The letter starts out with a letter explaining he received their letters and than unfortunately Santa ran out of stock for some of the toys requested!The letter starts out with a letter explaining he received their letters and than unfortunately Santa ran out of stock for some of the toys requested! Not being able to use the chimney for a gift Santa gives instructions about him leaving footprints behind for poor George who must so it correctly or some day he will die! Not sure how loving this letter is :( from Santa....more
"Of course Santa Claus will come" All hopes were on the sale of the colt. Christmas Eve ended just fine. What was thought to be a stranger turned out t"Of course Santa Claus will come" All hopes were on the sale of the colt. Christmas Eve ended just fine. What was thought to be a stranger turned out to be a blessing. Gift o' God
A beautiful short story about things being tough and how hope and faith bring a happy ending....more
Did you know John Steinbeck wrote a horror story? A boy is chewing his gum to find out it is chewing him!
“The Affair at 7 Rue de M-,” originally publiDid you know John Steinbeck wrote a horror story? A boy is chewing his gum to find out it is chewing him!
“The Affair at 7 Rue de M-,” originally published in 1955 in Harper’s Bazaar, and then reprinted ten years later in the pulpy Magazine of Horror, begins when an old family friend gifts the son of the Poe-like narrator some bubble gum.
At times a little disturbing. As a parent we go way out of our way to protect our children from what we think is harming them. A very creative story for Halloween!...more
The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story of a Gothic haunted house? but is it?
While staying at an estate in the country during the summer months for a reThe Yellow Wallpaper is a short story of a Gothic haunted house? but is it?
While staying at an estate in the country during the summer months for a rest to help with her mental condition, she becomes obessed with the wallpaper that has been ripped off in places of the large third room floor. The designs and patterns seem to take over in her depression. Her husband John seems to think restricting her will help her to better health. She takes the time to reflect into the gardens from the windows from the room and she than writes her feelings as if making entiries into a journal. The writing only comes when no one is around. The treatment her husband seeks, of not being overexcited by the simpliest of things, to lock her away from everyone but him, seems to make her postpartum even worse! Taking away her maternal duties really does not help. Jennie, John's sister does the care for the child and house. Which all of these things would actually help in her recovery. From the patterns and outlines that the wallpaper has for her she wants to leave the house as it is not helping. John lies to her. The obession over the wallpaper leads her down a path of losing her mind with paranoia and delusions and her own self imprisonment.
Is she telling us the whole story? or in her unstable mind set is she allowing us not to see the whole picture as they really are? What is really haunted? The home or her mind? In reality I think she is suffering from her husband's hands of misguided beliefs of what he thinks she needs....more
The Island of Horses is where Danny and Pat's family lived a couple generations ago. The men hated the winters there and decided to leave. Their boatsThe Island of Horses is where Danny and Pat's family lived a couple generations ago. The men hated the winters there and decided to leave. Their boats were laden with their homes furniture. The tales were told that the Island was unlucky and the storms strange. One day Danny and Pat decide to see what the Island and stories are all about. They could feel their thunder the wild horses hooves made while they slept. After a couple of days roaming the Island they came back with a colt and barrels of eels. Not all the horses there are wild. They discover that Coffey is a horrible person when it comes to the horses and the Island, this discovery puts them in trouble. They take Grandmother to the Island. As they approached her face held love as she gazed upon it. She headed toward the home where she was born. The house in such disrepair still had points of memories for her. "There's no place in the whole wide world like the Island of Horses!"
Ellis Dillon does an excellent job keeping you drawn to the sea and the mystery of the island with her words. She captures the Irish farm life beautifully....more
Rain is a simple and short story of a group stuck in Pago Pago as the ship could not go to another port as there was a measles outbreak, which forced Rain is a simple and short story of a group stuck in Pago Pago as the ship could not go to another port as there was a measles outbreak, which forced them to wait while a constant rain continued on causing unreasonable burdens in all aspects. Not good enough to mingle with the first class comes Sadie! Who fits in with the Natives quite well. The cruelest part is the self-righteousness of the Davidson's who are obnoxious characters. He believes his actions are for the good of the natives, really it is just about personal power. Macphail does not follow along with the Davidson's thoughts and unable to stop it. We are left with an unclear ending of a suspect.
