BOOKS:
does a word ever get stuck in your head, so that every time you see it, it becomes another irritant? frock is mine. yes f-r-o-c-k. in sara peretsky's breakdown, reviewed in my last blog (you can scroll back), v. i. warshawski wears frocks. i never say to myself, 'audrey, which frock should i wear today?' i don't know anyone who says to friend or foe, 'what a lovely frock.' only paretsky and warsawski use that word. i'll try to get over it!
i have started, actually made a good dent in, anne holt's 1222, a hanne wilhelmsen novel. i have not read any of the others in the series, which might be one reason the writing and story seem so fresh to me. sometimes it's good not to be burdened by too much previous knowledge. the front cover calls author anne holt, 'the scandinavian phenomenon.' since websters on-line defines phenomenon as 'an observable fact or event,' i would say the publishers have not gone out on a limb here.
i will, even though i have not finished the novel. 1222 is a good murder mystery in the classic locked room style. it is well written by holt who at one time was norway's minister of justice. fun to think about,isn't it? by 'classic locked room,' i mean that we have a train off the tracks in a terrible snow storm. passengers are taken to a near-by isolated (and fortunately empty) hotel. murders occur. the murderer(s) has/have to also be passenger residents of the hotel. one of the passengers is retired police investigator hanne wilhelmsen, who is confined to a wheel chair. in true edgar allan poe (inspector dupin), arthur conan doyle (sherlock holmes), and agathat christie (hercule poirot) style, this is a crime that must be solved by thinking.
more about this excellent whodunit later, next blog.
CONTESTS:stark county library: next up in narch is the 13th Annual Poetry Contest! this year, the library has opened entries to adults as well as children in grades 2 through 12. sit down with your muse and send the library your verse. follow the link for rules and entry forms.
the following contest is listed with a caveat. i do not list contests that charge for entering, but this one asks only $5 if you are a member and $10 if you are not. i suggest that you investigate the writers-editors network 29th annual international writing competition. the deadline is 15 march. it might be worth your while. it might not. let me know
audreylavin.com http://bit.ly/OhAudrey
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