Comment from michaelcahill

Excellent

Great choice of topic here. A book I thought eerily accurate considering when it was written, though I suppose there was plenty of information available. I guess I'm thinking of the state of Hollywood movies at the time.
Perfect form, rhythm and rhyme with humour easily slipped in and at a perfect level too. Really excellent entry. I wonder if I'd like that book now? Seems like I would, but my beloved 2001 A Space Odyssey recently bored me to tears. Like a death in the family. Yeah, a tangent, what else. LOL Great work. mikey

 Comment Written 29-May-2016

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reply by the author on 29-May-2016

Thanks, Mikey. Doomsday was obviously on the mind of creative types, back then, although I've just watched a movie based on a Tom Clancy novel where the same fears are raised, and a class at school is 'doing' the Cuban Missile Crisis!

Yes, it is a little sad that somehow the remembered 'perfection' doesn't always live up to that recollection when viewed a few years later. I've experienced that a few times.

Steve

Comment from Pearl Edwards

Excellent

Firstly well done on the 10 minute write and coming up with this theme. Know the author and remember the title if not the whole film but I still can't get past 10 minutes for this format WOW. Enjoyed,
cheers

 Comment Written 29-May-2016

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reply by the author on 29-May-2016

Thanks for the kind words.

Nevil Shute was the best-selling author of a string of novels from about 1940 to his death in 1960. There were always some of his books in the house when I was growing up Perhaps his best-known book was 'A Town Like Alice' (the reference is to Alice Springs in Australia), but I devoured pretty much everything he ever wrote, along with the works of Alistair McLean, Zane Grey, Edgar Wallis, Arthur Conan Doyle, CS Lewis, Tolkien, Bradbury, Michener, Uris, Gerald Durrell, ian Fleming, John Wyndham, Agatha Christie, Louis Lamour, O Henry... Most of those I'd polished off in primary school!

Perhaps, that explains why I am a bit of a word buff and can whip up a rhyme and meter poem pretty much off the top of my head.

Steve

Comment from Joy Graham

Excellent

I like your theme, but I'm not familiar with the author or story.

Excellent meter, rhymes, and enjambment. A strong repeating line that carries the poem well each time employed.

Well done :)

 Comment Written 29-May-2016

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reply by the author on 29-May-2016

Thanks, Joy.

Nevil Shute was the best-selling author of a string of novels from about 1940 to his death in 1960. he was a Brit who moved to Australia after the war. There were always some of his books in the house when I was growing up Perhaps his best-known book was 'A Town Like Alice' (the reference is to Alice Springs in Australia), but I devoured pretty much everything he ever wrote, along with the works of Alistair McLean, Zane Grey, Edgar Wallis, Arthur Conan Doyle, CS Lewis, Tolkien, Bradbury, Michener, Uris, Gerald Durrell, ian Fleming, John Wyndham, Agatha Christie, Louis Lamour, O Henry... Most of those I'd polished off in primary school!

Perhaps, that explains why I am a bit of a word buff and can whip up a rhyme and meter poem pretty much off the top of my head.

Steve

Comment from Barb Hensongispsaca

Excellent

Never thought og going this route but im glad you did. And at an excellent time of year for it too. It is so sad though that no matter what we write, the effects of war creep in.

 Comment Written 28-May-2016

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reply by the author on 29-May-2016

Thanks, Barb. You were first off the mark with your Octigram, I believe.

Steve

Comment from tony bronk

Excellent

Yes, it can go that way, or the other way, too! What's the real difference? An interesting, informative read for sure! Excellent write. Tony Bronk

 Comment Written 28-May-2016

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reply by the author on 29-May-2016

Thanks again, Tiny.

Steve

reply by tony bronk on 29-May-2016

tony

Comment from mountainwriter49

Excellent

Hi Steve,

How odd you'd mention Nevil Shute's book, "On the Beach." This is one of my all-time favorites. I also like the film, but not as much as the book. When Phyllis announced the theme I immediately thought of this book and almost did something on it. I'm glad I didn't since you have presented this well penned octogram about it.


Your octogram is compliant with the poetic form in all aspects.

Thanks for bringing this book up in the poem. There are some frightening parallels in today's crazy world with the spread of nuclear weapons and the rise of the crazies.

Ray

 Comment Written 28-May-2016

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reply by the author on 29-May-2016

Thanks, Ray.

I suspect Shute wasn't as popular in the States, but there were always some of his books in the house when I was growing up Perhaps his best-known book was 'A Town Like Alice' (the reference is to Alice Springs in Australia), but I devoured pretty much everything he ever wrote, along with the works of Alistair McLean, Zane Grey, Edgar Wallis, Arthur Conan Doyle, CS Lewis, Tolkien, Bradbury, Michener, Uris, Gerald Durrell, ian Fleming, John Wyndham, Agatha Christie, Louis Lamour, O Henry... Most of those I'd polished off in primary school!

