October 30, 2016 WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF

The weekend goes by way too fast--WITH SO MUCH TO DO IN ONLY TWO DAYS. I am all for the four day or NO day work week and wish I could figure out a way to make THAT happen. The hours fly--run--carve pumpkins--domestic crap--Halloween party--it is an endless list of TO DO.  I know that we are turning back the clocks this week and are "technically gaining an hour" but I feel more like we are losing an hour because it gets dark WAY TOO EARLY. I could use that extra hour of daylight to fit in my run. I know that time is relative though. I often think of my grandparents as they got older--their days seemed interminable--waiting for the hours to go by to get to the early bird special as there was  only so much line dancing, shuffleboard and  bingo they could stand.   I wish there were a way to even it out so that people my age didn't feel so rushed while others didn't have to wish the hours away. It's not fair to any of us. Michael Cunningham wrote this great book--it actually it won the Pulitzer in 1999--that makes me think of time called The Hours. 
 I have to confess that I am a huge fan of Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group and actually spent a year reading all about this group of writers, artists and intellectuals. I was quite fascinated with their lifestyle and wanted to understand why Woolf, who appeared to have everything going for her, stuffed rocks in the pockets of her jacket and marched into the water and drowned. It is quite disturbing. Anyways, The Hours was the working title of Woolf's book of 1923 that she later changed to  Mrs. Dalloway. Cunningham is obviously paying homage to her in several ways as one of the main characters in both books is named Clarissa--but  affectionally called Mrs. Dalloway by her friend Richard in Cunningham's novel. Another similarity to Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, is that the story focuses on one day in the life of the three main characters. In addition to Clarissa, who is planning a party for her poet friend Richard,  there is Laura Brown, a housewife, who is planning a party for her husband while reading Woolf's book in 1949.  The third character in Cunningham's novel is Virginia Woolf, who struggles to write Mrs. Dalloway in 1923 while  wrestling with mental illness. Though these three people seem unconnected, there is a common thread by the end of the novel. The is a wonderful, easy to read novel that also won the PEN/Faulkner award for fiction and became an Oscar winning movie in 2002. It's only 225 pages--or a 5 mile run--that I highly recommend. Enjoy!

October 27, 2016 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS

Finally ordered my new $120 dollar running sneakers! Yippie! Got home from work today and they were waiting by the door.  That is always a great thrill to me--comparable to-- I guess getting a new pair of boots for others. Unfortunately though, the weather's NOT cooperating so I won't be running today--it's snowing, sleeting, raining--one of those days I really loathe. I'm sure it will only get worse as fall turns into winter as it gets even more difficult to fit in running around not only my schedule but also Mother Nature. I hope she is kind this winter or I will have to start dragging myself to the gym, Yikes! Anyways, all this talk about water--snow, sleet, rain--reminds me of a great book I read last year by Wally Lamb called We are Water.

For the record, I am a huge fan of Norwich resident Wally Lamb. I have gone to one of his book readings, seen him twice at the movie premiere of his book Wishin and a Hopin, and read all of his books. I am seriously a huge NERD.  He does have a new book coming out in November, but I hear it's coming out as an app first, so I will have wait for the book version. I don't seem to be of the kindle world. Anyways,  We are Water is a wonderful story set in Three Rivers, Connecticut--basically--the Norwich area. Lamb blends fact and fiction in this story as the 1963 flood and death of several people is true, however,  Annie Oh and the family portrayed in this story is fiction. Annie Oh is a  woman in her 50's, mother of three children and divorced from her husband several years. She is an artist who falls in love with another woman. Their plan to wed meets mixed reaction and opens scars that go back 45 years--as some wounds never completely heal.  Annie is a hard character to empathize with until we learn about the trauma that shaped her life-- I guess that is true of most people. Anyways, this story is told in different perspectives which only makes it more interesting as far as I'm concerned.  Lamb is a wonderful writer whose specialty is character development-- AND I am a sucker for a writer who creates characters that come alive.  That's why I enjoy his books so much. It is a bit of a commitment--about 550 pages or an 8 mile run--but well worth the trek. Enjoy!

October 25, 2016 WELCOME TO THE MACHINE

I love Halloween.  It's really fun to run around town checking out the decorations people display in their yards. Some people are GUNG-HO even carrying on decorating traditions long after their children grow up and move away. Those are the folks I like best--they have orange lights, ghosts, pumpkins, witches, werewolves, spider webs-- all kinds of  SCARY things arranged just so kids will have more fun trick-or-treating. HALLOWEEN IS SOO MUCH FUN it makes me wish I were a kid again. Since Halloween reminds me of spooky, scary stories--ALSO A HUGE FAVORITE OF MINE--I thought I would write about a great classic from Ray Bradbury called The Illustrated Man.

