Wednesday, June 9, 2010
What do you think? - Agree / True or Disagree / False
A writer is dear and necessary for us only in the measure of which he reveals to us the inner workings of his very soul. ~ Count Leo Tolstoy
Friday, June 4, 2010
Looking for readership, so it's time I say something about the reviews I've received.
My heart compelled me to write 'Born To Return The Gift'. The book was written in 2007 and wasn't published until 2009. After enough rejections, I self-published it through my own company with a mission to create literary, film, and music to intrigue the mind, prick the heart, and incite the spirit. I strongly feel the need to write about issues that are common to many in the hopes of encouraging faith in God, our creator, whom I believe predestined each of us to live our lives like it's golden despite adversity.
I believe we all have our own hardships and burdens to bear in life, but if we look at it with a positive perspective we come to the realization that they are beneficial lessons for personal growth because it helps elevate our humanity, and in doing so helps elevate others' humanity as well.
I want to thank all of those who have reviewed my book. Of course I am thrilled by the good reviews, but I want it to be known that I am not discouraged or daunted by the bad...such is expected in a world where everyone is entitled to their opinions. I hope to receive many more - good, bad, or indifferent - and respect all that which is honestly given. I realize that in a competitive world there are those who feel no shame in going full throttle with negativity on someone else's art and right to be heard, especially if the voice is counter to their own.
In 'Born To Return The Gift', alot of issues are raised. Mother/daughter conflict; sibling rivalry; teenage pregnacy; blind submission; abortion; domestic violence; alcohol/drug use; profanity; friendships; adultery/revenge; love/pain; death of loved ones - through natural causes and perpetration; child abuse; the impact of racism; sexual orientation; coping with depression and post traumatic stress disorder; childhood molestation; and most importantly, spiritual re-awakening. The point is - we all fall down at one time or another from something or another, but if we grasp a positive view we have learned a lesson from the fall, and graciously rise with humility and fortitude for another opportuntity to win.
Eventually there will be more reviews. I welcome them all, whether negative or positive, but of course I'm going to accentuate on the positive and leave the negative behind because that's how I choose to live.
How you living?
I'm only human and cannot resist acknowledging Melissa's insights (the book journal review cited below) Excuse the omission of 'are' - LOL - chalk it up to ebonics. (How are you living?)
No ebonics dictionary was necessary for the real life dialogue I chose to express in my book. Misspellings? . . . sometimes it's an art form. For example, I choose to refer to females or a mixed group as guyz instead of the masculine form - guys. As far as the profanity, well . . . it belonged to Naima (Mena), not Nyima (Nima) - the main character of the book. It was necessary because it was a show rather than tell approach which resolved with Mena eventually acknowledging that maybe it was time for a change. (Her own spiritual awakening at her own chosen time.) There was a warning in the beginning of the book about profanity. For anyone who would be so "horrified" as Melissa claimed to be, I can't help but wonder - why did she choose to proceed with reading the book in the first place? And just as my name Catherine, for example, could be nick named Cathy or Katie, or any other imaginative choice, Mena and Nima was my perogative because I wrote the book.
Melissa couldn't tell if I was A.A. - ?? The first time I've seen such a label. I AM an African American and like most of us, can be as articulate as the next person. I AM proud of my race and culture (We are as varied as any other race, but ALL can be stereotyped by humor or ignorance.); I value my right to express myself; and appreciate my ability and audacity to do my own thing. Like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr., who belonged to the same rat pack, both sang - 'I did it my way' - you too can love it or hate it.
BTW - My photograph is shown at the end of the book. Surely she could tell I wasn't Caucasian, but then again her sight, like her reading comprehension isn't very clear at all.
Feel free to blast me or commend me on my insight or lack there of, but sometimes Peter talks about Paul and tells more about Peter than Paul . . . I'm just saying . . . I would have had more respect for her opinion if she'd just stated facts without an attempt at a comedy routine at my expense.
I believe we all have our own hardships and burdens to bear in life, but if we look at it with a positive perspective we come to the realization that they are beneficial lessons for personal growth because it helps elevate our humanity, and in doing so helps elevate others' humanity as well.
