S. Rose's Blog, page 2
May 30, 2013
My Review of Sebastian: 5 Stars!
What a treat! I feel like a just took a vacation back in time to Vienna where I met some very interesting people. The characters were so well-developed it is hard not to think of them as real people. I liked Fischer's first novel very much,but for me this was even better. He takes such care with the dialogue and describes the scenes so well it played like a movie in my head. Well done Mr. Fischer! I look forward to the third book.
March 20, 2013
Review: The Luck of the Weissensteiners
The Luck of the Weissensteiners
The Luck of Weissensteiners is an intellectual achievement and a lesson in historical perspective, as we are reminded that history is just that, a story told from a human point of view. In any given period of time, there are as many stories as there are participants, along with many converging sensibilities.
The setting is Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, 1933. We follow along with the Weissensteiner family on an epic journey, from the pre-WWII years to the end of the war, with an epilogue culminating during the fall of the Berlin wall. They are not an insular family, and have a great many friends and acquaintances that move in and out of the story line.
Greta and her family are Jewish, but this is decidedly not another rendition of the holocaust. The novel illustrates how the destruction of war rained down on both Jews and non-Jews, who were part of the same community, often got along quite well and even intermarried. We learn that, at least in Bratislava, many non-Jews detested the Nazi’s, and quietly tried to hide a Jewish friend or two, if they could manage without being discovered. Through no fault of their own they too suffered terrible hardships, hunger and loss of property, sickness and death.
I think we readers are accustomed to accounts of WWII that portray the Jews as victims, and the non-Jews as either perpetrators or uninterested people out to save their own skins, but in the Weissensteiners there is no sharp line of demarcation. Instead, we see how ordinary people were swept up in the same storm of war and tossed about by fate. Through a bit of luck, some narrowly escape destruction, only to perish later on through one mistaken move, or an arbitrary unlucky event.
The families and extended families we meet are quite large, so the novel is chock full of people. We learn many details about their lives, their thoughts and feelings, their relationships, all through the voice of an omniscient narrator. There are many historical accounts that for me, read like a history book; sometimes the narration continues along this vein when describing the intimate details of people’s lives. These long periods of narration often felt rather distant, sounding like a reporter summing up the facts.
However, throughout some chapters there was lively dialogue that made you feel as if you were traveling along with real people, evoking the emotional connection that I especially enjoy in any novel. During these times I felt anger and fear, anxiety and relief. I also came away feeling that I learned something of the history and people of the region. All in all, I strongly recommend that you read The Luck of the Weissensteiners.
The Luck of Weissensteiners is an intellectual achievement and a lesson in historical perspective, as we are reminded that history is just that, a story told from a human point of view. In any given period of time, there are as many stories as there are participants, along with many converging sensibilities.
The setting is Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, 1933. We follow along with the Weissensteiner family on an epic journey, from the pre-WWII years to the end of the war, with an epilogue culminating during the fall of the Berlin wall. They are not an insular family, and have a great many friends and acquaintances that move in and out of the story line.
Greta and her family are Jewish, but this is decidedly not another rendition of the holocaust. The novel illustrates how the destruction of war rained down on both Jews and non-Jews, who were part of the same community, often got along quite well and even intermarried. We learn that, at least in Bratislava, many non-Jews detested the Nazi’s, and quietly tried to hide a Jewish friend or two, if they could manage without being discovered. Through no fault of their own they too suffered terrible hardships, hunger and loss of property, sickness and death.
I think we readers are accustomed to accounts of WWII that portray the Jews as victims, and the non-Jews as either perpetrators or uninterested people out to save their own skins, but in the Weissensteiners there is no sharp line of demarcation. Instead, we see how ordinary people were swept up in the same storm of war and tossed about by fate. Through a bit of luck, some narrowly escape destruction, only to perish later on through one mistaken move, or an arbitrary unlucky event.
The families and extended families we meet are quite large, so the novel is chock full of people. We learn many details about their lives, their thoughts and feelings, their relationships, all through the voice of an omniscient narrator. There are many historical accounts that for me, read like a history book; sometimes the narration continues along this vein when describing the intimate details of people’s lives. These long periods of narration often felt rather distant, sounding like a reporter summing up the facts.
However, throughout some chapters there was lively dialogue that made you feel as if you were traveling along with real people, evoking the emotional connection that I especially enjoy in any novel. During these times I felt anger and fear, anxiety and relief. I also came away feeling that I learned something of the history and people of the region. All in all, I strongly recommend that you read The Luck of the Weissensteiners.
March 19, 2013
My Review of Jazz Baby
Jazz Baby reminds me of the time when I, as a small child, peeled open my very first pomegranate. Hidden beneath the unassuming skin I discovered a treasure of sparkling, edible ruby-red jewels that felt smooth to the tongue and when bitten, burst into a luscious sweetness with a tart, sassy edge. So too with Jazz Baby!
In the interest of disclosure I offered to review the novel for author, Beem Weeks, and was forthwith gifted a paperback copy (since I’m an old fogy who hasn’t broken down and bought a Kindle or other reading devise). I hefted the small book-only 205 pages-in my hand, admired the cover and commenced to reading. From the first pages, the voice of protagonist/narrator, Emily Ann A.K.A. Baby Teegarten demands your attention with the raw power one would expect of a character who is a natural born vocal artist. It is easy to imagine her belting out soulful tunes to the accompaniment of various rag-tag “colored” jazz musicians, who more than make up in spirit for what they lack in musical training.
