Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Genre, novella, Fourth Anniversary and an update

Below is the definition of genre from Merriam Webster Dictionary:
Main Entry: genre
Function: noun
Pronunciation: 'zhän-r&, 'zhä n-; 'zhä n r; 'jän-r&
Etymology: French, from Middle French, kind, gender -- more at GENDER
1 : a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content
2 : KIND , SORT
3 : painting that depicts scenes or events from everyday life usually realistically

Until I was an adult, around 47 years of age I had never heard the word before. It wasn't until I was asked in what genre my writings of my novellas were; at that point I had written about 900 pages of a series of 5 short novels that I was then told were in the "mystery genre".
Novella is another word, which I hadn't a clue about, but was soon informed that was indeed what I had done; I had created 5 novellas.

Defined again by the above dictionary:
Main Entry: no•vel•la
Function: noun
Pronunciation: nO-'ve-l&
Inflected Form(s): plural novellas or no•vel•le/-'ve-le/
Etymology: Italian, from feminine of novello new, from Latin novellus
1 plural novelle : a story with a compact and pointed plot
2 plural usually novellas : a work of fiction intermediate in length and complexity between a short story and a novel

As we all must know education never ever stops.

The reasoning behind my defining the above words are simple I have changed my genre of interest in my personal reading habits. I have gone back to my original child like curiosity of finding out about the backgrounds of people: what makes them or made them tick. And in this particular case I have chosen four women celebrities, Lucille Ball, Lauren Bacall, Shirley Mc Laine, and Barbara Walters. Although, Barbara Walter's book Audition is on hold since I am on a waiting list at the library. Rather an eclectic group I must say.
I decided for my indulgence into this newest journey to only read autobiographies feeling that who knows ones self better than the person who it is about; and you thought I was just another pretty face, duh!

It amazes me that I can be flexible when it comes to personal entertainment choices, much easier than life choices, but that is part of my growing and learning I suspect.

Now onto the fourth anniversary in the title for tonight's blogging, August 13. 2004, just four years ago today was the day that we in southwest Florida were devastated by Hurricane Charley. Much has happened since that momentous category 4 storm directly hit us and changed the character, and the coastline of our beloved Gulf Coast cities forever.
Many have rebuilt and some have left. We are of the many, and are in a new dimension of awareness at this time of the year. Hurricane season has always been from June first to November 30 th as long as recorded history of such storms in this region, but never was it as real to us until we actually survived one. The middle till the end of the months of August through to November, now, we are involved in the most active period of the season. And as Floridians it is our duty to pay attention to our weather reports and what is going on or developing off the coast of Africa in the Atlantic or closer to us in the Gulf itself.
We are attuned and diligent to not go off half cocked without proof or need to be prepared so we are always keeping those hurricane supplies handy, and checking that our window protection is easily accessible, and we have a plan to evacuate if need be.
Anyone who's been through one or more hurricanes now is a pro and well aware of the drill, and never will we be nonchalant or apathetic ever again.

My update: I have gotten my doctor's appointment for tomorrow morning at 9:45 A.M. And I received a call telling me that they will be sending my copy of my blood work to the office that I will be having my appointment; TA DA!

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