Uvi Poznansky's Blog, page 193
August 14, 2014
Wined, dined, and read (blog hop)
I am so pleased to be invited by my friend, James DiBenedetto, author of the Dream series, to take part in this cool blog hop, which poses the idea that nothing goes better with a scrumptious meal and a glass of aromatic wine than a good book. Want to feast with me? Here is a bite and a sip:
If your main character were a glass of wine, which one would they be? David in my new novel, A Peek at Bathsheba, would be a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, produced in an ancient vineyard in the Galilee mountains, of succulent, smooth-textured grapes. Here he is, offering a glass to Bathsheba:
In a manner of greeting I raise my goblet. It is a gift from my supplier, Hiram king of Tyre, and unlike the other goblets I have in my possession, this one is made of fine glass, with minute air bubbles floating in it. With a big splash I fill it up to the rim with red, aromatic wine. In it I dip a glistening, ruddy cherry, and offer it to her, with a flowery toast. “For you,” I say. “With my everlasting love!”Bathsheba takes the goblet from my hand, and raises it to her lips. “Love, everlasting?” she says, raising an eyebrow. “What does that mean, in this place?”I hesitate to ask, “What place is that?”“This court,” she says, with a slight curtsy, “where the signature feature is a harem, which is as big as the king is endowed with glory.”“Glory is a good thing,” say I, lowering my voice. “But sometimes it is better to meet in the shadows.”
Describe your book in one meal: No one can describe it better than my character in A Favorite Son:
When I sprinkle my secret blend of spices—here, take a sniff, can you smell it? When I chop these mouthwatering sun-dried tomatoes, add a few cloves of garlic for good measure, and let it all sizzle with lentils and meat—it becomes so scrumptious, so lip-smacking, finger-licking, melt-in-your-mouth good!There is a certain ratio of flavors, a balance that creates a feast for the tongue and a delight for the mind. And having mastered that balance, with a pinch of imported cumin from the north of Persia, a dash of saffron from the south of Egypt, I can tell you one thing: when the pot comes to a full bubbling point, and the aroma of the stew rises up in the air—it would make you dribble! Drive you to madness! For a single bite, you would sell your brother, if only you had one! I hear no arguments from you. Of course, your mouth is full! Here, here’s a napkin. There, there, wipe your chin.
What candy would your book be? My book Twisted would be a bright Red Licorice Candy, twisted. Unfortunately, my character is so poor she would die to have anything to eat:
“All the while there I stood, right in front of their long table, trying not to fold over with the pangs of hunger, spotting the bread crumbs on the floor, and bracing myself with nothing but my pride so I don’t bend down before them.”
What does your book smell like? There are so many smells evoked in my novel Rise to Power, and the smell of bread is but one of them:
Eliab seems to swoon at the sight of food, and at once his eyes tear up. It must be more than a simple hunger. Perhaps it is the memory of the warmth of our kitchen back home, when steam puffs up the dough, just before it cools down to create the air pocket in the center of the bread. Or else, it is the touch he remembers, the touch of my mother’s hand as she sprinkles some sesame seeds all over the top.
Your book’s snack would be: My book Apart From Love has many tasty snacks hidden in it, and the cool swirl atop an ice cream cone is but one of them:
The minute our eyes met, I knew what to do: so I stopped in the middle of what I was doing, which was dusting off the glass shield over the ice cream buckets, and stacking up waffle cones here and sugar cones there. From the counter I grabbed a bunch of paper tissues, and bent all the way down, like, to pick something from the floor. Then with a swift, discrete shove, I stuffed the tissues into one side of my bra, then the other, ‘cause I truly believe in having them two scoops—if you know what I mean—roundly and firmly in place. Having a small chest is no good: men seem to like girls with boobs that bulge out. It seems to make an awful lot of difference, especially at first sight, which you can always tell by them customers, drooling.
