Thoughts On 'A Reading Challenge,' October Cancer Month, and bonus Haiku

 

When I set my Goodreads challenge to read and review 71 books between October 22, 2015 and October 22, 2016, I saw no problem in reaching the goal. Reading is a large part of my life, never a chore or a drain on my time and energy. If anything, I should feel guilty for reading while the laundry awaits. But Stephen King gave all authors the green light by saying we should write for four hours and read for four hours every day. Thanks, guy!

The Importance of Book Reviews

 

Book reviews are helpful to authors but are especially important for readers. A review can help a reader decide whether a book will be worth their allotted reading time. It can also raise their awareness of a story that will thoroughly entertain them. Your review can save another reader from thinking, "It wasn't at all what I expected."

 

Setting goals gets me a lot farther than not setting them. Although my bar for 2017 won't be quite as high, I'll never stop reading and reviewing books. 

 

Book #71 of my 71-Books Goal for 2016

 

During the Makiki Community Library 40th Anniversary Celebration in September, a local author introduced herself to members of the Sisters in Crime/Hawaii Chapter. We were holding discussions on various writing topics over a two-day period. Janet attended a couple of the sessions. During open forum, she shared her experience about being diagnosed with terminal cancer -- twenty-five years ago. She told us about the short memoir she had published on Amazon as an e-Book. After hearing about her ordeal, along with everything she is doing now to enjoy life to the fullest, I couldn't wait to read the book. My 5-Star review follows.

 

 

SURVIVING "TERMINAL CANCER"
by
Janet R. Shaw

 

The amount of information included in this short book is amazing. The author shares her experiences, from the time her doctor informs her that she has terminal breast cancer and will soon die, through the emotional upheaval to the life-saving decisions she made on her own. I purchased the book after meeting Janet at the Makiki Community Library 40th Anniversary celebration in September. She didn't stay long because she didn't want to lose her spot in the community pool where she swims on a regular basis.

Nothing overtly supernatural presents itself in the author's story of SURVIVING "TERMINAL" CANCER, but she gives readers enough information to form their own opinion as to whether there is a miracle involved.

 

 

Pink hibiscus smiles
Greetings on my autumn walk
 Honolulu style


 

 

 

October

is

Breast Cancer Awareness month

 

Why not treat yourself to Janet's book today!

 

 *****     *****     *****

Link to my Goodreads Challenge list and Janet's book:

https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/show/3890-2016-reading-challenge

 

 

 

 

WHAT IS #59 and #60 REASON LACKING

ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING

70 Poems for 70 Days 

 is a collection of poetry I wrote as a birthday present to myself and gifted in book format to 70 of my friends and family members. Over a period of 70 Sundays, I am submitting the poems in the order of composition, along with a short comment about the poem’s style or theme,
often including a complementary photograph.

With linked poetry, a form of Japanese Renshi poetry,

the last lines of one poem are used to form the title of the next poem,

then the next poem shifts to a different topic.

I hope you find a few entries that bring a smile to your face or a long buried memory to the surface of your consciousness. Poetry is like that, whether you are the reader or the author.

59
What Is
 

Now is not back then

When trees grew in place, from seed

The river flowed, free

Though not all humans were.

 

Sun shone straight to earth

No buildings scraped the sky

What is here today

Is just more of the same.

 

Not more love back then

Or hatred less by far

Satellites or

Internet connections.

 

Reveal the world

In Technicolor lights

Dust of skeletons

From closets once secured

Information blast

Power, with reason lacking.

 

 

*****     *****     *****

 

 

60

Reason Lacking

 

Friday night

Time to cruise

Deer in the headlights

Wine at the Fawn

 

Dance with sweat

Lining your bra

Cigarette break

Before you split

 

Back to The Hall

A quick stop for smokes

Lead foot heavy

And eager for more

 

Late, a few too many tipped

Sweat dried, reason gone

Rev the engine, hemi strong

Port or bust

 

Take the curves at speed

Blinding headlights clear the road

Not an obstacle in sight

To keep you from last call

 

This poem reflects the 50s and 60s when the jukebox and pinball machine ruled. Small town Friday night didn't vary much from state to state. If the place was too small or too poor to have a movie theater and the football game ended early, win or lose, it was party time! And everyone knew that kids don't die young so there was no reason to worry. Right?

 

*****     *****     *****