May 10, 2026 MAMMA MIA

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. You deserve to be celebrated. It really is the hardest job in the world.  One thing that never changes when you are a mom--NO MATTER HOW OLD YOUR KIDS ARE--is the worrying. I still worry for their safety, health and overall happiness every day. I know I have ZERO control over these things BUT--I can't help myself. As much as I wanted them to grow up and do their thing--It's a catch 22. I  have no idea what they are doing--or where they are going from day to day. I recently found out that my youngest was in Montreal for a weekend and NEVER mentioned it. Crazy. I know that I just have to trust that they will be smarter than I was at their age. UGH. Now that's a low bar. And you wonder why I'm worried. HA. On to the books. I recently finished a historical novel based on the true story of Marguerite de la Rocque, a French noblewoman abandoned on a remote island called Isola by Allegra Goodman. As the story unfolds, Marguerite is an orphaned heiress who lives with her nurse, Damienne in France in the 16th century. Her guardian and cousin, Roberval, is in control of her fortune and future but after he loses her money, Marguerite and her nurse are forced to live in the tower of her castle. After moving in with her cousin, Marguerite and her nurse are then taken on a voyage of discovery to New France, where Marguerite has a secret affair with Auguste. After Roberval discovers this betrayal, he leaves his cousin, lover and her nurse on a remote island for two winters. Sound interesting? Find out what happens in this well-written book about survival, strength, love and redemption-when you read it for yourself. Enjoy. 

April 26, 2026 PERFECT

 

Perfect. That's the word my daughter used to describe her bridal shower last weekend. And that made it worth all the time and effort. When I decided to have her shower at our house--extreme action was necessary to get our house up to par. Rooms needed painting--aging furniture desperately needed replacing. Light fixtures dating back to the Civil War (JK) needed to be updated. Our house was a hot mess. Figured that it would cost  a good chunk of money to have the shower at a destination so why not spend that extra money on the house and have it here. AND IT REALLY WAS PERFECT. I love a home shower. Ours was intimate--cozy-- AND  the 15 bottles of Prosecco really added to the celebratory mood. Only 5 weeks until the nuptials. Praying for good weather. In the midst of all this craziness, I 'm still managing to read and recently finished the National Book Award winner from 2025, The True True Story of Raja The Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine. As this quirky story unfolds, Raja is a retired, gay teacher who lives in a tiny apartment in Beirut with his 85 year old domineering, over protective mother, Zalfa. It's definitely a love/hate relationship. One day, Raja gets a letter in the mail telling him that he has been awarded an all expense paid writing residency in Virginia and he is extremely flattered. The story then flips back and forth through time, as Raja remembers some of the decisions he has made because of his gullibility and the consequences of those choses. The story covers six decades that include war, a banking crisis, sexual violence, kidnapping and even the pandemic. Some of the stories are absurd, crazy and laugh-out-loud funny,  while others are more somber and heart wrenching, but they are all his true stories. This gem is also filled with outlandish characters including his cousin, Nahed, Aunt Yasmine, the neighborhood "godfather" Madame Taweel and many more. Find out if Raja takes another leap of faith and goes to Virginia when you read this well-written, one of a kind story. 

April 6, 2026 IMMIGRATION SONG

 

Back in the day, my grandmother went to the beauty parlor every Friday to have her hair "set".  This ritual  involved a professional shampoo, rollers, pins, a magical "hooded dryer" to "bake the set" and copious amounts of HEAVY DUTY HAIRSPRAY. Yup--that's all it took to have perfect hair for an entire week. And if it rained?? My grandmother must have had the market on plastic rain bonnets. One would magically appear on her head if there was even the threat of rain.  My other grandmother also had a very serious hairdo--the bee hive. It literally stood up on her head almost a foot. I bet that needed some serious hairspray. She wrapped the hive in at least a roll of toilet paper every night to keep that baby in place. I got to thinking about this last weekend while at the hairdresser. I'd had my hair washed, colored and blown out. It look great.  Just wished it would last as long as the "set" did back in the day. Fond memories. Ma, the main character in Megha Majumdar's new book A Guardian and a Thief is not so fortunate.  Set in Kolkata, India, Ma, her father, Babu, and her two year old daughter, Misthi, have one week until they immigrate to the United States to join her husband in Michigan. Ma is the manager of a homeless shelter in the city--a city facing climate change and severe famine. People are desperate to feed their families and many face choices between life and death. Boomba is a twenty year old homeless man who came to Kolkata to save his own family. Instead, he is penniless and staying at the shelter. One day he follows Ma home from the shelter and later breaks into her house looking for food and inadvertently steals their passports. Don't want to say much more about the plot other than that I never would have guessed where it was going. This is a novel about morality, desperation and the choices we make for family. Pretty sure it was a finalist for The National Book Award in 2025. Enjoy.

