Thoughts on "The Botleys of Beaumont County" from Author Michael Stephen Daigle

     Award-winning author and friend Michael Stephen Daigle was kind enough to guide me through writing my first novel, and also to offer a review. II offer him here my sincere thanks and share his honest thoughts. 

    After the review, there are links to my novel, my poetry books, and Micahel's as well., He writes mystery/detective fictionhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Michael-Stephen-Daigle/author/B00P5WBOQC?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true, centering on Detective Frank Nagler of Ironton, NJ.  

  "The Botleys of Beaumont County are such an important family that members carry the name of the country in their name, thus Slerd Beaumont Botley.

And as such welcome to the framework of Southern fiction, a space occupied by William Faulkner, Pat Conroy, Margaret Mitchell, and now Arthur Turfa, the poet turned fiction author.

Change comes slow in Southern fiction: The themes of historic roots, family, the American Civil War, (which for some has never ended), religion, economic divisions, and racism, both subtle and overt, are as prevalent as barbeque, cornbread, sweet tea, and country music.

It is a rich territory and in THE BOTLEYS OF BEAUMONT COUNTY, his first published novel, Turfa both honors these traditions and rips them apart.

Full disclosure: I read this manuscript in an early form. The published book is far different writing than what I read.

The story opens in 2008 with the election of Barack Obama as U.S. President, the first Black American so elected. Overlying the local happenings is the economic decline of 2008-09.

Turfa works the societal changes deftly into the story: The Botley’s cement products factory is in trouble, local businesses face failure, racial incidents at the local school, and turmoil in the once steady local churches.

As such the story reflects the times of 2008-09 but also shines a light on America of 2021.

At the center is the Botleys, proud, heroically Southern, and a flaming mess of a family.

Turfa details these changes through the eyes of, first Slerd Botley, successful local attorney, decorated Army veteran, and family patriarch, and his teenage daughter Ashley Violet Botley.

Slerd is a fixer, trying throughout the book to solve numerous social and family problems, including his failing marriage. But in his own way, Slerd is numb to the building trouble because as a fixer he sees the concerns at times only as issues to be solved through logic and influence.

He is also distracted by his burgeoning affair with Jessica Sinclair Cavendish, his high school sweetheart.

The relationship is central to the hierarchy of the story: She is from the wrong side of town, from the wrong family and their deep attraction is the key that opens the secrets of the story.

Offering a different view is Ashley, whose observations are scattered as asides. Whereas her father Slerd muddles through, one foot trapped in tradition, Ashley breaks those bonds and through her eyes, the reader grasps the changes that are coming to Beaumont County.|"

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

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arthur-Turfa/author/B00YJ9LNOA?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Michael-Stephen-Daigle/author/B00P5WBOQC?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Interesting Article on Sophie Scholl, Who Read Rilke

https://www.dw.com/en/the-story-of-nazi-resistance-fighter-sophie-scholl/a-57457734 

     I subscribe to a weekly news digest from the Deutsch Welle. This article gives some background on Sophie Scholl, the most famous member of the White Rose (Weiße Rose)( resistance group in the Third Reich. Her brother Hans was one of the actual leaders; Sophie rejected an opportunity offered by the Gestapo to say that he influenced her. 

     The English translation linked above caught my attention in several ways. When hiking or camping with NAzi youth organizations, Sophie read the poet Rilke (one of my favorites). As I read I could not help thinking about the censorship controversy raging in the US these days.

    While there are no state-sponsored youth organizations in Florida, for example, There are certainly existing organizations that support efforts to ban books, Black History AP courses, and anything that some conservatives find objectionable. 

     On Thursday the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod announced it would excommunicate those members who belonged to white supremacist groups who did not repent and leave such groups. I began seminary as a member of the LCMS and expected to be ordained by them; I wasn't but that does not matter here. Thursday's story deserves a separate post. 

      The dangers of extreme right-wing politics in this world are not going away quickly. Extreme left-wing politics have their own dangers. But the other side presents a larger threat to democracy. I wonder who the new Sophie Scholls will be; hopefully, they will live full lives, and read Rilke or anyone they wish to read.