I want to thank all of those who have reviewed my book. Of course I am thrilled by the good reviews, but I want it to be known that I am not discouraged or daunted by the bad...such is expected in a world where everyone is entitled to their opinions. I hope to receive many more - good, bad, or indifferent - and respect all that which is honestly given. I realize that in a competitive world there are those who feel no shame in going full throttle with negativity on someone else's art and right to be heard, especially if the voice is counter to their own.
In 'Born To Return The Gift', alot of issues are raised. Mother/daughter conflict; sibling rivalry; teenage pregnacy; blind submission; abortion; domestic violence; alcohol/drug use; profanity; friendships; adultery/revenge; love/pain; death of loved ones - through natural causes and perpetration; child abuse; the impact of racism; sexual orientation; coping with depression and post traumatic stress disorder; childhood molestation; and most importantly, spiritual re-awakening. The point is - we all fall down at one time or another from something or another, but if we grasp a positive view we have learned a lesson from the fall, and graciously rise with humility and fortitude for another opportuntity to win.
Eventually there will be more reviews. I welcome them all, whether negative or positive, but of course I'm going to accentuate on the positive and leave the negative behind because that's how I choose to live.
How you living?
I'm only human and cannot resist acknowledging Melissa's insights (the book journal review cited below) Excuse the omission of 'are' - LOL - chalk it up to ebonics. (How are you living?)
No ebonics dictionary was necessary for the real life dialogue I chose to express in my book. Misspellings? . . . sometimes it's an art form. For example, I choose to refer to females or a mixed group as guyz instead of the masculine form - guys. As far as the profanity, well . . . it belonged to Naima (Mena), not Nyima (Nima) - the main character of the book. It was necessary because it was a show rather than tell approach which resolved with Mena eventually acknowledging that maybe it was time for a change. (Her own spiritual awakening at her own chosen time.) There was a warning in the beginning of the book about profanity. For anyone who would be so "horrified" as Melissa claimed to be, I can't help but wonder - why did she choose to proceed with reading the book in the first place? And just as my name Catherine, for example, could be nick named Cathy or Katie, or any other imaginative choice, Mena and Nima was my perogative because I wrote the book.
Melissa couldn't tell if I was A.A. - ?? The first time I've seen such a label. I AM an African American and like most of us, can be as articulate as the next person. I AM proud of my race and culture (We are as varied as any other race, but ALL can be stereotyped by humor or ignorance.); I value my right to express myself; and appreciate my ability and audacity to do my own thing. Like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr., who belonged to the same rat pack, both sang - 'I did it my way' - you too can love it or hate it.
BTW - My photograph is shown at the end of the book. Surely she could tell I wasn't Caucasian, but then again her sight, like her reading comprehension isn't very clear at all.
Feel free to blast me or commend me on my insight or lack there of, but sometimes Peter talks about Paul and tells more about Peter than Paul . . . I'm just saying . . . I would have had more respect for her opinion if she'd just stated facts without an attempt at a comedy routine at my expense.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
African Americans on the Move Book Club - Novels That reflect you and me
Born to Return the Gift by Catherine E. Johnson is a book that should be read by many women. 5 Stars!
This book is both a look at the physical and the spiritual side of the human being.I started reading and could not put down. This book was very good. Born to Return the Gift beautifully portrays the struggles of the main character. Being exposed to the harsh realities of addiction at a young age, she grows up with low self-esteem and throws herself into the world of depression, abusive relationships and suffering. Yet, somehow she finds herself reaching towards a stronger being. Johnson has written a novel that probably describes many women, especially the depression when nothing seems to go right. Nyima was an abused woman who simply didn't know how to chose the right man. It is a novel well worth reading. The conclusion creates a tension in Nyima. She finally sees the pattern of God's purpose in all that has happened. She meets the final challenge of finding the courage to fight for her future.
