Sunday Sonnet

THE FORGE
by Seamus Heaney


All I know is a door into the dark.
Outside, old axles and iron hoops rusting;
Inside, the hammered anvil's short-pitched ring,
The unpredictable fantail of sparks
Or hiss when a new shoe toughens in water.
The anvil must be somewhere in the centre,
Horned as a unicorn, at one end square,
Set there immoveable: an altar
Where he expends himself in shape and music.
Sometimes, leather-aproned, hairs in his nose,
He leans out on the jamb, recalls a clatter
Of hoofs where traffic is flashing in rows;
Then grunts and goes in, with a slam and flick
To beat real iron out, to work the bellows.




From The Penguin Book of the Sonnet, edited by Phillis Levin

there is no art without intoxication

boring boring boring boring boring boring boring
Zach Plague

Zach Plague’s inventive new novel boring boring boring boring boring boring boring is art that critiques art. It’s not easy to read, but those who enjoy the visual arts or who are involved in the art world will appreciate Plague’s cutting criticism.

The novel is centered on The University of Fine Arts and Academia, which has reduced art to meaningless drivel that lacks any creativity or originality whatsoever. Because art has lost all meaning to these would-be artists, art is simply another facet of the “boring, boring,” or the emptiness which engulfs them. The “boring, boring” is everywhere, and art, which should supply a refuge from it, has become instead another mouth of the machine that devours them.

The students themselves, apart from their “artistic” tendencies, are much like college students everywhere. They drink, take drugs, attend parties, engage in meaningless hookups. They aren’t very good at their schoolwork, nor do many of them seem to care. Art is another way to become famous, to get rich, to make a name for themselves. Any desire to create, to be original, has fallen by the wayside.

Two students, however, seek something more, and I’m sure it’s no surprise to hear that these two, Adelaide and Allister, are the stars of the show. Adelaide and Allister are subversives who want to undermine all that The University stands for; at the same time, they are also just two normal teens who want to be happy. Each is hunted by the powers that be, for different reasons.

I’m glossing over quite a bit of the plot here, but that’s because the storyline of boring boring boring boring boring boring boring is not really what stood out in my mind. True, Plague makes many trenchant remarks about the nature of the art and those who create it, but, as someone who has never truly been a visual-arts kinda gal, these points were not as important to me. The novel’s appearance and format, however, is truly eye-catching, and when the plot lagged, I took interest in the physical book in my hands.

First, it must be noted that boring boring boring boring boring boring boring can be purchased in one of several formats. It appears in novel form (although a rather unconventional one at that), a series of posters, and as a CD. I haven’t tried the CD version, so I can’t comment on it, but I did receive a sample poster, and I have to say that, while I wouldn’t read the book that way, it’s a pretty rocking idea. If I were a poster person still (oh, the days gone by), I could see myself having a lot of fun with them in my dorm room.

an overview of the novel's formats

The novel itself, as I noted above, is quite unconventional. Handwritten pages merge with typed ones, and fonts expand and decrease and tilt across the page. The novel appears to be compiled by hand, as though bits and scraps of thoughts and writing had been pieced together. That’s not to say it’s difficult to read boring boring boring boring boring boring boring; in fact, the opposite is true. The innovative design added an extra incentive to move further in the book, as I wanted to see what shape it would take next.

I can’t say this was a perfect read, however. The novel’s design interested me more than the story or the characters. Unfortunately, an innovative design can only go so far. Still, I enjoyed Plague's analysis of the art world as well as the method in which he deployed his message. I'm interested to see what's next up his sleeve.

In a nutshell: Daring and innovative, but I was left ultimately cold by the story and the characters.

Bibliolatry Scale: 3.5 out of 6 stars

It's that time again...

Anyone who reads this site with any regularity knows that the fall is my favorite time of year, since I love nothing more than all things spooky.

With that in mind, I'm gearing up for this year's Halloweeny reads. I love to fill the months from September to November with dark, disturbing, and even scary reads to welcome the fall. This year, I need your help. My spooky stacks are painfully undernourished. That's why your recommendations are a must.

So far, I've lined up

Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, by Stephen King

Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier

Asylum, by Patrick McGrath

Unfortunately, four titles does not a season fill. What spooky reads can you recommend? I'd prefer titles as contemporary as possible, since I've already made my way through classics like Dracula and their ilk. But any and all recommendations are more than welcome -- they are absolutely necessary.

