Review of "'Every Man His Specialty': Beckett, Disability, and Dependence" by Michael Davidson

 Michael Davidson, "Every Man His Specialty: Beckett, Disability, and Dependence (2007) 14 pages. On The Free Library.

Originally, I struggled with Beckett and his (obviously important) portrayal of the disabled. Was Beckett ableist or was he satirizing the (at that time, popular) pseudo-science of eugenics (which includes all the disgraceful, harmful, hateful -isms). Was he for eugenics or against it? My initial reaction to Beckett was simply that I was triggered. In the real PTSD sense. Reading his work caused me to have chills, break out in a sweat, and become physically nauseous. It seemed on the surface to be the most blatantly ableist material I've ever come across. After reading this I have made peace with Beckett. I still have issues with his methods, but I no longer question his intentions and end game (pun intended). This also includes an interesting and much-needed discussion of the ableist worldview that independence and accomplishment are what make people worthy of life and participation in society to the exclusion of disabled people who require external assistance to survive, whether that be from assistive technology or other more able people. This view of what makes a human worthy to participate in society and to have life seriously needs loudly challenged and changed. This paper argues that Beckett is highlighting these so-called "codependent" and dependent relationships to do just that. Okay then. I can definitely live with that, Beckett, and on behalf of the disabled people trying to survive and even be (a different but equally important kind of) productive within the ableist worldview - thank you!

Book Review: E D Bird's "Bitter Sweet"

 

E D Bird, Bitter Sweet (Createspace, 2015) 358 pages, fiction, $13.00. On Amazon.

This is the sequel to E D Bird's Goldenviron which is also reviewed on this blog. As expected, it is another entertaining, rollicking "dude flick" of a book.

Better written than its predecessor, more gritty and graphic, this installment takes us from South Africa to Barbados as the lead character seeks revenge for the events of Goldenviron. Again we have an action-packed plot and the added complication of aliases to keep up with.

Some gimmicks are overused. There is an elephant, leopard, and lion attack. This is a bit much if the reader knows something about the actual behavior of wild animals and it all begins to feel like a cliched cop-out by the time it plays out.

Also, this is not a novel for the post-Me Too world. Again, here is your fair trigger warning. Sex is detailed and errs on the side of porn. The book is rather insensitive to the aftereffects of rape on a woman's psyche - especially that of multiple rapes. While there is an attempt to make the woman a strong character who rescues herself rather than waiting for her male partner to rescue her, it does fall short of real female understanding. Later in the book, a male character vomits after watching a bomb detonate and I at least couldn't help but think these two events juxtaposed against each other only served to highlight the lack of emotional depth regarding rape.

This is an easy read not meant for children. I sensed the author left things open for the possibility of a third installment.

Book Review: E D Bird's "Goldenviron"

 

E D Bird, Goldenviron (Createspace, 2016) 446 pages, fiction, £10.87. On Amazon.

E D Bird has written an entertaining, if clumsy, mystery novel set in South Africa. This is not the kind of mystery you read to exercise your powers of deduction, however. The reader isn't given the chance to solve the case. But we are along for a "dude flick" plot.

The title refers to a gold mining company at the heart of an alarming number of murders. The characters stumble through several adventures - a hot air balloon ride, an abandoned mine, a kidnapping, a hyena attack, and even an AIDS clinic straight out of Stephen King's imagination - in an attempt to unravel the knots. 

Those sensitive to themes of racism should avoid this book. The "good guys" do at times display a less than open mind and the "bad guys" are overt neo-nazis. There is even a smoking chimney. This is your fair trigger warning.

There are times when the author's clearly evident love of cars overshadows the story. But this is a somewhat fast-paced, action driven book that is sure to delight a readership that prefers an escape rather than a think. 

Postponement

We are sad to have to announce that due to not yet having enough submissions, as well as the general internet overload as a result of the global quarantine causing massive tech issues on our end (indeed, those delayed this notice), we are forced to postpone the Special Yes(ABLED) Is(sue). At this time submissions are still open for it and the next regular is(sue), but the deadline is fluid. That means we will be keeping the submission period for the Yes(ABLED) is(sue) open until further notice. We hope this will encourage you to submit more poems, art, and stories. Quarantine will hopefully give you more time for writing and creating.

We send y’all our love. Please, take care of your mental as well as your physical health - and that of your loved ones and neighbors. We wish you safe passage through this unprecedented time!

AvantAppalachia.com

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

(YES)Abled Is(sue) Deadline

Dear Kinfolk,

This is a reminder that the deadline for our YES(Abled) Special Is(sue) is March 31, 2020. This is(sue) will feature the work of disabled poets, artists, and short fiction writers or work on disability themes. However, the subject need not be limited to disability. The subject is open. We ask that since we are taking submissions for the regular is(sue) at the same time that you please put “YES(Abled)” in the subject line of your email. www.avantappalachia.com. All our usual guidelines apply.

Also, as mentioned, we are taking submissions for our regular is(sue) at the same time. The deadline for it is May 30, 2020.

Thank you all for making our ezine a leader within its genre!

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

(Yes)Abled Is(sue) and North/South Appalachia

Dear Kinfolk,

You heard about it in the email about the Is(sue) 8 release. Here are more details.

