Wednesday, May 31, 2017

May 31, 2017 NOT MY CROSS TO BEAR

"The real story.....or what Mom says happened" is a common statement at family gatherings. We all laugh about this because it's true--sometimes. My recollection--many times--is apparently very different from what they say ACTUALLY  happened??  Who'd a thunk it??   Okay first--TIME changes our perception--the event-- can also seem more DRAMATIC as the years role by-- and IT REALLY IS hard to remember the PEOPLE involved in the story-- memory fades right??  Sometimes stories change--to protect the teller too--it makes life easier-- I guess. Our memories of people can also be very different based on our perspective. While the mother/daughter relationship can be difficult for many, it is a very different relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter. Time has passed and people have changed--even mellowed out. While I cherish the relationship I had with my grandmother, her relationship with my mother was not as successful. I wasn't there--I'm sure they both share the blame--but that doesn't have anything to do with my feelings for her. She made me feel special-- cooking my favorite meals--making my bed--spending time with me.  I knew I could depend on her for support--even call her in the middle of the night if I needed to. She's the only one who ever called my Marsha Parsh too. She wasn't perfect but who is?? While the verdict is still out on my parenting ability--I hope that my children forgive my shortcomings--make peace with the past and move on. Life is too short to wallow in yesterday. This is the premise of Fredrik Backman's lovely novel My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry. 

If you loved A Man Called Ove then you will love Backman's second novel. Elsa, the main character, is a  mature, lonely seven year old  who is best friend's with her Granny. Granny is quite a character--she's a 77 year old retired doctor with personality plus--she's different and so is Elsa. Elsa and Granny live in a world of their own where they speak a different language and Granny regales Elsa with  fairy tales from  the Land-of-Almost-Awake and its six kingdoms that somehow seem to mirror the outcasts that live in her building.   After her grandmother dies, she leaves behind a series of letters apologizing to the people she' s wronged in life. Elsa's quest is to deliver these letters--to the  drunks, monsters and other crazies that live in her building that are in some way connected to her Granny.  While delivering these letters, Elsa learns who her grandmother really was and why her own mother struggled so hard to get along with her while she was alive. This is a charming story--the characters are so wonderful that you might just want to go live in their building. This touching story is about the importance of stories, honesty and the right to be different. Find out all about Elsa, her Granny, mother and all the other endearing folks she meets when you read this great book. It's about 350 pages --or a 5 mile run--that you will most certainly enjoy!

Sunday, May 28, 2017

May 28, 2017 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Twenty-three year ago. To me, the blink of an eyelash. That's when my first son was born and my ENTIRE world changed. No one can tell you what having a newborn is like.  It's something you have to experience yourself. CHILDBIRTH--as traumatic as that is--is a walk in the park compared to  being a newbie. I was NOT prepared--for the demands and self-sacrifice of motherhood. It's still something I struggle with at times. I really need ME time. It was actually early in my martyrhood --OOPS--motherhood  that I started running.  I just needed  an outlet--a little time carved out--WHEN IT WAS STILL ALL ABOUT ME.  I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING--that's totally  unheard of in the world of parenting little ones--BUT BELIEVE ME-- It made all the difference. I'm not one of those women satisfied with just being a mom. I can't live my life vicariously through my kids. I have to have my own life to a degree.  I am more than just THEIR MOM. I love my kids dearly BUT.........Even today, my kids--STILL try to make it all about them ONCE IN A WHILE--and I just turn around and smile and say-- it can wait--I'M GOING FOR MY RUN!
All this talk about kids made me think of a beautifully written novel by Eowyn Ivey called The Snow Child.  Drawing on a Russian fairytale of 1869 called The Snow Maiden, Ivey created a lovely novel about a childless couple who build a snow child that mysteriously comes to life. Jack and Mabel are that couple. After losing a child, they try to escape their sorrow by moving to the Alaskan wilderness in 1920. While Jack focuses on work--clearing the land and planting crops--Mabel wallows in loneliness and depression--as neighbors are scarce in this demanding landscape.  One night after a snowfall, the couple build a snow child and awake the next morning to many changes. Jack sees a child running through the wilderness and soon after, the girl, along with a red fox, begin to appear in their yard on a regular basis. Over time,  the snow child--Faina--becomes part of the family and changes their lives forever. This tale has a mystical quality to it that I can only think to call "magical realism".  The quality of the writing is second to none as Ivey  captures the sharpness of grief and loneliness of not only the characters but also the Alaskan wilderness perfectly. I really could not put this book down. Find out what happens to Faina and her new family when you read this 389 page novel yourself. It's about a 6 mile run--well worth the effort.

