MIA

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Miss Ash

Hey ya’ll!

I’ve sort of fallen off the face of the earth.

The truth is, I have been unable to focus on reading.  A major medical issue has arisen in my family and I feel seriously ADD when it comes to reading.

I have, however, been doing a LOT of writing.  You can see what’s going on in my head at my other blog, Perilously Precocious.

Once the dust settles in my real life, I will post more here at this blog.  I think it’s beginning to settle now, but I make no promises.   I can promise that I will get back to this place eventually as reading and writing about it is something I take such joy in.

Love ya’lls.

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Olga, A Daughter’s Tale by Marie-Therese Browne

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Miss Ash

This was sent to me by the author, and she ever-so-patiently waited for me to finally read and review it.
So here ya go, lady, thanks for not giving up on my review!

I loved this book.  There were some things I had to overlook… punctuation misuse or lack thereof was the biggest distraction, but overall, a very interesting story.  I’m thankful you shared this with us!

It’s written in epistolary fashion, as diary entries and letters.  I really like this – and wonder if this wouldn’t be a better format for the very similar book that I’m writing about my grandmother.   She’s on to something.

This story is about a Jamaican borne woman who travels to London with the intentions of temporarily staying, yet ends up living out the rest of her life there.  Part black, a single mother, and without any contact with her family, this woman raises her daughter all by herself.   There were many interesting parts of the story, and I especially enjoyed reading about the Jamaican voodoo and its cultural variances.  I learned from this book, and that’s always a beautiful thing.

The book is a narrative about her own mother’s life.  I’m totally excited for the author to have successfully printed this book, and hope that one day it is a pleasure for her great grandchildren to learn about their own families.

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A Black Girl’s Poetry by Kimberly LaRocca

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Miss Ash

I was contacted by the author to do this review.

First and foremost, the cover of this book of poetry is lovely.  I love the background and image chosen for it.
You can see the artist’s blog here: http://klarocca2010.wordpress.com/tag/kimberly-larocca/

So…

Between the covers are hundreds of elementary, rhyming poems.   And rhyming is cool, if you’re into that.
She writes about love and life and relationships… all very real, very humanistic, and each poem has a clear but simple emotion identified within it.
Truth be told, I skimmed through the book.

This is so hard; reviewing someone’s personal poetry like this is so close to reviewing the person themselves, and I don’t want to give off an elitist, snobbish, or harsh review because I think this girl is probably very beautiful in her heart and soul– and even physically (though I don’t know).
Don’t think I’m judging you as a person, Kimberly.

With regards to your work, here are some things I would like to encourage as you grow and diversify as a writer:

Try mixing up the rhythms of your work.  It doesn’t all have to have the same pace or language.  You can add depth to your emotional expression by using the words as… like a paint on a canvas.   Mix up the structure.

Interweave language and embrace a thesaurus.  Words are beautiful.  Your experience is beautiful.  Diversify.

Less short poems.  More story writing within the poetry.  Give me something I can chew on.  Make me respond with breathlessness.

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The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Miss Ash

This is another one of my favorite herbalist books.  I love the way it is written, and I feel like I can trust the source.  James Duke does an excellent job providing empathetic, scientific information regarding a whole slew of ailments – and then what the traditional herbalist remedies are.  He even has a ranking system based on the likelihood that the mentioned remedy might work!

This book is laid out nicely, is easy to read, and I keep it readily at hand for when someone comes to me with an illness.  I *heart* this book.

And if you’re looking to support A Perilously Precocious Librarian book blog, buy your copy from Tattered Cover here.

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The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Grossberg & Fox

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Miss Ash

When my MIL found this gem, I was completely and utterly envious.  I coveted this book so much that I was ready to order it from Tattered Cover.

But then, out of nowhere, she gave it to me!  Boy, I sure do have awesome luck often!

I’m into herbal healing and yet I acknowledge the benefits in some situations for western pharmaceuticals.  That being said, sometimes folks with whom I interact are on those pharmaceuticals, and are asking me about teas they can safely consume.  Without this book, I had always just had to default to the line, “Ask your pharmacist.  They’ll know.”

Now, though, I have an extensive, giant book on the interactions.  What interacts, what could be a harmful interaction, what the herb is generally used for, etc.

I am in love.

Ever since I got the book, it hasn’t gone far from my tea shelf.  I have hundreds of herbs to administer, and now I can see if it’s safe to mix them with other things.  YES!

And if you’re looking to support A Perilously Precocious Librarian book blog, buy your copy from Tattered Cover here.

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