Describe your most memorable meal: My most memorable meal is the Passover meal back with my family in my childhood, which is why I let my character recall the scene in Apart From Love:
If I were to focus strictly on my parents, ignore the entire background of this place, and let the clutter and the smell of it just fall away, this could take me back to a different time, a time in my childhood, when our kitchen table was set for the Passover meal. What comes back to me first is the tinkle, as my father finished blessing the wine, and clinked his glass against hers, against mine.I remember: the table was draped, all the way down to the floor, with mom’s best, rarely used tablecloth, made of the smoothest ivory satin you ever touched. Dad sat at the head of the table, mom to his right, I opposite her. All day long she had been cooking, which infused the air with a wonderful aroma. In it you could detect a sharp whiff of horseradish and of gefilte fish and sweet brisket and red cabbage and roasted potatoes, all of which made my stomach growl. It went on growling until he finished reading the long, archaic text in the Hagadda, which meant little to me, except a vague notion of the utter futility of patience. I remember: my mother ladled the clear, golden chicken soup and set it here, steaming before my eyes, with three matzo balls floating inside, which was her way of giving. “It’s hot,” she said. “Make sure to blow on it first.” Yes, the smell of her cooking was good, but then, the taste! Just wait till you took the first bite—
One food word to describe your writing style: I would describe my writing style as layered, much like Lasagna, with each layer having a different flavor and a different texture that complements the entire dish. This is particularly true of my book Home, which is peppered with both poetry and short stories.
At first, she imagined, the doorknob would reflect, with its shiny distortion, the image of her youth. It would feel her hand—warm and firm, in those days—as she pushed the door open, letting the children out to play, and later calling them back in for lunch, after which she would clear the table, mop the floor, wash the dishes and wipe them dry. She would even wipe the doorknob. It felt polished and happy.
What will someone find you eating/drinking when you’re really into a good book? I would be munching on a chocolate chip cookie, and when that’s gone, the next one, dunking it from time to time in a glass of milk.
Sweet or Salty? There’s no question about it: sweet!
I hope you are enjoying this blog hop, which will continue next week with these fabulous authors: Suzanne Zannis Jenkins is author of the Pam of Babylon books, The Greektown Stories, including The Greeks of Beaubien Street, The Princess of Greektown, and Christmas in Greektown, Someone Like You, Alice's Summertime Adventure, The Savant of Chelsea and Atlas of Women Her upcoming post for this blog hop will appear on her blog.Sherri Christian AKA Christian Ashley is the author of Historical Romance, Paranormal Fiction, and Erotic Fantasy. Her upcoming post will appear on her blog.Dellani Oakes Started writing drama scripts, which are dialog heavy and character driven, this aspect has followed her into her novel writing. Her upcoming post will appear on her Blog Aaron Paul Lazar is a mystery writer with many books, most notably the Gus LeGarde mystery series. His upcoming post will appear on his blog and the Murderby4 blog.
If your main character were a glass of wine, which one would they be? David in my new novel, A Peek at Bathsheba, would be a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, produced in an ancient vineyard in the Galilee mountains, of succulent, smooth-textured grapes. Here he is, offering a glass to Bathsheba:
In a manner of greeting I raise my goblet. It is a gift from my supplier, Hiram king of Tyre, and unlike the other goblets I have in my possession, this one is made of fine glass, with minute air bubbles floating in it. With a big splash I fill it up to the rim with red, aromatic wine. In it I dip a glistening, ruddy cherry, and offer it to her, with a flowery toast. “For you,” I say. “With my everlasting love!”Bathsheba takes the goblet from my hand, and raises it to her lips. “Love, everlasting?” she says, raising an eyebrow. “What does that mean, in this place?”I hesitate to ask, “What place is that?”“This court,” she says, with a slight curtsy, “where the signature feature is a harem, which is as big as the king is endowed with glory.”“Glory is a good thing,” say I, lowering my voice. “But sometimes it is better to meet in the shadows.”
Describe your book in one meal: No one can describe it better than my character in A Favorite Son:
When I sprinkle my secret blend of spices—here, take a sniff, can you smell it? When I chop these mouthwatering sun-dried tomatoes, add a few cloves of garlic for good measure, and let it all sizzle with lentils and meat—it becomes so scrumptious, so lip-smacking, finger-licking, melt-in-your-mouth good!There is a certain ratio of flavors, a balance that creates a feast for the tongue and a delight for the mind. And having mastered that balance, with a pinch of imported cumin from the north of Persia, a dash of saffron from the south of Egypt, I can tell you one thing: when the pot comes to a full bubbling point, and the aroma of the stew rises up in the air—it would make you dribble! Drive you to madness! For a single bite, you would sell your brother, if only you had one! I hear no arguments from you. Of course, your mouth is full! Here, here’s a napkin. There, there, wipe your chin.
What candy would your book be? My book Twisted would be a bright Red Licorice Candy, twisted. Unfortunately, my character is so poor she would die to have anything to eat:
“All the while there I stood, right in front of their long table, trying not to fold over with the pangs of hunger, spotting the bread crumbs on the floor, and bracing myself with nothing but my pride so I don’t bend down before them.”
