Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Cool Conor Kelman -- Thinking Aloud

Introducing guest blogger, Kenni Stromme: Kenni Stromme has a love of writing and words of all kinds. Her background is in Journalism and Business. Currently she is editing several books.


“Among the Jimson Weeds,” is Book 1 in a trilogy written by Paul Keene.  I am hoping that three books will be enough. I love this story. I love the protagonist Conor Kelman and his band of quirky characters.  I want to keep them close to me, a part of my life.  I want to read more and more.

 Even when people are befriending him or offering kindness, he assumes trouble’s a’brewin’ so there's always something tragic for Conor to handle. But he’s cool, or at least he tries to be.
The excerpt below is an example of how Conor thinks and responds internally to the external world.  He is just coming of age as he and his girlfriend have embarked on a well-planned adventure-swim across the Snake River in Idaho. (The “she” he refers to is his girlfriend.) 

         She reminded me of my cousin Billy James. He was a good swimmer, too. When his family came out to see us one summer he tried to teach me how to swim, but I wouldn’t keep my face in the water so he gave up. It’s because my older sister tried to drown me when I was a little kid. One night, after the girls finished bathing, Ruthie May put me in the big galvanized tub. She forgot all about me when her boyfriend dropped by. I slipped under the water and damn near drowned. I don’t remember it, but when my two oldest sisters and their kids visit they tell stories and laugh. They always tell about drowning me and the time they dropped me headfirst on the cement at the well. It pisses me off when they laugh about the stories like they’re a big joke, like I'm a Big joke. No wonder I’m so screwed up. (from chapter 8)

Even though I am an older woman, I relate to Conor on many levels.  I think almost anyone would because he has so many interesting experiences.  If you want a great read that will rouse some awesome memories and feelings, find a copy of “Among the Jimson Weeds.”  Then wait with me for the next book. Come on Paul… get to creating…Kenni Stromme