The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again.

These are the words most likely to be spoken or remembered in honor of Robert Jordan, who passed away last month after battling amyloidosis with chemotherapy at the Mayo Clinic.

I know nothing of this man except for the words he wrote and the stories he told. Was he a kind man? I don't know. Was he a good father? Again, I have no idea. I'd like to think so, but that means nothing.

In truth, I respected Robert Jordan for his conceptualization and ability to weave a story. Some have called his work chaotic and unstructured. It's true that The Wheel of Time series followed many storylines and wove a tremendous tale of tales. It was an ambitious project, and one that fascinated me for a solid year as I read each of the eleven books in the Wheel of Time series.  

It's a horrible thing to admit, but my first response to the news of his death was, No! Now I'll never read the ending! It's not something you admit, unless you insist on total honesty. I console myself with the notion that it is perfectly natural for me to mourn the one thing I connected to.

Jordan left unfinished manuscripts and notes to his wife and other relatives to have them completed so that the final chapter can be told. Of course, a grieving widow might not care too much about the story in the light of losing her husband. One can only hope and pray that she will fulfill his wishes.

If you have NOT begun the series, I recommend that you wait until word is officially given that the final chapter will be published. It's too much of an investment without a payoff otherwise. You'll get emotionally sucked in until you can't wait to read the next book and you don't want to be sitting there having invested a good 10-12 months reading only to be robbed of any sense of closure. Trust me.

If I hear anything about the final book, I'll pass the news on to you.  

The Kite Runner is the first novel by Khaled Hosseini, a surprising fact considering the masterful way in which this novel has been crafted.  Although Hosseini now resides in California, he spent his childhood in Afghanistan, which lends authenticity to his work.  The Kite Runner is a study in contrasts. It graphically depicts life in Afghanistan during the monarchy and then after the revolution when the Taliban takes control.  The compelling themes of cowardice versus courage, betrayal versus loyalty, discrimination versus privilege, and guilt versus redemption make this book appealing to adults everywhere.

Amir, a native Afghani, is the narrator of the story. Hassan, the son of a servant and social outcast, is Amir’s friend.  Together they spend their days outdoors playing games, telling stories, and even flying kites.  When Hassan helps Amir win a kite-flying contest, Amir hopes that the win will finally gain his father’s approval.  Then he discovers Hassan in an alley suffering abuse at the hands of several racists who want to steal the kite.  Hassan protects the kite for his friend, but Amir runs away in cowardice neglecting his friend to save the kite. When guilt consumes him, Amir shuts Hassan out of his life.  Amir and his father relocate to California, giving Amir a new start.  However, his guilt continues to haunt him. 

Years later, after graduating from college and getting married, Amir is called back to Afghanistan by an old family friend.  The man tells him that Hassan was actually his half-brother, and that Hassan and his wife were shot in the street by the Taliban.  Hassan’s son Sohrab was sent off to an orphanage and then taken prisoner by the same man that had tortured Hassan in the alley many years ago – the day that Amir betrayed him.  Amir takes the opportunity to redeem himself by risking his life to save Hassan’s son.  And Hassan’s son becomes his son.

There are few books that exist that cause you to change as you read them.  You see the world differently.  You have a better understanding of love and forgiveness.  You realize more clearly how your actions affect other people.  This is one of those books.

This book evokes feelings of empathy towards both main characters, which is remarkable considering their contrasting natures.  Hosseini has done an excellent job of developing the characters and story line. After reading the first line, I was hooked.  Hosseini begins the book with Amir as an older man stating, “I became what I am today at the age of twelve.” The flashback adds interest to the story.

My concern was that this novel would have some type of political agenda, but that was not the case.  The political climate of the country was stated as fact and used merely to show contrast and to establish the setting.  Native phrases are used throughout the book, but most are defined or explained by the context.

This book is beneficial because it forces the reader to face difficult topics such as racism, cruelty, and guilt.  But rather than being just another tragic tale, a feeling of hope remains.  Hassan is able to overcome the blights of abuse and betrayal, yet still remain constant and forgiving.  Amir triumphs over fear and guilt, proving himself worthy and honorable. This book was so impacting and poignant that it will be forever imprinted upon my soul.  And through love, forgiveness, and redemption we find that, as Hosseini implies, “there is a way to be good again.”

