June 15, 2025. FATHER FIGURE

 

Happy Father's Day to all the fine fathers out there. Being a good dad AND a good role model is a lot of work. And it's a job that lasts forever. That's something many new parents don't really get. I didn't when my kids were young. I used to think that when the kids were 18--I'd get my life back BUT the reality is  THEY ARE MY LIFE and I wouldn't want it any other way. Neither would my husband. Not sure what he's going to do when the baby goes off to college in August as he's pretty much revolved his life around Tim's schedule-especially-since he retired. Guess we'll be taking more trips to Boston and then getting ready for the big wedding. That should keep us busy for a bit. Hope your're celebrating the dad in your life today by doing something special. Just finished a new novel by Fredrik Backman called My Friends, where many of the characters unfortunately come from broken families. As the story unfolds, Louisa is a seventeen year old foster kid and artist who sneaks into an auction to look at her favorite painting, The One of the Sea by C. Jat.  Many people see the painting as just a seascape but Louisa see's much more--she believes the painting is about friendship and belonging as she spies 3 figures in the background sitting on a pier. After getting kicked out of the auction, Louisa runs and hides behind a dumpster where she meets C. Jat and his friend Ted. Flash back 25 years where four teenagers-Joar, KimKim, Ted, and Ali spend a summer hanging on an abandoned pier where they form a bond that lasts forever. By the end of the summer, one friend has painted The One of the Sea, which becomes world famous. The story then flips back and forth between Louisa's present life and the past--the summer the painting was done. I don't want to say too much more other then that this story is equal parts heartbreaking and funny with a plethera of interesting, unforgettable characters. Pick up your copy to find out where Louisa's adventures take her and what happened that summer long ago. Enjoy

June 5, 2025 DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART

Just finished my 25th year of teaching. I'm telling you--it doesn't get any easier. I'm getting older and REALLY LOSING MY FILTER. I just don't have it in me to put up with the BS anymore. Teachers these days have to practically tiptoe around the kids because we might OFFEND THEM. NOONE cares about offending me. In my day, teachers could give the kids a quick hug, pat their shoulder or arm to urge them on BUT NOT TODAY. Teachers have to worry about having their careers RUINED as kids are literally calling their parents during school to REPORT teachers. It's NUTS. Parents are ACTUALLY calling their kids during the school day too and yelling at them if they don't answer the phone?? HELLO--does this make any sense??  Still looking for a new job but as of now I'm stuck in CRAZY LAND. Thank God for books. Just finished a lovely novel by Marjan Kamali called The Stationary Shop. As this story unfolds, it's 2013 and Roya, the main character, is living with her husband,Walter, in Massachusetts. She's just made an appointment to meet with someone she hasn't seen in sixty years. The novel then flips back to 1953. Roya is a high school senior who loves books and spending time in Mr. Fakhri's stationary shop. One day while at the shop, she meets a young revolutionary named Bahman. The two fall in love and plan to marry when Bahman suddenly disappears. Roya thinks he's a political prisoner, but after receiving several letters from him, he assures her he is not and the two plan to meet in the town square to elope. When Roya arrives, violence ensues because of a coup that not only changes Iran but also her life. Bahman never shows and  Roya is heartbroken. She eventually picks up the pieces and leaves Tehran to study in California with her sister. Find out what happens to Roya in California and over the next sixty years, why Bahman never showed  and so much more when you read this heartbreaking, beautifully written book with really interesting characters thats's also filled with Iranian culture, tradition and history. Enjoy. 

