Uvi Poznansky's Blog, page 240
July 8, 2013
Interview with an Amazing Thirteen Years Old Girl
Here is a lovely interview published on Goodreads. It was conducted by an amazing thirteen years old girl called Trinity. I could not resist posting her image here...Check out the interview and leave your comments for her and for me, here: Interview with Trinity.
In the interview, I offer an excerpt from my new book, Twisted, to illustrate the research I do for the locales of my books. Here is the except:
"So I turn on my belly and crawl, finding my way in the dark, till at last I peek out—if only by a nose—through the mouth of the cave. Which allows me, for the first time, to take in the view.
It is breathtaking—not only because of the deep ravines slashing back and forth across the landscape, or the thick trunks of trees twining their roots one over the other, clinging forcefully to the rocky ledges; not only because of the volcanoes towering over the horizon, or the fine lava streams marbling the flesh of the earth, or that landmark, that pillar of salt beckoning me from afar, or the little flame dancing over there, then here, licking my knees—ouch!—or the bubbling of swamps along the winding path. No, it is breathtaking because to my amazement, I recognize this place.
A crimson glow is coming from below, as if an enormous sun is buried here, deep under the coals upon which I am crouching. If not for the eery glow, this is the valley cradling my village.
A perfect copy of the land of Uz.
If I squint hard, aiming my gaze faraway to the foot of that volcano, I think I can spot the familiar outlines of houses. They belong to the rich among us. Between them I look for an interval. There must lie the village square. And I know, without really seeing it, that falling to pieces on the other side—where the poor folk live—is our shack. The place where we lived, Job and I, in such misery during the last year. "
July 7, 2013
The Perils of Biblical Inspiration
"Would you believe that writing biblically inspired books is a risky proposition? Let me suggest to you that it is. Why? Because..."
So starts my article, which has just been published on Christoph Fischer's blog. Christoph, the talented author and highly ranked book reviewer, was kind enough to introduce two of my books as well as my bio along with the article. He also presents his thoughtful, in-depth review of my book, A Favorite Son.
Check out the article here: The Perils of Biblical Inspiration
So starts my article, which has just been published on Christoph Fischer's blog. Christoph, the talented author and highly ranked book reviewer, was kind enough to introduce two of my books as well as my bio along with the article. He also presents his thoughtful, in-depth review of my book, A Favorite Son.
Check out the article here: The Perils of Biblical Inspiration
July 6, 2013
Excellent collection
The author of The Box, An Ill Wind Cometh and many other books, Brian Bigelow lives in Colorado, USA with his wife, a cat, and a very protective Chihuahua that risks life and limb to save his "family" from running leaves, fire hydrants and the like. He also writes for Perseid Press on a number of upcoming writing projects. Here is a short and sweet review he wrote for my poetry book Home":
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent collection., May 17, 2013By Brian Bigelow "Brian Bigelow" (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: Home (Kindle Edition)I've had a copy of this book since November and finally was able to get to reading it. This is an exception collection of poetry and prose. Thought it was quite wonderful as I was entranced in the verse. Would recommend it to any poetry lover.
A Lesson in Life
Jeff Dawson spent twenty-five years in the wonderful world of road construction. Back surgery in 2010 put the skids on that career. An article in the Dallas Morning News caught his eye. It was about being a professional speaker. That sounds interesting. Becoming mobile again, he took a seat in front of the blank monitor, pondering what to write. How is this for being prolific: current works range from Love's True Second Chance to a Sci-Fi time travel adventure Gateway: Pioche to The Baseball Coaching Manual. I have just found his lovely review for my book, A Favorite Son:
4.0 out of 5 stars A Lesson in Life, July 4, 2013By Jeff Dawson "Direktor59" (Dallas,Tx.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: A Favorite Son (Paperback)For those of us familiar with the bible, we instantly see the correlation between the story of Jacob, Rebecca and Issac.
