The Lake Shore Limited, by Sue Miller

When I saw this book at the library, I almost didn't pick it up. I was thinking some previous book by this author had left a bad taste in my mouth, but I couldn't remember which. I decided to get it anyway, and I am delighted that I did! It was one of the best books I've read in a long time. It is honest, thought provoking, human, difficult, unhappy and happy and realistic and good.

The entire book revolves around the play, The Lake Shore Limited, which is about a terrorist attack on a train in Chicago. The book examines the play and its effects from the point of view several sets of people, all of whose lives become intertwined. Leslie's brother Gus, the playwright's boyfriend, was killed in 911. Leslie introduces Sam to Billy, the playwright. Sam's wife died of cancer. Rafe, the lead actor in the play, has a wife dying of Lou Gherig's disease. Doesn't sound like the making of a very happy book, and indeed, it is not a happy book--and yet it is. It looks hard at tough choices and the aftermath of those choices. I liked it very much. The characters are well-defined with good and bad points, and all thoughtful people. They are not the horrible callous people so many current novels seem to feature.

I went back and looked at the list of books by Sue Miller and could not discover why I thought I didn't like her--I must have mixed her up with someone else. Now I am anxious to read more of her books.

My daughter just reminded me that I didn't like one with a woman remembering her days in a hippie house that ended with an awful murder and contemplating adultery in her current life, While I Was Gone. UGH! I knew I had a bad taste in my mouth! NOW I'm not sure if I want to read more or not. One excellent, one horrible. OH dear, who will I know whether to read more?

Persona Non Grata

I'm a closet writer--I do a lot of writing, but rarely send anything out (Although I do have a few things out at the moment.)

One time, I had written a story in the third person and decided that particular story might be served better by being written in the first person, so I started over in the first person, but the voice of that person was so alarming and disturbing I could not continue writing.

I hate books where the main character is obnoxious and unlikable, but that was just the the kind of voice that was coming out of ME! It frightened me, and I didn't want to think that that person lived inside me. Is that part of ME?

I like Dean Koontz and Childs and Preston's Pendergast because they seem to have HONORABLE characters, even if bad (horrid) things happen.

Now I am curious, though, what would happen if I continued writing that story I put aside? I'f I can locate it in the chaos of my life, I might experiment with it.

People have often said to me that I am nicer in correspondence than I am in person--but also, they've said the opposite--that if I am angry, they'd rather hear it from me in person that read about it in a letter or email.

Oddly, my poetry is quite dichotomous--it is often either very dark or very light. Same with my art. My prose tends to explore more of the grey areas.

Two very small quick sketches

In my personal small Moleskine

Redbirds

I am wearing a dress for the first time in months, and my hair is down and barretted with a fancy barrette and I am wearing jewelry and something other than jungle mocs (though not much fancier--just birks).  We're headed for the Opera, Mozart's Don Giovanni.  Outside the window, on the weeping branches of the American elm that the city gives shots to twice a year in opes of saving are two redbirds, twittering.  Mama and Papa cardinal.

Becoming Famous, LOL!

Hi. My name is Mary. I am eight and a half years old. I want to be
famous. Today I decide to be a famous artist. My Mom lets me use her
paints. I paint a picture of myself. I am looking at a picture my
father took of me, and I am wearing the same green and red bathrobe
over my Pajamas. But you can't see the color in the photo. My
painting doesn't look exactly like me. Mom says it's called "artistic
license." (Click image to view larger).

New Fractals

I was trying to get back to a certain type of fractals but wasted a
lot of time trying and coudln't get there. Ya cain't get theyah from
heeah!

WAHN! But I sort of had fun anyway.

Click the images to view them larger.

From the Corner of his Eye, by Dean Koontz

From the Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is an interesting and compelling book, but somewhat violent, a bit religious, with a touch of the paranormal in the guise of quantum physics. But good.

The premise, based on the disciple, Bartholomew, who touched the lives of many others through small acts, is that our good and bad acts are magnified and passed on, having ramifications not only in our own lives, but the lives of others.

The characters, though, while fully characterized, tend to be nearly all good or all bad, following the twin threads of good and evil. Real people are more of a mix. With all that being said, however, it is still a good book.

View all my reviews >>

Happy Spring

Have a Happy Happy Spring! Enjoy the lovely weather!

This is a new painting that I did with Steve Loya, collaboratively--he did the background and I did the doves.

A couple Quick sketches

Here are a couple of new quick sketches from my little watercolor sketchbook--spring makes me think of FLOWERS! YAY!

Happy Easter/Spring!

Happy Easter!

I hope you have a fabulous, sweet happy day! For those who don't celebrate--have a lovely spring day.

I made the eggs out of a single fractal.