Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet, Jean-Jacques Fournier, and a book review #treasuring poetry #bookreview #poetrycommunity

Today, I am delighted to introduce Jean-Jacques Fournier as my Treasuring Poetry guest.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became a poet

A Canadian citizen, I was born in Montréal, Canada, in the Province of Québec, a long time ago. I was educated in English, by choice of my parents, who were bilingual French and English. This allowed me to work all over Canada and even in the USA.

I started writing poetry seriously, shortly after moving to Los Angeles, California, in the early eighties. I had left the corporate world and decided on an adventure, for some 6 years.

Being at a turning point in my professional and personal life, I was facing a lot of issues. I found writing poetry was the best way to express feelings and think about the meaning of life, hiding behind verses.

I came back to Montréal for a decade and a half, in partnership with a graphic designer in the finance domain. Then, around 2000, I decided to retire and move to the south of France where I wanted to dedicate myself to writing and poetry offered more immediate satisfaction than spending some years completing a novel. At that point, I had written more than 500 poems and was encouraged by an artist friend – sculptor Jim Ritchie – to publish my work. My first book of poetry was published in 2007, thanks to the help of a few close friends. In 2010, I came back to Montréal, married to a French lawyer. Since then, I have published 21 books of poetry and to date written more than 5000 poems. I also started a blog – Poetry on a canapé – and recorded more than 300 poems to give a voice to the words.

You have a distinctive poetry style. Did you develop this style yourself or were you inspired by another poet?

My wife said once, half joking, that I am the « Picasso of poetry » because I tend to deconstruct sentences, use abstract images and play with words. While the analogy with Picasso is of course, far-fetched, it does capture how I work with words and verses.  I love reading poetry, and the brevity of the medium of expression and its freedom of style are a constant attraction to me. Being a somewhat impatient person, I find it impossible to write a novel. The darkness and humour of Edgar Allan Poe inspire me, as much as the imaginative works of William Blake, Dorathy Parker, or the compact style of Samuel Menashe.

Which of your own poems is your favourite and why?

There is a poem that can be found in almost every one of my 21 books, with slight variations, over time.  The title is « Friend ».  The most important thing is having meaningful friendships and enjoying conversations with people we appreciate.  But deserving the title of friend is something that should not be received lightly, and it still puzzles me when someone calls me friend.

Friend

Why do they call me friend,

What is their cause

Or purpose

To judge me worthy,

That they would levy

Such expression of regard,

Entrust this much responsibility

To be bestowed upon my person,

That I’d be asked to manage

With this impressive status…

And to this title, friend

A singular entitlement,

Who possesses such impartiality

Could deem me be deserving,

Or capable indeed

To discharge such obligation,

Required and implied

When one is given title,

That of being called friend,

Why do they call me friend!

Your wife assists you by creating covers and artworks for inclusion in your books. Tell us a bit about her art and creation process.

My wife Marianne and I met in the South of France in 2002, where she was practising intellectual property law, in contact with the creative world. This allowed her to develop an artistic sensibility, notably with photography. And, being the first to read, comment and critique each of my new poems,  she has volunteered  to design the cover and content of the poetry books that follow, after the completion of the first 3 books by my business partner-  The artworks that illustrate the poems are usually from the public domain, or works from artist friends, or her own photographic composition. Canadian winter is the right moment for her to devote time to a new poetry project. She helps me with the selection of poems, titles, and the dominant thematic of the selected poems. Then, for the last five pocketbook size, she has looked for one or several artists, mainly surrealist artists in the public domain, whose works could be associated with my works. She makes suggestions, and we decide together until the final draft. She uses online tools to publish a book, with worldwide print on demand facilities.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

Among my favourite poets are two French poets:  Boris Vian and Jacques Prevert. Their poetry moves me because they both liked to play with words and twist them. They both use simple language, for poems that could be sad or funny or both.

In the English language, the choice is even more difficult. Therefore, since I have only mentioned male poets as a potential influence, I will not mention them again.  From Emily Dickinson to Elisabeth Bishop and more recently, Rupi Kaur, these feminine voices resound to me because of their authenticity that transpires from their writing sense of provocation and lucidity. Should I have to select one poet, it would certainly be Dorothy Parker, not only for her caustic style, but also for her profound ability to perceive our human fellow’s defects and honesty in describing feelings.

My review of CHAOS – a human side of man

Right up front, I have to comment on the gorgeous cover for this intriguing collection. Designed by the poet’s wife, Marianne Dessis, it is as compelling as the poetry within this book. Many of the poems are accompanied by Marianne Dessis’ beautiful photographs.

This is the second poetry collection I’ve read by Jean-Jacques Fournier and it is just as thought provoking. The poet sees deeply into the heart of man and exposes his desires, loves, and thoughts with brutal honesty.

