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A LITERARY
BLOG ABOUT BOOKS How they affect us. How they shape our lives.
Note: Postings
made when muses strike. Watch for blog alert notices via email, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. "We read to know we are not alone." C.S. Lewis Copyright 2011-2018
Top
12 Reading Recommendations Please click a book image to purchase it on Amazon.
Novels, books, and musicals June has written and published: Click a book image to purchase it on www.amazon.com
"Meditations
for New Members is a beautifully written little book...a gem. The thoughts are striking and orginal--a
few are quite profound." --Fiona Hodgkin, author of The Tennis Player from Bermuda
Sponsored in part by Dani's Pantry Fine authentic Italian food. Cucina con Amore! https://amzn.to/2HdlA
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Services Proofreading, Editing, Rewites, Assistance with Self-publishing. "It's the write thing to do."
"I like what you've done with my
book. Makes me fall in love with it all over again." --Olajuwon Dare, author of Eleven Eleven
Contact
June at JuneJ@JuneJMcInerney.com on Facebook.com, or at www.BSetiPupPublising.com
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Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Helping Hands
One of the perks of being, now, an "official" reviewer,
is that I now have access through various sources to galleys and advanced copies of all sorts of books, which I can read and
comment upon days, weeks, even months before they are released to the general public. I have my pick of the best—and
sometimes the worst—of what will hit the shelves, being able to read them before just about anyone else that I know
does.
The other day, I came across a delightfully
quirky little young children's book that was just released by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.,
out of Atglen, a small town in Pennsylvania, entitled Change the World Before Bedtime (hdbk, 32 pgs) by Mark Kimball Mouton, John Chalmers, and Karen Good. Apparently written for, and, perhaps with, their children, it carries an equally delightful message that can
and should be heeded by children of all ages: by performing daily acts of love and unselfishness, such as donating to Goodwill,
or growing vegetables for neighbors, visiting a sick neighbor or friend, or even petting a friendly dog, we can each, in our
own little way, help to change the world. A delightful message, indeed; one that we should all heed.
On FrankieB's
early morning walk around the neighborhood today, we passed by two dempster-dumpsters nearly filled not only with garbage,
but with, among other useful items, cast-off toys; a few household items, including lamps, book shelves, and perfectly good
pictures in frames that, with a little bit of care and repair, could be made serviceable again; a grocery bag or two of used
clothing—I know, 'cause I checked and found (and adopted) a perfectly clean and serviceable blue ski jacket—a
myriad of hardly used tennis balls that could easily have delighted any dog who loves to play fetch. These are all items which,
with a little care and forethought, could have been stuffed into plastic bags and brought to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
I am sure they would have been welcomed by some needy person or persons, rather than being carelessly cast aside only to be
wasted in and cluttering up some remote landfill. Change the World Before Bedtime reminds us, with its primitive, child-like drawings and wordy illustrations, not to be so wasteful.
Nor to be
so uncaring or thoughtless that we get so caught up in the busy-ness of our own daily lives that we forget to reach out to
others. It does not matter what you do—this small tome has many viable suggestions. Each one is suitable for any child
to do with, of course, adult assistance and supervision. This is a family activity book that is to be shared by everyone.
The three authors, in iambic-pentameter rhyme that jarringly often does not scan, tells us that changing part of the world
is "easy! You'll see/Sharing part of your heart is the key" and that "Good things happen when hearts shine
with love". While this, to me is a bit more preachy and sugar-coated for my tastes, it did strike home the realization
that I, too, have lately become a bit too complacent in my daily life, shying away from doing the one "good deed a day"
that might make some one else's life easier, brighter, or more bearable.
Hmmm...well…there is the cluttered
garage and basement that need clearing out. I bet there are things there that I'll never use again, but just might be useful
to someone else. And then there's that elderly neighbor I've been promising to bring the Frankster over to visit. And you
know that bare patch of soil in front of my house? I bet if I planted another rose bush, or snuck in a tomato plant or two...
And what about the neighbor kids giving free tennis lessons? Or reading to a shut-in? And then there’s the very ill
friend whom I've been meaning to call...
I recommend this little offering to all of Mother Earth's children. After
all, the world and her inhabitants are depending upon us. And upon our helping hands to pitch in to do something worthwhile
to help save our planet.
It can be done with just one small task that we do each and every day before bedtime.
4:02 pm edt
Monday, July 30, 2012
Facts of Life
I don't
fly anymore. Not since my last turbulent flight twenty-five years ago, travelling back from a consulting gig in Los Angeles.
It was long, arduous, and frightening, with lots of gut-wrenching turbulence and tummy-twisting sudden plunging drops that
left my heart in my throat and drink ice cubes suspended in mid-air. Yet, however frightening it was, I was mesmerized by
the views outside my small window—the threatening majesty of billowing grey thunder clouds streaked with yellow lightening
and, as they cleared, wide vistas of land 35,000 feel below...Grand Canyon's gaping maw, snow-capped tips of the Rocky Mountains,
undulating green fields of corn, patchwork quilted country sides ribboned with rivers, dotted with lakes, towns, and sparking
cities. Those five hours were larger than life. I shall never forget, despite the awe, my feelings of helplessness and total
lack of control.
Some fictional protagonists are more readable, and more believable, if they, like my last flight,
are larger than life. And even more plausible, endearing, and unforgettable if they are based upon real life characters.
Such is the case with Nora Jean Broussard-Greenwood, the heroine of Flying Solo: An Unconventional Aviatrix Navigates Turbulence in Life* by Jeanette Vaughan. Her trials and tribulations stemming from a failed marriage and an illicit love affair in the very
Catholic constricted deep South during the early 1960s are based upon those of a real person, whose stubbornly independent,
yet endearing personality is faithfully captured in this fast-paced, quite readable novel about a woman who, despite and often
because of her character traits and flaws, discovers the gifts of life and love amidst the turbulent consequences of doing
it all her own way.