May 29, 2025 TRIP AROUND THE SUN

 365 days. Yup. My lovely daughter will be getting married in exactly ONE YEAR. Time is just flying by. I'll be going over to the venue later today-- to take pictures--so she can see what the  grounds/gardens will look like next year at this time. FUN. I've started looking at dresses for the BIG DAY. Think I'm going to go simple yet elegant--AND COMFORTABLE--BUT I also NEED to look good. Yup--there's the old vanity coming out again. YIKES-- I'm definitely NOT looking any younger. I have ONE year to get my act together--lose a few pounds, get rid of these wrinkles, whiten my teeth, get rid of these stubborn greys. I need a plan or a maintenance routine or something........UGH. It's all too much.   On to more important things. I just read a really good thriller by Charlie Donlea called Twenty Years Later.  As this story unfolds, it's 2001 and detective Walt Jenkins is investigatng the murder of a famous author, Cameron Young, in the Catskills area, and all evidence point to his lover, Victoria Ford. The novel then jumps to twenty years later. Avery Mason, the host of American Events, is investigating a new story. The New York Medical Examiner's Office has developed new DNA technology and  identified  a new victim of 9/11 as Victoria Ford. As Avery investigates, she get more questions than answers, especially, after interviewing Victoria's sister, Emma Kind, and Walk Jenkins, who is now retired and living in Jamaica. This mystery is filled with twists and turns AND everyone has something to hide--including Avery. Find out more when you read this suspense filled novel that will have you guessing until the bitter end. Enjoy. 

May 16, 2025 BITTERSWEET

 It's bittersweet. The baby is graduating from high school next week. So funny that we call Tim the baby--he's 6'3" and almost 18 years old. It has been a privilege to be his mother. He is a kind, responsible, intelligent young man. Good thing he wasn't my first or I would have wondered where I went wrong with the others.  HA. Seriously--my three kids couldn't be MORE different. Pretty sure Tim practically raised himself. Taught himself to read, swim, AND did all of his homework without being asked. He ate whatever was put in front of him too. Pretty much a dream child. Going to miss him so much when he leaves for college BUT so proud of him in every way. Just finished a Reese's book club pick called Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall that I really enjoyed.This tragic story takes place in the countryside of England in 1968. Beth, a poet turned farmer's wife, enjoys a quiet life with her husband, Frank, until her first love, Gabriel, returns to town with his young son, Leo. Against Frank's wishes, Beth reconnects with her former love and forms a bond with Leo. The chapters in the story jump between 1955 when Beth and  Gabriel originally fell in love--to their current lives in 1968 AND a murder trial at the Old Bailey courthouse. It's a love triangle gone bad in SO many ways. This novel is about love, loss and regret but it's so much more because it's also a mystery with  many plot twists that make it unputdownable.  Don't want to say much more because I don't want to spoil the fun. It's well written and I did like the characters too. Enjoy. 

May 4, 2025. EVERYBODY HURTS

 I've read countless books in my long life BUT none quite like Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. It was the writing. I was completely blown away---but I'll have to admit-- it took me a while to appreciate it.   One thing I found fascinating was how the writing changed based on the character. In the chapters about Peter--the writing lacked punctuation, contained sentence fragments, verb/subject inversion and jumped to stream of consciousness on a whim. The reader had to be VERY aware. When the chapter focused on the younger brother Ivan, the writing was calmer, more relaxed and much easier to read. These contrasting styles worked well with the frame of mind of the brothers and the struggles they were facing. The title of the book is also of interest--Intermezzo is a chess term--it's Italian for in-between--or entering a new period as the brothers do after the death of their father. Set in present day Ireland, Peter and Ivan have just buried their father after a long battle with cancer. They are struggling  to cope with this gaping loss. Peter is a 33 years old successful lawyer in Dublin. He appears to have it all---friends, money, connections and personality plus. Although he is still in love with Sylvia, they are no longer together so he plays the field and is currently with Naomi, a 23 year old college student. Ivan, his much younger brother, is a recent college graduate and competitive chess player. He is socially awkward and lonely. After meeting a much older women named Margaret at a chess tournament,  his life seems to be making a turn for the better until conflict between the brothers threatens their delicate relationship. This tender story is about grief, relationships, family and coping when the rock of the family is gone. Again, the writing is so different that it took me a bit to get used to, but I really loved the book and it will definitely make the list next year. 

