November 26, 2017 ADDICTED TO LOVE

 If you'd asked me LAST year to take a MUCH needed brake from running--I would have laughed in your face. Fast forward one year--Believe it or not--I haven't run for 8 WEEKS. At first it was really hard--the routine so ingrained--but substituting it with yoga has helped a lot. Now that I'm off the "Treadmill" I realize a few things. Running had become a job. A rollercoaster of EAT--RUN--EAT--RUN. EXAMPLE--hot fudge sundae-- run 6 miles. I was going--round and round--to NO avail. The scale kept tipping in the wrong direction--SO--I'd run more. Get it?? This sounds like great confessions of a RUNNING ADDICT. Sad thing is--I googled the signs--and  had like--ALL OF THEM to one degree or another. Feel guilty about missing a run--YUP. Not able to take time off when injured--YUP. Give up social or family obligations to run--YUP. Run more than you intend to--SOMETIMES. Run to change your mood--SOMETIMES. You get the idea. Gaining a much needed NEW perspective on running. When I get back on the pavement--I will appreciate that I--CAN RUN-- NOT WORRY-- about how many calories I'm burning. NO MORE TREADMILL FOR ME. Since I'm not on the treadmill anymore--I've had a little more time to read. So I decided to sink my teeth into something a little heavier AND I'M GLAD I DID.

Just finished a captivating, beautifully written novel by one of my new favorite authors Anuradha Roy called An Atlas of Impossible Longing. This lovely novel is set in Songarh, a small town in Bengal. As the multigenerational story unfolds, it is the beginning of the 20th century and Amulya has moved his family from Calcutta in order to run his herbal medicine factory. Living in such a secluded area has a negative effect on his wife Kananbala as she goes crazy and spends much of her time locked away. Years go by and  their sons, Kamal and Nirmal, grow up and marry. Nirmal's wife dies in childbirth leaving him to raise his daughter Bakul. Heartbroken over her death,  Nirmal then leaves Bakul with his family.   Along the way, an orphan from a different caste named Mukunda  comes to live with the family. Mukunda and Bakul forge a relationship that is later torn apart when he is sent off to school--leaving them both longing for the other.  Roy is such a gifted writer--she brings the story to life--sounds--senses--description. The reader not only learns about different cultures, but to appreciate them and realize that we all have far more in common including-- family experiences, romance, death, abandonment, forgiveness and impossible longing. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It's about 340 pages or a 5 mile run that helps you remember why you love to read.

November 20, 2018 LIFE CHANGES

When I was a kid my grandmother used to whip up this dessert--Ice Box Cookies--all the time. Picture this--old fashioned chocolate wafers--and freshly whipped cream-- frozen--kind of like an oreo--ONLY A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER. I thought I had died and gone to heaven every time we had that treat. It was the best. So--when my kids were little I decided to carry on the tradition. Fast forward 25 years-- IMAGINE MY HORROR WHEN I WENT TO STOP & SHOP THE OTHER DAY AND THE WAFERS WEREN'T THERE. At first I thought they moved the thin-- yellow-- rectangular boxes to another area--BUT NOOO!!!  By this time--I was frantic--so I asked a manager--Who knew exactly what I was looking for. We searched like treasure hunters--every NOOK and CRANNY of the cookie aisle to NO avail. NO NABISCO FAMOUS CHOCOLATE WAFERS!!  It can't be possible. These little gems have been around since 1927-- People have been making Ice box cookies for over 75 years!!! How could they just disappear. Now I'm kind of in a funk--missing my grandmother--missing our tradition. WHAT'S THIS WORLD COMING TOO??  I bet you Benny's would have had them! NO BENNY'S--NO CHOCOLATE WAFERS. Next thing you know we'll be having another PROHIBITION. Sometimes life changes for the better and sometimes not. This is a major theme in Anna Quindlen's new novel Alternate Side. 