This short extract is from the poem ‘Apologies’:
“Oh too often we apologise
Just so the make amends,
Or evade we be chastised
We’ll effort to portend,
Till failing begs apprise
To impede ye condemn, …”

I admire the poet’s use of words, in short and sharp lines that collectively say a great deal in few words. It is a great poetic gift to impart so much without frills and flounces and I think this is the real essence of good poetry.

The poem that touched me the most in this collection is dedicated “in memory of Alan Kurdi, and all war-torn children sacrificed, thru man’s warring need for greed.”

“Save errant boat capsized,
In a bid to flee conflict
Where peace may be alive,
Tho its refuge not explicit
As bureaucracy deprives,
And silently the desperate
Boy’s fate is compromised,
Be sadly found face down …”

CHAOS – a human side of man – is a thoughtful collection that cannot fail to touch the reader’s heart.

You can purchase CHAOS – a human side of man from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0359191622

You can also find all of Jean-Jacques Fournier’s beautiful books on Lulu.

About Jean-Jacques Fournier

Jean-Jacques Fournier is a native of Montréal, in the province of Québec, Canada. He continued his studies while in the Canadian Navy and travelling substantially over the world. He started writing in earnest while living in California in the early eighties. In the process of reinventing himself numerous times, his penchant for the language of poetry seemed best suited, for him to express his emotions and life experiences. He then spent several years pursuing his writing in the south of France, during which time he published his first three books.  He has long since moved back to Canada, and is presently living in the Eastern Townships of Québec. He has published twenty-one books of poetry to date.

Find Jean-Jacques Fournier

My blog is Poetry on a canapé with a hyperlink, when it exists, to my Facebook profile for listening to audio recordings of numerous poems. My books can be found online on Lulu, notably.

About Robbie Cheadle

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

__________________________

This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Introducing Borderline by Graeme Cumming and avocado and lemon bread #fiction #Borderline #baking

Today, I have a special treat for you. A review of Graeme Cumming’s new thriller, Borderline, and a short Q&A with this excellent author.

Borderline by Graeme Cumming

Blurb

When the system isn’t working, work outside the system.

A search for a missing man thrusts Rand Scott into the dark realms of homelessness, drug dealing and sex clubs.

Kirsty Moore wants to find her brother Johnny, a one-time rock star.

The police also want him – for murder.

And there are others looking who don’t play nicely.

A simple job turns deadly as Rand uncovers a world where money talks louder than the screams of innocent bystanders.

My review

I don’t read a lot of thrillers as I find the plotlines tend towards being repetitive. I am really glad I gave Borderline a chance as it is not the run of the mill thriller. Using the dark scene of sex clubs as a spring board, this book delves into the world of organised crime in Britain that reaches right up into the top echelons of the police force. It stretches into the murky waters of fear of job losses and reprisal being used as a tool to keep police colleagues from taking action against the corruption. The main character, Rand, is a victim of such manipulative reprisal and his unjust treatment has helped mould his attitudes and character. There is a great deal going on in this novel which also sends tendrils into the world of hard core environmentalists who will cross legal lines in pursuit of their cause.

There are two areas, in my mind, that differentiate this book from its peer group. Firstly, the excellent characterisation. The author has depicted various characters with a clear and brutal honesty that cuts to the bone of human nature and fallibility. Rand, a man whom the system has failed and even savaged, has a deep understanding and sympathy for the homeless and is driven to try and make a difference. The homeless are not invisible to him, as they are to many of the well fed workers of the world, he sees them clearly and understands the hopelessness of their situations. He tries to make a difference. His assistant, Hazard, a war veteran who has experienced homelessness, is one of the people Rand has helped and it has changed her life and turned her into his best friend.

Kirsty, a woman with whom Rand has a fleeting relationship and who asks for his help leading into the plot of the book, is also depicted with fearless accuracy. The author has delved deeply into human nature and effectively depicted the reality of conflicting emotion and manipulated trust. Even Elizabeth, who only makes a few sporadic appearances in the book, is very human in the eyes of the reader. You really hope these women can find a way out of the mess they’ve made of their lives and can find a better path.

The second differentiating factor for me with this book, was the number of topical political and social issues the author seamlessly wove into this story. It was not overwhelming, it was gratifying to see such topics given a good airing. After all, life does not come in separate little boxes and we are all confronted daily with all of these overwhelmingly appalling factors of modern life.

In summary, this is a fast paced and multifaceted book with excellent characterisations. I highly recommend it.

Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F9R12GB9

Amazon UK purchase link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Borderline-Graeme-Cumming/dp/0957510748

Graeme has two other excellent novels, both of which I have read and enjoyed.

