Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

My review

On the surface, "Kindred" by Octavia E. Butler is a fantasy thriller, but it's so much more than that. It's an examination of gender, power struggles, race, history and socioeconomic divides. This book is also a memoir -- Dana resembles young Octavia. Both Dana and Octavia's fathers died before they knew him, both worked in menial jobs and both grew up in Southern California. As usual, Butler creates a strong, yet sensitive heroine that readers can root for. Dana is a modern day intellectual black woman who is a writer and she is married to another writer, who happens to be white. On her 26th birthday, she time travels back to 1815 to save Rufus, her white ancestor from drowning. As the story progresses, she returns to this era for over a year in her time, but over the span of 21 years in their time. In every visit she faces more danger and increasing violence. Butler doesn't lecture the reader about the psychological effects of slavery on both blacks and whites, but we discover how slavery leaves mental/physical scars on master and slave. She also examines through her first person narrative and characters how black women had to negotiate a space in this culture in order to survive. All of her characters are complicated and I think this is one of Butler's strengths in all of her fiction. Her plot is tight and suspenseful and she doesn't over foreshadow -- she gives just enough dread for you not to stop reading. The only quibble I had with the book was that there was too much unattributed dialogue between Dana and her husband Kevin at the beginning of the book. We didn't see these characters talk or experience their actions -- it was just straight expository dialogue. However, the writing got a lot stronger twenty-five pages later. Butler's short, imagistic descriptions and Dana's thoughts made me quickly forget about the shaky beginning. I also loved the ending which I won't give away. After you've read this book check out "Parable of the Sower" and "Parable of the Talents."


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Lots of New Workshops for Summer and Fall

I've just posted several new workshops I'm offering in fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry for July through October. Please check them out! Three of them are taking place at the NEW Storyteller's Bookstore in downtown Wake Forest, which has its local opening this Friday, July 18th, starting at 2pm.


Where Does A Story Come From? A Fiction Workshop
Location: At the NEW Storyteller's Book Store100 E. Roosevelt AveWake Forest, NC 27587
Cost: $30
Time: Sunday July 27th 2–4:30pm
One of the hardest jobs for a writer is coming up with story ideas that are believable and that hold the writer's interest. Sometimes writers come up with great ideas, but then have trouble fleshing them out. In this workshop taught by experienced workshop leader, Alice Osborn (www.aliceosborn.com) , we'll tap the powers of your imagination, observation and memory so that you'll leave the workshop with the beginnings of at least one story and the beginnings of many more possible threads. All writing levels are welcome.
To register, please call Storyteller's Book Store at 919-554-9146

Creative Journaling to Find Your Inner Child
Location: Unity Church of the Triangle, Downtown Raleigh, corner of Person and Hargett Streets,Choir Room
Cost: $20
Time: Tues. Aug. 5th 7-9 pm
Active journaling will help you become more mindful of the world around you and will bring you closer to the Divine and to your Inner Child. Through journaling, you'll build self-awareness and compassion, and feel closer with the child you once were. All writers at all experiences are welcome to join us. Please bring a notebook and your favorite pen.
To register, please email Alice at www.aliceosborn.com

Sharing Your Life Story
Location: At the NEW Storyteller's Book Store100 E. Roosevelt AveWake Forest, NC 27587
Cost: $30
Time: Sunday, Aug. 17th 2-4:30pm
We all have a life story inside of us, but many times we feel that what we've experienced is not relevant or important. In this workshop, you'll learn how you can harness the power of your stories for future generations and that what you've learned over a lifetime is a treasure that must be shared! In class writing exercises and feedback from Alice will help you generate memorable prose and you'll also learn techniques to keep up your writing practice after the class concludes. All levels are welcome.
To register, please call Storyteller's Book Store at 919-554-9146

Writing Poetry from the Inside Out
Location: At the NEW Storyteller's Book Store100 E. Roosevelt AveWake Forest, NC 27587
Time: Tues. Aug. 26th and Tues. Sept. 2nd 7-9 pm
Register by calling 919-554-9146
Cost: $35
Writing poetry can help connect with the Divine as it helps us center ourselves within the world around us. Poetry allows us to heal, reflect and meditate and in this workshop, we will explore several classic and contemporary poets who write about the sacred and nurture the present moment in their language and imagery. We will also find poems within us through Alice's guided writing exercises and by listening to our inner voice. All writing levels are encouraged to attend.
To register, please call Storyteller's Book Store at 919-554-9146

Journaling From the Inside Out
Location: A Place for Women to Gather, North Raleigh8380 Six Forks Road, Suite 201Raleigh, North Carolina 27615Phone: 919-846-3601
Cost: $45
Time: Sat. Sept. 6th 9:30 am-12:30pm
Active journaling will help you become more mindful of the world around you and will bring you closer with the Divine. Through journaling you'll build self-awareness and compassion vital traits for any kind of writer!

