helpless to save his friends and family. Living on occupied land his entire village operates in constant fear of loosing all that they hold most dear including their homes, jobs and belongings but most importantly each other. Ichmads twelfth birthday unknowingly to him is the catalyst for great change, as his world is suddenly & unexpectedly turned upside down…His father is imprisoned and his familys home and belongings are confiscated, amidst his other siblings soon succumbing to hatred in the face of great conflict. Ichmad then begins an inspiring journey using his intellect to try and save his poor dying family, and in doing so he reclaims a love for others that was lost through childhood violence, hence hope is kindle… This stunning story embodies the true meaning of love and selflessness, and that great fight that the main character goes through for trying to save all that matters to him in life. It shows readers the actual meaning of life by presenting to one, quite openly the horrors that take place within the far corners of this world and that as you read will take place whilst one contemplates upon this message. Sometimes one must fight for what they believe in, for what you deem to be right and just and for those that you love (consisting of your entire world). There is so much injustice, so much hatred in the world and the divide within social hierarchy is still widening constantly, as new leaders rule with different ideals and those who oppose them feel such wrath. This story really moved me, affected me deeply and which would strike a chord in all our hearts for regardless of whether we come from other continents, speak in different tongues and live by different cultures we all are united together due to the power of LOVE. This in effect is what makes us human and is our adversarys greatest weakness, for though we always strive for peace there is a war raging in another corner of the world. *I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the author for having her book on GoodReads as a `first-read giveaway.*
EXCELLENT, March 1, 2013
By Handsome P
An amazing page turner.
A story of hope amid despair, March 1, 2013
By Charles Ray
The Almond Tree, a first novel by Michelle Cohen Corasanti, starts with young Palestinian Ichmad Hamid watching his baby sister Amal blown apart by an Israeli mine planted near his familys farm. Despair builds on despair as his father Abbas is jailed as a suspected terrorist supporter, another sister is killed, and his brother, Abbas is crippled in a vicious attack. When Ichmad, a brilliant mathematician, wins a scholarship to a university where Arab students are in the minority, he encounters a Jewish professor, a man filled with hate because of his own familys persecution by the Nazis. But, both men learn to respect each other as individuals, and in their growing collaboration, despair slowly turns to hope. The Almond Tree traces Ichmads life from the squalor of Palestinian refugee camps to the ivory halls of American universities, as he and his new friend make advances in science, and, at the same time, develop as individuals. This is an amazing first novel finely crafted, and full of meaning. Its easy to casually dismiss it. Some would doubt that a Jewish writer could possibly enter into the mind of a Palestinian and make the reader see the fear, hate, love, despair, and hope that shapes his mind. But, Corasanti does just that. More importantly, she has capably described both sides in this long-standing conflict from a human perspective, a perspective that is all too often missing from other accounts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to have a better understanding of the human face of war. [...]
Related Products
“Death From Unnatural Causes,” and “Dead Men Dont Answer” by Charles Ray
The Almond Tree, March 1, 2013
By GrammyGeek
…life isnt about what happens to you, But about how you choose to react to it…Ichmad War and conflict lead 2 brothers, Ichmad and Abbas, down different life paths, both seeking the answers to the hatred and tragedies they have witnessed and lived through in their young lives. “The Almond Tree” by Michele Cohen Corsanti brings to light another of mans inhumanity to man. A riveting novel set during the Arab/Israeli conflict, “The Almond Tree” is a testament to the power of faith, love of family and education. Michele Cohen Corsanti has done a tremendous job of bringing realism to story of “The Almond Tree”. This is one of those books that is hard to take a break from and when you do, you cant wait to get back to it. Be advised, there are graphic details of the atrocities that take place. Note: I have received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Moving, March 1, 2013
By Sandy
The author makes this story live with vivid characters and events. You feel like you are neighbors or close friends with the characters. I know this book is fiction, but if what has and is happening over there is anything like the book, we should all be helping to find a solution for the problems there. The book is very readable, and once you start, you dont want to put the book down. Why is there so much hatred of one race, religion, what have you against another? I would recommend this book to anyone, except maybe young people, because of some violent deions. I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Moving, March 1, 2013
By Sandy
