A Tidbit from Miss Golightly
Sal and I walked to Lakewood to enjoy a book and the outdoors. Every day should be as temperate as this one. – Jennifer Joy Golightly
The Ultimate Possession – a book by Byatt
Title: Possession
Author: A.S. Byatt
Publisher: Random House
Length: 555 pages
Nothing can make you feel so inadequate as a writer as when you read a piece of such perfection that your own work cannot but pale in stark comparison. It’s possibly something like being the mediocre gymnast addicted to watching the Olympics, knowing that the athletic achievements they witness will not and cannot be their own reality.
Someone can write and write, practice with diligence, read, and surround themselves with excellence of the craft – but there is an element of giftedness that can only be handed down by the command of God.
A.S. Byatt is such a person graced with immense giftedness.
Possession is overwhelmingly and alarmingly riddled with her talent and sheer genius for the craft.
Prose, poetry, storytelling, she has it all and shares it with such ease. Nothing is forced, everything unfolds with the exquisite engineering of a flower in bloom, or a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. Intricately beautiful.
How can a person contain so much talent?
I imagine hundreds of years from now archeologists and scholars will discover a copy and upon inspection will accuse the author of not being a lone writer – but a pen name used for a collective. They will say the book is a collaborative effort between several poets, a journalist, a researcher, and possibly a novelist. Someone would be supposed to offer their services as the voice of Christabel LaMotte, another as R. Henry Ash. They may even miss the point altogether and believe it to be an actual account on a literary discovery, or a novelization of a literary discovery.
I think of myself as a writer. I have unfinished stories, a three-quarters written novel or two. I even used to attempt to write poetry – that was eons ago. None of it is really any good. I love words, but do not have the grasp and understanding of them to put them to proper use. I do not have the finesse of a linguistic artist. The words just linger muddled and puddled in my brain and sometimes my journals, fragments of fragments end up on this blog. I always tell myself that I’ll be better when I’m older, but I never am.
The only thing I can claim with absolute truth, is that I am a reader. As one reader to another, I must tell you, anyone who makes that claim cannot go through life without having read Possesssion.
A Quilting Event Gone Lovely
Quilts are such cozy, beautiful things. Think of a quilt and immediately images of your favorite colors and patterns combine with aromas of cinnamon, ginger, coffee or cocoa, pine, and crisp air. Think of a quilt, and you’ll usually imagine yourself in your favorite chair, maybe near a fireplace, in that old worn out sweater you’ve had for ages. You’ll hear a fire cracking, winter birds chirping if it’s an early morning, the sounds of snoring pups or purring cats if it’s evening.
Take all that and put me in a bookstore or library, and man am I in heaven.
Then, just for good measure throw in the divine flavor of cake balls.
That’s a bit of what happened today in Half Price Books, Humble, with Melinda McGuire, Jo-Ann’s, and The Martin Epicurean. Well, all that minus the fires, bird chirps, dogs, and well, pretty much the rest of it. That part was all in my head.
Melinda McGuire is a Texas author who mainly writes southern historical fiction, but recently branched out and edited a quilting anthology called Rich Fabric
Many people are involved in the creation of this anthology. This book, Rich Fabric, focuses on the culture, tradition and symbolism of quilting with both historic accounts and modern stories. McGuire, handpicked the contributors, and they have come together to create an anthology full of vibrant stories, poignant memoirs, beautiful photographs and touching quotes.
Customers who purchased the book (or any home arts title in Half Price Books) during the signing were eligible to enter a raffle for a gift basket full of quilting supplies that was donated to the event by Jo-Ann Fabrics and Craft Stores. The lucky winner, Doris, went home with quite a treat!
Speaking of treats! The Martin Epicurean catered the entire event and served the most delicious cake balls you could imagine. Chocolate were available, but I repeatedly devoured the delightful rich flavors in the vanilla desserts. They were a bit of Heaven in a baked good, I assure you.
Be sure to stop in the store as often as possible, you never know what might be happening! But, if you do want to plan your trips in advance visit the store’s website: http://www.hpb.com/074.html
A Plethora of Poets
At Half Price Books Humble Poetry Night 11/01/12
Poetry readings are exciting, and often times, unique experiences. Different poets bring a different vibe to each event. But even more interesting is when the night is full of young poets, teenaged poets, High School poets.
These kids are bold, honest, and in some cases fearless in the way they expose their vulnerability in the most expressive form of art. There are the shy, quiet poets sharing grief; the in your face exuberant poetess forcing you to feel every joy and sorrow; and there are simply down right honestly funny poets that are bound to make the next great comedians.
The group last night were students from the Humble High School Poetry Club and their parents and friends. I hope next time we’ll see some representation from other schools as well. Everyone and anyone is invited to join the fun.
All around, it was a great night and I can’t wait for December’s meeting!
HPB Poetry Nights are held the first Thursday of the month, 7 pm – 9 pm. Read your favorite poet or recite some of your own work. Hang out and chat with other students of poetry and maybe learn something new. Snacks are served.
A Tidbit from Miss Golightly
Deceased teddy bear found in Belmont Addition alley; name, age, and cause of death unknown. – Jennifer Joy Golightly
Photo by Jennifer Joy Golightly
Anakalian Whims 