April 25, 2025 DON'T YOU REMEMBER

 

Listened to my first audio book last week. While there are some definite positives to listening to a book--it's NOT my thing. Yes--it's great for multitasking--I could, cook, run, walk, drive in the car BUT.........The narrator's voice was grating on my nerves as she tried to sound Irish and take on all the voices in the book--including the men. I also found it stressful because it took 11 hours to listen to the book AND I'm sure I could have read it much faster. I felt pressure every time I saw how many hours I HAD LEFT. Let's face it--I don't even use a Kindle. I am a BOOK person. I need to feel the book--snuggle on the couch--invent what I think the characters sound like MYSELF and enjoy every second in the world created by the author while focusing ONLY on the book. The book I listened to that you might want to read was a thriller called The Weekend Away by Sarah Alderson. Orla, the main character, is a new mother who  lives in England and is happily married to Rob. Her best friend of over twenty years is Kate, a single, wealthy seemingly successful beauty. The friends plan an innocent weekend away in Lisbon that goes terribly wrong. After spending the first night at a club, Orla wakes up to find that Kate has gone missing. After she reports her friend's disappearce to the police, she takes it upon herself to find out what happened to Kate. With the help of an uber driver named Konstandin, Kate tries to retrace their night on the town and finds out much more than she bargained for.  This story is filled with twists and turns and will keep you guessing til the very end.  Haven't seen it yet, but heard that this book was turned into a Netflix movie last year. 

April 15, 2025. ALL I NEED IS A MIRACLE

 

Spent last weekend at accepted students day at UMaryland. Beautiful campus BUT GIGANTIC. We walked at least 5 miles exploring the campus. It's a bit too far away for my liking but Tim hasn't ruled it out yet. Went to accepted students day at PC on Saturday. I really liked the campus. Much smaller and I love that it's a liberal arts school. Tim really liked the math department and the campus.  Then low and behold--BU  answered his prayers. After filing an appeal to financial aid--BU has reconsidered and is giving him a FAIR financial aid packet that makes it possible for him to attend. We will be going to BU accepted students day this Friday. I'm exhausted from all this COLLEGE STUFF.  Looking forward to TIM FINALLY MAKING HIS DECISION. It's been a very stressful time but I'm sure he will choose wisely. I'm a huge Louise Erdrich fan so was thrilled to read her new novel The Mighty Red. Set in Red River Valley, North Dakota, Crystal Frechette is a struggling mother working third shift at a sugar beets farm. Her marriage is on the rocks as her husband has serious financial problems. She's also very worried about her daughter Kismet. Kismet is a senior in high school dating the quarterback, Gary Geist. Gary's family also happens to own most of the land in town and are polluting and ruining the environment. Gary has some serious emotional problems after an accident and believes Kismet is the answer. After a scandal involving her father, Kismet reluctantly agrees to marry Gary, even though she is in love with someone else. Although she immediately regrets her decision, life gets complicated and Kismet is forced to learn some real lessons about love, loss, and hope for a better future.  Erdrich is a Pulitzer Prize winning author whose writing is beautiful as she brings her characters to life and makeS the reader feel as though the are alive. Enjoy. 

March 23, 2025 MONEY FOR NOTHING

                                                                                                   Imagine working your ASS off in high school to get into your DREAM SCHOOL and NOT being able to go because they didn't give any financial aid.  Yes, welcome to my world. I'm Not Kidding. THE MIDDLE CLASS ALWAYS GETS SCREWED. We don't qualify for  financial aid--when tuitions run $90,000 a year. MAKES NO SENSE. The only people that can afford to go to college are the RICH and the need-based students who get financial aid to meet their needs. I'm all for that BUT what about helping the middle class. I don't mind paying my fair share BUT $90,000. I'd have to sell my house and live in a tent to afford four years of college when THAT WOULD COST $360,000. So FRUSTRATING. Guess we will be spending the next few weeks applying for merit based scholarships because that's the only way we are going to get any money. Ugh. Life is so unfair. Now for the good news. I just finished a little gem written by Catherine Newman called Sandwich. Rachel (Rocky) and her family have been vacationing in the same beach house in Cape Cod for over twenty years. This year, Rachel and her husband will share the week with their two adult children, Jamie and Nick, his girlfriend, Maya, and Rachel's aging parents. Three generations together for a week. Although Rachel can't wait to have her whole family together again, she's struggling with being in the sandwich generation--middle age--facing menopause, depression and uncertainty. She's torn between the past/present/future as she reflects back on life at the cottage, time honored traditions with family and negotiating change that happens with the passage of time. I totally felt for Rocky because she's a mother who loves her adult children but also mourns the loss of motherhood and her babies. I found this book to be equal parts nostalgic and laugh-out-loud funny as Rachel and family navigate love, change and loss. Enjoy. 

