It has been nearly four years since I touched this blog and a lot has happened in the interim. Continue reading
Author Archives: Jonathan James Stoneblack
Book Review: Wheel of Time, Book 11: Knife of Dreams
Wheel of Time Book 11: Knife of Dreams
After several books of scant plot progression and painfully slow pacing, Knife of Dreams is practically a plethora of concluded plotlines. It felt as if all the main threads of the past nearly four books were gathered up in this installment and tied off in short order. Interestingly, this installment was quite a bit longer than the previous four yet was much quicker to get through because nearly each chapter was a fast-paced rush toward some form of completion. Continue reading
The Blasted GRE – Round 1
So, I’ve run up against another barrier to my writing. I have taken on the mighty task of studying for the GRE in order to make myself graduate school worthy. (I want to enrol in a Masters of Education program). Now my free time has been filled with studying, editing, child playing, and not enough sleep. This leaves me with zero blog time.
However! I do have to practice for the writing prompts, and as such, I thought I would post them as prompts for anyone wanting to take a crack at boring old ‘analytical writing’. Continue reading
Of the Divided States of America & Redux
Another week in the United States and another tragedy at the hands of a firearm.
Not to kick a dead horse, but I feel like I’ve been here before…
Then I was told that guns aren’t the issue with Alton Sterling or Philando Castile, or the Dallas Police officers for that matter.
It’s about Obama and the death of America. It’s about division.
Then we were told Alton Sterling was shot because he was reaching for his gun.
So he was shot with a gun because he was reaching for a gun, but it’s not about guns.
I’m confused. Continue reading
Book Exchange
36 possible books for the price of 1! Sounds great, right?
Okay, I am going to throw the ugly word our there now… it’s a pyramid scheme. BUT A GOOD ONE! The only thing you do to participate in this is buy one (1) book and send it along. Then gather up six friends who want to play along and have them do the same.
If you send along your book, and you can find some brave souls who want to participate, you can get up to 36 books back from this… for the price of 1 book!
I don’t like money making schemes. Book making schemes though? I’m all for it.
I bought my book and sent it along, and if that is all it costs me, I am happy to have done it. If you would like to have a few books come your way and spread literacy and the love of it around, please like this post.
But! Only like this post if you want to participate. You can email me at my gmail address (located in the “contact me” section of my blog) and I will send you the rest of the details.
Let’s spread some book love around!
Of Guns & Control
America sure does love its guns.
Well, some of them don’t, but those are just the bleeding heart liberals that don’t understand the necessity of deadly force when an intruder comes for your loved ones. Could happen any minute now, so we gotta be prepared.
The simple, ‘violence begets more violence,’ never crossed anyones mind I guess.
The issue is complex and I don’t mean to make light. Many people have lost their lives due to America’s stubborn refusal to take a good hard look at not only why guns are such a problem in the US, but how they became one. Continue reading
Mount Fuji, or how I almost died.
This is an old blog I wrote nearly 6 years ago – dear God, has it really been that long? – after climbing Mount Fuji. When I saw the daily post ‘mountain‘ I couldn’t help but dig it back up.
Mountain climbing really is an amazing experience and re-reading this brought that back in a huge rush. If you’ve never climbed a mountain, I would highly recommend it.
PS – I actually took that picture!
Of Exes & Turning the Page
I had an ex contact me recently and it got me thinking about how so much of our lives are like a photo book. There are snapshots we take of the big moments that define much of who we are, and these moments give context to the life we see when we turn to look over our shoulders. Continue reading
Childhood is…
This is a post in response to the daily prompt: Childhood.
I compiled a list of things that came to mind as soon as I read the word, and it’s in no particular order. I am sure some of them will relate, depending on your age, and others will have a similar link but a different name.
Still, the idea of childhood brings with it a very visceral response that ignites memories of a day when things seemed so much simpler..
Framboise’s Story Pt. II ~ A Story From 10 Words
For details regarding the series: A Story from 10 Words, please read my about page, and feel free to contact me with your own 10 words and I will write you a story!
If you would like to read some of the other submissions, please check out the series page!
This instalment is a continuation of a submission I was given several months back. I had promised a sequel, and here it is. I hope you enjoy it!
“Dreams, my dear, are the subconscious mind’s way of giving voice to our deepest fears.”
Sitting in the doctor’s office, her eyes flashing from one wall to the next, she finds herself more confined and vulnerable than when she awoke from that terrible dream. The nightmare had followed her through every step of every day and she could not shake it. The image of the clown would come screaming into her head, singing his manic songs, and she would find herself crouched in some corner, hugging her knees and gently rocking back and forth to a slow chorus of, ‘no, no, no, no.” Continue reading
Sticks and Stones 