The following critiques were written by a Russian immigrant, now a proud American and author of several literary and musical pieces, and an American songwriter/singer whose biggest hit was "Ain't No Way To Treat a Lady," performed by Helen Reddy.
I just finished reading Ben Burton's book “Southern Shade.”
A few days ago, the author sent it to me, asking me to read it and then forward it to someone in a group of my internet interlocutors. All he asked was that I read his novel and offer my honest opinion.
Frankly, I was not very much thrilled with that unexpected burden: I didn't relish the idea of adding an additional task to my long list of personal problems. But... following my own rule to never turn down anything that might be interesting, enriching, enlightening, and joyful, I agreed. Shortly thereafter, I received the book the author generously sent me at no charge.
Oh gosh, how good is that rule I follow! The book provided at least three of the things I seek: joy, knowledge, and sweetness of memories. Memories of youth when nobody knows yet what he or she is and might be in future...
Have you ever experienced a strange feeling as if something is spinning in your brain but you can't grasp it, you can't recall what it is? And then suddenly, you clearly see a scene... For me, such a scene turned out to be an early morning in August 1954; I, then a teen, am standing on a country road, some 50 miles from Moscow... Well, I'm not going now to tell you that story.
The point is that the book I just finished reading, has managed to rouse my memories. And I am sure it will do the same for you. Some memories may be joyful and bright, others sad and gloomy. But whatever they are, they are very important for everybody because a person with no memorable past is usually doomed to have no worthy future.
The author has delicately and lovingly/fondly reconstructed the days when America still lived quasi-bucolic and morally sound life, not yet shaken up by new liberal/progressive tornadoes that later managed to divide the nation's mind into six “alter Egos,” among which a positive one, Knowledge, perfidiously opened the door to the other five - Lust, Decadence, Overuse, Greed and Antagonism - that in any society inevitably, with a speed of imagination, designate a road of “the course from Heaven through the world to the bowels of Hell.” (Goethe, Faust, Prelude in the Theater.)
The novel reproduces an atmosphere of a loving family where adults are certain they govern the household while kids are certain it's they who govern. What is comically true - the both sides are right.
The novel's heroine, 12-year old gal, Jean Beechworth – rightly or wrongly – sometimes reminds of Tom Sawyer: she is of the same age, also playful and adventurous.
What is more important, even if she is not a natural showoff like Tom, in fact, she is: her shyness, caused by her own underestimation, psychologically and maybe even unknowingly forces her, who internally is an individual with good horse sense, to prove to others and to herself that she possesses skills she thinks she has not. Of course, such attempts often create situations full of good laughter, but sometimes the reader may feel the need to drop a tear.Vivid colloquial language of the novel, full of family slang, not only depicts rich and versatile characters, but also helps the reader to enjoy the very process of reading.
I did have the completely legitimate chance to read the book at no charge. But I found it worthy of bucks I decided willingly and gratefully to send to the author, as I wanted the book to remain in my possession, instead of forwarding it to somebody else.
This book is “a must” for one who is suffering from depression of our current days, and wants to “pump up” him or herself with a charming aroma of days of the relatively carefree and wonderful world of the country's virginity.
Constantine Ivanov Queens, NY
www.PoemsAndReflectionsConstantineIvanov.com
And this, from Mz Schock:
“Ben Burton is the kind of writer who can readily capture the attention of Southern-born readers. He remembers all of the small details that draw us into the reality of his story. Even if it isn’t our reality, it becomes ours. The adventures and dialogue of these characters and the experiences they’re based on will make you laugh and feel things you may have forgotten you once felt. This is always nice, isn’t it?”
www.harrietschock.com
323 934-5691
http://www.allmusic.com\
http://www.pandora.com/music/artist/harriet+schockwww.myrecordlabel.com/harrietschock
http://www.cdbaby.com
http://www.myspace.com/harrietschock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzYwxrHoJBI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr5stC_16ko
http://www.youtube.com/user/sirpaopao
A few days ago, the author sent it to me, asking me to read it and then forward it to someone in a group of my internet interlocutors. All he asked was that I read his novel and offer my honest opinion.
Frankly, I was not very much thrilled with that unexpected burden: I didn't relish the idea of adding an additional task to my long list of personal problems. But... following my own rule to never turn down anything that might be interesting, enriching, enlightening, and joyful, I agreed. Shortly thereafter, I received the book the author generously sent me at no charge.
Oh gosh, how good is that rule I follow! The book provided at least three of the things I seek: joy, knowledge, and sweetness of memories. Memories of youth when nobody knows yet what he or she is and might be in future...
Have you ever experienced a strange feeling as if something is spinning in your brain but you can't grasp it, you can't recall what it is? And then suddenly, you clearly see a scene... For me, such a scene turned out to be an early morning in August 1954; I, then a teen, am standing on a country road, some 50 miles from Moscow... Well, I'm not going now to tell you that story.
The point is that the book I just finished reading, has managed to rouse my memories. And I am sure it will do the same for you. Some memories may be joyful and bright, others sad and gloomy. But whatever they are, they are very important for everybody because a person with no memorable past is usually doomed to have no worthy future.
The author has delicately and lovingly/fondly reconstructed the days when America still lived quasi-bucolic and morally sound life, not yet shaken up by new liberal/progressive tornadoes that later managed to divide the nation's mind into six “alter Egos,” among which a positive one, Knowledge, perfidiously opened the door to the other five - Lust, Decadence, Overuse, Greed and Antagonism - that in any society inevitably, with a speed of imagination, designate a road of “the course from Heaven through the world to the bowels of Hell.” (Goethe, Faust, Prelude in the Theater.)
The novel reproduces an atmosphere of a loving family where adults are certain they govern the household while kids are certain it's they who govern. What is comically true - the both sides are right.
The novel's heroine, 12-year old gal, Jean Beechworth – rightly or wrongly – sometimes reminds of Tom Sawyer: she is of the same age, also playful and adventurous.
What is more important, even if she is not a natural showoff like Tom, in fact, she is: her shyness, caused by her own underestimation, psychologically and maybe even unknowingly forces her, who internally is an individual with good horse sense, to prove to others and to herself that she possesses skills she thinks she has not. Of course, such attempts often create situations full of good laughter, but sometimes the reader may feel the need to drop a tear.Vivid colloquial language of the novel, full of family slang, not only depicts rich and versatile characters, but also helps the reader to enjoy the very process of reading.
I did have the completely legitimate chance to read the book at no charge. But I found it worthy of bucks I decided willingly and gratefully to send to the author, as I wanted the book to remain in my possession, instead of forwarding it to somebody else.
This book is “a must” for one who is suffering from depression of our current days, and wants to “pump up” him or herself with a charming aroma of days of the relatively carefree and wonderful world of the country's virginity.
Constantine Ivanov Queens, NY
www.PoemsAndReflectionsConstantineIvanov.com
And this, from Mz Schock:
“Ben Burton is the kind of writer who can readily capture the attention of Southern-born readers. He remembers all of the small details that draw us into the reality of his story. Even if it isn’t our reality, it becomes ours. The adventures and dialogue of these characters and the experiences they’re based on will make you laugh and feel things you may have forgotten you once felt. This is always nice, isn’t it?”
www.harrietschock.com
323 934-5691
http://www.allmusic.com\
http://www.pandora.com/music/artist/harriet+schockwww.myrecordlabel.com/harrietschock
http://www.cdbaby.com
http://www.myspace.com/harrietschock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzYwxrHoJBI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr5stC_16ko
http://www.youtube.com/user/sirpaopao