Author Archives: susan

LITERATURE: The Pleasure of the Text – Maybe…

Slowly working my way through this, reading every word but not quite understanding it.  But long ago I realized that this is going to have to be read many times to get the benefit of Barthes’ words.  They’re not bliss … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: At Swim-Two-Birds – Skimming

Yes, I’m at that point.  Halfway through and it’s gotten to me.  While I’m awed by the skill and intrigued by the methods, I’m just not into the story(ies) enough to deep-read this one right now.  It’s a personal thing; … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Glimmer Train #55 – Relationships

The next selection also has illness and death as themes.  Footsteps by Yunny Chen involves a relationship between a man and a woman; long-lived, married, and in the way of this, still secretive about feelings.  There is a difference between … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Glimmer Train #55 – Human Nature

All of Me, by Erika Krouse is a story about change, physical, mental and emotional.  A man is recuperating from a heart transplant operation.  A knock on his door one door bring with it a young woman who claims that … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Glimmer Train #55 – A Couple Selections

Not reading this one in the traditional manner–front to back; skipping around to what appeals at the time. Sightseeing, by Rattawut Lapcharoensap, is a short story that seems to contain all the necessary elements of method to make a story … Continue reading Continue reading

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POETRY: Spring to Summer

March is just plain meanand April is apprising ofthe possibility of Spring. May’s an iffy month. Hot as the Sahara ortouched with coolness stolenfrom frosty memories. Yes, May is could and can andMay is may. June comes whispering through lipspursed … Continue reading Continue reading

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POETRY: Moodset

I hate it; that clouds control the day evenas the fiery sun burns just beyond. Grey tulle shares more than colorwith ice cold steel. Yet which is strongerto the touch of fingertips? I hate it; that clouds control the day. Continue reading

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LITERATURE: At Swim-Two-Birds – Character and Voice

What is amazing about this book is the skill with which O’Brien changes voice in this three-ring circus.  Especially with what he throws at us.  Here is a short bit from the first person pov narrator, a university student: Biographical … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE & NEW MEDIA: At Swim-Two-Birds – Weaving

It should be obvious by now that I’m not exactly enthralled with this novel–though I am in awe of the workmanship.  Kind of like a Polish (or any other, really) traditional costume that is breathtaking in it’s brilliance of design … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Prairie Schooner 79/2 – Finale

Kind of liked this one: People Always Going To by Lee Martin.  First person narrator, a man who’s just sort of a regular guy, going along with his wife to a seer because she wants to check in on her … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Prairie Schooner 79/2 – Personal Preference

The first–and longest–story in this issue is Wilde in Omaha by Ron Hansen.  Unfortunately, I only got a few pages into it because personally, I don’t like fiction based on reality.  I know, all fiction is based on reality, but … Continue reading Continue reading

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WRITING & LITERATURE: Glimmer Train # 54 -Lit Journal Luck

As a backup to my previous posting about submissions, Glimmer Train (one of my favorite publications, by the way, because they’re devoted to short story form) Issue #54:  Of the 12 published authors in this issue, 5 of them appear … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: At Swim-Two-Birds – Art

It dawned on me what this book reminds me of:  Heronymous Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights.  I’ve always loved that piece because it fascinates, there is so much going on at once that one cannot take it all in in … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: At Swim-Two-Birds – Humor

Not really into this book; there’s a lot else going on so that I’m easily diverted.  It’s also a matter of the way this book is written.  It’s like reading several novels at once–which, of course, it is. But I … Continue reading Continue reading

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LITERATURE: Glimmer Train #54 – Hard-hitting Story

Strange title–Night Slides Falling to Light–for this wonderfully written story by Thomas O’Malley.  Within six pages, two murders, setting that you can feel, characters that strike an immediate chord, and a story that is beautifully woven.  One of my favorites. … Continue reading Continue reading

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