Raven’s Gathering is very dark but is fantastic if you like horror. You can read my review here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RDDP9QUJIC5NW

Carrion is fantasy and I did enjoy it although I don’t read much fantasy. You can read my review here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R854IGQE68C48

Q and A with Graeme Cumming

Tell us a bit about yourself and your aspirations as a writer

As you know, I have written books in the past, though these have been in other genres. My first love, though, is crime fiction, and this is what I’m focusing on for the foreseeable future.

Borderline is the first of a series. That wasn’t my plan, but the main character was too good to use just once, as were the supporting characters – have you got a favourite yet?

Having decided to go down the series path, I was also conscious that it would need continuity, so I wrote books two and three before going back to Borderline and revising it to make sure it fit the stories to come.

As a result, although final drafts are not there yet, the next two in the series should be released comparatively quickly (by my standards anyway). Book two, Renegade, should be out within the next 6 months, and the third book, Suicide, some time next summer.

I feel like I have the bit between my teeth now, so there should be some momentum over the next few years.

I really like the inclusion of the homeless people aspect in your book. What gave you the idea to include this aspect in your novel?

I’ve spent quite a bit of time over the years talking to homeless people. The stories behind their homelessness are varied, but always tragic in their own way.

Relevant to Borderline is the relatively high proportion who came from a military background. I don’t delve too deeply into this. After all, the book is intended to entertain first and foremost. But it did allow me to highlight shortfalls in support for them.

Borderline is the first in a series and, when I came up with the original idea for the main character – and the people around him – it had a kind of pulp fiction feel to it. But I also wanted to include references to the growing inequalities in society. Homelessness is one of the more extreme outcomes.

Hopefully, by providing an entertaining read, I’ve also given readers some food for thought.

Your main character in Borderline is a vegan. What inspired this choice? Are you a vegan or did you research veganism for this book?

I stopped eating meat in 1999 because I wanted a healthier diet. Since then, I’ve become more conscious of animal welfare and went vegan 6 years ago. Animal welfare will be touched on in the next book in the series, Renegade – which should be available within the next 6 months. Hopefully, that’s also told in a way that’s entertaining but might give readers pause for thought.

There is a reason for Rand to be vegan that is relevant to plot, and it harks back to his past life, some of which is revealed in Borderline, but is expanded on in Renegade – so watch this space!

About Graeme Cumming

Graeme Cumming lives in Robin Hood country. He has wide and varied taste in fiction, but a particular leaning towards the darker side – though he’s very pleasant when you meet him. Borderline, the first book in his new crime series was released in 2025 and already gained praise from readers.

When not writing, Graeme is an enthusiastic sailor (and, by default, swimmer), and enjoys off-road cycling and walking. He is a past President and Education Director at Sheffield Speakers Club. He also reads (a lot) and loves the cinema.

For more information about Graeme and his books, you can check his website www.graemecumming.co.uk.

Weblinks:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Graeme-Cumming-1638108329841072/about/

www.twitter.com/GraemeCumming63

https://www.instagram.com/graeme_cumming_author/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2884537

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Graeme-Cumming/e/B00D11DO4E/

Avocado and lemon bread

This recipe is like banana bread i.e. it is sweet. It is not a vegan recipe but it is vegetarian.

Ingredients

430 ml (1 and 3/4 cups) cake flour

310 ml (1 and 1/4 cups) sticky brown sugar

5 ml (1 tspn) bicarbonate of soda

2.5 ml (1/2 tspn) salt

2 medium sized eggs

2 medium sized avocados, mashed

1 medium sized lemon, zested

125 ml (1/2 cup) vegetable oil

60 ml (1/4 cup Greek yogurt

5 ml (1 tspn) vanilla extract

Method

Mash the avocados in a mixing bowl and add the lemon zest. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and then add to the mixture. Add the yogurt and vanilla. Finally add the sugar, mix, and then the flour and bicarb. Mix until combined. Do not over mix, stop when the dry ingredients are combined.

Spoon the mixture into a prepared loaf tin and bake in an oven pre-heated to 180C for 55 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Slice and serve with butter.

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

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Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author, Joy Neal Kidney and a review #poetry #TreasuringPoetry #poetrycommunity

Today, I am delighted to introduce Joy Neal Kidney, poet and writer of historical memoirs.

What is your favourite style of poetry to read i.e. haiku, ballad, epic, freestyle, etc.?

Free verse.

What is your favourite poem in your favourite style to read?

Also free verse.

Meadowlark by Nicholas Dowd

Every morning that summer

Brought a premonition

A sense of something pending

Fencerows buzzed with it

Breezes whispered it to the corn

Meadowlarks sang it at sunrise

Some nights we wondered

What might lie ahead, but

All we could do was listen

Waiting for the song of the lark

To drift across our field at dawn.

Note: Nicholas Dowd writes poignant free verse but isn’t published, yet. He allowed me to share this one in Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II. (Another of his poems, “Morrisburg Cemetery,” opens Leora’s Early Years: Guthrie County Roots.)

