This week’s reading seems to include a lot of stories in which “oddness” is an element. Even the historical novel…
Silver and Usagi Read
For those of you just discovering this feature, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week. Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazine articles.
The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list. If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.
Once again, this is not a book review column. It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.
Recently Completed:
Od Magic by Patricia McKillip. Audiobook. Enjoyed, although nothing really “new,” in story conception from what she’s done well before.
Winter Door by Isobelle Carmody. Sequel to Night Gate. Continues story but has its own tale to tell. I want to read The Firecat, but am going to need to hunt up a copy.
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King. Turns what could be a typical “problem book” into something so weird that, oddly, it’s more real than realism.
In Progress:
The King’s Gambit by John Maddox Roberts. Audiobook. First in the SPQR series. Time for a re-read!
Maskwork by Jennifer Foreman. Part history of the form, part project book. Entirely fascinating. Digesting a bit at a time.
King of Chaos by Dave Gross. Pathfinder sword and sorcery. Just started.
Also:
Jim insisted I needed several special issue periodicals on David Bowie, so I’ve been dipping into these. Fascinating to remember how long he took to become successful. Would an artist today even be given the chance to have three failed albums before achieving moderate success?
Fame took a long time coming, and when it did it wasn’t everything he’d imagined.
Jane Lindskold: Wednesday Wanderings 
March 11, 2016 at 7:18 am |
Can’t help with The Firecat, but maybe A Mystery of Wolves would tide you over. [no, haven’t read it, but the title caught my eye while checking the library catalogue]
March 11, 2016 at 11:24 am |
Six Common Things. Slice-of-life stories by E. F. Benson, best remembered for his “Mapp and Lucia” novels.
March 15, 2016 at 8:51 pm |
WELL YOU’RE FREE TO CHOOSE LOUIS, I HAVE THE WILDLIFE BOOKS CALL ME REPEATEDLY BUT IT’S THE STORIES THAT ARE FRIENDLY TO WOLVES THAT SHOUT AT ME THE MOST.
CORRECT JANE FRAGMENTS AREN’T MEAN’T TO BE RECCOMENDATIONS WHETHER PLAN ORGANIZATION OR STORY CHOICES, BUT THEY CAN GIVE A LITTLE HELP SOMETIMES. PLUS SEVERAL AREN’T AS ODD AS THEY SEEM.
BIRTH TO ADULTHOOD FAOLAN FEELS REAL IF LIFE SPAN IS INCLUDED IN HOW OUR SIMILARITIES ARE EXPLAINED. AGAIN THIS JASMINE OLSON EXPRESSING HOW TINY THE DIFFERENCES FEEL WHEN SHE VISUALIZES FAOLAN A FICTION WOLF.
DEFORMED DISABLED both descriptions can scare a crowd.
FAOLAN has tiny memory of his birth milk giver, and I only know that I crawled with confusion around my half sister’s father.
FAOLAN mmm where’s the milk, me missing my loyal Grandma while spending hours at a DAYCARE house.
FAOLAN lucky he didn’t sink into the river while ice cracked, I’m short enough to say I’m quite lucky I haven’t fallen off a cliff.
FAOLAN’S ears open early in his story, I was born blind but my eyes opened totally unexpectedly.
FAOLAN caught onto a grizzly bear’s big foot, Grandma took care of me since mom had no idea what to do.
FAOLAN grows up with this grizzly and eats like a cub, if Grandma says how she fed my mom, her sister and me people get shocked.
FAOLAN has to be careful around young bear cubs and knows he’s different, I went through my childhood with confusion and always wondered how I was misunderstood at school.
FAOLAN and I are quick learners who’ll memorize important facts of life and do our best to please leaders as well as family and friends.
FAOLAN is encouraged by a masked owl several times, I’m encouraged by the helpful people like Grandma and you dear Jane.
FAOLAN’S not easy to fool just like I’m hard to force unless I know the consequences doubtlessly. Expression, trying get a few hints, or trying to understand something FAOLAN and I both let photos help.
