Author Archives: Susan

REVIEWS: Cathedral – Character & Showing

Posted on April 8, 2008 by Susan

What seems to be the main problem the narrator has with his wife’s blind friend is not his blindness–though that is the focus of the change brought about in the empathy of the narrator–but rather his feelings of being an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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REALITY?: More craziness with tax dollars

Posted on April 7, 2008 by Susan

Because of a decrease in requested budget funds, one elementary school in Shelton CT is no longer willing to make their facilities available after a certain hour, around 4 pm, to save on utilities and payroll.  This means that the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: And Big Government

Posted on April 7, 2008 by Susan

It was only a matter of time until Connecticut realized that despite its 6% sales tax it was still losing some of it to the internet shopping style so many of us enjoy. But Connecticut is a genius with making … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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REVIEWS: Cathedral by Raymond Carver

Posted on April 7, 2008 by Susan

Basically a story of human nature in resentment and jealousy, feelings of being an outsider, and how they are overcome and changed by face to face confrontation. In this first person pov, a man gives us a setup of what … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Borderline of Author/Story

Posted on April 7, 2008 by Susan

Excellent points being made by Dan Green over at The Reading Experience on separation of a writer from his work. In his post, A Nicer Chap, Dan comments on Yasmin Alibhai-Brown’s decision not to read anymore of this author’s books … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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WRITING: Mood

Posted on April 6, 2008 by Susan

Not. Just, not. Continue reading →

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REALITY?: Sauerkraut Soup

Posted on April 6, 2008 by Susan

It’s something I haven’t made in a long, long time.  It was a favorite of mine that my mother made.  Boil pork ribs until tender, to the water add a can of cut (with scissors) sauerkraut and a can of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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WRITING: Story

Posted on April 5, 2008 by Susan

It was on the twenty-seventh day that trouble started.  Jerome was cold and hungry, weak.  Tom and he had talked the days and food away and there was nothing new to say.  The silence put the thought into their heads.  … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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WRITING: Transfer of Information

Posted on April 4, 2008 by Susan

Interesting concept: the output of the creative mind can get misinterpreted, misspelled and change in meaning In yet another going-over of A Bottle of Beer, this sentence was questioned: As Yolanda dozed, half in the world of the sun and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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REALITY? & WRITING: Thought Rain

Posted on April 4, 2008 by Susan

Wasting water in a morning shower singing Polish Christmas carols and eyes closed watching colors, shapes transform themselves from lips to eyes and back again and green to blue and black.  Is blue a guilty color? Couldn’t find the eyelid … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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WRITING: Character Quirks

Posted on April 3, 2008 by Susan

One of the funny comments Jim Murphy made about Yolanda was that she was the type he could see would open the beer bottle with her teeth.  He’d seen it done.  It hurt my teeth to even think of it. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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CLASS NOTES: 4/2/08

Posted on April 3, 2008 by Susan

Some pre-class notes first:  Sat down with Jim Murphy and we exchanged critiques.  I was in ninja costume so my notes to him were mostly of the cut and slash style.  I love Jim’s narrative voice.  It’s like settling down … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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WRITING: Setting & Mood

Posted on April 2, 2008 by Susan

The words rumbled across the desk, drifted and hung above the man and woman sitting there.  The woman turned and looked at the man, reached for his hand.  His shoulders rounded, softened as she watched. She blinked and changed and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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WRITING: Lyrics

Posted on April 1, 2008 by Susan

Riding home from Goshen, a Waylon CD playing in the car, some of the saddest words I’ve ever heard: Is there any way that you can leave a little at a time….? I need time to make adjustments of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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REALITY?: Handling Overload Situations

Posted on March 29, 2008 by Susan

You have to be so damned careful these days about what you write on your weblog, particularly when folks you know may read it or prospective employers. Just to provide my solution to overload problems as outlined in the prior … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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