Here is the fictionalized story of a very strong, determined, self-willed woman who bucks the
strait-laced ties of New Orleans high society, rails against the unforgiving strictness the Roman Catholic Church and, with
the aid of a very close sister-like friend, stands up to those who want to cram her into tight, conforming molds and becomes,
as is evident throughout the book, a hero in her own right. In Flying Solo we have Vaughan's unique, captivating down-to-earth writing style coupled with the flavorful essences of The Secrets
of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, The Help, and Gone with the Wind, with a heaping handful of courage à
la Amelia Earhart thrown in. This is, for those of us who enjoy a good cannot-put-it-down Southern chick-lit/romance/historical
tale, a winning combination.
My only negative comment is that there are a few really explicitly graphic sexual
passages that can be a turn-off to the more prudent reader. This is definitely not a book for the young adult and is, in fact,
according to the author, "definitely rated R". However, for the more mature connoisseur of lessons-in-life tales,
these scenes are meant to depict the deep, explosively cataclysmic love between Nora and her flight instructor, Steve, who
becomes her lover—engaging with him far above and beyond the normal flights of physical fancy. I found that skipping
over some or even all of these passages does not, however, in any way detract from nor diminish the full meaning and intent
of Nora's story.
One of the greater pleasures of reading, reviewing, and blogging about books is that there is
the occasional opportunity to talk with an author of a book, especially one that has particularly intrigued me. And so, yesterday
afternoon, Jeanette and I chatted over the phone about the back story of her novel, its plot lines, and the characterizations
of not only its heroine, Nora, but Nora's best friend, Charlene; Steve; Steve's wife, Marci, who had multiple sclerosis; and
two of Nora's four children, Kayce and Cathy, who, in real life, suffered the brunt of Nora's life decisions. We chatted mostly
about the strengths and weaknesses of each, and how the power of ingrained faith and familial obligations, regardless of how
much you love someone, take precedent over fulfillment of that love.
Jeanette's insights coupled with my own observations
confirmed that Nora was, indeed, despite her quirkiness, the strongest of them all. Even stronger than Steve, whose calm and
confident, seemingly powerful presence first attracted her to him. Yet, as it turns out, he was the one who was cowered by
Marci and her faith-based decisions that ultimately determined everyone's immediate fate. Steve was in awe of Nora's male/female
androgynous strength, yet, while he wanted to be strong and honorable himself, in the end, was forced to play both sides—“putty
in both women's hands", as Vaughan said. In a surprising plot twist, he is the one who is cradled and comforted by Nora,
although she had hoped it would be the other way around.
"My God," he whispers in near defeat. "What
did I do?" What did he do, indeed?
Charlene, who vicariously lived through Nora's adventures, exhibited strengths
in coming to the assistance of her best friend, yet was overwhelmed by the force of Nora's singular determination and courage
in the face of disaster. Nora's children, living through a painful time period in their early lives, did not understand the
sudden, ripping change in their family circumstances, yet they did not ask questions of their mother. They only wanted some
semblance of their former life back. The real children struggled, from what Jeanette told me, their whole life with residual
issues. And then there is Marci, who, while strong despite her debilitating illness, weakened under the strictures of her
own faith and allowed it to rule her world. She was staunchly tolerant, hiding behind her disease and commitment to the Catholic
Church to get through "the horrible situation and move on".
Putting aside the chick lit/romance/historical
novel nature of Vaughan's first literary endeavor, I found underneath an in-depth, turbulent, psychological thriller. This
was a haunting read that I did not want to end. I wanted to know what happened to Nora? To her children? To Steve and Marci?
And, to my delight, I am going to find out.
Flying Solo, I am told by Jeanette, is only the beginning. It is the first in a trilogy about Nora Jean Broussard, whose story will
soon continue with the second installment, Solo Vietnam, on which Jeanette is currently working.
This author is a solid writer with a voice that we should all listen to. One that, unlike many others of her genre,
is not likely to be given into flights of fancy.
~~~~~~ * © 2012 by Jeanette Vaughan. 309 pgs; available in both paperback and Kindle editions.
Published by AgeView Press, Blue Ridge, TX.
11:11 am edt
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June
J. McInerney, the host of this Literary Blog, is
an author, poet, and librettist. Her currently published works include a novel, a book of spiritual inspirations,
two
volumes of poetry, stories
for children (of all ages) and
a variety of children's musicals. Her titles include: Miss Elmira's Secret Treasure:
A Novel of Phoenixville during the Early 1900s Colonial Theatre: A Novel of Phoenixville
during the Roarin' 20s Phoenix Hose, Hook & Ladder: A Novel of Phoenixville during
World War I Columbia Hotel: A Novel of Phoenixville during the Early 1900s the Schuylkill Monster: A Novel of Phoenixville in 1978
The Prisoner's
Portrait: A Novel of Phoenxville during World War II
Forty-Thirty Rainbow in the Sky Meditations for New Members
Adventures
of Oreigh Ogglefont The Basset Chronicles. Cats of Nine Tales Spinach
Water: A Collection of Poems Exodus Ending: A
Collection of More Spiritual Poems
We Three Kings Beauty and the Beast Bethlehem Noah's
Rainbow Peter, Wolf, and Red Riding
Hood
Originally from the New York metropolitan area, June currently lives near Valley Forge Park in Pennsylvania with her constant and loving companions, FrankieBernard and Sebastian Cat. She
is currently working on her sixth novel.
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