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.