March 22, 2026. KILLING IN THE NAME

As an employee of Papa Ginos at The New London Mall in 1984--I was a bit apprehensive when the Crystal Mall opened its doors. I worried that the mall would close and I'd be out of a job.  But--that didn't stop me from going to see what all the hype was about. I'll never forget my first trip. I literally lost my car. I had never been to a mall SO big. I didn't realize there were so many entrances and exits. I still laugh when I think about the hour I spent walking around the parking lot looking for my little blue car. I went to the Crystal Mall yesterday-- 42 years later--and what a shock. There are only a few stores open. Although the original New London Mall is gone--it's still a shopping center albeit without Papa Ginos.  No such luck for the Crystal Mall with Electric Boat taking over the entire space. Sad but times change. In other news, I just finished a book I think you might enjoy call Buckeye by Patrick Ryan. Buckeye is a lovely novel that spans 50 years--from 1920s-1970s. Set in Ohio, it follows the lives of two couples, Cal and Becky Jenkins and Felix and Margaret Salt. As the story unfolds, Cal is haunted because he can not serve in WWII as he was born with one leg longer than the other. After high school graduation, he dates and quickly marries Becky, a spiritual medium. The couple settle into life and quickly have a son named Skip. Margaret Salt is an orphan who hopes marriage will solve her problems. After her husband Felix deploys, he serves aboard a naval vessel for 4 years. When he finally comes home,  he is traumatized, but seems better after Margaret announces her pregnancy and they have a son named, Tom.  I don't want to say too much more because I don't want to ruin the story, but major themes include secrets, forgiveness, complexities in marriage and the impact of war. This well-written saga is filled with interesting, rich characters that will stick with you for a long time. It will also make you question why people never seem to learn that WAR SOLVE NOTHING. 

March 7, 2026. KOKOMO

Spent the last week in Aruba with friends. It's just what I needed to get  through the rest of this God- forsaken winter. Totally lucked out too--Missed the BLIZZARD OF 2026.  While New Englanders were shoveling out--I was relaxing drinking a pina colada--with a floater-- on Baby Beach. Sorry. Don't know about you but winters are getting tough for me. I can't stand the COLD-- AND THE WIND is unbearable. Don't remember it being like this when I was younger. Climate Change?  Looking forward to springing ahead this weekend--daylight savings and warmer weather. Cheers to making it through another winter. Read a few good books over vacation, but one I really enjoyed was called Heft by Liz Moore. Arthur Opp is an obese, former English teacher, who hasn't left his home in ten years. His only contact with people comes from couriers when they deliver food, groceries and other necessities. He spends most of his time thinking about Charlene Turner, a former student he met eighteen years earlier, when he was teaching night school in Manhattan. Arthur and Charlene became friends during the semester and briefly dated before Charlene called it off, however, they continued to correspond for several years until the letters finally stopped. It's now been 20 years since Arthur has heard from Charlene--who out of the blue calls him to ask him to tutor her son, Kel. Kel is a baseball prodigy trying to juggle school with taking care of his mother. This quirky story is told through alternating voices--Arthur and Kel--as both try to navigate loneliness, trauma, and ideas of family in this hopeful novel that I truly enjoyed. Don't want to say much more. Give it a try and let me know what you think. 

February 7, 2026. TANTRUM

Spent some time with a few young children last week and DAMN if they didn't remind me of Toddler Trump. Lucky for them--they are just kids and have parents willing to help them grow, mature and manage their feelings--while Trump just continues his descent into toddlerhood as he.........

1) Ignores rules and authority--because they don't apply to him and Trump thinks he's smarter than a fifth grader....

2) NEVER takes responsibility--CAN"T admit mistakes or ACCEPT criticism EVER

3) Bullies, mocks and resorts to name calling when he feels threatened --ZERO SELF ESTEEM

3) Seeks revenge for any "perceived" misstep--NARCISSISTIC 

4) Impulisve beyond belief--especially on social media- Trump must have serious MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

5) Temper Tantrums--CONTROLLING 

6) Needs to be the center of attenion--whether the attention is negative or positive. MUST BE VERY INSECURE...........

