Category Archives: LITERATURE

LITERATURE & NEW MEDIA: Character Driven Film

Posted on August 9, 2008 by Susan

I watched a couple of movies last night while I was reading (habit from childhood): Hellboy, in prep for seeing Hellboy 2 some day, and War of the Worlds–the 2005 version. As I watched WotW, I recalled the original version … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Old Forest – The Little Cousins

Posted on August 8, 2008 by susan

This was good.  A young boy as first person narrator describes his rather spoiled life with his older sister, widowed father, and housekeeper as he and his sister manipulate the adults.  He is aware of his own flaws and in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Old Forest – Allegiance

Posted on August 8, 2008 by susan

This story in the anthology was not particularly a favorite, although I suspect that the subtlety of characterization is outstanding.  Again, first person pov, the narrator being a young serviceman visiting an old aunt who has been kept out of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Next Up: Naked Lunch

Posted on August 6, 2008 by Susan

This 1959 novel of human nature and addiction by William S. Burroughs should be a nice counterbalance to Peter Taylor’s perception of mankind. Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Finale

Posted on August 6, 2008 by susan

This is one book that I can describe as having grown on me.  I was not overwhelmed with it after the first couple of chapters and its subtle advance of plot and character snuck up as Jason, over the course … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Changes

Posted on August 5, 2008 by susan

First of all, this following episode reminds me a bit of Steve Ersinghaus’ piece, Stoning Field, in the interaction of boys and the underlying theme of war: Here was a bent glade I knew from when us village kids used … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Old Forest – A Bit of a Drag

Posted on August 3, 2008 by susan

The next story in this collection is A Friend and Protector and while Taylor’s skill still shines in the area of character development and subtlety, this particular story didn’t wow me quite to the state that a couple of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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NEW MEDIA LITERATURE: Shadow of the Stars – Preview

Posted on August 3, 2008 by Susan

Our good buddies Josh & Kas Radke have a preview of Kas’ book, Shadow of the Stars on their website of the newly formed Grail Quest Books. The ten-page preview gives the background of this epic that Kas has written, … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Theme

Posted on August 2, 2008 by susan

I would almost say that the underlying theme in this novel is struggle and change.  Jason, through the space of a few months (summer and now into the school year) faces some challenge in each of the chapters and we … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Empathy

Posted on August 2, 2008 by susan

One thing that Mitchell seems to be quite good at doing is bringing in bits of Jason’s thoughts that the reader can well relate to from past experience: Teachers’re always using that "in your own words."  I hate that.  Authors … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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NEW MEDIA LITERATURE: KaPOW!

Posted on August 1, 2008 by Susan

Just glanced at it but wanted to immediately share this preview story from the new publishing outfit, Grail Quest Books–our friends, Josh and Kas Radke. Beautiful graphics–just outstanding artwork and design so far:

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Stages

Posted on August 1, 2008 by susan

There is a relationship here between the chapters that Mitchell uses as stages both in the maturing of his character and the setting within which the character is placed to face a challenge.  From a childish worry of being accepted … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Old Forest – Bad Dreams

Posted on July 30, 2008 by susan

The story is simple: A well-to-do man brings an old black man home to live in a room in the barn loft, where his butler and maid, a young black married couple already occupy two rooms and the only bathroom … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Old Forest – Whew!

Posted on July 30, 2008 by susan

Just got totally blown away by Taylor’s Bad Dreams.  Leaves me speechless. Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Black Swan Green – Simile

Posted on July 30, 2008 by susan

A little gem: (Talking with some people’s like moving up higher screens in a computer game.) (p. 158) I believe Jason’s referring to his growing relationship with Madame Crommelynck, but since he has just described his parents’ current state to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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