We are absolutely thrilled to announce AvantAppal(achia)'s 2nd Special Is(sue), titled (Yes)ABLED! This is(sue) will be dedicated to the work of disabled poets, artists, and short story writers. Subject need not be related to the experience of being disabled, but is open. The usual guidelines apply, with the exception that "(Yes)ABLED" must be included in the email subject line since the submission period for the regular Is(sue) 9 will be open at the same time. This Special Is(sue) will appear and remained archived under Special Is(sues) in the menu for as long as this website continues. The deadline for (Yes)ABLED is March 31, 2020. It will go live on April 15, 2020.

Please spread the word and help us make this Special Is(sue) a success!

Also, the North/South Collective, of which AvantAppal(achia) is a part, just had a reorganization. The new website is here at North/South Appalachia. Poems and art submitted to AvantAppal(achia) that we feel will be a good fit for North/South Appalachia may be included on the North/South blog. We will approach the poet and artist for permission to share work there first, of course.

Thank you so much for making these projects as spectacular as they are!

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik
Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Is(sue) 8 of AvantAppal(achia) and (Yes)Abled Is(Sue)

Dear Kinfolk,

The editors are happy to announce that is(sue) 8 of AvantAppal(achia) is live! We seemed to have dodged, for now at least, those nasty digital bugs which have slowed us in the past. We present a nice shiny new is(sue).


Is(sue) 8 contains work from 6 different countries -Canada, Ireland, Greece, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United States - and five different states - Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. We are proud to publish some excellent work and you should be proud of producing it.


We are also announcing AvantAppal(achia)'s 2nd Special Is(sue) titled (Yes)ABLED! The is(sue) is to be dedicated to the work of disabled poets, artists, and short story writers. Details for submission can be found on the site and the deadline is March 31, 2020.

Sabne Raznik wants me to remind everyone of a recent site upgrade which made it more compatible with mobile devices, but as a result in order to see bylines for the Avant(Art) section, you must click on the image.

Another reminder is that we, the editorial team, are volunteers and any help you can give to defray expenses is greatly appreciated. Find the Donat(ions) link and give us some PayPal love.

Do not fail to check the Arch(ive) tab to see which pieces have been chosen to represent the past is(sue). As we head into 2020, the submission period for is(sue) 9 is open and the deadline for submission is May 30, 2020 with the is(sue) going live on June 15.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support and as a personal note I would like to thank Sabne Raznik for letting me come along for the ride!

AvantAppal(achia)

AvantAppal(achia) Deadline Reminder and North/South Anthology Release

Dear Kinfolk,

This is your last reminder that the deadline for the December is(sue) is November 30, 2019. So please get your most experimental art, poetry, and short stories to us in text, video, audio, or html form as soon as possible! Check www.avantappalachia.com for guidelines and submission email.

Dave and I have decided to have another special is(sue) in 2020. Information for that will become available as soon as the December is(sue) is live. It will be imperative to follow the guidelines for that is(sue) closely since we will be accepting submissions for it and the regular June is(sue) at the same time.

Also, the North/South Collective, of which AvantAppal(achia) is a partner, has released its first annual anthology. You can get your copy at https://www.amazon.com/North-South-Appalachia-Poetry-1/dp/1798053470/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sabne+raznik&qid=1573696296&sr=8-1. The submission period for North/South’s 2020 anthology is open and will end on September 30, 2020. See www.northsouthappal.com for info on how to do that.

Kinfolk, you are AvantAppal(achia)’s lifeblood. Your donations keep the website up and your work make it the fabulous ezine it is. We thank you for that and for the privilege of sharing your work with the world.

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Book Review of T. Byron Kelly's "Poems"

T. Byron Kelly, Poems (Createspace, 2018) 119 pages, poetry, $9.00 USD. On Amazon.


To be honest, there's only so much religious poetry I can take, regardless of which faith. So if that's not your thing, Kelly isn't for you. Another annoying factor is that each poem is dated and often has multiple dates to point to revisions. While that is a valuable tool for a poet's personal manuscripts, it interrupts the flow when transferred to the published book.

But he can turn beautiful, evocative phrases. Kelly's poetry reads like impressionist paintings. For example:

I began by noticing your blue wish day and each black
or white faced cloud seemingly spoke with that other radiant
loving of the air. Transgressing doubt, a music that fills 
my evenings with gentle prayer, this consecration of your endless
gift, orange and gold leaves are lifted and the daydream
continues. How could I forget or be frightened where this
chance began our quiet walk together (though at first I
wanted to run). Dry grass insists it's Winter and the strangely
blithe gestures of women walking alone or perhaps lost
in their rush hour car seats. The completed reaches eternally 
toward the turning soul, where weakness had born belief of nothing,
an insanity of otherness, crashing against our desire for forever.

Where the poems avoid the trap of overt religiosity and devotion, there they are closest to the song of spiritual. There they invite you to dive in and give yourself over to this other-world of Kelly's imagination. There they are true poetry.

Now Available! "Renaissance"

Now available! "Renaissance: Visual Art 2005 - 2019" on Amazon.

and its companion, "Renaissance: Positivity Cards for an Uplifting Day" on Etsy.