Author Archives: susan

LITERATURE: Something Wicked – An Oops!

Really am enjoying Bradbury’s writing style along with the story; he is truly proficient and a bit innovative on writing, such as this fine way of ending one chapter and opening another: The storm was coming.  The storm wasn’t coming.  … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE:Something Wicked… – Key Elements

Within the first forty pages of this novel, I already can see all the key elements of story.  Bradbury is, of course, an accomplished writer and so goes by the best rules of fiction. His main characters, Will and Jim, … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Something Wicked This Way Comes – Grand Opening

What a lovely darkly ominous opening: The seller of lightning rods arrived just ahead of the storm.  He came along the street of Green Town, Illinois, in the late cloudy October day, sneaking glances over his shoulder.  Somewhere not so … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Ficciones – Tlon, etc.

This one will definitely be re-read, likely when I finish the rest of the stories in this book.  Borges would be someone I would definitely love to sit and spend a few hours with.  That is, if he spoke English … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Ficciones – Tlon…etc.

I don’t think you can read Borges without the man himself being within the story.  In this particular short story, he places himself there. A writer to a fellow writer: The whole affair happened some five years ago.  Bioy Casares … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Ficciones – TLON,UQBAR, ORBIS TERTIUS

Just halfway through this first story in the Borges collection, but I can say it is quite intriguing.  Borges is concept-driven I suspect, and as he twists his own mind in wonderment, he enjoys doing the same to the readers. … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: McCarthy Interview

What a nice man, Cormac McCarthy.  Hard to believe that such images that show up in his books come from this soft-spoken, gentle and unassuming man. But then again, one of his statements stayed with me: "You can’t plot things … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Next Up – Ficciones

Two at once this time, just because if I’m not going to be writing, then it’s the time to enjoy diversity and Borges fits that bill. Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Next Up: Something Wicked This Way Comes

I’ve always liked Ray Bradbury, first became familiar with him through the old television shows and then the movies.  I was just in the mood for something very different from what I’ve been reading lately and with three or four … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Rabbit, Run – Finale

Well, Rabbit did what was expected of him–secretly in everyone’s mind of course, as what was expected of him was that he behave responsibly, putting his family above his own passions and perplexities.   This is perhaps the theme of Updike’s … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Rabbit, Run – Show & Tell in Characterization

There is one risk the author runs in omniscient point of view and that is that the reader, knowing what the characters think can respond more accurately than merely providing their own justification or guesswork as to motivation. By what … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE (and REALITY?): Rabbit, Run – More on Character

(Note:  I’m supposed to be outside gardening while Jim is at the range but I made the mistake of taking a cup of coffee and this book out there with me and well, it’s not really a mistake because I … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Rabbit, Run – Philosophy

Just as Updike helps us to understand Rabbit, accept his leaving his pregnant wife and child, he throws in the inevitable twist: his wife is having the baby. It didn’t sit well with the reader that Rabbit just drove off … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Rabbit, Run – Conflicts/Plot Points

"Even so.  I saw you that way tonight and I felt a wall between us and this is the one way through it.""That’s pretty cute.  You just want it, really." She yearns to hit out at him, to tell him … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Rabbit, Run – Verisimilitude

Post-reading of Murakami, Marquez, O’Brien with the forced suspension of disbelief required brings to mind Updike’s near insistence on the realities of existence. The setting, the interaction of characters, the getting inside to see the motivations, all beat home the … Continue reading Continue reading

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