BAMF 1, Morality 0

No Country for Old Men
Cormac McCarthy

If you're reading this on its post date of Monday morning, then know that, while you are sitting at your computer, probably quite comfortably (I imagine you, dear reader, in your pajamas, which serves to increase the bitterness I feel), I, on the other hand, am at work. A moment of silence, please.



Okay then. Now on to more important matters, namely books. Most people know how much I love Cormac McCarthy, so it's probably no surprise to hear that I decided to tackle yet another of his works this summer. Because of the recent film release, No Country for Old Men was a no-brainer, especially since I've been refusing to watch the movie until the book has been read.

I can't rave about No Country for Old Men like I did about Blood Meridian and The Road, but that's not to say No Country for Old Men wasn't worth the read. Like his other works I've read, McCarthy again explores what happens when ideologies collide. This collision occurs when a young man named Moss happens upon the aftermath of a shootout near the US-Mexico border. Moss finds a bunch of dead men, a load of heroin, and a case full of money. What's a guy to do?

If Moss had just turned tail and left, there'd be no book, so you know he didn't do that. Moss takes the money and THEN turns tail and leaves, assuming, of course, that the dead guys in the desert won't be needing all that dough. It's hard to imagine how anyone would even know Moss took it, since only the sheerest of coincidences led him to that spot. But in McCarthy’s world, random occurrences have resounding effects. Little does Moss know that everyone involved is not dead. One man is very much alive, and he and his crazy hair will stop at nothing to set things right.

This man, Anton Chigurh (pronounced “SHEE-gur”), is motivated by principles that most people cannot understand. Chigurh is motivated not by greed, but by an internal, incomprehensible morality. And here is where I can no longer ignore the elephant in the room: the bush that sits atop Chigurh's head.

sexy beast?

See? Bardem looks as confused as I am. My confusion is compounded by the fact that not once in the novel does McCarthy mention Chigurh's hair. In fact, McCarthy leaves much of Chigurh's physical appearance to the reader's imagination, since it is not his person that is important but rather what he represents. I'd peg any dude sporting the above haircut to be the exact opposite of Anton Chigurh, a man who is stopped by neither broken bones nor bullets. A dude with hair like that looks as though

1. he loves the mirror
2. he likes tight pants
3. he listens to the BeeGees
4. he idolizes Davy Jones circa 1967
5. he doesn't see nothing wrong with a little bump n grind

Not sure where that last one came from, but when the muse dictates, I keep typing. Point is, the type of guy that would sport that hair is most certainly NOT the type of guy embodied by Anton Chigurh.

But I digress.

Hair aside, Chigurh appears to be McCarthy's harrowing vision of the modern American, one utterly without conscience or remorse, intent only on fulfilling his own violent desires. Chigurh's opposite is the man hunting him: Sheriff Bell, a man watching the slow death of all that he values. Bell spends a lot of time pontificating about the world, and it's hard not to see Bell as McCarthy himself. Bell believes that America is going down the shitter (to paraphrase his rather long-winded speeches), and people like the Sheriff are dinosaurs on their way out. A country that values egotism, materialism, and greed has no place for ideas like honor, community, or morality. While McCarthy makes some valid points, at times things get a bit too preachy for my blood.

Of course, I can't help but note some unintentional irony here. McCarthy clearly admires Bell and uses him to deliver his own personal philosophy on the world, and Bell's a likable guy (albeit in a cute old guy sorta way). Unfortunately, Bell doesn't stand a chance next to Chigurh. In fact, Bell becomes practically a non-entity the second Chigurh steps on the page. It doesn't help matters that Chigurh is such a major BAMF that Bell just seems like a doddering old fool railing against dyed hair and piercings (for real, he does). So, maybe McCarthy's message would be stronger if Chigurh were less cool. And maybe Bell could stop bitching about them dang kids on his lawn, dagnabbit. Just a thought.

As always, it was the prose that made me like the book more than I would have if written by someone else. McCarthy's prose is lean and taut, never wasting a word. This novel was less difficult to read than that of Blood Meridian, but not as easy that of The Road, but that may be because I've grown accustomed to his writing style.

