Debbie Ann Ice talks to animals

Very few words about very long stories.

Let's talk about reviews and writing first. Two things:
1. I review novels I have enjoyed reading. If I did not enjoy reading it, I usually don't review it. I may have issues with themes, plots, characters, but I may still like the book. I do not trash writers, stories, writing. I find nasty reviews are covers for bad critical writing skills. If you know how to write, you know how to say something without being nasty. Otherwise, don't write.
2. I do not write more than quick summary of plot. I like to talk about the energy of a book. What made it work. What themes the author touched upon. Character development. Did I learn something? Etc.

This brave book is about so much more than grief....

7/9/2022

Claudia Putnam begins her long essay/book with a simple fact. “Three decades ago, my first son was born, and three days later, he died. He died of a broken heart.” That’s the story. Putnam’ son died from hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which basically means the left side of his heart was so defective it was incapable of pumping oxygen throughout the body.

But Putnam’s essay is more than a story about her baby’s broken heart, it’s more than story about a mother’s broken heart. Her discussion transcends broken hearts. Claudia Putnam takes on death—society’s innate fear of it-- exacerbated by our confusion over the definition of living--spirituality and existentialism, informed by the musings of Ralph Waldo Emerson and others. She even brings in research and speculation about the natural chemical –N,N-dimethyltriptophan (DMT) and the possibility that it is the source of not only near-death experiences, but also, our “soul.”

Putnam shares her erudite ponderings with bold candor, rarely infusing the discussion with treacly maternal musings. Her maternal passion and grief are, however, all over the writing, particularly when she discusses a complicated, and brave, decision no parent should have to make about her infant’s life. She and her husband make the decision, taking into account the ultimate questions-- What is life? What is death?

I don’t believe I have read such a thoughtful discourse on grief, death, and life. It is a bold, frank, difficult read. It’s also important.

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Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-Luck Jay

1/10/2021

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I read this quite a while ago but delayed discussion so I could talk about her book right when my novel comes out for preorder. (Next week my novel, DEAD FISH and What the Blue Jays know will be up for reorder.)
Julie Zickefoose is an artist and wildlife writer. She has been a wildlife rehabilitator, wildlife art and photographer, wildlife blogger, and wildlife commentator for NPR. She's been engaged with wildlife in some way for more than three decades. So of course I'm going to read her book on raising a blue jay!

It started with a blue jay egg discovered at the base of a maple tree. Zickefoose desperately tries to save this gorgeous precursor to life. She uses an incubator, calls bird specialists for advice, gives it constant attention. But it doesn't make it. The egg dies.

While the egg goes cold, Zickefoose's memory of it remains warm and imprinted in her brain; so the next year, after she successfully weans herself from her wildlife rehabilitator job-- difficult since people don't stop asking for help--, a woman/follower calls for advice about a tiny baby blue jay lost in her yard. Julie Zickefoose looks at the picture of the dehydrated baby bird and has an overwhelming desire to actually save this bird, not simply drive it to a wildlife rehabilitation center. And that begins the journey of raising a blue jay she names Jemima.

Challenge is not a strong enough word to describe Ms. Zickefoose's blue jay rescue experience. The baby has to be fed continuously, once an hour. The baby gets sick and has to be treated. The baby grows and takes over the house. Then there is the emotional challenge of keeping that distance to prevent the bird from imprinting. That emotional distance is Zickefoose's biggest challenge, because she falls in love. And this conflict of the heart endears the reader to the writer.

You can't help but love this woman who falls in love not only with this one blue jay but with all blue jays. I particularly understand her emotions because I have fallen in love with the gang of blue jays that visit me, so I get her. But all readers will appreciate how special these witty and fun-loving birds are. They have charm. They have attitude. They have intelligence. She captures this perfectly.

She not only captures the wonder of blue jays but also educates us about them. Their mating habits, their molting, nesting, migration, interrelationships. She takes us deep into the bond between her, her family and this bird. No, she does not distance herself from the bird like we all expect wild life rehabilitators to do. She decides to engage. Good for her. And I think, perhaps because she is so experienced and understands proper balance, her strategy is effective. While some may argue against this type of rescue, she proves their their fears about imprinting wrong. The bird survives and eventually lives free. She has given it a gift of love and human bonding, all while maintaining respect for its freedom and wildlife dignity.

