April 14, 2024 GONE GONE GONE

 

It was a great week. Relaxing and doing what I love best. Reading--Running--Yoga. That pretty much sums up my week. Did take my son to look at some colleges in Boston though. Talk about PRICEY. I thought we paid a lot when my other kids went to college. Many colleges are upward of 85,000 a year now.  NOT EVEN KIDDING. Guess he won't be going to those schools unless he gets some serious scholarship money. The sad reality though is that there are a million smart kids out there--all looking for scholarship money. UGH.   I'm sure it will all work out, but it is the start of a stressful time as the college search--essay--application process starts. Glad this is my last time going though this CRAZINESS. On to more important things. Read four books over vacation--some I really enjoyed and others NOT SO MUCH. I did enjoy the debut novel by Amanda Peters called The Berry Pickers. As the story unfolds, it is 1962 and a Native American family has left their home in Nova Scotia headed to Maine to pick berries for the summer. One day while the family is picking berries, their youngest daughter, four year old Ruthie goes missing. Joe, her six year old brother, was the last one to see her sitting on a rock at the edge of the berry field and is haunted by her disappearnce. In the next chapter, the reader is introduced to Norma, a young girl growing up in rural Maine. She  has been plagued with dreams and memories she can't understand for years as well as family unwilling to help her. Her mother is needy and overbearing while her father is distant. As she grows up, Norma realizes that many things her parents have told her don't add up and she tries to uncover "the family secret". The story is told in two points of view. Joe, now on his deathbed, as he recounts his life and the tragedy that shaped his family and Norma as she tries to discover her true identity. I enjoyed this book but found it sad, especially, the treatment of the Native Americans throughout the story. It's a well-written book of 320 pages-- with some unforgettable characters--that I think you will enjoy. Happy Reading.