Friday, May 26, 2017

May 26, 2017 I BELIEVE I CAN FLY

Graduations. They can be both exciting and bittersweet. I  remember my high school graduation like it was yesterday. As much as I wanted to graduate, I felt completely lost that fall. Summer was great-- we clung together not wanting things to change. As August rolled into September-- the friend list waned down--everyone left for college--and  I found myself left behind. I didn't have a plan. No one helping me along the way--not even a guidance counselor.  I was left to navigate that slippery slope on my own. PRETTY SURE I DID A TERRIBLE JOB TOO. No worries--eventually figured it out--worked my tail off-- got through college--paid for it myself too.  Eighteen years olds think they know it all but they are really just big kids. They still need A LOT OF HELP--and several little prods to keep on the right path. When it was time for my son to go to college--he was out to lunch. Pretty sure he would have stayed in high school another few years without even noticing. I actually had to force him to look at colleges--LASSO a rope around his neck and pull him along. I'm glad I did too. He REALLY matured a lot in college and I am SURE he would say they were the BEST 4 years of his life so far. My daughter was born going to college. Living the dream. She's all about it. I hope she realizes how lucky she is and remembers it's a privilege not a right. Congrats to all the graduates out there. Make your family proud. They sacrifice a lot to help make your dreams come true. Gene, the main character of John Knowles classic A Separate Peace seems to have his life together-- good student, friends, supportive family too.
Set in New England at a boarding school during World War II, this wonderful classic and William Faulkner Award winner was written in 1959. As the story begins, Gene is returning to his Alma Mater fifteen years after graduation to visit the two places on campus that changed the course of his life--a marble staircase and a tree. Gene's reflections take the reader back to 1942 when Gene, a quiet, intelligent introvert and Phineas--Finny to his friends--a carefree, handsome athlete became unlikely roommates and best friends. The boys ultimately become competitive-- in school and in sports--and  a rivalry is spawned.  Gene's  jealousy--of Finny's athletic prowess-- gets out of hand as he intentionally causes Finny to fall out of a tree--shattering his legs--ending  his athletic career forever.Adolescence is a difficult time, especially, when the world is at war and a group of boys find themselves together in a setting where the rules are different. Innocence is lost in more ways than one  in this mournful tale. Find out what happens when a guilt ridden Gene finally admits the truth? Will Finny forgive his friend?? Read this tragic, beautiful story to find out what happens to their friendship. At about 200 pages-- or a 3.5 mile run--this book will stay with you long after you've finished reading. 

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

May 23, 2017 EYE OF THE TIGER

The morning AFTER the race I felt like I had been HIT by a train--BUT--I'm not going to waste time complaining. I'm just going to be thankful. WHY?? First-- complaining is a waste of time--it takes away from your positive energy. Second--I had an AWAKENING the other day. This is what happened. The morning before the race--I was out walking my dogs when I came upon a 5k.  I crossed the street--CHEERED the  runners on--and literally bumped into one of my comrades. We were chatting about running--and I was rambling on about ALL of my ANXIETY-WORRY-COMPLAINTS--about the race the next day. It was a REAL laundry list too--I didn't even pause for a breath. When I was done blabbering on-- I gazed across the street to watch the runners and I saw a man--running the 5K--with prosthetic legs!! SHOOK MY HEAD AND SHUT my giant mouth immediately.  He changed my whole attitude in ONE SPLIT SECOND. What a WHINY brat I was being!!!  What right did I have to complain--I have my legs! That guy was STILL out there getting it done--what an inspiration. Will Traynor, the main character of Jojo Moyes book Me Before You learned too late to be thankful for the body he was given.
Every now and then I like to read a love story so I picked this book up on a whim and I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed it. Set in a tiny village in England, Will Traynor was a rich, good looking man who had it all. He was well-traveled, and loved extreme sports and beautiful women--until an accident left him wheelchair bond and living back with his parents. Louisa Clark was your average small town girl.  She had a close family, boyfriend and friends.  She also desperately needed a job in a village that afforded little opportunity. After Will returned home, his parents hired Louisa to help Will with his day to day life.  He clearly didn't want her there and made NO bones about his dislike for her and his new existence. After several mishaps though, the two develop a friendship that eventually blossomed into love. There was one huge problem though--Will wanted to die on his own terms. He could not see himself stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. After discovering Will's plan, Louisa set out to show him that life was still worth living. Was Louisa  able to convince Will to change his mind, or would he decide to go through with his original plans? Find out when you read this heartbreaking story. Love is a funny thing--it's not at all like it is in fairy tales. Anyways, this quick read is about 400 pages--or a 3.5 mile run--that you will not be able to put down. By the way, this little gem has two sequels out. Haven't read them yet, but I'm sure they're equally as good. Enjoy--don't forget the tissue.

