Jerald Eugene Noran could never understand why it took two different consonants to make the same sound in his first and second names. Or why his middle name didn't start with the letter U. Or why piano chords are written vertically and piano keyboards are oriented horizontally (but that's another story). This abecedarium is the result of decades of writing couplets, tercets, quatrains and sestains on tiny scraps of paper, regarding the inconsistencies of spelling and pronunciation in the English language. When did it become apparent that these scraps of paper could be compiled into an abecedarium? Not until it was done, because certain letters refused to be anything but ordinary. Typical for the English language: nothing is consistent, including its inconsistency.
A is for Edelweiss: An Absurdist Abecedarium
Written by Jerry Noran
Illustrated by Jennifer Noran
ISBN 979-8-9902681-0-4 (hardcover)
ISBN 979-8-9902681-1-1 (ebook)
Written by Jerry Noran
Illustrated by Jennifer Noran
ISBN 979-8-9902681-0-4 (hardcover)
ISBN 979-8-9902681-1-1 (ebook)
"Where words fail me, my hands do not. With them I can fully express what my heart and mind are saying through my artwork. The drawings in “A is for Edelweiss” are my way of showing my love for my Dad and his creativity by visually bringing to life what he created with words."
The inspirations for Jennifer Noran's pieces gave her a chance to not only step out of her comfort zone artistically, but to also garner a greater appreciation for others creativity and expression. All reference images used by
The media she uses varies. Whether it’s pencil, cloth, clay, ink, latex, watercolors, metal or acrylic the energy and feeling within is still constant. "I creates because it brings me inner peace, it’s how I best express my heart and when I feel most at home within myself."
The inspirations for Jennifer Noran's pieces gave her a chance to not only step out of her comfort zone artistically, but to also garner a greater appreciation for others creativity and expression. All reference images used by
The media she uses varies. Whether it’s pencil, cloth, clay, ink, latex, watercolors, metal or acrylic the energy and feeling within is still constant. "I creates because it brings me inner peace, it’s how I best express my heart and when I feel most at home within myself."
Check out these comments from readers of the award-winning, A Is For Edelweiss:
"A fascinating take on the complexities of phonetics and spelling within the English language, written in the format of a child's abecedarium. How did any of us ever learn to speak and read English?" - Leonard U. Greenjean
"A great Christmas gift!" - Mayor Daisy Marion Dwight
"A worthy prequel to A Is For Edelweiss II." - Fanta Jimenez
"Makes Dr. Seuss's ABC look like a children's book." - Bartholomew Thidwick
"Edelweiss doesn't start with an A. This is stupid." - Edell Schroeder
"How can this book be getting comments from readers when this is its first printing? And what awards could it have won when it has just been published? I don't believe these are real comments from real readers. Wait, that would mean I'm not a real person. Wow...I didn't expect that reading this book would put me in an existential crisis. What a mind-altering read!" - Hilarius Bookbinder