The Bride’s Gate and Other Assorted Writings By Lenora Rain-Lee Good: A Modern Eclectic Reader for Modern Eclectic Readers

The Bride’s Gate and Other Assorted Writings

A Modern Eclectic Reader for Modern Eclectic Readers

By Lenora Rain-Lee Good

Copyright 2021

978-81-8253-772-9j

247 pages

Review by LB Sedlacek

In this new book, Lenora Rain-Lee Good gives us a variety of pieces to read, absorb and enjoy!  She includes poems, non-fiction memoir bits and fiction stories in this unique book.

The author says she purposely kept many of her writings on the shorter side so that one could read it when they have a short break or maybe during a lunch hour.  With many of the entries, she includes an explanation or description behind the work.  It can really make for a more interesting read, when one knows why the author wrote what they wrote.  It’s far better, than simply trying to guess or figure it out in my opinion.

From the Non Fiction piece “Mini Marbles”:

“My mother believed in helping her man, my stepfather, Sandy, succeed, and to that end she was indeed the perfect Stepford  Wife. One night of my senior year in high school we were entertaining Sandy’s high muckety-muck boss and his wife for dinner. My mother, a superb cook, kept a  Vogue-magazine-style house—more like a museum and less like a place in which to live—and was for sure the hostess with the mostest.”

This is a funny true story from the author’s childhood.  Have your parents ever made you eat a meal with their guests that you didn’t want to attend?  Imagine, being able to say something or tell a tale that keeps you from ever having to do it again!  

From the short story “Mary Lamarra”:

“She felt, rather than heard, a loud, screaming, crash—tearing asunder her universe and then quiet. Peace engulfed her, warm, dark, quiet, and she relaxed into it, allowed it to carry her on whatever currents it drifted in.  As consciousness began to ascend, she fought it, wanting to stay in the quiet. She decided to take three deep breaths, think of something pleasant, like Steve. No! She wouldn’t think of Steve.  Two breaths, deep, slow. She would think of home. No, not home. One breath—one long and slow and deep as she could manage. She opened her eyes to a blinding bright fog.”

This is an unusual story about dreams.  I won’t say more than that so I don’t give away the ending.  

Lamarra has a gift with all of these mediums she’s chosen to put into her book.  They are nicely placed within the book so that all of it works well together.

From the poem “His Shirt in my Closet”:

“The shirt hangs in my closet I pull it to me, crush it to my face, inhale, want the scent of him for comfort, for warmth. Instead, I receive only the scent of whatever detergent he washed it in before he came.”

An interesting concept to illustrate a relationship.  In this poem, the shirt can mean many things.

Many times you find book compilations of poems or stories or even essays, but not all three together.  I really enjoyed the selection of works included here.  The author has a gift with her poems, stories and true stories.  There really is something for everyone to read in this book.  It really is a must-read so add it to your list!

LB Sedlacek’s latest poetry collection is “Ghost Policy.”  She is also the author of the poetry books “Swim,” “The Poet Next Door,” “Happy Little Clouds,” and “Words and Bones.”  Her short story collection is “Four Thieves of Vinegar & Other Short Stories.”  Her poem novel is “The Blue Eyed Side.”  She published “The Poetry Market Ezine” for 20 years and served as Poetry Editor for “ESC! Magazine.”  Her most popular poetry book is often used to teach poems to students, it’s called “Poetry in LA.”  Find our more http://www.lbsedlacek.com