Jemima does indeed eventually join the free world. It's sad but hopeful and in the end something happens that fills us with wonder. I will let you the reader discover that for yourself.

Wonderful book by a wonderful writer and wildlife lover. Read it!

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Another Dzanc book, posthumous novel by William Gay. THE LOST COUNTRY

12/3/2020

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William Gay died in 2012, so this novel, released in 2018, is a posthumous publication. William Gay was under contract for this story, but had apparently misplaced it, or that was what he told an editor. At the time, Gay was living in a trailer in Tennessee. If you read this novel, or if you've read any of Gay's other novels, that's not a surprise, because Gay hits perfect notes about the impoverished southern working class human condition. You'd expect perfect notes to come from a writer who lived and breathed what his pen produced.

J.M. White found the manuscript in an attic. It was typed but unorganized. Apparently, it was not even in numerical order. White managed to piece it all together and publish it. The story follows the journeys of a young man--Billy Edgewater-- in 1955 after he was discharged from the Navy. His father is dying and he sets off to eastern Tennessee to be with him. We are not too sure he really wants to end up by his Dad's side, though: flash backs tell us about a complicated relationship. (southern gothic families are always complicated). He meets up with quite a few rough and amusing characters. They are all your basic southern gothic out-of-this-world men. A one armed con man. An outrageously irresponsible alcoholic obsessed with his female rejections. Then there's your basic southern gothic bad guy, a man named Harkness who's so horrible he skinned a dog alive once. Like a lot of hard core southern gothic of the 1950s, the humor is very masculine. And after a while, you get a bit grossed out by the drunk, lazy, cruel men. It helps that the one decent man is the protagonist, who also struggles right along with the reader. He's a good man who connects with flawed, drunk, immoral men. The resulting conflict of the heart, which anchors most southern gothic writing, is the only plot.

All the fun with this William Gay novel does not come from understanding the protagonist's inner conflict or even enjoying all the marginal eccentric characters (At least not in this novel, as some were overdone). The fun with this novel comes from reading descriptions of landscape. Gay writes landscape like no one else. Truly, if you love words and are amazed at the poetic hearts of writers of the land, read this novel for that alone. Yes, he spends a bit too much time describing the sun,the light passing through clouds, limbs, the fog, and every detail of every small crack in every wood. Even abstract concepts. For example:

"... time is acid God pours on events to etch and change them, real and unreal are no more than words...." .
(Isn't that wonderful?)

I didn't mind the long descriptions. Not at all. I savored them. I read them slowly. I looked up words, saved the words in special folders. I would read a passage describing landscape over and over. It's just gorgeous. The brain that wrote it was amazing. May he rest in peace.

I could tell it was pieced together, however. I read the foreward and afterward before the book, so I had a forgiving frame of mind.. You have to be a little forgiving with these novels found in attics. So, I would advise anyone reading the novel to read the afterward by White before the book. Oh and don't forget the foreward by Sonny Brewer. I don't think you have to understand a writer to understand his work. Nor do you have to like a writer to like his work. But the love that went into finding, piecing together, editing his work after his death is important to understand, I think. It is obvious that people loved William Gay.

I am not sure how I feel about posthumous publications. The writer has no say in the edits, and when the material is raw and disorganized, editing decisions are critical. But I am not in a position to have an opinion about it. I never knew William Gay and only know what Mr. Brewer wrote. Based upon Mr. Brewer's description, I think Mr. Gay would approve.

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Another mainstream. A Flicker of Old Dreams

11/9/2020

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A Flicker of Old Dreams by Susan Henderson.

While I want to mainly review small press to support writers who don't have the powerhouses behind them, I just have to pause and say something about this book that came out in 2018. I'd read Susan Henderson's first book and loved it--Up from the Blue--and planned to read this one, too, but I'd put it on Kindle. And that's the problem with kindles—as you buy, you push books back and before you know it, you forget what you’ve bought. But I think we all need to read about rural America. We need to understand these dying towns. So, here's my quick review.

