Book Review: The McNeese Review Volume 49 (2011)

First, I'll start by saying that I for some of this book, I'd probably be partially biased because it contains writings by my former English professor for Honors College, Dr. John Wood, and a former classmate, his son, Dafydd Wood.  Of course, there are writings by both of them that I love and writings that I don't care for, too. However, in general, those writings would make me a little biased.

Still, there are plenty of other writings in the book.  Some of them are very strange and some are relatable.  Stories I can easily remember are "Feeding Instructions" by Lisa Graley which when first reading the title, seems like it might have been about taking care of a dog or a cat.  Once you get into it, you realize it is about taking care of an elderly woman.  However, there's a bit more to that.

I also remember "Scalping."  That was written by Sean Ennis.  I never thought that I would enjoy reading anything having to do with scalping, but I felt myself oddly drawn to reading the story (though not like scalping anybody!)

"Average Secrets and Problems" by George Hovis also stands out once the end of the story is reached.  However, to write about it would give away the secret.

One of the best set of poems that I read was by Julie Kane. It was called, "Five Things I Hate that Other People Seem to Love."

All of the other writings were good, too, but these stood out to me.  The entire McNeese review is worth buying and reading.  You will find you are expanding your literary tastes from the normal because these stories and poems are different from the traditional novels and short stories that you had to read in school.  However, that is a great thing!  Everything is enjoyable.

Book Review: The Bastard Year by Richard Lee Zuras

I finished reading "The Bastard Year" by Richard Lee Zuras.  I bought it on Friday night at a Banners Series poetry reading by John Wood.  (Dr. Wood was my English professor for my English 105 and 106 classes - the freshman Honors College English classes at McNeese State  University).

I thought, if anything, I would buy the book and read it because I bought it.  However, I started on it that night and I couldn't put it down.  I can't say exactly why I couldn't put it down.

I'd say that the text is very much how a main male character would describe things.  Most of the things are very matter-of-fact without details about how things look.  There are a few details about clothes and physical attributes and some of the buildings, but not much.

At times, I had no idea where the book was going.  I wondered why I was reading the book.

"The Bastard Year" is divided into both seasons and chapters.  It goes from one winter to the next.  By the time I got to Fall, I had an idea of the reasons everything had been mentioned.  I had an idea of why the author used the main character to tell the stories he did.

However, while the very end of the book somewhat went where I expected, it wasn't quite what I expected.  It was nice to read a book and have somewhat of an idea, but still be able to be surprised by the end of it because it didn't conform to the typical outline of how things are going to happen to have that sudden, "I knew it!" moment.