November 23, 2019 OH WHAT NIGHT

We have a motto in my bookclub that has worked well over the years. It goes something like this--WHAT HAPPENS AT BOOKCLUB STAYS AT BOOKCLUB. And while I agree 100%--I just want to give a shout out to a great  group of women.  Last night we had our annual Bookclub Thanksgiving. Trying to remember how it came about but I think it goes something like this-- we were probably WHINING about all the-- cooking--cleaning--(some) annoying family--that goes along with Thanksgiving.  So we decided to have a ladies ONLY Thanksgiving. It's evolved and changed through the years but remains a DAMN GOOD TIME.  It's seriously one of the  highlights of the bookclub. This year we even had a playlist so we could do a little dancing in the kitchen. Good Times. Thanks again ladies for the camaraderie and the memories--just one question--WHERE ARE MY GLASSES??? Maybe--I had a little too much fun. 
Spent the last week reading Shirley Hazzard's National Book Critics' Circle Award winner and finalist for the National Book Award from 1980 The Transit of Venus. Caro and Grace Bell are two orphaned sisters who leave Australia for a better life in England in the 1950s.  Grace is the more conventional of the sisters. She marries right away and lives a traditional life while Caro finds love in all the wrong places. Instead of dating Ted Tice, an astronomer new to England, she opts to have an affair with a ruthless playwright who treats her poorly. While Tice pines away for Caro, she later marries an American and moves to America. Believe it or not, this book is actually a love story of sorts between Ted Tice and Caro Bell reminiscent of Pip's love for Estella in Great Expectations.  I don't want to say too much  more so you'll have to read it yourself to find out what happens.  I have to admit that I had a hard time getting into this book but I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. At times it was "overwritten" and a little "high brow" but it was worth the read. I will also say  that it was not a quick read. I found myself re-reading quite a bit but with that being said, I would re-read this book again in the future. It's about 350 pages or a 6 mile run worth the commitment.

November 16, 2019 WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT

Christmas Music. Yup--ALREADY heard it on the radio. HELLO--it's only November 16th. We haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet. It should be a law. NO CHRISTMAS MUSIC TIL AFTER THANKSGIVING. YES--I realize that Thanksgiving is LATE this year--SO WHAT.  Can't we just enjoy one holiday at a time? Why do we have to rush everything? I can't possibly start thinking about Christmas until after Thanksgiving--I don't care when it is. Can't you see--  I'm trying my BEST to live in the MOMENT--take it ONE DAY AT A TIME. And Christmas music is messing with my system. There will be NO Christmas music, presents, decorations or dinner plans until AFTER THANKSGIVING. Don't mean to sound like the Grinch but WE'RE ( hoping you're all in too) NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE.   

Davy Land, one of the main characters in Leif Enger's lovely novel Peace Like a River couldn't take it anymore either. Set in Minnesota in the 1960s, Jeremiah Land is a single father, seemingly touched by God, who is doing his best to keep his family together. Reuben, the youngest son and narrator of the story, struggles with debilitating asthma and his belief in God.  Swede, the baby of the family, is a real firecracker who loves westerns, poetry and her family.  They live a quiet life until two brigands threaten the family and Davy, the oldest son,  kills them. He is arrested and put on trial for murder. He later escapes and becomes a fugitive from justice. While Davy is on the lam with a posse on his tail, his family decides to head to North Dakota where they hope to find their brother. Find out what happens to Davy and the family when you read this beautifully written book. The characters and scenery come alive in this haunting story because the writing is flawless. It's about 300 pages or a 4 mile run that will stay with you for a long time. 