Wish I could hibernate til this nightmare comes to an end but since I can't, I might as well review a little gem you might want to read called The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood. As this lovely novel unfolds, Ona Vitkus is a 104 year old Lithuanian immigrant living in Portland, Maine. One day an eleven year old boy show up at her house and offers to help her with chores so that he can earn a boy scout badge. The two forge an unlikely friendship as Ona opens up to the boy about her life and the boy shares his quirky interests, especially, his obsession with the Guinness Book of World Records. One Saturday, the young boy fails to show up and Ona is beside herself with worry. Later in the day, there's a knock at her door and the boy's father, Quinn Porter, has shown up to complete the chores. I don't want to say too much more other than that this is a well-written story with very interesting characters. Although sad at times, it is also quite funny as the book explores the themes of friendship. loss, grief and moving forward. 

 

January 25, 2026 IMMIGRANT SONG

 

It's totally out of control. Trump's ICE--modern day gestapo--NEEDS TO GO NOW.  Have you watched the Renee Good video? Alex Pretti? He was literally trying to help a woman who was thrown to the ground by ICE. He was pepper sprayed and attacked by several ICE agents. He wasn't brandishing a weapon. AND he was literally shot 10 times in 5 seconds. Is there NO regard for human life anymore?? ICE is literally entering homes without warrants--apparently the rules don't apply to them--and shooting American citizens in cold blood before our eyes and it's being deemed as justified?? We are living in an alternate universe right now--a place where our PRESIDENT and his supporters--spread propaganda--fake news--double talk and manipulate language in the name of the their SCAPEGOAT---Immigrants. DISGUSTING. Shame on you.  Thank God for books. Not sure what I would do if I couldn't lose myself in a good story during this nightmare. Just finished one of Obama's favorite books from 2025 called The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai. This sweeping novel centers around two Indian immigrants, Sonia, a college student living in Vermont and Sunny, a journalist stuggling to make ends meet in New York City. As the story unfolds, Sonia's loneliness leads her to a toxic relationship with a much older artist named, Ilan, and Sunny lives with his American girlfriend but still feels lonely because he feels cultural displacement and racism. Interestingly, Sonia's grandfather (Dadaji) who lives  in India, is trying to set up an arranged marriage between Sonia and Sunny that doesn't pan out but the two eventually meet on a train in India when Sonia returns home after failing to make things work in America and Sunny is visiting his overbearing mother, Babita.  The story then follows the lives of Sonia and Sunny and several interesting characters including Mina Foi, Satya, Babita, Manav and Seher--to name a few. The novel although long--deals with many interesting themes including love, loss, tradition v. modernity, loneliness and belonging. Although there were parts of the story that didn't work for me and I felt it was too long, I loved the narrative and totally loved the characters in the story. 

January 18, 2026 MONEY FOR NOTHING

 

The wedding is about 4 months away. Lots to do in the next few months. Super exciting but also SUPER expense. Every time I turn around it's a money bleed. Just yesterday it was the dance floor. Dance Floor? Just shaking my head. Have to go with it all at this point. After all--it's for my lovely daughter. It's her special day and I want it to be perfect. Too bad we can't pay for perfect weather in May though--JK-- I'll start praying now. Onward Ho! Recently finished a novel by one of my favorite Irish writers, John Boyne, called The Elements. Interestingly enough--this book is actually 4 novellas--Water, Earth, Fire and Air-- that are interconnected with characters from one story appearing in another. The first story involves a distraught mother running away from her life to a secluded island in Ireland where she meets many people including a soccer player, the subject of the next novella. This is followed by a story about a surgeon with serious PTSD and finally a father and son who deal with trauma in a very different way. This novel is a deep exploration of crime, victims, perpetrators, guilt, blame, abuse, forgiveness and in some cases, redemption. These are some dark--well written stories-- that will make you rethink the world we live in. This novel has won many awards including the Prix Femina Estranger in France and has been longlisted for a literary award in Dublin. 

