More Rotten Reviews: take heart all writers ~ Many a good book received bad reviews.

THE BELL JAR, Sylvia Plath ~ "Highly autobiographical and...since it represents the views of a girl enduring a bout of mental illness, dishonest." 1971

TROPIC OF CAPRICORN, Henry Miller ~ "...a flamboyant failure." "...a gadfly with delusions of grandeur."

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, Ken Kesey ~ "Kesey builds up an atmosphere of real horror and significance and then dispels it ineffectively with some quite misplaced slapstick. The book never gets back firmly on the track and a flurry of activity at the end isn't quite lively enough to disguise the fact that it's getting nowhere." 1962

CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR, Jean Auel ~ "We are very impressed with the depth and scope of your research and the quality of your prose. Nevertheless, the length presents a unique problem, for production costs are rising and the reading public are reluctant to bjuy expensive novels unless the author has an established reputation such as the one enjoyed by James Michener. In any case, we don't think we could distribute enough copies to satisfy you or ourselves." 1980
"Nature fits all her children with something to do,
He who would write and can't write, can surely review."
~ James Russell Lowell

Rotten Reviews: Some of the best authors have received rotten reviews.

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, H. G. Wells ~ "An endless nightmare. I do not believe it would take...I think the verdict would be 'Oh don't read that horrid book.' "

ALICE IN WONDERLAND, Lewis Carroll ~ "We fancy that any real child might be more puzzled than enchanted by this stiff, overwrought story." 1865

LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER, D. H. Lawrence ~ "D. H. Lawrence has a diseased mind. He is obsessed by sex...we have no doubt that he will be ostracized by all except the most degenerate coteries in the literary world." 1928

THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, J. D. Salinger ~ ""Recent war novels have accustomed us all to ugly words and images, but from the mouths of the very young and protected they sound peculiarly offensive...the ear refuses to believe." 1951

Writers take heart! When Huckleberry Finn was banned by the Concord Massachusetts public library, Mark Twain exulted: "That will sell 25,000 books for sure!"

Rotten Reviews & Reflections, Pushcart Press, 1998

Tomorrow: More bad reviews

A Canadian Story Makes Us Proud

"A hand up, not a handout," Project Manager, Shane Carmichael.

Carmichael divides his time between Louisiana and Haldimand, Ontario. He is co-founder of Day of 1000 Canoes. www.1000canoes.com
Article in The Hamilton Spector, May 18, 2011
The Canadian Press (Click 3X on photo for larger image.)

Footpath Along the Grand Valley Trail

In York, the trail winds past the door of an early inn, Enniskillen Lodge, formerly the Mansion House. The white blazes are readily visible on road signs, posts and utility poles.

Photos by Lorna (Click 3X on photo for larger image.)

A Single white blaze, a white mark about five cm by fifteen cm, indicates the path. Two blazes placed one above the other indicate a change of direction -- the top blaze offset to the left or right.

The Grand Valley Trail Association, a charitable foundation, was founded in 1972. Portions of the footpath were later supported by various organizations. http://www.gvta.on.ca/

A Series, including historical notes, "Take-a-Hike" by Bill Haartman can be accessed on the GVTA website.

Grand Valley Trails Association

Guidebook*

A valuable guide for anyone planning a hike along the footpath in the Grand River Valley. Including historical notes, points of interest, description of flora and fauna. Advisory on hiking requirements. Removable maps convenient for hiking specific sections of the trail.

A fascinating read even if you are not planning a hike!

*Available at The Neat Little Bookshop $30

For larger image, please click on photo.

I Found Loveliness Today

I found loveliness today
Down along life's broad highway ~

Saw its beauty in the trees,
Heard it whisper in the breeze,
Listed it in songbird's trill,
Then again in flowering rill,
Felt its warmth in glad sunshine,
Rhythm caught in swaying pine ~

All along life's broad highway
I found loveliness today.

I found loveliness today
Down along life's broad highway ~

Beauty within pastures green,
Next in clouds of silvery sheen,
Golden glow at break of day,
Joy in children at their play.
Scented odor of wild rose;
Peace I found where violet grows ~

All along life's broad highway
I found loveliness today.

~ Carleton Everett Knox

(Photo: Lorna)

Summer Sports

The Courts are Open