Gail Fraser's second novel in the Lumby series, Stealing Lumby, is a refreshing change of pace from the original storyline provided in The Lumby Lines. The first story took a good 40 pages or more to set the stage before the reader ever discerns who the main characters are. 

Stealing Lumby jumps right into the action as one of the nation's prized landscape painting, The Barns of Lumby, is stolen from a New York museum, drawing much unwanted attention to the little town where the painting was created. Strange things happen (strange even for Lumby) in the town as it appears that someone is attempting to sabotage one woman's financial future and sense of well being, and she just happens to be the woman who owns the barns that were the inspiration and subject of the stolen painting.

Main characters Mark, Pam, Brooke, Joshua, Brother Matthew, and Hank the flamingo return as the story turns and focuses more on Katie (owner of the barns), Adam Massey (writer/reporter assigned the task of completing an unfinished biography on the famous painter), and Dana Porter (artist who painted The Barns of Lumby some 40 years prior).

The Lumby series thus far has some solid strengths and some unfortunate weaknesses. Strengths revolve around creation of a solid metanarrative and several clever subnarratives that all fit perfectly together. The reader is inevitably impressed by the creativity necessary to create a small town with so many amusing quirks. The quirky events and personality of Lumby are fluid and well fitting, avoiding any sense of artificiality which one might expect from the invention of a realistic town as strange as this one.

The back story of Charlotte and Dana Porter, as told by Charlotte to Katie, gives the reader a solid sense of the connection between artist and town. Sentimental reminiscing effectively builds a sense of historical reality to the story. 

The novel's greatest weakness, as with The Lumby Lines, lies within the dialogue. Every reader won't share this critique, which is why I mention it last. One of the most entertaining and realism enhancing potentials in any given novel is the dialogue. Where the narrative can work overtime to provide enough backdrop and historical significance to set the scene, carefully crafted dialogue can paint a vivid picture in the mind of the reader.

The characters in the Lumby series lack unique voices. Everyone responds to various situations with very unnatural language – much more formal, educated, and literary than any small town uses that I've ever heard of. I expected country colloquialisms, slang, and unique word choices to come from the mouths of various characters, based on their backgrounds. Dana should speak differently than Simon. Mark should speak differently than Dennis. Pam should speak differently than Katie. Everyone shouldn't be using the same diction palette. 

The storyline is worth reading. But the satisfaction level is sub par because most everyone sounds the same. If these books were revised and the characters each given unique sayings, slang terms, and responses to situations, this series could have won awards. 

But don't take my word for it. Pick up a copy of The Lumby Lines today and look for Stealing Lumby soon. 

Stealing Lumby is scheduled to hit the shelves in September 2007. 

The book is The Lumby Lines, by Gail Fraser. Fraser manages to appeal to both Baby Boomers and Gen Y simultaneously. The first novel of the series is crafted to be hip enough to engage the young and cultured enough to engage the old.

My one and only complaint revolves around the opening of the book. The first sentence made me wish I was reading something else. It wasn't until the last sentence of the paragraph that I rested easier knowing that someone in the story used the Internet. My chief concern was that this might be some sort of Little House on the Praire or Anne of Green Gables knock off, where the plot is so sterile and "wholesome" that you can't help but feel toxic from all the unrealistic purity. 

That was not a problem here, though The Lumby Lines is definitely a family friendly tale. Focus on the Family types would give Lumby kudos for creating an engaging story without relying on the sensationalism of most contemporary mass market paperbacks. But unlike most "family friendly" novels, Lumby is full of believable (though somewhat odd) characters.

You know how they say that the difference between crazy and eccentric is a million dollars? Well, in this instance, it is humor that forges the distance. Lumby is a comfortable blend of bizarre and small town. The citizens of Lumby are just normal enough to make their oddities pass as quirks. You don't always see the characters' quirkiness in their day to day interactions. But each printing of the local newspaper, The Lumby Lines, provides the Sheriff's Complaints – a daily list of bizarre calls, accidents, complaints, and incidents dealt with by the local Sheriff. 

