December 22, 2017

My Review~ "The Sisters of Glass Ferry" by Kim Michele Richardson


...this is Kim's third and latest work of fiction. I've read them all.

My first insight: Her words are nothing less than poetic...She sculpts her words with texture...a true artist indeed. I read her stories and absorb the beauty of each word...they hang in midair, then slowly and softly fall between leaves to an earth as warm as her voice.

My second insight: She doesn't write for the faint of heart, this story is not a story to be reading at night. There are scenes that are alive with ghosts...the past haunts Ebenezer Road; and the people who traverse this road, which passes by the once old dwelling that harbored it’s secrets, are deemed to regret their actions.

My third insight: I've been reading this story slowly, mainly trying to go with the flow of language steeped in Kentucky bourbon vernacular - sometimes easy to grasp, sometimes hard, sometimes just curiously mysterious. I was about half-way through last night and couldn't put it down...but I did, three times! Each time the light went out I found I couldn’t sleep, then turned the light back on and read further.

My fourth insight: My heart twisted like a corkscrew at times, I cried at the hurt these people felt; I hurt easily from the words that Kim puts in her character’s mouths. Touching and gentle at times, I cried...then harsh and hurtful, or caring, or hateful...these are the people of Glass Ferry, Kentucky.

Lives matter, people matter, but lies and gossip cultivate hate, and disquiet the memories of those we love in this small community. Kim finds these memories and puts this mixture into a story of Literary Fiction that is not for the faint of heart.

My fifth insight: Kim pokes and prods at these memories and emotions until I cry again...the mystery that is contained in this story, and of her characters, are ominous and compelling until it came to an end. It’s one story my emotions got the better of me. She left me wondering throughout each page...who did what to whom and why? The “why” is what I wanted answered on many occasions.

Of course characters have a mind of their own, they aren’t you and they aren’t me, and their actions and reactions aren’t always ours. Yes, I questioned their motives, and impatiently waited for the answers until I found them.

Like I said, lies are a mainstay in this story...we tell them, we complicate life with them, and we end up digging our own graves with them. Kim doesn’t fool around, she cuts to the heart of the matter, and takes your heart along with these characters', and with her's.

I recommend this book to those who love words, loves an emotional challenge...but there are the gentle sway and tilt that leads to the harsh realities of life; all of which creates a complex story in a mystery of two sisters and the people they touched - and All is ultimately left to the eye of the reader. 




December 16, 2017

Happy New Year!

Photograph by Julie Shattuck

Avoiding rain drops, racing to and around drops, large drops, round drops, beating a drumming sound on the ground drops.

Beat to the rhythm of a foreign beat, bursting in splashes across worn feet, step aside my tired old feet, give me a chance to cross this wide street.

Hurry now, you mustn't be late now, you’re off to the party, a furlong of races, where you are forbidden to fall on bad graces.

Splishing-splashing through the street you go, carrying an umbrella, only for show?  Off to the party, a little bit drenched, don’t fall, don’t stumble, or trip on a bench.

You made it on time, where time was of the essence, greeting the host, all smiles larger than most.

Prepare for a feast my hungry friends, find you a chair, to be served the finest fair.

Music to be heard, dancing to be done
take a partner, don't sit and hum.
Midnight strikes and bells will be ringing, ushering the New Year we all will be sing!



My Haiku for you~Light


sun grows dim then bright
summer months will turn to snow

trees covered in light