July 14, 2026 PEACE AND HARMONY

 

Say it isn't so........Only 49% of ADULTS READ BOOKS......AND....only 16% READ DAILY. Although these statistics are MIND BOGGLING--It certainly explains SOOOOOOO many things that are wrong in our world.  Reading not only helps develop and build empathy BUT it also helps people learn about and consider different perspectives. It also helps people develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Where else can someone build vocabulary, communication and writing skills-- ALL paramount to success--in such an organic way??  Did I  mention the medical benefits--memory retention--stress reduction--better cognitive function--increased life expectancy. Just think--If everyone read 30 minutes each day--the world would be a happier more accepting place. People might be a bit more empathetic, kind and open-minded. We'd have great thinkers who would solve world problems instead of creating them AND we'd all get to live a little longer. Can't hurt to dream. In the meantime, I'd like to tell you about Maggie O'Farrell's newest historical fiction novel Land. This beautifully written family saga takes place on a remote Irish peninsula in 1865. Tomas, a skilled cartographer, and his young son, Liam, are sent to survey land for the British after the Great Famine. After a life altering experience in the copse, Tomas is declared possessed by the devil and a local priest, Father Joseph, performs an exorcism that leaves Tomas almost catatonic. After returning to his wife, Phina, and family in the Dublin tenements, Tomas makes a rash decision to move the family to the peninsula, changing the course of their lives forever. This story then goes on to explore the lives of each of the children, Liam, Endra, Rose and Eugene as well as many others including the widow, as each endures life on this sparse land mass. The Land itself is also a character in the story as it stands as witness to history,  terrain changes, destruction and death due to the Potato Famine.  This fascinating story is so much more than I can say in this review but if you are interested in Irish history, family sagas and great writing,  this is the book for you. 

June 27, 2026 FREE BIRD

 

Thought we'd surprise my husband with a new bird feeder for Father's Day as ours was literally  hanging by a thread on a broken pole. BUT that's what happens when you have to pay for a wedding-- RIGHT?  Back in the day, the bird feeder/pole came as a unit-- NOT TODAY. Had to buy a bird feeder AND a fancy mounting pole AND some gadget called a SQUIRREL BAFFLE. Got the kids to chip in thinking it would be about $100. WELL--pretty sure my head did a 360 at the register. Let's just say--we won't be eating for a month-- BUT the birds are happy and I'm  pretty sure we FINALLY have a squirrel proof bird feeder--FOR NOW--but I'll give them a week to figure it out. Just finished a novel by one of my favorite writers-- Ann Patchett's Whistler. As this lovely story unfolds, Daphne Fuller and her husband, Jonathan, are wandering around  the Metropolitan Museum of Art when her husband notices that they are being followed by an older gentleman. Jonathan eventually approaches the man only to learn that his name is Eddie Triplett and he was Daphne's step-father when she was nine years old. Although they haven't seen each other in 45 years, Daphne and Eddie are eager to reconnect as they remember each other fondly. The story then goes back and forth in time, when Eddie, a book editor, marries Daphne's mother, Abigail, and is a wonderful step-father to Daphne and her sister, Leda. Soon after, Eddie and Daphne share a traumatic event, Abigail quickly divorces Eddie and then cut off all contact. Find out what  happened all those years ago and what Whistler has to do with the past when you read this quiet novel about love, loss, memory and the power of connections--however brief--on people. Patchett is the master of character studies and this book does not disappoint. 

