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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
B'Seti Pup Publishing Editorial
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
Please support this Literary Blog by buying on Amazon. Thank you.
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Friday, November 2, 2012
Better
to Give than to Receive The only thing more comforting than snuggling under a warm blanket by a cozy fire
with a good book is snuggling under a homemade quilt by a cozy fire with an Elm Creek Quilts novel by Jennifer Chiaverini.
And while I don't have the quilt, I do have the warm blanket, a cozy fire, and an advanced review copy of The Giving Quilt: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel , the latest in Jennifer's amazing series. The ARC paperback version of The Giving Quilt,, graciously signed and mailed by the author, arrived this past Tuesday, the same day the hardback version1 was
released—just in time to hunker down with it as the last vestiges of Hurricane Sandy swept through my neighborhood.
It was all I could do to quickly finish up my daily chores, scarf down dinner, stoke up the fire, and settle in for yet another
heart-warming visit with Sylvia Bergstrom and her Elm Creek Quilters at Elm Creek Manor just outside of State College,
PA2.
The making and giving of quilts has long been an Elm Creek Quilters' tradition, ever since the
quilt camp was founded in The Quilter's Apprentice , the first novel of the series. Here, in the twentieth, during the week following Thanksgiving, the camp is open for quilters
to gather together to make quilts for Project Linus3. This session of "Quiltsgiving" marks the beginning
of the season of generous giving; not only of material gifts, but of gifts of the heart. Through six main characters (Karen,
Pauline, Linnea, Michaela, Jocelyn, and Sylvia), we learn that while it is better to give than to receive, it is the giving
of oneself to others and to one's community that is the greatest gift of all. As each of our heroic protagonists make her
giving quilt, her individual story is told. Each one, of course, is different, yet they all share the common struggles through
hard times. In a flash of brilliance coupling real-life into fiction, Jennifer recreates the strife of our latest recession
as well as the common burdens of daily life: job loss; closing of a library through lack of funds; a widow's intense grief;
struggles to understand a mis-guided friend; pangs of perceived rejection; injuries caused by jealousy; and thwarted dreams.
As each woman sews and constructs her quilt with loving care and attention, she learns how to bear her burden—alone
and with others in the Elm Creek Quilt community. Each shares the commonality of learning to give not only of themselves to
others, but also to themselves.
This is a heartwarming, thought-provoking novel, as all of Jennifer's are. But
The Giving Quilt, in particular, strikes very close to home. Throughout its pages the primal question is posed: "Why do you give?"
And while various reasons are given through each of the well-formed and true-to-life characters, it is left up to the reader
to determine her own personal answer. So, as I read, I was confronted with asking myself, "Why do I give?" More
importantly: "How do I give?" It was almost as if I was the seventh main character in the novel. And if I was, what
would my story be?
Today is the first (paper) anniversary of my early retirement and starting this Literary Blog.
Jennifer's novel, a generous gift of writing talent in itself, forced me to reflect upon what and why I gave of myself during
the past twelve months. Well, as you know, I am not one to brag, so I won't. But, upon reflection, I now have a better feeling
of accomplishment and a deeper understanding of giving unselfishly of one's time and talents. And this, I think is what a
talented, sensitive author writing a good novel should do: Not only tell a good story, but challenge readers to ask and answer,
through the eyes, minds, and hearts of each character the more important questions of life. And this is exactly what Jennifer
Chiaverini has done with The Giving Quilt—asking us all why we give.
If you read just one book during this advent approach to the season of giving
thanks and generous giving, I strongly recommend it be this one. Through its pages we are reminded to be humbly thankful for
the gifts of our talents and for the valuable gift of being able to share them. May we all do so as graciously and as radiantly
as Jennifer, through her characters, has done.
~~~~~~ 1 ©2012 by Jennifer Chiaverini. 357
pgs; hardback. DUTTON. Published (October 30, 2012) by The Penquin Group (USA) Inc., New York, NY.
2 No,
folks, contrary to popular opinion, the town of Elm Creek is not real. However, it is based upon State College, PA, and the
surrounding area, where Jennifer met her husband. And, quite coincidentally, where FrankieBernard was bred at John Tait's
Bassets.