This story is about a young woman who yearns to leave a dying town and find her dreams. What sparks her final decision is a relationship with a complicated man who left town at the age of fourteen. He's riddled with guilt and confusion resulting from a tragic mistake that killed his brother and led to the closing of a business that had kept the dying town limping along. The boy’s character was so tarnished, he was forced to escape and find a home elsewhere. While judgement usually languishes with intimacy and relationship building, the boy’s disappearance instead contributes to imagined actions, imagined darkness, all exacerbating anger and resentment. Memory is altered; character is permanently stained.

When the man returns to town to sit with his dying mother and manage her funeral, the daughter (the narrator of the book) of a funeral director and town embalmer, becomes intrigued. She, too, is an outsider, but one without his scars and drama. She now is the only friend this man has during his grief.

But the story is about so much more than a development of a complex relationship. It’s also more than a story about a lonely young woman who yearns to escape a suffocating town and open up her eyes and life.

Susan Henderson has succeeded in developing one of the most unique characters I have ever read—death-- and in her development of death, she teaches us about intimacy and yearning for life. She writes beautifully about types of death. Death of a town when industry leaves. Death of a childhood when a tragedy kills innocence. Death of our soul, our humanity, when we suffer and blame. But it is the death of the human body where she really excels. It is here, with this amazing metaphor development, the book is lifted to a different level, from a good, entertaining story to extraordinary, insightful poetry.

This past year, I embalmed Jenny Johnson, one of my high school classmates, and we never got along so well as the day I fixed her hair with rollers and painted her nails crimson, like he school’s colors.

Intimacy for this lonely person is achieved in her care and compassion for the body devoid of life. Details of attempts to restore life to the dead body are simply amazing. And throughout the entire novel, every inch of it, the writing is filled with smart observations that bring us closer to loneliness—which of course is a part of all death.

Sometimes I feel like we get along best when I tell only pieces of the truth.

All my life, I have learned the lesson that closeness is tangled up with rejection and shame.

…”Sometimes that’s a lonely place to be, and yet, you don’t really want to be on the inside, either, where you feel pressure to be someone you’re not.”

And on and on. I could quote and quote this book. It is filled with treasures. I am so sorry I got around to it this late, but maybe there are people out there who have not found it yet.

As I said, I loved Up from the Blue too. This is a different book, but it has the familiar, strong writing voice-- centered in details, filled with compassion and intimacy, always displaying competent understanding of the importance of place, and of course anchored in poetry of written word. That’s Susan Henderson.

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Blue Summer, by Jim Nichols. Islandport Press.

10/26/2020

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What is it about the state of Maine that creates good writers. Elizabeth Strout, my favorite, Richard Russo, a close second. Then there is Ron Currie, a great satirist. And the list could go on and on. It must be the air and cold water. Or maybe it's the eccentric culture. Down-to-earth denizens. Gorgeous land. I just don't know. But when I see a writer from Maine, I know I'm going to be reading about real human beings with real problems. Even if we can't relate to the problem, we always relate to the writing.

So, another Maine writer, Jim Nichols, has published Blue Summer, a story about a jazz trumpet player, Cal Shaw, who now recounts his life from behind prison bars. So, yes, it's a a backstory novel, but it's fast paced and easy to follow. And it's a Maine writer so you're in good hands.

Cal Shaw cannot escape his life in the same way he cannot escape his musical song writing, which centers on his emotional blues. The songs stay in his mind-- like his past, like this story--and all of it was seeded one tragic summer.

And that's the story. There's a traumatic turning point in Cal's childhood after his father dies in a car accident and another unstable and cruel step father takes his place. The resulting abuse by this man and perceived betrayal by a mother who puts the marriage above her children, indelibly alters Cal. The kids put up with it, but the burning emotion eventually bubble over and results in a life changing tragedy.