January 8, 2025 SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD

 

My book club recently celebrated twenty years. Unbelieveable. 20 years. One member suggested we spend the next year rereading some of our favorite books. At first I was skeptical--if I want to reread a book I do--but then I found a way to make it work. So I walk and or run several times a week right?  Why not listen to the books instead or rereading them--kill two birds with one stone-- SO that it doesn't interfere with the books I want to read. Pure genius. Finally found a niche for audio books and am loving it. Just finished listening to The Dutch House --AND Tom Hanks was the narrator. Life is good. I also just finished reading a book I think you might enjoy called How To Read A Book by Monica Wood. As this powerful novel unfolds, Violet, a twenty-two year old woman from Maine, is in prison for a fatal drunk driving accident where she meets Harriet. Harriet is a retired English teaher and empty nester who volunteers to run a book club at the prison. The two bond over their love of literature. After Violet is released from prison, she heads to a local book store  and bumps into not only Harriet but also Frank Daigle, a retired widower and  handyman who works at the bookstore. Frank's wife was the victim of the accident involving Violet. After this chance meeting, their lives are forever changed. Don't want to say much more but this book is so worth the read. The characters are endearing, the story well written and the themes of redemption, forgiveness and second chances ring true for everyone. Enjoy. 

January 1, 2026. BEST BOOKS OF 2025

 The Belle of the Book just celebrated 10 years. I honestly CANNOT believe its lasted this long. I just love reading/writing/talking about books so much and want to share the wealth. Hope you have enjoyed my reviews this year AND can't wait to read my new favorite books for 2026. Looking back over 2025--I've read at least 55 books and reviewed 25 of them. I wish I could review them all but there's just not enough time........maybe when I retire. These are my favorite books of 2025--in no particular order. 

1) Heart the Lover by Lily King. Reviewed 12/14. Blog title--Jesse's Girl.

2) The Correspondent by Virgina Evans. Reviewed 11/10. Blog title--Please Mr. Postman.

3) The Names by Florence Knapp. Reviewed 10/31. Blog title--Big Bertha.

4) The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb. Reviewed 7/28. Blog title--Island Girl.

5) Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. Reviewed 5/4. Blog title--Everybody Hurts.

6) Forgotten on Sunday by Valerie Perrin. Reviewed 1/5. Blog title--The Weight,

7) Time of the Child by Niall Williams. Reviewed 2/2. Blog title--Land of Confusion.

8) The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali--not reviewed yet.

9) There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak--not reviewed yet.

10) A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara--not reviewed yet. 

            Happy New Year. Hope the new year brings you happiness, peace and good health. 

December 14, 2026. JESSE'S GIRL

Brain fog. Can't seem to get out of my own way--much less write my blog. Not sure what it is.........the Christimas decorations right after Halloween or the Christmas music before Thanksgiving. I'm strictly a ONE HOLIDAY PERSON. I can only manage one celebration at a time. Yes--I understand that Thanksgiving was late this year BUT the rule stands. NO thinking about another holiday until ONE is OVER. It's just too much for me. It makes me feel--betwixt and between--neither here nor there--on the fence-- DOWN RIGHT CONFUSED. I've even had difficulty concentrating on books lately AND that's where I draw the line--Trying to wrap my head around Christmas right now and am determined to enjoy it--and read a few books. Just finished a lovely novel by Lily King called Heart the Lover. As the story unfolds, Jordan is an English major and senior at a college in Massachusetts in the 1980's. While taking a 17th century literature class, she meets Sam and Yash, best friends who are sharing a professor's house called The Breach for the semester. She's invited to the house several times where they play cards, debate, party and share their ambitions. The trio gets caught up in a love triangle that ultimately changes their lives. The novel then jumps to 2010, Jordan is now a famous author, mother and wife living in Maine who thinks she has made peace with the past until an unexpected visit brings it all back. Don't want to say much more but this is a real gem that will stick with me for a long time. It's a great story with interesting characters who are forced to confront the choices they made when they were younger and learn to forgive. Enjoy.

