Beyond the Peaks

by Carol7 Comments
Beyond the Peaks 347 words The sun is rising over the far hills. I hear its song waking the world. The birds twitter their thanks, the trees seem to straighten, ready to face a new day, even the grain, blowing gently in the breeze reflects its golden light. I feel alone this morning, the only audience for this magnificent show. Silly, I know, but I relish the peace and quiet. It's been a long journey. I sit beside the great tree, taking a rest before beginning the hike over the hills. The tree is a landmark for me, tall, strong, safe, so broad and solid, here for centuries, keeping silent vigil over the valley.  The ball rests in my hand, heavy for its size, the liquid silver swirling just below its surface. I had finally found the orb in a small shop in Freymere, abandoned among dusty relics and battered books, its power unrecognized. I bought it for a pittance, happy that I had...
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Thursday’s Tale: Nekane, the Lamina & the Bear by Frank P. Araujo

by Carol4 Comments
Nekane, the Lamiña & the Bear is a retelling of a classic Basque tale. The Basque are an ethnic group that live in a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France. This basics of the story will be familiar but the Basque version is certainly unique. A young girl, Nekane, is sent to her Uncle's house with a basket of fish and olive oil, but of course has to travel through the deep, dark woods to get there. Her mother warns her about the lamiña, a forest spirit who loves olive oil and will try to take it by taking any shape it wishes. Her mother tells her though, that the spirit is limited by the shape it takes, so if it takes the shape of a bird it can fly but won't be able to breathe underwater. Also, it...
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Along for the Thrill Ride

by Carol11 Comments
The Thrill Ride Questionnaire What is your favourite genre out of Thriller, Mystery, Suspense and Horror? Why? My favorite is Mystery. I don't really know why, I've just loved mysteries since I was a kid, starting with Nancy Drew and quickly moving up to Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes. I like the strong personalities the detectives usually have, whether they're professional or amateurs. I like the who dunnit, even if I can never figure it out. Who are your top 3 authors in those genres? It's so hard to choose. I'm picking three  that have stood the test of time. Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Ngaio Marsh Tell us who your favorite male and female authors are in the genre? These are my current favorites. This list could look very different at the same time next year. Male: Brian M. Wiprud Greg Iles Female: Louise Penny Kate Wilhelm What book do you remember loving but don't remember the details? Maybe you should read it again now. Dracula. I know I've read it,...
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Review: Still Alice by Lisa Genova

by Carol15 Comments
Still Alice by Lisa Genova is  a heart-breaking, but still hopeful novel.  Alice's story is compelling and made me think about how important it is to spend time with those I love. Alice is a brilliant, healthy 50 year-old woman, a Harvard psychology and linguistics professor who is happily married and has three grown children. She notices that she is beginning to forget things, lose words, get lost in her own town. At first, she blames it on menopause, but is soon diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. The novel follows her through that next year as her condition deteriorates. Alice's story is devastating and Genova has made her feel so real. It's an honest portrayal of what it must feel like to have Alzheimer's, to know that you will eventually lose your mind, how scary it can be, how alone you can feel. I can't say I liked Alice. In the beginning of the book, I felt like she put her career...
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