Short Story Sunday #3: A Good Man Is Hard to Find

I don't know what it is about horrific short stories that truly capture my attention, but like the other two I have shared thus far, this one fits the bill.

Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find tells the story of a grandmother, her son and daughter-in-law, and their children taking a trip. The children are rude, the adults take the grandmother for granted, and they end up visiting places they do not belong. 

This story is another great example of a timeless, well-written short story that grabs your attention yet gives you a full-bodied story in a matter of pages.

As I work on my own skills as a short story writer, these are the kinds of stories I hope to model. There is just nothing like a story that sticks with you for the rest of your life and changes the way you look at the world.

The link below is listed if you would like to read the story for yourself: 

http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~surette/goodman.html

Word of the Day: March 10

Inchmeal: performed gradually, or little by little

I picture a little worm with a big goal when I see this word, or one of those colonies of ants that sends 50 soldiers for one wayward leaf or piece of bread. Though the effort may seem dismal and the goal far off, something about the meaning of this word inspires me. We live in such a fast paced world, people become disappointed without immediate results. This word reminds me that lots of things can be achieved a little at a time.

Here is an sentence putting this word to use:

This was his seventh week at the gym and he was starting to become discouraged. He wasn't expecting and 8-pack to show where an inner tube once was, but this inchmeal approach to a slim physique was making his enthusiasm drop like elephant out of an airplane.

Don't give up hope on this one, or any of your own inchmeal goals for that matter. It's the journey that really matters, not the end result. And just think of it - all those little inches you earn eventually add up to feet, to yards, to miles. You can do it! 

Book Review #3: Twisted Summer

I am desperate for summer. Here in Pennsylvania, there has been snow nearly every week since Christmas, and it always falls from Friday night until Sunday morning. It's like I am supposed to hibernate.

Thinking of summer and all the warm happiness it brings reminded me of my first ever favorite book. I read Twisted Summer by Willo Davis Roberts the summer before entering middle school. It is, if you have not already guessed, a YA (Young Adult) novel, but it is a very interesting one.

With vivid descriptions and interesting twists (do you like that pun?), Willo David Roberts tells the story of three-generations of family as they spend summer vacation in the mountains. Our heroine, CiCi, goes through the transition from childhood to adulthood throughout this summer, and we also learn of a murder that needs to be solved.

I loved this book because it was my first real introduction to darker, more complicated plots. Everything I had read up to that point was from an elementary school textbook, rhymed, and had cartoons as companions. Reading a novel made me feel like I was growing up, and made me feel like I was CiCi as I went through the story.

I suggest picking this book up whenever you need a lazy summer read and want to bring out the curious kid that was once inside you. I'm fresh out of hammocks though, so you'll have to provide your own.

Word of the Day: March 9

Traduce: to slander or speak poorly of someone; to tell lies for the sake of defamation

This word sounds vicious, a perfect verb to slap on the shoulder of a conniving villain or snooty school girl. At first glance or pronunciation, it doesn't seem to pack a mean punch - honestly, when I look at it, I see a mathematical vocab word - but I think that is because the very meaning of this word implies sneaking.

Here is an example of how to use the word:

After hearing the words "no comment" for the hundredth time, Tori took matters into her own hands. She scoured the pages of every interview the senator had given to every other reporter besides her. She tweezed out snippets of sentences and poorly worded points until the congressman's own words traduced his reputation, a journalistic masterpiece in her opinion.

Be careful around this one, and watch what you share in confidence. I think using this word may be the perfect example of keeping your friends close but enemies closer.

March Madness

My oh my...it seems that this month is going to be a busy one. There are never enough hours in a day - I blame it on Daylight Saving Time for stealing an extra hour.

I apologize for the backlog on blog posts as of late. But have no fear, I am hear to catch us up. Bare with me as a flood of posts fill this wall today. I promise to make them worth reading. :)

Word of the Day: March 8

Regalia: an insignia of royalty, or attire worn for formal occasions to define status

This word should be written in gold leaf, I think. It sounds utterly snooty and overly concerned with Keeping Up with the Joneses. It can be used to describe items like a crown or a scepter, which are very much royal, but it can also simply describe gaudily expensive jewelry.

Here is an example of how to use our royal friend:

The duchess sat poised  in front of the vanity mirror as she decorated herself with radiant regalia, one piece's price tag requiring a significant reach into the taxpayers' purse.

This is the type of word that will require you to read Emily Post's Etiquette before a strut about town. You better have deep pockets, too, because it looks like this one has an eye for the finer things in life.

Word of the Day: March 7

Prosaic: lacking poetic beauty, or being commonplace

This word is derived from the idea that prose is, in fact, boring. I can understand the sentiment, and do enjoy a nice line of poetry from time to time, but considering the title of this blog, I enjoy a nice piece of well-written narrative, too. I'm not really fond of rhyming all the time, or hitting the enter key after every fifth word.

This word can be used to describe anything that is monotonous or pedestrian, lacking the ability to take anyone by surprise.

Here is an example of how to use this word:

Standing alone, she was beautiful. It was when she was matched against her elegant peers that she felt prosaic and meaningless.

You may want to take this word backpacking across the world, or even just on a day trip to visit a few museums. Broaden its worldview a bit, let it see things it has not seen before. You might find yourself feeling a bit less prosaic as well.