Anne Waldman
Okay, Anne Waldman is not my favorite author… But, I’m going to write about her anyway, because I have to respect her.
Waldman is a Beat Poet, meaning that she was hanging out with Allen Ginsberg, and the boys. The whole concept behind the Beatnick poets was to create a new type of poetry that was “free.” It was the poetry that juxtaposed the hippie movement, and is seen in the philosophies of the Beats, from freedom of thought and choice to political statements with the poetry. All of the poetry written by the Beats is to make these types of statements in order to get people to protest, fight, etc.
There are quite a few Beats left, Waldman being one. And they are still on their way to political fights, voices about how the world needs to change, etc, etc.
Here’s the thing about Waldman. I’ve been “required” to read a few of her books, which are layered, thick, difficult to read and even though they are for having a voice about these political issues, they seem a little chaotic to me.
But, the real reason why I’m saying this is because I’ve seen this woman do her performances quite a few times, because she lives and teaches 30 miles from where I live. Everything in her poetry and books reflects her performances with the same darkness, chaos and confusion. Her performances, and her attitude seems to be just as thick.
So, the reason why I love her and dis-like her is because she has definitely transformed poetry and caught with the right people and the movements going on. Not only this, but she has stuck with it for years. Something a lot of poets don’t do. However, she seems to be simply a figure head of these movements. The reflection in her poetry and prose doesn’t offer this same basis and philosophy…but instead offers confusion.
So, in the world of poets, and writers, pay attention to Waldman, simply to decide if she is really being the voice that she has proposed to be.
Joel Osteen’s Book: Become a Better You
Joel Osteen’s book “Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day” is an inspirational book with a Christian basis. This book reflects on the premises that everyone, no matter where they are in life, always have room for improvement. What I really enjoy about this book is it tells you what the problem is, why it originated, why it needs to be stop, and how to stop it, all in an easy to understand book. It talks about problems in family life, work life, and relationships that we encounter everyday. I must admit that inspirational books usually don’t catch my eye. Usually it tells you what to do but sometimes leave out why it happened in the first place and how you can stop the problem in detail.
I was interested in purchasing this book after viewing Joel Osteen’s ministry on television. I felt that it would be great to purchase his book also. I am very happy that I did because along with his television ministry, his book has made some very noticeable and positive changes in my life and the way I think, feel, and react to situations. I was also very impressed that the book was very affordable and I purchased this hard cover book at my local Barnes & Noble Booksellers store. It was a great purchase and I wish that I could give one to all of my friends and family. Because like the book says, no matter where you are in life, there is always room for improvement.
“Rumi”
Lately, I’ve been using Rumi’s poems as my “Bible” every morning. For those of you who didn’t catch the ‘fad’ of Rumi, he was a poet and mystic from the mid-1800s. His poems are great not just as poems, but also as supplements to help you with life.
As I’ve been reading Rumi, I’ve been realizing something about poetry and poets. There are two types of poets. The first are those that are able to describe themselves as prophetic poets, where what they have to say also tells something about characteristics, living or even the future. The second type of poet is a social poet, who is interested in the dealings of the day and responds to them.
Since I’m writing about Rumi, you probably know which one I prefer. Actually, both of them have a great place among poets, and I think need some extra respect, but poets like Rumi create an extra space for thinking that moves from the head and to the heart. Not only that, but it is something that you can apply to your daily life and what you are doing.
One of the things I’ve caught about the Rumi style is that he puts stories inside of the stories which are inside of the poems. He does this like his poems are teachings, used to tell someone and enlighten them through the analogies of the stories that he uses. This is something that is rarely seen, and adds on a certain multi-dimensional approach to his poetry.
So, in honor of Rumi, here’s one of his poems that I will leave you with.
“Dervish at the Door
A dervish knocked at a house
to ask for a piece of dry bread,
or moist, it didn’t matter.
‘This is not a bakery,’ said the owner.
‘Might you have a bit of gristle then?’
‘Does this look like a butchershop?’
‘A little flour?’
‘Do you hear a grinding stone?’
‘Some water?’
‘This is not a well.’
Whatever the dervish asked for,
the man made some tired joke
and refused to give him anything.
Finally the dervish ran in the house,
lifted his robe, and squatted
as though to take a sh**.
‘Hey, hey!’
‘Quiet, you sad man. A deserted place
is a fine spot to relieve oneself,
and since there’s no living thing here,
or means of living, it needs fertilizing.’
The dervish began his own list
of questions and answers.
‘What kind of bird are you? Not a falcon,
trained for the royal hand. Not a peacock,
painting with everyone’s eyes. Not a parrot,
that talks for sugar cubes. Not a nightingale,
that sings like someone in love.
Not a hoopoe bringing messages to Solomon,
or a stork that builds on a cliffside.
What exactly do you do?
You are no known species.
You haggle and make jokes
to keep what you own for yourself.
You have forgotten the One
who doesn’t care about ownership,
who doesn’t try to turn a profit
from every human exchange.’”
Book Review: The Lemon Tree (Non-Fiction Pick)
Book’s Name: The Lemon Tree
Author’s Name: Sandy Tolan
Publisher: Black Swan
Summer, 1967: Young Palestinian Bashir knocks on the door of his childhood home in Ramla, Israel-a home from which his family was driven out 20 years ago. The door is opened by a young Jewish woman, Dalia, whose family settled in the house after fleeing persecution in Bulgaria at the end of World War II.