FAOLAN’S splayed paw and his unusual height scare others, I have disabilities that scare others, our physical problems are luckily smaller than they sound to a crowd, neither of us mean the fright.
FAOLAN has trouble watching OUTCLANNERS and I have trouble seeing violence, impatience, cruelty, invasion, selfishness, being unbalanced however possible, anything Illegal or intolerance.
FAOLAN endures HEEP and I endured several of the kids kicked of regular school in halls and school buses while I did the LIFE PROGRAM.
NEITHER FAOLAN NOR ME JASMINE OLSON can tolerate WAR.
FAOLAN’S cautious, and I’m patient.
FAOLAN has the SARK OF THE SLOUGH help him, I had at least 1 kid who understood enough to help me through Jr. high and H. S.
FAOLAN is accepted as a WATCH WOLF at the RING OF THE SACRED VOLCANOES when most wolves thought he failed, I’m disabled and still accepted at a school library luckily by a woman who knew me at the LIFE PROGRAM.
FAOLAN is friends with EDME, it’s doubtless that VANESSA ASHLEY is a true friend of mine though we’re an AFRICAN and A HISPANIC CATHOLIC.
FAOLAN thinks of harmony, I think of 1 large family.
FAOLAN does carvings, and I do drawings.
FAOLAN’S high jumps shock others, my insights surprise several.
FAOLAN first has trouble leaving the 2 bear dens he grew up in, for a long time I had self-consciousness.
FAOLAN’S desolation ends, I finally gain self-respect and real faith.
DAYCARE TO H. S. IN MY LIFE, PUPPYHOOD TO 4 YEARS OLD IF YOU INCLUDE OUR DIFFERENT LIFE SPANS YOU’D SAY FAOLAN AND I WERE MADE FUN OF EQUALLY.
FAOLAN and I are both loyal.
FAOLAN dreams repeatedly, I think visually.
FAOLAN’S close to the SARK, and I’m close to Grandma for sure.
FAOLAN’S often resourceful, my skills of good manners the 2 of us don’t have trouble doing something useful even when it’s a leader’s/ boss’s problem or a problem we share with our classes/ packs, (when difficulty’s at a high level) FAOLAN AND I have the courage.
FAOLAN AND I are able to hold our hope and use memory for help.
AND FAOLAN FICTIONAL, WHILE I SPEAK OF MY EARLY YEARS OF REAL LIFE HOWEVER THESE SIMILARITIES ARE NO JOKE. JASMINE OLSON EXPLAINING A POSITIVE UNUSUAL MATCH.
March 16, 2016 at 2:54 pm |
Thanks for letting my stories be part of your pack. I’m glad that they have made me one of your “helpful people.”
March 17, 2016 at 2:32 pm |
HARMONY, JOY, AND FINDING WAYS TO HELP OURSELVES FEEL READY YOU’RE WELCOME DEAR JANE. CLEARNESS OF HOW TO BE CAREFUL, LEARNING WHAT VERBS DICTIONARIES CAN TRICK US WITH LIKE CHIDE, BECAUSE GRANDMA’S TOLD ME YOU CAN CHIDE GENTLY BUT MY KID DICTIONARY ONLY MENTIONS THE SCOLDING. PLUS BLIND SEER CLEARLY HELPS ME SEE IT’S QUITE COMMON PEOPLE MISTAKE A FIRM GENTLENESS AS RUDENESS AND THIS LESSON COMES FROM HIS REASONS BEING WISE AS HE COMMUNICATES. BLIND SEER HAS HIS SKILLS OF TRUE LOYALTY AND ALERTING HIS CLOSE FRIENDS IN TIME. AND WITH STUFF LIKE FAOLAN HAVING TO PROVE HIMSELF AND BLIND SEER PROTECTING HIS FRIENDS THESE 2 SOMETIMES MAKE THE SAME SUBJECT SEEM EXTRA CLEAR IN ITS DEFINITION, LIKE WHEN I MENTIONED POTENTIAL, BLIND SEER HELPED ME PICTURE THE MAIN REASONS AND THE WISDOM OF LIVING UP TO YOUR POTENTIAL AND LATER FAOLAN HELPED ME CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING YOUR BEST THEN WHY TO ALWAYS TRY TO LIVE UP TO YOUR POTENTIAL BECAME ONE OF MY NEW VALUES SINCE BOTH FICTION WOLVES ALSO MADE THE CONSEQUENCES CLEAR.