Sunday, May 21, 2017

MAY 21, 2017 GOOD TIMES

It was a CRISP spring morning--PERFECT day for the Mystic Half Marathon--my kind of running weather. Couldn't have ordered a better day. With a start time of 7:00--we got to the race at about 6:20--THEN--needed to hit the PORTA POTTY--along with 2000 other runners. The GOOD news-- lines were so long that we ran around looking for other toilets and HAD TO RUN to the start with ONLY 23 seconds to spare. I know you are wondering why this was good--because it didn't give  us any time for WORRY AND ANXIETY. We just took off without a second thought. The run was beautiful--along the river, through many beautiful neighborhoods, and finally narrow, rambling wood covered roads back to the finish. There were a few difficult mountains to summit-- but sometimes it's EVEN harder to run down the other side--when the KNEES stop bending. Had a good run--a respectable 2:08--not exactly my goal-- but I'll take it. It's actually hard to run 13.1 miles--not sure if it's harder on the mind or the body--but either way--it's a work out. As stressed as I was before the race, I am REALLY glad I did it and would definitely run this course again. The only thing missing from this run is the BEER TENT. I get that it's early--but after running the race--it's like a little reward--who cares what time it is. A special thanks to my comrades--THESE ARE THE GOOD TIMES--CHEERS!
All that running in the woods today made me think of Harlan Coben's thriller The Woods. The woods can be a scary place--especially to Paul Copeland. Twenty years ago, when he was a camp counselor at a summer camp, his sister and three others went for a walk in the woods and never returned. Two of the bodies were found brutally murdered and the other two, including his sister Camille, were never found. This devastated the family--he mother eventually left and his father spent the rest of his life in the woods searching for his daughter's body.
Fast forward 20 years. Paul or Cope as he is called, is a recently widowed father of one.  He is a prosecutor in Newark, New Jersey, haunted by the past that almost destroyed his life. After  a corpse is discovered in the woods, the 20 year old case is reopened. Police question Cope after his phone number is discovered on the body. Could this possibly be one of the bodies that went  missing  twenty years ago? Where is his sister's body? Could she still be alive? Find out when you read this thriller that is filled with suspense and plot twists. It really is impossible to  put down.  Coben has over 70 million books in print world wide for a reason! Pick up a copy of this 400 pager--seriously only about a 4 mile run--and you will be a Coben fan too.

Saturday, May 20, 2017

May 19, 2018 SHADOW OF A DOUBT

Been a really busy week. Only ran once---SO UNUSUAL for me. It was a TERRIBLE run too--85 degree-- and the HUMIDITY was like a wet blanket. Some people love to run in that weather--I think it's MISERABLE. Really want to go for a run right now but went to the eye doctor's a little while ago and my eyes are so DILATED I can hardly see. So-- I'm stressed because I haven't run enough this week and the half marathon is Sunday. My ANXIETY is spiking --I'm already berating myself for signing up for this dumb race and putting myself through this NONSENSE again. WHEN WILL I EVER LEARN??  I REALLY NEED MY HEAD EXAMINED. This is why I hate signing up for races ahead of time. I OVERTHINK and WORRY about everything.  What should I wear?  Will these socks give me blisters?  Do I have any anti-chafe-- how about GU??  This worrying will ruin my whole weekend. UGH. Then it's the dreaded worry about how FAST/SLOW my time will be. What if I SUCK!!! DOUBT--it's something we all deal with at some point in our lives. One thing I have no doubt about though--you will not be able to put down Nathaniel Philbrick's National Book Award Winner In the Heart of the Sea:  The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex.
Philbrick has the uncanny ability to not only write great non-fiction, but write it in such a way that you feel like you are reading great fiction. This page turner is perhaps one of the greatest sea stories in American history. It is well researched--with both primary and secondary sources that add rich detail to this beautifully written story. In 1820 the Essex, a 240 ton ship, set sail from Nantucket on a routine voyage for whales. Somewhere in the South Pacific, 15 months later, the Essex was repeatedly rammed by an 80 ton  bull sperm whale and sunk. It's 20 crew members were forced into 3 tiny boats--and a decision. Should they sail to the coast of South America some 3000 miles away or risk a closer island where they feared tribes and cannibalism? The crew decided to sail to South America and spent 90 days at sea--hunger--thirst--disease--fear.  Find out for yourself what happened to the crew of the Essex when you read this harrowing story. Fun fact-- Melville used the the Essex tragedy as inspiration in his novel Moby Dick. Anyways, this story of man versus nature is about 240 pages or a 4 mile run--that will stick with you forever.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

