Dates to Remember
November 13, and 27 (Tuesday Evenings) 7:00 P.M. Parkside Writers Group
November 14, (Wednesday) 10:00 A.M. Morning Book Club
November 16, (Friday) 9:30 A.M. Story Lady
December 11, (Tuesday Evening) 7:00 P.M. Parkside Writers Group
December 12, (Wednesday) 10:00 A.M. Morning Book Club
December 14, (Friday) 9:30 A.M. Story Lady
This month we are featuring writings from two members of
The Parkside Writers Group.
Enjoy!
The Bigger ½
As a child, November Meant one thing. Turkey! And sitting at the table with my Dad watching Mom cook a feast that could feed an army, just for 5. Mom would get up early in the morning, put the turkey in a bag and cook it until it was ready to fall apart. My brother and my sister would be playing in the yard. I would sneak bites of whatever I could. Mom would say, “Stay out of that!” She’d hand me a beater of something sweet and say, ”Now, go away.”
When the turkey was cool enough, Dad would pick the meat off the bone and put it on a platter, white meat on one side, dark on the other, his big strong hands dripping with juice. I would sneak bites of the dark meat, which is my favorite, faster than he could pull it off the bone. Dad would say, “go away,” but I was waiting for the fight over the gizzard. That would be begin when Dad said, “that’s mine.” We always ended up splitting it and I always got the bigger ½ . By the time the feast was ready, I was full.
It’s been many years since I shared Thanksgiving with my family. At this time of year they are never far from my heart. Dad passed away August 28th of this year. This will be the first year I won’t be able to call him and tell him about the feast I’m preparing for my army of 4. So, when we hold hands and go around the table telling each other what we are thankful for, I will simply say, “I’m thankful for the memories of my youth and for a father who always gave me the bigger ½.”
Tracy Elks-Mallison ~ October 30, 2007
Autumn Song
November days are growing short
Causing the earth to cool.
The leaves have turned and tumbled down
Into a windward pool.
The bare trees stand like sentry guards,
Against the Autumn sky.
The harvest moon shines in the night,
A sentinel on high.
The wintry winds commence to blow.
The geese have flown away.
We gather friends and family ‘round’
To keep Thanksgiving Day.
A wood fire turns upon the hearth
To contradict the storm.
Please bless this house and all within
And keep us safe and warm.
Judi Eckert ~ October 30, 2007
This Month’s Spotlight
By Beth King
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
A friend brought this book to me and said, “You have to read this.” I don’t know if she knew I’m a slave to time travel novels. Since I sneaked a read of my brother’s copy of Door Into Summer, by Robert A. Heinlein, I’ve been fascinated with the whole concept. I’m not the only one. Television, movies, and literature have always been interested in the idea, as well. Remember Quantum Leap and Sliders? Ok, now forget those TV shows and probably any other time travel novel you’ve read. Niffennegger broke the mold and threw it out.
The Time Traveler’s Wife is a love story, I suppose. The basic theme is the relationship between Henry De’Tamble (our reluctant time traveler) and his wife Clare Abshire. But it is also a story about Henry’s relationship with himself. Because his time traveling is involuntary and brought on by stress, Henry never knows where or when he will suddenly materialize. At times he materializes in his own life when he is younger or older.
Now you have an inkling of why my head was spinning through the first chapters of the book. Henry comes and goes arriving naked, leaving everything behind. Fortunately Ms Niffenegger leaves some breadcrumbs for us to follow. Throughout the book the author has left cryptic signposts. Monday, February 2, 1987 (Clare is 15, Henry is 38), Saturday, December 22, 1991 (Henry is 28, and 33.) Half way through the book I quit trying to figure where or when the story was taking place, and just relied on the signposts.
Niffenegger also breaks some tried and true Sci Fi rules about time travel. The idea of going back in time and changing the future was always a huge problem in the stories I’ve read. But changing the future doesn’t seem to be the problem, here. Henry has no qualms about memorizing winning lottery numbers and then giving them to Clare so that she can buy a winning ticket. He also made a point of training his child self to manage on the streets by picking pockets, how to fight, and methods of finding clothes and food. You might find Henry’s lack of a moral compass somewhat distracting. He commits petty crimes, simply because he must. But when it comes to revealing the future, he is adamant that it’s better not to know some things. Until his curiosity gets the best of him
The love story is poignant, and I’m not sure if The Time Traveler’s Wife is a comedy or a tragedy. Still it’s an entertaining read, with characters that I was hesitant to like, but miss now that the book is done. Thanks for the great read, Sandy.
We are looking for these books For Our Customers
The Fields by Conrad Richter
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Orion by Gail Giorgio Brewer
Perfect by Marne D Kellogg
The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky
Gettysburg by Gingrich/ Forstchen
The Indians Won by Martin Cruz Smith
B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
Magical Wind by Christine Feehan
Bugs on the Farm (CD) by Carrie Blake-Brekke
Night Moves by Nora Roberts
Charmed by Nora Roberts
Enchanted by Nora Roberts
Secrets of Paris by Luanne Rice
Stone Heart by Luanne Rice
Clash of Kings by George R. Martin
Storm of Swords by George R. Martin
Left Behind (HB/DJ) by Lahaye and Jenkins
Stephanie Plum 12 and 13 (PB) by Janet Evanovich
Obstruction of Justice by Perri O'Shaughnessy
Series Books
Red River ofThe North Series by Lauraine Snelling
The Mode Series by Piers Anthony
The Gor Series by John Norman
Diagnosis Murder Series by Lee Goldberg
Terror Series (Treason, Hostage, Defiance) by Don Brown
A-H (HB/DJ) Mystery Series by Sue Grafton
Any Titles by the following authors:
e.e. cummings, David Ray, Ted Kooser,
Jon Krakauer, P.G. Wodehouse,
Pearl Wilcox, Emily Loring
Biographies for children:
Annie Oakley, John D. Rockefeller,
William Seward, James Cook,
George Dewey, Winston Churchill,
Sitting Bull, Andrew Carnegie,
Chris Finney, Wild Bill Hickok
Books with these subjects:
Gardening Book on Clematis
Doily Patterns for Beginners
School Zone: Start to Read Books
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