What is your favourite style of poetry to write?

I’ve tried several styles but keep coming back to free verse, for the freedom it offers as I sculpt the words and thoughts. 

What is your favourite of your own poems?

That Fateful Sunday Dinner

The clink of silverware,

Sammy Kaye’s Sunday Serenade,

amiable background music

for Iowa after-church diners.

The scent of Evening in Paris 

mingles with that of pot roast.

A news bulletin interrupts 

a smooth danceable melody:

Pearl Harbor has been attacked.

Diners gasp, ask a flock of questions.

Does this mean we’re at war?

Where is Pearl Harbor?

Doris, in her gold waitress uniform, 

shudders. One brother in the navy, 

and her other brothers

are “all the wrong ages.”

Five brothers serve.

Only two come home. 

This was published in Lyrical Iowa 2023. Doris was my mother. (Lyrical Iowa 2025 will include another poem, “Learning How to Vote, 1920,” as the First Honorable mention in the National/World Events category. It’s about my great grandmother, Leora’s mother.)

Please tell us about your poetry book, Meadowlark Songs: A Motherline Legacy. How did this book come about? How does this book fit with your historical books about Leora?

Books by three authors sparked the idea of capturing the women of my motherline in vignettes: Luanne Castle’s Kin Types, Elizabeth Gauffreau’s Grief Songs: Poems of Love & Remembrance, and The Horse Lawyer and Other Poems by Greg Seeley. Greg’s book captures three generations on the same Iowa farm, beginning with his Civil War ancestor. 

Meadowlark Songs covers seven generations. The legacy of a small log church was nurtured through my motherline and woven into the blessing and mystery of my own inheritance. Glimpses into the lives of these women, along with cameo appearances of the men they married, reveal a legacy of faith and hope while navigating challenging times and great losses. 

My other books cover Grandma Leora’s life through WWII, when she lost three sons during WWII and was widowed shortly afterwards. I was born during the war and I’m her oldest granddaughter. She was a delight as a grandmother, who lived to the age of 97. She’s the fifth generation in Meadowlark Songs, “The Heart of Her Family.”

My review of Meadowlark Songs: A Motherline Legacy

This historical memoir is written as a series of interrelated poems which I though was a wonderful and unique idea. The book is divided into sections, each relating to a woman in the Motherline Legacy, and comprises of a series of poems relating to that individual, her life, spouse, circumstances and family. Each section shares a great deal of historical information about the specific time period and fascinating details about, inter alia, life, dress codes, work, and education. Such a novel way of sharing historical information and the highlights of each individual’s life.

Life was tough for the women featured in this collection. They worked incredibly hard, overcame obstacles including the deaths of children, siblings, and parents, and battled the elements, but they prevailed and built good lives for their families. There is a strong religious thread throughout the book demonstrating the importance of faith in each family’s life.

Due to my fascination with war, the sections about Leora (Goff) Wilson and her daughter, Doris (Wilson) Neal interested me the most as they included details about Leora’s five sons who all fought for the USA in WW2. Leora suffered the deaths of three, a terrible tragedy for one family.

The poetry is freestyle and provides a lot of insight into the characters of the Motherline women and their family members. The poems reminded me, over and over, how much easier life is now with fewer infant deaths and technology and appliances to make housework so much quicker and easier. One poem that really captivated me in its great sadness was Baby Marilyn.

This is a quote from Baby Marilyn:
“I was the third of seven Wilson kids,
now eight. It was 1931 and we had
to many mouths to feed.

I didn’t want another baby,
but she was beautiful and needed a name.
Mom suggested I name her.
Marilyn Louise. She was mine
to care for every day after school.

She died while I was at school,
just a month later.
A weak heart, the doctor said.
My arms were empty, helpless.”

A beautiful and interesting collection of poetry that weaves a story of several generations of mothers. This collection has certainly sparked my interest in reading this authors other historical novels about her family.

About Joy Neal Kidney

Joy Neal Kidney is the oldest granddaughter of Leora Wilson and author of four “Leora books.” She lives in central Iowa with her husband, Guy (an Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam War and retired Air Traffic Controller). Their son and his wife live out-of-state with Joy’s only grandchild Kate, age eight.

A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Joy has lived with fibromyalgia for two dozen years, giving her plenty of home-bound days to write blog posts and books. 