Nora Nolan, the main character, lives in New York City with her husband Charlie and 18 year old twins.  They live in a nice neighborhood of old brownstones where  everyone is well off--and everyone knows everyone else's business. They share a handyman, have block parties and gossip about each other while walking their dogs.  After the twins go off to college, Nora and Charlie are suddenly empty nesters. They start to realize that they don't have much in common without their kids around. They also begin to realize that they've changed in ways they could never have imagined over their 25 year marriage. Compromise is an issue, especially when Nora wants to stay in the city and Charlie want to move South. Nora is also more successful than Charlie, and he resents it. This is essentially a story about a neighborhood where everyone looks successful, and happy but that's just the veneer. This is also the story of a long married couple facing a cross roads. Quindlen is a great writer with a keen eye who really hits the nail on the head. She says--there are three kinds of marriages--happy--miserable--or somewhere in between. The key is to find out where you are and recognize that it can change with time. This sad story is about 300 pages or a 3.5 mile run that really makes you reevaluate your life and priorities.

November 15, 2018 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

 If you grew up in MY generation--go see BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. I wasn't a QUEEN FREAK or anything BUT THEY WERE IT--IN THE EARLY 80's--for good reason.  Freddy Mercury was an incredible performer. He could REALLY work the stage--much like--Mic Jagger, Robert Plant, Steven Tyler. His--energy--charisma--personality--were second to none. He also had a keen sense of style and could ROCK the CRAZIEST OUTFITS. Not too many men can wear WOMEN'S CLOTHING AND LOOK GREAT! Most important though-- he could really SING--PLAY several instruments --WRITE his own songs. What a talented individual.  The other members of the band--although much TAMER--were equally incredible--musicians--singers-- songwriters-- in their own right. They were the perfect cocktail for that time period. Can't help but wonder what QUEEN would be up to if Mercury were alive. So-- If you're looking for a temporary BLAST TO THE PAST check it out. It is well worth the ride. Not sure Linton Malegarde  will think his plane ride to Paris was worth the effort, especially, after the the Seine bursts its banks and floods the city in Tatiana De Rosnay's new novel The Rain Watcher. 

After many years apart, Linden, a celebrated photographer, is traveling from New York to Paris for a reunion with his family. His father, Paul, is a renowned arborist,  whose obsession  with trees has taken a toll on his family, especially, his wife Lauren. They are also joined by Linden's unhappily married  sister, Tilia and her daughter Mistral. This seemingly happy family hasn't spent time together for good reason. They each have hidden fears and secrets that keep them apart.  While at dinner the first night, Paul has a massive stroke and is rushed to the hospital. The next day, Laura comes down with a case of pneumonia and is quarantined to her hotel room. Paul and Tilia must take charge of the family and wrestle with the ghosts of the past while Paris is being evacuated as water covers the city.  If you read Sarah's Key a few years ago and liked it, this book is written by the same author. She is a good writer who knows how to tell a story. Find out what happens to this family when you read this 225 page novel --3 mile run--  for yourself. 

November 10, 2018 YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Although I've read MANY books this year, they have--for the MOST part been-- easy--light-- reads.  Nothing I'd put on my 10 greatest books--of ALL times list. THOSE books are far and few between. And I miss them. So I went on a quest. Traveled many miles and traversed many internet sites. YUP--needed  to find a book that had the ability to transport me into another world.  With TOP NOTCH WRITING-- Descriptive without being too cumbersome and characters who come alive--grow and change as the story unfolds. Unforgettable characters like-- Pip, Ms. Havisham, Dr. Darawalla, Garp, Owen Meany, Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Ghosh, Heathcliff, The Count, Scout, Dolores Price, Om and Maneck--to name a few. After searching high and low--I came across a book from 1997 I thought would fit the bill. Couldn't believe this little gem slipped by me. Come to think of it--yes I can. I had a two years old and a VERY COLICKY baby at the time. Surprised that I even survived that year! Sorry--I digressed. Anyways, I just finished a lovely novel that was just what the doctor ordered. This winner of the Man Booker Prize from 1997 is called The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.

