When criticism takes you to new heights

Image -http://carpenterant.blogspot.com.au

Image -http://carpenterant.blogspot.com.au

When I was a young kid I would lock myself in my room for hours on end and read. 

Then I’d get up, eat some food, go back to my room and read again.

Even in high school, when I was drowning in study and assignments, I’d head to the State Library and do assignments on a Sunday morning then sit on the grassy hill nearby for the rest of the day. I’d immerse myself in the latest novel while taking the occasional break to stare at the murky river flowing by.

I found myself back on that grassy knoll last Sunday afternoon. I’d been to a writer’s group meeting nearby where we gave feedback on each other’s work.

The lead-up to each meeting is always a little fraught for me. Once I send my pages out I feel exposed and worry that my writer friends may read my work and shake their heads at its mediocrity. I worry that I may not be good enough and that my dreams of one day finishing my book (so I can write the second and third), is nothing more than a pipe dream without merit.

But inevitably I am surprised by their generosity of spirit and their praise for when I get it right. And over the last year, there is no doubt their constructive criticism has helped me improve my work…once I’ve allowed enough distance to let it sink in.

Whether it’s an idea or a belief, it’s sometimes difficult to hear another’s point of view about something I hold dear. After all, when I’ve laboured over it or believe in it so passionately – how could someone else possibly understand? How could they get it?

But, when I allow a little distance, there is inevitably some truth in their comments to be faced; some little nugget of insight that will help me improve my work or expand my mind. And that’s when the glimmer of a new perspective, that’s not my own, will frequently take me in a whole new direction.

There was no overwhelming criticism awaiting me on Sunday. Instead there were just more unique insights to help take my work to a new level. And I felt inspired to keep going.

Afterwards, as I wandered along that grassy hill overlooking the river, I found myself wishing for a book to read.

Then I realised I have my own book now, I just need to finish it.

What is your passion?

passion-to-purpose-to-professionI read a sign recently that simply asked, “Are you living your passion?”

It was a good question.

On Saturday I found myself talking to my six-year-old niece, Cin, about her passion.

“I love Maths,” she told me.

She said when she grows up she wants to be a teacher.

“I want to teach Maths and everything!” she said.

Her face glowed with excitement, happiness and determination as she told me. The idea of being a teacher filled her with passion and joy.

Cin then asked what I love to do.

“I love to write,” I said.

“Why?” she asked.

That’s when my face started to glow with excitement, happiness and determination.

“I write because it helps me express how I feel about life,” I said.

“I write because sometimes people read my stories and it makes them feel better.

“I write because it can help other people make the world a better place.”

To an observer, it may have seemed an unusual conversation to have with a six-year-old. But Cin’s passion matched my own.

By asking what I loved, she reminded how I love my writing and crystalised my reasons for doing it.

My passion for words, their ability to tell meaningful stories across multiple platforms, and their undeniable and unstoppable ability to help others, goes to the very core of who I am.

It is my passion, just as teaching “Maths and everything” is Cin’s passion.

I’m going to encourage Cin to pursue teaching and any other passions she may discover as she gets older. Passionate people change the world and so will she.

In the meantime, I’m grateful for her timely reminder of my own purpose in this world, to write, and I will keep on doing it.

Do you know what your passion is?

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Book review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

Image courtesy of fishpond.com.au

Image courtesy of fishpond.com.au

Rating? 4/5 stars
Genre? Fiction
Sex? Only the barest hint

“January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’d never met, a native of Guernsey, the British island, once occupied by the Nazis. He’d come across her name on the flyleaf of a secondhand volume by Charles Lamb. Perhaps she could tell him where he might find more books by this author.

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, she is drawn into the world of this man and his friends, all members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, a unique book club formed in a unique spur-of-the-moment way: as an alibi to protect its members from arrest by the Germans…”

My Mum read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for her book club and loved it so much she bought me a copy.

I was a little hesitant to open its front cover because it didn’t really appeal – the cover simply features a dark silhouette on a foreshore. And let’s face it, the name of the book is also rather unwieldy.

But I was pleasantly surprised.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is an old fashioned read…for all the right reasons.

Firstly, it’s well written and tells its story using letters and journal entries. I know quite a few people lament the loss of the art of letter writing  and this novel proves their point.

Set in 1946 in post-war England and Guernsey (one of the Channel Islands), the book introduces the main character, Juliet Ashton, through letters to her publisher and friends.

An unexpected request from a Guernsey resident sparks Juliet’s interest in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and its’ members. And soon we are introduced to their lives through letters too as we learn about their feelings, losses, loves and triumphs during the Nazi occupation.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society took me on a gentle and genteel journey as I was slowly but surely absorbed into the flow of this story.

I usually avoid books that deal with war because I find the painful imagery they invoke stays with me long after I’ve read the last page.

But this one doesn’t delve too much into the viciousness of war.  Instead it focuses on the everyday wartime hardships of the Guernsey residents and their occupiers.

And ultimately it describes how The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society brings together a disparate group of residents and creates friendships that last long after the war is over.

This book gave me a lovely excuse to sit back, immerse myself in another world and gently while away a few summer hours.

But I think I’ll leave the recipe for potato peel pie off my personal menu.

Book review: Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

My summer read-a-thon is continuing and as promised, I’m making my way through those ten books on my coffee table.

In an effort to keep myself honest I’m going to post a review of each book on this blog. So, if you’re looking for a little summer reading inspiration, check out my first review of Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich. It’s all about bounty hunting for chicks.