MENTIONING PRECAUTIONS IN FIREKEEPER’S 6TH BOOK HAS HELPED ME SEE WE SHOULDN’T THINK OF OURSELVES AS ALWAYS BEING PERFECTION ALERT, SUCH AN ATTITUDE IS KIND OF LIKE SILENT BRAGGING, WE JUST NEED TO AVOID AS MUCH TROUBLE AS POSSIBLE AT THE CURRENT TIME, AND BE WATCHFUL ABOUT THE ESSENTIAL CHANGES. THIS LESSON CAME FROM BLIND SEER’S PRECAUTION SUGGESTIONS IN CHAPTER 4. AND I’LL TELL YOU DEAR JANE IT ISN’T YOU’VE HELPED ME WITH HOW CLEAR BLIND SEER’S CHARACTER IS YOUR FIREKEEPER SAGA BOOKS HELPED GRANDMA FEEL MORE SURE THAT I COULD READ EASY ADULT BOOKS TOO THOUGH I HAVE MY AUTISM. SO I JASMINE THANK YOU FOR THE PLEASURE THE SERIES BROUGHT MY GRANDMA AND ME, PROOF OF FINE READING SKILLS AND FINDING A CHARACTER WHO CAN TEACH ME.
ANOTHER THING WITH YOUR FIREKEEPER SAGA DEAR JANE LINDSKOLD IS IT’S AN ENJOYABLE FANTASY STORY AND NOT A MYSTERY STYLE THAT I FROWN AT AFTER READING SUMMARY. IN YOUR FIREKEEPER SAGA I FIND HINTS OF WISDOM, ADVICE OF CAUTION, VOCABULARY IMPROVEMENTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND CLEAR HINTS OF JUDGING CAREFULLY, JUST USING MY COMPREHENSION OF BLIND SEER WITH FIREKEEPER AND THEN MY VISIONS OF THE OTHER CHARACTERS, YOUR STORIES RESPECT OF THE ESSENTIAL WOLVES BUT I SURE DON’T LIKE THE MYSTERIES THAT THEY’RE HURT IN, I MEAN LIKE THE OLD IRISH TALES.
MEXICAN, RED, GRAY, BLACK, OR ANY OTHER COLOR, PLUS ECOSYSTEM FACTS AND BEING HONEST TO THE LORD, WOLVES ARE ESSENTIAL, AND SO ARE THEIR COUSINS. LONG LIVE THE WOLVES, YOU WOLVES ARE DEEP IN ME I VISUALIZE YOUR PACKS AS FRIENDS, AND YOU COYOTES ARE LITTLE LESS CLEAR, STILL I JASMINE OLSON AM A REAL NATURE LOVER SO I WISH YOU COYOTES GOOD LUCK TOO. SAME THING WITH YOU WILD COUSINS OF WOLVES AND COYOTES IN AFRICA AND EURASIAN AREAS AND AUSTRALIA TOO THAT INCLUDES YOU SHORT JACKAL COUSINS, AND DINGOES, I CAN’T READ YOUR COMMUNICATION AS EASILY BUT I’M ENOUGH OF A NATURE LOVER TO DRAW YOU, OR I’D GO ON SHORT TOURS NEAR YOU, ONLY IF IT WAS AFFORDABLE. I’LL TELL THE LOTS OF YOU WILD DOGS, WILD DOGS ARE IN MY HEART. IT’S JUST THERE ARE SO MANY FACTS TO LEARN OF EACH WHEN IT COMES TO SCIENCE THE WOLVES ARE THE BREED I DON’T HAVE TO QUESTION THE ATTITUDE OF. WHAT’S THE SAME IN COMMUNICATION OF THEIR COUSINS AND WHAT’S DONE IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAT’S MY QUESTION ABOUT THEIR LIFESTYLES. THE ONLY GROUP I’M NOT INTO IS THE HYENA GROUP, MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY SOUND SO MUCH LIKE LAUGHTER THAT I ALWAYS HAVE NO IDEA MAD, READY TO CHASE STRANGER, SCARED, AND OTHER FEELINGS THE HYENA’S TOO CONFUSING.