The author makes this story live with vivid characters and events. You feel like you are neighbors or close friends with the characters. I know this book is fiction, but if what has and is happening over there is anything like the book, we should all be helping to find a solution for the problems there. The book is very readable, and once you start, you dont want to put the book down. Why is there so much hatred of one race, religion, what have you against another? I would recommend this book to anyone, except maybe young people, because of some violent deions. I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti, March 1, 2013
By Teritree001971
From a devastating openning scene, which doesnt allow the reader to breathe, to a conclusion offerring a glimmer of hope, the reader is drawn in and unable to put the book down until the end. Action, adventure, life, death, love, heartbreak–The Almond Tree offers the reader an exciting adventure in the last place expected. If you are looking for a professional storyline with well developed characters and themes, this is the book for you. The characters are relatable and the reader can imagine their differing viewpoints, whether it is that of Ichmad Hamid or that of his brother Abbas. Even though the story was set in an environment I knew very little about, I had no problem seeing myself in the story along with the characters. I could imagine what Yasmine would feel as she left her country with no way of communicating for the first time. When I finished the book, I could see the different aspects of life Yasmine and Ichmad felt to be important, the wisdom of parents lost on youth until realised in the end. Throughout the story, the reader watches as Ichmad develops from a naive child to that of a gradfather, who finally starts to open his eyes to the world around him. The Almond Tree shows us how the things we choose to do or the way we choose to see events in our lives and respond to them, affects the world around us. At least download the sample of this book, you will not regret it.
February 22, 2013
I may be a safety nutcase, but safety makes sense
A bizarre title to an equally strange rant, but I just have to go off topic a bit and express my disgust with the public's idiocy regarding safety matters.
Why oh why do the manufacturers of children's outerwear not incorporate reflective strips as a matter of course? There should be a law requiring reflective strips! These things would add less cost than pockets (most kids' jackets have pockets and kids have no need of them) and they save lives. Get a clue manufacturers! The running shoe industry is way ahead of you, putting reflective strips on adult running shoes (kudos, shoe industry). I don't have a small child, but I drive a car and I appreciate the reflective strips on those hard-to-see pedestrians. (They should put them on adult outerwear, too - so I'm not forced to wear my stupid safety vest when I walk at night.)
Second safety peeve: public buildings that don't unlock all their doors. How often do you go to enter a building only to find one of the main doors locked? If there were a fire, crowds of people would be running to exit the building, only to be thwarted by a locked door: people pile up, get crushed and are obstructed from exiting a burning building. While newer stores, have safety bars that allow egress even when the door is locked from the outside, a ridiculous number of public buildings have no such devices. Fire marshalls should get on top of this. It must surely be against fire regulations to have public buildings that cannot accommodate exiting individuals from every door. Let's start enforcing that rule and fining offenders.
And that is the end of my rant. Two cheap, easy fixes that could save lives.
Why oh why do the manufacturers of children's outerwear not incorporate reflective strips as a matter of course? There should be a law requiring reflective strips! These things would add less cost than pockets (most kids' jackets have pockets and kids have no need of them) and they save lives. Get a clue manufacturers! The running shoe industry is way ahead of you, putting reflective strips on adult running shoes (kudos, shoe industry). I don't have a small child, but I drive a car and I appreciate the reflective strips on those hard-to-see pedestrians. (They should put them on adult outerwear, too - so I'm not forced to wear my stupid safety vest when I walk at night.)
Second safety peeve: public buildings that don't unlock all their doors. How often do you go to enter a building only to find one of the main doors locked? If there were a fire, crowds of people would be running to exit the building, only to be thwarted by a locked door: people pile up, get crushed and are obstructed from exiting a burning building. While newer stores, have safety bars that allow egress even when the door is locked from the outside, a ridiculous number of public buildings have no such devices. Fire marshalls should get on top of this. It must surely be against fire regulations to have public buildings that cannot accommodate exiting individuals from every door. Let's start enforcing that rule and fining offenders.
And that is the end of my rant. Two cheap, easy fixes that could save lives.
February 15, 2013
Well written negative reviews are a good thing
I tend to not say anything rather than say something critical(odd, I know, for someone who has written parodies, but I don't believe I'll ruin the day of an author who has earned million$).
However, I'm resolving to leave negative reviews when warranted. Because that's a good thing.
