Tam’s Think Tank

This is a great book.  It’s a first novel by this author and a heck of a first novel at that.  I thought it was so good I did something I’ve never done.  I sent an email to the author through her website to tell her how much I enjoyed it and to thank her for writing it.  She’s probably gotten loads of email, but I thought why not?  I think if I were lucky enough and talented enough to write a book with writing as good as this I would enjoy hearing that someone enjoyed reading it.

So… do I think the writing in this is worthy of praise one would give it’s subject matter?  Probably not.  There’s only one, or is there, Shakespeare.  But it is very well written.  Some phrases so good I read them aloud to some of my co-workers.  Plus, it was compelling, and especially interesting, if you’re into Shakespeare at all.  If not… it’s a good romp of a book with a bit of mystery and mystery solving to boot.  I guess what I’m saying is, I liked it.  I liked it very much.  I’d recommend it.  Highly.  Check it out.  You probably won’t be disappointed.

I admit it.  I ran her over.  Not an actual person named Barbie, so quit reaching for the phone and 911, no… the doll.  She was sprawled out, looking just like a crime scene, in the middle of the road.  I couldn’t stop in time to avoid her and really don’t know if I would’ve if I could’ve anyway.  What I’m really disappointed about is that I couldn’t stop to take a photo of her.  I was picturing how I’d do it, no pun intended, getting down on hands and knees trying to get the most realistic angle.  The problem wasn’t that I didn’t have a camera with me.  The problem was that I was on my way to a meeting and couldn’t stop, didn’t have time.  Sad.  A picture would’ve been good.

So there she was… sprawled out, face down, in the middle of the road.  I wondered, how did she get there?  Was there some little girl or boy out there missing their Barbie, not knowing where she was or how she’d gotten away?  Was she dropped from a passing car or from a kid’s bike as they sped along?  Was someone off on the side of the road doing a little experiment trying to see if anyone would stop to render assistance to her?  I don’t know.  There was a guy passing by, walking, who didn’t even look at her.  I thought it sort of sad.  Not even a tiny glance in her direction.  What was she?  Meaningless?  Come on…. a plastic girl has feelings too.  Right?  Am I right?

Ah well… I will never know her fate.  Never know what might have happened to cause her to be there in the first place.  I’ll never know…. I wonder if it’ll haunt me.  The picture of her, in my head, forever branded there.  The horrifying site of face down Barbie.  Probably not.  But if it did… wow… I shudder at the thought…