ESSENTIAL INDEED AND SPIRITUAL TO SEVERAL YELLOWSTONE I KNOW KAREN WHO WORKS AT ROADS TO INDEPENDENCE IN UT, RUNS WITH WOLVES SANCTUARY IN MAINE I LOVE LOMASI AND HER BROTHER ANOKI, WILD SPIRIT WOLF SANCTUARY OH HER FIREKEEPER BOOKS WITH BLIND SEER ARE A COMFORT, A FIRM INTEREST OF MINE AND LIKE JANE LINDSKOLD DID HERSELF I JASMINE OLSON ONE YOUR YOUNG FANS 26 THANK YOU FOR HELPING HER SINCERELY I REALLY DON’T THINK ANY OTHER ADULT BOOK WILL HOLD ME TIGHT LIKE HERS BECAUSE I’M NOT ANY BOYFRIEND FEMALE AND THE SCARY MYSTERIES ARE THE MORE COMMON TYPE OF ADULT BOOK STORIES, I SURE WISH THE POLITE FANTASY WITH ANIMALS LIKE JANE’S WAS THE MORE POPULAR STYLE MYSELF, WOLF CONVERSATION CENTER VIDEOS ON YOU TUBE IF I KNEW YOUR LOCATION I’D TAKE A SHORT TOUR NEAR YOUR WOLF PACK, IN DEEP HARMONY TO HOWL WITH THE WOLVES, NO MATTER WHAT RANCHERS SAY I’M ON YOUR SIDE THOUGHTFUL WOLF SUPPORTERS, AND THANK YOU THEY’RE A FRIEND I CAN’T STAND TO LOSE.
MOSTLY JASMINE OLSON SAYING HER WELCOME TO JANE LINDSKOLD AND EXPRESSING HOW FIRM HER LOVE AND HOPE FEEL FOR THE WOLVES.
March 19, 2016 at 7:32 pm |
THANKS BLIND SEER EXPLORING LOYAL AND VIGILANT SOCIETY IS THE TYPE OF DESCRIPTION I’D CALL WOLF PACKS MYSELF DEAR FRIEND, JASMINE OLSON SPEAKING.
What’s finally clear is that the plan isn’t the only part to look at as you try to succeed with a task or a subject, or even with speech. and the challenges that we can’t control are not the daily kind, it’s usually up to us ourselves how hard of a challenge to take. Here are the small steps of success you helped me discover while reading FIREKEEPER’S 6TH book.(WOLF’S BLOOD)
ORGANIZATION
CONVENIENCE
COOPERATION
PATIENCE
DETERMINATION
HONESTY
A SENSIBLE PLAN
FLEXIBILITY
HOPE
PRECAUTION
PRUDENCE
A GOOD SELF-CONCEPT
LOYALTY
LOOKING AT WHO HAS THE MOST KNOWLEDGE
LOOKING AT WHO IS READY TO SHARE IMFORMATION
LOOKING AT HISTORY
FICTION RELATED TO THE SUBJECT OR TASK
NOTHING HAS TO HAPPEN EVERYWHERE TO BE TRUE
ALERT
CONSEQUENCES
CAREFULLY THINKING OF WHAT RUMORS MAY SPREAD
COMBINING A LIST OF ANSWERS
DECISIVENESS
LOOKING AT OTHER EXAMPLES OF THE SAME THING
SATIFACTION
RESPONSIBILITY
RESOLVE
STUDYING THE TASK OR SUBJET TO INCREASE SIMPLICITY
EXPLORING THE IDEA
COURAGE
HAVING THE SKILLS FOR COPING
NOBILITY
HAVING REAL STRENGTH
PRACTICE
BELIEVING IN YOURSELF
WATCHING THE SMALL CHANGES DURING YOUR ADVENTURE
HAVING PERSEVERANCE
HAVING A CLEAR CONSCIENCE
BEING YOURSELF (NOT PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE)
ACCEPTING THE WAY THINGS ARE AT THE MOMENT
SOMETIMES CAUTION HELPS SUCCESS
THROUGH HARD THING ATTENTIVENESS CAN HELP
STAYING STEADY
SAYING YOUR COMMENTS AT THE RIGHT TIME
THE ABILITY TO BE ASSERTIVE
RIGHT THIS HOW CLEAR YOU MADE THE SMALL STEPS OF SUCCESS ITSELF DEAR BLIND SEER. I FIND YOU A FAITHFUL CHARACTER. JASMINE OLSON SAYING BLIND SEER IS VALUED BY HER FIRMLY.
