Jean Harkin's Blog - Posts Tagged "jerry-mcgill"
March--From Violence to Birdsong
In like a lion, out like a lamb, or vice versa, as they say about March. So my book discussion is full of contrasts too—from violence to birdsong.
There is nothing more horribly violent than genocide. I read the first volume of “Maus” by Art Spiegelman, a family’s personal account of the Holocaust. Written in comic book form for adults, the characters are imaged as cats and mice, plus a few pigs. This book was recently banned by a school board in Tennessee that picked up on “inappropriate words” and “nudity” (a tiny image of a bathtub suicide in human form.) But the censoring school board overlooked the vitally important lesson of a horror story that must be told so as to never be repeated.
See my full review of “Maus 1” on Goodreads.
Avoiding violence is the timely theme of a just-released anthology, “There I Was. . . When Nothing Happened.” Jason Brick, of Portland, has gathered stories from forty violence professionals and martial arts enthusiasts who detail a time they came close to, but avoided, violence through skills both physical and language-related.
Now for the birdsong: I enjoyed randomly skipping through the delightfully, artfully, and alphabetically informative pages of “Birdpedia: A Brief Compendium of Avian Lore” by Christopher W. Leahy. This little book nests at my bedside for nightly reading. See my Goodreads review.
And be sure to check out “Bed Stuy” by Portland author Jerry McGill. This novel was nominated for the 2022 PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel. See my Goodreads 5-star review.
I hope soon to be assigned an editor for my debut novel, “Promise Full of Thorns” under contract at Sunbury Press.
There is nothing more horribly violent than genocide. I read the first volume of “Maus” by Art Spiegelman, a family’s personal account of the Holocaust. Written in comic book form for adults, the characters are imaged as cats and mice, plus a few pigs. This book was recently banned by a school board in Tennessee that picked up on “inappropriate words” and “nudity” (a tiny image of a bathtub suicide in human form.) But the censoring school board overlooked the vitally important lesson of a horror story that must be told so as to never be repeated.
See my full review of “Maus 1” on Goodreads.
Avoiding violence is the timely theme of a just-released anthology, “There I Was. . . When Nothing Happened.” Jason Brick, of Portland, has gathered stories from forty violence professionals and martial arts enthusiasts who detail a time they came close to, but avoided, violence through skills both physical and language-related.
Now for the birdsong: I enjoyed randomly skipping through the delightfully, artfully, and alphabetically informative pages of “Birdpedia: A Brief Compendium of Avian Lore” by Christopher W. Leahy. This little book nests at my bedside for nightly reading. See my Goodreads review.
And be sure to check out “Bed Stuy” by Portland author Jerry McGill. This novel was nominated for the 2022 PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel. See my Goodreads 5-star review.
I hope soon to be assigned an editor for my debut novel, “Promise Full of Thorns” under contract at Sunbury Press.
Romance, Relationships, and a Free Book
My new favorite romantic couple is now Alice and Charlie Lukas, the main characters in “Promise Full of Thorns,” my debut novel that has just been released by Brown Posey Press (an imprint of Sunbury Press.)*
Since it’s Valentines month and my novel newly released, I’m inspired to recommend my favorite romance and relationship books that I read and reviewed (here on Goodreads) in 2022:
“Bed Stuy” is Jerry McGill’s debut novel. Set in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, it is the story of a bi-racial and age-varied romance with fascinating complications.
“Confessions of a Farmers Market Romeo” by James R. Dubbs is a blend of humor, drama, and ‘foodiness.’ It rock-and-rolls through astonishing episodes like a TV sitcom.
“Fresh Water for Flowers” by Valerie Perrin is about a French woman who is keeper of the local cemetery; her husband is past history since he disappeared without a trace. There are back stories of love and secrets in this tale that involves a mystery.
“Hidden Among the Stars” by Melanie Dobson. This time-slip novel involves not only a romance in present time but also a past story of star-crossed loves during the Nazi period in Austria.
“Lila and Theron” by Bill Schubart tells of a motherless boy in Vermont who finds his true love and holds on through time and age.
“Oh William!” by Elizabeth Strout returns character Lucy Barton, divorced from husband William, but still with a loving commitment. An adventurous journey ensues.
“Remarkably Bright Creatures”, Shelby VanPelt’s debut novel, shows that love and faithful friendships are not limited to humans.
“Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor” by Melanie Dobson is another time-slip novel with forbidden love affairs and secrets in an English village.
“The Stranger” also by Melanie Dobson presents a slow-building love story between an outsider and a faithful member of a strict religious commune in 1890s Iowa.
“The Keepers of the House” by Shirley Ann Grau is a novel where forbidden love causes tragedy and heartbreak over generations.
*You may order my book in print from Sunburypress.com or any bookseller, including Amazon. Or order direct from me at a discount. E-books also available.
*I’m giving away two free paperback copies of my novel: 1) to the first person who wants a copy and leaves a comment on my Goodreads blog, and 2) to the first person who wants my book and is the first to send a comment about my blog to my e-mail address.
Have a lover-ly Valentines month! I hope to hear from you.
Since it’s Valentines month and my novel newly released, I’m inspired to recommend my favorite romance and relationship books that I read and reviewed (here on Goodreads) in 2022:
“Bed Stuy” is Jerry McGill’s debut novel. Set in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, it is the story of a bi-racial and age-varied romance with fascinating complications.
“Confessions of a Farmers Market Romeo” by James R. Dubbs is a blend of humor, drama, and ‘foodiness.’ It rock-and-rolls through astonishing episodes like a TV sitcom.
“Fresh Water for Flowers” by Valerie Perrin is about a French woman who is keeper of the local cemetery; her husband is past history since he disappeared without a trace. There are back stories of love and secrets in this tale that involves a mystery.
“Hidden Among the Stars” by Melanie Dobson. This time-slip novel involves not only a romance in present time but also a past story of star-crossed loves during the Nazi period in Austria.
“Lila and Theron” by Bill Schubart tells of a motherless boy in Vermont who finds his true love and holds on through time and age.
“Oh William!” by Elizabeth Strout returns character Lucy Barton, divorced from husband William, but still with a loving commitment. An adventurous journey ensues.
“Remarkably Bright Creatures”, Shelby VanPelt’s debut novel, shows that love and faithful friendships are not limited to humans.
“Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor” by Melanie Dobson is another time-slip novel with forbidden love affairs and secrets in an English village.
“The Stranger” also by Melanie Dobson presents a slow-building love story between an outsider and a faithful member of a strict religious commune in 1890s Iowa.
“The Keepers of the House” by Shirley Ann Grau is a novel where forbidden love causes tragedy and heartbreak over generations.
*You may order my book in print from Sunburypress.com or any bookseller, including Amazon. Or order direct from me at a discount. E-books also available.
*I’m giving away two free paperback copies of my novel: 1) to the first person who wants a copy and leaves a comment on my Goodreads blog, and 2) to the first person who wants my book and is the first to send a comment about my blog to my e-mail address.
Have a lover-ly Valentines month! I hope to hear from you.