Set in Kerala, India in 1969, Rahel and Esthappen are "two-egg twins" who come to live at Aryemenem House after their mother Amma shames the family by leaving her abusive husband. They share Aryemenem House with their uncle Chacko, grandmother Mammachi, and great-aunt Baby Kochamma. Aryemenem House is a grand home with several acres that also includes the family business Paradise Pickles. As the story unfolds, the family is on their way to the train station to pick up Chacko's ex-wife Margaret and his daughter Sophie Mol for the Christmas holiday. Shortly after they arrive, a tragedy occurs that rips the family apart. The narration flips each chapter from past to present so that in the next chapter Rahel is 31 years old and has returned to Aryemenem House to see Estha for the first time since the tragedy 25 years earlier.  When she returns, the homestead has seen better days. The property is in a state of disrepair and neglect which mirrors the state of her family.  And so the story continues and I don't want to say much more and ruin it for you. This is ultimately a novel that is part family drama, part political commentary, part a denouncement of the caste system in India as Amma becomes involved with an untouchable named Velutha and pays the price for their forbidden love. The writing is so incredible it is almost poetic--metaphors, lovely description--the house is practically a character in the story, repetition, random capital letters and a fluidity like butter--if you're open to it. Give this 331 page book a chance. It's about a 4-5 mile run well worth your time.

November 5, 2018 SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS

Not sure WHY we still turn the clocks back every fall.  It's pretty ridiculous. I get  that once upon a time--we needed Daylight Savings in order to take advantage of the sun during the summer--but why are we STILL doing it?? It's not a better use of daylight for me. IT'S PITCH BLACK BY 5:00!! It's a real drag. Why can't we just leave the clocks alone?? I like it lighter longer. Maybe I should start a campaign. LIGHTER LONGER. Wonder if anyone would join my campaign?? There is nothing worse than getting home from work in the DARK. Guess I'll have to double up on my vitamin D so I don't go into a PURPLE FUNK.  Seriously--Getting TOO much SUN is bad for you--BUT getting NO SUN is equally BAD. Scientists believe we should get between 10-30 minutes of sunlight SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK.  Not sure how that's supposed to happen now. Might have to invest in one of those lamps or move to the Arizona OR Hawaii--the ONLY states SMART ENOUGH TO DO AWAY this pesky tradition.  Annie, the main character of Mitch Albom's new book The Next Person You Meet in Heaven, has to go through her own rite of passage too.
If you read and enjoyed Mitch Albom's novella The Five People You Meet in Heaven then you will definitely want to read this sequel.  This lovely story is about Annie, the little girl Eddie saved at the amusement park. The accident that killed Eddie, left Annie with a severed left hand that had to be surgically reattached. She has blocked out the accident and has never been the same. As the story unfolds, Annie is marrying Paulo, her childhood sweetheart. She has finally found happiness--but for how long? After tragedy strikes, Annie finds herself  on a journey with Eddie, one of the five people she meets on her way to heaven. Don't want to say anything else except this short novel is full of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Albom's fine writing helped me realize that every ending is actually a new beginning. The book is only 210 pages or a 2 mile run that you can literally read in one sitting. Enjoy.