Website: https://joynealkidney.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joy.kidney

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-neal-kidney

Twitter/X: https://x.com/JoyNealKidney

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/joynealkidney/

About Robbie Cheadle

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

________________________

Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

__________________________

This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Jaws by Peter Benchley and Fish Paella #fiction #readingcommunity #cooking

My review of Jaws

I watched the Stephen Spielberg movie when I was twelve years old and I never forgot it. Like most of my generation, Jaws, the movie, terrified me and I never swim at night or in murky water. I didn’t know about the book until I rewatched the movie recently. I was curious to read the book that underpinned the movie, which although dated, is still terrific. The book did not disappoint me. In fact, the book is better than the movie as it explores human relationships and elements outside of the main shark storyline thereby increasing the reader’s investment in the main characters. I loved the Chief of Police, Martin Brody, and rooted for him to succeed in his quest to save his hometown. from the shark. I disliked Hooper, the shark expert and one of the wealthy ‘summer’ people, and Brody’s wife who didn’t know what she wanted from life. It always fascinates me how American author’s depict political figures such as the major as being corrupt and unreliable. Jaws was no different and had its unethical character who unintentionally becomes an ally to the shark. 

The writing is enticing, and I enjoyed the depictions of the great ‘fish’ in its natural environment and role as a super predator. The shark’s behaviour, although more deliberate and considered than average for a shark, did not cross lines and become unbelievable. The author kept the storyline within the realms of the possible which I liked. 
. 
As mentioned earlier, the book refers to the wealthy summer visitors and the poorer all year round ‘winter’ folk who are dependent on summer trade to see them through the winter. It gently explores the differences between the two sets of people and highlights the lack of social cohesion between the groups and the resultant resentment of the winter people who feel inferior. 

The book also explores regret and a lack of gratitude for the non-material blessings in life. Hooper represents the spirit of the summer people and is shallow, arrogant, and selfish in many ways. He is also conflicted and uncertain of his role in society and life in general despite having all the privileges wealth brings. Brody represents the winter people who are solid, salt of the earth types with strong values and family ties. 

This is a book with a few fascinating layers making it more than the movie, however thrilling and chilling the movie was.

You can purchase Jaws here: https://www.amazon.com/Jaws-Novel-Peter-Benchley/dp/0345544145

A few quotes from Jaws

“There’s nothing in the sea this fish would fear. Other fish run from bigger things. That’s their instinct. But this fish doesn’t run from anything. He doesn’t fear.”

“Sharks have everything a scientist dreams of. They’re beautiful―God, how beautiful they are! They’re like an impossibly perfect piece of machinery. They’re as graceful as any bird. They’re as mysterious as any animal on earth. No one knows for sure how long they live or what impulses―except for hunger―they respond to. There are more than two hundred and fifty species of shark, and everyone is different from every other one.”

“The boy’s last—only—thought was that he had been punched in the stomach. The breath was driven from him in a sudden rush. He had no time to cry out, nor, had he had the time, would he have known what to cry, for he could not see the fish. The fish’s head drove the raft out of the water. The jaws smashed together, engulfing head, arms, shoulders, trunk, pelvis, and most of the raft. Nearly half the fish had come clear of the water, and it slid forward and down in a belly-flopping motion, grinding the mass of flesh and bone and rubber. The boy’s legs were severed at the hips, and they sank, spinning slowly, to the bottom.”

Fish Paella

Ingredients

olive oil to cook

1 large red bell pepper, diced

2 x red onions, diced

15 ml garlic flakes

1 litre chicken stock (you can use fish stock)

500 grams white fish. I used hake

500 grams Norwegian salmon

2 cups (500 ml) medium grain rice

3 tomatoes diced

pinch turmeric

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 cup fresh or frozen peas

milk for cooking

Method

Lay the fish in a large pan or wok and cover with milk. Once the milk starts boiling, cook for 10 minutes. Remove the skin once cooked and break into chunks.

In a large pot on the stove, fry the onion in the olive oil. Add the red pepper, garlic, turmeric, paprika, and tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes until the tomatoes start to soften. Add the rice and then the chicken stock. Bring to the boil and then turn down to a simmer. Simmer until most of the liquid is gone and the rice is plump. Add the peas and the fish. Simmer for another 5 minutes until the peas are cooked. Serve.

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

__________________________________________

This segment of “Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Treasuring Poetry – Welcome Nolcha Fox, poet and editor of Chewers by Masticadores and reviews #treasuringpoetry #poetry #bookreviews

Today, I am delighted to welcome Nolcha Fox as my Treasuring Poetry guest. Nolcha is an accomplished poet and also the editor of Chewers by Masticadores. You can find out more about Chewers by Masticadores here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/

Nolcha is also the co-poetry editor of LatinosUSA which you can read more about here: https://latinosenglishedition.wordpress.com/

Take it away, Nolcha:

What is your favourite style of poetry to read i.e. haiku, ballad, epic, freestyle, etc.?

I don’t have a favorite style. What I enjoy is poetry with unexpected twists, poetry I want to continue past the end. I enjoy poetry I can dance to because of the rhythmic quality of the words. My favorite books are still “Alice and Wonderland” and “The Cat in the Hat.” 

What is your favourite poem in your favourite style to read?

I’ve always loved Robert Frost, especially “The Road Not Taken.”