What does your book smell like? There are so many smells evoked in my novel Rise to Power, and the smell of bread is but one of them:
Eliab seems to swoon at the sight of food, and at once his eyes tear up. It must be more than a simple hunger. Perhaps it is the memory of the warmth of our kitchen back home, when steam puffs up the dough, just before it cools down to create the air pocket in the center of the bread. Or else, it is the touch he remembers, the touch of my mother’s hand as she sprinkles some sesame seeds all over the top.
Your book’s snack would be: My book Apart From Love has many tasty snacks hidden in it, and the cool swirl atop an ice cream cone is but one of them:
The minute our eyes met, I knew what to do: so I stopped in the middle of what I was doing, which was dusting off the glass shield over the ice cream buckets, and stacking up waffle cones here and sugar cones there. From the counter I grabbed a bunch of paper tissues, and bent all the way down, like, to pick something from the floor. Then with a swift, discrete shove, I stuffed the tissues into one side of my bra, then the other, ‘cause I truly believe in having them two scoops—if you know what I mean—roundly and firmly in place. Having a small chest is no good: men seem to like girls with boobs that bulge out. It seems to make an awful lot of difference, especially at first sight, which you can always tell by them customers, drooling.
Describe your most memorable meal: My most memorable meal is the Passover meal back with my family in my childhood, which is why I let my character recall the scene in Apart From Love:
If I were to focus strictly on my parents, ignore the entire background of this place, and let the clutter and the smell of it just fall away, this could take me back to a different time, a time in my childhood, when our kitchen table was set for the Passover meal. What comes back to me first is the tinkle, as my father finished blessing the wine, and clinked his glass against hers, against mine.I remember: the table was draped, all the way down to the floor, with mom’s best, rarely used tablecloth, made of the smoothest ivory satin you ever touched. Dad sat at the head of the table, mom to his right, I opposite her. All day long she had been cooking, which infused the air with a wonderful aroma. In it you could detect a sharp whiff of horseradish and of gefilte fish and sweet brisket and red cabbage and roasted potatoes, all of which made my stomach growl. It went on growling until he finished reading the long, archaic text in the Hagadda, which meant little to me, except a vague notion of the utter futility of patience. I remember: my mother ladled the clear, golden chicken soup and set it here, steaming before my eyes, with three matzo balls floating inside, which was her way of giving. “It’s hot,” she said. “Make sure to blow on it first.” Yes, the smell of her cooking was good, but then, the taste! Just wait till you took the first bite—
One food word to describe your writing style: I would describe my writing style as layered, much like Lasagna, with each layer having a different flavor and a different texture that complements the entire dish. This is particularly true of my book Home, which is peppered with both poetry and short stories.
At first, she imagined, the doorknob would reflect, with its shiny distortion, the image of her youth. It would feel her hand—warm and firm, in those days—as she pushed the door open, letting the children out to play, and later calling them back in for lunch, after which she would clear the table, mop the floor, wash the dishes and wipe them dry. She would even wipe the doorknob. It felt polished and happy.
What will someone find you eating/drinking when you’re really into a good book? I would be munching on a chocolate chip cookie, and when that’s gone, the next one, dunking it from time to time in a glass of milk.
Sweet or Salty? There’s no question about it: sweet!
I hope you are enjoying this blog hop, which will continue next week with these fabulous authors: Suzanne Zannis Jenkins is author of the Pam of Babylon books, The Greektown Stories, including The Greeks of Beaubien Street, The Princess of Greektown, and Christmas in Greektown, Someone Like You, Alice's Summertime Adventure, The Savant of Chelsea and Atlas of Women Her upcoming post for this blog hop will appear on her blog.Sherri Christian AKA Christian Ashley is the author of Historical Romance, Paranormal Fiction, and Erotic Fantasy. Her upcoming post will appear on her blog.Dellani Oakes Started writing drama scripts, which are dialog heavy and character driven, this aspect has followed her into her novel writing. Her upcoming post will appear on her Blog Aaron Paul Lazar is a mystery writer with many books, most notably the Gus LeGarde mystery series. His upcoming post will appear on his blog and the Murderby4 blog.
August 13, 2014
A Unique Collection of Alluring, Poetic Stories
I am thrilled to find this new audible review, written by Aaron Paul Lazar. Aaron is a mystery writer, and many of his books have audiobook editions. Here is what he says about the narration of Twisted:
Aaron P. LazarGeneseo, New York, United States08-13-14OverallPerformanceStory
What did you like best about this story?I loved the imagery of Ms. Poznansky's writing. She is a dreamer and an artist, and the wild flights that her mind takes are fascinating.