All writers at all experiences are welcome to join us. Please bring a notebook and your favorite pen. Light refreshments will be served.

Please register at 846-3601

Write with Confidence — How to Consciously Communicate with Clarity and Conciseness
Location: Cameron Village Library1930 Clark AveRaleigh, NC 27605
Time: Monday, Sept. 8th 6:30-8pm
Cost: FREE This is a not-to-miss seminar for small business owners who spend a great deal of time communicating with the public and with clients. In this 90-minute seminar, you'll learn how to position your tone and topic towards your audience and how to create memorable copy for your website/blog/newsletter. You'll also receive a quick grammar refresher and revision review to ensure that your writing includes focus and precision.

Make A Living As a Writer with Alice Osborn and Sharon McCormick
Location: Bishop's House, Duke Campus, Rm 102 Durham, NC
Cost: $75
Time: Sat. Sept. 20th from 1-4pm
Can writers make a living? Sure they can! In this seminar, Sharon and Alice will walk you through the details of making a career as a writer. (and what to do while you're waiting for that at big writing break!)

Writing Poetry from the Inside Out with Alice Osborn and Jane Andrews
Location: A Place for Women to Gather, North Raleigh8380 Six Forks Rd., Suite 201Raleigh, NC 27615
Time: Wed. Oct. 22/Oct. 27 7-9 pm
Cost: $45 for 2 sessions or $25 for 1 session
Writing poetry can help connect with the Divine as it helps us center ourselves within the world around us. St. Thomas Aquinas said, "All knowledge begins in sensations." Poetry allows us to heal, reflect and meditate and in this workshop, we will explore poems rich in sensory experience that will invite your readers to participate not only with their imagination, but also with their hands, nose, mouth and ear. All writing levels are encouraged to attend.
Register by calling A Place for Women to Gather at 846-3601. All checks made payable to "A Place for Women to Gather."

Journaling Your Memoir Class at Sertoma Arts Center

Here are more pictures from our Sertoma Journaning Class -- July 9-July 30th 2008!

Last night the first session of my "Journaling Your Memoir" class met at Sertoma Arts Center from 7-9 pm. The Arts Center is adjacent to Shelley Lake, near the intersection of Leadmine and Millbrook Roads in N Raleigh. We had a lot of people show -- 7 women and 1 very brave man, James. James just decided to take my class that day when he called me up to see how he could get his writing together. Go James!

The class read a short memoir of 750 words to get a feel for what a memoir is supposed to look and feel like and then we did several writing exercises. In between these exercises I provided some guided instruction on the craft of memoir. I also provided caramel oatmeal squares. I always provide some sort of yummy treat at all of my workshops and book clubs.

Speaking of which, my next book club meets Fri. July 25th at 10am at Cameron Village Library. Our book this time is Kindred by Octavia Butler. My book club, the Wonderland Book Club, is now on Meet Up and Good Reads after heeding the advice of several of my Web 2.0 friends.

Till next time!

Alice

Natalie Goldberg's Latest Creation

Old Friend from Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir by Natalie Goldberg

My review

As a fan of Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones, I want to read her latest "how-to" book. I own the audio version of this title, but would like to experience the updated print version. A review from this month's The Writer (Aug 2008) wasn't too positive, so I'll need to judge "Old Friend" for myself.



I'd like to use this book as inspiration for my upcoming "Journaling Your Memoir" class I'm teaching Wed. at the Sertoma Arts Center in Raleigh off of Millbrook/Leadmine at Shelley Lake. The class runs 4 sessions in July, so there'll be plenty of time to use some Natalie.


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The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Although Hosseini's images and characterizations were beautiful and mesmerizing of Afghanistan, I didn't like Amir (the main character). I thought he was selfish and weak and not much of a hero. There were some contrived plot elements, too, and Hosseini was very heavy-handed with his themes of redemption and loss. However, besides these flaws, Hosseini didn't mess up the book's ending. I did get a copy of A Thousand Splendid Suns and look forward to seeing if it's a better book than this one.


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The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sylvia Plath's novel was deceptively fun to read, despite the heavy themes of death and depression. So many of her character's experiences (really her alter-ego) echo the experiences I've faced and that many young women face today. That's amazing, considering that this book was set in 1953! Now I want to get all of Plath's poetry books.


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Storyteller's Book Shop in Wake Forest

Tonight I attended Neeley Bridges's CD launch party at Drew Bridges Storyteller's Book Shop in downtown Wake Forest, which will be officially opened to the public on Fri. July 18th. Drew is Neeley's dad and she is a singer/songwriter/actress in NYC. She sounded beautiful -- think Norah Jones's style of jazz and blues. Her local band was also very pitch perfect.

A few days ago I helped shelve Drew's poetry and historical fiction and it was so much fun being part of something before it opens to the world. Drew has invited me to offer creative writing workshops at his store, so stayed tuned!