September 28, 2024 AMAZING GRACE

 Ever been to The Mark Twain House in Hartford? It's a great day trip. It was the home of Samuel Clemens and his family from 1874-1891. Clemens adopted his pen name in 1863 as it referred to his steamboating days when the measure of water was called "mark twain" which meant two feet. He grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, with little to no formal education as he had to work to help support his family. One of his most famous characters, Huck Finn, was actually based on his childhood friend,Tom Blankenship and Twain's  American Classic, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, was written at his home in Hartford. I'm pretty sure I read it when I was a kid but that was a billion years ago. So,  when I heard that  Percival Everett's new book James was "Huck Finn" with a twist, I was determined to read the original so that I could appreciate both. Everett's novel is definitely familiar, but this time the story is from the perspective of  Jim, slave and friend of Huck Finn. As this story unfolds, Jim learns that he is going to be sold, so he runs away to Jackson Island to work out a plan. In the meantime, Huck fakes his own death to escape his father and joins Jim on the Island. The two then journey down the Mississippi River where they overcome many hardships and some crazy adventures. Yes, the plot is the same but with Jim as the narrator--everything else is different. In James, Jim is a literate, well-spoken (unless he's speaking to whites and adopts his slave speak) intelligent person whose understanding of human nature is uncanny. As a slave, trying to navigate a world that literally make NO sense, Jim manages to find humor and compassion for others. This beautifully written gem about the friendship between a slave and an adolescent boy is both heart wrenching and laugh out loud funny at times.  It's a must read. James is up for several awards including the Pulitzer and National Book Award. I also heard that it is currently being developed into a movie too. Enjoy!

September 20, 2024 SUPER FREAK

EXHAUSTED. Getting back to school is NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. One minute I'm sitting on the beach reading AND RELAXING and the next I'm back to the GRIND. Getting up at the crack of dawn EVERY DAY for another marathon. It is really hard to TEACH ALL DAY. To be "ON" EVERY MINUTE.  My head is  spinning by the end of the day. AND I miss my summer exercise routine. NO more yoga classes at 7:00 am. OR running at 8:30. It's KILLING ME. AND finding the time to write my BLOG and READ. UGH. I guess I'll figure it out and have to get used to reading a book a week instead of a book in two days. The struggles of a bookworm are REAL. Just finished reading a really good book. Totally different vibe called Lost Man's Lane by Scott Carson. Set in 1999, in a small town called  Bloomington, Indiana, sixteen year old Marshall Miller has just gotten his driver's license. One the way home from the DMV, Marshall is pulled over for speeding--by a very creepy police officer--and gets a speeding ticket. The problem--The cop that gave him the ticket doesn't exist AND the girl in the back of his police cruiser has been reported MISSING. Marshall then meets Noah Storm, a private investigator looking for the missing girl.............and this is where the story gets strange. Don't want to say much more except that I really enjoyed this murder mystery--ghost story-- supernatural--coming of age story. It was a well-written novel with great believable characters including Weller, Kerri, Dom. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Again--totally different but worth the read--highly recommended by Stephen King too. 

September 1, 2024 BOOTYLICIOUS

 

You'd think that in the 21st century they'd come up with a more civilized colonoscopy prep. IT REALLY IS A NIGHTMARE. It all starts with the 30 hour liquid diet.  So you get to starve to death BEFORE moving on to the real adventure. THE PREP MEDS.  Although doctors claim there have been many improvements such as--splitting the dose in two--or the pill option--they are both STILL ridiculous. So I split the disgusting drink in half-- That means I have to take it twice--try NOT to throw up-- and sit on the toilet twice as long???? OUCH.  Or I go with the pill option which is also offered in a split fashion. So instead of drinking liquid poison, I have to swallow 24 horse pills. Either way I'm still sitting  ON THE TOILET FOREVER.  By the time the prep is finally done--I've had NO sleep,  ass is on fire, and  feel like I've been hit by a bus. There has to be an easier way......... Guess what??? I get to do it again in FIVE YEARS. YIPPIE. I accomplished one thing during my 30 hours of agony---I read Holly Gramazio's debut novel The Husbands. One night, Lauren arrives home from a hen party for her best friend Elena to find a man in her flat. The man claims to be her husband, Michael. The only problem is that Lauren isn't married. She has no idea who Michael is even though her friends, family and photos show them as a happy couple. A few days later, Michael goes to the attic to fix a light bulb and he's gone. Another man appears from the attic claiming to be her husband. So it begins. Somehow, Lauren can send her "husband" to the attic and exchange him for a new one if she doesn't like his hair, car, outfit, attitude--whatever. The problem --how does Lauren know which "husband" is the right one for her and is there really a perfect relationship. This interesting, easy read has an intriguing plot that is quite funny at times. It is totally relevant to the world we live in today with dating apps and the ability to swipe right or left at the drop of a hat. Find out what happens to Lauren, the attic and her many husbands when you read this clever book for yourself. Enjoy