The Lost in Books blog reviewed KIN TYPES, and I found it to be an interesting take on it.
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Whenever we think of family stories, the only forms we can think of are prose, memoir or short stories. That sounds rational and logical. Luanne Castle proves how wrong that typical and schematic thinking is. Why couldn’t you take the genealogical research and put it into the world of poetry? M y adventure […]
Well, it made me want to read your book even more……..
That is definitely a good thing, Ms. P!!! xo
Good review, Luanne. Perceptive and stimulating. I hope it’s gratifying to you. A writer needs such readers; no doubt, you deserve them.
Thank you so much, Roger. So nice to hear from such a discerning reader!
i thought the review was interesting. It was written by someone who obviously stretches her vision to include work that is not typical. I think you should be pleased.
Thanks, John! I wasn’t sure at the end, but he said so much that was exactly what I had worked at–the intersection of poetry and prose, really.
Literary folks can be confusing for sure. Hard for them to be less than circumspect.
LOL!
😀
Hm, well he lost me with that opening statement. To say we only think of prose, memoir, or short stories when thinking about family stories is a bizarrely inaccurate and sweeping statement to make. Honestly, if it wasn’t a review for a writer I knew I would have stopped reading. (I would say more but I fear it would come across as rude towards him, which is not my intention).
Interesting. Knowing the book in question (haha) it didn’t seem as odd to me, but I might be reading too much into it the way I was. I thought it was because you don’t see genealogy put into poetry. You see personal family history, and once in a while a broader history, but never a collection of pieces that are all focused on genealogy. That said, I can see what you mean and how it would sound if I hadn’t had that perspective to begin with.
And the more I think about it, the more I think you might be right because memoir, per se, is personal history, not family history or genealogy. Most of the review I thought was positive, but I wasn’t sure about the ending and what he meant.
Ah, I didn’t think of it from the genealogy angle, I can see that now. I did think the review was positive, but it was also odd. Honestly I think it was just wasn’t a very concise or clear review so it came out murky.
Yeah. How are you doing, by the way?
OK – we got all the damage fixed, but ever since the storm my asthma has gotten really bad. We are going to have to get the house checked for mold, and probably get new floors. I wake up every night coughing, and that has never happened to me in my life!
Definitely get the house checked for mold and read the meters they use yourself to see what they read. Or borrow a friend’s meter to start with. There was black mold in my son’s apartment when he was in college, and he got so sick and couldn’t stay there. But it was in California, and there were laws that protected the big company landlords and nothing could be done. Luckily he didn’t have too much time left on his lease. OK, that’s a random story, sorry! Anyway, mold will definitely make you sick.
I thought this was a good review, Luanne – honestly, your book has gotten some really incredible reviews – I know you surely must be pleased.
I am happy for you and for your work – congratulations!
Thanks so much! There’s another wonderful one today from Jen Payne that I reblogged. And Genealogy Girl posted a review in a longer post today, too! It’s so gratifying as I am so happy with the way Kin Types turned out.
You go, girl.
Woot!
I guess it is because I have my Cornell University brother who became a professor and my sister-in-law, who graduated from Princeton and is Dean and professor at Baldwin Wallace that I felt a “kinship” and family ties to this review.
My Dad would ramble and even take a certain point of view only to close his pondering (wandering) words with: “But I suppose I could be wrong!” This may have created a certain comfort level with this review! Great job and congratulations for having amazing, fantastic reviews. No two are alike which makes them extra special! 🏆🎖