May 16, 2017 I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

Perception. It's funny how we see things. Mine is different from yours--even if we witness the SAME event--our retellings would probably be very different. As a left-handed person--I have always felt as if I were looking in from the wrong direction. I've often wanted to say--HELLO--have you seen it from MY  window??  Maybe it's not as logical--but that doesn't make it any less valid.  Does that make sense?  I've always seen things differently--not saying I'm right or wrong--it just is what it is.  That's why I've developed two trains of thought on most things. What I think--AND--what everybody else thinks. Pretty sure that explains why I'm so wishy-washy all the time. Right now I'm contemplating something very important-- should I taper off before the race this weekend or just stick to my regular schedule.  Elite runners differ on this VERY touchy subject. NO idea what I should do. Simple things confuse me to death-- SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?? I don't know. Guess I'll try to run an easy 4 just to get outside --want to save IT so I'll feel psyched UP--for the half-marathon this Sunday.  NOT THAT ANYTHING WILL PSYCHE ME UP--EXCEPT POSSIBLY THE FINISH LINE!! Seriously though, this whole idea of how we perceive things and remember things  really intrigues me. It is a major theme in  Dan Chaon's new thriller Ill Will--already a National Best seller--and it was just released.
What do a mass murder from 1983, a string of present day serial killings and a a crack house have in common?? More than you think . Dustin Tillman, the main character of this haunting tale,  is a psychiatrist living in Cleveland. He has a seemingly normal life--two sons and a wife who is struggling with cancer. Tillman's life spirals out of control after his wife loses her battle. On top of that, Dustin also learns that his adopted brother, who has been in prison for 30 years for the massacre of his family, is being released--an exonerated. Dustin is forced to remember the past and question his original testimony.   Did Rusty really kill his family or has his memory failed him? Dustin's favorite mantra for his patients--"We are always telling stories to ourselves, about ourselves"-takes on new meaning  as Dustin begins to wonder if maybe he killed his own family. Maybe  he invented his memories?? While  Dustin's world is seemly falling apart--one son won't speak to him and the other is dabbling in heroin, a new patient enters his life. Against his better judgment, the two become friends and start to investigate a string of serial killings in the area. Told in classic Chaon style, the point of view flips between 3 characters, the years jump back and forth, and the writing is flawless. By the end of the story, all the characters and plots come together--and the mystery is revealed. Chaon's book requires that the reader piece the story together though. He is not going to make it easy--which adds to the fun of reading this 460 page book. It is a bit of a commitment--about a 6 mile run--that will leave saying WOW!

Saturday, May 13, 2017

May 13, 2017 YOUR MAMMA DON'T DANCE

Mother's day is a tough day for many people. It's another one of those Hallmark holidays. Everyone is supposed to be HAPPY right??   They are supposed to buy flowers, cards, and gifts for their MOTHERS to honor them on their special day. For many though-- it can be a stressful, sad day. Mothers die AND  mothers are definitely NOT ALL CREATED EQUAL.  I've learned to roll with it. If life gives your lemons--make lemonade--that's my philosophy. Being a mother is a tough, many times thankless job. It's exhausting--emotionally--physically--mentally--at times. If you are lucky enough to have an equal partner in marriage--then your job is A LITTLE EASIER. I don't believe that  everyone is equipped to be a mother though --UNFORTUNATELY that's a lesson that can only be learned the hard way.  It really is a selfless act--if you're going to do it  right--whatever right is. AND--don't expect to see a return on your efforts for decades. Growing up takes a LONG time. Learning appreciation,  thankfulness, and giving back can sometimes  takes years.  So keep your expectations REAL this Mother's Day.  Whatever happens-- BE HAPPY. Remember-- not everyone is as fortunate as you are! In honor of Mother's Day, I thought I would review Anne Morrow Lindbergh's wonderful book Gift from the Sea.