March 2, 2025 COME FLY WITH ME

She said, "Yes, to the dress." Beyond thrilled that my daughter found her wedding dress. I was a little worried that it would take FOREVER because she's generally VERY indecisive. BUT as soon as she tried it on--SHE KNEW. It was a whirlwind of a day. She must have tried on 30 dresses--so many different styles--my head was spinning.  It's funny--many of the things she thought she wanted--including LACE--didn't even make it to the top three. SO MUCH FUN. Just the two of us--shopping, laughing and enjoying each others company. So thankful. Now on to finding a florist........any suggestions?? In the meantime, I'll tell you about this eery book I just finished called Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. After a long delay, a commuter flight from Hobart to Sydney finally departs. While flight attendant Allegra Patel sees to the needs of the passengers, an elderly woman starts walking down the aisle of the plane predicting the age and cause of death of other passengers. Most passengers think she's a nut and ignore the predictions but others are freaked out because she predicts their death within the year. The plane lands and everyone tries to forget--until her first prediction comes true. The storyline then follows several passengers as they cope with the predictions and then alternates with the woman who becomes known as the "Death Lady."

It's a freaky premise that really made me think about fate and destiny. And would I really want to know the age I'm going to die and how???  Interesting........Find out what happens to the passengers and whether or not the death lady is a real "fortune teller"  when you read this page turner for yourself.  Enjoy!

February 23, 2025 YOUNG AT HEART

Is sixty too old to reinvent yourself? To make a BIG change? As I look back over my career--I can definitely say that I like change. I'm NOT one of those teachers who can teach the same thing for thirty years. I've taught 5th grade, middle school English, High School English and for the last 6 years High School Art. Next question---would I even get hired for a new position at my age?? I don't feel OLD but then again who wants to hire someone my age when they could get someone YOUNGER with more energy-ideas-gusto.  It's a catch 22. I am an experienced teacher--BUT is there a point when you're TOO EXPERIENCED?  These are the things I'm pondering these days--REINVENT OR WHAT?? That's the question I can't seem to answer. Thankfully lost myself in a really good book called The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis that helped me forget my little problems for awhile. As this gem unfolds, Ashlyn Greer, a rare book dealer from New Hampshire, is spending the day at a thrift shop looking through old books when she comes across a beautifully bound book.  Intrigued by the book, Ashlyn immediately buys and reads it.  The book which was written in 1954 and authored by Hemi, tells his side of a tragic love story set during World War II with a woman named Belle.  Ashlyn becomes obsessed with the book and is determined to uncover the mystery, especially, after another book is found, told from Belle's point of view. This lovely novel flips back and forth between 1941 and 1984 as Ashlyn discovers the truth about the two lovers who were ultimately betrayed by family secrets and lie.  This book is filled with twists and turns and unforgettable characters who unknowingly help Ashlyn come to terms with her own life and help her trust and love again. 