3 This is, in fact, a real-life charitable organization dedicated to providing handmade quilts
and blankets to children in need—the name "Linus" taken from the Peanuts cartoon strip by Charles
Schultz. The author has been, by the way, quite active in Project Linus for a long time. So, it's only natural that she wrote a novel based upon its efforts. If you're looking for a charity to
support this Holiday Season, please consider this one.
==> NOTE: Jennifer will be doing a
book-signing at the Chester County Book Store in West Chester, PA this coming Friday, November 9th at 7:00 PM.
1:42 pm edt
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
For Better, For Worse...
As Hurricane Sandy thrashed around us yesterday and last night,
I hunkered down under the covers with my faithful e-reader and a preview copy of Something New: A Novel1 by Malena Lott. It was my second read of this recently released delightful tale set in
Oklahoma City of three women seeking a second chance in life—I
needed to read something familiar, comforting, and inspiring to drown out scary thoughts as sixty mile-an-hour gales
blew through my development and torrential rains pelted mightily against the windows. It didn't take long. Just a few short
paragraphs and I was transported out west where, well, as the song goes, softer winds "...come sweeping down the plain..."
Here is my review that will soon appear on AuthorsExposure.com2.
Something New: A Novel by Malena Lott is a heartwarmingly charming romantic novel that delves much deeper into the passions and secrets of its characters
than other typical books of its genre. Based upon Mark Twain’s popular The
Prince and the Pauper, Mott sets her fifth novel in urbane downtown Oklahoma City, where three female generations
of the privileged Apple family, scions of local society, share a loft, their lives, and their ostensibly quixotic quests for
true love while facing the possibility of financial ruin.
Maeve Apple, 85, has Alzheimer’s and believes
she is 25 again starring in The Princess and the Pauper, a musical being
revived by the local theatre. Her daughter, Bess, in the throes of a nasty divorce, struggles with Maeve’s care while
despairing that love will never fill her life again. Bess’ two daughters, Kelly, 35, and Gwen, 25, come to grips with
life’s harsh realities. Workaholic Kelly, without hope of finding a husband, secretly opts to have a baby via artificial
insemination. Curvaceous Gwen is engaged, with wedding plans featured on the Luxe
Weddings reality television show, is not so sure that her fiancé is really the true love of her life. And
all are threatened with the loss of their ostentatious wealth supposedly secured by family-owned corporations and inheritances.
Something New goes beyond the superficial romance novel formulaic
where girl and boy fall passionately in love and live happily ever after. Here, the talented author gives a true-to-life look
into love’s many evolving facets that go deeper than mere physical attraction. Here are captivating multi-layered personae
with inner dreams and doubts, hopes despite failures, happiness in the face of sadness—all searching together for something
new in their lives: a second chance for a new beginning.
This well-written 373-page trade paperback novel is a
delightfully engaging fast read. Once I started it, I couldn’t stop; I finished it one sitting. I was immediately mesmerized
by each of the heroines, who alternately give a first-person account of her story. Mott’s ability to switch writing
styles to suit each personality is refreshing. Her simple, down-to-earth approach exposes the innermost feelings and desires
of each character, frankly tapping the gnarled roots and complicated emotions of the human heart. There is, also, the winning
combination of creatively used modern colloquialisms and writing that sparkles with a wickedly subtle sense of humor. The
character of Maeve, for example, is a hoot. If nothing else, this romance cum literary narrative should be read just for the
joy of meeting her.
If you are not already a devotee of the more sophisticated romance novel, then I hardly suggest
you try this one. It is a winningly tender and thought-provoking read for the romantic in all of us, young as well as old
alike.
Something New truly does promise sunnier days. When I awoke this morning, the wind had died
down, the rain was a soft drizzle, and the sun was beginning to peek through the grey clouds. You have to admit, this is the
perfect novel to read in any weather.
~~~~~~ 1 © 2011 Malena Lott. 373 pgs; trade ppk. Buzz Book USA. Published October 13, 2012. 2 Resources
for this review were made possible by AuthorsExposure.com. This site is currently on hiatus, but you can still
access it to read previous books reviews.
1:29 pm 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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