January 9, 2024 DON'T YOU REMEMBER

Have you ever started a book--that seemed familiar--but you couldn't remember if you'd read it before? Well that's what happened to me with the book I'm going to review. It came out in 2009--so I could have read it 14 years ago. WHO KNOWS. It's part of a detective series set in Minnesota. I've read several books in the series OUT OF ORDER--so I'm trying to go back and read the ones I missed in order. I really enjoyed this book BUT still am at a loss as to whether or not I read it before.  OH WELL--- William Kent Krueger, the author of Blood Hollow, is an excellent writer. Blood Hollow is the 4th installment of the Cork O'Connor series. As the the story unfolds, it is winter in Minnesota and Cork is involved in the search for a missing teenager who is  the daughter of a wealthy resident of Aurora where Cork lives with his wife and family. The search is fruitless because of a blinding snowstorm, but as Spring arrives, her body is found. Although Cork is the former Sheriff of Aurora, he becomes involved in the investigation after Solemn Winter Moon is suspected of the crime. Solemn, a troubled native American who lives on the reservation, is the nephew of a close family friend of Cork and he feels an obligation to help the boy, who just happens to be the dead girl's ex-boyfriend. In addition, Cork's wife, a lawyer, agrees to defend Solemn against the accusations. This exciting mystery has several twists and turns with an ending I didn't see coming. There are several great characters in the book that appear in each novel--another reason to love the series. One of the most interesting "characters" happens to be the landscape and weather. Krueger's writing bring them alive as the reader feels the frozen terrain, snow and sleet like its really happening. This is a series that could get you through this LONG, COLD winter.  It's about 368 pages that you will totally enjoy. Happy Reading.

January 1, 2024 BEST BOOKS OF 2023

It's that time of year again. Looking back over the year to see which books I enjoyed the most. Ready or not here they come: My FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2023 IN ORDER:

1.  This is Happiness by Niall Williams. Reviewed 10/29/23--Blog title "Molly Malone"

2.  The Last Chairlift by John Irving. Reviewed 7/29/23--Blog title "Every Day I Write the Book"

3.  Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo. Reviewed 8/28/23--Blog title "Chain of Fools"

4. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. Reviewed 8/13/23--Blog title "Trip Around the Sun"

5. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Reviewed 9/24/23 Blog title--"Tears in Heaven"

6.  I'm Glad my Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. Reviewed 4/9/23--Blog title--"Don't Cry Out Loud"

7.  The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. Reviewed 5/13/23. Blog title--The Long and Winding 

     Road"

8.  Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Reviewed 4/30/23. Blog title "Another Day in Paradise"

9.  Racing The Rain by John L. Parker Jr. Reviewed 12/18/23. Blog title--"Born to Run"

10.  Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Reviewed 9/23/23. Blog title--"Glory Days"

Hope you've had a chance to read some of these awesome books. If not --winter is long-- so snuggle up on your coach with a cup of tea and enjoy. Looking forward to many greats books in 2024. Happy New Year. 

December 27, 2023 ROCKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE

 

Remember when you took Christmas for granted?  Well NOT anymore. It was a COVID CHRISTMAS at our house. Seriously. NO presents, NO family--NO NOTHING. Yes--IT IS  a lot of work getting ready for Christmas Eve and Christmas BUT the alternative is MUCH WORSE. Realized how much I appreciate my family and friends AND how much I depend on them to make the holidays MERRY. So next time you complain or feel stressed about the holidays--STOP for a moment--and think of the alternative. It's all good. NO worries--We will be celebrating Christmas this weekend and will be GRATEFUL for that. HOHOHO. The only good thing about being stuck home with COVID--I finished a very good book, The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng.  As the novel unfolds, it is 1947 and Leslie Hamlyn has been living in Africa for many years. One day she gets a book in the mail, The Casuarina Tree by William Somerset Maugham (author of The Razor's Edge, The Painted Veil, Of Human Bondage-- my favorites) that immediately makes her think  back to  the Island of Penang. It was 1921, when  Leslie and her husband, Robert found out that his old war buddy, Willie Maugham, and secretary were going to spend two weeks with them at Cassoway House. Willie was desperate to find a subject for his next book, especially, after finding out he had lost everything on a business venture. His marriage of convenience was a disaster and his sexuality was often in question as he traveled around the world with his secretary, Gerald. As Willie and Leslie forge a friendship,  he learns of her connections to Chinese Revolutionaries including Dr. Sun Yat Sen. He also learns more than he bargained for about the island--murder, affairs and other fodder for his next great book. This novel of 320 pages is based on real events--it's a multilayered tale of love, deceit, betrayal and hypocrisy--on every level--that is unforgettable. This is historical fiction at its best--Enjoy.

