For all her skill, I don't think Elizabeth Lowell receives enough love from the reading world. She's sensual and sensuous and have so much love for my favourite part of the world; she's opened my eyes to so much of the beauty in this area that I, as a woman who grew up in the suburbs, would never have seen or even known existed.
Her writing is so passionate, just overwhelming for the senses. With some of her descriptions and scenes, you almost feel as though you're standing with the characters.
I love her books to the extent that I'm confused as to how I've missed some of her new releases. And I have and yes, I will be rectifying that quickly.
Enough ass kissing, you think? Though I guess it's more of a caveat for you all; I love her so you would (perhaps rightly) assume that I am a little more blind to her faults. We can discuss that after.
The story is about a woman, a fashion reporter (in a sense but not one of those who gush at everything that's released), who is called to Colorado by her estranged sister... and really, anything I say after that really loses in the telling.
Oh, except Christy meets the enigmatic (and, of course, sexy) Aaron Cain, ex-con, murderer and outlaw archeologist (don't giggle, it makes sense in the story... oh, okay, giggle. That's how he's described in the blurb. I don't know what they were thinking.)
I'm mildly surprised this was originally an Ann Maxwell book. I read a few of her stories (before I realized that she and Elizabeth Lowell were one and the same and the Ann Maxwell stories tend to feel a little more... violent in some way. I don't mean that the stories themselves are gorier but the emotions and the energy of them... it's just more violent, maybe just more expressive, more passionate and almost bottomless.
I know, I sound like a weirdo.
Anyway, typically, as I (contrary to what my critics may say) tend to be a little too emotionally attached to books, stories and characters, it was too much for me to absorb. Of course, I was also younger so that might have had a little more to do with it.
Will you have trouble getting in to it? Depends. She does get a bit didactic at times with all the Anasazi Indian tribe information. I've had a friend describe her writing as "dry" because of all the information and description she puts in. Sometimes the dialogue seems forced and a little too ... how do I say this?... Earth Mother who acknowledges the glory of the land. I've put up with worse to get a quarter of the storyline so I can skim over a little bad dialogue, mostly because that's more of an aberration than the norm.
Who would like this book? People who like to run their hands over shiny things because they want to feel the shine. If you're not sure what I mean, you might not like the book; it might fall on the "too descriptive" side of the line. But if you're a tactile person, I think you'd be standing on the edge of the cliff with Cain and Christy, looking out into the desert.
Seriously, prove me wrong.
An entry for the Writing Prompts group.
This weeks prompt: Write a scene that turns on a ransom note - for something other than a human being.
Josh plops into his chair, kicks off his sandals, and swivels around to the computer. He taps the space bar and pulls his microphone into speaking range. Taps it again. How strange; he doesn't remember shutting it down. He reaches under the desk and presses the power button on the tower. Still nothing. The timing couldn't be worse. He's got plans to enter a three-on-three tournament with Matt and Len. Maybe there's a blown fuse. No, that can't be it. The desk lamp is working. He crawls under the desk and checks the power strip. Wait a minute! He pulls the tower forward a bit, turns it toward him. There's a folded piece of paper taped to the back. He opens it and starts reading.
Josh -
As you may have figured out, I have taken the power supply cord from your computer. I'm sure you're aware that desktop computers do not operate without electricity. Sadly, this may pose insurmountable challenges to your gaming plans for this afternoon. As a backup precaution, your wireless card has also been confiscated. I regret it has come to this. But as you have not responded to polite requests, impassioned pleas, or irritated nagging, you leave me no choice. If you wish to see your computer components returned to you safely, please carefully read and complete the following steps:
1) Pick up your clothes from the floor. Dirty items are to be placed in the hamper in the laundry room. In case you have forgotten, it is located at the end of the hall.
2) Clean your cat's litter box. He has been hoping you'd do it for days, but he is much to timid to ask you. I am not, as evidenced by my numerous prior requests.
3) Take out the trash. All of it.
4) Remove your shoes from the kitchen, your t-shirt from the sofa, and the plate with dried-on salsa from the desk in your room.
5) Return the movies you rented and pay the fine. Yes, the ones the rental store left you messages about.