November 10, 2025 PLEASE MISTER POSTMAN

Why in the world are we STILL turning the clocks back?? It's ridiculous. I'd rather have it light out later in the day and drive to work in the dark. I can't stand that it gets dark out by 4:30. My dogs are going crazy. They think it's dinner time at 3:30 AND  literally follow me around the house WHINING for their dinner until they wear me down- then- repeat the process VERY early in the morning. It's a LOSE-LOSE situation. I don't know about you BUT the nights have been CRAWLING  BY. When I look at the clock-- it's only 8:00 BUT--it feels like MIDNIGHT. Who makes these silly decisions? I'm gonna write them a letter to get this changed! Oh- the art of letter writing. Is it really a lost art? Not according to Sybil Van Antwerp, the main character, in Virgina Evans wonderful book The Correspondent. As this epistolary novel unfolds, Sybil is a retired lawyer living in Annapolis, Maryland, who has lived her life through letters. She spends several hours a day composing letters to friends, family, authors, young mentees and even the president. This ritual helps Sybil not only keep in touch with friends, but also feel in control of and make sense of the world.  It is through these letters that Sybil is forced to confront mistakes, shortcomings, regrets and finally come to terms with a painful event from her past so that she can be forgiven by her children, Bruce and Fiona. There are several wonderful, quirky characters in the novel including her brother Felix, best friend Rosalie, neighbor Theodore and many more that make this book a treasure. This mighty story reminds the reader that only with  age can we gain wisdom and understand that as humans, we are all flawed and that is ok.  I Hope you enjoy this as much as I did. It will definitely make the top 10 list this year. 

October 31, 2025. BIG BERTHA

Marsha. WHY??  I  NEVER liked my name. I've been told that I was named after my mother's best friend in high school. Why wasn't her name Sophie? I would have made a great Sophie. Seriously--I was called Marcia Brady a billion times back in the day. UGH. Let's FACE IT -there are just some names that need to go AWAY. One that's at the top of my list (besides Marsha) is Bertha. Other contenders include--AND THIS IS JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION-- Esther, Edith, Edna, Ethel, Olive, Hazel and Eloise. FYI the name Marsha was ONLY popular in the 1950s-1960s. NO ONE in their right mind would name their poor daughter that today--thankfully-- BUT according to  internet sources --all the other names that-- I THINK SHOULD BE PUT OUT TO PASTURE-- are ACTUALLY vintage names that are MAKING A COME BACK. OMG. I can't image GEN Z  going that retro. Good luck to GEN Beta--they'll all need therapy........The reason I'm thinking about names is because I just finished this great book called Names by Florence Knapp. This intriguing story is set in 1987 in England as Cora, the main character, makes her way to the town hall to register and name her newborn son. Her husband Gordon, a well-known doctor, expects her to name the baby after him to carry on the family tradition. Cora has reservations about naming her son after his father for fear that naming him Gordon will shape his destiny. Cora dreams instead of naming him Julian, a name of his own. Cora and Gordon's nine year old daughter has her own idea about her brother's name--she thinks he should be called Bear because he is cute and cuddly. The story then branches off in three different directions that  explore what would happen if the child was named Gordon, Julian and finally Bear.  Each life is totally different and begs the reader to think about fate, free-will, identity and how important a name really can be. There is so much to this book-- but I don't want to say anything else-- so you will have to read it for yourself to find out what happens. Enjoy.

October 9, 2025 SPACE ODDITY

A few years back--I wrote a blog about my eyebrows. I was wondering what happened to THEM as they seemed to be mysteriously disappearing. I was actually being FACETIOUS at the time BUT NOW-- I'M NOT. Seriously--I pretty much only have ONE EYEBROW. The other one seems to be spotty at best with gray hair trying to fill the void. I look ridiculous--and can't walk out the door without trying to fix this injustice brought upon ME with age. I've had to spend an obscene amount of money on brow pencils, powders, gels and tints to make my eyebrows "look natural"??? Not sure if I should go to the extreme--maybe try the Nano Brow or Brow Tattoo. This is A LOT FOR ME........On to something I can handle....Recently finished a book I really enjoyed by Taylor Jenkins Reid called Atmosphere. As the story unfolds, it's 1984, at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, the Navigator Space Shuttle has been damaged in space and it's Joan Goodwin from mission control, tasked with the duty to get them home safely. The story then flips back in time to 1980 as Joan Goodwin, a physicist and astronomer, applys and is accepted into the NASA program. While training to be an astronaut she forges friendships and more with other candidates including pilot Hank Redmon, scientist John Griffin, mission specialist Lydia Danes and Vanessa Ford, an aeronautical engineer. She also manages a hectic like that includes helping her sister Barbara raise her daughter, Frances. Although the book is fiction, it is inspired by a real historical event includng the experiences of the first class of women astronauts and the difficulties they faced. Find out whether Goodwin gets the Navigator and the astronauts home safely when you read this hard to put down book for yourself. Enjoy. 