December 18, 2023 BORN TO RUN

 

Did you grow up--BACK IN THE DAY?? When your parents didn't know where the HELL you were AND  didn't seem to care---As long as you made it home for dinner. Summer days were spent running around the fields, riding bikes, or swimming in the pond. FREEDOM. The good old American Childhood. My brothers and I were left home to fend for ourselves in the summer. We were young--the oldest being 11 years old. It was survival of the fittest. Kool aid and fluffernutter sandwiches if we were lucky. I can vividly remember sweating to death in the heat and humidity thinking the sprinkler in the backyard was the answer to our prayers. Life was pretty simple and innocent. If you want to feel that way again then I recommend you check out John L. Parker's lovely novel Racing The Rain. Parker is a three time Southeastern Conference mile champion, US Track and Field National Champion and former Olympic runner. Racing the Rain is the prequel to his incredible book Once a Runner.  The main character of this coming of age story is Quentin Cassidy, who grows up in the Florida Gold Coast in the 1950s-60s. As the story unfolds,  Quentin is a young boy of about ten who loves running. Parker captures the innocence of youth as Quentin runs barefoot not only against his friends, but against the rain because it's fun. As Quention grows,  he discovers that he has a gift--speed-- but also perseverance, and a desire to win. The reader then follows Quentin through junior high and high school where he learns many lesson from coaches (good and bad) and mentors including the eccentric "Tarzan of the Swamp" John Nelson. The writing is flawless--the descriptions vivid--and the cast of characters--priceless. You don't have to be a runner to enjoy this book. It's really about so much more. This little gem is about 360 pages and  well worth your time. Enjoy. 

December 2, 2023 BLOW YOUR OWN TRUMPET

 

It's the countdown to Christmas Break. Yup. Only a few weeks til midterm exams. I can't wait. I REALLY need a break. It's a hectic time of year. Four thousand things to do every day and I only get three thousand done. I feel like a chicken with my head cut off---I actually said that the other day at school and the kids looked at me--HORRIFIED.  I guess they took it literally. Back in the day---I used that idiom ALL THE TIME--and never really thought about it. BUT TODAY--in our super sensitive world--I am going to have to refrain from THAT idiom. OOPS. Some kid will probably go home and tell their parent AND I'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE IDIOM TO THEM TOO. So strange how our world's changed. A few other idioms that I should reconsider "There's more than one way to skin a cat", "Don't bite off your nose to spite your face" , "Break a leg" and " Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater". Not sure what that last one really means but I'm sure it would spin a few heads. HA.......If you like historical fiction, you will really enjoy The Last Rose of Shanghai by Weina Dai Randel. As the story unfolds, Aiyi Shao is an elderly woman living in Shanghai, who has just hired a documentarian to tell her life story.  The novel then jumps back and forth between the 1940s and the present with alternating points of view as Aiyi narrates her unfortunate past.  In 1940 Aiyi was a young Chinese heiress living in Japanese occupied Shanghai where she owned a popular night club. Ernest Reisman was a Jewish refugee who had just arrived in Shanghai who was looking for work to support not only himself but also his young sister. After an unlikely meeting on the street,  Aiyi hires Ernest to play the piano at her bar. Aiyi who is engaged to another man, finds herself drawn to Ernest which ultimately sets off a chain of events that shapes their lives. This novel is rich in history--the horrors of war in Japanese controlled Shanghai, the desperation of people, and the ultimate strength of the human condition. It is also the story of a forbidden love--between a Chinese woman and a German, Jewish refugee, at a time when such a relationship was unthinkable. Find out what happens to these incredible characters and so much more when you read this interesting story for yourself. There is a huge twist at the end that I didn't see coming either. Enjoy. 