Bradbury, who passed away in 2012,  was the winner of several awards including a special Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for his contributions to science fiction and fantasy. He was  truly a Renaissance man--with a career that spanned seventy years--can you tell I pretty much idolize him??  He wrote short stories, novels, television and movie screenplays and even starred in his own television show The Ray Bradbury Theater back in the 1980's. I can't say enough about his novels Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles and Dandelion Wine--just to name a few off the top of my head, but The Illustrated Man is different. It's a collection of 18 short stories tied together by a man homeless man covered in tattoos--a former carnival worker--in the freak show--known as "the illustrated man". The stories examine human nature and Bradbury's life long fear--technology. The issue of technology is addressed in the story "The Veldt" and it's one of my favorite in the book. It will scare the pants off of you, but the reality is that  Bradbury was right on target even back in 1951.  After you read it, think about how much you are controlled by technology and make a change. Anyways, this is a great book to read this time of year--it's less than 300 pages--of startling tales from the master. Happy Halloween.

October 23, 2016 RETURN TO SENDER

The weather has been playing tricks on me lately. Went out for a run in shorts yesterday and by lunchtime I was wearing a wool sweater. This morning the sun looked warm but the wind was fierce--didn't know what to wear out running. I hate when my ears and fingers get cold so I covered both, dressed in a few layers and headed out. It was warm on some streets and CHILLY on others --as a brisk west wind whipped up and down the avenues. It's the time of year when I never know what to wear. All I know for sure is I would rather have a WEST wind than a NORTH wind AND REALLY HATE THE NORTHEAST wind blowing off the river. Like I said, the weather this time of year is a real mystery to me. This reminds me of this great book I read a few years back where the author, Dan Chaon, played "tricks" on the reader in his mystery thriller Await Your Reply. 

Choan constructs this novel as a sort of puzzle but the reader has NO idea how the pieces fit together until the bitter end--that's how well crafted it is. Choan introduces us to three different storylines that appear to have nothing in common. Ryan is a student facing an identity crisis as he finds out he's adopted. Miles Cheshire has a schizophrenic twin brother that he has spent his adult life looking for and Lucy Lattimore, fresh out of high school, runs away with her high school history teacher. Seems simple enough, right?? Think again.  Each story in and of itself is mysterious as several of the characters are immoral, violent or just shady individuals while others appear quite naive until it's too late. This is more than just a thriller, it is a masterpiece of a mystery. The three stories converge about 2/3 through the book, and I guarantee you will NOT be able to put it down. Just when you think you have it all figured out--Think again--because you will not--until you turn the last page. Seriously. It's about 350 pages --about a 5 mile run--that you will never forget. Pick up a copy now. Why wait?

October 20, 2016 THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN

 Political signs and running--HHMM?? Just another interesting way to learn about people--one small sign can tell you a thousand things, RIGHT???  It's interesting, because I never really think about my neighbors political affiliations until I see them splattered all over their lawns. It's a good tool to use though when thinking about hosting a party as--POLITICAL SIGNS-- automatically help to cut the list in half--what a relief--why waste time, right?  SERIOUSLY, though,  I ALWAYS  stay away from politics--IT IS A STICKY--topic, ESPECIALLY, when you don't necessarily share the same views. I  really want to like those few people I call friends, so I never ask--AND PLEASE DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO TELL. My husband has always told me to NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING ABOUT ANYONE,  so I will be especially  mindful of that with the presidential election around the corner. HHMMM. This talk about politics makes me think of the book A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess for several reasons. 

First of all, not sure if anyone is happier than I am that the mud slinging "debates" are finally over--they are just another example of the demise of our moral code. WHAT HAPPENED TO

 R E S P E C T?? When two people vying to be the President of the United States act like The Kardashians or some other reality television show our country is in big trouble--HENCE--A Clockwork Orange. Burgess's book, set in the "future" is about a dystopian society filled with disturbing violence. The whole world has gone crazy--as the main character Alex and his "droogs" wreak havoc in London  including beating, raping and murdering random people. THESE ARE REALLY BAD, VIOLENT young adults who have grown up with violence and see it as a way of life. This society has regressed to the point that they have their own language called--NADSAT--a russified English that you will become accustomed to as you read. After a  day of violence and drugs, Alex is arrested and sent to prison for 14 years. He is then given the opportunity to be reprogrammed to be good. Read the book to find out what ultimately happens to Alex. This is an interesting read because it begs many questions--are some people inherently bad--can they be made good? What will happen if we let violence take over the world?? Anyways, this is a classic of about 215 pgs--a mere 5 mile run--that will leave you thinking and wondering where we are going as a society.

