Author Archives: Claire Count

About Claire Count

Claire Count is a writer branching outside of her comfort zone to share her stories and insights publicly. Resident of Metro Atlanta, USA, her interests include the environment, culture, arts and theatre, Jazz and classical music, organic gardening and bonsai, gaming, and comics. Her preferred literary media is alternative fiction, Fantasy, mystery, poetry and editorials.
by | May 17, 2015 · 8:00 AM

Fragments of Persephone

Fragments of Persephone is an exploration of the difference of the feminine stereotypes and the female reality.  The collection actively seeks to question and push what you know and how you view the world. It is  a Spotlight Series Feature in the Winter Tangerine Review.  http://www.wintertangerine.com/fop-table-of-contents

 Some of the topics are intense and some images are not recommended for minors.  Very Raw intended to shock.

The visual images of “Immersion” by Anna Yarrow – beautiful snapshots of a world we live in but seldom see.

The “subversive act of protest” in the presentation of women in art as captured by Maggie Dunlap’s “The Female Gaze”.  Being a art lover, I enjoyed the juxtaposition of images of women versus the portrayal of women in famous works of art. This is not for minors and has flashing images.

The Mythological exploration of “You Are The End”, illustrations by Sabrina Barnett

The playful imagery of “If I were to wrap myself in gold” by Raena Shirali

The playfulness of “Hottentotting” by Xandria Phillips

Nice portraits in “The Act Of Knowing Oneself” by Daliah Ammar, reminds me of Lucian Freud.

Intrigued by the poem of Shinji Moon – Curious about her book “The Anatomy of Being” – read the review – first one is one of her poems. Talks to you if you listen with an open mind.

I know “Frame” by Franni Choi. I understand it, I feel it, I loved it, I am recovering from it.

 

Fragments of Persephone was edited by Jeanann Verlee & Alexandra Levasseur. I strongly recommend it.

“Winter Tangerine Review” is a donation-funded art and poetry project. Yasmin Belkhyr is editor-in-chief.

 

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by | May 11, 2015 · 9:00 AM

A serious recommendation – Havoc by Chris Wooding

My 16 year old son shoved a paperback book in my face this morning in the subtle ways that teens have while I was in the middle of pouring blueberry syrup over Trader Joe’s cinnamon crumpets. “ Read it Mom, its great, its dark, it is part of a series.”  The book is HAVOC by Chris Wooding.

My son wants Tall Jake to be his costume for Dragon Con and he is researching how to make hats. A 16 year old researching millinery really should have been a big tip off that this series is something special.

So I call down to him as he races down the stairs to be late to school yet again. “Why is it great?”

I get the expected response. “It just is Mom, I can’t tell you why it will ruin the story. You just gotta read it!It starts a little dark, but then it gets better.” And with an EEP! at the time , he races out the door.

Well then … I see its allure. It talks right to its target market – Young Adult. The book is a mix of story, comic, and chat speak. The story has Frank Miller pacing in the world of Steampunk horror called MALICE. As an adult I see overused tropes and clichés… but are they overused when it is the first time you read them?

A significant element is a memory loss effect which is why the constant references to things in the past that the reader does not know about. I agree with my son that it is more annoying than effective. The history of the book explains the problem with pacing. Originally Malice and Havoc were one book, then the editors and marketing department decided it was too long and broke it in 2. So the second half is missing some of the bridges you would expect in the second book of a duology.

A fun read for a preteen or teen but did not cross over the way some young adult books do to be really engaging for me.

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