Lindbergh wrote this classic while vacationing in Captiva Island in the 1950s. After collecting shells on the beach, she used them as inspiration to write about youth, age, love, the ebb & flow of marriage and family, peace, simplicity and solitude. These are her meditations on what she had learned in life. As a mother of 5, Lindbergh was at an age where she understood the trappings of life--modernity--materialism--and looked to simplify--declutter and get back to what was really important--family.  Her insights are as relevant today as they were in 1950, and her book has been read by generations. It has sold over 3 million copies and has been translated into 46 different languages.  This is a book I often pull from the shelf--just to read a chapter--to remind myself what's important in life. Read this beautiful, smart book yourself--it's only 130 pages--a mere 3 mile run-- that will have you reevaluating what's really  important too.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

May 11, 2017 LOST BOY

There are several reasons I love being a teacher--in addition to getting the summers off. What I love most is that I get to have fun--I get to act like a kid. I get to be GOOFY!!  Some days I sing--preferably operatic -- other times I dance--ever try the WHIRLING DERVISH dance--you might even find me STANDING on my head if I can get it to fit into the curriculum.  You really have to put yourself out there and be willing to make a FOOL  out of yourself to be effective and keep kids' attention these days. I don't mind at all, in fact I think it's fun.  I really DO enjoy being with my students. They are intelligent and funny--they've EVEN taught me a thing or two over the years--and that's really cool. Being with kids keeps me young TOO--at least in spirit.  That's one of the things I love about running too. I get to be a kid when I'm running. Kids run around all the time right--it's the nature of being a kid. I would look like a nut if I did that unless I made it look like exercise right? So, I get to  goof around, have a few good laughs--much like a kid--under the guise of exercise. I even get to play in the rain sometimes--a dream come true for anyone under the age of 10!  It really is fun to be out in the rain--STOMP through puddles--and get DRENCHED to the bone. Seriously. This grown-up thing is SO overrated. Not sure Philomena Lee had any fun in life. It was actually a very sad, difficult life as documented in Martin Sixsmith's touching account of a mother and her 50 year search for her son in The Lost Child of Philomena Lee.

Imagine living in Ireland in  1952--CATHOLIC--pregnant and unwed. This was Philomena's reality. Because she was a "fallen woman",  She was sent to a convent in Tipperary to be looked after by the nuns. While at the convent, Philomena gave birth to a son and actually took care of him until he was 3 years old. At this point, the nuns sold her child to America for adoption--a practice that was common during this time period as thousands of children came to America this way. Philomena kept her secret for 50 years before she began openly searching for her son. Meanwhile, Michael Hess, her son, was living in Washington D. C. He was  a top lawyer for the Bush administration and an important member of the Republican party. He also had a secret that threatened to end his career--he was gay. Hess had been searching for his mother for years to no avail.  After being diagnosed with AIDS, Hess decided to make one last effort to find his mother. He traveled back to Ireland, to the convent in Tipperary hoping to find leads that would reunite him with  his mother. Find out if mother and son ever see each other again, when you read this riveting, true story. I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. It's a story I will never forget and unfortunately another black spot on the Catholic Church. It's about 450 pages or a 6 mile run that is worth every minute. Guaranteed.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

May 9, 2017 DAUGHTERS

 The queen--AKA--my daughter is returning from her world tour this week. The nickname is mostly a joke--but there are times I have to remind her--she's just the daughter of  peasants. She was lucky enough to spend a semester abroad--Florence, Italy. WOW. What an opportunity! It has been a life altering experience for her.  Four months-- navigating a foreign city--absorbing another culture-- appreciating all that it has to offer.  One day she was playing with her polly pockets  and the next thing I knew-- she was heading off to college. TIME REALLY FLIES--and you can't appreciate that statement--until it happens to you. As much as I dislike technology--I have to admit that Face Time saved me. It made her extended absence easier for me.  Don't get me wrong, I really wanted her to go abroad but it was still hard.  We are all excited to see her on Friday--getting the red carpet ready. She's forwarded her grocery list--Target necessities --and request for a welcome home banner with balloons--which will be waiting when the Queen arrives on her horse drawn carriage. HA! The mother/daughter relationship can be complicated and this is especially evident in Elizabeth Strout's highly anticipated book My Name is Lucy Barton. 