October 18, 2016 HERE COMES THE SUN

photo by Melissa Root

Fall is a glorious time to run. It is picture perfect-- there's no haze to ruin the view.  I can see clear across the Sound to Groton-- And if I had better vision--I could probably see in the windows as people enjoy their morning coffee--okay, maybe not--but you get the gist. The colors  of autumn are alive--blues, reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows. They seem like painted landscapes-- they are THAT  beautiful. Another DAZZLING feature this time of year is the clouds-- they float--whites, greys-- 3D giants against the blue in the sky making me wish I could hop on one for a relaxing ride.  Sunrise and sunset are never more beautiful than this time of year either. I usually catch the sunsets during the week--And there is nothing more exquisite--  than the sunrises which I am blessed with on the weekends. The sun seems to fuse the colors of fall together in a way that makes them blend perfectly. I absolutely love fall running, the cleaner air, and especially, the palette that is the landscape of my neighborhood. It make me feel alive and grateful.
All this talk about colors, palettes and landscapes reminds me of a great book I  recently read called The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro.
First of all, I am a sucker for books about art because I was an art history major in college. I feel at home wandering around an art museum--I am like a kid in a candy shop. So, when a friend told me about this book, I couldn't wait to read it. The main character is Claire Roth, she is a struggling artist was sells reproductions to make a living--she is actually a certified repro painter.  Claire is faced with the opportunity (not sure that is the right word)  of a lifetime--forge a Degas painting--the one stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston 25 years earlier--in exchange for a one-woman show in a famous gallery. Although Claire has reservations, the pay off is too good to turn down. This is an intriguing, thrilling story. What's really fun is that many parts of the book are factual as the Gardner Museum actually had several paintings stolen in a major art heist, including a Degas, that have never been recovered. This is a real page turner--hard to put down as you try to figure out the mystery surrounding the Degas painting. I didn't figure it out until the very end--thankfully! This is an easy 350 page book--no longer than a 4 mile run--I promise.

October 16, 2016 ME AND YOU AND A DOG NAMED BOO

Have you ever noticed that people who have been married for a LONG time start to dress alike and actually start to look alike?? I have seen many older married couples walking together while I'm out running and it's really true--BUT--there is something else I have noticed while pounding the pavement.  Many people ACTUALLY resemble their dogs. Don't get me wrong--I mean this in the kindest way possible. I see many people walking with their pooches and they really share many characteristics--hair color--facial expression--gait--I'M SERIOUS. So--you can imagine my quandary--I can't possibly look like a dog UNLESS that dog is extremely attractive. I know there are billions of rescue dogs out there, but I can only adopt one that complements me, right??  There will be NO Neapolitan Mastiff, Mexican hairless or Pug for me.  ONLY ATTRACTIVE  DOGS--GET THE CONNECTION--PRETTY DOG--PRETTY OWNER--as I need all the help I can get at this point.  So after rescuing two highly attractive dogs, I decided to make doubly sure people saw the resemble by thinking up great names--FARRAH FAWCETT & MAGGIE MAY. I really thought that I had it all figured out until I met a guy at the beach--his dog was black, short hair, stocky, long nose--ditto--owner--I told you! And he was too young to get the connection. He had never even heard of Farrah Fawcett!!  So much for that. HA! Anyways, I really love dogs and have owned several. I currently have two rescue dogs, they are both sweet additions to our family--we would be incomplete without them. When I think about dogs and family, I immediately think of this great book I read a few years ago called The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski.

This beautiful story is set in Wisconsin where young Edgar, along with his parents, Gar and Trudy, breed dogs after inheriting the farm and dogs from Gar's family. Edgar, a mute who only signs, has a special connection to the dogs, especially, the family dog Almondine. They understand each other on an entirely different level. Edgar grows up taking care of dogs and is eventually given his own litter to care for and train. Edgar's future seems set until Gar's long lost brother Clyde shows up looking for work. Gar reluctantly takes his brother back to work on the farm but shortly thereafter, tragedy strikes  changing all of their lives forever. This is a wonderful story about companionship, loyalty and the bond between a boy and his dog as Edgar and Almondine are forced run away under suspicious circumstances. While living in the wild, Edgar grows into a man with a decision to make-- Stay away forever or face the past and reclaim the farm that is rightfully his.  This is a great story-- about 600 pages long-- an 8 mile run-- beautifully written and  well worth the read.

