Author: A.J. Reeves

What can I truly say about myself, I love to write, I love to read, it's what keeps me going, it's what feeds my soul, and inspires me. Writing is something I have always loved, and I plan on doing it till my fingers fall off. I am a Trekkie, and a Whovian. Tolkien is my master of Fantasy, I love the Supernatural family, Asimov my lord of Sci-Fi, Wilde the commander of wit. One Punch Man sets me off into hysterical giggles and Marvel stands at the top, with all my heroes present. "I super believe in you, Tad Cooper" -Galavant

Narrator’s Reality: The Real Thing by Henry James

On By A.J. ReevesIn Literary Analysis, Literary CriticismLeave a comment

In Henry James short story, “The Real Thing” the narration is through that of an unnamed main character, an artist. As such the entire story of “The Real Thing” is altered by the narrator’s perceptions. Every word, every moment is seen through his eyes and as such is shaded by his own interpretations of reality. In one scene the sentence starts with, “I perceived they,” this wording immediately informs the reader that the following information has no basis in fact but merely comes directly from the artist and his impression of the Monarchs. Continue reading “Narrator’s Reality: The Real Thing by Henry James” →

Big Ben Chimes the Hour: Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia​ Woolf

On By A.J. ReevesIn Literary Analysis, Literary CriticismLeave a comment

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf is a novel concerned with time. Time is used as a marker throughout the story as Big Ben chimes the hour. It is also bent and contorted to the novels will, as characters are consumed by memories of the past. Big Ben is particularly used to great symbolic importance. Returning home Mrs. Dalloway observes her neighbor out the window and remarks, “Big Ben struck the half-hour. How extraordinary it was, strange, yes, touching, to see the old lady…move away from the window, as if she were attached to that sound, that string…Down, down, into the midst of ordinary things the finger fell making the moment solemn” (127). Continue reading “Big Ben Chimes the Hour: Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia​ Woolf” →

Poetry’s Response to Modernism and War: The Wasteland by T.S. Elliot

On By A.J. ReevesIn Literary Analysis, Literary Criticism2 Comments

“The Wasteland” by T.S. Elliot is a brilliantly complex and hard to interpret poem. Dealing with the after-effects of World War 1, it explores how poetry and modernism should respond to such devastation as a global war. The picture painted by Elliot is bleak and full of desolation, it’s a world that Elliot seems uncertain will recover, but in one section of the poem on death that is a glimmer of the notion of hope. A character of the poem says, “‘That corpse you planted last year in your garden,/ ‘Has it begun to sprout? Will it bloom this year? /‘Or has the sudden frost disturbed its bed’” (ll. 71-73). Continue reading “Poetry’s Response to Modernism and War: The Wasteland by T.S. Elliot” →

A Faux Pas

On By A.J. ReevesIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

An old story I wrote, that is just fluffy, sweet goodness. Hope you enjoy! I am thinking about doing a rewrite and updating it.

A.J. Reeves's avatarMiles of Pages

Cyndi shoved her way through the school halls, her vans squeaking loudly on the tile floor, as she searched desperately for Tyler her head whipping back and forth so quickly it was a miracle she didn’t get whiplash.

“Hey, Cyndi!” Alexis called, waving at her wildly. “Only one more week till we are free of this hell hole for good!” Cyndi’s gaze flickered over to her briefly and she shouted a greeting, voicing her hearty consent, before her attention returned to the problem at hand. “He’s over there.” Alexis informed her pointing in the direction of the gym doors, Cyndi’s eyes zeroed in on a familiar blonde head. “Thanks Alexis. Love you!”