In a nutshell: Good story, better writing, but a little preachy in places. I'm glad this wasn't my introduction to McCarthy, because I know the heights he's capable of reaching.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

Sunday Sonnet

WINDOW
by Peter Dale

Your eyes, child, in the window: the steady gaze
focused on nothing special, it would seem,
unless that chestnut in the day's last sun,
as though you wouldn't really dream of it
yet liked to think the candle's inner mist
would light the coming dark. Something of her
in that, her hidden self a wistful look.
More human yours and yet you stir dead love.

Reflections cross the pane but not your face,
and mine will never touch you as they pass;
my gangling matchstick man a trace of sun
no more to you across the grass. Yet, child,
your soft focus already blends out hers --
my love, you make the darkness personal.



This sonnet was found here, where one may also listen to the poet reading this poem. Copyright One Another (A Sonnet Sequence) (Waywiser Press, 2002), copyright © Peter Dale 2002

Who can think of titles at a time like this?

In the Woods
Tana French

I'm alive, but blogging isn't high on my list of things to do right now.

I return to work on Monday. My misery knows no bounds.

As a result, I'm trying to avoid anything that even remotely resembles work, including blogging. Still doing lots of reading, though, so those posts will appear...at some point.

In the meantime, you can read my latest review for Pajiba. This week I reviewed Tana French's In the Woods, a moody murder mystery that, although flawed, still proved enjoyable.

Click here to read my review.

In a nutshell: Not perfect, but it'll do.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

Sunday Sonnet

SONNET REVERSED
by Rupert Brooke


Hand trembling towards hand; the amazing lights
Of heart and eye. They stood on supreme heights.

Ah, the delirious weeks of honeymoon!
Soon they returned, and, after strange adventures,
Settled at Balham by the end of June.
Their money was in Can. Pacs. B. Debentures,
And in Antofagastas. Still he went
Cityward daily; still she did abide
At home. And both were really quite content
With work and social pleasures. Then they died.
They left three children (besides George, who drank):
The eldest Jane, who married Mr. Bell,
William, the head-clerk in the County Bank,
And Henry, a stock-broker, doing well.

Thoughts, please

Any readers enjoying Stephen King's "N." (the new story being presented in daily episodes)? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it -- leave 'em in the comments, please.

If you haven't yet started watching, it's not too late. Episodes will be appearing each week day through the end of August, so you can easily catch up. Watch "N." here.

Don't just lie there

Soon I Will be Invincible
Austin Grossman

This week's review for Pajiba is for Austin Grossman's Soon I Will Be Invincible, a parody of the superhero genre that is a perfect summer read. That's not to say the novel itself is perfect, but I had so much fun reading this one that I was able to overlook its imperfections.

Just follow this little linky guy to read my review.

In a nutshell: Not perfect by any means, but enjoyable enough to make up for its flaws. Great fun.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4.5 out of 6 stars

The mob is the mother of tyrants

Marie-Therese, Child of Terror: The Fate of Marie Antoinette's Daughter
Susan Nagel

Much attention has been given to the two most famous victims of the French Revolution, Louis XVI and his ill-fated wife, Marie Antoinette; however, their eldest daughter, Marie-Therese, is little known. Susan Nagel aims to shed more light on the girl known as Madame Royale, once described by Napoleon as "the only man in the family," with her book Marie-Therese, Child of Terror: The Fate of Marie Antoinette's Daughter.

Nagel has meticulously researched this biography, and we follow Marie-Therese from her birth (including the circumstances leading up to it), through the first rumblings of revolution and the family's imprisonment (and near-total execution), all the way into exile and mystery. There are those who wondered if Marie-Therese was not switched with her half-sister, allowing she who had endured so much in the public eye a little privacy.

While the circumstances of a violent revolution coupled with an unsolved mystery might suggest a page-turning read, this was unfortunately not always so. Some sections seem to drag on interminably, and at this time it becomes clearer than ever just how well Nagel knows her topic. Nevertheless, I was intrigued -- and a little surprised -- by how interested I became in someone I'd previously never paid any attention to at all.

One major drawback to Marie-Therese was its lack of illustrations. True, some illustrations are provided, but many of them are not helpful (like a photo of the bed where Marie Antoinette gave birth) while several personages central to much of Marie-Therese's life are left visually undocumented. I know they're out there (I googled them myself), so why not include them in the book? A minor point, perhaps, but one I feel has merit.

