Author Archives: susan

LITERATURE: Promise of Rain – Taylor’s Unreliable Narrator

Posted on July 25, 2008 by susan

There are similarities between Peter Taylor’s stories in the first person pov and Raymond Carver’s Cathedral. What has become prominent for me is the way he handles the narrator’s evaluation of another character’s actions.  There is an underlying theme that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Metaphor & Pacing

Posted on July 23, 2008 by susan

There is an underlying theme to this novel, and that is the war in the Falklands that has affected England and comes home to Jason with the death in combat of the older brother of a friend. The ongoing war … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Nice Stuff

Posted on July 22, 2008 by susan

A few nice phrases used to establish an unspoken fact.  Here, the common knowledge of Moran’s father being an alcoholic, yet the way it is handled carefully by others: "Does your old man ever get pissed? Moran asked.If I said … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Old Forest – Moral

Posted on July 21, 2008 by susan

Just finished Peter Taylor’s story The Old Forest and I understand that the theme is one of how people treat one another, and how change comes slowly.  There is a friendly tone to Taylor’s first person narrator and in the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Old Forest – Making a Statement

Posted on July 21, 2008 by susan

Forty pages into this particular story and I’ve learned this: A young man has been caught with having had a girl other than his fiancee in his car a week before his wedding, as they’ve had an automobile accident.  The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Old Forest – Tone

Posted on July 19, 2008 by susan

The second story in this anthology is the title story and is a long one so I figured I’d start writing on it rather than waiting until I finish. This one is first person pov, the narrator being a young … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Stages

Posted on July 16, 2008 by susan

Mitchell appears to use the chapters as episodes, focusing on an incident unrelated to the previous but consistent with a linear timeline as each refers to something happening in the prior chapter.  It seems that Jason faces a new problem … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Language and Content

Posted on July 15, 2008 by susan

There are mixed feelings about this book; after finishing the first chapter I see much I like yet there’s an ambivalence and I question the rave reviews I seem to recall when it came out. First of all, I must … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Up Also: The Old Forest – Peter Taylor

Posted on July 15, 2008 by susan

Mitchell’s Black Swan Green hasn’t grabbed my full attention so I’ve taken out as well this collection of short stories by Peter Taylor that I’ve had for years–since a creative writing class and a recommendation by the instructor. The first … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Simile: Sometimes it doesn’t work…

Posted on July 13, 2008 by susan

Mitchell draws the characters well, and in the reflections of the protagonist (Jason–we know this because his mother has addressed him at some point) we do get some nice stuff: Nobody’d be out on the frozen lake, I’d suspected, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Initial Thoughts

Posted on July 12, 2008 by susan

Mitchell appears to get the voice of a twelve year-old going on thirteen down pretty well as he interacts with his family and friends.  The setting is in England but the family life and the boyhood games of the 1980’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Up Next: Black Swan Green

Posted on July 12, 2008 by susan

William Gay is a hard act to follow and I felt that sense of disappointment as I went through my shelves to select my next reading.  I’m in the mood for language, yet what besides a few that I’m saving … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: provinces of night – Finale

Posted on July 11, 2008 by susan

Whew.  Should’ve been framing but I think I would have locked the shop doors once I got into the last 25 pages. Somehow, the ending came full force and fast.  Almost a little too fast, as if the whole summer’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE:provinces of night – Resolutions

Posted on July 11, 2008 by susan

There were several threads in this narrative and little by little they are each knotted off.  Here’s just a sample of where Albright’s debt to Woodall is being paid off, his guilt assuaged by his painting Woodall’s widow’s house: She … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: provinces of night – Turning Point?

Posted on July 11, 2008 by susan

With fifty pages to go (and believe me, I wish there were more!) I can’t help but consider the back cover blurb and feel a bit confused: Only Fleming, E.F.’s grandson, is pleased with the old man’s homecoming, but Fleming’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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