Perhaps, that explains why I am a bit of a word buff and can whip up a rhyme and meter poem pretty much off the top of my head.

Steve

Comment from Gloria ....

Excellent

Hey, neat job, Steve. I must admit I thought of the On the Beach, ie this novel, but then quickly determined I didn't know enough about it to tackle the theme, but you did.

Exceptional Octogram and what a blast.

I'm now officially staying away from the beach which will be most difficult around here.

Gloria

 Comment Written 28-May-2016

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reply by the author on 29-May-2016

Thanks, Gloria.

Nevil Shute was the best-selling author of a string of novels from about 1940 to his death in 1960. There were always some of his books in the house when I was growing up Perhaps his best-known book was 'A Town Like Alice' (the reference is to Alice Springs in Australia), but I devoured pretty much everything he ever wrote, along with the works of Alistair McLean, Zane Grey, Edgar Wallis, Arthur Conan Doyle, CS Lewis, Tolkien, Bradbury, Michener, Uris, Gerald Durrell, ian Fleming, John Wyndham, Agatha Christie, Louis Lamour, O Henry... Most of those I'd polished off in primary school!

Perhaps, that explains why I am a bit of a word buff and can whip up a rhyme and meter poem pretty much off the top of my head.

Steve

Comment from create4christ

Excellent

This is cute. I've never read the book, but your poem made me interested to maybe try to find it. Your rhymes and rhythms are good...as are your thoughts about this book. Good job.

Thank you for sharing.

 Comment Written 28-May-2016

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reply by the author on 29-May-2016

Thanks for the kind words.

Nevil Shute was the best-selling author of a string of novels from about 1940 to his death in 1960. There were always some of his books in the house when I was growing up Perhaps his best-known book was 'A Town Like Alice' (the reference is to Alice Springs in Australia), but I devoured pretty much everything he ever wrote, along with the works of Alistair McLean, Zane Grey, Edgar Wallis, Arthur Conan Doyle, CS Lewis, Tolkien, Bradbury, Michener, Uris, Gerald Durrell, ian Fleming, John Wyndham, Agatha Christie, Louis Lamour, O Henry... Most of those I'd polished off in primary school!

Perhaps, that explains why I am a bit of a word buff and can whip up a rhyme and meter poem pretty much off the top of my head.

Steve

reply by create4christ on 29-May-2016

You're so welcome...And, thank you. I may try to look him up.

Comment from Leineco

Excellent

I love the sideways slant you took on this! It is amazing what a huge difference
is made when the phrase is ON the beach -vs- AT the beach!

I have to agree on the beach conjures up images of war for me too. (The D-Day
Invasion, beaches of Normandy, to be precise.)

Unique and interesting post for the potlatch Steve :-)

 Comment Written 28-May-2016

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reply by the author on 29-May-2016

Thank you.

Nevil Shute was the best-selling author of a string of novels from about 1940 to his death in 1960. There were always some of his books in the house when I was growing up Perhaps his best-known book was 'A Town Like Alice' (the reference is to Alice Springs in Australia), but I devoured pretty much everything he ever wrote, along with the works of Alistair McLean, Zane Grey, Edgar Wallis, Arthur Conan Doyle, CS Lewis, Tolkien, Bradbury, Michener, Uris, Gerald Durrell, ian Fleming, John Wyndham, Agatha Christie, Louis Lamour, O Henry... Most of those I'd polished off in primary school!

Perhaps, that explains why I am a bit of a word buff and can whip up a rhyme and meter poem pretty much off the top of my head.

Steve

Comment from robyn corum

Excellent

What fun! I lovde to see what people come up with when we go into these challenges. The mind is a curious thing, is it not? I would never have considered such a thing -- but I'm so glad you did! *smile* A fun poem that brought back faded memories!

 Comment Written 28-May-2016

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reply by the author on 29-May-2016

Thanks, Robyn.

I doubt whether Shute ever made it big in the USA, but there were always some of his books in the house when I was growing up Perhaps his best-known book was 'A Town Like Alice' (the reference is to Alice Springs in Australia), but I devoured pretty much everything he ever wrote, along with the works of Alistair McLean, Zane Grey, Edgar Wallis, Arthur Conan Doyle, CS Lewis, Tolkien, Bradbury, Michener, Uris, Gerald Durrell, ian Fleming, John Wyndham, Agatha Christie, Louis Lamour, O Henry... Most of those I'd polished off in primary school!

Perhaps, that explains why I am a bit of a word buff and can whip up a rhyme and meter poem pretty much off the top of my head.

Steve