Body Food, Mind Food (Lens-Artists & Mahesh Nair’s book Chaotic Alleys)

The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge theme is “One Photo, Two Ways”.

I decided to feature some throwback photos to go down memory lane and introduce you to Mahesh Nair’s book release. I have TWO free hard copies to give away – so be sure to check out the end of this post. 

Let’s start with a photo of my mother-n-law’s bookshelf. It has personality and maybe even has a 1980’s vibe?

This photo of my mother-n-law’s bookshelf reminded me how everyone’s bookshelves have different personalities. Some of you only have e-books these days and so your device has a bookshelf. Anyhow,  I found an old blog comment from Ericka/Erica, and she noted the desire to read books 24/7 (ha) –  which reminded me about how books FEED our mind and soul.  There are times we can skim sites, pdfs, booklets, or even meaty blog posts – but other times there is nothing like a good book. A good book can feed the soul in a special way – it allows for skimming or for an immersion. And Trent recently shared about his “reading hangover” after a serious immersion in Little Dorrit – and so my point is that…. at times…. there is nothing like a good book to nourish a part of our human essence. 

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Next up, I actually took this “shoe on the beach” photo to possibly write about it someday. A future idea for micro fiction perhaps? And for some of us, we are fed by taking photos and then writing about them.

Can you feel a story here? The lost shoe.. The found shoe…. how did it end up here?

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On a different visit to Florida, we made some time for a fun photo opportunity.

I had to crouch down to fit with the dress prop. And this was all about the smile. This post today has the theme of feeding the mind and body – and let us NOT forget that humor nourishes our mind and body – and laughter helps us heal – Check out Norman Cousins Laughter Cure story here

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Also flashing back with this Sandwhch Cubano. Mmmmm – In the second photo of this tasty sandwich for the lens-artist’s theme, I tried to quiet down the French Fries and show the sandwich more, but I think I like the top photo better?

 

This is food for the body, which then feeds the brain and helps us live.  Did you know a few years ago – maybe 2017 – I was following bloggers- dale and Sorryless (here)– who were sampling and reviewing Cubano sandwiches – their fun shares led me to a Cubano quest.  We still stay on the lookout for a good Cubano. 

 

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This next photo is a throwback from 2016. Some readers might remember when our dog, Cody, passed away that year.  One of the reasons it was initially so tough was because it was a surprise. It is much different when one is prepared fora dog to pass away, but this was a total surprise.  Anyhow, it was through that grieving experience that I met bushboy (he let me use a photo oh his and BB is such a cool guy) – and  then Mahesh (here) checked on me every day the first week. It was a steady stream of support. (Many thanks, M.)

I was getting ready for a small group and made these little design name cards to pass the time. Sometimes doodling can be so therapeutic with that indirect attention engagement.  These little name cards helped me process the initial loss – I also went with my spouse wherever he went for the first few days – and just kind of stayed busy. 

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Now – Mahesh Nair’s book – which is on AMAZON here 

Chaotic Alleys: Collected Works is a fiction compilation of micro, flash, and short stories published, shortlisted, long-listed, and anthologized in journals and magazines.

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 I have been connecting with Mahesh Nair (as authors) since 2014 and when I heard about his book release I was excited.  I had the chance to do an early review of the book and I ws delighted to see familiar selections as well as read some that were new to me. If you are looking for a book to add to your summer reading list, consider this one. The sections are short (not like the lengthy books of Dickens’ Little Dorrit and T Harry Willaims’ Huey Long).

Instead, this book from Nair offers short works of fiction that allow you to skim, read a few times, or delve deeper and make connections. For those that appreciate short fiction, you will also enjoy the way each word is hand picked and each sentence is mulled over.  

Recently, ally bean (here) wrote about “Purple Prose” writing – that kind of verbose and rambling writing that is inhospitable, loquacious, tiring, and over stimulating. This book from Mahesh Nair is opposite of purple prose- because each selection has been carefully executed with words and thoughts. In Chaotic Alleys, we see Nair’s structured (without chaos) short vignettes about life, culture, pain, thinking, and living. 

Priorhouse quick review: Chaotic Alleys offers the reader well-executed selections by a writer who carefully placed each word and idea.  Some of the selections stick with you, almost like you have a brick in your pocket and you walk away pondering. A little bit of weight stays there with you and this author gets you thinking – about life, about people, and about culture.  Nair aims to wake people up while using his unique voice and careful word choice to offer us a signature style in each story.

Mahesh Nair’s book seemed a perfect closing for today’s post with “One photo, two ways” because each of his short selections offers different takeaways: “One story, multiple takes”  – which also gives us mind food to help us “live life to its full.” If you want to be in the raffle for one of the hard copies, let me know in a comment. HIs book is also available on Kindle.

Body food. Mind food. Let’s stay nourished folks!

 

 

Thanks for your visit today.

Care to join in with the Lens-Artists?

Go here to Tina’s site for this week’s challenge 

and the other main hosts:

 

Amy of https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/

Patti of https://pilotfishblog.com/

Ann-Christine (Leya) of https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/

 

 

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