A - Reviews 5th Nov 2002

INTRO

Well I've been thinking for a while now that it's a shame there are no
comments boxes underneath the stories here. I don't take notice of the
rating scores and I'd make a terrible teacher....I'd want to give
everyone 10 out of 10 (or 5 out of 5 in this case), hence I never rate
anything I read.

Anyway, after reading some of donignacio's work, I thought what a
fabulous idea to creep some of your thoughts in at the end of your most
recent submissions. It's a novel idea, but I'm not going to do
it.

But (and I do have dear old Sgt Pepper/donignacio to thank), I've
decided to brave the masses and critique some of the work posted here.
I figure it will encourage me to read widely and learn to review
literature analytically. I tend to only comment on pieces I like, which
is dastardly cowardly don't you think? I think my reviews here may also
encourage people to be more interactive, and maybe even start reading
and commenting on some of my own work. No pressure mind.

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So, my first piece of critiquing here at ABCtales.com:

TODAY I READ:
(not in order)

1. F - Do You Miss a Body Part Like You Miss Your Gran? by
paulgreco

http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=29476

For someone who thinks he can't free verse, this piece flowed quite
naturally and a cherry was awarded. I really enjoyed it, very tongue in
cheek with some underlying seriousness. Well done. Maybe Paul has found
his new niche?

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2. Dead Man Walking and Auld Man's Dug by unbranded.

http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=29440
http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=29441

A new writer here at ABC, Ian has made an impression on readers
already. There is a thread on the message board pertaining to these
pieces. Briefly, I'll repeat myself to say that I think this guy is a
talented writer and certainly not a beginner. Writing with a Scot's
brogue is terribly clever, and I'm not sure if I'd attempt it myself
(not a drop of Scottish blood flows through my veins I can tell you). I
really enjoyed both of these poems and will certainly be reading more
from this chap.

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3. Dedication by saguaronixie

http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=29490

Another poem I have commented on at the message board. This poem
touched me as it brought back memories of my own grandfather's death.
There was a lot of emotion in the verse and I enjoyed the descriptions
of grief as experienced by a child. Another talented writer here.

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4. C: This Armageddon was Their First by donignacio

http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=29493

I'm sorry, Don, but I found this a bit boring. It's not the style of
writing that bothered me, but I remember having to read a novel at
school called "Z for Zacharia", which was a similar kind of story. That
book was agonising and I'm not much of a sci-fi fan at the best of
times. I was intrigued by the Elvis character though, and I wondered if
he was meant to be the King, alive and in hiding; or some poor bloke
with an unfortunate name. It was food for thought though for those of
you that like that sort of stuff.

I did read another of donignacio's pieces just yesterday in fact.
Chicken Poop for the Sassy Soul and I thought it was a total hoot.
Thoroughly deserving of its cherry too, I might add. How like me he
sounds, and it's nice to know I'm not the only ambivalent, frustrated
person in the world with an ultra short attention span. This piece can
be found at:

http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=29369

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5. The Day the Music Died by nancy_am

http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=29481

This was a nice poem and well written, but a bit old and tired. I'm
just not sure there is any new way to write about lost love. Heaven
knows I've tried, but I think it's all be done before. I kind of avoid
this topic nowadays (in the realms of both reading AND writing)!!
Anyway, you can make up your own mind.

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6. Bonfire by liana_hemmett

http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=29483

I'm not really one to read stories about the domesticated "bliss" of
parents and families. Having said that, Liana has such a way of writing
that I had to giggle as I read this piece. She has a unique writing
style and a humourous way of describing seemingly routine events. Her
day was a comedy of errors all round, and it sounds like living in her
house is an adventure in itself.

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7. Voices (Poem) by musau

http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=29486

I didn't like this poem, and I can't really put my finger on why. Maybe
it's the predictable rhyming words, or the AA BB CC DD pattern. I'm
growing less an less fond of rhyming poetry as time goes by (even
though I still write some every now and then). I'm not very good at
critiquing poetry and I feel a little out of my depth here. Anyone else
have any thoughts?

I really did like the following lines though:

"In spite of these conglamorate sounds,
And the barking of ancient hounds"

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8. And finally, I read some of ivoryfisbone's work from her set "The
space where something ought to be....", which of course was
excellent.

For This I Don't Forgive You
http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=12976

(The above was my favourite, but I thought all her poems were
great).

Growing

http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=21714

Love Like Water

http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=21717

Fish is one of the few poets who can possibly put a new thread on the
worn out "love lost" genre. I don't think there is anyone here who can
doubt her ability as a truly inspirational poet. One of my favourites
here at ABCtales.