October 13, 2016 THE LONG RUN

I usually try to run 5 miles when I go out---but the ideal run to me is 6 miles. It's a nice round number. If you can run 6 with RELATIVE ease you can easily train for a longer race because you have a base. The theory goes something like this--if you can run 6, you can run 12--which is almost a half marathon.  Sounds weird, but that's my philosophy and I'm sticking with it. Unfortunately, during the week I am only able to do short runs--3.5 or 4 miles depending on the day as the SUN is setting earlier and earlier with each PASSING day. Sad times ahead-- PASS ME A TISSUE, PLEASE. This really frustrates me because that decreases my weekly mileage and overall fitness. I know this is a silly thing to ponder but I have my standards--albeit low in comparison to others--BUT it's this thing called WORK that keeps getting in my way. Not sure what to do about that inconvenience yet-- Anyways-- SHORT, LONG, SHORT, LONG----hope you see where I'm going with this. Books, they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are long while others short. One type of book that I have not reviewed until now is a book that is a collection of short stories. Short stories are great when you don't feel like committing to long term relationship or you just want to have a one night stand--SORRY--I couldn't help myself.   I personally enjoy reading short stories, especially during the school year when I feel pulled in 5000 directions and my attention span wanes.

I read a beautiful collection of short stories last year  called Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. This little gem won a Pulitzer prize in 2009 and was actually made into a mini-series about a year ago. The interesting thing about the book is that the reader gets to know Olive by reading thirteen short stories about different periods in her life. Strout actually calls her book a "novel in stories". After reading the book, I walked away with an intimate knowledge of not only Olive but also myself as there is a little bit of Olive, both good and bad, in all of us. In some of the stories, I despised Olive while in others, I understood her and actually empathized with her. One of the things I learned from the book is not to judge people too harshly because we all endure many things--at times great sadness, then joy--in this complicated business known as life. AND LIFE IS LONG.  This is a book I will read over again because the lessons in the stories are important to me--maybe there is a little too much Olive in me and I need to remind myself that that's  okay. By the way--Olive Kitteridge is about 270 pages--a 5 mile run--that you will never forget or regret. I promise--remember there is a little Olive in all of us. Enjoy

October 11, 2016 SHOO FLY DON'T BOTHER ME

Now that I'm running at dusk--I'm bombarded with gnats. The seem to attack in  herds--IMPOSSIBLE to avoid. In the last week, I have had gnats in my eyes, up my nose and YES--I am pretty sure I have swallowed a one or two.  I know that is gross but what can I do?? They surround ME like a swarm of bees--there is literally NO place to hide. I really TRY NOT TO BREATH, BLINK OR OPEN MY MOUTH when they sneak up on me from behind a bush--BUT--try as I MIGHT-- I'm probably inhaling several hundred of these protein filled little guys every time I run.  No wonder I can't lose weight, right?? It's just another perk to running after work. Anyways, I am not a huge fan of insects, although I like spiders (thanks to Charlotte) the walking stick is pretty cool and I love butterflies--I am completely grossed out by FLIES though. The thought of them turns my stomach--DIRTY LITTLE CREATURES. The whole subject of bugs is one of the reasons you won't find me hanging out in the forest of the Belgian Congo like the Price Family in The Poisonwood Bible written by Barbara Kingsolver.

I absolutely loved this book because it is  literally a one of a kind novel that really captivated my attention. Kingsolver tells her story through the eyes of Orleanna, wife of Nathan Price, in the 1970's as she reflects back on her life.  In 1959, Orleanna, a new bride, and her husband Nathan, an ultra conservative Baptist preacher, take their four daughters from their lovely home in the United States to live in the Congo for Missionary work. Once they reach the village of Kilanga, Orleanna realizes they are totally unprepared to live in the culture or in the climate of Africa. The HUNDREDS OF BUGS (including flesh eating driver ants and locust just to name a few) animals, forests and Congolese are completely alien to this American family. To make matters even worse, Nathan is so wrapped up with saving the souls of Kilanga, that he fails to help his family adjust and ultimately loses them for good. Although the story is told through the eyes of Orleanna, the chapters  alternate to include the voices  of her four daughters and their feelings about living in Kilanga. After her youngest daughter dies, Oleanna finds the courage to save her other daughters as she flees the Congo to return to America. Read this great treasure to find out more about the Price family and what ultimately happens to each member of the family. I have to confess that this is a bit of a dense read--576 pages--an 8 mile run--that you will never forget. Just try to shield yourself from the bugs and you'll be fine. Enjoy.