This is a modern day tale of perspective. Even though the sands of time keep passing by and technologically, the world advances, human deceit and cunning have not. What I found interesting was how she wove this story in the modern age. I was left wondering why Yankle, the son who betrayed his brother and father for the cherished blessing, remained in the desert his entire life. I felt this should have been touched on a little more.
I believe woman of all ages and faiths will find this an interesting work.
For men, the rank is a 3. For woman, I see them hitting four and five stars without a second thought.
Overall, this is a four star work.
Well done Uvi!
4.0 out of 5 stars A Lesson in Life, July 4, 2013By Jeff Dawson "Direktor59" (Dallas,Tx.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: A Favorite Son (Paperback)For those of us familiar with the bible, we instantly see the correlation between the story of Jacob, Rebecca and Issac.
This is a modern day tale of perspective. Even though the sands of time keep passing by and technologically, the world advances, human deceit and cunning have not. What I found interesting was how she wove this story in the modern age. I was left wondering why Yankle, the son who betrayed his brother and father for the cherished blessing, remained in the desert his entire life. I felt this should have been touched on a little more.
I believe woman of all ages and faiths will find this an interesting work.
For men, the rank is a 3. For woman, I see them hitting four and five stars without a second thought.
Overall, this is a four star work.
Well done Uvi!
July 5, 2013
Talking Twisted at Melodie's Musings
The gifted author of After Forever Ends, Melodie Ramone, invited me for an interview on her blog. She opened with a gracious, heartfelt introduction:
"In the world of writing, you meet many people. Some are story tellers, people who have wonderful plot lines and fantasies that run through their minds, who jot down words and tell of adventures and far away lands. Some are observers of the world around them and of human nature and write of their experience in a way that teaches others lessons from their own lives. And then there are the select few who write directly from their souls, the ones who paint a canvas with words that reach inside your heart and turn you around. They open your eyes and make you see people, places and situations in a different way than you would have and, ultimately, they change your life. Uvi Poznansky is one of those writers and she doesn't just spread her magic in ink, but in paint as well. I am proud and blessed to have her on my blog. And, now, enough of my introduction! Here is Uvi..."
Please check out the interview, where I talked a bit about my new book, Twisted. here:
Interview with Uvi Poznansky: The Voice of A Writer, Poet and Artist
"In the world of writing, you meet many people. Some are story tellers, people who have wonderful plot lines and fantasies that run through their minds, who jot down words and tell of adventures and far away lands. Some are observers of the world around them and of human nature and write of their experience in a way that teaches others lessons from their own lives. And then there are the select few who write directly from their souls, the ones who paint a canvas with words that reach inside your heart and turn you around. They open your eyes and make you see people, places and situations in a different way than you would have and, ultimately, they change your life. Uvi Poznansky is one of those writers and she doesn't just spread her magic in ink, but in paint as well. I am proud and blessed to have her on my blog. And, now, enough of my introduction! Here is Uvi..."
Please check out the interview, where I talked a bit about my new book, Twisted. here:
Interview with Uvi Poznansky: The Voice of A Writer, Poet and Artist
A sensitive melding of poetry, prose, and art
Author of War Songs, Grady Harp describes himself as being ever on the alert for the new and promising geniuses of tomorrow. He is an artist representative, gallery owner, writer of essays and articles on figurative and all Representational art for museum catalogues and for traveling exhibitions, and an Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer. So I am deeply honored that he has posted this five-star review for my just-published book, Twisted. This is what he writes:
5.0 out of 5 stars A sensitive melding of poetry, prose, and art, July 5, 2013By Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (REAL NAME) This review is from: Twisted (Paperback)Uvi Poznansky is an Israeli born American poet, writer and artist who seems to have a gift to express her thoughts in myriad ways, ways so diverse in nature that the only constant is excellence! Her previous books - APART FROM LOVE, A FAVORITE SON, HOME, and the Hebrew edition ROPES, SEPARATION, TEAR - all manage to incorporate her stunning visual art as either the cover or as inner additive drawing or simply as the matrix on which she draws the thread that unites each of the themes of her books.