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Every time I read this poem, I find something new.

What is your favourite style of poetry to write? 

It’s a toss-up between freestyle and pantoum. I don’t like to write rhyming poetry (funny because I enjoy reading it, when well-written). Needless to say, I break many poetry form rules.

I enjoy writing poems with a strong rhythm. Internal rhymes happen accidentally. As I write, I internally feel the bum-bum-bum-bum-bum.

What is your favourite of your own poems?

Robbie, almost every poem is my favorite when I write it. Until the next poem. This is my latest favorite (published in Medusa’s Kitchen), even though I have no idea what I wrote:

Sunflowers in My Hair

I can’t untangle flowers

from the memories of youth.

They are the knots I can’t brush out

until the withering winter.

If it’s not a favorite after I write it, I hit it on the head with a shovel and bury it in the backyard. I’ve learned to run my unfavorite poems past a poet friend (or two). Many poems have been allowed to live because of the feedback I received.

My favorite poems are included in two books, if you want to check them out:

“Memory is that raccoon” (favorites through 2023): Memory is that raccoon

Here is my favorite poem in “Memory is that raccoon:”
Stay as long as you want

but pay by the hour

at the Underbelly Motel.

VACANCY is a bat

blinking at your headlights.

Your room is reserved.

The spider in the corner

grants absolution 

for a bottle of gin.

Your lust lays on stained sheets

with her legs wide open.

Leave your pants on the floor

and your conscience in the fridge.

“My Pelvis Wants to Be Elvis” (favorites through 2024): My Pelvis Wants to Be Elvis

Here is my favorite poem in “My Pelvis Wants to Be Elvis:”

My pelvis wants to be Elvis

on The Ed Sullivan Show, you know,

I want to be that cutie who shakes her booty

while Elvis bumps and grinds. Who minds

gyrating hips and snarling lips?

The truth be said, my darling Ed,

the rest of me wants to be

in bed.

Please tell us about your poetry book, Finger Painting with Words. How did this book come about? What would you like readers to take away from this collection?

“Finger Painting with Words” is a collection of short poems written to inspire readers to see the world with refreshed eyes — through imagination, through the senses, through the emotions. Not through a cell phone (although that could be a different book).

I also wrote this book to thrill my mother. She loved that her daughter was an author. Unfortunately, she died before this book was published.

Book reviews

Seesaw: Quirky Poems by Ken Tomaro and Nolcha Fox

This poetry collaboration between Nolcha Fox and Ken Tomaro is darkly humorous and most entertaining. The poems celebrate daily life in all its boring ordinariness and, by demonstrating how much worse it could be if these chores and activities were not undertaken, highlight the charm of ordinary life. They also ‘take the mick’ out of people’s ridiculous obsession with social media and watching life being lived by others. These poems made me smile and reminded me of the poetic works of Roald Dahl.

Two short extracts that highlight the style and content of the poems:

“Debris that hurries by
becomes a melody and why
aren’t we taking cover
instead of videoing
this hurricane
on our phones?

Aluminum siding
and a trampoline whiz by.
So, I’ll snap a pic
for all the wandering eyes,
just to break the monotony
of cat photos
on my phone.”

“I come to a door
I open it.
Not because it is easy,
or because I’m curious,
or because I’m bored,
but because it is the only one
that will open.
I take weak little steps.
Not because I am unsure,
but because I am tired.
I follow the same path.
Not because it is worn,
but because all paths are the same.

The only door that opens
is to dirty dishes, unmade beds,
laundry someone left behind.
By the time I clean this house,
I’ll be too weak
to find a pathway out of here.”

A book that will give your spirits a lift as you laugh at yourself and life.

Purchase Seesaw: Quirky Poems from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Seesaw-Quirky-Poems-Ken-Tomaro-ebook/dp/B0F22N2D5T

Finger Painting with Words by Nolcha Fox

This is a relatively short collection of fascinating and different poems and the first collection I’ve read by this poet. I have read a lot of classic books and poems written by British authors and poets and have only recently started exploring American writers and poets. The difference in style and content is intriguing to me and I have developed a real appreciation for the boundaryless thought processes and unstructured writing styles of American writers.

For me as a reader, Nolcha Fox’s poetry is a wonderful example of thinking and writing outside the ‘box’ and I enjoyed each poem in this collection a great deal.

An example of this freedom in writing is her poem, Catch Them, as follows:
“In morning dark, the stars are blinding white,
rampaging fireflies on steroids.
Hollyhocks defy gravity and aphids
to kiss the sky before the weight of
summer
tilts them to kiss the ground.
Heat bakes the sidewalk
into squares of peanut butter fudge,
sweet sludge from oven top.
Each second a butterfly
I scoop with net of tangled words
before it flies pastward to cocoon.”

