Stage two:-
Can anyone help? What is the female equivalent of Geezer Lit? Not heard of Geezer Lit? It is mystery and adventure, cozy not noir, for those past the first flush of youth.
Suggestions welcome.
Stage two:-
Can anyone help? What is the female equivalent of Geezer Lit? Not heard of Geezer Lit? It is mystery and adventure, cozy not noir, for those past the first flush of youth.
Suggestions welcome.
From NetGalley Review published by Holland House Books.
A black humored checkerboard with ivory tiles of compassion.
Jane, a telemarketer, is neither a nihilist nor a slacker, but a resilient survivor from a wretched childhood using humor to make it through another torpid day at work.
Austin’s breath-taking cynicism, and laugh out loud one-liners, take the reader on a skillfully crafted journey. “I believe that I should be able to amputate my own hand if I am so compelled. I am the sole owner of all my own appendages.” Jane struggles to gain autonomy and keeps the truth private, a rare quality. Maybe she might have sought help if anyone suitable appeared on the horizon, but meanwhile, Jane willingly defends other people’s sensibilities as best she can.
The writer’s smooth and sinewy conversational writing style belies a razor-sharp opportunism and a wickedly warped perspective. Jane’s constant lies, or flights of fancy, form a tattered ribbon of deceit and protection that ultimately unravel and leave her vulnerable and exposed.
When you mix frivolous wit and unrelenting misfortune in the correct proportion you end up with a poignant portrait: a sweet-bitter nugget of life like multicolored jellybeans rolled in a crisp peppercorn crust. As a bonus, “Oh Honey,” has my favorite kind of ending. I’m looking forward to a second helping. Maybe you will too.
There is so much I’d like to share from this book, but I’d hate to spoil your experience.
Brilliant one-liners, hysterical word-play, peppered with poignant episodes compelling the reader to turn another page. Witty descriptions, pithy put-downs, and fragmentary insights about the human condition.
Do yourself a favor–escape this world and enter Major Tom’s.
Overall, an unreserved five star laugh out loud romp.
NetGalley Review published by Orion Books
I read this during the holiday season while nursing a cold but Vera’s humor lifted me out of my self-imposed misery. Recovery, my own as well as the rest of my family of seven in sequential doses meant it has taken me longer than planned to write my review.
First up, I must confess to my mistake. I thought this was a book of cartoons, which it isn’t. Instead, this is a collection of previously published humorous short stories. I received a free copy.
My ipad tells me, “You have 9 highlighted passages,” but I’ll only share three of my favorites.
In, “Call me Sometime,” Vera describes the frustration experienced by us all from cold callers, and an original method of avoiding further contact.
She also expanded my limited language by explaining the concept of ‘pre-need.’
“Namely Speaking,” provides us with some useful tips on how to discover someone’s name at a social occasion when you’ve forgotten who they are.
Lastly, here’s a direct quote and a motto for the year ahead.
“Anyway, the days of my life don’t flow smoothly like the sand in that hourglass. Nope, not at all. If my time were the sand in an hourglass, it would be full of lumps—or extra fine, fast running.”
I thoroughly enjoyed Vera’s sense of humor and turn of phrase. You can find her book here or visit her site.