Merry Christmas Season

Hello again! I haven't quite decided how often I will post works to the Creative Corner, since it depends how dedicated I can be during the holiday season. The book reviews do not pose this dilemma, because it is a bit easier to give one's two cents worth to something someone else has written than to actually sit down and come up with a piece of fiction one feels worthy of posting. Speaking of the holiday season, I have been tempted for the past two weeks to update my Facebook status to read "It's the Christmas shopping season, so let's all act like dicks". Even for a perpetual Christmas elf like myself, the inconsiderate crowds in the shopping malls mixed with the blaring music that has anyone scream for mercy (even if it is Christmas music) and the thermostat set so high that after 5 minutes in any one store we start to feel like beef jerky, it was just a bit too much. Yes, they are those people that push and shove and even drive into one (and crush one's purchases) with their foot as they treat a potential customer like an unwanted stray dog. This happened to me not a week ago at a Christmas market. I was angry, I felt humiliated and mistreated as a man twice my size used his leg to exert force instead of just using his words. At the end he forbid me entrance into the store at all after I told him clearly not to push me. From what I can only assume, this man was an employee of a store that had too many customers in the store already, so in order to reduce the chance of theft he decided to play bouncer for this particular store. However, this could easily have been achieved in a civilized manner as I was able to witness at the store next door, which actually had a security guard employed to monitor the entrance and who was capable of letting customers know when they were allowed to enter. It took a good hour until I was able to leave this incidence behind me and enjoy the rest of the evening. The next morning I woke up and of course the memory of this unpleasant situation crept into my mind again, but instead feeling my blood boil at the though of it, I had to smile, even chuckle as I realized that a man twice my size felt the need to ban a tiny woman like myself from a home decor store, because I told him he acted out of line. Having shared this experience, I hope it helps bring my point across that no matter how many people act like grinches, let it go; leave it behind. Don't let someone's unhappiness spoil your day or the holiday season. Be good to yourself. Treat yourself. Sit on the couch in your "jammies", sip hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies, if that feels good. And have yourself a wonderful Christmas season. P.S. I posted two new book reviews ("Gathering Blue" and "The Pierced Heart") as well as a short monologue I wrote ca. six years ago that was inspired by the movie "Miss Potter" (2006).

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was greatly disappointed with this installment of The Giver. I admit, up until chapter 13 I was actually quite interested in the story, but found the remainder of the book slow. In addition, after chapter 13 I noticed a change in the writing, which was very confusing.
I didn't mind the oddity of the story or the lack of details that surrounded the circumstances of the village, but I was greatly annoyed by what can only be described as the author's desperate attempt to make the story much longer than it actually had to be. Which brings me back to my previous statement of the change in writing style. It appears that after chapter 13 the author realizes that the story should be much longer and changes the narration to resemble more the style of a children's book, with many repetitions of various details that were just given. This made for a tedious and boring reading experience.
The characters in general were interesting enough, but there occurred no character development whatsoever throughout the entire story.
The twists and shocking surprises the author added in a rather unfortunate attempt to include depth to the story were very predictable and did nothing to improve the story.
Also, I had the impression the author tried to include moral lessons for her young readers, but considering the outcome of the story, it becomes questionable if such lessons should be given to her audience.
This book wasn't really worth the time and effort it took to read. I rated it two stars only because of the first 12 chapters that contained some intrigue, but at this point I cannot decide if I should recommend it.

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The Pierced Heart by Lynn Shepherd

The Pierced Heart by Lynn Shepherd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In my opinion The Pierced Heart is Lynn Shepherd's best work to date. I was surprised to find the story on average 100 pages shorter than her previous three books, but as so often the reader is reminded that it isn't really about the length of the book that defines its quality. With only ca. 230 pages the author created a story of suspense, grotesque, eeriness and the possibility of the supernatural. As with all books in a series, it is impossible to review this book in a standard manner, since various elements of the overall story may be the focus while others are left for later installments.
The plot: as with all of the author's stories in this series, she decides to focus on one particular classic literary work and creates a story that encompasses elements of the classic. Having said that, the author's decision to focus on Bram Stoker's Dracula for this installment provided the perfect bridge and vehicle to further the overall story arc that includes the main character. As an avid admirer of the classic literary works, I appreciated the intricate weaving of the traditional Dracula elements (that are responsible for the eerie mood) with the details of the detective's story. It was a well-paced story that focused more on the actions than the overall narration of the characters the reader knows so well by now.
The characters: as mentioned above, this story is not really character-driven, which at this point in the series is not a bad thing to do. We are; however, left with an interesting twist at the end of this story that provides for greater character focus in future installments. To be quite honest, personally I did not mind the story-driven approach the author adopted.
The narration: I find it remarkable how skilled the author is in including elements of the classic literary work she uses as a foundation for her stories, not only with respect to the plot, but also in her writing style. It showcases her knowledge of the classic as well as her competence as a writer.
I was a bit surprised to find rather medicocre ratings for all books in this series. I admit that the writing style the author uses does not allow for a quick and easy read, but a rich reading experience that takes time and focus. It places great value in the authenticity of the story, instead of the quick fix entertainment kick.

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Dear Norman

My dearest, at the present moment I’m tucking along on this very bumpy train (as you can see by my childish chicken scratch), thinking of you. It is the 4th of December sometime in the late afternoon. I lost track of time hours ago, no, days ago. The sun is fast setting behind the snow-covered horizon. The little fluffy, clouds in the darkening sky have turned a deep, rich pink, almost red. They are beautiful! Mother Nature has tucked the earth in for its long winter’s nap. Nothing can be seen for miles except whiteness and bare trees. A natural solitude that affords peace, tranquility and harmony, but never loneliness. The only loneliness exists with me, inside me; an empty feeling that started the moment I turned around and left you. It is dark outside now, that was fast! Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, it is winter. In the dark sky above this ancient train there hang hundreds of stars, tiny specks that look like diamond dust on a velvet blanket. They are beautiful! I look at my hands, my left one in particular, holding this pencil. I examine my chewed up thumb and my painfully short fingernails (I can’t even scratch an itch!). my attention lingers on my ringer finger, my bare naked knuckle, on it should be a small diamond (just like the ones sparkling in the sky above me right now) secured in a delicate white gold mount and a thin band embracing my finger. One of many “ should have been’s” in my life. I expect to arrive soon at my new destination, with this train ride a “new chapter” of my life has begun, a chapter that does not include you. Who would have thought it was going to end like this. Nothing is written in stone, but I think one thing is very certain: great things can be expected of me, dark and freakishly insightful, but great! You encourage me to pursue my talent, make something out of me, so I will. That’s why I am on this train, without you, on the quest of refining my “gift”. I never told you, but you were the one, are the one. I could beat myself black and blue for never letting you know. And now it is too late. When I remember you, I will always remember your laugh, the way your lip curled as you smiled, how bright your brown eyes sparkled. My happiest moment of us would be you and me laughing in the student pub over a drink. Nobody can bring back those happy times, but I’m sure as hell going to hold on to those memories with dear life. I miss those times, moreover, I miss you, will always miss you. As I placed one single rose on your coffin, I knew my fate was sealed: there will be no other, ever! When I was finally persuaded to leave your side I knew that my heart will only beat for you. Yours may never beat again, but mine will beat for our two souls, separated on this mortal earth until we are once more united. Please know, my dearest, I’ll be yours until the end of time!