November 18, 2023 WILD HORSES

 I think I've finally lost it. Got up this morning--bright and early. Super excited. Going to Radio City Music Hall to see the Christmas Show. I'm all showered--make up applied--dressed--bag packed. READY TO GO. And I find out it's NOT TIL TOMORROW. What a DOPE. How did I mess that up???  UGH. There's nothing worse than being ALL DRESSED UP AND READY TO GO---AND THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO. So I did what any reasonable person would do--changed--went to yoga class--followed by a 4 mile run. Didn't tell you the best part--my partner in crime--thought it was today too. That makes me feel A LITTLE BIT BETTER--I think??? SO--we will wake up bright and early again tomorrow and get it right--At least we will already know what we're going to wear. This one will definitely go in the record book. Just read an incredible book based on a true story about a horse named Lexington who was a record breaking stallion, Geraldine Brooks novel Horse. This saga flips back and for in time between 1850 and 2019. As the story unfolds, Theo, an art historian, finds a painting of a horse in a garbage pile near his house. He decides to take it to a friend at the Smithsonian to see if it's valuable. Meanwhile, Jess, an osteologist, discovers bones at the Smithsonian, that she thinks belong to Lexington, the greatest racehorse of all time. Theo and Jess meet one afternoon after a bike mishap and realize they are both interested in discovering more about the horse and their friendship develops from there. Meanwhile, Martha Jackson, an art gallery owner, is given a painting by her maid. It is a painting handed down in her family and she wants to know the value because she needs money. Back in 1850, Jarrett, a slave on a plantation, forms a life-long bond with a newborn foal, who turns into the greatest racehorse of all time.  He also forges a long friendship with a painter named Thomas Scott, whose subject is horses. This is historical fiction at its best. It's a story about American horse racing in the deep South before the Civil War and during the Civil War. It's also a story about slavery, art, greed, love and horses that I found super interesting and well written. It's about 400 pages of reading that's worth your time. Enjoy. 

November 10, 2023 ALIVE AND KICKING

 

Soccer. ECC finals. Double Overtime. Double PKS. What a way to lose a game. That's what happened the other night at my son's soccer game. And he's the GOALIE. Poor Kid. --Almost the same thing happened 10 years ago at my daughter's State Semi-final game. It's a killer. Losing in penalty kicks in overtime?? There's got to be a better way to end a game. UGH. Sports teach kids so many lessons. Commitment--teamwork--discipline--resilience AND coping with failure. No matter what game you are playing--someone has to lose AND YOU WILL NOT ALWAYS WIN. Accepting success with humility and defeat with grace are lessons that are invaluable not only in soccer BUT IN LIFE. The boys have moved on to States--just made it to the QUARTER FINALS. Keeping my fingers crossed and loving every minute of it. I also spent the last week reading National Book Award Finalist, Tea Obreht's book, The Tiger's Wife. This novel takes place in an unnamed Balkan country that has survived many years of war. The main character, Natalia and her lifelong friend Zora, are medical students traveling to an orphanage to give much needed innoculations to the kids. During their journey to the orphanage, Natalia finds out that her cherished grandfather has died. As a child, Natalia was very close to her grandfather and she spent several hours at the zoo with him as he told her fantastical stories of The Deathless Man and The Tiger's Wife. While working at the orphanage, Natalia remembers those stories that her grandfather said--made him a man. The novel shifts back and forth between the tiger and town of Galina where her grandfather grew up, the deathless man, and Natalia's time at the orphanage. This book is part magical realism, part mystery, love story and the tragic consequences of war. It's a lot. I enjoyed the writing and many of the well written characters, but I was a little confused at times because it does jump around a bit. And the magical realism part troubled me a bit too. Magical realism isn't really my thing, but some people love it. All in all though, I enjoyed the book but it is a dense 350 pages. Let me know what you think.