In TWISTED Uvi Poznansky takes out her loom and weaves mysterious tapestries that include humor, angst, the unknown, the dark, and always a permutation of love. The One Who Never Leaves is a touching tale about a cat and her keeper, The Hollow steps into that disparate world of the beyond - of finding needs unmet in proximity and not tangible, I, a Woman allows us to enter the creative space of creating a figure out of clay. In the midst of her stories is a bipartite poem/conversation and images of some of Poznansky's art.
For this reader, the title TWISTED suggests harshness or unexpected turns that terrify. But that is not what happens on entering this space. Yes, the ideas seem from a different realm of non-reality, but they are so immaculately constructed that each work becomes a little treasure to visit repeatedly. For this reader that is not `twisted' - that is kaleidoscopic! Grady Harp, July 13
5.0 out of 5 stars A sensitive melding of poetry, prose, and art, July 5, 2013By Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (REAL NAME) This review is from: Twisted (Paperback)Uvi Poznansky is an Israeli born American poet, writer and artist who seems to have a gift to express her thoughts in myriad ways, ways so diverse in nature that the only constant is excellence! Her previous books - APART FROM LOVE, A FAVORITE SON, HOME, and the Hebrew edition ROPES, SEPARATION, TEAR - all manage to incorporate her stunning visual art as either the cover or as inner additive drawing or simply as the matrix on which she draws the thread that unites each of the themes of her books.
In TWISTED Uvi Poznansky takes out her loom and weaves mysterious tapestries that include humor, angst, the unknown, the dark, and always a permutation of love. The One Who Never Leaves is a touching tale about a cat and her keeper, The Hollow steps into that disparate world of the beyond - of finding needs unmet in proximity and not tangible, I, a Woman allows us to enter the creative space of creating a figure out of clay. In the midst of her stories is a bipartite poem/conversation and images of some of Poznansky's art.
For this reader, the title TWISTED suggests harshness or unexpected turns that terrify. But that is not what happens on entering this space. Yes, the ideas seem from a different realm of non-reality, but they are so immaculately constructed that each work becomes a little treasure to visit repeatedly. For this reader that is not `twisted' - that is kaleidoscopic! Grady Harp, July 13
Featured on The Criterion
My interview at The Criterion has just been published! Here is how it starts:
Writers that captivate you have a way with the pen, they can sweep you off your feet and into the page, into the story, to a different time and place. So, how do we do it? Like Yogi Berra used to say, you can see a lot just by looking. For example, when Anita stands on the Santa Monica peer, and spots her husband out there, in a sea-food restaurant, with another woman--you can be sure that I have studied every detail about the restaurant--especially the menu--by going online and selecting the dishes Anita might wish to remember. Here is her voice:
"I could see the slice of lime on the lip of his glass, and closed my eyes—but still, was blocked from smelling it. I tried, in vain, to bring back the touch of salt around the rim, and the scent of butter on mashed potatoes, and the meaty flavor of wild mushrooms, and the pleasure you get with every gulp of hot, thick clam chowder. I could almost lick the spoon, and pinch the bread, and wipe the bowl with it, ‘cause I had known all that. Me, I had been there with him, like, a lifetime ago."
To read the entire interview, click here: The Criterion
July 4, 2013
Take a Look at this Book Display, and Treat Yourself to a Gift!
I am so grateful! As part of featuring my work on her blog, Mcv Egan has created a wonderful book display with links to all the editions--audiobook, paperback, and kindle--of my book. Check it out here:
TREAT YOURSELF TO A GREAT GIFT
TREAT YOURSELF TO A GREAT GIFT
A Tale of Greed, Betrayal and Twisted Family Relations
Christoph Fischer is a high-ranking reviewer on Goodreads: #46 best reviewers #9 top reviewers. Just as importantly he is the author of two historical fiction books, Sebastian and The Luck of the Weissensteiners. I am greatly honored that he posted this wonderful ★★★★★ review on Goodreads and Amazon for my book, A Favorite Son:
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, July 4, 2013By diebus - See all my reviewsThis review is from: A Favorite Son (Kindle Edition)"A Favorite Son" by Uvi Poznansky is a well crafted and superbly written re-telling of a Biblical story. The rivalry between Jacob and Esav about who is the favorite son. The competition between the two is an old theme and Poznansky does a brilliant job at bringing it into modern day experience and sensitivity. It is a tale of greed, betrayal and twisted family relations.