October 9, 2016 WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN

I really cherish my weekend runs so it was a real bummer when I woke up to a rainy, windy, chilly morning. I decided to put off my run for a while to see if it would stop----NOPE!  Around 10:00, I decided to go to the gym--I REALLY HATE THE GYM--so I went outside and stood in the driveway to further evaluate the weather--Oh, it's not that bad--OKAY--I'm gonna go for a run--that's how much I HATE THE GYM. So I ran in or through the raw wind and rain-- and it actually wasn't too bad. Whenever I go on runs like this, I think about all the people who can't--especially family members--and that always spurs me on. I also compare the runs to one of the hardest most painful experiences ever-- HAVING A BABY--and then it's just a stroll through the park--RIGHT?? Everything is really duable--in the right frame of mind. The hardest part is really just talking yourself into getting out the door because the rain itself is cleansing and pure. I realize that childbirth and the weather do not generally have much in common--but both are important elements in one of my favorite classics written by Emily Bronte in 1847 Wuthering Heights.

First of all, weather and setting are practically characters in this novel as they are referred to repeatedly in order to set the mood for this tragic almost gothic love story. The novel takes place in Yorkshire moors between two homes--Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. It is a cold, almost savage place--dark, wet and stormy most of the time. As far as childbirth goes, poor Heathcliff is an orphan taken in by the Earnshaw family--which includes two of their own children, Catherine and Hindley-- to live at Wuthering Heights. Catherine and Heathcliff grow up together and eventually fall in love.  Hindley, however, despises Heathcliff  as he is jealous of Heathcliff's easy relationship with his sister and father. Heathcliff's love for Catherine defines his life and is ultimately his downfall as Catherine is torn between the orphan Heathcliff and the genteel Edgar Linton. This is the story of the destructive power of love and the IMPORTANCE of social class in England at the time period.  It is a passionate story--very risque for the time period--that spans two generations as Catherine later dies during CHILDBIRTH and Heathcliff seeks revenge on everyone who kept them apart. If you love love stories this is the book for you. It's about 270 pages long--about a 5 mile run--that will stay with you forever as we have all felt like Heathcliff and Catherine at  some point in our lives. Enjoy!

October 6, 2016 BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

Have you ever been so deep in thought while running that you ran into someone?? Sounds weird, I know, but it has happened to me. When I run alone, I usually mull over problems--with my own kids--kids at school-- lesson plan objectives--how am I going to fit that in too issues--whatever. I get so wrapped up in what I am thinking that I actually START TALKING TO MYSELF and eventually lose track of what I am doing and before I know it--BANG-- I'VE RAMMED into  someone. My worst episode--if that's what you want to call it-- happened awhile back.  I ran right into a blind person. Ironic, since I am the one who can supposably see, right???   I felt terrible-- I'm sure I scared the life out of the poor guy. Sometimes I do not know where my brain is--oh, yes, I do--I have WAY too many things on my mind--like my head is spinning out of control--HENCE-- the reason I have gone running into first place--WAIT-- isn't the running supposed to help me clear my head.?? I don't want to ponder this too deeply or I am apt to hurt myself OR someone else. Anyways, after banging into the blind person I got to thinking about how frightening it must be to venture out in the world unable to see and that reminded me of the main character in 2015 Pulitzer Prize winning book by Anthony Doerr entitled All the Light We Cannot See.

The main character of this lovely novel is Marie-Laure. She lives with her father, an employee of the Museum of Natural History, in Paris during World War II. At the age of six, Marie goes blind so her father builds her a miniature of their neighborhood--Saint-Malo--so that Marie can find her way around  the neighborhood--by touch and counting her footsteps. When Marie is twelve years old,  the Nazis storm Paris forcing Marie and her father flee Paris to live with a great uncle. In an attempt to hide valuable jewels owned by the museum, Marie's father is targeted and sought after to be questioned by the Nazis.   Meanwhile, in Germany, a young orphan named Werner finds an old radio and becomes an expert at fixing radio equipment--a skill highly regarded by the Hitler Youth Academy. After attending the academy, Werner is given a special assignment--tracking the resistance. His travels eventually bring him to Marie-Laure's home--Saint Malo where their lives become intertwined in unimaginable ways. This is a beautifully written novel that you will have difficulty putting down. Although it is about 500 pages--they fly by--I guarantee you will get lost in the story--much like I lose myself on my runs.  I would have to say this is about a 6 mile run--an easy one though--so enjoy the journey. AH, PARIS.

