It’s All In The Reader’s Perspective (Reviews and Comments, Consider the Source)

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granny_hooks_a_crook_4I read free books. I read books that I buy. I read magazines. I write a column, Something About Nothing. I have a book published by Cozy Cat Press titled “Granny Hooks A Crook.” I have a self-published book called “Whatchamacallit? Thingamajig? I also write free-lance for a few newspapers.

Because I read and because I write, I write reviews and comments about books and articles that I like and dislike. Because I write, I receive comments and reviews from people who like my work or don’t like my work.

When I review a book I have to look at it a couple of ways. Do I not like the book because it is  a subject, or the kind of story I usually do not read? Or do I not like the book because of its profanity and violence? Or do I not like the book because it is poorly written? I very seldom, after reading a book give it a 1 or 2 star review because most of the time, if I don’t like a book, it is because it is not the genre I like to read. I download many free books so I have a varied palette to choose from. Is it fair for me to give a bad review simply because it isn’t to my taste? If I love a book I can get carried away by that, love but I have to tone myself down to make sense and have others take my review seriously.

As a new writer I realize it takes a thick skin to weather reviewers and those that aren’t always kind to your written works. As I was reading a review of “Granny Hooks a Crook” this morning on Goodreads, I could not fault the reviewer. “Granny Hooks A Crook is not for everyone. Most of my reviews have been very good but this reviewer did not like the book because she thought it was too silly. It is silly. It is a book about a fictional Granny that gets into a lot of mischief. I wrote about Granny this way because many people who are older feel that life is finished for them.

I am sure you know people like this that are in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s that never go out after dark, stay in their routine and do not try anything new and generally are very sedate. When you meet these people, occasionally you believe they are older than they are because of their attitude. There are others that are the same age, and if they told you their age, you wouldn’t believe them because they are witty, happy, involved and busy, even if they have physical problems. They seem to have a skip in their step even if the steps they take are  with a walker or a cane. These seniors are always up for trying something new. This is who Granny is, a senior always up for something new and always using her imagination. Granny is an exaggerated character,  although my mom at 90 could have given Granny a run for her money. The only thing my mom didn’t do was chase crooks.

We, as writers, have to remember that we have no idea where a person is in their life when they leave a comment. I don’t like history. I don’t like gore. I don’t like bad language. Recently on a visit to a book store a clerk pointed out a book to me that she thought was fantastic. It probably will be on the best seller list eventually. I would not like it and probably would only give it three stars because of all the gore and swearing in the book. That is my taste. It could be a New York Times best seller but it wouldn’t be for me, so my review and comments would not be raving.

As writers, we need to write what moves our creativity and not worry about reviews and criticism. Yes, we have to sell books but not at the expense of changing who we are. I could write a biography, a history book, a how to book and they might sell well. If I wrote a book such as this, it would not be a labor of love. It wouldn’t stir my heart like a human interest story would, or a tale about an animal or a funny, silly mystery that makes people laugh.

Yes, Granny might not enthrall everyone but those who want a little silliness, a little fantasy, a little humor and a break from the gloom and doom of the real world might love Granny. I do, she is who I want to be when I grow up, tenacious, strong, sassy and at times lovable.

Writers, new and old, established writers and those that are still hoping to have their works published, write what you love, don’t give up and when reading reviews of your work, consider the source but then, what do I know, I created Granny and Fuchsia, Minnesota. That tells you what world I live in.
Granny Hooks A Crook

Survival of the Fittest

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I watched my cat Borris attacking something hidden in the window seat this morning. He would stalk, go down low and pounce. I had to see what he was after so I walked over and lifted the cushion. A fly flew up, anxious to get away, but Borris was too quick and with a leap and a bound he had the fly.

Once he got him, he didn’t know what to do with him. I didn’t know what to do either. I am not a fan of flies. But I also have a soft heart and realize that the little fly is a creature of God’s. Did I want Borris to eat him? Or did I want him to fly around my house, in which case I probably would swat the fly without a second thought at killing a creature of Gods.

I feel that way when I see the picture of a deer and look at it’s soft eyes and know that someone will someday probably hunt him down. Could I do that and not give it a second thought because of the thrill of the hunt?

I swat at mosquitos and definitely go for the kill without a second thought. People hunt squirrels and rabbits. We eat their meat. We eat the cows and the pigs, but we have a soft spot and don’t eat horse meat. We are picky in our choices of what creatures should live and what should not.

Animals seem to be the same way. They hunt to survive, just as we eat to survive. It is survival of the fittest.

Where do we as humans fit into the chain of survival of the fittest?

Do we hunt each other down with words? Do we hunt each other down with criticism? Do we hunt each other down with bullying and even physical confrontation in some cases?

Are we narrowing down the fittest by not taking care of the homeless and the sick?

Will we eventually not give it a second thought when someone that is homeless dies, when someone is murdered, when someone commits suicide? Will we just toss our hands in the air and say “It is the survival of the fittest?”

Just wondering why I give no thought to the tiniest fly and mosquitos because they irritate me? Or the deer that’s eyes that remind of my Borris, sitting in the window gazing at me with love?

Will we as a society eventually not give a second thought to the value of a human life? Will  we eventually become like the fly or the mosquito and be swatted away when we are no longer useful to society? Just pondering.

Christmas In June? Really?

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I thought I was seeing things. I am older you know. My eyes are probably not as good as they used to be. As I gazed down the aisle of Hobby Lobby yesterday I thought my eyes were deceiving me.

It was around 90 degrees outside. The cool air hit my face as my friend and I walked into the door of Hobby Lobby. One of the first things I saw in the aisles ahead of me were all different shapes of cute metal and ceramic pumpkins. It didn’t hit me at first that they were preparing for Halloween. You have to remember that the calendar on my cell phone said June 26!

Ok, I thought, It is a little early  but…… and then I turned into an aisle. Lo and behold, it was Christmas!!!!!! Again, I had to blink my eyes. When they stopped blinking the scenery hadn’t changed.

I looked at the store clerk and said “Really?” He shook his head in agreement and said “I know. Nothing I can do.” And he kept shaking his head as if he agreed with me.

To be fair they did have fourth of July trappings out too, but not in  as many aisles, but Christmas? I know I have seen the Christmas in July displays but what I saw was Christmas and Halloween. What happened to Thanksgiving?

Why can’t we enjoy today without rushing the seasons? Are stores so desperate that they need to push Christmas on us now? Or are we the ones that are so desperate for that Christmas feeling in our lives that we want to rush the season, which makes stores rush the seasons, which perhaps makes life more bearable because of the peace and joy feeling we are searching for in our lives that we connect with the Christmas Season.

I, for one, am not ready to let the summer go yet. As I write this it is June 27 and I want to enjoy each day. If we look for it, we can find the same feelings today that we get in the Christmas Season. Look for those feelings inside of yourself and find what feeds your soul to keep that Christmas Spirit and the feelings of peace and joy with you all year-long.