Some words of wonder: Mother Hubbard clothing, yaws, hooch, chafing dish, and ducks to name a few.
Maugham wrote it during his trip to the South Seas. From the brief lines he jotted down on his notebook, later published in A Writer's Notebook, he constructed the story. ...more
Emma was seeking something to rely on, something more palpable than love.
Her need...selfishness. Emma is caught up in herself and making herself happEmma was seeking something to rely on, something more palpable than love.
Her need...selfishness. Emma is caught up in herself and making herself happy but as the story goes she really does not know what will make her happy and in the end she is not, but the misguided views of the romance books she reads tell her she should be reaching for the never ending happy. Emma has mental issues as her moods are all over the place at times she does her best to be dedicated, devoted and a good mother. On a blip, she would turn around and neglect her duties and her tone would go to a sudden anger. Emma goes to the priest for advice and he pretty much tells her she cannot be happy with just physical comforts. In her need she would give her all but not to her daughter and husband Charles (not a strong enough person for Emma either) but to her affairs. She never loved the two people who loved her most what she desired was emotionally unattainable.
The violently pushing Berthe away as a toddler really is upsetting. In the end to grow up working in a cotton mill and living in poverty is a harsh way for Berthe to mature.
"Provincial Morals" Falubert was trying to make a point about this in his way of being discrete and his wow of describing an event makes up for Emma's bad behavior making it bearable to read. Intriguing read and will remain in my memory for quite a while.
“But her life was as cold as an attic with northern exposure, and boredom, that silent spider, was spinning its web in all the dark corners of her heart.”...more
This short story is a tragic tale of Lily Daw. A letter from Ellisville Institute, Mississippi starts it all. The plot is crazy. The three ladies are This short story is a tragic tale of Lily Daw. A letter from Ellisville Institute, Mississippi starts it all. The plot is crazy. The three ladies are funny in their ways and busy bodies. Lily has lived a horrible life the scar alone around her neck will tell you that part of her life before the ladies interjected themselves. A trip in a Willy's-Knight automobile built in Toledo, Ohio take them to a cedar tree at Lily's home to find her packing her hope chest. Along comes a red haired man and all the plans fly out the door and it ends with Lily in a much better situation. Eudora Welty has you laughing at the ladies silly comments and heartbroken for Lily in this tale. ...more
Nature and Farming no great ebb and flow of the earth. They do not live a majestic life. Their days are spent overwhelmed by a great deal of little thNature and Farming no great ebb and flow of the earth. They do not live a majestic life. Their days are spent overwhelmed by a great deal of little things. It stops them from living a fullfilled life. The days are never ending and a job is never completed while each day turns into a month and into a year dragging by. This life is snatching all that is good and necessary to make them feel like they are living. Nature gives them no hope but they must endure and so...they must hope. Beauty of nature and farming in all it's twisted forms, always mixed with what is sour or what is desert heat of the sun. There is no question of what the family needs to do, it is as plain as is the dried up and shriveled cornfields. They are not trapped in this world any more than any one else trying to make a living and home for their families. How much of what tragedy came to them is their own doing? Could they have done something different for a better outcome. The drought? Gods doing? World agianst them. Was it deliberate? Are they against themselves? Was the road taken with it banks too high just too much! My interputation of page 226.
The novel starts out 10 years after the farm is started by a family of five. No boys just 3 girls. The father works the farm with one single helper. The girls personalities are so different. Margaret and Merle help mother with the household chores. Kerrin the oldest is quite the girl, obnoxious and not a family team player to a mental mess. The Depression period is felt hard from the drought. Not being able to sell the only thing they really had to make money on...milk. Slopped to the pigs and given away until finally the buyers decided to pay a tad bit more. They sell the cows for $2 not a head the whole group! Loss from fire brings everything to ten fold within the months that follow.
Now in November won the Pulitzer Prize for a debut novel by Josephine W Johnson in 1935 at the age of 24. The descriptions are beautiful of the surrounding woods, flowers and birds. "It was hot still, and ink-blotter clouds messed up the sky but brought no rain. The spring green was like green sunlight or green fire more lovely than just leaves-- and there were yellow clouds of sassafras along the pasture."