    

    https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arthur-Turfa/author/B00YJ9LNOA?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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

Heading Back to the Pee Dee- Darlington, SC, Saturday, March 4, 10a-2p

       All books will be available- poetry and the novel! I will also take part in a panel

      If you cannot come by, here are the links you need! Many thanks!

    https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arthur-Turfa/author/B00YJ9LNOA?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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

Remembering the Rev. Allan Wm. Kinloch on the 6th Anniversary of His Passing

     Accents I consider as my thematically=best poetry book. There is a section in it about people who have had a tremendous influence on me. This poem is about the Rev. Al Kinloch from the Church-on-the-Mall (Presbyterian), in Plymouth Meeting, PA. 

     I met him as a junior high student, and eventually became a Lutheran colleague. He mentored me as a young man and as an adult. He combined faith with flair, commitment, and integrity. He impacted hundreds of young people in a positive way and even more adults. 

    Now all denominations face a clergy shortage for a host of reasons. My fear is that there are not enough Al Kinlochs to inspire young people. I try in my way; and yes, people attend seminary at later stages in their lives. 

   Read his obituary, enjoy the poem, and find the book on the links. I hope you have your Polaris,

 https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/inquirer/name/allan-kinloch-obituary?id=9386622

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arthur-Turfa/author/B00YJ9LNOA?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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

 Precession of the Equinox: Polaris Shifts

 

Slightly tending westward, gradually

the lodestar  yields to its successor

as a new Astrological Age begins.

A residual memory, following me

from the Planetarium in Junior High.

Polaris’ replacement will then

give direction to new future stargazers.

 

One of the last young people to escape

from Kensington’s web of snarling streets

and elevated train lines, you seized your chance.

You became our Polaris, colorful in action

and attire, caring and cajoling, steadying

us to be the people you knew we could become.

 

Across the county or continent, we returned

and you greeted us, gloried in those returns.

As colleagues we spoke when storms neared,

and I kept your counsel in sight toward calm waters.

 

Now I know you began your procession,

stepping aside, though not then out of view.

Some of us search for you, exchanging pieces

that do not always fit together.

Second-hand accounts, some leading closer,

others in contradiction, point to a lodestar

that no longer shines in our heavens.

 

Every so often I scan the spreading stars

for our Polaris, until comes the realization

we are now lodestars for ourselves,

for stargazers we need to steady, for those

who receive the light as we did once

while scanning skies for our Polaris.

 

 

Wonderful Review of "Places and Times" e:Lectio Publishing

 From John F. Roche: a poet, himself!

I’ve long thought that one of the most interesting literary genres is the poetry of place, poems usually beginning with the concrete and particular but often reaching the universal. In this collection, Arthur Turfa does not disappoint, taking us from the Southwest of “Española Morning” to South Carolina’s “Sunday Morning at Beech Island” to Germany’s “Franconian Sonnets.” As suggested by the title, there are also poems that travel in time, such as “Elegy for a Mill Town” with its closing lines, “A half-century after their / Grandparents sought their own fortunes / In new towns huddled on the hills / Which fall down into the river.” And there are also amusing poems about human foibles, such as “New Dunciad.” A book worth reading!

My poetry books:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00YJ9LNOA
I

My7 novel:

https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county#:~:text=About%20the%20Book&text=The%20business%20inherited%20by%20the,roles%20in%20this%20changed%20community.

Poor Dante! Neofascists in Italy Love Him!

 https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2023/02/italy-giorgia-meloni-fascists-dante-divine-comedy/673003/

 Another excellent article from THE ATLANTIC.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arthur-Turfa/author/B00YJ9LNOA?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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

Some Reviews Appearing in the Future

      I will share more details when they are published, but I will say a little bit later. Every so often a publisher asks for poets/writers to review books that are coming out. If I have the time and interest, I ask. A few publishers trust me to write a good review in a timely manner. What I appreciate is the chance to read something that I would otherwise not have the opportunity to read.

     Recently one of them again asked if I would mind having my review published. Absolutely! That is an honor. When this happens, I will let you know!

     One other thing about reviews. When someone reviews one of my books, I appreciate it even when it is not positive. While there are very few of those reviews, they exist and keep e humble. If you have been so kind as to have bought one of my books, or will in the future, please leave a review somewhere: Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, wherever. All it needs to say it whatever rating you give it and that you liked it. It only takes a few minutes and would make me happy. Thanks! Support poets/writers!

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arthur-Turfa/author/B00YJ9LNOA?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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