Which scene was your favorite?My favorite scene/story within this collection of four stories was the one told from a clay figure's point of view., FROM DUST. I loved how well Ms. Poznansky gets into the minds of even an "inanimate" object, bringing the statue to life with power and possibilities. Amazing.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?Four women - their loves, lives, and anguish.
Any additional comments?Heather Jane Hogan (the narrator) is truly outstanding. I found the first story, however, to be spoken to ponderously, too slowly. I had to speed up my playback to 1.25, which felt about "right." I never had to do that before. All of the other stories felt perfectly timed. I think perhaps it was done purposefully because of the storyline, so it's understandable. Another note: it was quite shocking to realize we were hearing the innermost thoughts of a dead woman! ;o)
Aaron P. LazarGeneseo, New York, United States08-13-14OverallPerformanceStory
"A Unique Collection of Alluring, Poetic Stories"Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?This is not a book for James Patterson fans. It's for those who love poetry, love to think, love the power of words. To those types of readers, I would most definitely recommend TWISTED.
What did you like best about this story?I loved the imagery of Ms. Poznansky's writing. She is a dreamer and an artist, and the wild flights that her mind takes are fascinating.
Which scene was your favorite?My favorite scene/story within this collection of four stories was the one told from a clay figure's point of view., FROM DUST. I loved how well Ms. Poznansky gets into the minds of even an "inanimate" object, bringing the statue to life with power and possibilities. Amazing.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?Four women - their loves, lives, and anguish.
Any additional comments?Heather Jane Hogan (the narrator) is truly outstanding. I found the first story, however, to be spoken to ponderously, too slowly. I had to speed up my playback to 1.25, which felt about "right." I never had to do that before. All of the other stories felt perfectly timed. I think perhaps it was done purposefully because of the storyline, so it's understandable. Another note: it was quite shocking to realize we were hearing the innermost thoughts of a dead woman! ;o)
August 12, 2014
Historical and political must read novel
Renee Giraldy is a prolific, avid reader, and she posts her reviews on her lovely blog. I feel so grateful to find what she wrote about my novel, A Peek at Bathsheba:
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical and political must read novel, August 12, 2014By Reading Renee "Reading Renee" (Southern California) - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: A Peek at Bathsheba (The David Chronicles Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
Uvi Poznansky gets yet another five big stars from me. I really enjoyed this book more because I have just came off a few Rock Band type reads and I felt educated in reading this.
“A Peek at Bathsheba” by Uvi Poznansky is so different from other books I have read. Its a blending of history, non-fiction and fiction. I truly enjoyed the author's style. For the first time in a long time I didnt see grammar issues, run on sentences or typos.
David is a very complex and difficult character to learn about. Here the author takes much of his persona and creates a tale based on some classics. I dont want people to think this is a religious novel. It is much more of a creation based on the King we know as David. Apart from the David I am aware of I learned about some personal tragedy here too. It sort of slides along a thin line of what you think is actual history and what you think is actual fiction. David was a write, an amazing musician, a poet, and so much more.
What I loved was how we see him and his wives, which is a different concept to me. I liked him falling in love. I still find it hard to believe it was a cultural thing to have more than one spouse, but who knows maybe more people should!
IF you want another very well written novel that inspires thinking, then yes grab this one. I think people who like history based reads will just love it. If you like history with a political type undertone, then grab it.
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical and political must read novel, August 12, 2014By Reading Renee "Reading Renee" (Southern California) - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: A Peek at Bathsheba (The David Chronicles Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
Uvi Poznansky gets yet another five big stars from me. I really enjoyed this book more because I have just came off a few Rock Band type reads and I felt educated in reading this.“A Peek at Bathsheba” by Uvi Poznansky is so different from other books I have read. Its a blending of history, non-fiction and fiction. I truly enjoyed the author's style. For the first time in a long time I didnt see grammar issues, run on sentences or typos.
David is a very complex and difficult character to learn about. Here the author takes much of his persona and creates a tale based on some classics. I dont want people to think this is a religious novel. It is much more of a creation based on the King we know as David. Apart from the David I am aware of I learned about some personal tragedy here too. It sort of slides along a thin line of what you think is actual history and what you think is actual fiction. David was a write, an amazing musician, a poet, and so much more.