This is an interesting and thought provoking short collection of poems designed to make you think. I must also mention the lovely cover which I found very attractive.

Purchase Finger Painting with Words by Nolcha Fox from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Finger-Painting-Words-Nolcha-Fox-ebook/dp/B0DBNZ7WR9

About Nolcha Fox

Nolcha Fox’s poems have been curated in print and online journals. A best-selling author, her poetry books are available on Amazon and Dancing Girl Press. Nominee for Best Of The Net and Pushcart Prize. Editor of Chewers by Masticadores. 

Website: https://writingaddiction2.wordpress.com/ and https://nolchafox2.wixsite.com/nolcha-s-written-wor/blog 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nolcha.fox/ 

About Robbie Cheadle

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

__________________________

This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and traditional Belgian food #fiction #bookreview #belgianfood

My review of Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Pachinko is an amazing family saga set in Korea, Japan and America from when Japan took control of Korea in 1910 to 1989. Admittedly, this book was a real eye opener. I had no idea the japanese treated the Koreans so badly and how much the Koreans suffered, both in Korea and in Japan if they immigrated. This discrimination, abuse, and racism towards Koreans by Japanese people continues right up to the end of the book in 1989. It did leave me wondering what the current situation is for people of Korean descent living in Japan.

The book starts with the story of Hoonie, the son of a poor fisherman and his wife who was born with a cleft lip and a club foot. The couple are hard working and have a good sense of business, taking in lodgers and building a secondary business as a boarding house for working class people. This business helps them maintain a reasonable life during the first years of the Japanese occupation when the livelihoods of ordinary Koreans were devastated by high taxes and poor treatment. A matchmaker arranges a marriage for Hoonie, despite him being illegible in terms of cultural law due to his disabilities, to the daughter of a farmer rendered destitute by the colonialization. Hoonie and his wife, Yangjin, continue to build the boarding house business and have one surviving daughter, Sunja. Hoonie dies when Sunja is still a girl and Yangjin and Sunja continue the business alone. When Sunja is sixteen she is singled out by a wealthy fishtrader, Koh Hansu, a Korean living in Japan, who slowly woos her and ultimately seduces her. Sunja becomes pregnant and hopes to marry her loves, but discovers he is already married with three daughters. He proposes to support her as his mistress but Sunja rejects this idea as it goes against her principles. Fortunately for Sunja and her mother, salvation arrives in the form of a sickly Korean minister, Baek Isak, who is travelling to join his brother in Japan. Sunja marries Baek Isak and goes with him to start a new life in Japan as a minister’s wife. The story continues with Sunja and Baek’s lives in Japan and their family of two sons, Noa, son of the wealthy Korean fisherman, and Mozasu, Baek’s son. The saga ends years later when Sunja’s sons are older men with childen of their own.

Sunja was an excellent character. The author aptly captures the innocence of a young girl and demonstrates how Hansu inveigles his way into her life, ultimately seducing her. Hansu is not depicted as being a terrible man in these early days. He wants to support his son and Sunja and keep up his relationship with her but on his terms. These terms would result in Sunja and her mother’s disgrace in their community and her son having no name, but so would Sunja’s having an illegitimate child. If Baek hadn’t entered the story, practically, Sunja would have had to capitulate to Hansu’s request as there would have been no other way for her and her mother. Sunja is a woman of much inner strength and she accepts her situation and marriage to Baek and does her best to be a really good mother and wife to him. She demonstrates much fortitude in overcoming the difficulties she faces in Japan and shows that she is hard working and also has a good business brain and survival abilities. I felt that Sunja was a magnificent tribute to the fortitude and resourcefulness of many women forced to face terrible hardship and find a way to feed their children.

Sunja’s second son, Mozasu, is another wonderful character. Hard working and also an astute business mind, he makes the most of his situation and builds a good business for himself and his family. He also manages to overcome a lot of hardship and tragedy. He is a devoted father to his only son and demonstrates much support of, and affection for, his own people and community. He is not a criminal personality despite being involved in a gambling business that is rigged as all such business must be. He does his best to help other people and be as law abiding as possible in a society aimed at subjugating and even destroying Koreans. His attitude towards the end of the book, when faced by a disappointing (to him) decision by his son, is exemplary and shows what a good parent he was and sensible in the face of life facts. 

The author demonstrates in many places his deep understanding of the human condition. One particularly striking demonstration of this understanding is towards the end of the book when Sunja goes home to see her sick mother. This scene really stayed with me and, having experienced similar situation with aging relatives, I found it deeply compelling. 

I highly recommend this compelling and fascinating read that shares so much information about the history of Korea and Japan between 1910 and 1989 and also shows a deep understanding of people and their relationships, reactions, and emotions.

Purchase Pachinko from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Pachinko-National-Book-Award-Finalist/dp/1455563927

Exploring Belgian food and street art

Today, we are exploring Brussels in Belgium and some of its food and street art. This is because I am currently in Brussels.