June 17, 2026 LIVING IN AMERICA

Currently recovering from bike accident number 3. YUP. Think I'd be a bit leery--since I've gone flying over a couple of cars in my younger days?? Crazy. This wasn't your typical bike accident though. I wasn't technically riding at the time. Somehow a calamity of tiny missteps happened and WHAM--I'm face first on the cement--4 stitches, a black eye, slammed  jaw, teeth out of whack--could barely chew for a week. Did I mention the sprained fingers and a bad knee. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. The only thing more frightening than the accident was the 7 hours spent in the hallway at the emergency room. Talk about CRAZY. We were  packed in there like sardines. Bless those ER workers. That is one job that is literally INSANE. Reminded me of the old days back at the court house. Talk about PTSD. I've plowed through many books during my convalescence but one that really sticks with me is Good People by Patmeena Sabit. This debut novel is pretty amazing as it is set up as a series of interviews of friends, family, neighbors, teachers, store keepers-- regarding the Sharaf family after a tragic event.  Rahmat Sharaf, wife Maryam, and their three children left Afghanistan and moved to Northern Virginia in order to escape the war. They come with nothing but after Rahmat finds success, the family lives the American dream--moving to a mansion, private schools for the kids, luxury cars. Money is no object. Cultural differences, however, plague them,  especially when their daughter, Zorah tries to behave more American. The reader only learns about the family and their lives through the interviews as we all become investigators trying to unravel the story. What is interesting is that each interview paints a different picture of the family. Who do we believe? Who really knows? This thought provoking book makes you wonder---how many people make judgements about people based on conversations, social media, stereotypes, cultural differences? How easily are we all manipulated? Find out more about the Sharaf family and judge for yourself what really happened.

June 8, 2026 CHAPEL OF LOVE

 

After many prayers and months of preparation--my daughter finally got married. The weather was glorious-thank God--as the rehearsal dinner and ceremony were outside. A little windy--but I'll take it. It was perfect.  From the officiant --Ali's life-long friend who was amazing--to the band-- the dance floor was jam packed all night--outstanding.  The food & venue--shout out to Haley Mansion--excellent service and food. And an atmosphere so full of love--it was simply divine. I'm so happy for the newlyweds.  The happy couple--my daughter especially-- truly enjoyed every minute too. She made sure that pictures were done in 45 minutes and that they arrived right on time for cocktail hour--signature drinks-- and a night they'll never forget. Cheers. Also managed to squeeze in a novel I think you might enjoy called The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard. Irene, the main character of this lovely novel, has had a tramatic childhood. After being shlepped around from one hippie band to another by her mom, Irene eventually moves in with her grandmother in New York after her mom tragically dies. Irene later faces other tragedies that force her to leave the country where she ends up in La Esperanza, somewhere in Central America, at a hotel called La Llorona, that is owned by Leila. After Leila's death, Irene unexpectantly becomes the owner of the hotel where she gets to work renovating, welcoming an array of guests and learning the Mayan culture.  She also meets a great cast of characters including Walter, Elmer, Maria, Luis and Mirabel, who become like family and help her accept the past, forgive and love again.

May 22, 2026 SWEET MAGNOLIA

Everyone knows that I'm obsessed with books and running but not sure if you know about my other passion. As an art history major/art minor AND art teacher I have to let you in on a little secret--I absolutely LOVE museums. Whenever I plan a trip--it's always around museums/culture/history AND famous book stores. One of my favorite little haunts in NYC is the Frick. Originally the home of Henry Clay Frick and his family, this incredible gilded age mansion opened to the public in 1935 as an art museum. It houses over 1,800 paintings, sculptures and decorative arts. The collection is absolutely amazing as is the history of the Frick family. AND most of the work at the museum was purchased by the Frick family while it was still their home. It blows my mind that these people lived with MASTERPIECES on their walls to gaze at whenever they wanted. The reason I bring up this incredible place is because I just finished a lovely novel set at the Frick called The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis. This historical thriller follows two story lines--that of Lillian Carter in 1919 and Veronica Weber in 1966. As the story unfolds, Lillian is an artist model/muse who has worked for many famous artists. One day after work, she finds herself running from the scene of a murder and ends up seeking refuge at the Frick, where the servants think she is a job applicant. Lillian ends up working for Miss Helen, daughter of Henry Frick, as her private secretary. It is in this position that Lillian becomes linked to a missing diamond and her story intertwines with events in 1966. In 1966, Veronica Weber is a model on a photo shoot for Vogue at the Frick. After a blizzard, she is stuck at the museum with an intern named Joshua where they find clues that might solve the mystery of the missing  diamond. I totally enjoyed this mystery and found the characters to be well developed and interesting. Find out all about the museum, its collection and the Fricks when you read this page turner. I totally recommend going to the museum before reading this novel because it will help bring this lovely story to life. Enjoy. 

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.