Rare is the book that can be loved by everyone. Chances are that people who enjoy high-minded literary works aren't going to like most popular fiction. And vice versa. Without the review criticizing a book for being too stuffy or too simple, how's a reader to know? A positive review isn't likely to mention the book's frequent use of seldom-heard multisyllabic words; a critical reviw might.
So, go ahead and leave negative reviews. Just be sure to describe in detail WHY you didn't like the book. Just saying "boring" or "hated it" doesn't really help anyone. But, saying "there wasn't enough sex" or "the dialogue felt stiff" will help your audience decide how they might like the book. And that's the real reason for a review, isn't it? Nobody cares about your opinion, they care about how your opinion relates to them.
However, I'm resolving to leave negative reviews when warranted. Because that's a good thing.
Rare is the book that can be loved by everyone. Chances are that people who enjoy high-minded literary works aren't going to like most popular fiction. And vice versa. Without the review criticizing a book for being too stuffy or too simple, how's a reader to know? A positive review isn't likely to mention the book's frequent use of seldom-heard multisyllabic words; a critical reviw might.
So, go ahead and leave negative reviews. Just be sure to describe in detail WHY you didn't like the book. Just saying "boring" or "hated it" doesn't really help anyone. But, saying "there wasn't enough sex" or "the dialogue felt stiff" will help your audience decide how they might like the book. And that's the real reason for a review, isn't it? Nobody cares about your opinion, they care about how your opinion relates to them.
February 14, 2013
In the 2nd Round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards
My novel, "Catching On Fire," made it into the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. And I'm not sure how to feel about that.
Isn't that crazy? Publishing is so topsy-turvy these days that even winning an award can be confusing thing?
The trouble is, there's a revolution going on. Sensing a chance to be king of the hill, everyone is bullying everyone else in an aggressive power grab. Stores are trying to beat Amazon down. Amazon is trying to beat publishers down. Microsoft, Google and Apple are trying to push their way into the category. The fighting just keeps intensifying.
That's why I've been happy jump into the indie niche. The interests of readers are being lost in the fray. As an indie author, I can (somewhat) ignore all the drama and focus on telling stories and giving readers what I think they'll enjoy. I don't have to take sides in the publishing wars. But, as an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award winner, I would have to align myself with Amazon. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but, well...I like not having to take sides.
I am sure in the long run that whatever companies survive will, once again, put readers' needs first. Things will get a lot tougher for indie authors then. But, they'll be better for readers. And that's what really matters.
Isn't that crazy? Publishing is so topsy-turvy these days that even winning an award can be confusing thing?
The trouble is, there's a revolution going on. Sensing a chance to be king of the hill, everyone is bullying everyone else in an aggressive power grab. Stores are trying to beat Amazon down. Amazon is trying to beat publishers down. Microsoft, Google and Apple are trying to push their way into the category. The fighting just keeps intensifying.
That's why I've been happy jump into the indie niche. The interests of readers are being lost in the fray. As an indie author, I can (somewhat) ignore all the drama and focus on telling stories and giving readers what I think they'll enjoy. I don't have to take sides in the publishing wars. But, as an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award winner, I would have to align myself with Amazon. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but, well...I like not having to take sides.
I am sure in the long run that whatever companies survive will, once again, put readers' needs first. Things will get a lot tougher for indie authors then. But, they'll be better for readers. And that's what really matters.
February 4, 2013
A self-serving post on being self serving
Many readers are unaware of the topsy-turvy state of publishing right now. After decades of business-as-usual, the book world has been turned on its head. Nobody knows where it will end up.
That's an opportunity for you, dear reader, to help shape the future to your liking. I mentioned in a previous post that bookstores won't exist if you don't buy books there. Well, there are other developments that will stay or go away based on your behavior.
Right now, authors and publishers are experimenting with book giveaways as a marketing tool. (In fact, right now, Feb. 4-7, the Kindle version of my novel, "Catching On Fire" is available free. And my sometimes-co-author, Lardyard Hampoon, is offering his "Fifty Shades Nastier An Intensely Funny Parody" free through Kindle on the same days. Warning: I had nothing to do with Lardyard's book. The humor in it is vile, for adults only, and not for the faint of heart.)
Hopefully, you've come back from getting your free downloads for the rest of my message. And that is: if these freebies don't work for the authors/publishers, they won't continue to offer them. It's very experimental right now. If people don't leave honest reviews on sites like goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, the freebies won't make much of an impact. (And an honest review can be good, bad or indifferent, as long as it's honest and posted where others can read it.) If the freebies don't lead to sales, people won't be offering them. Word gets around in the publishing community.
