Author: My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett)

I need this rock

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Art, British, Humour, London, Uncategorized , , ,

For anyone pondering ideas for any future birthdays, Christmases, other religious occasions…celebrating your teacher (actually, maybe not the celebrating your teacher), but for everyone else, there is this:

Image credit: Royal Academy of Arts (online shop), London

Title: “Little Rock Looking At You”

Description:

Created exclusively for the RA Editions programme, this new sculpture by Marina Abramović Hon RA is based on a drawing made by the artist whilst living in Australia.

Produced as an edition of fifty in cast and blackened iron, Abramović has painted the eyes individually by hand, giving each rock its own unique character. The sculptures are initialled and numbered on the base and presented in a stamped cedar wood box. Each is accompanied by a card signed by the artist, as well as a certificate of authenticity.

Due to the hand-finished nature, each sculpture is unique.

Retail price: £2950* (*as of May 2024)

£2950?! 2.9.5.0?! Are you actually kidding me? As per Mumma B’s general steer on art, “if Alice could do it, it’s not ‘Art'” and ladies and gentleman, I am quite sure this is something I could do.

Now, before we all start jumping in our cars and heading for the nearest beach, it is worth noting that the creator of this artwork is Marina Abramović. Marina Abramović, as in, the Serbian artist who makes visitors walk between naked people to gain entry to her exhibitions. Marina Abramović, who drinks water more seductively than Nigella Lawson on a Christmas cooking extravaganza:

Marina Abramović, who just basically gets her kicks from performance/shock art.

I was going to add another video to prove my point, but every one ended up with a naked Marina Abramović, or some other woman flashing me, and no one needs that without at least a trigger warning. In the space of thirty minutes I viewed enough of Marina Abramović’s body that it both ruined my related videos feed on YouTube and led to some very awkward suggested adverts.

Goes to show, if you call it “Art” then anything goes.

Purchase link (in case you don’t believe me): Little Rock Looking At You – Royal Academy of Arts – Shop

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

Book Review: “Following the Boar” by Matthew Howard

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Art, Book Review, Culture, Humour, Review , , , ,

Rating: 2 Stars

Headline: Too much in too few words: this short story is wounded by its lack of descriptive text

Review:

Matthew Howard’s story Following the Boar: An Ancient Historical Fiction Short Read (hereafter Following the Boar) is a short read and to the point. It tells the story of Borvo, a Scottish warrior, who must prepare for battle against a strange and fearsome enemy who has been massacring the local population and invading lands. As the clan travels toward the battlefield, Borvo and his father rally additional comrades to join the fight, including warriors who swear allegiance to his uncle, Breenus. Together the combined forces travel on in a climatic battle with the enemy of steal.

The main problem I have with this short story is in the quantity of content. In Following the Boar, the author, Howard, has attempted to pack in far too many events into too a short space of time, at the detriment of the descriptive text. Reading through this story I get no sense of place and I struggle to follow the movements of the characters. It is impossible for me to visualise the appearance (and number) of warriors coming from the different fractions; so much focus is made on the three central characters I kept forgetting they were there until suddenly they appear on the battlefield. The protagonist Borvo has no development; even in short stories the reader needs strands of insight to help flesh out the image of the main characters, their personality, drivers and beliefs. Sadly there is none of that here.

One example – the story starts with Borvo waking up on the floor. Why is the protagonist sleeping on the floor? His father is the chieftain of the clan, he even asks his son about his “first taste of poverty”, so what was the cause to place Borvo in humble surroundings?

Without the essential sprinklings of insight and description, it is hard to comprehend why characters make the choices they do and the reader is left feeling disengaged with what limited action takes place. When the ending occurs, somewhat abruptly, it leaves for only feelings of dissatisfaction, as opposed to clamouring for more.

Howard should take this short story as a pause for reflection. The existing story arch would make a good basis for a historic novel or, with elements removed, could be refined into a succinct short story. Improvement needed, but within the muddy battlefield there are glimmers of potential.

AEB Reviews

Links

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – Follow the Boar: An Ancient Historical Fiction Short Read

Purchase Link: Following the Boar: An Ancient Historical Fiction Short Read (Amazon)

**

Could you spare a dollar or two? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

Book Review: “Intuitive Tarot 101” by Claudia Amendola Alzraa

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book, Book Review, Humour, Review , , ,

Rating: 4 stars

Headline: Destiny is on the cards in this simple to navigate guide to Tarot reading

Review:

About six years ago I went through a phase when I was obsessed with reality TV. During an episode of “The Real Housewives”, one of the women invited a practitioner into her house to perform Tarot card readings. I was fascinated by it (less so by the women, who for the whole five minute segment, wouldn’t stop screaming).