In a nutshell: Some sections lagged and more illustrations of the people central to M-T's life would have been nice, but Nagel still delivers an in-depth look into the life of a commonly ignored historical figure.

Bibliolatry Scale: 3.5 out of 6 stars

Bleh.

Runaway
Steve Simpson

Steve Simpson's Runaway aims to blend fiction and reality by depicting many issues relevant to teen life, such as abuse, violence, and neglect.

The story follows -- you know what? I don't even want to waste anymore time writing about it.

Christine over at She Reads Books has had pretty much the same exact reaction I had to Runaway. She's written a great post about it, so go there to read what she (and, in turn, I) thought about this "super adventure" (to quote the book's cover).

In a nutshell: Grammar = good, people. Really.

Bibliolatry Scale: abandoned

from Princess to Queen

Queen of the Road: The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 Miles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband, and a Bus with a Will of Its Own
Doreen Orion

I envy Doreen Orion. In many ways, she and I are like two peas in a pod, except that she has found a way to do what I have always dreamed of: She has conned her husband into doing most of the housework. She works from home. She rarely removes her pajamas. She has had Nick Arrojo cut her hair.

Why not me, God? WHY NOT ME???

I'm saved from totally dissolving into a covetous puddle by the presence of her husband, a man who was able to convince the author to do the unthinkable. Tim, who bears a striking resemblance to my own husband, is a man who actually enjoys leaving the house and doing (shudder) "projects." Not surprisingly, he has found a way to ruin the domestic bliss Doreen has enjoyed for so long. The result? The two of them (plus a few pets and 200 pairs of shoes) spend the next year in a renovated bus, touring the good ol' US of A.

I tip my hat to you, Ms. Orion. I, for one, never would have made it.

But Orion has, and she's flourished because of it. Once a shopping addict, she has learned from her year on the road. Her relationship with her husband has improved, as has her outlook on life.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Before these lessons could be learned, Orion had to endure the trip from hell. She recounts her experiences and epiphanies in Queen of the Road, a memoir that is both humorous and poignant. Along the way, they experience dozens of misadventures, such as visiting a nudist RV park, seeing the "Chattanooga Choo Choo," and failing to properly aim a fire extinguisher.

While I enjoyed the various misadventures experienced by husband and wife, it was Orion's writing style that made Queen of the Road a true pleasure to read. Her style is conversational, and it read as though she were sitting next to me, recounting her adventures over martinis. I also enjoyed the appendices, which not only contains specific places visited during their journey, but also lists books read along the way. I'm always a sucker to see what others are reading -- but Ulysses? On the road? I tip my hat again, Ms. Orion.

In a nutshell: Queen of the Road is humorous and heart-warming, but I don't see myself following in the author's footsteps any time soon.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

Sunday Sonnet

SUNDAY NIGHT IN SANTA ROSA
by Dana Gioia


The carnival is over. The high tents,
the palaces of light, are folded flat
and trucked away. A three-time loser yanks
the Wheel of Fortune off the wall. Mice
pick through the garbage by the popcorn stand.
A drunken giant falls asleep beside
the juggler, and the Dog-Faced Boy sneaks off
to join the Serpent Lady for the night.
Wind sweeps ticket stubs along the walk.
The Dead Man loads his coffin on a truck.
Off in a trailer by the parking lot
the radio predicts tomorrow's weather
while a clown stares in a dressing mirror,
takes out a box, and peels away his face.


From The Penguin Book of the Sonnet, edited by Phillis Levin

Victims of the Modern Age

A Clockwork Orange
Anthony Burgess

This review is a continuation of this post, in which other Weekly Geeks contributed questions about my unreviewed books. Questions and answers are below.


Alessandra asks, How did you like A Clockwork Orange? What did you think of the strange language of the main character?

I actually liked the novel a lot more than I thought I would. The strange language took some getting used to at first, but it was always pretty obvious what was meant. It also made me skim a bit more, which made for quicker reading.


Bybee asks, Did your edition of A Clockwork Orange have a lexicon at the back? Mine did, created by Stanley Edgar Hyman, husband of Shirley Jackson. Fun Lit Factoid. OK, I'll shut up now.

NO, mine DID NOT. And, as you can see, I’m fairly envious.


Bookchronicle asks, Did you struggle with the "new" vocabulary the author introduces? Did you feel the violence was too much or necessary? Was the violence well-written? If you've seen the movie, how does it compare?