Same goes for talking up a book that you like, whether you got it for free or paid for it. If it's not yet a best seller, it needs your enthusiasm. Most books go nowhere. If you don't help a favored book succeed, you may not see anything else from that author ever again. His/her publisher will drop him/her. It won't be worth the author's time to write another book.
So, if you like freebies, be sure to leave a review that will be helpful to potential readers, even if it's a negative review. And if you happen to love an author who isn't on the NYTimes Bestseller List, make sure all your friends know how great that author is.
While you're at it, you might want to learn to rely on reader reviews...they might be the way of the future. Don't just go by star ratings. Read several reviews to see why the reviewer did or did not like the book. You'll recognize the reviewers who share your taste.
Last, but not least (trite, I know), tell publishers/authors what you want. Tweet about it. Send them emails. They'll pay attention. (My current pet peeve: ebooks that are more expensive than print books! How stupid do publishers think we are? Sure, ebooks are convenient, but I know the pixels cost a lot less than the paper.)
That's an opportunity for you, dear reader, to help shape the future to your liking. I mentioned in a previous post that bookstores won't exist if you don't buy books there. Well, there are other developments that will stay or go away based on your behavior.
Right now, authors and publishers are experimenting with book giveaways as a marketing tool. (In fact, right now, Feb. 4-7, the Kindle version of my novel, "Catching On Fire" is available free. And my sometimes-co-author, Lardyard Hampoon, is offering his "Fifty Shades Nastier An Intensely Funny Parody" free through Kindle on the same days. Warning: I had nothing to do with Lardyard's book. The humor in it is vile, for adults only, and not for the faint of heart.)
Hopefully, you've come back from getting your free downloads for the rest of my message. And that is: if these freebies don't work for the authors/publishers, they won't continue to offer them. It's very experimental right now. If people don't leave honest reviews on sites like goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, the freebies won't make much of an impact. (And an honest review can be good, bad or indifferent, as long as it's honest and posted where others can read it.) If the freebies don't lead to sales, people won't be offering them. Word gets around in the publishing community.
Same goes for talking up a book that you like, whether you got it for free or paid for it. If it's not yet a best seller, it needs your enthusiasm. Most books go nowhere. If you don't help a favored book succeed, you may not see anything else from that author ever again. His/her publisher will drop him/her. It won't be worth the author's time to write another book.
So, if you like freebies, be sure to leave a review that will be helpful to potential readers, even if it's a negative review. And if you happen to love an author who isn't on the NYTimes Bestseller List, make sure all your friends know how great that author is.
While you're at it, you might want to learn to rely on reader reviews...they might be the way of the future. Don't just go by star ratings. Read several reviews to see why the reviewer did or did not like the book. You'll recognize the reviewers who share your taste.
Last, but not least (trite, I know), tell publishers/authors what you want. Tweet about it. Send them emails. They'll pay attention. (My current pet peeve: ebooks that are more expensive than print books! How stupid do publishers think we are? Sure, ebooks are convenient, but I know the pixels cost a lot less than the paper.)
January 31, 2013
Ruh-Roh...am I contributing to the delinquincy of America's youth?
When I decided to write a parody of The Hunger Games, I knew I wanted to "sexualize" the story to underscore the inappropriateness of the kids-killing-kids theme. Americans for some odd reason, tend not to see how inappropriate violence is, but show some nipple, and we're all over it.
I brought in Lardyard to help me with this because I wasn't sure I could come up with the kind of frat-boy type humor I needed. (No one I know embodies the maturity of a teen boy than Lardyard.) I thought we had a good balance of raunchy-but-not-too-raunchy humor. There are boobs, jerking off, lust...but no actual sex in the book. I was satisfied that we'd make our point, entertain teen males as well as females, and not introduce readers to any sexulaity they weren't already all too familiar with.
Now, I find that not just teens, but children are reading The Hunger Games. I would have thought childicide would be too mature a topic for them. And I worry that they might then think about reading my parody. The cover does a good job of indicating the content (The H.Unger Games Gone Wild...with a picture of duckling in a bikini top). Still, I have no way of assuring middle schoolers don't buy it. You'd think they'd have some way to rate books, just as they do for movies, wouldn't you?