Lucy Barton endured a difficult childhood in Amgash, Illinois. Her father was abusive and her mother too passive and afraid to stand up for her children. In order to escape her reality, Lucy lost herself in reading. It was through reading that Lucy realized she wanted to be a writer.  Fast forward many years. Lucy is a married woman with two daughters of her own. After a simple operation that leads to an infection, and a nine week hospital stay, Lucy wakes up one morning to find her mother by her side. This is odd because Lucy and her mother haven't spoken in several years. Over the course of the next 5 days, Lucy's mother tries to mend fences in the only way she can. She tells stories of Lucy's childhood, old neighbors and family members. When Lucy mentions abuse--her mother dismisses her recollections and shuts down which frustrates Lucy as she needs her pain validated. This is a story about human relationships--that are often difficult. They involve accepting people--even your mother--even if she has let you down. Although Lucy's mother loves her, her capacity to love is  limited and conditional. She is not able to meet Lucy on an even playing field. Will Lucy come to terms with this and accept her mother as she is?? Find out when you read this little gem of 208 pages--or a 4 mile run--that will have you thinking and reflecting on your own relationships too. Enjoy!

Sunday, May 7, 2017

May 7, 2017 TIP TOE THRU THE TULIPS WITH ME

Ran our last LONG run before the 1/2 marathon. It was a wet, humid 11 miles but there was a nice BREEZE that made it bearable. My legs and feet felt good too-- thanks to my new $127 sneakers--so much for the Dansko trunk show--it will have to wait. Did run out of energy though by mile 9-10. Going to have to get a few GU for the race. I'm telling you now--the LAST 2 miles are going to be torture--but on RACE day I'll just GUT it out--because I have to. Today I ran an easy 4--took time to stop and smell the flowers along the way. The lilacs are finally blooming. One of my favorite flowers. They just take me back in time. One whiff and I'm on the farm hanging upside down from an apple tree, collecting eggs in the coop or running away from Mrs. Apple and the other cows chasing me across the field. The lilac bush is a constant reminder to me of all that is good. Whenever I see a bush in bloom, I have to stop for a moment to appreciate its lovely, delicate scent.   I have two lilac bushes. One, a wedding gift from my sister-in-law and the other a seedling from the farm taken after spreading my grandparents ashes there. In some strange way they give me a sense of peace--I eagerly wait from them to bloom each season. They mark the passage of time and help me to remember good times. They make me smile. All this talk about flowers made me think of a wonderful classic I have read several times, Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.
Originally, Keyes wrote this as a short story in 1959 and it won several awards. He decided to rework the story into a novel that was published in 1966. THANKFULLY. It won the Nebula award for best new novel and was  made into a movie in 1968 called CHARLY. This movie earned Cliff Robertson an Academy Award for best actor. Here's the premise. Image that you have an IQ of 68 but qualify for an operation that will increase your IQ to the genius level--would you have the operation??  Charlie Gordon is the test subject who agrees to this operation because he is desperate to be like every one else. Told in epistolary style, a series of progress reports, Charlie chronicles his life before the surgery and after, until his final regression. This is a story about the way the mentally disabled are treated and the correlation between happiness, intellect and emotion. It's a wonderful story. This novel has sold over 5 million copies since 1966 and has NEVER been out of print. The other interesting tidbit about this novel is that it is the most frequently challenged book on the ALA list--censored over the years by many a school system. I have taught the short story which is more like a novella many times and my students LOVE it. It's an opportunity to learn about difference. It's also an opportunity to learn about intelligence--the Howard Gardiner Model. We are all intelligent in different ways and that's what makes us all unique and important. Pick up this inspirational story--it's about 300 pages --about a topic that never grows old. WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE.