While some of the topics and language are "R" rated, this is a story that is faith driven and faith based. It is written with a gentle sense of humor. When you leave the book, you will believe in Nyima. I recommend this book to all women book clubs out there. This book has a lot of life reality.
Barbara Morgan
AAMBC Reviewer
This book is both a look at the physical and the spiritual side of the human being.I started reading and could not put down. This book was very good. Born to Return the Gift beautifully portrays the struggles of the main character. Being exposed to the harsh realities of addiction at a young age, she grows up with low self-esteem and throws herself into the world of depression, abusive relationships and suffering. Yet, somehow she finds herself reaching towards a stronger being. Johnson has written a novel that probably describes many women, especially the depression when nothing seems to go right. Nyima was an abused woman who simply didn't know how to chose the right man. It is a novel well worth reading. The conclusion creates a tension in Nyima. She finally sees the pattern of God's purpose in all that has happened. She meets the final challenge of finding the courage to fight for her future.
While some of the topics and language are "R" rated, this is a story that is faith driven and faith based. It is written with a gentle sense of humor. When you leave the book, you will believe in Nyima. I recommend this book to all women book clubs out there. This book has a lot of life reality.
Barbara Morgan
AAMBC Reviewer
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
It's only fair to post this "scathing" review by Melissa, a reviewer at The Book Journal
1 Star by Melissa - "The Book Journal"
This book must be a joke..., May 28, 2010
This review is from: Born To Return The Gift (Volume 1) (Paperback)
I went through three different emotions while reading this book.
1. I really hope this book doesn't read like a religious preachy book
2. wow, this book is pretty good so far and
3. Is this a joke? Does the author really think African Americans really speak like this?
After the first chapter I was horrified to read any dialogue involving the main character. If you want to know what stereotypes are, just pick up this book. I am not sure if the author herself is A.A. (African American), but if she is she should be ashamed for helping bad thoughts continue, and if she isn't, well I am just dumbfounded that she would think to write as one.
Another pet peeve...The main character's name is Nayma (pronounced Na-ee-ma) who has a long time friend named Naima. Yup, pronounced the same way. So to make it easier (huh?) to remember who is who, the author gave each a nickname. Wait for it....Mena and Nema. The author could not have come up with two different names?!
Besides the horrible depiction of language (it really felt like that author picked up an ebonics dictionary and stuffed everything into this book, including "aw sookie now), the profanity was uncalled for and did not help, much less improve the book. Have I mentioned the misspellings? You get the idea.
I was greatly disappointed. The story could have really been a good one. It talks about a woman who is constantly brought by by people around her and has to learn how to rise herself up from the ashes. Her bout with depression doesn't help matter, and if it weren't for the bad writing, you would root for her. This book left a bad taste in my mouth.
This book must be a joke..., May 28, 2010
This review is from: Born To Return The Gift (Volume 1) (Paperback)
I went through three different emotions while reading this book.
1. I really hope this book doesn't read like a religious preachy book
2. wow, this book is pretty good so far and
3. Is this a joke? Does the author really think African Americans really speak like this?
After the first chapter I was horrified to read any dialogue involving the main character. If you want to know what stereotypes are, just pick up this book. I am not sure if the author herself is A.A. (African American), but if she is she should be ashamed for helping bad thoughts continue, and if she isn't, well I am just dumbfounded that she would think to write as one.
Another pet peeve...The main character's name is Nayma (pronounced Na-ee-ma) who has a long time friend named Naima. Yup, pronounced the same way. So to make it easier (huh?) to remember who is who, the author gave each a nickname. Wait for it....Mena and Nema. The author could not have come up with two different names?!
Besides the horrible depiction of language (it really felt like that author picked up an ebonics dictionary and stuffed everything into this book, including "aw sookie now), the profanity was uncalled for and did not help, much less improve the book. Have I mentioned the misspellings? You get the idea.
I was greatly disappointed. The story could have really been a good one. It talks about a woman who is constantly brought by by people around her and has to learn how to rise herself up from the ashes. Her bout with depression doesn't help matter, and if it weren't for the bad writing, you would root for her. This book left a bad taste in my mouth.
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