February 16, 2025. THE WAITING

 

Stressful time of year for high school seniors--if they don't go ED. College lingo for early decision. Going through the college process has been a totally different experience with Tim. He's a stellar student with lofty goals. He applied to 14 schools and wrote AT LEAST 20 essays.  It's  been a game of hurry up and wait. Hurry to get in all college applications/essays--EA--early action or RD--regular decision. The only good thing about EA is that it's NOT binding BUT the problem is we really don't find out much about financial aid yet. The problem with RD is that we don't know if he's even accepted until about April 1st--BUT by that time we find out about financial aid right away. SO WE WAIT. And hope he gets into one of his TOP CHOICES and either gets a decent scholarship/grant money to make his dreams come true. If you are a fan of Elizabeth Strout's books and love her characters Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, and Bob Burgess then you must read her new book Tell Me Everything. This beautifully written novel is once again set in Crosby, Maine. There's been a murder in town, and Bob Burgess is hired to defend a hermit accused of killing his mother. In a town a small as Crosby, this is a major event. Famous author Lucy Barton, having moved to Crosby during the pandemic with her ex-husband William, walks weekly with her friend Bob as the two ponder life, choices and the human condition. Bob also introduces Lucy to Olive Kitteridge, now 90 and living in a retirement community. Olive is still her old salty self, but the two hit it off as they tell each other stories about people they knew and call them "unrecorded lives." Strout's rich characters are vividly portrayed as they grapple with understanding love, human connection, the importance of story telling and as Lucy Barton struggles to understand "What does anyone's life mean? I thoroughly enjoyed every minute back with this cast of characters and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy.

February 2, 2025. LAND OF CONFUSION

CHAOS-CONFUSION-RIDICULOUSNESS. That about sums up the NIGHTMARE of Trump's first few weeks.  Guantanamo Bay--INTERNMENT CAMP--for the WORST CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS WHO ARE HARMING AMERICANS. Okay---so lets dehumanize the immigrants so that ICE can round up THE USUAL SUSPECTS. ICE has been spotted in New London questioning illegals. How do they EVEN know who is legal or illegal. We will probably have to start carrying our papers around--like in Casablanca-- so we don't end up in jail. Pretty soon --they'll be invading schools and ripping kids from their desks to get rid of the bad apples. It's insane. We also have POWER HUNGRY Elon Musk giving the old  Nazi salute---AND PEOPLE CLAPPING. Don't even get me started on eliminating DEI--the Gulf of America or Trump's insane executive order stating that there are only two sexes. Hope voter remorse is kicking in for all the idiots that voted for that horse's ASS. I really need to either bury my head in the sand or read a million good books to get through the next four years. Actually just read a lovely novel by my favorite Irish writer, Niall Williams, called Time of the Child. This gem is the sequel to This is Happiness---my favorite book from 2022. In this novel, it's 1962, in the weeks leading to Christmas--and the rain won't stop. It''s practically a character in the book. One evening after The Fair, young Jude Quinlan finds an abandoned baby in the churchyard. He brings the baby to Doctor Troy, and his daughter, Ronnie, is totally taken with her.  In order to keep the Church and State away--they try to keep the baby a secret but the villagers start to gossip and chaos ensures. Find out what happens with Ronnie, Dr. Troy and baby Noelle when you read this magical story for yourself. I loved being back in Faha--to visit with the rich characters again-- Canon Tom, Father Coffey, Ganga, Doady and all the other quirky people who make up the town are true to their Irish ancestry and made me laugh-out-loud several times. 

