Mark Graham
Bio
I am a person who really likes to read and write and to share what I learned with all my education. My page will mainly be book reviews and critiques of old and new books that I have read and will read. There will also be other bits, too.
Stories (1801)
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The Attic
The boy is sitting at the dining room table looking at the little box in found in the attic a few weeks ago. He is still wondering if he is going to open it or not. He is afraid but is very curious. He feels a slight breeze going through the house and he thinks it is just from outside for he left the front door open. He got up from the table and wandered around the table then he went out to shut the front door when he noticed that the attic door was slightly open a bit more than normal. The boy peeked in and not really knowing started to climb the stairs but for some reason he was going very slow up them and when he got to the top of the stairs, he sensed that something was not quite the same.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Fiction
Father Knows Best
Another old television show from the 1950's is 'Father Knows Best' or did he. This program starred Robert Young and Jane Wyatt along with Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin. The basic premise of the show was that dad was the person who knew all the answers to all the problems that occurred but was he really. There was always some problem and the show centered on one child's or parent's issue to get at a solution whether it was Betty getting ready for graduation, Bud getting a new car somehow or Cathy getting into trouble over what she has done or some other misunderstanding. The father went out to work, the mother stayed home and made the perfect home right down to vacuuming the walls for any dust. Boys did boy things and girls did girl things. To me I like how I was raised in the 1970's and we had a choice if boys wanted to playhouse/school or whatever or if the girls wanted to race bikes or play with trucks who cared. Oh, there were questions raised but we did our own thing.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
The Donna Reed Show
There was an old television show that was from the 50's and before my time called 'The Donna Reed Show'. Donna is a stay-at-home mom as most were in the 50's unless the woman was a nurse, teacher or secretary you were a homemaker. Each episode there was always some dilemma with the kids or the husband for the mother was the only one able to figure out a way to solve the problem. It also seemed that Donna was somewhat a perfectionist for the house was always just so. I know that it was a television show, but there were episodes that Donna was able to scrub and wax her kitchen floor, bake a cake and paint a room all in one day and still have dinner on the table for the family. Believe it or not I liked the show for it gave me a somewhat idea of what the 1950's were like before all hell broke out of the 1960's. The Donna Reed Show had a young Shelly Fabree, a young Paul Peterson and a few other actors that I remember from some shows from my younger days and even today. Some of the rules from the 50's should still be in practice today.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Mister Rodger's Neighborhood
Who remembers watching 'Mister Rodger's Neighborhood' as a child? This was one of my favorites back in the late 60's before heading off to school at six years of age. My favorite part of the show was when he would take us to the Neighborhood of Make Believe and my favorite two characters in that land of make believe was Daniel, Striped Tiger who lived in a clock and Lady Elaine Fairchild, a puppet that owned the merry-go-round museum. Actually, I believe I had my first crush on Lady Amberline, King Friday's human niece. Other parts of the program that were fun was when Fred would go in the backyard and either do experiments or activities with a sand or water table. There was a picture on the wall that showed film strips and I think it was called Picture picture. Oh yeah, who could forget Mr. McFeely, Chef Brocket, and a few other characters from the human neighborhood on field trips throughout the neighborhood. This was a show that taught children many social skills and prepared them for kindergarten. Please comment any memories of this program that you may have.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
I Have a Dream
I have a dream. My dream is that of creating a free lending library at my old school. Some of my basic ideas is to rent a trailer that I can use as a library setting as well as a place to live. One long term purpose of this is that maybe I can in a way pay back my school loans from graduate school as a volunteer operation as a 501 means. I have started collecting books for the library already as in being a book reviewer I have a collection already started from children to youth and even teen novels covering a variety of subjects. I would also offer story times to young children and book discussions for older students. I am only in the very beginnings of my planning, so please share your thoughts.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
The Wizard's Daughter
The Wizard's Daughter is a fantasy novel written by Jeff Minerd. This is the story a woman named Brieze, who is of mixed race and culture. This is a world, her world, that lives in the sky on islands. They travel on ships through the air like airplanes but are more like ships on water. Brieze needs to understand who she is, so she makes the journey to East. There are many issues she will need to combat on her journey to and home.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
The Boy and the Dolphin
Dick Schmidt has written a novel for youth entitled 'The Boy and the Dolphin'. This is the story of a boy named Toby who loved the water and all that it entailed. One day he saves a mother dolphin, and a relationship enthralls with her calf who he names Phinney. As the years go by and Toby matures, he still thinks a lot of his dolphin, but thanks to his grandparents Toby does learn and accepts his life and the decisions that he makes one way or another. The illustrations in the book are well done as pencil sketches but also tell the story too. This is also like two books in one for there are chapters written in italics that tell the story of Phinney.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Forgotten Violets
Martin Niewood has written a novel entitled 'Forgotten Violets' a story about a woman named Meadow and her journey to find peace in a world of hate. Meadow and her friends Elizabeth and Parker will need to find a way to survive many aspects of living both physically, socially and emotionally. They may even need to find a way to help economically and politically in a very cold setting.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Late Apex
'Late Apex' is novel that has political overtones of the past decades that are still present in today's world. Jeremy Deconcini has written the story of an agent that worked for the CIA by the name of Ben Adams who is called up to solve an issue of a bygone day for him. Ben who likes to surf and is a quite adventurous person in what he chooses to do will travel the world to do what he is called to do one way or another. Jeremy Deconcini will keep you reading to the end to find out if Ben will succeed in a world of espionage.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Theo Paxstone and the Dragon of Adyron
Here is a fantasy novel written by James Turner entitled 'Theo Paxstone and the Dragon of Adyron'. This is a story of how a squire named Theo kind of deceives those around him to prove something to others. It is also a story where mechanics and technology are important aspects for the country that is dealing with evil in one form and another. There are puzzles to solve to see what is real and unreal. James Turner has written a fast-paced story that is interesting and fun to read from the animals that can talk like Ollie as well as ghosts and angels of the good and bad variety.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Destined Queen
Deborah Hale has written a historical romance novel entitled 'Destined Queen'. This is the story of Maura and Rath and the various adventures they have in order to save their country and bring everyone together peacefully. In a world of magic as well as a world that is quite physical. Deborah Hale has written a story that will have you cheering for them and then hoping they figure out who they really are meant to be in time.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Hissy Fit
Mary Kay Andrews has written a fun novel entitled 'Hissy Fit'. This is a novel about a woman named Kelsey Murdock and her behavior at her wedding shower and the start of her new outlook on living. Kelsey works with her aunt as an interior designer in the small town of Madison, Georgia. Her closest friend is Austin, a floral designer who is quite different. Kelsey has one thing on her mind and that is what happened to her mother 25 years ago. Kelsey along with her friends help her in anyway they can. Will Kelsey find the answers that she wants and will she be happy.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