September 13, 2025 BIG BROTHER

Just finished a book that made me consider something pretty scary--  McCarthyism 2025

1) Using fear to erode civil rights and freedoms

2) Using the media to help engineer and spread misinformation

3) Firing and using  public employees and government officials as scapegoats when they are not loyal

4) Labeling goverments officals and others as corrupt to erode public trust

5) Making outrageous claims against people deemed enemies

The book I'm referring to is called The Briarwood Club by Kate Quinn and it's historical fiction at its best. Grace March is a widow and the newest resident of Briarwood House, a boarding house strictly for women in Washington D. C. in the early 1950's. As the story unfolds, there has been a murder at Briarwood House and every resident is a suspect. The chapters then alternate between the women living in the house and their relationship with Grace in the months leading up to the murder. The housemates include Bea, a former women's softball champ, Fliss, a young mother from England, Reka, a refugee from Russia, Nora and Arlene. Although the women seemingly have nothing in common, Grace's weekly supper parties spark many friendships,  debates, and a sisterhood for women trying to make a living in an ever changingworld that includes McCarthyism, classism, racism and the red scare. I really enjoyed this novel and had a hard time putting it down. It is well written, with great character development and its a story that will stick with me for a long time. 

August 26, 2025 HE'S GONE

 

He's gone. Yup--the baby left for college. It's the FIRST time in 31 years that we DON'T have kids at home.  It's troublingly quiet and very neat. Shoes aren't left astray in the kitchen--smelly uniforms no longer stink up the laundry room AND no one is calling from practice begging for dinner. Who would have thought I'd miss these daily rituals-- BUT I DO. Back in the day-I couldn't wait for the kids to grow up and get out so that we could have our lives back BUT the reality is that our KIDS became our life and now that they're gone we will have to reinvent ourselves to some extent. It's all good. No worries. Ali will be home this weekend to celebrate her birthday and SHE WILL leave her shoes in the kitchen and her laundry and her suitcase and coffee mug and the house will be a disaster again. Can't wait! Finished a lovely novel the other day called Small Pleasures by Claire Chambers. The main character of the story is Jean Swinney, a middle aged journalist who lives in London in the 1950's. She has a rather lonely life as she is tasked with taking care of her overdemanding mother when she is not at work. One day while at the office, a woman named Gretchen Tilbury writes a letter to the paper claiming that her 10 year old daughter, Margaret, is the result of a virgin birth. Being the only woman at the paper, Jean is tasked with investigating the matter. As Jean investigates and gets to know the Tilbury family, which also includes Gretchen's husband Howard, she feels drawn to the family and realizes how lonely her life has become. Don't want to say much more than that you will have to read this amazing story for yourself to find out if Gretchen's claim is true and realize that things are not always as they appear. Interestingly enough, this book is based on an actual claim of a woman in the 1950's who said she had a virgin birth which is called a parthenogenesis and other historical events in the book are true. I really enjoyed this book and had trouble putting it down. Let me know what you think. Enjoy. 

August 17, 2025 EVERYBODY HURTS

Priceless. A deep tissue massage. Who knew?? Yup-hurt my back a while back and tried nursing it back to health--stretching, pain killers, pain patches, creams. UGH.  What a waste of time....I know a massage is expensive BUT I should have bit the bullet 3 weeks ago. It was an incredible experience--one I need to partake in more often. Felt like a new person after my massage--so I decided to drive to Boston to see my daughter. BIG mistake. Traffic was ridiculous and the extended sitting reinjured my periformis. I am so sick of being injured. Is this really part of getting older??  Guess this calls for another visit to the spa. Only wish insurance covered the bill. Gonna have to get a better paying job at this rate. While resting my back this week, I read Fredrik Backman's novel Anxious People. Set in a small town near Stockholm, Sweden, a bank robber, desperate to keep custody of her children, attempts to rob a bank. After the robbery goes bad, the bank robber flees and tries to hide at an open house BUT ends up holding the potential buyers hostage. The hostages are quite a cast of characters with very different anxieties: Zara, is a bank mangager with a tragic past, Lennart is an actor desperate for a job, Estelle is a widow and my favorite --Roger and Anna-Lena, retirees who flip apartments in a desperate attempt to keep their marraige from getting stale. This story is a little bit of everything--funny, empathetic, insightful even though I thought it was a bit contrived as everyone seems connected by the end of the story. Find out what happens to all involved when you read this quirky book for yourself. Enjoy. 