It's a lot to remember, which is why I've taken the liberty of writing it down for your convenience. Once these tasks have been completed, I will gladly return the aforementioned items. And remember, no cops.
Fondly,
The Kidnapper
My girlfriend Michelle, who lives too far away love to torment Ryan with her Wednesday Recipe Posts. So I thought I would take today to share the yummiest salad recipe that I got from another girlfriend named Michelle, who lives right around the corner. (There's sooo many Michelle's in my life and yet their all so wonderfully unique and different from each other)
Mango Avocado Shrimp Salad
(serves 6)
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp sugar
2 lg firm ripe mangos
2 lg firm ripe avocados
2/3 cups sliced green onion and chopped cilantro
1 tbsp minced fresh green chile
1 lb (70 to 110) peeled cooked shrimp
Wisk lime juice, oil and sugar until sugar dissolves.
Dice mangos and avocados into 3/4 inch cubes.
Mix all ingredients gently.
Serve immediately or chill up to one hour.
This is so good! It's all the right luscious flavors combined together.
In honor of Independence Day, show us something patriotic.
Dana Torres, a 41 year old woman, has come out of retirement (again) to try to qualify for her 5th Olympics. I'm not American but if she makes it to Beijing, she's the one I'm rooting for.
The first time she went to the Olympics, she was 16 and I was 6, just a 10 year age difference, not so much really, but a huge difference in mind set. I read bits about her and I am amazed. But my favourite part?
Ask Torres why she has returned to high-level competition, and the simple answer is because she can. Her coach, Lohberg, added: “And let’s not forget this. She’s nuts.”
Awesome. To bastardize a quote from Another Thin Man, "I wish *I* was nuts that way!"
GO DANA GO!
** and yes, this isn't so much patriotism as it is personal determination but hell, root for her anyway.
The golf course behind us puts on a huge firework display each year which means our normally quiet neighborhood gets swarmed with rude people who think they are entitled to park in everyone's yard, driving all over anything in their way. If you put up line, they'll cut it. People have to chain off their land to protect it from these rude people - yes real honest to goodness chain! People bring their own fireworks and the fireworks from the city bring the noise level to an incredible level. The golf course is covered with humanity, and I can't believe that they allow this on the green! The noise shakes our windows and makes the groud beneath us move. It drives our two border collies to a dangerous place. And me right along with them. I hate this! I hate it with a flaming purple passion! Would all these patriots just please go away and leave me alone?! Why in God's name do we celebrate this holiday with such extreme NOISE?!!!
Another reason to hate the 4th of July. Our neighbors are out in their yard setting up a pair of stereo speakers that come up to the shoulders on the teenager. Of all of the portions of their yard, they party in the part that is right outside our bedroom window. We struggle with them playing their music too loud most of the time. And now they’ve brought out those things. I hope it rains.
Oh merciful heavens, they’ve just plugged them into the getto buster and turned them on. They are both pointed directly at our house. Their music drives me up the wall. In my own house, with all the windows closed and the loud air conditioner on… Please rain! Please please rain! Wasn’t it calling for a thunderstorm this afternoon? Please ?
I guess I'm going to be THAT neighbor. I hate HATE the 4th of July. We have to go to a viewing this afternoon of a friend's son who died. That is horrible enough. But we don't know what we'll find when we get back to our property. I hate this holiday! Rain? Please? We need rain!!!
When you hire someone to read a book on CD you should make sure they are literate. Make sure they can pronounce words properly.
So I'm reading "New Moon", book two in Stephenie Meyer's vampire series. It's pretty good, but it could have used a better editor. She uses the word 'familiar' WAY TOO MUCH! (and by way too much I mean at least 6 times on a page sometimes) How is it that I am so aware of this? Because the stupid moron who's reading the book cannot pronounce the word 'familiar' correctly. So every few sentences I hear 'fermillier'. Yes.
BAD ENGLISH! BAD BAD!
Fahmilliar...not fermillier.
Its not that hard.
(every time she says it, and it is a lot due to Ms. Meyer's negligent editor, I just want to bang my head against the steering wheel)
In honor of Independence Day, show us something patriotic.
"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little."
–Sydney Smith
Happy 4th of July, everyone and Happy Birthday, USA.
(I did the math for my daughter and the United States is 232 years old today. *tosses confetti*)