March 27, 2016 at 8:47 pm |
I’m with you about the big differences of real love and desire Jane Lindskold. That was a great ending for your FIREKEEPER SAGA.
Just like FIREKEEPER herself I’m in UT still I’m much more a WOLF GIRL than a cowgirl. I have to be silent about my personal religious uniqueness just like how quiet FIREKEEPER had to be quiet about her positive thoughts of BLIND SEER. I admire their spirit and their appearance there’s some equality in the reputations of disabled people and the wolves. HIGH FUNCTIONING PEOPLE AREN’T PATIENT ENOUGH TO DISCOVER THE TRUTH OF DISABLED SPECIAL ED PEOPLE USUALLY, HUNTERS AND RANCHERS SURE AREN’T PATIENT WITH ESSENTIAL WOLVES. SOME DISABLED PEOPLE ARE WEAK, HOWEVER NOT ALL AND THE LUCKY ONES CAN DO MORE THAN OTHERS EXPECT. Doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest however chased by police or taken to court I’ll speak up for the essential wolves or this is how I’m so emotional about them Jane but I’ll admit the high price consequences of really doing this and stay home, IT’S JUST LIKE POCAHONTAS I’D RATHER COMPROMISE EVEN WITH ANIMALS. I’m with the wolf packs absolutely not at all with the hunters or ranchers. MOSTLY BECAUSE THE HUNTERS HURT THEM WITH GREED, AND RANCHERS THINK OF THEIR RANCHES BUT HEY THEY DON’T CONCENTRATE ON BALANCE, HOWEVER THE LOYAL WOLVES THEY DO!! balance is a big deal EMOTIONS, MONEY, FOOD, NATURE AND MORE.THE WOLF PACKS KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING!!! STRENGTH IS NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS STABILITY. LET THE WOLVES LIVE IN FREEDOM. LIKE THE WOLVES I FEEL LIKE BLOCKING THE HUNTERS AND TELLING THEM TO BACK OFF, EXCEPT I’M PEACEFUL ENOUGH TO STILL ONLY USE WHAT WOULD TOUCH THEM THE SOFTEST, towel, a long branch, a light log that can roll,.
THE WOLVES FEEL LIKE MY GUIDANCE DEEP INSIDE DEAR JANE LIKE FIREKEEPER MY FROWNS ARE HUGE WHEN A WOLF IS HURT. IT’S DIFFICULT TO CONTROL MY FROWNS ALSO DURING THE MOMENTS I’M JUST HAVE VISIONS OF THIS IN THE SHORT HALL UP STAIRS AT HOME. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE TO DO MY BEST TO CONTROL WITH MY VISUAL THINKING.
THANKS DEAR JANE LINDSKOLD THE ENDING ABOUT LOVE AND DESIRE IN THE LAST CHAPTER OF FIREKEEPER’S 6TH BOOK( WOLF’S BLOOD) WAS ENTERTAINING YOUR HIGH LEVEL FAN JASMINE OLSON