Step father abuse stories are not that original, they fill our shelves. But Jim Nichols' story is elevated to a different level because of his writing voice. Soulful and eloquent, at times as soothing and raw as jazz. This unique storytelling and lovely writing makes for great reading.

I could have spent more time in the character's past, particularly his relationships. It's hard to know whether I wanted that because I wanted more of Nichol's writing, or if I needed more of an anchorage to understand the character's future behavior. I think a bit of both.

It's great writing, fast and entertaining.

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In Our Midst, by Nancy Jensen. A Dzanc book.

10/13/2020

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The Aust family leave Germany six years after the end of World War I to make a life in America. They settle in a small, and rather typical, midwestern town in Indiana, where they open a restaurant and acclimate nicely into American culture. The Austs develop close friendships, generously contribute to the community, add to the eclectic, growing a country of immigrants.

And then comes another world war and as America fights Nazism-- which grows powerful by dehumanizing others—it allows fear to justify its own display of dehumanization of others. As we learn of German concentration camps, we develop our own camps for those we consider a threat—Italian, German, and Japanese nationals.

The reader follows the Aust family through their journey from beloved citizens of a small American town to accused traitors-- moved from one camp to another, first separated and alone, then as a family. The family is arrested and judged without due process, tossed into camps against their will, where they’re treated like traitors/criminals and live among true Nazi thugs with no means of protection. With the exception of a few friends, most neighbors in Indiana turn their back on this German family. They have to rely upon small acts of kindness of strangers and new friends and their love for each other.

This is not an easy book to read, but it is an important book because it reminds us not only of
of the importance of due process and constitutional freedoms, but also, the importance of kindness and understanding even during the chaos of war. It is shocking and ironic we fought a war against a regime that dehumanized “others,” yet in the name of that fight proceeded to dehumanize “others.”

The author never preaches, only shows us the world through the eyes of “others.” We live and breathe with the Aust family as this travesty takes place. We see the camps, the betrayal of neighbors, the fear and paranoia of our government. We see the distant eyes of guards and harsh, cold treatment from many Americans.

The truth is difficult and at times I wondered how much of this story deviated from reality. Were paranoid actions in reality truly this brutal or did the author darken the world for effect? In a book like this, research and quality of writing is important, and, ultimately, because of Jansen’s authentic details and excellent writing, I trusted her.

Books like IN OUR MIDST display the importance of historical literary fiction. Good literary writers, like Nancy Jensen, take us on important journeys that most history books avoid. We are allowed to feel the consequences of our mistakes, not simply learn them.

This is a tough read, but it’s an important one-- particularly now, when anger and fear of the “other” is leading our country, once again, to devolve into division and hate. Great writing and insight. I recommend it.

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A few mainstream books.

9/30/2020

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OK.Commercial.
Commercial fiction is fast and light, but, for me, it truly needs to lift me out of my present life and place me elsewhere. After last night's train wreck (September 29 Presidential debates, or that is what they are calling it), we will all want to be lifted out of this present life, right? Ellen Meister knows how to do that. LOVE SOLD SEPARATELY is a mystery with a side romance. It also educates us a bit about the shopping network and lives of struggling actors.
A fast read with interesting family subplots, clever whodunnit, romance, and even observations about the evolution of addiction (although the story does not delve into addiction deeply, and it shouldn't). Take a break from the chaos of 2020 and treat yourself to this book!

Now, literary.

I've read every novel Ferrante has written, so I couldn't miss this.

This is another coming of age story about a girl whose life changes when she uncovers her family's secrets. She latches onto a very eccentric, unstable but deadly honest Aunt who teaches her to see her parents, her life for exactly what it is. Remove the cover of pretension and beauty and underneath you find something else.

The development of character was not quite as in-depth and interesting as the Neapolitan books, but it has the usual, brilliant and complex interior monologues and excellent prose. The aunt--Vittoria--is another great Ferrante character--eccentric, unstable, at times cruel and abrupt, other times vulnerable and brilliant.

Everyone wanders around a bit blind until they finally find truth and regain footing. And the girl does eventually figure out how to take control in a quite interesting way at the end.

