Mary Clark's Blog

COMPREHENSIVE, ARTICULATE, HONEST AND ENGAGING – DAVID SELZER

Community is a memoir of community work and city politics in Manhattan during the turbulent 1980s and 1990s – as a neighborhood fights the effects of “development fever” and the devastating flood of illegal drugs. It is a sometimes brutal but also inspiring account of people organizing peacefully to save and improve their community.

The Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood on the west side of midtown Manhattan and its people are the great presence in this book. This “small town in midtown” is a land of willing exiles who forge their own destinies as members of a community.

As one of my Beta readers, Satyam Balakrishnan, said, Community is “an entire account of years of activism in one neighborhood, and it chronicles the tussles between estate developers and long-time residents, the wrangling between social groups, and the struggle to forge a common platform and agenda.”

He went on to say “the narrative is pacy,” and “there are some remarkable characters – the one that breaks into a hop/dance and locks the park gates. A memoir is a recalling of events as witnessed and experienced and a memoir with a context (activism and social work in a metro city) is something more.”

The issues are just as relevant today: what makes effective community action, how far will you go to accomplish your ends, what are the forms of politics you can choose to practice, how does democracy work?

Community is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

Miami Morning is the story of a dedicated teacher, disability and social justice issues, and complicated romantic relationships. Forty-something Leila Payson, known to her students and friends as Miss Pacer, loves her job as a high school social studies teacher. But when she discovers Raoul, one of her students, is losing his hearing, she finds herself on a learning curve of her own. She has suffered family tragedy, and remembers a great lost love. And she has a diverse group of friends whose adventures keep her on her toes..But who is the attractive man with a book who keeps appearing at her favorite places?
https://literaryeyes.wordpress.com/20...

This is my Post on the Meet My Main Character Blog Tour: http://literaryeyes.wordpress.com/201...

As an artist, PJ (Tally: An Intuitive Life) was particularly attuned to the intuitive source of his work. And as many artists feel or believe, their work enhances our mindful and spiritual life as human beings. Read more on my blog Occupational Integrity: A Life Profile.

What is our essential being? What are the roles of intellect, intuition, perception, and consciousness: http://literaryeyes.wordpress.com/201...

“It constitutes a remarkable piece of discourse in its own right, a book worth reading opening up a distinctive view of the world.” David Turnbull’s review of Tally: An Intuitive Life, on Amazon illuminates the artist’s life in the modern world, and the importance of forming “occupational communities” and enabling dialogue. Transformative consciousness is essential not only to the artist, but to the human species if it hopes to adapt to global changes in communication, diversity, community, economics, political structures and environment. David coaches occupational communities, with a focus on enhancing dialogue among very different people. Read his review at: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2NDM1VV...

Marta's blogroll: MARY CLARK ON THE LIFE OF AN ELDERLY BOHEMIAN POET... http://martamerajver.blogspot.com/201...

I'm seeking reviews for my new book, Tally: An Intuitive Life. Please contact me at Goodreads if you are interested.

Thanks,

Mary