November 11, 2019 LAND OF CONFUSION

So my MIL asked me to read this book. She had just finished it and wasn't sure how she felt about it. She said she liked it but found it confusing AND wanted to know what I thought.  My MIL is a huge reader but I'll admit she's easily confused these day so I thought that was part of the problem. The author of this book IS VERY FAMOUS--pretty sure he's been knighted for his contributions to literature. Put it this way, he's won more awards than Michael Phelps. I was intrigued. So was it my MIL  or was the book actually confusing. Before I started it, I checked out a few reviews.  The Boston Globe wrote,  “A recognizably Rushdie novel in its playfulness, its verbal jousting, its audacious bravado, its unapologetic erudition, and its sheer, dazzling brilliance.”— That sounded a little SCARY'--verbal jousting--audacious bravado--unapologetic erudition--WTH? So I spent several minutes looking those words up in the dictionary  before plunging head first into The Golden House by Salman Rushdie. 
Rushdie is clearly a genius whose knowledge on a variety of subjects is on full display in this novel. Although this novel is set in Contemporary America, with oblique references to Trump, politics, morality issues, he somehow stirs in Greek and Indian mythology--a movie plot--and adds a pinch of popular culture, mystery, love and loss. There is A LOT going on--perhaps too much. IT'S AN ARDUOUS READ. I loved the basic plot but found the book 150 pages too long. In a nutshell--Nero Golden has left India with his three grown sons and settled in a lovely home in Greenwich Village. There is no mother with the family but Nero, in his seventies, meets and weds a young Russian clearly in it for his money. The three sons are clearly upset but they have their own set of issues --one has Asperger, one is agoraphobic and the other has gender issues. Much of the book focuses on their struggles and the struggles that unfold after Nero's marriage. Their neighbor Rene, the narrator of the story,  is an ambitious film maker who becomes obsessed with the Golden family. He becomes intertwined with the family and decides to make a movie about them. Why was the Golden Family forced out of India? What will happen in Nero's marriage and who is really the father of his new baby? What happens to the grown sons? These and many more questions will be answered by the end of this epic. Give it a try and let me know what you think. It's about 375 pages or a 7 mile run that felt more like 800 pages. 

November 5, 2019 THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND

Excerised my right to vote today--But my heart DEFINITELY wasn't in it. There are many things that perplex me about the whole shebang. Maybe I'm stupid but tell me WHY there aren't a bunch of educators on the Board of Education--teachers-principals--maybe a lawyer and  an accountant for good measure.  It's great that people  want to run for office but most people are WAY OUT OF THEIR LEAGUE. It's hard to make decisions when you don't know what the HELL is going on.  Maybe that's IT-- The POWERS THAT BE want to keep the STATUS QUO.  Wouldn't you want to make $140,000 and do NOTHING. Will the school system  REALLY CHANGE if the "RIGHT PEOPLE" get elected??  Probably not. WHY?? THE BIG WHIGS don't want it to or people might start asking questions. As for City Council--are my taxes going to go down? NO. Will I have to keep paying more because the school budget its out of control? Yup. Same problems--different year.

Sergeant detective D. D. Warren has many problems and questions in Lisa Garner's new crime novel Never Tell. This amazing psychological thriller is told through three different women. As the story begins, Evie Carter's husband Conrad has been shot three times and the police find her standing over his body with the gun in her hand. She claims she didn't do it. D. D. Warren is the detective assigned to the case. She immediately recognizes the defendant from another case. Warren investigated Evie 16 years ago for the accidental  death of her father. Flora Dane is Warren's confidential informant. She is also a survivor. She was kidnapped, tortured, raped and held for 472 days before being rescued. She immediately recognizes the murder victim  Conrad Carter. Confused?? Don't be. By the time you finish this crazy page turner all of your questions will be answered. I'm told this is a series but this is the first one I've read and I will definitely check out the others. This book is about 410 pages that will fly by  like a 4 mile run.

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October 30, 2019 TEACH YOUR CHILDREN

You want to know the worst part about being a TEACHER?? When you're  a mom too. WHY?? Because you are always teaching. Most people come home from their job and forget about it.  NOT ME. Right now  I'm helping my son with THREE reports.  He also has to make some kind of edible cell project. (SCREAM) I don't want to help with reports or learn to make an edible cell. And this is just THIS week. Boy is he lucky--his mom is not only an English teacher but also an Art teacher. See how this sucks for me. I get to edit papers--TEACH HIM HOW TO WRITE A PAPER--  AND WORKS CITED PAGE AND create a CELL. When I get home from school--I'm Tired. The last thing I want to do is MORE SCHOOL WORK. (TAKING A DEEP BREATH NOW) Turning this vent into a positive.  Repeating--I'm very lucky. I am alive. I get to help my son write three reports and create a cell--over and over til it sticks! Or runaway!
Just finished Harlan Coben's new book Run Away and it doesn't disappoint. I just love reading his books because they hook you from page one and the ride twists and turns until the bitter end. In this book, Simon & Ingrid Greene have the perfect family. Or so it seems. Soon after their daughter, Paige goes off to college everything changes. The next think they know, she's hooked up with a drug addict boyfriend and she disappears. One day Simon is sitting on a bench in Central Park and he sees  a girl playing guitar. It's Paige. When she realizes it's her father, she runs away and Simon is arrested for beating her boyfriend. Paige disappears again but this time her parents will stop at nothing to get her back. Interweaved in this plot are several subplots--a hitman has been hired to kill several men including Paige's boyfriend. There's a detective trying to link the murders. There are plenty of drug dealers and a cult mixed up in this mess. Find out what happens to Paige and how all these things are related when you read this page turner for yourself. It's about 370 pages or a 3 mile run that you won't be able to put down.