October 30, 2018 IF A PICTURE PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS

Remember Bob Ross?? The man with the red afro taught people how to paint HAPPY LITTLE TREES on public television?? Well--I'll have you know--I'm NOW the PROUD owner of a BOBBLEHEAD Bob Ross. It's the FUNNIEST thing. YUP--that's all it takes to make me happy. If you press the button-- he ACTUALLY speaks. It's REALLY Bob Ross' voice serving up his witty advice and humor!! What a blast to the past. I can remember watching Bob Ross with my grandmother. We were glued to the television and not because of the RED AFRO. It was the  combination of his SOOTHING VOICE and MAGICAL brush strokes. He was incredible. He could paint a beautiful piece of art AND give advice in thirty minutes! Bob Ross was a positive, encouraging person who was famous for saying--We don't make mistake--just happy little accidents.  My Bob Ross Bobblehead dished up some sage advice today when he said --We all need a little dark--so we can see the light--much like life. WOW--That's deep. A funny aside--No one ever called him BOB OR MR. ROSS. It was always BOB ROSS--both names--interesting. Thanks for the memories.
Currently reading a a National Book Award Finalist from 2017 by Min Jin Lee called Pachinko. This wonderful saga is the story of four generations of a Korean family. The story begins in 1910  during Japanese colonization and ends in 1989. At the beginning of the novel, Sunja lives in a small fishing village in Korea with her father Hooni and mother Yangjin. As a teenager, Sunja  falls in love with a wealthy, powerful man named Hansu and becomes pregnant. After she finds out he is married, she refuses to see him and instead marries a sickly minister named Isak and moves to Japan to be closer to his family. Sunja's son Mozasu is born and takes her husband's name. She also gives birth to another son named Noa. Her husband is later imprisoned because he is a Catholic and the family struggles to survive. Don't want to say too much more but Hansu lives in Japan and wants his only son to be a part of his life. The women in this story are strong characters who hold the family together against incredible odds. Find out what happens to the next generation when you read this novel for yourself. It's about 500 pages--6 mile run--that is a real page turner. The characters are rich and unforgettable. Enjoy.

October 25, 2018 UNDER PRESSURE

Okay--I'm not one of THOSE people. I can't stand Party City and I DON'T want to spend a gazillion dollars on a dumb Halloween costume. But what's the alternative??? I also DON'T want to spend what LITTLE free time I have  making a costume either. It's really a catch -22.  That's how I found myself at that ridiculous store the other day--practically begging my son to buy a costume. I'll admit it. I would have paid up to $50 for a costume--JUST TO HAVE IT DONE. I know my older kids are just shaking their heads. I would NEVER have spent that kind of money on costumes for them. I guess that's a perk??  of being the youngest--I just don't care anymore. LET ME BE. Sooooo--we walked up and down every aisle--AND I tried to convince him that the costumes were cool--BUT--OH--NO--He didn't like A SINGLE ONE!!!   So what am I doing?? SPENDING MY FREE TIME TRYING TO MAKE A VERY COOL COSTUME THAT ALL HIS FRIENDS WILL WISH THEY HAD. Yup--spending my time fashioning  a costume WORTHY enough to win the COSTUME CONTEST at his school.  And I'll be the one REALLY DISAPPOINTED if he doesn't win.  IT WILL ALSO BE MY FAULT--of course. It's A LOT of PRESSURE. It's also a lot of pressure for Frances Jellico after she arrives at Lyntons, an English Country Mansion, in Claire Fuller's new book Bitter Orange.  
Frances is a 39 year old woman who has spent her entire life with her mother. After her mother's death, anxiety ridden Frances takes a job at Lyntons, where she is to survey the gardens and architecture surrounding this once grand mansion that has been  purchased by an American named  Mr. Lieberman. Once she arrives, she meets a seemingly perfect couple, Peter and Cara, who have also been hired to report on the contents and condition of the mansion. The couple seamlessly envelop Frances in their daily rituals--eating, drinking, smoking to excess-- and she happily accepts their lifestyle as this is the first time she can remember having any friends. But are the couple really who they seem to be?? Why does Cara tell elaborate stories and more importantly, why does Peter put up with her?? And how does Frances find herself falling in love with Peter while Victor  stands by and lets her ruin her life? Find out for yourself when you read this atmospheric, psychological thriller for yourself. This haunting tale is about 320 pages --a four mile run--with twists and turns that will leave you wanting more.