Audrie Clifford

I have read every one of Ms. Clifford’s books. Her writing style is most relaxed. And what is more interesting is the ordinary somehow becomes more intriguing than it should be. I know she writes for the thrill of the writing, the molding of characters, finding the unusual and interesting in the more mundane events in life. And I believe she’s successful.

I keep reading her books – she always has a message and very often having to do with the golden years as the elder make sense of one’s circumstances.

The story is a journal-like account (first person) of an elder woman, who leads a writer’s group which meets every two weeks. Since I’ve never been part of one, this is in itself interests me. One of six women, she is curious to know what lies behind the writer and her words. She has decided to find out what kind of life each has/had outside the circle. Behind the words, she finds friendship above all things.

At about chapter 3, even though no great action, no adventure, no love or passion, I became entangled with these women’s lives. I shared their flaws, pain, sickness, and love for each other.

This is a book about ordinary women, written in a beguiling way. So in some respects, it’s about all of us. I never know what I’ll read next from this 80-plus-year-old author. But I’ll tell you, her wisdom and insight mold some very telling characters, ones you are easily able to identify with leaving you just a little more optimistic with humanity.… (mais)

Ever consider how you'd react when faced with having to live with someone completely your opposite? Miffed Again will have you nodding, agreeing and entirely amused!

As we age, changes just get harder. At the same time, situations arise where there is little choice in our lives. If you’ve lived long enough, you certainly can relate. To manage is to adapt. This is a story about two women trying to do just that.

Author Audrie Clifford set the story in such a situation with two very opinionated and strong women, both as opposing in their opinions of lifestyle and beliefs as you can get. The one common factor is they are both in need of living in this particular apartment complex, in this particular apartment.

Both were intent to have the apartment to themselves although they agreed to live together when they had no choice. Who wants to room with some unknown person, not of their ilk in the later years of life? Heck, who any time in life would care to?

I took sides in who was right. After all, I’m close enough to their age I felt I had a right to an opinion. You might react the same. It was interesting how I changed my stance as I read.

I certainly could relate to having a dog. Bunny wanted one, Wilma didn’t. So Bunny got it, but when you’re sharing an apartment, how is it possible to not share such a creature – dirt, adorable posturing, licks and all?

The story was told in first person, Wilma being the narrator. She was the feisty, liberal of the two. Her experience having a roomy was new to her. She’d always been alone by choice. I loved to see the growth in her spirit of acceptance of others, and learning to realize she could love. I enjoyed the times when she absolutely spoke out when people would infringe too far into her space.

Since this was Wilma’s story she didn’t have many good words about Bunny, but gave her credit when she deserved it. Bunny also learned much from living with Wilma. She could tolerate and eventually accept people who didn’t believe as she did. I actually ended up being proud of both ladies.

This was a delightful story penned by a feisty woman herself, Audrie Clifford. I never tire of what she writes. She’s unique in and of herself and entertains with her special gift of getting inside the head of ordinary people dealing with difficult times. Her writing is effective. I cried when I was supposed to and laughed when I should. Where Wilma and Bunny were constantly miffed, I was not. Thank you, Audrie, for the fun read.… (mais)

What a delightful book. I received this as a member giveaway from Library Thing directly from the author and I must tell her thanks I really enjoyed it. The book involves Wilma, a 70+ lesbian and a holy roller widower named Bunny who find themselves sharing a one bedroom apartment. Wilma starts the book sounding very much like an old curmudgeon set in her ways. Whereas Bunny is a holier than thou "Christian" who does nothing but judge others. The women encounter problems from Wilma likes a glass of wine in the evening and she smokes to Bunny accusing Wilma of flirting and having affairs with women. Slowly but surely the women do learn to live together peacefully. With lots of introspect on the parts of both women but from the point of view of Wilma. Again a very good book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.… (mais)

This is one book whose reading will challenge you to take a step back and to re-evaluate what you are reading just as the poetry of e.e. cummings does. Why? Since the book is full of spelling errors that makes any sane reader and any fanatic English major cringe while wanting to pull out the red pen but it is also those very bits of spelling blips that makes the book what it is for it puts in the place of the narrator of the story more than the plot of the story itself.

The story follows along the idea of a young child who is ripped from everything that she knows and put into a world where she knows nothing. With the resiliency of a child she overcomes many obstacles, has a refreshing way of making friends and shows that friends can be found wherever you may choose to look - no matter the gender, the age or the disposition of a person.

The story is refreshing in the youthfulness of its portrayal and in trying to tie two worlds together that cannot be possibly tied together. It will bring a nostalgia to its older readers who will remember when the world was much more innocent than it is now and also highlights the troubles that today's children all face in a fast developing world that too often whips on the maturing when children just need to be children.

Definitely a treasure of a read for those who enjoy being able to shake off the normal robe of reading to submerse themselves in a barely touched domain of writing.

**Received this book as part of the First Reads Giveaway at Goodreads.com for free in exchange for a review**… (mais)