She of the Rib
Oct 30, 2006
"Women Unwrapped"
Written by: Jayne Jaudon Ferrar
Publisher: CRM Books
Published: 2006
www.jaynejaudonferrar.com
Jayne, a native Southerner who currently lives in South Carolina, contacted me personally and asked if I would be interested in reviewing her newest book.
I have to admit that when she told me it was poetry, I took a step back. I am not a poetry lover. Truth be told I tend to run from it.
But Jayne sent me an example or two. It was different so I said I'd give it a go.
Well, to my deepest surprised, I loved the book! The poetry is "real life". Let me tell you, any poem that uses the words "Feeble-brained Jerk" to describe a cheating husband... well that wins me right over!
Below is an example of one of Jayne's poems. Funnier than heck to me because it's so very relatable in regards to my life.
The Ex-Terminator
I Know
that every time I am lazy
and leave dishes in the sink until morning
those virulent roaches call the hot line and have a
house party.
But life is like that, I guess.
Let things slide while you take a
quickbreath
and before you know it,
people are crawling all over you -
needing this, wanting that,
advising this, demanding that.
What I need is a giant can of Raid
to get everyone off my back
and back into their drainpipes.
I say grab a copy of this book right now - I'm so glad I have one!
______________
**Please note, thru a snafu with the publicity, if you go to order it online, the description of the book is for the wrong book. Jayne is working on getting this fixed. The title will be correct and you will receive the proper book.
Ya-Yas in Bloom
Oct 18, 2006
"Ya-Yas In Bloom" by Rebecca Wells.
ISBN 0-06-019534-7
This book is a continuation of the wildly popular books, "Little Altars Everywhere" and "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood". This latest installment chronicles the beginnings of the Ya-Ya's friendship from the 1930's to the girls maturity sixty years later. The book weaves their story, beginning in small town Thornton, Louisiana, and takes them through lots of life's decisions. The friendships endure and this bond is the most comforting aspect of the story.
"Burps were just one more thing in the wide world to laugh at. And Necie was starting to see how funny it was to be a little girl alive in this life. She had nine brothers and sisters and dozens of cousins. But now she had two friends who turned church into an adventure. Now she had two real friends who had not found Coco Robichaux but would keep looking for her the rest of their lives. That didn't matter now, though. Nothing mattered except that they had found one another. In the whole wide world, they had found true sister-friends. They would crawl on the ground to reach each other. They would not let one another get away. They would create their own original liturgy, if that's what it work to stay together." This paragraph sums up the strong feelings toward the value of girlfriends to women. From childhood, girls learn the worth of having a best friend, preferably a small group of best friends, with whom life's journey is navigated.
Life is very colorful in southern Louisiana. There is an especially fun story of the first concert performed by The Beatles in Houston, Texas. The dominant Ya-Ya, Viviane Abbott Walker, known as Vivi, takes her children to the concert with her husband, rancher "Shep", at the insistence of her teenage daughter Siddalee.
Many traditional family values are in play with this book. Issues such as Catholic upbringing and mental illness are explored. Most issues are dealt with using a bit of humor and often much poignancy.
I highly recommend this book, along with the two previous books. Pour a glass of sweet tea, find a cozy spot and enjoy the ride.
The author, Rebecca Wells, is a native of Louisiana. Like most Southerners, she enjoys telling a tale. Her love of stories shines throughout her writing.
Review by: Karen
The Bookbinder
Oct 15, 2006
The Bookbinder, More Stories from the Road
Author: Jackie Cooper
Publisher: Mercer University Press
Published: 2006
http://www.jackiekcooper.com/Books.htm
Jackie Cooper, of Perry, Georgia, is a man of many talents. He review movies and books, writes columns, and has a radio show called "Fridays With Jackie" every Friday morning on all Georgia Public Broadcasting/Radio Stations at 6:35 and 8:35 AM.
You can also listen online at http://www.gpb.org/public/radio/.
Jackie is also the author of 4 books, the latest being The Bookbinder. It's a book of short tales, experiences and observations of daily life. He came up with the title after one of his readers described his books as "comfort books that are stories that bind us together".
This book is truly full of "comfort food". It is not filled with exciting adventures and wild travels, but of everyday life. Everyday life with the humor and love that can be found in all sorts of happenings and activities.
The stories range from meeting up with high school loves at reunions, to Disney conventions.... to his mom falling off of a porch. These are all simple stories that make that are heart filled and gently humorous.
If you feel like a soothing, gentle read that makes you relax just a little more, give the Bookbinder a read.
You can watch a nice interview of Jackie here: http://www.galifeandstyle.com/ArtandLeisure.html.
The Red Hat Society's Queens of Woodlawn Avenue
Oct 4, 2006
The Red Hat Society’s Queens of Woodlawn Avenue
By Regina Hale Sutherland
Warner Books
June 2006
Ellie Johnston thought she would never play bridge. Heck, she had never thought she would be alone and officially divorced on her fiftieth birthday either, but life has a way of changing your comfort level with no advance notice. All she wants to do is silently suffer in her recently purchased 1920’s Tudor house on Woodlawn Avenue and eat Krispy Kreme donuts until she passes out from a sugar overdose, but a whirlwind of new friends and the game of bridge changes all of that.
After Ellie is informed that her house is one of the original Queen of Woodlawn Avenue houses, noted for its heart-shaped archway in the diningroom, she suddenly finds herself named the new Queen of Hearts and sitting in the Queen of Diamonds’ home, learning to play bridge whether she likes it or not.
Her new Red Hat friends, Jane, Grace and Linda, take Ellie under their wings and help her get her new life together, each offering their services. With their help, Ellie gains confidence, starts her own business, and leaps back into Nashville society. Along the way, she becomes a new woman, relishing her newfound independence.
Regina Hale Sutherland’s latest book lets you feel the bonds of friendship between these four women while subtlety teaching the reader the fine points of the game of bridge. Each obstacle that Ellie is to overcome is likened to a particular play of a hand of cards. I thought it was a humorous and effective writing ploy.
After Ellie sees that she can make it without her heel of an ex-husband, who slithers slowly back to her after becoming tired of his young, Hooters waitress, she refuses to give up her independence and return to the life she had once led.
I found this book to be very entertaining and informative. I don’t know if I will ever be a fan of bridge, but the writer blends the rudiments of the game so effortlessly and humorously, that you don’t even realize you are learning a game in the process.
Dana Sieben
www.southerngalgoesnorth.blogspot.com