Well, regarding the vocabulary, see above. As for the violence, I actually thought it was bearable in the novel, unlike in the movie. In the novel, the language obscures some of what's happening, and a lot of it isn't crystal clear, although one senses the gist of it. I thought the violence was well-written and not overdone, unlike in the movie (which I thought took the violence to extremes, although that was Kubrick's point).


Amanda asks, I've been wanting to read A Clockwork Orange but I remember seeing the movie a while back and wasn't sure if I'd like the book after that. Have you seen the movie as well and how does it compare with the book?

I’ve seen most of the movie, but the rape scenes always turned me off. And that whole eye scene, which is just SO unnecessary, in my opinion, is even worse than the rapes. I shudder to even recall it now. I did, however, appreciate how Kubrick captured the “mod” sensibility of the novel. And Malcolm MacDowell is hot as balls, so that helps too.

There is one important difference between the two, which Burgess was quick to discuss in my version of the novel, which contains an introduction by the author. The novel contains 21 chapters (three parts of seven chapters each). The final chapter is the most important, as it shows clear, positive change in the narrator. Kubrick, however, cut the final chapter from his movie, which totally changes the message of the novel.

I can see the merit in each, but I'm ultimately siding with Burgess.


Book Zombie asks, This was written as a social satire of man's inhumanity to one another, do you feel it is relevant or an over-exaggeration?

Both actually. Burgess exaggerates to make a point, a point which I feel is more relevant than ever. A lot of people find violence to be fun, much like the main character. Also, as our technology improves, we may be faced with the ability to force people to be "good," which raises some interesting questions regarding morality.


Jackie asks, For someone who has never heard all the hype over this novel, how would you describe it? What would you say to convince someone to read it, even though it's obviously outside of their comfort zone? Is there anything in this novel that doesn't feel like someone has seen it on the news lately or that they might possibly see it on the news in the future?

I'd have to say that A Clockwork Orange is unlike anything else I've read. Violence will always be on the news, but Burgess adds quite a few twists that hopefully aren't too common now (or ever will be). First, our narrator is very young and very violent. He's also a participant in experiments aimed to prevent people from doing bad.

As for the novel itself, it's social commentary, it's satire, it's philosophy. Burgess manages to pack a lot of ideas in a novel with a lot of action. He also uses language provocatively. I'd definitely recommend taking a look at this novel even if it's outside your comfort zone. It might not be a favorite, but it will definitely make you think.


JoyRenee asks a bunch of questions, all of which are below:

How was Point-of-View handled? Was there a single POV character or did it alternate among two or more? Was it always clear whose eyes and mind were filtering?

Yes, POV was always clear. Burgess used first-person narration, told through the eyes of Alex, a very violent teenager.

How was language used to set tone and mood?

Burgess uses language to illustrate both the youth and the violence of the lead character. He perfectly captures Alex's personality, and I felt as though Alex were sitting next to me, telling me his story.

Was the prose dense or spare? Were sentences generally simple or complex?

The prose was pretty dense and featured complex sentences, although it felt simple while I was reading it, probably due to the fast-paced nature of the plot.

How was metaphor used? Were associations fresh or did they tend toward cliche? Did they add to your understanding of the theme?

Considering Burgess employed a special dialect of his own invention (although much was taken from other languages, like Russian), I would say the language was fresh.

What was the central or organizing theme?

Some key themes are man's inhumanity man, the nature of man (whether intrinsically good or bad) and if that nature can be changed (and if it should be changed), the nature of morality, and so on.

How does the title relate to the story? Was it fitting?

The idea of a clockwork orange refers to that which is alive (an orange) yet which has been reduced to little more than a machine (a clockwork orange). Burgess ponders whether it's better to be an orange (even if it means you're a bad orange) or if it's better to be a clockwork orange (in which the bad orange is made to be good). I believe Burgess would argue that the orange must choose to be good; clockwork oranges are bad.

* * * * *

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions! You helped me review a book that's stumped me for awhile.

In a nutshell: Complex and thought-provoking, but worth the effort.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

Mouth Open Already a Mistake

The Other
David Guterson

Another week, another Pajiba. This time I've reviewed The Other, the underwhelming latest by David Guterson. Perhaps he would have benefitted more had he written "Pen Out Already a Mistake."

Sorry. It's a bit early.