Solaris is a unfathomable mystery, the ocean another difficult mystery? Is it just grand or does it have a consciousness of its own. Can Solaris reallySolaris is a unfathomable mystery, the ocean another difficult mystery? Is it just grand or does it have a consciousness of its own. Can Solaris really create replicas from ones past, using their memories to form a perfect human? Is Solaris trying to please it's visitor? or is it just some kind of experiment? this psychic phenomenon coming from Solaris what does it mean? Lem has a detail that really enhances his story. Creating a picture of clarity of the station as way too big for just three people. Seems like a much larger team should be there. One of the ironies is that the humans come to study Solaris, but the planet ends up studying them and about the impossibility of communicating with any alien life form.
“Man has gone out to explore other worlds and other civilisations without having explored his own labyrinth of dark passages and secret chambers, and without finding what lies behind doorways that he himself has sealed”
Lem's book seems to be different and inventive, for those that find this fascinating tale probable also finds it thought provoking. Lem has a way of making us wonder about our own knowledge of what we can understand. Lem seems to be more interested in the scientific discoveries (which actually was swishing over my head) that are possible, than telling a story of Kelvin.
For me, it was hard to get into his style of writing. I never was captivated, found myself rereading areas many times. This genre is not my ideal read. It is my doubts of non-possibilities.
In reality my 3 stars is just me. Lem deserves much more than that for just his thought process being so different than most....more
He has been called the Patron Saint of Cowboy Literature, born at a place called Horse Camp, our Author did not swing into the saddle from age 3. InstHe has been called the Patron Saint of Cowboy Literature, born at a place called Horse Camp, our Author did not swing into the saddle from age 3. Instead he was devoted to books and when he wrote his own you know his stories have moral judgments of what is proper even in the cowboy world. Elmer Kelton's style is straight forward and a bit plain for a western story. The hero is "not seven feet tall and invincible" they are very human at "five-eight and nervous."
Dundee out to find the cattle thieves that are rebranding Titus cattle and he is hired to find the one person for all the ill that is happening to John, Blue Roan. He runs across the McCown family that are trying to deal with life. Warren trying to make it happen and have more than a dollar in his pocket. Uncle Ollie is very down to earth and wants a husband for his niece Millie, he is thinking Dundee will do. In the end there is a show down of sorts between Titus and Blue Roan in Runaway but the ending...you need to read it to discover the twist!
Teetering towards 4 Stars
Elmer Kelton is a seven time winner of the Spur Award. A prestigious award for distinguished writing about the American West. ...more
The Ox-Bow Incident was based on a true incident that happened in Montana in the 1880s. It could have happened anywhere in the old West.
In 1885 in BrThe Ox-Bow Incident was based on a true incident that happened in Montana in the 1880s. It could have happened anywhere in the old West.
In 1885 in Bridger's Wells, Nevada, cattle country, some men managed to be elusive and cattle disappeared. The townsmen decide to get together for justice and form a posse to find these thieves. Over a 24 hr period. three men were given no rights, judgment abounds and were brutally treated by intimidated men that made a quick decision. These men did not want to be left out of the majority, doubts or not. They did not want to appear to be timid or cowardish. They are manipulated by the situation of angry men, speeches that want them riled up. Five vote against it and some just sit by and watch it take place though they have a distaste for it.
A story of good, like Martin and evil, like Tetley and how a few regret their decision and it haunts them afterwards, causing some to come to a painful end.
Clark descriptions of every little detail helped paint the scene of characters and settings. He made you think about how people process and put those thoughts into action and once it is put into motion it is simply too crazy to put a stop to it....more
Roman Fever 1-31-2021 Two childhood friends grow up together really not knowing each other that well for friends. Now they are wealthy widows and Mrs SRoman Fever 1-31-2021 Two childhood friends grow up together really not knowing each other that well for friends. Now they are wealthy widows and Mrs Slade and Mrs Ansley spend some time together at an upscale restaurant in Rome sitting by the low balcony wall. Both guessing what their daughters are up to this night and reminiscing about the grandmothers getting Roman Fever. Mrs Slade decided to tell a secret from long ago. She says as a joke but it surely did not come across that way, but Mrs Ansley has thrown down the gauntlet and my mouth dropped open! Very short and very precise 3 stars....more
A christmas story. A grand nephew and his Great Aunt. With invitation of Christmas Tea to spend some time with her. How he came up with every reason nA christmas story. A grand nephew and his Great Aunt. With invitation of Christmas Tea to spend some time with her. How he came up with every reason not to go and finally deciding it was best. He knocked on her door and was invited in. At first it was like a conversation with a Stranger about the weather and such, but once the memories came back...they enjoyed a cup of Christmas Tea....more
The Grandsons and I read it together. Each of us reading one page and acting it out the best we could! A fun read for Christmas!
