Why I Bought- and Stopped Reading- "The Satanic Verses"

    When the book came out in 1988 I was too busy to do much reading that was not work-related. I was doing my student teaching, serving in the New Mexico Army Guard, I was a part-time Lutheran pastor in a wonderful setting, and my wife and I were moving into our first home.

     Of course, I was aware of the controversy, the fatwa, and Rushdie's need to go into hiding. Horrible indeed! When he was attacked on stage last month, I decided to buy a Kindle version, because I have more time to read now and I wanted to support him financially.

     I understand and enjoy magical realism. The Satanic Verses shifts from one storyline to another and seems to be akin to an LSD trip. Not that I would know that from personal experience, but that is how it seems to be.,

     One-fourth of the way through I started to jump ahead. Still felt the same way. 

     In a time when people in the USA want to ban books, I support the freedom of speech and am against censorship. People are free to write, and read, what they want. Maybe you enjoy this book. And that is fine. I hope

Rushdie recovers and writes more. 

Three of My Poems in the Lothlorien Poetry Journal

https://lothlorienpoetryjournal.blogspot.com/2022/08/three-poems-by-arthur-turfa.html

So honored and thrilled! Enjoy!

Review: Elizabeth Wilson's "Windowpanes", coming in September from Headmisstress Press

 Elizabeth Wilson’s Windowpanes is a roadmap of a move to a new home and also of a relationship. The title serves as a metaphor; the poet and reader both look through a window. When focusing on a particular windowpane, different scenes emerge. The poet’s observations are precise and extremely honest.

     “Late Autumn” considers what someone thinks about how the relationship will develop. The poet and lover confidently look ahead. As they ride on a train, they see “…rows of houses undulate/against the changing landscape”. This is one example of an unforgettable image. And seen through a window.

     There are many moments of tenderness ( as well as some of doubt and concern) in this relationship. However, there are far more of the former: “curled up spoon style/ against her prickly backbone./ Your breasts press/flat against her skin….”  From “Warm Bread”, where the aroma from the kitchen fills the house.

     The poems vary in length, most being on the shorter side, imagist descriptions of the theme. Their tone is genuine, honest, and makes for easy reading.

 

-Arthur Turfa, poet/writer

A Good Plot for a Novel- But it Could Sadly Be Reality

      Years ago I reviewed novels for the Roanoke Rimes and World News. My wife worked in a bureau for them and at a social event, I met the person in charge of the Sunday culture section. I reviewed espionage, history, and military titles. While there was no pay, I could keep the books and people at church were pleased to see my reviews.

      A few of these novels dealt with a Soviet asset becoming president and leading the USA to the brink of surrendering to the Kremlin. Not that such a thing could happen! Well, put in Russian for Soviet, and.....

     But here is my current idea; sadly, it could also happen. Russia invaded Ukraine some months ago. Of course, Putin calls it a "special military operation", but that is propaganda. Imagine that Putin wants to expand the war, or "special military operation" because NATO nations have supported Ukraine with weapons and training. 

     Russia asks Belarus to attack Ukraine and Poland. Moldava is also attacked. NATO nations are pledged to defend each other by virtue of Article 5.  

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_110496.htm 

    Note that Sweden and Finland have since joined.

     Hungary is a NATO member, but Viktor Orban tacitly supports Russia. He refuses to let weapons/aid for Ukraine to go through Hungary. While the border between Hungary and Ukraine is small, consider this. Orban allows Russian and Belarussian forces to pass through Hungary westward. That would split Eastern Europe and put the invaders at the Austrian border. While Austria is neutral and not in NATO, Putin does not care. It would be easy to go northward to Prague or to continue West into Germany.

    Putin's aim would be to devastate as much as he could. The risk would be a nuclear war, either with tactical weapons or missiles. And as the USA gets into 2024 campaign mode, you can imagine. World War III might not be long, but it would be devastating in so many ways.

     Let us hope that none of this is true and that it remains fiction.

International Left Hander's Day- 13

     Years ago I was studying at the Universität zu Trier, in what was then West Germany (1974). I needed a book for one of my classes, but it was not in stock at the bookstore. The saleslady said I could order and it would come quickly. 

     As I filled out the form, she smiled and said, Sie schreiben wie ein Gangster!/You write like a gangster! I smiled and wondered. None of my German friends knew why she said that. Much later when I was teaching German, I learned that saying came from some of the actors who frequently appeared in the much-belovedKrimis (detective/police/gangster) movies was a southpaw, How many gangsters are called "Lefty"? If you write with the so-called wrong hand, it is easy to break any and every law.

     I remembered from Latin class that sinistra meant left, and sinister comes from that. When I was in Rome, I asked a police officer "Il Vaticano?" He replied, "Tertia via sinistra". I capeeshed.

     In third grade 8 of the 28 of us in class were lefties. Kindly ms to write with the right hand. That was in 1961, and things had changed. The parents asked her to relent, and to her credit, she apologized to the class. When I took guitar lessons, I played right-handed. 

     My father was ambidextrous, which makes me who I am. My grandson seems to be ambidextrous as well, but it is too soon to tell. I am going to enjoy the day!

      

https://www.lefthandersday.com/

PoetsSpeak2017@gmail.com

Reviews Are So Very Important to Writers, and So Hard to Get

      When my first poetry book was published seven years ago, I dutifully asked readers/friends to review it. That book, Places and Times, eLectio Publishing, has the most Amazon reviews of any that I have written: 30. 

      A few friends highlighted it on their social media, which was wonderful. When I asked some others, here are some of the responses, and in parentheses my comments:

     - I will get around to it. I have a note on my computer screen.  (never happened)

     - Oh, I am not qualified! (All you have to do is to say you like it.)

     -I only read a few poems at a time.  (So, write when you are done).

     - I'm too busy. (So was I when I did something like this for you. But I did it.)

      Recently Amazon said I review I had written went against their community standards. That confused me since I could not figure out what they meant after I read their Guidelines. I submitted a short and in my opinion less-insightful review which hopefully will be acceptable.

      Some of these people remain good friends. I have gotten over being miffed because life is too short. My point here is that if you read something that you like, leave a review. And be honest! If you did not like it, say so. If you have any connection to the author, it is even more important for you to leave a review. 

       Not all authors are supportive, even if they appear to be. Sad, but that is true. That is why it is all the more important for you to step up and review. And once you do, post on social media that you have reviewed. Leave a link or simply say that you liked the book. 

      Thanks for reading this blog! Here are links to my books.

      https://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Turfa/e/B00YJ9LNOA%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

     https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

   

Interesting Article about Mary Magdalene

https://baptistnews.com/article/theres-something-odd-about-this-mary-did-you-know/?fbclid=IwAR2YQol1pGQACgHPwO6upe__RtnWeH6U6O6vp3r213G5yx2R_ZEq_IEjtN4#.Yu0nNL3MLIX 

    Mary Magdalene is my wife's favorite saint, and the namesake for our Chocolate Lab, Magda. This article is extremely interesting and makes some very good points. It is not incompatible with traditional Christianity.