Lance Greenfield's Blog, page 26
July 23, 2019
Books and Bookmarks
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I was delighted to take delivery of two packages this morning.
The first, from SoloPress, contained promotional bookmarks for my two novels, Eleven Miles and Knitting Can Walk!. I have taken great care in designing these and the quality of the product is excellent. I shall be handing them out at forthcoming events and leaving them in friendly cafés, retail outlets and libraries. I’ll also be taking a batch along with me to the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School next month.
The second package was from Lulu. It contained ten copies each of Eleven Miles, Knitting Can Walk! and When Pleasure Blooms (by Auridius O’Conner). These will be on sale in the bookroom at the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School.
Also in the package from Lulu was a copy of Space Dust by my very good friend, Eloise De Sousa. This is a super children’s book that introduces a series about the adventures of Big Ox and Little One as they travel around in space in Big Ox’s canoe, propelled by his absolute favourite spoon. It is a lot of fun and the illustrations that are painted by the author are enchanting.
Book Review: Jamrach’s Menagerie by Carol Birch
Jamrach’s Menagerie by Carol Birch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The intensity, the deep feeling, the strong relationships, the joys, the horrors, the experiences, the adventures are all described so wonderfully by the author through the senses of Jaffy Brown in the first person, that I shall not even attempt to tell you about them. You need to read the book for yourself.
Short-listed for the Man Booker Prize in 2011, I cannot imagine how good the eventual winner must’ve been in the eyes of the judges to have beaten Jamarach’s Menagerie.
Towards the end, I was beginning to think of alternative titles for the book. Jaffy’s Oceans or The Long Voyage of Jaffy Brown came to mind, but I suppose that the title is appropriate, as it all started when eight year-old Jaf Brown stroked the nose of a Bengal tiger which had broken loose from Jemrach’s Menagerie and he was carried off by the magnificent beast. This incident is based on fact. The rest of the story is mostly based on fiction.
I can’t tell you the other fact without ruining the reading for you. But I’ll tell you about one if the early events which told me that I was going to love this book.
On the day following the tiger incident, Mr Jamrach sent his “boy”, Tim, round to find Jaffy and to buy him a raspberry puff. Jaffy had never sampled raspberry or cream or puff pastry in his eight years on Earth. The description of his happiness as he enjoys his first bite of this wonderful experience is guaranteed to make you enjoy it with him. How far from his previous life of scraping through the stinking sewers of Bermondsey could be this new joy?
There he [Tim] stood with his hands in his pockets and watched me eat the raspberry puff. The first bite was so bitterly sweet the corners if my mouth ached. So beautiful, a film of tears stung my eyes. Then the pain dispersed and there was only delight.”
Tim eventually becomes Jaffy’s very best friend, and that friendship has its ups and downs. Some of them are very severe. I suppose one could argue that Tim’s sister, Ishbel, becomes Jaffy’s best friend, but I am not about to enter a debate on the matter, because it doesn’t really matter.
Be warned that there are some very moving, sad parts to this story. If you are not careful, you could end up joining melancholics anonymous before you’re finished, but you should read it. You will not regret it.
July 22, 2019
Wearing Silk
… the unbreakable bond of eternal friendship and love.
Before I open my eyes,
I see you.
I feel you.
I slip out of bed,
Naked, yet enveloped by you.
I slip on my running shorts,
My shirt, my socks.
But I am already wearing you,
Like a silk cloak.
You envelope me.
You wrap yourself around me.
I am inside you.
As I stretch and start to run,
I feel you,
Soft against my skin,
Strong, soft silk.
My cadence becomes your rhythm.
As I push myself up the first hill,
I wrap myself around you,
Like a silk cloak.
I envelope you.
I wrap myself around you.
You are inside me.
You feel me,
Soft against your skin,
Strong, soft silk.
We are sheets of strong, soft silk,
Intertwined.
Inseparable.
A strong wind tries to rip us apart,
But we merge: a silk banner,
Blowing in the gale,
Defying the storm.
We are so closely bound that
Not even the fiercest maelstrom could rip us apart.
Our every ripple, every wave,
Is as one.
We are together,
Forever.
I wear you like silk.
You wear me like silk.
I am inside you,
And you in me.
We are bonded: a strong, beautiful silk sash,
Forever.
Read more of my poetry and some amusing short ditties on my Titbits and Poetry page.
July 19, 2019
Poetry for Sale
In the last two weeks, I have been for two interviews, both with the same company, in London. I very much hope that I have been successful, as I love their technology and I think that the company culture and the people are great. I am worried that I didn’t perform to the best of my ability but we shall see. I’ll hear their decision by the end of next week.
However, that is not the point of this post.
On both occasions, I walked from Waterloo Station, along the South Bank, across one of the many Thames bridges, to the company’s office in Bishopgate, and back. That experience reminded me that London is a glorious kaleidoscope of culture, language and cuisine. It is a wonderful city!
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Luke the Poet
On my way back from my second interview, I had just passed the Globe and the Tate Modern, when I encountered a poet called Luke. He was sitting on a collapsible chair, behind a collapsible table, typing on an old-fashioned typewriter. Yes! A typewriter! It was just like the one that I used as a Squadron orderly corporal in the Royal Engineers back in the seventies to type out the daily orders.