2022 Santa is on VacatiThe Grandsons and I read it together. Each of us reading one page and acting it out the best we could! A fun read for Christmas!
Finished this yesterday at lunch. Found myself giggling many times and covering my giggles with my hand to keep my cube mates from wondering if I goneFinished this yesterday at lunch. Found myself giggling many times and covering my giggles with my hand to keep my cube mates from wondering if I gone nuts!!
The tales are of Jack the youngest of the boys. He tends to be lazy and ready for any adventure that will use his boyhood talent of wit! Full of southern drawls and mountain slang (Appalachia) with a celebration of Jack the Hero and Jack the Trickster. Lots of humor to keep things fun and interesting.
You may have thought you had a finger on all the Fairy Tales but take a read of this tale...you might be surprised at your own reaction!
Shane is a remarkable story about a man that wants to deal with his own personal remorse and live a life like Joe does with Marion and their son, JoeyShane is a remarkable story about a man that wants to deal with his own personal remorse and live a life like Joe does with Marion and their son, Joey. He has a connection with all three but in different ways. Shane helps Joe protect his farm against a man that wants to make the land free range.
It all comes down to a fight at the bar against a hired gun. If Shane survives he will have to leave. Shane is a quiet withdrawn man trying to hide what he has done but feels condemned to do the right thing because of his own personal code.
Is he stuck in a revolving door of the next town?
"There's no living with a killing. There's no going back from it. Right or wrong, it's a brand, a brand that sticks."
Jack Warren Schaefer was born in Cleveland, Ohio. As a young boy he read many of Zane Grey's works. His first novel was Shane. He studied American History giving a firm background for his own stories. Writing was a way of helping him to remain calm.
In 1967 New York Times review of Schaefer's collected novels noted that "Jack Schaefer is not a writer of conventional westerns," instead, they were, "tautly told and tightly constructed," had "additional ingredients that make for complex storytelling."...more
Hardy's work is full of characters with different layers. His discription of the beauty that surrounds the area is well explained in detail. "LandscapHardy's work is full of characters with different layers. His discription of the beauty that surrounds the area is well explained in detail. "Landscape beyond landscape, till the horizon was lost in the radiance of the sun hanging above it."
Tess? A beauty in more ways than one, living a peasant life, she has courage, and integrity, she accepts her role that fate has given to her. Tess is sent to the d'Urberville's for work with the old lady and her birds to give the family a little bit of money. Her mother never told her the danger of men. One she is thrown into a horrible situation with and the other she loves and that love causes her destiny.
Alec? Took advantage of Tess. As she leaves the danger behind she has a child. Tess loses the baby shortly after. Eventually Alec tries to take care of Tess and her entire family with comfortable living, which allowed her family to survive. He ended up lying to her so much though, he in his own way caused her not to love him. Torn she makes a horrible choice out of shame, all the lies come out that he has told to her. Her love for Angel makes her hate Alex...intentional or not in the hopes of getting Angel back.
Angel? was only out for his social status that meant more than love at the time. Tess falls for Angel. Angel truly has no idea what love is. A letter is unseen that could have changed the outcome of it all. They marry and a rooster crows in the afternoon...doom. After they marry both want to tell the truth to each other and the confessions...not treated the same for both, one receives forgiveness and the other is left unforgiven. Angel leaves and Alex steps in. Angel later returns to find the death of Tess's father and an angry letter. He tries his best to make amends and show Tess how much he loves her. Angel and Tess have a moment of true love but their escape to Stonehenge? is where it all comes to an end for Tess.
A very heart touching story of morals and love that one decission made, ends it all.
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