What I loved was how we see him and his wives, which is a different concept to me. I liked him falling in love. I still find it hard to believe it was a cultural thing to have more than one spouse, but who knows maybe more people should!
IF you want another very well written novel that inspires thinking, then yes grab this one. I think people who like history based reads will just love it. If you like history with a political type undertone, then grab it.
August 11, 2014
My heart is yours, hold me tight if you can
She:I dabbed a drop of perfume right under my ear As soon as I laid eyes on you, here You dance with such rhythm, such elegant flair I adore your bald spot and your dwindling hair
He:I think of myself as a dashing young man No surprise you came over when the music beganYou smell so good, I feel such a blissLeaning over to you, can I hope for a kiss?
She:I wore my best dress, with the arms left bare, Painted my lips, put a rose in my hair I love dancing with such a tall gentleman My heart is yours, hold me tight if you can
He:Let me lift you up high into the air Come fly with me, if only you dare To hang on my arm and trust every step Let us tango together, now your weight I must shlep
I love sculpting dancing figures, because not only is the dance dynamic-- but it expresses the relationship between the dancers.I made this piece of clay, burnt it in the kiln and painted it.
He:I think of myself as a dashing young man No surprise you came over when the music beganYou smell so good, I feel such a blissLeaning over to you, can I hope for a kiss?
She:I wore my best dress, with the arms left bare, Painted my lips, put a rose in my hair I love dancing with such a tall gentleman My heart is yours, hold me tight if you can
He:Let me lift you up high into the air Come fly with me, if only you dare To hang on my arm and trust every step Let us tango together, now your weight I must shlep
I love sculpting dancing figures, because not only is the dance dynamic-- but it expresses the relationship between the dancers.I made this piece of clay, burnt it in the kiln and painted it.
August 10, 2014
The triumph of "Home"
A wonderfully perceptive review for my poetry book, Home:
5.0 out of 5 stars Read "Home" and be the better for it., August 10, 2014By Amazon Customer "lokhos" (USA) - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: Home (Kindle Edition)
Uvi Poznansky had a father, like most of us; a family, as most of us do for a time. But this father was a gifted writer, as his daughter is gifted. This book is partly written by Uvi's father, Zeev Kachel, and partly by her own deep heart. This is no book for the faint of heart, nor a book to read casually. This book is full of love and pathos and grief. So take a deep gulp of the human condition, and read Home -- a book, a compilation, a struggle of the self.
This book is about emotion and the strength that sadness can evoke in the best of us. Uvi understands at a gut level the purpose of art and here she writes a frame around her father's journey, which has inspired her own.
Poznansky gives us a glimpse of lives most different, of her father's journey, of her own. If you've disdained the search for a higher octave of writing on Kindle, recant: "Home" proves you wrong. In this book, the author shows us the world through an unblinking eye. And what we see, we may not like: humanity torn open, a father lost, life among the ruins of a single soul.
Be warned: this book is dark; it must be to take us where it wants to go, to guide us through a storm of feeling. Zeev Kachel's numerous poems in "Home" share his loneliness, his talent -- and hers as she writes, evoking a spirit from beyond life's end.
I have well reviewed Uvi Poznansky before, but this book is special, even for a writer as gifted as she. Of her father, I knew nothing. Now I know more. And I am certain that talent is inheritable: we must thank the father for the daughter, and the daughter for writing a book this brave. The poems and stories here take us through war and displacement and despair, and back again. Its visions (not so much about horror directly, but about what horrors and inhumanity do to us all, soul by soul) have a message for us, about what humanity can be, for better and for worse. Why do we care? Because, if we're not vigilant, these things will happen again to more fathers, to more daughters. And again. And it is the single voices which cry out in misery (those who have lost their faith as well as those who regain it), whose words we need to hear. This book takes us on a personal journey, not a political one, into the heart of our kind.
The triumph of "Home" is that it was ever written at all.
Read "Home" and be the better for it.
5.0 out of 5 stars Read "Home" and be the better for it., August 10, 2014By Amazon Customer "lokhos" (USA) - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: Home (Kindle Edition)
Uvi Poznansky had a father, like most of us; a family, as most of us do for a time. But this father was a gifted writer, as his daughter is gifted. This book is partly written by Uvi's father, Zeev Kachel, and partly by her own deep heart. This is no book for the faint of heart, nor a book to read casually. This book is full of love and pathos and grief. So take a deep gulp of the human condition, and read Home -- a book, a compilation, a struggle of the self.This book is about emotion and the strength that sadness can evoke in the best of us. Uvi understands at a gut level the purpose of art and here she writes a frame around her father's journey, which has inspired her own.