"There's a black veil that can drop and any moment. It's a sudden blindness, you don't know how to keep your distance, you crash into things."

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September 09th, 2020

9/9/2020

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I forgot to review this on amazon, although I did tweet a recommendation for it. I will paste this on amazon. I know this one came out a couple of years ago, but it's still out there and I want to include it in my reviews. Like Blackbird Blues, this story shifts in time, back and forth. It grounds itself primarily in the era surrounding WWI, in the forest of Sweden, where a strong, insightful and independent woman--Anna comes of age. Sixty years later she is visited by her niece who has personal relationship issues. We go back and forth in time and slowly unravel Anna's sad and frustrating story, which reflects intense obstacles Swedish women--like all women during this time--had to overcome in order to survive and thrive. Anna not only survives, she learns how to grow into her true self. She is a woman way beyond her time. This is based upon a true story, and therefore is not only entertaining but also educational. The writing is wonderful. The character inspiring. It has a quiet, slow feel to it, and the switch in time can be confusing. But I don't mind lingering when the writing is this good. I don't mind refreshing my memory when a shift in time occurs if I like the character, enjoy my effort. This book is very well done. The writer knows what she's doing and has a poetic heart. Bravo!

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September 04th, 2020

9/4/2020

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How do I begin? This is such a great collection of work, it's hard to know how to pinpoint exactly why I loved all of these poems. There are poets who emote on a page with metaphor. I read a few of their poems but never finish the collection, because once you've read one, you've read them all. And I tend to enjoy stories I get lost in.

But this is Tiff Holland. She writes poems you cannot stop reading. Poetry that goes to the center of her heart, her love, her struggles, powerfully, with clarity and charm. These poems are so deep and personal, so wrenching and funny, you feel you're sitting in a room with her as she calls her life out to greet you.

"In some theories of time,
everything is happening at once,
your birth and death and all your lovemaking:
in one corner of the curved universe,
you're playing catch with your brother
in the backyard, wearing the shorts
and matching ball-caps from the photo/on the shelf beside the kitchen window.... "

Yes. But it all happens like this at once when a poet knows how to grab you and hold you to the pages of her life.
I hope this collection gets attention. It needs to win an award. Brilliant.

Len Joy has penned another one! I like Len's writing because he's mainstream but still small press with a literary style. He should be with a big House, but, unfortunately ageism is rampant in the industry. Don't want to get political, so I'll stop now. I will put up the review I posted at Amazon.com:

Len Joy once again delivers his "Richard Russo-ish" small town story that centers around conflicts, intimate friendships, and loss. If you've read Len Joy's first novel, American Past Time, you're familiar with Dancer Stonemason, the main character. Dancer lost his chance at baseball because of an impulsive, short-term focussed decision--go for that one big night, that no hitter. This one night ruined his arm and career, and his life's trajectory reflected that overwhelming loss.

We are now with Dancer all grown up. He's old, grumpy, but still compassionate in that way that makes him lovable and forgivable. Once again, he's dealing with loss—the loss of his beloved son. Loss is a huge hole that seems to be in this man forever. Loss of hope, loss of love, loss of child. He now meets up with a war veteran dealing with all kinds of identity issues and personal conflicts. They strike an unusual friendship that slightly alters each other’s paths.

Actually, the novel develops several complicated characters. The writer moves the camera from story to story, connecting each one with various conflicts. In fact, as a massive storm moves towards the town, with all of impending doom, an emotional storm moves amongst the denizens. Those with short term focus of course suffer the more painful consequences. And unfortunately consequences of one in small towns are consequences of many.

Another fast, well written, novel by a writer who understands small towns and the men who live there.

Very few words about very long stories.

This brave book is about so much more than grief....

Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-Luck Jay

Another Dzanc book, posthumous novel by William Gay. THE LOST COUNTRY

Another mainstream. A Flicker of Old Dreams

Blue Summer, by Jim Nichols. Islandport Press.

In Our Midst, by Nancy Jensen. A Dzanc book.

A few mainstream books.

September 09th, 2020

September 04th, 2020

September 02nd, 2020

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