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Hi children, this is Ma speaking. They are always saying that critics should critique themselves. To do just that, I am starting off this book review with a story I written fifteen (15) years ago, for the audience to critique my work. This will be the first of many "Tales from Guyana," which will be located at the Writer's Topic in this website. You can also click here to review the story. Xmas Bet: To stay or not to stay
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till then: Check the Worm.
Hi children, this is Ma speaking.
I read an article from the New York Times UPFRONT Magazine, January 21, 2002. This article was well-written, but something inside of me that said "Something's missing." It so happens that I read a commentary from Diana Ray Diamond regarding this particular article that sort of "filled in the blanks," for me what was missing. I am sorry that I wasn't able to link this article from the New York Times Upfront website, because it is only available in magazine format. Anyway...the commentary is written below, for your enjoyment:
Commentary on:
Youth CrimeÖAdult Time
(From the New York Times UPFRONT Magazine, January 21, 2002)
Letís face it: no one is really happy about the justice system in terms of how it operates, especially when you are dealing with the juvenile vs. adult systems. The article ìYouth CrimeÖAdult Time,î gives a very interesting anecdote that tries to tie in the subject of the ìdouble standardsî in both of these systems. In the article, it starts off and ends with a fifteen-year-old boy who ìmade the biggest mistake of his life.î And his response? ìThey should have at least gave me a chance at some kind of decent rehabilitation before they put me hereÖî
Though the article cites the creation of the juvenile system, plus statistics and viewpoints of those in favor of the juvenile system, it also shows viewpoints on those who favor the adult system, with no strong arguments to backup those viewpoints. The article, at face-value, may seem objective in its viewpoint. But, one of the suspected snipers in todayís news makes the argument in this case that the adult system is the only way to treat those, who have a disregard of human life to take responsibilities for their actions. Choices have consequences; history, nature, certain diseases and not doing our homework shows us that.
Shawn Miller, who is the fifteen-year old boy in this article, is working on his GED, has dreams of starting his own business, and complains about the criminalsí stories he hears behind bars. What about the student that has been shot by the suspected sniper? How will his dreams turn out? What about the store owner in Alabama? Was this the ending of his business dream? Letís not forget the bus driver who must have heard stories from students. I guess he canít complain. Who will write their stories in the justice system?
What this article lacks is the human touch ñ the victims. Without that, this article is incomplete. For this article to be real, it should be entitled ìYouth crimeÖAdult timeÖVictimís left behind.î
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till then: Check the Worm.
Hi children, this is Ma speaking.
I am doing something unusual today. I am recommending a book of poems by Gertrude Blackwell Bailey, entitled "If Words Could Set Us Free." This book was copyrighted since 1974. Mrs. Bailey has been active in community affairs for many years in the Brownsville, East New York and Canarsie sections of Brooklyn, New York. Her intense interest and involvement in various programs beneficial to the people in these areas created many responsibilities. She has served successfully as family assistant at Canarsie High School, coordinator of busing programs, public speaker and poetess at schools, community centers and churches, founder of the Afro-American Day Care Center and Future Day Care Center. In these capacities, she reached above her prescribed duties in motivating youth to extend their education, abandon the drug scene, and participate in meaningful activities.
Mrs. Bailey was not only my neighbor, but my friend. On the day of my birthday (many years ago), she gave me a copy of her poems. In the book, she autographed the following: "Wisdom is a gift from God. Move on with it." I now pass it on to you all. It has been many years since the death of Mrs. Bailey. To keep her legacy alive, The View Of The Bay has chosen this month as Mrs. Bailey's Month.
Pitch In And Help Out by Gertrude Blackwell Bailey
Some folks are always complaining
Nothing is ever right
So why not pitch in
And help straighten the mess out.
Some folks find fault with everyone,
Family and their friends,
Never taking time to find
That fault is really with them.
Some folks' feelings get so hurt
At everything that's said.
They make everyone so miserable
Choosing the words they say.
Some folks have so very much
Yet they are grabbing for more.
They never give anything
To help the poor folks.
So folks are never happy
Be they Black or White.
So stop wasting your time complaining --
Pitch in and help out.
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till then: Check the Worm.
Hi children, this is Ma speaking.
For this month's review, it will be on "The Murderer" by Roy A.K. Heath.
The Murderer is a very dark, haunting novel. It takes us into the mind of Galton, who is a character that lacked not only strength, but was unlovable and was filled with self-pity, which spiraled him into madness.
This story takes place in Guyana, from the forest to the city. Roy Hearth was able to capture all that of Guyana in this book, such as the usage of slang words, food, places, and etc., which might trigger old memories to some that may read this novel.