Poznansky gives us a glimpse of lives most different, of her father's journey, of her own. If you've disdained the search for a higher octave of writing on Kindle, recant: "Home" proves you wrong. In this book, the author shows us the world through an unblinking eye. And what we see, we may not like: humanity torn open, a father lost, life among the ruins of a single soul.
Be warned: this book is dark; it must be to take us where it wants to go, to guide us through a storm of feeling. Zeev Kachel's numerous poems in "Home" share his loneliness, his talent -- and hers as she writes, evoking a spirit from beyond life's end.
I have well reviewed Uvi Poznansky before, but this book is special, even for a writer as gifted as she. Of her father, I knew nothing. Now I know more. And I am certain that talent is inheritable: we must thank the father for the daughter, and the daughter for writing a book this brave. The poems and stories here take us through war and displacement and despair, and back again. Its visions (not so much about horror directly, but about what horrors and inhumanity do to us all, soul by soul) have a message for us, about what humanity can be, for better and for worse. Why do we care? Because, if we're not vigilant, these things will happen again to more fathers, to more daughters. And again. And it is the single voices which cry out in misery (those who have lost their faith as well as those who regain it), whose words we need to hear. This book takes us on a personal journey, not a political one, into the heart of our kind.
The triumph of "Home" is that it was ever written at all.
Read "Home" and be the better for it.
August 8, 2014
Alice caged in a strange, fish-eye world
I often enjoy drawing sketches of places I visit looking at them with a somewhat awkward perspective, called fish-eye perspective. Like regular perspective, all the horizontal lines diverge to vanishing points at the level of the horizon, but here, the vertical lines diverge too: At the top, they come together to point at a vanishing point up there, in heaven, and at the bottom, at hell.
This is what makes the vertical lines bend, and create a world that wraps around you, as if you were a fish looking at the view through a round fish bowl:
Quite by accident I looked at these three drawings, and saw that they could be combined into a single world, where the opposite bends of the vertical lines would put a strain on the seams between the three parts.
The oil painting is quite large, and it brought to my mind the excerpt from Alice in Wonderland: "Before she had drunk half the bottle, she found her head pressing against the ceiling, and had to stoop to save her neck from being broken. She hastily put down the bottle, saying to herself `That's quite enough—I hope I shan't grow any more—As it is, I can't get out at the door—I do wish I hadn't drunk quite so much!'"
If you look at this space through the eyes of Alice in Wonderland, the corridors become your sleeves; you can see the ceiling over you and the floor underneath your feet at the same time. The scene as a whole turns into a giant eye;the shadows—eyelashes; and the window in the background—a red pupil.
The space in this daytime painting is harshly lit, parched dry, and utterly desolate. So I asked myself, what will happen if I turn off the light and let characters emerge from the darkness? Several of them, from various previous sketches stepped into the nighttime painting, only to hang there, in this strange world that consists of a wire sculpture, based on the outlines of my previous daytime painting. Even the shadows cast in the daytime painting have turned into wires, which altogether form the cage for these characters. What lies beyond its confines? That, I think, is the great mystery...
This is what makes the vertical lines bend, and create a world that wraps around you, as if you were a fish looking at the view through a round fish bowl:
Quite by accident I looked at these three drawings, and saw that they could be combined into a single world, where the opposite bends of the vertical lines would put a strain on the seams between the three parts.
The oil painting is quite large, and it brought to my mind the excerpt from Alice in Wonderland: "Before she had drunk half the bottle, she found her head pressing against the ceiling, and had to stoop to save her neck from being broken. She hastily put down the bottle, saying to herself `That's quite enough—I hope I shan't grow any more—As it is, I can't get out at the door—I do wish I hadn't drunk quite so much!'"
If you look at this space through the eyes of Alice in Wonderland, the corridors become your sleeves; you can see the ceiling over you and the floor underneath your feet at the same time. The scene as a whole turns into a giant eye;the shadows—eyelashes; and the window in the background—a red pupil.
The space in this daytime painting is harshly lit, parched dry, and utterly desolate. So I asked myself, what will happen if I turn off the light and let characters emerge from the darkness? Several of them, from various previous sketches stepped into the nighttime painting, only to hang there, in this strange world that consists of a wire sculpture, based on the outlines of my previous daytime painting. Even the shadows cast in the daytime painting have turned into wires, which altogether form the cage for these characters. What lies beyond its confines? That, I think, is the great mystery...