Friday, May 5, 2017

May 5, 2017 IT ALL DEPENDS

Depends. Has it really come to that??? I guess that just depends. I've found--ESPECIALLY--after having 3 kids that the muscle control isn't what it used to be. Kegel exercises are supposed to help.!?! SURE. I love how MALE doctors tell you that one. Anyways, after several mishaps usually when running--I thought I would share some of the modifications I've had to make over the years.  If you feel a sneeze coming on--BY GOLLY--squat, sit but NEVER REMAIN STANDING--or you're a goner. Next.  DO NOT--I repeat--DO NOT EVER have a laughing jag while standing up either or you're likely to lose it-- in more ways than one--I have VAST experience with this one. And last but certainly not least--If you're going to run after a long day--wear a light jacket because it can actually double as a towel.  Wrap it around your waist and the dreaded evidence is gone--just like that! Seriously though--Depends--I thought they were for old people right??? Not sure how you feel about the book I'm going to review today--that all depends on how you feel about bookshops.
First of all, I can think of NO greater place than a bookstore. I don't mean a chain bookstore--I'm talking about independent bookstores.  A wave of excitement washes over me just thinking about them--like I've just died and gone to heaven. I could literally spend an entire day drowning in books--as giddy a a school girl! If you feel this way too then this book is for you. Lewis Buzbee wrote this memoir/history book a few years back called The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop. Buzbee has been in the book business his entire life. First as a book clerk in several stores, later as a bookseller then publisher's sale rep.  and finally as an author. He has literally spent his career in bookshops. His novel is a celebration of bookshops--the new book smell, the feel of the cover, the forest of books to navigate, the aroma of coffee--that is unique to bookshops. It's about feeling passionate enough to spend an entire afternoon poking around for just the right book even though you already have a giant stack at home waiting to be read.  Interwoven in this memoir is also the history of bookstores and the book selling business. Buzbee takes the reader from the Alexandria library which contains over a million papyrus scrolls--to Classical Rome--China--all the way to the modern bookstore-- highlighting some of his favorites including Sylvia Beach's famous Paris bookstore and Shakespeare & Co along the way. If you appreciate books the way I do, then do yourself a favor and read this book. It's about 190 pages--or a 4 mile run--that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

May 3, 2017 GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES

Couldn't wait to get out for a run this afternoon--great weather--the sun was shining and the breeze was wonderful!!  BIG MISTAKE--HORRIBLE RUN--how could that be???  You never know. I ran four miles today and felt like I ran 40. Pretty sure my legs were telephone poles--felt like I was dragging 25 pound weights on my ankles too. The only good part was when it was over.  It's such a crapshoot REALLY. Just when I'm feeling good about my running--even confident about the race--POOF--it's gone.  Maybe it was getting up at 6:00--working all day--laundry--cooking--running at 5:30--dehydration--hunger--weariness. Or maybe I just need new sneakers. WHO KNOWS. I do know THAT I literally had to force myself to finish--I couldn't QUIT. It was such a DOWNER though--felt so good running 10 miles ONLY two days ago. Okay-- I'm just going to let it go-- move on--TRY NOT to over think it too much.  Tomorrow is another day right??  Not going to get TOO hung up on this thing--oh yeah--I already said that. It's just so FRUSTRATING. Dissed by my own body. UGH!  Good thing I have a short attention span. It seems to gets progressively shorter by the end of every school year too.  That's why I decided to read a collection of short stories by Dan Chaon this week. No pressure, like starting a new book every day.
Chaon is a highly regarded author who is especially noted for his short stories. He was a finalist for the National Book Award a few years ago for his gripping tales in Among the Missing. In this collection of 12 stories, Chaon explores many themes including grief, guilt, loneliness, and my personal favorite--a struggle against the past. All of his characters are dealing with some type of trauma--physical, emotional or even with the paranormal. Some of these sorry souls are haunted and damaged, while others  have unfulfilled dreams that ultimately lead them  astray and  into unexpected places with devastating consequences. I love reading his books because Chaon intrigues me. He really has the ability to understand his characters  in an uncanny way.  His perception of the human condition is second to none as Chaon knows how they think--what motivates them-- what they really need--which is usually at odds with what is best for them. While some stories are intense, others are suspenseful, even bordering  on insanity. One thing is true though--ALL are unsettling and haunting. NONE will end well because the characters are too disturbed.  Each story will leave you feeling thankful that you navigated this journey known as life and weathered the storm better than his characters--hopefully.  This is an easy to read book of about 275 pages--or a 5 mile run--that's like an onion--it has too many layers to explain. Enjoy.