It's no fun feeling like you have to be everybody's mom. But, it does take a village to raise a child. So, this is a warning: my Hunger Games parody is for high schoolers and older. Young'uns must wait a few years.
I brought in Lardyard to help me with this because I wasn't sure I could come up with the kind of frat-boy type humor I needed. (No one I know embodies the maturity of a teen boy than Lardyard.) I thought we had a good balance of raunchy-but-not-too-raunchy humor. There are boobs, jerking off, lust...but no actual sex in the book. I was satisfied that we'd make our point, entertain teen males as well as females, and not introduce readers to any sexulaity they weren't already all too familiar with.
Now, I find that not just teens, but children are reading The Hunger Games. I would have thought childicide would be too mature a topic for them. And I worry that they might then think about reading my parody. The cover does a good job of indicating the content (The H.Unger Games Gone Wild...with a picture of duckling in a bikini top). Still, I have no way of assuring middle schoolers don't buy it. You'd think they'd have some way to rate books, just as they do for movies, wouldn't you?
It's no fun feeling like you have to be everybody's mom. But, it does take a village to raise a child. So, this is a warning: my Hunger Games parody is for high schoolers and older. Young'uns must wait a few years.
January 17, 2013
Advice to Young Writers
This isn't the kind of advice I've ever seen anywhere, yet it is the most important advice any serious writer could hope to get. (How's that for a dramtic build up?)
I'm talking about ergonomics. Actually, beyond ergonomics. Writing wreaks havoc on the body. (Who knew? I figured this had to be the physically safest career in the world. Wrong.) I'm addressing this to young writers because it's likely too late for old writers. Sorry about that.
I say "beyond ergonomics" because I'm urging you to consider not just a comfortable chair and a good desk. I think you should seriously consider Dragon Naturally Speaking dictation software by Nuance. This software is amazingly accurate (Siri doesn't even come close). I have the professional version, but I believe the home version can be had for under $50. I beleive this is the way of the future. (I swear, I have NO relationship with this company. My endorsement is unbiased.)
I urge you to start using this software as early in life as possible. High school would be the ideal time to start. Imagine the time and effort you could save if you simply dictated your papers to your computer rather than typing them! If you got really skillful, you could use a digital recorder to "write" while you took a walk, cleaned your room or whatever. (You'd probably have to walk slow as I do. When I pick up speed and start breathing heavy, Dragon thinks I'm saying "him" every time I exhale.)
I know several writers with back, arm or hand problems that have forced them to either stop writing or greatly reduce their writing schedule. It's horrible when you want to write and you can't. It's even worse when that is how you make your living.
I'm urging you to use the software as early as possible because, for me at least, thinking out loud is an entirely different process than thinking at the keyboard. I remember when I first started working as a copywriter. The thoughts came so fast, I'd lose half of them before I got them down on paper. I gradually adjusted and now seem to think at the speed I type. I'm hoping that I'll gradually speed up to thinking at the speed I talk. (I talk really, really fast. Sometimes, I have a difficult time understanding what I said when playing back a recording. Yet, the Dragon Naturally Speaking software understand at least 95% of what I say.)
If you can't (or don't want to) buy/use the software, at least set a 20 minute timer by your computer and get up and stretch every time it goes off. It's interruptive of the thought process, but still better than damaging your spine or nerves.
Also, if you work really hard at your writing -- for long hours at a time -- look out the window at least once every 20 minutes, too. If not, your distance vision is likely to go...maybe in as little as a year or two. (Though, they do have some really attractive glasses out there...and glasses do make you look like a writer...hmmmm.)
I'm not saying you shouldn't learn how to type. But, learning how to type and how to dictate efficiently will serve you well.
You're welcome.
I'm talking about ergonomics. Actually, beyond ergonomics. Writing wreaks havoc on the body. (Who knew? I figured this had to be the physically safest career in the world. Wrong.) I'm addressing this to young writers because it's likely too late for old writers. Sorry about that.
I say "beyond ergonomics" because I'm urging you to consider not just a comfortable chair and a good desk. I think you should seriously consider Dragon Naturally Speaking dictation software by Nuance. This software is amazingly accurate (Siri doesn't even come close). I have the professional version, but I believe the home version can be had for under $50. I beleive this is the way of the future. (I swear, I have NO relationship with this company. My endorsement is unbiased.)