“Tyler!” she screeched, pushing people out of the way with well placed elbows. The head turned slightly at the sound of his name, but continued on disappearing into the gym. With a burst of energy, Cyndi pulled herself…

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The Imagery of Water: The Heart​ of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

On By A.J. ReevesIn Literary Analysis, Literary CriticismLeave a comment

The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a tale inexorably tied to water. From the frame story of men sitting quietly together on a boat listening to the tale of Marlowe, to Marlowe’s tale of taking a steamer in the heart of Africa, the reader can hardly escape the importance and the deep symbolic meaning that can and has often been connected to water. For the narrator, water represents a form of romanticized memory. Continue reading “The Imagery of Water: The Heart​ of Darkness by Joseph Conrad” →

Adulting/Dream Houses and Friendship: A review of Anne of Avonlea/the Island​

On By A.J. ReevesIn 3 Star, Book ReviewLeave a comment

This is going to be a bit of a two in one kind of moment because the things I like and dislike about the Anne of Green Gables series stayed pretty strong throughout what I have so far read. So If you want to understand my feelings completely please check out my review “Scope for the Imagination” on Anne of Green Gables. Now you are probably thinking, what does she mean by two in one, well this will included some thoughts I had on Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island. Rather than being a coherent review, which you can get with Anne of Green Gable, it is really going to be more a collection of particular points of contention and pleasure for me about.

Continue reading “Adulting/Dream Houses and Friendship: A review of Anne of Avonlea/the Island​” →

Materialism​ and Soul: Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

On By A.J. ReevesIn Literary Analysis, Literary CriticismLeave a comment

The Picture of Dorian Gray by the talented Oscar Wilde is a tale of youth and beauty, materialism and soul. Dorian, a young man of extreme beauty, sold his soul to a painting for eternal youth, the one commodity he believes to have value. As his life spirals apart Dorian responds in true Faustus fashion, unable to believe or accept his own role in his damnation. Continue reading “Materialism​ and Soul: Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde” →

Collage

On By A.J. ReevesIn Flash Fiction, Original FictionLeave a comment

A warm hand brushes against my forehead, a tongue clucks at the too warm temperature. My hair is smoothed from my clammy skin, a gentle pressure tucks my blankets around me. The blanket was a quilt I had crafted, I remember the beady eyes of Hulk staring at me, threatening to “Hulk Smash”, why that angry green face has stayed with me, is something I have never understood. 

Debris flies clouding the air, pelting back to the earth. Screams echo, more broken and hollow then any human has the right to sound. He clutched at his arm, his hand tacky with his own blood, it seeping out with each beat of his erratic heart. His comrade, his brother in arms lays beside staring up at him, eyes glazed over, there isn’t a single scratch on his face, his torso ends at the edge of his ribcage, and the vermin gnaw on his exposed flesh.

Continue reading “Collage” →

Rememory, Time and Place: Beloved by Toni Morrison

On By A.J. ReevesIn Literary Analysis, Literary CriticismLeave a comment

In Beloved by Toni Morrison, the character of Sethe is concerned and intrigued by the power of memory and its effect on life. In a scene dealing with the themes of time, place and memory, Sethe explores the interconnections of these realities and what they represent to her. Sethe says, 

I was talking about time. It’s so hard for me to believe in it. Some things go. Pass on. Somethings just stay. I used to think it was my rememory…But it’s not. Places, places are still there…the picture of it—stays, and not just in my rememory (43).

Continue reading “Rememory, Time and Place: Beloved by Toni Morrison” →

“Scope for the Imagination”: A Review of Anne of Green Gables

On By A.J. ReevesIn 4 Star, Book ReviewLeave a comment

 As soon as Anne Shirley arrives at the snug white farmhouse called Green Gables, she is sure she wants to stay forever . . . but will the Cuthbert’s send her back to the orphanage? Anne knows she’s not what they expected—a skinny girl with fiery red hair and a temper to match. If only she can convince them to let her stay, she’ll try very hard not to keep rushing headlong into scrapes and blurting out the first thing that comes to her mind. -Back of book

So, I am a little older than the average reader is the first time they read L.M. Montgomery and while it makes me more persnickety and wouldn’t say it took away any of my enjoyment of Anne of Green Gables. Because that’s right I enjoyed this book, but don’t get me wrong, like I said persnickety, and I had several issues with it as well. So great ready for the rollercoaster of emotions that are my feelings about books.

Continue reading ““Scope for the Imagination”: A Review of Anne of Green Gables” →