The novel is set in the deep South during prohibition, in a backwater place called Rayford, Mississippi, with forays over the river to New Orleans where drinkin’, druggin’, whorin’ and the occasional murder are inextricably entwined with the jazz scene of the speak-easies. The language is so southern that as I read, I could almost feel the heat and humidity rise, and swear I smelled a hint of swamp water wafting in. Perhaps it’s due to the languid climate, or maybe it was something in the water, but for Emily Ann, just about everyone she encounters (‘cept maybe Aunt Frannie) – from the Choctaw Indian boy who works in the garden to the colored help, a girl about her own age— whips up a lust in her loins. I declare, belts come a-loose and panties flutter to the floor like magnolia blossoms in a stiff breeze.
There are moments when Mr. Week’s writing danced with its back to an erotica cliff, one foot over the edge and the other on an oil slick; truth be told, I think he fell off more than once, but that’s for you to decide. (If you have curious children about the house, you might want to stash the paperback in your sock drawer and read it after they go to bed.) In any case, I can just about guarantee that you will not be bored. The tempo is steady and throbbing as a hot jazz tune; the characters and their adventures are as wild and dangerous as a swamp full of alligators (oh yes, there is a scene with a gator!) I couldn’t stop turning the pages and finished it the second day.
In the final analysis, Apples are good for leaving on the schoolmarm’s desk, but pomegranates, well…they’re for something else altogether, so go ahead and drink in the sumptuous juice of Jazz Baby.
Jazz Baby
In the interest of disclosure I offered to review the novel for author, Beem Weeks, and was forthwith gifted a paperback copy (since I’m an old fogy who hasn’t broken down and bought a Kindle or other reading devise). I hefted the small book-only 205 pages-in my hand, admired the cover and commenced to reading. From the first pages, the voice of protagonist/narrator, Emily Ann A.K.A. Baby Teegarten demands your attention with the raw power one would expect of a character who is a natural born vocal artist. It is easy to imagine her belting out soulful tunes to the accompaniment of various rag-tag “colored” jazz musicians, who more than make up in spirit for what they lack in musical training.
The novel is set in the deep South during prohibition, in a backwater place called Rayford, Mississippi, with forays over the river to New Orleans where drinkin’, druggin’, whorin’ and the occasional murder are inextricably entwined with the jazz scene of the speak-easies. The language is so southern that as I read, I could almost feel the heat and humidity rise, and swear I smelled a hint of swamp water wafting in. Perhaps it’s due to the languid climate, or maybe it was something in the water, but for Emily Ann, just about everyone she encounters (‘cept maybe Aunt Frannie) – from the Choctaw Indian boy who works in the garden to the colored help, a girl about her own age— whips up a lust in her loins. I declare, belts come a-loose and panties flutter to the floor like magnolia blossoms in a stiff breeze.
There are moments when Mr. Week’s writing danced with its back to an erotica cliff, one foot over the edge and the other on an oil slick; truth be told, I think he fell off more than once, but that’s for you to decide. (If you have curious children about the house, you might want to stash the paperback in your sock drawer and read it after they go to bed.) In any case, I can just about guarantee that you will not be bored. The tempo is steady and throbbing as a hot jazz tune; the characters and their adventures are as wild and dangerous as a swamp full of alligators (oh yes, there is a scene with a gator!) I couldn’t stop turning the pages and finished it the second day.
In the final analysis, Apples are good for leaving on the schoolmarm’s desk, but pomegranates, well…they’re for something else altogether, so go ahead and drink in the sumptuous juice of Jazz Baby.
Jazz Baby
March 17, 2013
Indietribe
I want to thank Charles Derek Bray for his wonderful site, the Indietribe. I was surprised to learn that my novel had made the first top ten list on Indietribe.
http://theindietribe.wordpress.com/20...
Beem Weeks is also in the top ten for his novel, Jazz Baby, which I am reading now. So far it is wonderful! Congratulations to Beem and the other 8 authors!
http://theindietribe.wordpress.com/20...
Beem Weeks is also in the top ten for his novel, Jazz Baby, which I am reading now. So far it is wonderful! Congratulations to Beem and the other 8 authors!
March 12, 2013
Why the Manatee?
In case anyone was wondering, the profile photo of the Manatee is not me :)
This Sunday 3/10, I went to the beautiful Itcheetucknee River (only 20 min. from home) and kayaked in the company of 4 Manatee. I love these wonderful beings so much that I had to work at least a mention of them into my novel. They only come up to my area when the water is high enough, so I haven't seen them here since 2010. I often go to Crystal River and swim with the hundreds of Manatee who winter there.
This Sunday 3/10, I went to the beautiful Itcheetucknee River (only 20 min. from home) and kayaked in the company of 4 Manatee. I love these wonderful beings so much that I had to work at least a mention of them into my novel. They only come up to my area when the water is high enough, so I haven't seen them here since 2010. I often go to Crystal River and swim with the hundreds of Manatee who winter there.
February 8, 2013
Thank you for making my Kindle Promo a Success
I don't know who you all are, but 310 Goodreads members downloaded a Kindle version of my novel, Bridge Ices Before Road from Amazon during my 2 day free Kindle promo.
Thank you for putting it on your busy schedules. I look forward to all your comments and reviews.
Thank you for putting it on your busy schedules. I look forward to all your comments and reviews.
