Blogetary (Weblog + Commentary = Blogetary)

I haven’t really done a review in a while. One of my writing instructors pointed out that I might be better off submitting some of those reviews to periodicals rather than always posting them here. So I’m trying out that advice for now. Besides, I’m so behind on my reading that I still have magazines from Fall 2007 that I haven’t read. And some I just finished reading but they were put out so long ago it doesn’t really do anyone any good to write a review. You know?

Last night, however, I had some time and picked up the Electric Velocipede I had from Fall 2007 (Issue 13). I didn’t have time to delve in and read everything so I only read those things that pulled me in after the first sentence. I’m sure the others were fine writing and all, but there were two pieces that once I began reading, I had to finish. The others didn’t speak to me that way, but I’m sure they speak to other people. So I’m taking a page from Kaz’s blog and doing a partial review of what I did read, rather than try to review the whole thing. I won’t do myself or anyone any favors if I do a half-assed job because I was hurried, harried, and tired.

The first piece was by Marie Brennan and was called “Selection”. One of the reasons I was drawn in was that the piece was told almost exclusively (until the very end) from the second person narrative voice. The only other writer I think I’ve read who did this in such a mesmerizing way was Italo Calvino. I love Calvino and this choice in voice and some of the details in the story evoked his style and flair, while still remaining in Brennan’s voice and style of writing. The last story I read by Brennan was in On Spec and was titled “Nine Sketches in Charcoal and Blood”. I loved that particular story because of the exacting detail in atmosphere, diction, setting, and character that she used. In “Selection” she is again very good at being extremely detailed, yet in a particularly vague sort of way that pulled me all the way through the story wanting to know more about what she was telling me. And the end, well lets just say it made my ghoulish little heart leap for joy. I really liked it. I really need to get her novels and read them some time (after I’ve gone through my already burgeoning TBR pile). I really enjoyed “Selection”.

The other piece I enjoyed (and that I will tear out and put in my recipe folder) is the “Sampling the Aspic: Three Courses and a Bevvie” by Penelope O’Shea. That woman knows how to write about food. I could see it, taste it, and smell it as she not only wrote out the recipes, but described how they’re served, the flavors, and how she’s found them or where they came from. Very satisfying read. And as someone who loves limoncello, I’m going to take that Lemon Meringue Martini to heart!

Okay. I just gotta call for a paying gig, so I gotta go. But again, remember it’s Poetry Month!

P.S. This isn’t really what that drink looks like, but it’s a similar recipe and it looks tasty, too.