I urge you to start using this software as early in life as possible. High school would be the ideal time to start. Imagine the time and effort you could save if you simply dictated your papers to your computer rather than typing them! If you got really skillful, you could use a digital recorder to "write" while you took a walk, cleaned your room or whatever. (You'd probably have to walk slow as I do. When I pick up speed and start breathing heavy, Dragon thinks I'm saying "him" every time I exhale.)
I know several writers with back, arm or hand problems that have forced them to either stop writing or greatly reduce their writing schedule. It's horrible when you want to write and you can't. It's even worse when that is how you make your living.
I'm urging you to use the software as early as possible because, for me at least, thinking out loud is an entirely different process than thinking at the keyboard. I remember when I first started working as a copywriter. The thoughts came so fast, I'd lose half of them before I got them down on paper. I gradually adjusted and now seem to think at the speed I type. I'm hoping that I'll gradually speed up to thinking at the speed I talk. (I talk really, really fast. Sometimes, I have a difficult time understanding what I said when playing back a recording. Yet, the Dragon Naturally Speaking software understand at least 95% of what I say.)
If you can't (or don't want to) buy/use the software, at least set a 20 minute timer by your computer and get up and stretch every time it goes off. It's interruptive of the thought process, but still better than damaging your spine or nerves.
Also, if you work really hard at your writing -- for long hours at a time -- look out the window at least once every 20 minutes, too. If not, your distance vision is likely to go...maybe in as little as a year or two. (Though, they do have some really attractive glasses out there...and glasses do make you look like a writer...hmmmm.)
I'm not saying you shouldn't learn how to type. But, learning how to type and how to dictate efficiently will serve you well.
You're welcome.
January 1, 2013
Resolve to support your local bookstore
Do you love browsing aisles of books? Could you easily spend an hour or more in a bookstore? Then, it would be to your own advantage to buy your books there.
I hear horror stories from the proprietor of my local store. "Customers" come in and ask to photocopy parts of books (rather than buy them) or say they are looking for books they will later buy online! They don't even seem to realize this is rude...or that the owner is struggling to make a living.
Bookstores are going out of business right and left. If you want the luxury of visiting a bookstore in the future (whether it's a Barnes & Noble or a small, local store), you should buy at least some of your books there now.
If not in stock, any book available online can usually be ordered. And it will usually arrive in one to two days -- with no delivery charge to you. When I know what book(s) I want, I call my local store to order them. They let me know if they are in stock, or call me when my order arrives. Very convenient!
I hear horror stories from the proprietor of my local store. "Customers" come in and ask to photocopy parts of books (rather than buy them) or say they are looking for books they will later buy online! They don't even seem to realize this is rude...or that the owner is struggling to make a living.
Bookstores are going out of business right and left. If you want the luxury of visiting a bookstore in the future (whether it's a Barnes & Noble or a small, local store), you should buy at least some of your books there now.
If not in stock, any book available online can usually be ordered. And it will usually arrive in one to two days -- with no delivery charge to you. When I know what book(s) I want, I call my local store to order them. They let me know if they are in stock, or call me when my order arrives. Very convenient!
December 31, 2012
Prediction for 2013
I have to be careful with my predictions. In 2010, my first prediction was that J.D. Salinger would die, and he wasted no time in doing so. I haven't made predictions since...for fear of the consequences.
This year, I figure I'd be bold and predict yet another passing. But, is there anyone old and nasty enough that I can risk tempting their demise? I can't think of anyone who fits the bill.
I figure I'll up my odds of breaking my "curse" by predicting the death of somone unlikely to die. I'll go with E.L. James. She seems young and healthy enough. (Though, I suppose she could go in a kinky sort of way...but I certainly couldn't feel responsible for that, could I?)
My other predictions are longer term, so I'll save them for later.
This year, I figure I'd be bold and predict yet another passing. But, is there anyone old and nasty enough that I can risk tempting their demise? I can't think of anyone who fits the bill.
I figure I'll up my odds of breaking my "curse" by predicting the death of somone unlikely to die. I'll go with E.L. James. She seems young and healthy enough. (Though, I suppose she could go in a kinky sort of way...but I certainly couldn't feel responsible for that, could I?)