August 5, 2014
What will become of me?
I can hear her letting out a a sigh.“Oh, Isaac,” she sighs. “What will I do without you?”She must be extremely sorry to let him go, for her sadness seems as pressing and as urgent as her need for a proper will. At first, my father is unmoved. “Oh, Becky,” he says. “Don’t start.”“Without you, I will be lost.”“Please, not that again.”Her voice trembles a little as she carries on, “Please, Isaac: What will become of me?”“You have two sons—”“Neither one of them will be here to help me, in my hour of need.”This gives him pause; after which he says, “What about that gift I gave you, long ago, that goatskin coat; do you still have it?”“Why,” she says, and I know she is a bit startled. “But of course—” “You never wear it. I was just wondering.” “It has a sleeve that needs mending.”“So then, in your hour of need, just put it on the auction block,” he suggests, half-seriously. “It will fetch a small fortune!”“Talking about a small fortune,” she counters, “what about your little trunk, full of gold coins?”“Being of a sound body and mind,” he says, “I spend it all.”“On what, in heaven’s name?”“What! On what, Becky? Here I go, heaping all those bracelets, all those nose rings on one woman, and one woman alone, only to find out, in the end, the real extent of her gratitude!”
Rebecca and Isaac in A Favorite Son
This is my charcoal on paper drawing of Rebecca
strong-willed and eager to get what she wants.
★ Treat yourself to a gift! Get this book ★A Favorite Son★ Audio ★ Ebook ★ Print ★
"Her prose is beautiful; she paints intricate, emotionally resonant pictures with words"
Rebecca and Isaac in A Favorite Son
This is my charcoal on paper drawing of Rebecca
strong-willed and eager to get what she wants.
★ Treat yourself to a gift! Get this book ★A Favorite Son★ Audio ★ Ebook ★ Print ★
"Her prose is beautiful; she paints intricate, emotionally resonant pictures with words"
The prose is my cup of tea: fragrant, flavorful, and deeply moving
Susan Ricci. This is what she said about my novel, Apart From Love:
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely my cup of tea!, August 3, 2014By Susan Ricci - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Apart From Love (Paperback)
Apart From Love by the multi-talented author/artist Uvi Poznanski is a wonderful novel and totally my cup of tea – the prose is fragrant, flavorful, and deeply moving.
The two POV characters sharing their feelings in Apart From Love are poignant and tremendously telling. Ms. Poznanski’s writing is fluent and graceful, and I found no awkwardness via the transitions from one POV character to the other.
Every element in this powerful story touches on the realisms of a dysfunctional family, coupled with Alzheimer’s and a possible incestuous relationship between two in-laws. Apart from this, I will share no more! Keep reading please!
After scrolling through the reviews on Apart From Love, I couldn’t help but wonder why there were a few Debbie Downers in the review department. Yes, there’re some weird family integrations that could be misjudged or misinterpreted, but this narrative is one of the best literary genre stories I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. Believe me, I'm a multi-genre freak, and I read ALOT.
I will not share any more information, because I never review and share spoilers, but I hope I’ve shared enough of the value via the message I received from Apart From Love – Buy it, Read it, LOVE it! It’s completely worthy of your attention!
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely my cup of tea!, August 3, 2014By Susan Ricci - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Apart From Love (Paperback)
Apart From Love by the multi-talented author/artist Uvi Poznanski is a wonderful novel and totally my cup of tea – the prose is fragrant, flavorful, and deeply moving.The two POV characters sharing their feelings in Apart From Love are poignant and tremendously telling. Ms. Poznanski’s writing is fluent and graceful, and I found no awkwardness via the transitions from one POV character to the other.
Every element in this powerful story touches on the realisms of a dysfunctional family, coupled with Alzheimer’s and a possible incestuous relationship between two in-laws. Apart from this, I will share no more! Keep reading please!
After scrolling through the reviews on Apart From Love, I couldn’t help but wonder why there were a few Debbie Downers in the review department. Yes, there’re some weird family integrations that could be misjudged or misinterpreted, but this narrative is one of the best literary genre stories I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. Believe me, I'm a multi-genre freak, and I read ALOT.
I will not share any more information, because I never review and share spoilers, but I hope I’ve shared enough of the value via the message I received from Apart From Love – Buy it, Read it, LOVE it! It’s completely worthy of your attention!