Told from the perspective of the second born twin brother Yankle (Jacob) it shows his hate, insecurities, envy and desperation, yet we also see the mother;'s favoritism and scheming nature and the father's real thought as revealed on the death bed.
This story is as valid now as it was back then. On a personal level the story worked incredibly well for me. I had been taught the story in Catholic Religious Education, which paid little respect to the Jewishness of the family and their culture. Poznansky seems to play with both ancient and modern themes, none of which are completely favoured, so there are references to kosher as a future concept as well as a present one.
It also achieves to bring relevance to an old story, a wonderful illustration of what the story did and does tell us about families.
The format of a novella was well chosen, the writing flows smoothly and comes to a perfectly timed end. I don't know if any biblical and theological sensitivities are being offended by this particular reworking of this story but on a moral and ethical level the novel had a powerful impact on me and I look forward to more of the same.
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, July 4, 2013By diebus - See all my reviewsThis review is from: A Favorite Son (Kindle Edition)"A Favorite Son" by Uvi Poznansky is a well crafted and superbly written re-telling of a Biblical story. The rivalry between Jacob and Esav about who is the favorite son. The competition between the two is an old theme and Poznansky does a brilliant job at bringing it into modern day experience and sensitivity. It is a tale of greed, betrayal and twisted family relations.
Told from the perspective of the second born twin brother Yankle (Jacob) it shows his hate, insecurities, envy and desperation, yet we also see the mother;'s favoritism and scheming nature and the father's real thought as revealed on the death bed.
This story is as valid now as it was back then. On a personal level the story worked incredibly well for me. I had been taught the story in Catholic Religious Education, which paid little respect to the Jewishness of the family and their culture. Poznansky seems to play with both ancient and modern themes, none of which are completely favoured, so there are references to kosher as a future concept as well as a present one.
It also achieves to bring relevance to an old story, a wonderful illustration of what the story did and does tell us about families.
The format of a novella was well chosen, the writing flows smoothly and comes to a perfectly timed end. I don't know if any biblical and theological sensitivities are being offended by this particular reworking of this story but on a moral and ethical level the novel had a powerful impact on me and I look forward to more of the same.
How can you make Reparations?
My week on Mcv Egan's history-related blog comes to a height with a new piece, this time written not by me--but by my father. This is my all-time favorite of his work, and it opens with a conversation between him and his counselor:
You're asking me to put here in writing, once more,
All that I lost, my esteemed counselor?
To list in detail, then describe and refine
And bring two witnesses tomorrow to sign?
My father's gold watch--I could just hear the sound
Had three lids that were shining
Reflected in it I could see us, standing around
All faces aglow and rejoicing...
And just when you might expect that he is making a list of physical properties that were confiscated by the Nazi regime, the poem takes a turn: when my father describes his father's gold watch, it is the entire life of his family that is reflected in the glass lids. This is what he demands to get back--not the value of the watch.
Check out the post here: Reparations.
You're asking me to put here in writing, once more,
All that I lost, my esteemed counselor?
To list in detail, then describe and refine
And bring two witnesses tomorrow to sign?
My father's gold watch--I could just hear the sound
Had three lids that were shining
Reflected in it I could see us, standing around
All faces aglow and rejoicing...
And just when you might expect that he is making a list of physical properties that were confiscated by the Nazi regime, the poem takes a turn: when my father describes his father's gold watch, it is the entire life of his family that is reflected in the glass lids. This is what he demands to get back--not the value of the watch.
Check out the post here: Reparations.