Anyone familiar with Guyana will know what I am talking about. This book, however, was not easy to come by. If by any chance you read this book and not familiar with its setting, you may have to do some research. Others may remember Guyana because of the Jonestown incident.
But overall, "The Murderer" was a very good book. It reminded me of a country that I once knew.
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till then: Check the Worm.
August, 2002
Hi children this is Ma speaking.
For this month's book review, it will be on the novel "The Patient" by Michael
Palmer. This is a medical thriller at its best. The characters leap off the
pages, grabs you and off you go! We have neurosurgeon Jessie Copeland who is the
good guy. If I should need neurosurgery (heaven forbid), I pray that there is
someone out there who is dedicated and skilled as Jessie.
Then we have Claude Malloche, a brilliant , remorseless terrorist who is
suffering from brain tumor, which is considered to be inoperable. He seeks out
Jessie, leaving her with the choice but to do as he demanded or otherwise, lives
will be in danger. Sorry, can't give away the ending.
Let's just say, if you have seen the movie "Die Hard" (first one) and liked it,
then you will love this book. I know it will keep you up late into the night.
Enjoy!!
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till
then: Check the Worm
July, 2002
Hi children this is Ma speaking.
For this month's book review, it will be on the novel "Tamarind Woman" by Anita
Rav Badami.
"Tamarind Woman" tells the story of two generations of women. This book is about
family, traditions, and memories. It is told by the character, Kamini, who lives
in Canada.
At the center of this family, we have the mother, Saroja, who disappears for
days at one time, leaving Kamini and her sister in the care of servants. There
is a father who is unaware of what's going on.
These memories came flooding back when Kamini is informed that her mother, who
lives in India will be going alone on a journey across India.
I have not completed this book yet, but so far, I can tell that this novel will
have a positive ending.
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till
then: Check the Worm.
June, 2002
Hi children this is Ma speaking.
What if you could travel back in time to understand your ancestors way of life
and existence? What if you learn how they came about? Will you be able to travel
to a far location where your ancestors was born?
Indeed, these are the questions that answers to Toni Morrison's critically
acclaimed novel, "Song of Solomon." Toni Morrison was the first African-American
woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature when she was awarded the honor in
1993. She has also won the Pulitzer Prize, and is currently a professor at
Princeton University. She may also be the only writer ever to have won both the
Nobel Prize and a nod from Oprah Winfrey's Book Club, which selected "Song of
Solomon" as a highlighted choice, causing sales of the novel to skyrocket.
"Song of Solomon" is a novel about history, memory, and recovery; it also deals
with the relationship between love and violence. Milkman's quest for his family
history represents the state of African-American memory in general; in the
absence of documents, records, and written histories, Milkman's past is
uncertain, based mostly on spoken stories and his parents' memories. Only by
following the stories to their source in the South can Milkman learn the legend
of Solomon, his great-grandfather, the slave who could fly.
This book, to me, is a definite must-read. There are a lot of descriptive
details that Morrison put emphasis on to give the story a full flavor. The
characters of the story are really unforgettable. If you're a Morrison fan, she
recently wrote her new book called "Sula."
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till
then: Check the Worm.
May, 2002
Hi children this is Ma speaking. For this month's review, it will be on "Zoya's
Story"
by Zoya with John Follain and Rita Cristofari.
On September 11th and the aftermath of this event, we shared pain, loss and
suffering of a great nation -our nation, which we called "The United States of
America."
Then came the books of the men that committed this horrible act. Somewhere among
all the reading material, "Zoya's Story" caught my attention by the front cover
of the book: a woman hidden inside a blue burqa (imagine being claustrophobic).
So I began to read.
In this book, we have people that mandate their women to wear a burqu (I call it
a sack). Women couldn't laugh, deal with shopkeepers, wear cosmetics, etc. This
book is a horror guide into the lives of women of Afghanistan. Imagine living in
a country where women are not allowed to go to school or learn how to read.
As the book cover mentions, this is a memoir that speaks louder than the images
of devastation and outrage. "Zoya's Story" is a must read. At the end, we should
say "I am proud to be an American," where we have the freedom to choose and not
dictated to.
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till
then: Check the Worm.
April , 2002
Hi children this is Ma speaking. For this month's review, it will be on "The
Twentieth Wife," by Indu Sundaresan.
This is a fascinating book. It is about a child born in a road side tent in the
year 1577. Her name was Mehrunnisa, the Sun of Women.