My other predictions are longer term, so I'll save them for later.
December 23, 2012
The Power In Your Hands
Are you aware that the world of books is changing, perhaps more than at any time since the introduction of the Guttenberg press? Do you know that you, as a reader/book lover are being called upon to play new, hugely important role in this change?
Traditional publishing is dying, or, at the very least, rapidly morphing into something altogether different than it's been--and no one is sure what it will end up changing into.
Today, the digital democratization of publishing is allowing hundreds of thousands of additional titles to be available to readers each year. Egad! Thought it was hard to pick a book 5 years ago? Now your choices are multiplying at exponential rates.
Not only are more NEW books available, more OLD books are becoming available. Titles that no one could afford to keep in print are becoming easy to keep available as digital downloads. It's going to take publishers (dinosaurs who move at the pace of rock) quite some time to make many of the older books available digitally. But, every new book that comes out digitally is now going to hang around rather than finding itself out of print and forgotten.
This is both good and bad news for readers. It's good news because we will have so much more to choose from. So many amazing books have gone unpublished over the decades. Elitist editors can no longer dictate what books we have access to. Long digital shelf lives will allow niche gems to be discovered. Books will no longer need to occupy the stifling confines of existing genre limitations.
The difficult part is where you, the reader come in. Readers are now needed to sort the literary wheat from the chaff. Your ratings and reviews are crucial to helping other readers discover the good and not waste time on the bad. Your blogs, conversations, tweets, etc. will make the difference between a book flourishing or failing. YOU are the gatekeeper that publishers once were.
I have no doubt that books are in far better hands now with readers in control. A savvy analysis of reviews can usually tell me if I'm going to love or hate a book. I know my travel experience has improved ten times over since tripadvisor.com gained hold. Now, sites like goodreads.com and the reviews on store sites are doing the same for my reading experience.
Don't take you new reader responsibilities lightly! Post your reviews. If you love a book, rave. If you hate it, rant. If you're wishy washy, say "eh." If we don't all participate in the process, we'll never be able to keep our heads above the tsunami of literature heading our way in the digital age. (And while you're at it, post to product review sites you use, too...power to the people has never been so readily at our fingertips...wield it wisely!)
Traditional publishing is dying, or, at the very least, rapidly morphing into something altogether different than it's been--and no one is sure what it will end up changing into.
Today, the digital democratization of publishing is allowing hundreds of thousands of additional titles to be available to readers each year. Egad! Thought it was hard to pick a book 5 years ago? Now your choices are multiplying at exponential rates.
Not only are more NEW books available, more OLD books are becoming available. Titles that no one could afford to keep in print are becoming easy to keep available as digital downloads. It's going to take publishers (dinosaurs who move at the pace of rock) quite some time to make many of the older books available digitally. But, every new book that comes out digitally is now going to hang around rather than finding itself out of print and forgotten.
This is both good and bad news for readers. It's good news because we will have so much more to choose from. So many amazing books have gone unpublished over the decades. Elitist editors can no longer dictate what books we have access to. Long digital shelf lives will allow niche gems to be discovered. Books will no longer need to occupy the stifling confines of existing genre limitations.
The difficult part is where you, the reader come in. Readers are now needed to sort the literary wheat from the chaff. Your ratings and reviews are crucial to helping other readers discover the good and not waste time on the bad. Your blogs, conversations, tweets, etc. will make the difference between a book flourishing or failing. YOU are the gatekeeper that publishers once were.
I have no doubt that books are in far better hands now with readers in control. A savvy analysis of reviews can usually tell me if I'm going to love or hate a book. I know my travel experience has improved ten times over since tripadvisor.com gained hold. Now, sites like goodreads.com and the reviews on store sites are doing the same for my reading experience.
Don't take you new reader responsibilities lightly! Post your reviews. If you love a book, rave. If you hate it, rant. If you're wishy washy, say "eh." If we don't all participate in the process, we'll never be able to keep our heads above the tsunami of literature heading our way in the digital age. (And while you're at it, post to product review sites you use, too...power to the people has never been so readily at our fingertips...wield it wisely!)
Knott The Screaming Type
I suppose this will be musings about writing, books and writing books...maybe even about booking writers. I suppose, since it is my blog, I'll also throw in whatever else I think you, dear reader, mig
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