January 25, 2025. BEER IN MEXICO

 Celebrated my 60th birthday in style. Turks and Caicos. The water was amazing. The sand like baby powder AND the Island beer. CRAZY. There' s a local brewery -- Turk's Head Brewery that makes some pretty damn good beer. BUT what I could NOT GET ENOUGH of was the Lager--I-Ain-Ga-Lie. The name alone had me hooked. I couldn't resist saying it ---It became my mantra for the week. If  lager isn't for you--the light beer--I-Soon-Reach was refreshing and the India Pale Ale famously titled Down-Da-Road is equally good.  These are all classic island sayings that have been around forever. I-Ain-Ga-Lie is a famous saying for when people tell tall tales or fish tales around the bar-- I've been known to tell a few myself. I really love the name I-Soon-Reach too because islanders are notoriously late so they say I-Soon-Reach meaning that they will probably get in the car soon. Too funny. I'm gonna start calling into work late to see what they say when I tell them--I-Soon-Reach. Down-Da-Road is similar. I'll see you soon---I'm just Down-Da-Road. I'm thinking of incorporating these three sayings into my vocabulary so that I can pretend I'm still in Turks & Caico living da good life. I-Ain-Ga-Lie--that's where I wanta be. Just finished a good read that I think you might enjoy called The Wedding People by Alison Espach. The main character of this gem is Phoebe Stone, a divorced, deeply depressed English professor from Missouri. Phoebe is thinking of ending it all and decides to do the deed in Newport, Rhode Island at the Cornwall Inn. When she arrives at the inn, Phoebe is mistaken for a wedding guest and befriends the bride to be, Lila. When Lila hears Phoebe's plan, She talks her out of suicide because it will ruin her BIG day. Lila then invites Phoebe to the week long pre-wedding events where she befriends Gary, the groom,  his daughter, Juice, along with a cast of characters that are laugh-out-loud funny. Find out what happens to Phoebe and Lila as the wedding day approaches when you read this fun book about new beginnings, surprising friendships and starting over. 

January 5, 2025 THE WEIGHT

I'm actually afraid to weigh myself right now. I've been chowing on cookies, lemon bars, brownies and candy since Christmas Eve. It's BAD. Time to get back to my routine. If I don't stick to THE PLAN--I'm out of control. Thank God I've been on school vacation-- At least I ran a lot--even in the bitter cold--AND  did a lot of yoga. Hopefully that will help balance the SCALE--a bit. I'm going back on the straight and narrow--sticking to the plan--living the clean life--logging into My Fitness Pal--TOMORROW. It's tough living when your vanity knows NO bounds. Ha! On to book news. I have really fallen in love with this French writer named Valerie Perrin. I reviewed two of her books last year and recently finished her debut novel Forgotten on Sunday.  Set in a small town in Milly, France, Justine and her cousin Jules, have lived with their detached grandparents since the mysterious death of their parents several years earlier. After graduating high school, Justine works as a nurses aide at a retirement home called The Hydrangeas. At the home, Justine bonds with a 100 year old resident named Helene and records Helene's life story that includes a lost love from the war. Justine also opens up to Helene about the death of her parents. The mystery involving the death of her parents is not the only mystery in the novel, another involves the retirement home. Investigators are brought in to find out who has been calling families of the patients, forgotten on Sunday, on Saturday nights to tell them their family member has died.  In the mix is also a guy from the Paradise Club who seems quite fond of Justine but she can never remember his name. There is a lot going on in this somewhat dark story that I totally enjoyed. The writing is beautiful, the plots--twist and turn, the characters are richly drawn and very flawed --but aren't we all. If I were you--I would definitely pick up a copy of this very different book that might help you forget how cold it is outside. 

January 1, 2025 BEST BOOKS OF 2024

 

Can't believe I've been writing this blog for 9 years. Time sure flies when you're having fun. Looking back at 2024---I read at least 55 books and got around to reviewing 35.  Not too shabby. Without further ado--these are my favorite books of 2024

1) Fresh Water For Flowers by Valerie Perrin. Reviewed 8/8/24. Blog title--I'm your ice cream man.

2) The Women by Kristin Hannah. Reviewed 3/2/24. Blog title--Where have all the flowers gone.

3) James by Percival Everett. Reviewed 9/2/24. Blog title--Amazing Grace.

4) Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano. Reviewed 8/4/24. Blog title--Learn to fly.

5) All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. Reviewed 11/23/24. Blog title--Wall of denial.

6) Lost Man's Lane by Scott Carson. Reviewed 9/20/24. Blog title--Super freak.

7) Leaving by Roxana Robinson. Reviewed 8/17/24. Blog title--Tattoo.

8). The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. Reviewed 10/14/24. Blog title--Going to the chapel.

9) Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson. Reviewed 11/30/24. Blog title--That smell.

10) Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pett. Reviewed 4/7/24. Blog title--Octopus's garden.

Looking forward to a new year filled with LOTS of memorable books. Happy Reading. Have a safe and healthy New Year.