Happy reading!

Notorious Nineteen

Image courtesy of fishpond.com.au

Rating? 4/5 stars for good fun and a few laughs out loud.

Genre? Chick lit, comedy, adventure

Sex? A bit of sexual tension to get you sizzling.

Stephanie Plum has a talent for attracting crazies.

Unfortunately, she also has to hunt them down when they’ve missed their court date.

The latest offering from Janet Evanovich, Notorious Nineteen, takes us on yet another hilarious romp through Trenton, Newark and the rather eventful life of bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum.

The plot includes all the characters we’ve come to love in this series.

Firstly, there’s Stephanie Plum, a hot and somewhat accident-prone bounty hunter who chases the bad guys. In this installment she has a couple of cars blown to smithereens, receives psychic messages from a Tiki, is threatened by a madman and continues to flirt with the dangerous but incredibly sexy Ranger.

Phew…and that’s just some of the highlights.

Stephanie is joined by her sidekick Lula, a curvaceous former prostitute with a dedicated love of fried chicken and tight spandex, Connie the mob-connected secretary who keeps a shotgun by her desk and of course, dodgy Cousin Vinnie. Crazy Grandma Mazur also makes an appearance and goes ‘undercover’ to help investigate mysterious happenings at the local hospital (her ‘disguise’ is described in vivid detail).

Added to the usual cast of characters is a Yeti, a group of nursing home vigilantes and a security guard with “the personality of a rabid raccoon” (p. 20).

Stephanie as always, gets by with a combination of luck, good timing and fearlessness. Her intermittent boyfriend, Joe Morelli, can’t always believe the situations she gets herself into.

“I’m serious,” Morelli said. “You’re like one of those people who keep getting hit by lightning.”

“Hey, it’s no picnic for me either. Do you think I like having rockets shot into my living room? Do you think I like getting poisoned, threatened with cremation, and forced into a pink taffeta dress?” (p. 209).

Evanovich has a wonderful talent for seamlessly connecting multiple characters and storylines into an action-packed plot. So while Stephanie is on the hunt for a million-dollar con man and some other bail jumpers, she’s also witnessing random shootings, doing stakeouts and working as a bodyguard for her sometime colleague and occasional lover Ranger.

As with all Stephanie Plum novels, Evanovich taps into our bad boy fantasies with the Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger sexual triangle.

Both men are hot, slightly dangerous and live by their own rules. One’s a cop and the other uses methods outside the law. And they both want Stephanie.

“He opened two blouse buttons and traced a line along the top of my bra with his fingertip. He bent his head, brushed a kiss across my breast, and slipped his hand inside my bra. I think I might have moaned a little, and I steadied myself by sliding my hand up the inside of his thigh. It turns out that just because I think I could have a future with Morelli doesn’t mean I’m entirely immune to Ranger’s hotness.” (p. 241).

Decisions, decisions…

I’ve read all nineteen Stephanie Plum novels and I’ve also introduced the series to my parents and sisters. These days Mum gives me advance notice when she hears the next one is about to hit the shelves. She knows I’ll buy, read and then pass the book on to her and the rest of the family.

My little sister says she’s stopped reading the series because they were getting to be all the same. And it is accurate to say Evanovich uses a tried and true formula.

The resourceful Stephanie continues to escape dangerous situations, her cars get blown up and she somehow manages to capture enough bail jumpers to pay the rent. And throughout the novel, the tension between Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger continues to sizzle.

And that’s all part of the fun.

Fortunately, you don’t need to read all nineteen books to enjoy the ride. Each novel works as a stand-alone piece with Stephanie’s character and the premise clearly outlined in the first few pages.

Notorious Nineteen is a well-written, fast paced, quick-witted and enjoyable romp through the chaos of Stephanie Plum’s life.

If that’s the kind of book you like to read then you will find Notorious Nineteen is quite simply, notoriously good.

For the love of books

From an early age I loved to read.

As a child I could usually be found in my bedroom devouring page after page of my latest library book.

Wherever I was, a book was never far away.

In early primary school I read every Enid Blyton I could find (although I wasn’t a big fan of Noddy or The Famous Five series). As I got older I moved on to the Trixie Belden series, the Billabong series, then the period romances of Georgette Heyer and so many others.

By my late teens I was even reading Shakespeare for fun.

I loved books and the stories they contained. They were my escape and my joy. They brought me peace and a way to turn off the nagging thoughts in my head.

Put simply, they were my saviours.

My passion for books continued as an adult.

To me a home has never been a home until there are books on the shelves and pictures on the wall.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love books.

And new friends only have to see my overflowing bookcases (four at last count) to know my passion.

But somehow in the past year something has gone a bit wrong.

I’m buying books but I often don’t read them.

I still can’t walk into a bookshop without leaving with at least one new purchase.

But, instead of reading these little gems, the books are usually added to a pile on my coffee table that grows, but rarely diminishes.

Is it because I have focused so much on my own book that I don’t wish to confuse my mind with the words of other authors?

Or have I simply forgotten the joy those bound pieces of paper give me?

I’m not sure why I haven’t been reading but I’ve decided to do something about it.

I’ve got ten books on my coffee table and I’m going to read them all.

I’m calling it my personal Ten Books for Summer Read-a-thon.

I might even share my thoughts about them with you on this blog (that should keep me honest and ensure I read them).

Wish me luck!