What a Writer Reads

Precious (the paperback "movie-tie-in version" of the novel Push)
by Sapphire
Contemporary Adult Realistic Fiction
Listed at $8.47 paperback at Amazon
192 pages
A difficult read

The original novel Push has received many literary awards. The actress, Mo'Nique, recently won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in this film. I have not seen the screen version so this review speaks only to the book, that being said --

This story follows the life of a young girl who struggles through an oppressive life in Harlem. It tackles, head-on, the atrocities and repercussions of child abuse on multiple levels. It is not for everyone. It's an extremely raw slice of reality to which many would prefer to turn a blind eye. The book, however, does not flinch.

The movie was rated R and the book deserves at least that designation. An argument could be made for an X rating based on the graphic nature of several scenes that are far more explicit when described in the detail afforded by the written word. However, these scenes are not gratuitous. They are necessary to the content of the story to ensure that the reader feels the heroine's pain, the ugliness of the evil to which she has been subjected and bravely battles to overcome.

In order to grapple with the issue of illiteracy, the author has written the first portion of her book in the phonetic speech of persons for whom education has been absent or ineffective. Albeit a brilliant approach that let's the reader "experience" the difficulty of actually being illiterate, it makes for a slow and frustrating first half (but then that's the point). The concern then becomes the potential for reader alienation; a percentage of the audience may be tempted to abandon the book. Be assured, as Precious gains her skills, the reading will accelerate proportionately. I, personally, found some of the poetry to be moving but some of the prose to be a bit rambling and repetitive, at times bogging down the story.

To invest oneself in the life of Precious Jones is to ride a class A, high speed roller coaster -- grim, hopeful, grim, hopeful, and so it goes, inching and jerking up the inclines and plummeting into the valleys. This journey successfully chronicles the strength of the human spirit, the ability to live in chaos and yet refuse to be conquered, even when all the odds are stacked against you.

Warning: Explicit Language
Recommended for educators.

That's my five cents worth. I give the book a "3 nickels rating."

Congrats Lori !!!

We're back from Nashville, Tennessee where Lori received her Master of Photography degree at the Professional Photographers of America annual gala event. We just couldn't be prouder of Lori who has diligently worked toward this milestone. The Master degree acknowledges superior photographic ability and the achievement of consistent standards of excellence. Nichols Photography is now the only studio in Illinois with 3 Master Photographers on staff. Thanks, Lori, for putting us over the top!

To be sure, the Nichols family was in celebration mode. There was music and merriment throughout the night as we rocked Nashville at the PPA "after party." Please join us in congratulating her with a well-deserved, "Way to go, Lori!"

The Value of a Life

(Thanks to Card, a rescued Greyhound, and his companion, Logan)

Yesterday I read an article on AOL news that was about coping with debt during this difficult economy. Perhaps some of you read it as well. Of course, the piece tackled the issue of credit cards as a “trap.” As you may know, on AOL, readers are invited to leave comments following articles. It is one of those comments that I would like to talk about here. It left me angry. The anger eased but I was profoundly disturbed by it over the next 24 hours, it haunts me still, as I believe it should. This is how it went (their words not mine) –
Comment by person A
". . . in real life it is very hard NOT to have some credit card debt at some point. . . my dog got sick in late November and had to have an operation $4,000., then that same week, my wife broke a tooth and needed a crown, another $1,000. . . . credit card debt of almost $5,000. within days.”
Reply Comment by person B
". . . there are still choices you can make. $4K for a vet for the dog???? Wow. Consider this option. .22 cal bullet to back of dog’s head = $.75 + new puppy $200. + wife’s tooth $1,000. Total much better than $5K. That is REALLY how you make sound decisions to stay out of debt!!!!”

I found the reply comment so abhorrent that I actually had trouble typing it here. Why did my anger ease? Because, intellectually, I know that person B is handicapped by ignorance and immaturity. His/her personality, education, and mental age aside, -- I realize that the world is full of “person B’s” and that is what haunts me. For people like this, life is only black and white; there is no grey scale. Their decisions are guided solely by the question, "Does it benefit me or not?" They will always take what they perceive to be the easier road. There were no alternatives proposed, no mention of a compromise for the situation -- the possibility of a vet-sponsored payment plan or the existence of an organization offering funds for health care of pets whose owners need financial assistance.

To all the “person B’s” out there, consider the following:
-- The value of any living creature exceeds that which can be measured. There is no price tag on joy, loyalty, or love.
-- Isn’t it our duty as higher beings to consistently attempt to reach beyond human constraints, stretching to find solutions, fervently employing our compassion and spirituality?
-- What goes around comes around. Karma is a potent force in the universe. You had better hope that you never suffer from a costly medical illness; there may be those who think you’re only worth $.75

What a Writer Reads

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death
by Jean-Dominique Bauby
Adult Non-Fiction
Listed at $9.36 paperback on Amazon.com
144 pages
A quick read


I finished the book yesterday (received as a wonderful Christmas gift). It is, without doubt, a work of immense importance! To be sure, I shed tears throughout the reading, but they were minimal payment for admission to the mind and heart of such a brave man, a great thinker whose spirit enriches every reader in profound ways. At the age of forty-three Mr. Bauby suffered a stroke that left him with "Locked in Syndrome." He dictated this book by blinking his left eyelid, his only means of communication. As I see it, it was his cosmic and unfortunate destiny to be charged with a sacred duty, to be chosen to endure the unimaginable in order to teach the many. He rose to the challenge with courage and an understanding of his purpose. And once that purpose was fulfilled, when he had passed on the knowledge that only he could uniquely convey, two days later he quietly slipped the bonds of this world, leaving us with that legacy. I can only hope that all who are touched by his experiences can fully realize the depth of the gift he has left behind.

For devotees of language art, I will say that the work is filled with beautifully poetic similes and metaphors. As a registered nurse, I will stress that I believe it to be a "must read" for anyone, working in any capacity, in the medical field and also for those with hospitalized loved ones who require long-term care.

That's my five cents worth.
I give the book a well-deserved "5 nickels rating."

New Year's Resolutions

Hope you all enjoyed a happy and safe celebration. It's a new year, a new decade, and tradition dictates new resolutions. As many of you know, books are my passion and literacy is a personal cause here at Nichols Photography. So, in keeping with a time-honored tradition, I hereby resolve to diligently attempt to read and write more often and encourage others to do so, as well. To that end, I've decided to share with our blog readers an occasional critique of the reading material on my nightstand. 2010 will see the advent of a new feature, What a Writer Reads.

Feel free to leave a comment and share with us what your resolutions are.