Both of the above meals are served with potato chips.

The pancake stack was delicious and the perfect blend of slightly sweet from the syrup, offset with the slightly sour berries.

The above images are all of Paul’s tea room in Brussels where we ate the pancake stakes. Great food and coffee.

Brussels is famous for its street art. I’ve included two pieces below. The first is Tintin street mural and the second is called The Pipes.

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

__________________________________________

This segment of “Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Volcanic Adventures in Tonga by Ann Goth and Lamb Tagine #bookreview #readingcommunity #lambtagine

What Amazon says

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the remote islands of Tonga with Ann, a young conservation scientist, in this captivating travel memoir that will leave you breathless. From smoking volcanoes to fierce cyclones, Ann braves the elements while racing against time to save an endangered bird. But as she immerses herself in the rich culture and untouched beauty of Tonga, she discovers the true power of stepping outside her comfort zone.
Join Ann as she uncovers the secrets of this breathtaking destination and navigates the challenges of living without modern comforts in “Tongan Time”. This thrilling adventure will ignite your wanderlust and make you appreciate the comforts of home like never before. It will transport you to a new world filled with tropical delights, adventure, a unique culture, and self-discovery.

Here is what you will discover in this book:

• A captivating 17-month-long travel story that takes you on an exciting armchair adventure.
• Original photos documenting the journey and showcasing the vibrant life in Tonga.
• Unique insights into authentic Tongan culture, revealing experiences that go beyond what most short-term tourists encounter in the South Pacific.
• Fascinating glimpses into the life of a remarkable bird that relies on a volcano to incubate its eggs.

My review

I read a recommendation for this book on a blog and its premise fascinated me. I am a great lover of southern African wildlife and a part time environmentalist so the idea of a young couple being so devoted to saving an endangered species of bird delighted and intrigued me.

The book tells the true story of the author’s experiences on a remote island in Tonga in the early 1990s. I am slightly younger than the author and grew up in South Africa so the descriptions of rural life and how the Tongan people lived and ate, are quite relatable to me. Having lived and worked in southern Africa for years and studied many reports about corruption and administrative red tape in setting up projects and businesses, those aspects of Ann’s story are also very understandable and relatable to me.

The difficulties faced by this young European couple in gaining entry to Tonga, setting up the project, and ultimately conducting it, were interesting, but the most interesting part of this memoire was the coming of age aspect and the information about the birds.

The couple were idealistic and full of good intentions when they set out on the project. They were going to help save an endangered an highly unusual bird on a remote island in Tonga. These are wonderful intentions but it was obvious to me from the outset, that the reality of what they were undertaking would be difficult and even disillusioning. The hardships the couple faced with illness, getting good food, understanding the culture and the language, and overcoming cultural obstacles and mindsets were fascinating. The story is actually a triumph for this couple who managed to stay true to their objectives in many ways, despite the huge obstacles and, towards the end, deteriorating health.

On reflection, I would never had done what this couple did at their young age, and even less so now. Perhaps because I always had a much greater understanding of what they would encounter on their path. This knowledge makes me even more admiring of their great achievement.

A fascinating story for lovers of wildlife and animals but also a story of enthusiasm, courage, and overcoming obstacles and staying true to an objective despite everything life throws at you in the process. An excellent book that I really enjoyed.

Purchase Volcanic Adventures in Tonga from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Volcanic-Adventures-Tonga-Species-Conservation/dp/1035809516/

Lamb Tagine

Ingredients:

1.4 kilograms of lamb chops

Black pepper to taste

Olive oil for cooking

15 ml (1 Tbspn) garlic flakes

2 red onions, diced

60 ml tomato paste

1 cup dried apricot halves

30 ml (2 Tbspns) lemon zest

1 litre (4 cups) chicken stock

Spice mix:

15 ml (1 Tbspn) ground coriander

15 ml (1 Tbspn) ground cumin

10 ml (2 tsp) ground cardamom

10 ml (2 tsp) turmeric powder

7 1/2 ml (1 1/2 tsp) fennel seeds

5 ml (1 tsp) cayenne pepper

10 ml (2 tsp) ground ginger

10 ml (2 tsp) ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180C. Mix the spice ingredients in a small bowl. In a wok or frying pan, brown the lamb chops using olive oil. Place the browned chops in a greased casserole dish. Fry the onions in the pan. Once soft and browning, add the spice, tomato paste and combine. Do not let the spices burn. Add the chicken stock and bring to the boil. Pour the chicken stock mixture into the casserole dish and cook in the oven for 1 hour. Remove from oven and top up the liquid with more stock if necessary. Add the apricots. Return to the oven and cook for a further 1 hour.

I served with rice and garlic naan bread.

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawritesAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

_________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.