Tag: Karen Joy Fowler

Story Talk: Recent Fiction Reads

Consider He that loves reading has everything within his reach. —William Godwin Succeed and Soar seeks to lift hearts and spirits, awareness and humanity. Because books help fulfill that mission, this post offers three books of fiction I hope you’ll consider. Succeed and Soar! Five Karat Soul Five Karat Soul , by James McBride, is a collection of six short stories, a soul food buffet of perspectives and experiences. One presents an antiquities dealer trying to pay a self-sacrificing  family a fortune. Another shares the lives of youths trying to form a band. The collection closes with a lion in a zoo sharing his experiences. The read was marvelous. In this collection, James McBride—a musician and National Book Award Winner—demonstrates an impressive craftsmanship so that Five Karat Soul presents an entertaining and easy read, plus an education in how to write fine fiction. I learned a few things. Sample Text Eighteen little colored children, tiny tufts of life, peeked their faces out the doorway of a ruined arms factory and made their way into the sunshine of a glorious Richmond, Va. afternoon. Reviews Of Five Karat Soul, The New York Times wrote, “These brilliant miniatures display all of the rambunctious fearlessness of his deeply empathetic imagination … The result is a pinball machine zinging with sharp dialogue, breathtaking plot twists and naughty humor.” Full Review NPR Review We are all completely beside ourselves Karen Joy Fowler’s novel is a master class for fiction writers. Here are two reasons: Fowler has a substantial vocabulary, essential for writers. And she uses these head-scratcher, uncommon words [considered a no-no] while holding the reader, as with ‘tule fog’ in the sample text. Fowler also time travels a lot, sometimes leaping decades on the same page. Seeing how she handles these transitions, sliding readers from her college years, to childhood to later life proves jumps back and forth in time can be done without confusing or losing readers. Sample Text Autumn came suddenly that year, like a door opening. One morning I was bicycling to class when a large flock of Canada geese passed overhead. I couldn’t see them, or much of anything else, but I heard the jazzy honking above me. There was a tule fog off the fields and I was wrapped inside it, pedaling through clouds. Tule fogs are not like other fogs, not spotty or drifting, but fixed and substantial. Reviews The Guardian wrote, “Many a novel has devoted itself to exploring variations of Larkin’s lament about what mums and dads do to their kids. But if any other book has done it as exhilaratingly as the achingly funny, deeply serious heart-breaker that is Fowler’s 10th novel, and made it ring true for the whole of mankind, I’ve yet to read it. This is a moral comedy to shout about from the treetops.” Full Review Kirkus Review An Unwanted Guest When I chose Shari Lapeña’s book at the library, the title intrigued, but I didn’t read summary. Didn’t know what to expect. The opening lines showed how important the description of setting is in establishing the story‘s tone and ‘foreshadowing’ what’s to come. [see sample text] I also enjoyed the novel’s Agatha Christie quality, evoking her  Murder on the Orient Express and Ten Little Indians.The who-dunnit reveal is delicious. Opening Text The road curves and twists unexpectedly as it leads higher and deeper into the Catskill Mountains, as if the farther you get from civilization, the more uncertain the path. Reviews Of An Unwanted Guest, Nerd Daily wrote, “I loved how each chapter had a different character telling their perspective and feelings, and some of those characters were so interesting, that I just wanted to read more about them! An Unwanted Guest had themes of human survival and instinct, complex characters, and an incredible mystery!” Full Review Drink, Read, Repeat Review Shop Sandra’s Succeed & Soar Art on Throw Pillows As well as tote bags, tee shirts, journals, puzzles, phone cases, ornaments, face masks, towels, blankets, cups, posters, shower curtains and more These pillows add a stylish statement to any room Details: Fabric: 100% spun polyester poplin Reversible, same image printed on both sides A concealed zipper Choice of over 70 background colors Removable insert can be requested Pillow sizes:  14×14, 16×16, 18×18, 20×20,  26×26 and 20×14 Prices from $20 to $50 NOTE: Sometimes art size must be adjusted for whole image to fit. CUSTOMIZE. Use tools with item to: Enlarge, reduce size of art Change placement of art and text Over 60 background colors can be chosen [shades of yellows, blues, greens, grays and more]. Purchase this throw pillow See All Throw Pillows View All Collections HERE. Thanks for your support!