Author Archives: susan

LITERATURE: BASS 2005

Posted on January 25, 2006 by susan

Death Defier by Tom Bissell (page 174) goes a bit further into layering stories and presenting the reader with some work to define the theme.  The main story in the past tense third person POV is of a journalist (Graves) … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: BASS 2005

LITERATURE: BASS 2005

Posted on January 24, 2006 by susan

First Four Measures by Nathaniel Bellows is a rather odd bit of story abut a fourteen year-old boy who tries hard to gain his piano teacher’s approval, and it seems, physical touch, though we aren’t quite sure if it actually … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: BASS 2005

LITERATURE: BASS 2005 – Writing

Posted on January 21, 2006 by susan

I want to get one or two more stories read before I do another review of Best American Short Stories – 2005, but this is one of the reasons I read, to catch the writing style, and too often my … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: BASS 2005 – Writing

LITERATURE: Consolation – Philosophy’s Reply

Posted on January 21, 2006 by susan

After quietly listening to the complaints and woes of Boethius, Philosophy understands and focuses not on the situation in which Boethius finds himself, but to the degree of which he has allowed it to unsettle him: "When I first saw … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Consolation – Philosophy’s Reply

LITERATURE: The Consolation of Philosophy – Look Inward

Posted on January 19, 2006 by susan

Boethius’ litany concludes with a poem: "Harsh punishment, deserved by the criminal, afflicts the innocent.  Immoral scoundrels now occupy positions of power and unjustly trample the rights of good men.  Virtue, which ought to shine forth, is covered up and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: The Consolation of Philosophy – Look Inward

LITERATURE: Consolation of Philosophy – Justice

Posted on January 18, 2006 by susan

As I head to court this morning, to fight on principle against greed and an illegal contract, I read of Boethius’ complaint as he sits in prison, justifying his position to Philosophy: "I have often opposed the greed of Conigastus … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Consolation of Philosophy – Justice

LITERATURE: BASS 2005 – Story Length

Posted on January 17, 2006 by susan

There was a recent question raised at the MetaxuCafe forum about story length, and the usual answer would be "when the story has been told and finished."  Or, if must be done, according to the publisher’s specs.  Of course, I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | 3 Comments

LITERATURE: The Consolation of Philosophy – Branches

Posted on January 16, 2006 by susan

I’m not sure how to take this, the lady Philosophy is speaking to Boethius: "Philosophy has never thought it right to leave the innocent man alone on his journey.  Should I fear to face my accusers, as though their enmity … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | 2 Comments

LITERATURE: BASS 2005 – Flash Fiction

Posted on January 15, 2006 by susan

Eight Pieces for the Left Hand by J. Robert Lennon is a series of eight vignettes, each telling a short short story (flash fiction) of an episode in the narrator’s home town (only tip-off to first person POV is usually … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | 6 Comments

LITERATURE: BASS 2005

Posted on January 15, 2006 by susan

I’m five stories into this, and the main reason I broke my rule about catching up from the past to the present is because another MetaxuCafe member, gzreads, is also reading this now.  It’ll be interesting to compare notes. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | 6 Comments

LITERATURE: Consolation – Emotion versus Reason

Posted on January 12, 2006 by susan

From Part I, Prose 2: Seeing his desperate condition, Philosophy speaks more gently and promises to cure him. "There is no danger.  You are suffering merely from lethargy, the common illness of deceived minds.  You have forgotten yourself a little, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Consolation – Emotion versus Reason

LITERATURE: The Consolation of Philosophy – Application to the Times

Posted on January 12, 2006 by susan

Just received the book on this today, although I had ventured into it online but found such difference in the translations. Of course I realize that there is no purpose to taking these readings and applying them to oneself personally, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: The Consolation of Philosophy – Application to the Times

LITERATURE: Ploughshares – Spring ’05

Posted on January 10, 2006 by susan

Quite excited about this issue, even delved a bit into the poetry.  Read the six fiction stories and all were very interesting and well written.  Also read the two nonfiction pieces and I herein admit that had I not known … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Ploughshares – Spring ’05

LITERATURE: The Consolation of Philosophy – On Writing

Posted on January 9, 2006 by susan

So here I am, once again caught in the throes of dying artist, and Boethius seems here to speak to me and point out a direction; in short, be done with it and leap the cliff: When she saw that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: The Consolation of Philosophy – On Writing

LITERATURE: Next Up – Ploughshares, Spring ’05

Posted on January 9, 2006 by susan

Before I allow myself the pleasure of The Best American Short Stories, I’d like to work on the backlog of lit journals a bit more, especially when I’m so close to clicking the "print" button on one of my own … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Next Up – Ploughshares, Spring ’05