October 26, 2019 I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN

 I put off decorating for Halloween this year--HOPING--that my youngest was FINALLY  over his obsession with Halloween. I didn't buy the spider webs or mention it at all--thinking to myself--YES!! But it was actually a NO.  So--I dragged out ALL the Halloween CRAP AGAIN and begrudgingly started decorating.  An hour and a half later--the house was ready for  Halloween. I even tried to ignore the WHOLE COSTUME THING.   Didn't want to deal with that either--BUT-- finally had to face the fact--I WAS GOING TO MAKE A SQUIDWARD COSTUME--SOMEHOW.  Yup--Finished it just in the nick of time too. Why am I telling you this????? Because I've been a jerk. A--NEGATIVE--NANNY--WHINER. Instead of appreciating my life--I got lost in the shuffle. I'm actually VERY lucky. I still have someone at home who loves Halloween. I GET to make a costume for someone WHO IS SUPER EXCITED TO WEAR IT. AND I get to hang out and have fun with kids on Halloween. YUP. Good Times. It really is ONLY a matter of perspective.
Raymond Jeffe's perspective on life changes after he meets Milly Guterman in Catherine Ryan Hyde's new book Have You Seen Luis Velez? Set in New York City, Raymond is a seventeen year old boy who lives in an apartment building with his new family. His mom has remarried--and he feels like he just doesn't fit in with his new family. To make matters worse, his best friend moves away, leaving him friendless. One morning as Raymond is leaving his apartment, he hears a call for help in the hallway. This is where he meets Milly Guterman, a blind, ninety-two year old neighbor. She is desperate to find her caretaker and asks Raymond for help. Raymond agrees to help Milly and then is  determined to find her caretaker Luis Velez. After looking in a phonebook, Raymond realizes the task is going to be harder than he anticipated. Will Raymond find Luis Velez? And why would he just disappear? Find out the answers to these questions and so much more when you read this heartwarming story about an unlikely friendship and the power of kindness. It's about 300 pages or a 3.5 mile run that worth every step. Enjoy.

October 20, 2019 AND THE HEALING HAS BEGUN

Thank you...Thank you. Had a wonderful time painting in the garden today.  Prevent-Heal-Thrive hosted a Holistic Fall Retreat today that was amazing. People had the opportunity to NOT only paint--but also learn about Integrative Treatments. People rotated through several clinics throughout the day to learn about--Healing from the Core--Therapeutic Hypnosis--Acupuncture.  They also practiced Yoga --Guided Meditation--Tai Chi Chuan. This event was inspired by a dear friend who lost her battle with cancer in February.  The goal of Prevent-Heal-Thrive is  to "Improve the lives of those living with cancer through evidence-based complementary therapies and integrative healthcare." This organization is different in that they want to help people affected by cancer obtain services that meet their individual needs, services that insurance might not pay for or that they simply can not afford.  If you missed this event--no worries--they are sponsoring a Festive Five K Run Walk or Roll Plus a One Mile Conga Line that sounds like a lot of fun.
I'm also having a lot of fun reading Louise Penny's latest installment of the Gamache series called  A Better Man. In this book,  Gamache returns to the Surete du Quebec. He is no longer the Chief Inspector as he has been demoted to the head of  homicide. Jean-Guy Beauvoir, the current head of homicide as well as Gamache's devoted son-in-law, has two weeks left on the job before relocating to Paris. Gamache and Beauvoir are faced with flooding all over the province, especially in Three Pines where Gamache resides with his wife and quirky neighbors. In addition to flooding, Vivienne Godin has gone missing. Her father, desperate for answers, implores the detectives to investigate Godin's husband, a known domestic abuser. After the body is found, mistakes are made collecting evidence that threaten to harm the case and let the killer walk. Find out more when you read this fifteenth installment of a series that keeps getting better and better. If you haven't read any of these books-I recommend you start at the beginning and work your way through so that you can get to know all the characters. They are all well-written and fun to read.  This mystery is about 450 pages or a 4 mile run that's hard to put down. Enjoy