October 4, 2016 OBSCURED BY CLOUDS

The weather has been a bit ominous over the past week--I keep looking up at the sky as I run  thinking,  Hey, what happened to the sun?? It only sneaks out every once in awhile playing peek-a-boo so I don't forget what it looks like--that makes me sad because I LOVE THE SUN.  I also NEED the sun and REALLY miss the warm and peaceful feeling it brings when it comes out. I'm pretty sure that I have a touch of SAD--Seasonal Affective Disorder and it only gets worse with the time change and onset of winter.  The clouds that seem to be lingering lately--THICK as pea soup--really fluffy I guess, but not like a cotton ball--are kind of a downer. They're dense-- a black and white palette-- that makes everything else appear dull and lifeless. YUK--Sun, dear sun, where art thou these days?? Please come back SOON. Anyways, weather is a strange thing,  especially important to you if you are a pilot I would think. I wonder how much the sun and clouds/precipitation affected Charles Lindbergh on some of his flights back in the 1920's? I read a great book last year The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin and learned all about Lindbergh and his much more interesting wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh. 

Told from the point of view of Anne, this is a wonderful piece of historical fiction. The story begins when Anne, an ambassador's daughter, is introduced to the National hero, Charles Lindbergh. She thinks nothing of the meeting believing he will be attracted to her beautiful sister--think again. They have a brief courtship and Anne finds herself married to the camera shy Lindbergh. Benjamin then chronicles their life together-- the kidnapping and murder of their first born, the birth of their six other children, Lindbergh's fascination with Hitler while living abroad and eventual return to America where he is accused of being a traitor.  More important though, this is  the story of Anne Morrow Lindbergh--living under the shadow of a hero--who ruled the roost--and her struggle to find her own voice and become her own person. Anne does eventually find herself as a writer of several beautiful books including my favorite Gifts from the Sea. This is an excellent, well-written slice of history of about 450 pages--about a 6 mile run--and well worth the effort.  Most  events in history are much more fascinating than fiction and this is definitely one of those times! 

October 1, 2016 BLOWIN' IN THE WIND

Sometimes I love running in the wind--and other times--not so much. This time of year it can be really breezy, but the wind is refreshing and helps to keep me cool. Even a fierce north wind is doable. One of my comrades actually has a wind phobia though--DON'T JUDGE--listen we all have our issues.  She is convinced the wind will somehow be involved in her demise--tree branch on the head, electrical wire and some type of electrification, random traffic light might swing off the wire and squash her slight frame--whatever. I, of course, make fun of her crazy ideas-- but you never know--I'll probably be hit  by a runaway garbage can some day and that will be the end of me. Anyways, back to the wind, sometimes the wind is a friend and other times a foe. The north wind in the winter is a serious enemy --frostbite, chapped lips, wind burn--it is NOT a friend to VANITY but that's a story for another day. Hmmmm, books and wind--of yeah. I read this great book whose title contained the word wind and I am pretty sure it was windy  in the book--- so that counts right??? Just kidding-- The book was called A Shadow in the Wind and it was part of a trilogy that I finished over the summer.

A Blustery Day

When I first started reading this book, I didn't know it was part of a trilogy--I am usually not the trilogy type. I only  learned it was the first book of The Cemetery of Forgotten Books Trilogy, after I finished reading it. Written by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Shadow in the Wind  is set in Barcelona after the Spanish Civil War-about 1950.  The main character, Daniel, is the son of a book dealer. One day while in the shop, Daniel comes across a strange book--The Shadow in the Wind by Julian Carax and he becomes obsessed with the book and its author. Part of his obsession is finding and reading all of Carax's books--which he learns have been destroyed. Daniel's innocent quest turns deadly as he becomes entangled in a web of murder, dark secrets, lost love and madness. This is an intriguing, frightening, tragic story that is beautifully written and truly captures the time period and streets of Barcelona during a dark time. Published in 2001, it has been translated into at least 40 languages and has won several International awards. I could not put it down and waited on pins and needles to read the other books--SO unlike me. -- It's a bit of a commitment though--at about 490 pages--perhaps an 8 mile run--but you will be so engrossed in this gothic horror novel that you won't even notice.