Go here to read my review.

In a nutshell: Yawn.

Bibliolatry Scale: 2 out of 6 stars

Balance has been restored

Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments
Alex Boese

The scene is Christmas, a little over eight short months ago.

Picture this: family gathers round, cheerfully exchanging presents. Traditional Christmas music plays, the air is sweet with scented candles and baked goods, and no one is arguing. (Actually, I'm pretty sure my Uncle Chiron is arguing with somebody, probably about politics, but that's neither here nor there.) The point is, the goodwill is almost palpable.

Until, that is, I spy something disconcerting.

Someone other than myself has received a book.

This will not stand.

I make my way over to my cousin, who has just been gifted with something that was clearly meant for me: Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments. I smile sweetly and ask to see his present. Yes, this was meant for me. I don't make a scene though -- instead, I return it to him and make a mental note to rectify this mistake as soon as possible. I will own this book and restore balance to the universe.

And I have.

There isn't much to say about the book itself. Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments is just that: a collection of bizarre experiments including but not limited to forcing unsuspecting elephants to have the time of their lives. We are given access to dozens of experiments, both on animals and people, both alive and dead. Some experiments were successful, others were not.

While the experiments are, for the most part, entirely fascinating (there were a few that bored me, but that's to be expected), it's Boese's writing style that wins the day. Boese's conversational style is often humorous and never over-technical, which makes reading Elephants on Acid both informative and fun.

In a nutshell: Interestingly enough, my cousin kinda looks like the author. Coincidence? I'm not so sure.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

Maidens Who Don't Float (and other miscellanea)

While I'm hard at work on posts on several different titles, enjoy the various sites that are making it difficult for me to finish those posts.

First, McSweeney's gives Shakespeare-lovin Facebook addicts something to giggle over: Hamlet (Facebook Newsfeed Edition).

For those looking for more weighty fare, Stefanie over at So Many Books offers this interesting observation on the modus operandi of avid readers, and Scientific American explores our love of storytelling.

Speaking of storytelling, master storyteller Stephen King is back with "N" -- a new story that is being presented in a series of 25 graphic video episodes. The first few episodes of "N" are now availble -- check it out here.

And finally, there's no better way to waste a few hours than by exploring these two links. First, here's a handy little quiz that will measure your ability to survive the apocalypse. I'm a little unhappy I didn't fare better. This next link will see you causing the end of the world. I keep getting close, but try as I might, those fuckers in Madagascar keep surviving. You too can try to kill the world here.

PS, I hate you

PS, I LOVE YOU
Cecelia Ahern

Really?

I mean...really?

I don't know what I was thinking with this one. Shoulda seen it coming light years away. My fault entirely.

In a nutshell: Utterly stupid and horribly written.

Bibliolatry Scale: abandoned

Weekly Geeks 13: Author Photos

This week’s Weekly Geeks theme asks Geeks to post photos of authors.


There's a catch, however: photos will come without the names. Let's see if my canny readers will be able to Name! That! Author!


Dewey recommended seven different categories of author photos:

1. Photos of your favorite authors.
2. Photos of the authors you’re currently reading.
3. Photos of any authors you’ve met in person.
4. A youtube of any authors you’ve heard speak.
5. Any photos you may have of yourself with an author.
6. A photo of the author of the book you’ve most recently finished.
7. Photos of the hottest authors!


Unfortunately, numbers 3, 4, and 5 do not apply to me. Boo hoo. And I haven't read much over the last few days, so anyone who scrolls down to see my latest review will know the answer to 6. And I'm not sure of 7.

But I have lots for 1 and 2, so let's see if you can do it.


AUTHORS I AM CURRENTLY READING














PHOTOS OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS

Sunday Sonnet

SONNET ABOUT A NOSE
by Anonymous


'Tis very odd that poets should suppose
There is no poetry about a nose,
When plain as is the nose upon your face,
A noseless face would lack poetic grace.
Noses have sympathy: a lover knows
Noses are always touched when lips are kissing:
And who would care to kiss where nose was missing?
Why, what would be the fragrance of a rose,
And where would be our mortal means of telling
Whether a vile or wholesome odour flows
Around us, if we owned no sense of smelling?
I know a nose, a nose no other knows,
'Neath starry eyes, o'er ruby lips it grows;
Beauty is in its form and music in its blows.