August 4, 2014
John Tucker must live--and I was there to talk to him!
So lovely to come in for a conversation with John Tucker on his blog. A life-long Georgia native, John has burned through three wives, raised two sons, and has persevered despite being brought up in a wonderfully dysfunctional family. He is a multi-genre author with psychological thrillers, romantic Dramedy, adult contemporary novel, and an Erotica sizzler. This is what he asked:
Tell us about A Peek at Bathsheba and what inspired you to write it?Name two personal details about yourself that may surprise people?What do you personally get out of writing, and do you have a mentor who helped you along the way?Have you ever censured yourself while writing, and could you tell us the details?Last Question. Give us a three song playlist you would listen to all day long?To read the entire interview, click here:
JOHNTUCKERMUSTLIVEWRITING, WORDS, IDEAS, AND PROMOTIONS = LITERARY HEAVEN
Tell us about A Peek at Bathsheba and what inspired you to write it?Name two personal details about yourself that may surprise people?What do you personally get out of writing, and do you have a mentor who helped you along the way?Have you ever censured yourself while writing, and could you tell us the details?Last Question. Give us a three song playlist you would listen to all day long?To read the entire interview, click here:
JOHNTUCKERMUSTLIVEWRITING, WORDS, IDEAS, AND PROMOTIONS = LITERARY HEAVEN
A Favorite Son, a literary feast
I am so grateful for this great review for A Favorite Son:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Favorite Son, a literary feast., August 3, 2014By Amazon Customer "lokhos" (USA) - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: A Favorite Son (Kindle Edition)
"Sell me your birthright," I say, as loudly as I can. "We are twins, after all. First son, second son -- same difference, right? It's a split second either way. What does it matter? Sell me the damned thing and you get to eat." So speaks Jacob to Esau, the twin sons born late to Rebecca and Isaac. That competition fuels this Biblical story of young men at odds and in competition over inheritance and their father's deathbed blessing.
Like the Biblical tale from which it is drawn, "A Favorite Son" has much to teach us. So you think you know this story, have already gleaned from it all it has to offer? Think again. Uvi Poznansky's Biblical tales are always surprising, always lyrical, yet always modern and fresh.
Morality tales updated for the 21st century? Why bother? Because we need those lessons, those insights, more than ever. But don't read A Favorite Son for the meditation upon truths of human nature -- which it does offer, and rich ones at that.
Read it for what Uvi brings to her tales of bible times: a unique and special flavor, hers alone. Zola is credited with saying, "Art is life seen through a temperament." Whether or not Zola was the first to say this, the definition of art is the best we have. And by that definition, Uvi creates art in "A Favorite Son," but art never distanced from the reader; literary fiction for our times.
Read all of Uvi's tales of the Old Testament and learn something about your own history, your own emotions, your own culture while you're enjoying the sumptuous feast laid before you. Did I say feast? Well, there is a certain meal in this particular tale, which nourishes the story and the reader in surprising ways...
5.0 out of 5 stars A Favorite Son, a literary feast., August 3, 2014By Amazon Customer "lokhos" (USA) - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: A Favorite Son (Kindle Edition)
"Sell me your birthright," I say, as loudly as I can. "We are twins, after all. First son, second son -- same difference, right? It's a split second either way. What does it matter? Sell me the damned thing and you get to eat." So speaks Jacob to Esau, the twin sons born late to Rebecca and Isaac. That competition fuels this Biblical story of young men at odds and in competition over inheritance and their father's deathbed blessing.Like the Biblical tale from which it is drawn, "A Favorite Son" has much to teach us. So you think you know this story, have already gleaned from it all it has to offer? Think again. Uvi Poznansky's Biblical tales are always surprising, always lyrical, yet always modern and fresh.
Morality tales updated for the 21st century? Why bother? Because we need those lessons, those insights, more than ever. But don't read A Favorite Son for the meditation upon truths of human nature -- which it does offer, and rich ones at that.
Read it for what Uvi brings to her tales of bible times: a unique and special flavor, hers alone. Zola is credited with saying, "Art is life seen through a temperament." Whether or not Zola was the first to say this, the definition of art is the best we have. And by that definition, Uvi creates art in "A Favorite Son," but art never distanced from the reader; literary fiction for our times.
Read all of Uvi's tales of the Old Testament and learn something about your own history, your own emotions, your own culture while you're enjoying the sumptuous feast laid before you. Did I say feast? Well, there is a certain meal in this particular tale, which nourishes the story and the reader in surprising ways...