The story goes on to tell of her first encounter at the age of eight with Prince
Salim. We see her family grow in rank and stature after her birth. Later, there
is a husband and a child in Mehrunnisa's life but still in the story, she was
able to be with her Prince/King later in life.
Of course becoming the Twentieth Wife and Prince Salim becoming king was no easy
task for these two people. We read about an Empire, ruled by Emperor Akbar, the
deception of his children and all the intrigues of a seventeenth-century epic.
This was an enjoyable story and I recommend this book to everyone, especially if
you are the type of person who is interested in reading different cultures of
the world.
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till
then: Check the Worm.
March , 2002
Hi children this is Ma speaking. My daughter had encouraged me to read this book
that she already read in school. And I thank her for this, because the book that
I'm about to tell you, is simply remarkable. The title of the book is called,
"The Crucible," by Arthur Miller. I had to do some research on this book and I
found out that this book was written during the McCarthy Era, of the paranoia
about communism that permeated America in the 1950s. People were accused left
and right of being a Communist and the only way they would save themselves from
this is by ìcooperatingî with the officials and give false confessions of this
matter. It is just like the witch trials of Salem except that there were
Communists in America. In "The Crucible", it is set up as a play. And speaking
of plays, it is actually playing in Broadway now. Hope it will be a big hit.
Early in the year 1692, in the small Massachusetts village of Salem, a
collection of girls fell ill, falling victim to hallucinations and seizures. In
extremely religious Puritan New England, frightening or surprising occurrences
were often attributed to the devil or his cohorts. The unfathomable sickness
spurred fears of witchcraft, and it was not long before the girls, and then many
other residents of Salem, began to accuse other villagers of consorting with
devils and casting spells. Old grudges and jealousies spilled out into the open,
fueling the atmosphere of hysteria. The Massachusetts government and judicial
system, heavily influenced by religion, rolled into action. Within a few weeks,
dozens of people were in jail on charges of witchcraft. By the time the fever
had run its course, in late August 1692, nineteen people (and two dogs) had been
convicted and hanged for witchcraft. This is what "The Crucible" is all about.
I won't spoil you with much details, but all I can say is this: read the book.
It is really good and satisfying to read.
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till
then: Check the Worm.
February , 2002
Hi children this is Ma speaking. I have a confession to make. Most of my books
comprised of horror and sci-fi. There are some books that were made to scare you
for a second and go flat, some are bland and some are nail-biting and
hair-raising. One of the books that I read that scared the heebie-jeebies out of
me is "The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red," by Joyce Reardon,
Ph.D.
After watching Stephen King's "Rose Red", I decided to splurge. I bought the
book and while I was reading it, the book gave me a better view of the daily
lives of aristocracy in the 1900s.
We follow Ellen and John Rimbauer on a year long honeymoon, while their home,
Rose Red, was being built. Upon their return they were accompanied by Suteena
who became Ellen's sister, best friend and house maid.
There is entertainment, lavish parties, disappearance and enough chills in The
Diary to keep you up late at nights. I confess I have not finished this book as
yet, but I will soon.
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till
then: Check the Worm.
January , 2002
Hi children this is Ma speaking. To start off the New Years, I went to see "The
Lord of The Rings," whose characters in J.R.R. Tolkien, three novel epics, is a
story of a band of nine valiant individuals (four pint-size hobbits, one wizened
wizard, two human men, a dwarf and an elf), who embark on a journey to save
mythic Middle-earth from the forces of evil. Tolkien, an Oxford professor who
died in 1973 at age 81, published the books between 1954 and 1955, and quickly
developed a slavishly loyal following. His books became international
best-sellers (they were must reads among Grateful Dead fans and other 1960s
counter-culture groups) and spawned the fantasy genre to which Harry Potter and
"Star Wars" are heir.
"The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" -- the first of three
"Rings" installments -- opened on December 19, 2001. The second installment
called, "The Two Towers," will be released December 2002, and the third
installment called, "The Return of the King," will be released December 2003.
All three installments have been already filmed. "The Lord of The Rings" is
often erroneously called a trilogy, when it is in fact a single novel,
consisting of six books plus appendices, sometimes published in three volumes.
There are already in the Internet "Rings" chat rooms, that are buzzing with
complaints about omitting characters (the mysterious wood-dwelling Tom Bombadil
and his wife, Goldberry, are absent from the movies) and eliminating plot
twists. Any way you look at it, it's still a great movie. If you haven't read
the book (which is over 1,000 pages), see the movie first. Happy New Years to
you all.
Until then, Ma said, "Take pages in a night, and tomorrow visit my site." Till
then: Check the Worm.