Thus begins an unlikely friendship, bridging religious divides and spanning four decades. Having written for 40 magazines and newspapers while reporting from 25 countries, especially in the Middle East, Sandy’s humane writing provides a much needed human perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through this tale.
Book Review: PLATINUM (Drama)
Book’s Name: Platinum
Author: Jo Rees
Publisher: Bantam
Three sassy heroines-the knock-out brunette Peaches Gold, LA’s most influential madam; 20-something blonde South African yacht stewardess Frankie Willis; English socialite Emma Harvey….The hooker, the maid, the lady. They have every reason to distrust each other but their hatred for one man unites them. And that man is Yuri Khordinsky, a handsome,stinking rich, utterly ruthless Russian with a very murky past…..
Hot Tip: Chill some bear, soak in the pool and read what women want….
The Mist
I just finished reading The Mist by Stephen King and I have to tell you, I really enjoyed it.
It starts out with a terrible storm that last through out the night. In the morning, David and his wife Steff go outside to asess the damage. After figuring out it’s going to be hours before the electricity is retored, Dave and their small son Billy goes to town with a neighbor while Steffy stays home to clean up. Before they leave to get supplies, they notice a thick mist rolling across the lake.
Once at the supermarket, they find the store packed with people stocking up on food. The mist is all over the place now, creating a solid wall of fog that is almost impossible to see through. Screams can be heard outside the store and everyone is scared. For the next day, people venture out and die and even some of them inside die, of their own hand.
Two of the suicides are young military men from the Arrowhead Project across town. The military has messed where it shouldn’t and has opened doors better left shut, letting monstrous creatures into our world.
Dave, his son Billy, two women and two guys make a run for his car. Only Dave, Billy and the two women make it. They drive through the mist, dodging otherwordly creatures as they try to get home to Steffy. They can’t make it and turn around and leave town. There is only one problem. They make it out of town but so does the mist.
The book ends with the four of them staying in a now abandoned motel for the night. Dave is writing down what has happened while the others sleep. It seems like the end of the world to them.
The book and movie do differ some.
Book Review: CELEBUTANTES(Satire/Gossip)
Book’s Name: CELEBUTANTES
Author’s Name: Amanda Goldberg & Ruthanna Khalighi
When she fails at acting and seducing hunky co-stars, Lola, daughter of a famed director, swears off actors and acting. But agrees to help “Best Gay Forever’ designer Julian Tennant get a major actress to wear his dress to the Oscars. She woos the glitterari, competing against Prada’s ruthless ambassador. Star chatter, name dropping, air kissing….It’s shallow yet intriguing. And the race is hotting up to discover just who’ll wear Tennant to the Oscars…
Hot Tip: And insider story by LA junior royalty. Amanda is producer Leonard Goldberg’s daughter while Ruthanna is actor Dennis Hopper’s.
Book Review:100 Wonders Of The World
Book’s Name: 100 Wonders Of The World
Author: Michael Hoffman & Alexander Krings
Publisher:Paragon
First, get struck by the size of the book, a coffee table in itself. Then, by the 100 wonders. From Fujiyama 101, from the Great Barrier Reef to the International Space Station….Majestic mountains, towering trees, fire-spewing volcanoes, sky-defying buildings…The large format and gorgeous visuals do justice to the wonders but one would have liked a more innovative layout.
BOOK REVIEW: IT’S ALL TOO MUCH
Book’s Name: It’s All Too Much ( An Easy Plan For Living A Richer Life With Less Stuff)
Author: Peter Walsh
Publiser: Free Press
Costing: $11.20
Is your basement filled with boxes of mememtos you haven’t opened inn years but are too afraid to trash? Are your cabinets overrun with clothes, books, appliances that you’ve never used? Well, help’s at hand. Organisational guru Peter Walsh shares his proven system to let go of emotional/physical clutter to create a happier, stress-less home and life. And it’s not just colour-coded boxes or storage bin solutions. It’s about going through your home, room by room and possession by possession, to honestly assess what enhances your quality of life and what keeps you from living the life of your dreams-Manage clutter, regain control and live the life you imagine for yourself!
Some of my Favorite Authors
Of course, I lay awake most nights especially since I am night owl and definitely a confirmed bookworm. I love to read it was instilled in me by my mother but of course, here I am getting off topic for a chance. I was wondering what are some peoples’ favorite authors. I am going to give a list down of who I think I prefer to read and then why.
Authors that I find thrilling:
1. Diana Gabeldon
2. Laurel K. Hamilton
3. Terry Brooks
4. Jasper Fforde
5. Jacqueline Carey
6. Anne Bishop
7. A.A. Attanasio
Most of these authors range from science fiction to romance type of novels but then again I am female and I don’t mind a little heat or romance within my novels, but there is a fine line sometimes with too much. Hamilton sometimes overdoes it with her Anita Blake series but Her Merry Gentry series, I absolutely loved it and I hope to see more of it. Gabaldon, I love Jamie and Clare, a typical romance novel, but set in the time period of the American Revolution and the Jacobite’s rebellion with Bonny Prince Charles. Again this the typical list of authors that I buy at the used bookstore, or even the local bookshop and usually cannot put it down until I finish the novel. Happy reading.