Lumby is a town where the news consists of the most irregular accidents and teenage vandalism. The artificial pink flamingo, Hank, is one of the town's most popular celebrities. Animals are forever causing havoc and traffic accidents and such. Someone is painting the town's mailboxes lime green in the night hours. The mayor is a dog. Goats are locked up in the bank vault. Very little about this town would be deemed "normal". 

When outsiders Mark and Pam decide to turn Montis Abbey into Montis Inn, they cause an uproar among the townsfolk as everyone takes sides over whether the new neighbors are a good thing or bad. What ensues is a relaxing, entertaining tale of growth and discovery. 

It remains to be seen how Fraser will expand character development throughout the series. Part of the charm of The Lumby Lines is found in the discovery of such a quaint and quirky little town. In order to keep up a loyal fan base, each novel to come must build on the characters and story lines begun here without the aid of that first impression. 

Overall, The Lumby Lines was a refreshing read. Unlike most books I have read since college, I felt more in tune with nature, culture, and the human condition for reading it. Without becoming overly serious, Fraser reminds the reader that the world is full of much more wonder and simple pleasures than can be contained in this concrete jungle we call "city life." If I were to summarize the book in one phrase, it would be "simple pleasures." While the story has many admirable traits, the most beneficial to me is the focus placed on simple, natural pleasures like ancient architecture, scenic landscapes, a good wine, and close friends.   

Seth Godin is a very famous marketing “guru” who got famous from marketing outside the box and then coining terms to describe new marketing phenomena. In a recent interview, Seth was asked about the value of the New York Times Bestselling List and whether writers should still aim for that accomplishment. Seth’s response was (as should be expected) to answer a question with a question.

Basically, Godin pushes his own product, Squidoo, and his books. He is trying to establish himself as the foremost authority on marketing by denouncing things like search marketing and by attempting a hard reboot of marketing strategies. Not that his promotion of “outside the box” thinking is necessarily off target. But really, if you’ve read one book, the rest are fairly obvious continuations. Get one book, grasp the premise, and then read the others only if you become a huge fan.

It’s all smoke and mirrors, anyway. Whether you’re Seth Godin, Aaron Wall, or Rand Fishkin, it’s all about creating perceived value and getting a few influential friends to back up your play.

Seth’s statement about the small percentage of book purchasing /reading Americans is a valid one. How many people will you actually be influencing if you make the bestseller list? Answer: millions in the long term. More and more people read blogs and news websites rather than books and newspapers. That’s a given. But don’t give up your dreams to be an author just yet.

As you will see in the months and years to come, CultureFeast is an example of blogging your way toward a book. It sometimes takes a little momentum, confidence building, practice, and target audience building to pave the way for that first successful book. Rather than buying into Mr. Marketing’s every word, consider doing what motivates you. If you really want to blog, then blog. If you want to write a book, write a book. The problem with marketing gurus is that they’re chief end is to line their pockets by telling you how to line yours.

Of course you want to make money! Sure, you want to give up that crappy job and do your own thing! But for now, do what you love. Make room for it in your life. Spend time on it. Just enjoy it. Keep up with marketing best practices just so you don’t completely fall off the relevancy map, but don’t go changing your life every month when a new guru is announced.

you eagerly anticipate becoming the mother of our children

you are not only honest, but you hold yourself to a standard of integrity that sometimes shames me

you work hard, and you don’t take advantage of me

you are gorgeous. your looks kept us together more than once!

you are so beautiful that i will always eagerly anticipate intimacy with you

you want me to protect and provide for you, without becoming helpless or losing dignity

you pursue knowledge of ways to aid the health of the body through nature. you don’t buy into the mindless drivel that says chemicals and prescription meds are the answer to life’s problems

you love fairy tales, and you judge all stories based on the C. S. Lewis Narnia scale

you support me in pursuing my dreams, and you are willing to work through the problems that come with it

you were intelligent and argumentative, even at the ripe, old age of 11

you are an excellent writer – you give yourself far too little credit

you express love in so many active ways that i am not very good at doing

you sleep beside me, chasing away loneliness

your presence in the house makes eases my mind

you are constantly growing and willing to grow

you want to move to another country with me (though apparently not to anywhere without plumbing)

you listen to me and at least sometimes understand what i am saying