Intuitive Tarot 101 would have been perfect for me back then. Written by Claudia Amendola Alzraa, who herself proudly boasts years of extensive Tarot reading experience (starting back when she was twelve years old), this guide aims to give its audience an introduction to the basics of Tarot card reading. Built specifically on the Rider Waite style of card design (the most popular style used by readers), Alzraa opens with a clear set of objectives. These include (but are not limited to): learning the foundation of each card and the hidden symbolism in each, trusting intuition and building those all important reading skills. The book takes readers on a journey to explain the process of Tarot reading (aka “the journey of The Fool”), accumulating in a frequently asked question section towards the end, where the author addresses some of the finer points around the act of Tarot reading (e.g. knowing when and how much to charge clients for services offered).

This is a straightforward guide, with comprehensive tables used to break down the symbolism of each card in a clear and direct manner. At just under a hundred pages in length it really is the definition of a ‘introductory 101’ for new joiners to the world of Tarot. The nuance around symbolism would have benefitted with accompanying visuals, as the book makes the assumption that anyone reading it will already owns a deck of Rider Waite cards.

A nicely packaged guide overall and an interesting area of spirituality I enjoyed reading on. That said, I don’t see The Real Housewives trying to book me for their Tarot readings anytime soon.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Intuitive Tarot 101” by Claudia Amendola Alzraa

Purchase Link: “Intuitive Tarot 101” by Claudia Amendola Alzraa (Amazon)

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

Publishing credit: Swindon Writing III

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Humour , , , ,

I’m very excited to announce that my short story, “Bee Happy”, has been selected for inclusion in Swindon Writing III.

A locally championed publication, Swindon Writing III showcases and celebrates the broad range of creative talent which exists from within Swindon and further afield. I’m told the standard was incredibly high this year, with an unprecedented number of submissions, which is all the more reason to celebrate this achievement.

This comes following the news that another of my works, “How the Dressmaker of Bournemouth Feeds her Family”, will be published by Dithering Chaps in their first anthology, Lines in the Sand.

As you can imagine, this update has put a further spring in my step and made my heart sing. I can wait to see my words in print and share with you a snippet of my creative mind.

Swindon Words III is published today, 30th April 2024. Details of where you can purchase the anthology will be shared as soon as I know more!

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**

Poetry Review: “Bubblegum heart & other elastic things” by Quazaye Konkel

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book, Book Review, Humour, Review , , , ,

Rating: 5 stars

Headline: Whether poetry is based on true events or the work of utter fiction is irrelevant when it’s as captivating as this

Review:

Penned by the biracial, bipolar and bisexual poet Quazaye Konkel, Bubblegum heart & other elastic things is a collection that take readers on a story of love won and lost. Beginning with the initial feelings of passion and lust that come with any fledging relationship, Konkel moves through the lines of the opening poem “venus de milwaukee” with ease. These joyful moments are shown in subsequent poems, perhaps peaking with “bubblegum heart”, a midpoint piece where the narrator declares their love for an unnamed individual. By the time readers reach “jinx” there is already a sense that something is going wrong, that the relationship is unravelling and spiralling out of control.

“I didn’t mean to jinx it // when I asked if you were // okay… // I only meant // to kiss it // better”

But even in the lows there is much to be grateful for. In “seasons of loving”, readers are presented with an individual reflecting on the positives of a failed relationship as much as the negatives that ultimately led to its deterioration. It is beautifully written and fitting closing poem for this charming collection.

There is a lot to like with Konkel’s collection, particularly in the strength of the narrator’s voice which follows through all of the poems. The reader is transported on a journey and in doing so builds a strong relationship with the narrator, almost as much as the narrator does with its unnamed love interest. The pacing is good and the varied use of poetic forms keeps the mood and tempo engaging.

It is not often a collection of poetry focuses on one narrative voice working through a linear journey but Bubblegum heart & other elastic things succeeds in captivating readers in a story of joy and struggle. Whether poetry is based on true events or is the work of utter fiction is irrelevant when it is as captivating as this.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Bubblegum heart & other elastic things” by Quazaye Konkel

Purchase Link: “Bubblegum heart & other elastic things” by Quazaye Konkel (Amazon)

Author Website: Quazi Writes – thoughts. feelings. poetry.

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

Impressive stacking skills

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) comedy, food, Humour, shopping, Swindon, Uncategorized , , ,

Not wanting to toot my own horn, but, I’m going to toot my own horn.

The looks staff gave me coming along with my trolley, approaching the self-service tills with thinly disguised smugness usually reserved only for the scan as you shop crowd.

I see your tiny space for basket shops and I raise you this:

(Although not going to lie, I was annoyed I couldn’t get the ice cream fully onto the scales.)

All the years of playing Tetris have clearly not been lost on me. And if you want the best words of guidance for getting staff to walk on by, wearing a face covering and buying a pack of cold relief medication will go a long way.

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**

Children’s Book Review: “The Mayor of Murrimba” by Jonathan Hall

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book, Book Review, Humour, Review , , ,

Rating: 2 stars

Headline: The use of AI illustrations opens up a can of ethical worms in this wordy picture book

Review:

The Mayor of Murrimba is a children’s picture book by the Australian-born author Jonathan Hall. The story revolves around Shelly McGee, the much loved equine mayor of Murrimba which is inhabited by a range of colourful animal characters. In Murrimba, the mayor can only run for two terms after which the townsfolk must vote for a new mayor. With big horseshoes to fill, who will be the victorious successor to Shelly’s reign?