August 6, 2025 YOU CAN'T CHANGE THAT

Bromance-- since first grade. Joined at the hip--until tomorrow. Yup-Tim's first BFF is leaving for college. Weren't they just playing Monopoly in the family room?? Where did the time go???  It's a bittersweet time for sure. On the one hand--the excitement of College--BUT there's also the FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN--AND CHANGE. Tim's been so lucky with friends. He's literally had the same core group since first grade-A BAND OF BROTHERS. They'll have to say SO LONG for now--until Christmas--BUT the Bromance will continue because of their connection and  shared memories of the last thirteen years. Enjoy your first semester--can't wait to hear all about it. The main character, Hai,  in Ocean Vuong's new book The Emperor of Gladness isn't so lucky. As the novel unfolds, Hai, is a nineteen year old Vietnamese American living in East Gladness, Connecticut, debating his fate as he stands on a bridge ready to jump.  Luckily, an elderly woman named, Grazina, talks him down. Grazina takes Hai to her dilapitated house to discuss his near suicide and then Hai reluctantly becomes her caretaker.  Hai also starts working at Home Market, a casual restaurant, where he meets a cast of characters including the manager BJ-who wants to be a professional wrestler, Wayne, Russia, Maureen, and his cousin Sony. They form a camaraderie as they share many struggles while working at this dead end job. Hai and Grazina also form a bond that ultimately changes both of their lives. This is a quirky story about friendship, loneliness and addiction where the reader decides the fate of the characters. I enjoyed this book--especially the characters in the restaurant as I felt like I was back at Papa Ginos. 

July 28, 2025. ISLAND GIRL

 Just spent a lovely weekend on Block Island with the bookclub. Can't believe its been 20 years. When the bookclub started out,  we were just a random group of neighbors who got together every month to discuss books and make a little merry.  Heck--some of us didn't even know each other. Over the years, we've formed a bond that has helped each of us overcome lifes many challenges. It really does take a village.  I'm very thankful to these women-- together we are stronger--strong enough to weather any storm. Thanks for the memories and the support--when I needed it most--looking forward to the next 20 years. Finished Wally Lamb's new book The River is Waiting right before the trip so here's my reivew. As this tragic novel unfolds, Corby and Emily Ledbetter live in a fictional town in Connecticut with their two year old twins, Maisie and Niko. Emily is an elementary school teacher and Corby is a stay-at-home dad as he has been laid off from work. One morning the unthinkable happens--and their world is forever changed. Corby is later arrested and sentenced to time at Yates Correctional Center. Corby's struggles in prison are frightening. He witnesses unbearable acts from not only prisoners but also from the correctional officers assigned to keep them safe. The only thing that keeps him from insanity is the hope that Emily can forgive him. Find out why Corby is in prison and if Emily can forgive him when you read this heartbreaking novel for yourself. This is Wally Lamb at his best--even if it is tragic --and leaves me thinking--it's sad that "we" unintentionally hurt the ones we love them most. 

July 18, 2025 CARELESS WHISPER

Who remembers the Seinfeld episode The Puffy Shirt? It's a classic. Kramer has a friend who is a LOW TALKER-- she is a designer who asks Seinfeld  to wear her puffy shirt on a televsion show. Seinfeld says yes BUT HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE IS AGREEING TO BECAUSE HE CAN'T HEAR HER. Well that's exactly how I felt last month while dining at a local restaurant. The waitress was a VERY LOW TALKER and we couldn't hear a word she said. At first I thought we were on an episode of Candid Camera--I 'm really showing my age here if you remember that show. Anyways--because we couldn't hear a word she said we had to hope for the best and try not to LAUGH-- BECAUSE IT WAS TOO FUNNY-- it too could have been a Seinfeld espisode. Truly miss that show. Back to the books. Just finished Alice Feeney's new book Beautiful Ugly. As this phychological thriller begins, Grady Green is an author who has finally made the best seller list, unfortunately, this happens on the same day his wife, Abbey, disappears. Overcome by grief and unable to start another book, Grady agrees (his editor has a cabin there)  to temporarily  move to a remote Scottish Island called Amity to get his life together and start a new book as per his contract. Once Grady gets to the island, he realizes some strange behaviors, coincidences and even thinks he see's his wife--or a woman who looks just like her. Find out what Amity Island is really all about and if the woman on the island is really Grady's wife when you read this mystery for yourself. I enjoyed this story and had a hard time putting it down. Let me know what you think.