Luke was selling poetry. He had signs up, offering to write poems o any subject for whatever the passing public were willing to pay.
I stopped and had a chat with him. I liked him. He had just completed a poem, to order, for a young American couple. It was about twenty lines long. In response to their request. He signed the bottom of the piece of paper. After a short discussion, the young man gave him two fivers.
Business was steady. With his permission, I took this photo of him for my blog.
The short encounter with Luke filled me to the brim with happiness. He is doing something that he enjoys. He won’t make a fortune but he is happy. So am I.
July 14, 2019
Book review: Stench of Death by Colin Ward
Stench of Death – a Short Story by Colin Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this story, especially for the mix of characters and their funny little quirks.
Early on, a sex worker disappears and one of the detectives starts an unofficial enquiry. The reason that he is going rogue soon becomes clear. He and his partner link the case to a seemingly unconnected missing person case that they are investigating together.
The body count rises.
I can’t say too much more without straying into spoiler land.
The only downside for me was that there were too many pointers to the possible method of disposal of the bodies, which made some of the plot rather predictable. Then again, perhaps I am a good detective.
I recommend this to anyone looking for a quick read in the crime genre.
July 12, 2019
Space Dust
I am so proud of my friend, Eloise De Sousa, for coming up with this absolutely brilliant concept for young children. It is so thoughtfully implemented. I expect that these stories will have a mass, international appeal. Her illustrations are bound to open many young eyes wide with delight and amazement. Take a look and buy the book!
It’s here! My blood, sweat and tears arrived today in the post and I’m so pleased with how it turned out.
The setting is as close to perfect as I can get it and my illustrations have come to life on the white, glossy pages. The true test, of course, will be whether the children engage with the book and if the story fires their imaginations. After testing it on my book club members and year Reception at school, I have optimistic hopes of getting them to love this story as much as I do.
Now the fun part: this story was written for the library service in my borough, inspired by their theme Space Chase. I didn’t want to write a generic book about racing through space and instead, took inspiration from the imaginings of the children as they gazed up at the moon. Is it made of cheese?…
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July 8, 2019
Book Review: Along the Broken Bay by Flora J Solomon
Along the Broken Bay by Flora J. Solomon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The book gets off to a slow start, with too much description and character background that could wait to be incorporated into the narrative later on in the story. It soon picks up and rattles along at a fair pace right up until the end. It is most certainly a roller-coaster of action and emotions. In fact, roller-coaster is very apt. If you think about it, that ride takes you slowly to the top of the first climb and then dives and twists and turns and it makes your head and body spin. You scream, you laugh, you cry. This book will do all of that to you.
The author has obviously done a lot of research for this book. She has done as I always advise people who want to write who ask me, “What is your top tip for potential writers?” I say to them, “Read a lot.” She has made disassembled real characters from the wartime Philippines era and reassembled them into her fictional characters. The result is very authentic and believable.
Once you are into the third of fourth chapter, you will find this book difficult to put down. It is skillfully written. I always wanted to know what would happen next. The end of a chapter was definitely NOT the time to switch off my bedside light.
Your emotions will be stirred, right up to the end.
I highly recommend this book to all my friends.
July 7, 2019
Changed Energies – Changed Life
This post so resonates with me.
I have always been renowned for my positivity, for being a motivator and have even been labelled as inspirational. Recently, my energy has felt the drag-back of a few negative vibes that surround me.
This article, by my old friend, Erika, inspires me to break free of those negatives and become my natural, free-spirited self once more.
Lately, I thought about change and development. It happens that people you have known your whole life don’t appear the same anymore. It is getting harder to get along with them or it goes better, all of a sudden. But is it really them?
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#weekendcoffeeshare: Happy and Sad
Each month, I look forward to receiving my new edition of Writing Magazine. When it pops through my letterbox, I archive my last copy in my bookshelves in my study.
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Photo credit: Kate Bailey
For the past month, I have had the July issue by my side, open at the Alison Chisholm’s two-page Poetry Workshop, Featuring my poem, Flutter Back. Some might think that to be rather vain, and maybe it is, but I was so happy and proud to have that lovely poem featured, that I just had to keep reminding myself that the print was real.
I wish that I could have taken it to show my Dad, but he died in March. He would have been so happy and proud. Having written the poem in the late Summer of last year, at least I was able to read it to him before he died. He was delighted when he heard it.
So, in archiving July’s edition of that magazine, I felt that I was filing away a tiny piece of Dad.
That is why I am both happy and sad.
At least I am able to share it with all of you, as we sit here sipping our weekend coffee.
What has made you happy or sad this week?
Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Eclectic Alli.
Check out her blog to read her own Weekend Coffee Share post.
You can post your own link and join with others in this community for coffee by clicking on the following link: Inlinkz Link Party.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This is a super review of a superb book. Also one of my favourites.
When you’ve read Anne’s review, please take a look at my own review.
Here is a small fact.
YOU ARE GOING TO DIE.
1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.
Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.
Some important information.
THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATH.
It’s a small story, about: a girl, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter and quite a lot of thievery.
Another thing you you should know.
DEATH WILL VISIT THE BOOK THIEF THREE TIMES.
First published: 2005 [Goodreads]
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