While pitching itself as a picture book, it is hard to know exactly what audience The Mayor of Murrimba is pivoting itself towards. The large amount of words per page suggest an older child demographic (age eight – ten), whereas the large number of colourful pictures are more common in books read by younger readers and their parents. The introductory section which describes how to read the book is confusing, longwinded and shouldn’t be needed in a picture book. Within the body of the story rhyming couplets come across as forced at times and the need to footnote explanations for some of the more nuanced references just seems to miss the point. For example, a meaty paragraph to explain the history of the Dickens classic “A Tale of Two Cities”.

All of the illustrations are derived from artificial intelligence (AI) software. AI generates illustrative content by scouring the internet which, while on the surface might seem like a nifty hack, its has also become the subject of multiple copyright lawsuits. This, after claims that AI generators steal the work of artists and fail to pay royalties for the subsequent use of the output. If you take a second glance at the images in this book it shows, from bears in clown costumes holding a single balloon to insects with oversized honeycomb eyes, some of the images are quite spooky.

To make this book of a engaging standard, the author needs to rethink the amount and complexity of the copy. The story arch needs to be workshopped to improve the pacing, sent to parents and children for feedback and refinement. A skilled children’s artist should be brought onto this project to produce the illustrative content, even if it means reducing the overall page length to balance the increased production costs.

The use of AI may open up new doors, but using it to cut corners on design is not something that will sit easy within publishing.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “The Mayor of Murrimba” by Jonathan Hall

Purchase Link: “The Mayor of Murrimba” by Jonathan Hall (Amazon)

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**

Alice E. Bennett Wins Flash Fiction Competition at Bournemouth Writing Festival

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book, Event, Humour, Prize, Uncategorized, Writing , , ,

I am thrilled to announce that flash fiction submission, “How the Dressmaker of Bournemouth Feeds her Family” has been shortlisted for publication in Bournemouth Writing Festival’s debut anthology.

Judge and Bournemouth academic, Charlotte Grace Fodor, said of the piece:

“How the Dressmaker of Bournemouth Feeds her Family” is a well-crafted, thought-provoking story with good attention to detail and is glittered with humour. I particularly enjoyed how the ending of the story adds depth and layers to the narrative, prompting the reader to reflect on themes of self-expression, transformation, and authenticity. The question posed by the shopkeeper…invites the reader to consider the choices we make in presenting ourselves to the world.

This question can be interpreted in various ways, encouraging introspection about personal growth and self-discovery.

Needless to say, I am completely over the moon by this news. Given the hundreds of submissions into this competition, I was more than flattered to have made the longlist, let alone the top 20. That in mind, I want to congratulate all of my fellow longlistees and thank all those involved in running this competition.

I’ll be joining my fellow winners for a special awards ceremony taking place as part of the festival later in April. Watch this space for updates!

Lines in the Sand will be published by Dithering Chaps on 26th April 2024. It is available for pre-order from Amazon, with physical copies available during the festival and from the publisher direct.

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**

Book Review: “Control Menopause Before it Controls You” by Melissa Ann

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book, Book Review, Humour, Review , , , ,

Rating: 5 stars

Headline: This book succeeds in breaking down stigma and rebuilding it with positivity and confidence

Review:

They say only two things certain in life, death and taxes. If my recent reading has reaffirmed anything, it is to only reinforce that that phase was very much penned by a man (I’m looking at you, Benjamin Franklin). Because, for half the world’s population there is another inevitable life stage, the menopause.

On the surface Melissa Ann’s guide, Control Menopause Before it Controls You is something that screams “female only, men barred!” (and for what it’s worth, the cover design doesn’t help). And yet, this is a guide that could, and should, be read by all genders or all ages. In circa 150 pages, Ann’s book covers all three stages of the menopause: perimenopause, menopause and, finally, post menopause. All three stages are then broken down into guidance, including the bodily changes to expect during and lifestyle improvements that can lessen symptoms. Guidance even goes as far as to recommend particular food categories and exercise routines, spiritual activities to try out and conversations to have with partners.

It this latter point which makes Control Menopause Before it Controls You universal to all. While some sections specifically call on the need for open and frank conversations, it is hard to find any aspect of the book that wouldn’t benefit men in terms of improving their understanding of such a key life stage for women. After all, these are not just the female partners, they are the friends, work colleagues and family members of their male counterparts too.

Discussions around the menopause have come a long way in recent years. In the office I can barely make it ten yards before being hit in the face with a promotional flyer for an upcoming talk on women’s health. It is an improvement, make no mistake, but we still have a long way to go. This is book, with its engaging tone and inclusive terminology, is a good place to start.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Control Menopause Before it Controls You” by Melissa Ann

Purchase Link: “Control Menopause Before it Controls You” by Melissa Ann (Amazon)

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page