June 30, 2017 HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOU

If you've read my blog before then you already know that I have a SLIGHT OBSESSION with Sam Elliott. I read a review of his new movie yesterday that--OF COURSE sparked my interest. OKAY--I'll admit it--I had to go on youtube to watch the movie trailers--interviews--and then more interviews--because that's what happens when you have a SLIGHT OBSESSION right?? Sam Elliott is ONE of the few actors of a certain age WHOSE DOOR IS STILL OPEN. Seriously--I STILL can't get enough of the voice, mustache--the WHOLE PACKAGE. I'm actually going to spend a few hours with him this afternoon--at the movie theater--IN MY GLORY.  FYI--I'm pretty sure Sam and I are meant to be together--in another life. The only reason we are not together now is as follows.  A LONG time ago I came up with a criteria--3 rules that I have FOLLOWED STRICTLY--when it comes to men.  1--NEVER, EVER date anyone better looking than you are.  2--NEVER, EVER date anyone skinnier.  3--NEVER, EVER date anyone shorter. HENCE--the problem. SAM might be a  SMIDGEN  better looking than I am. That means the spotlight would be on him and that's NOT GONNA WORK FOR ME. Although he is taller than I am-- he looks a TINY BIT skinnier than I am. AGAIN--that's not gonna work for me. I can't be with someone who has SMALLER thighs either. So Sam--as much as I want it to work--I have some real  issues that will FOREVER KEEP US APART--in this life anyways! Don't worry--I'll see you on the big screen.
  I could definitely see Sam  Elliott cast in the movie version of a great book I just finished--The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti. Samuel Hawley is a gun for hire who has been on the run for several years--for a past he can't escape. He is also a father--not your typical dad though--as his daughter Loo can handle a gun like nobody's business. When Loo turns twelve, Hawley decides it's time to settle down. He brings Loo to Olympus, Massachusetts, the hometown of his deceased wife, Lily. This is a coming of age story for Loo after settling in Olympus that alternatives with stories of how Hawley acquired each of his twelve gun shot wounds. When Hawley isn't being a father to  his daughter, he is actually a violent, heartless criminal who hauls cash and  makes trades for others that often involve merciless killing. He and his friend Jove pull jobs all over the United States--they may be rich but they have burned many bridges and live with serious regret. The chapters about Hawley are frightening and many times repulsive but I still found something to like about him. Maybe his love for his daughter redeems him. Loo is also an interesting character. Moving to her mother's hometown, she finally gets to know her grandmother and learn all about her mother who died when she was a baby.  This is a fun, exciting ride that you don't want to miss. It's about 400 pages---an easy read though--only a  4 mile run. Hope there's a sequel or a movie of this soon. Enjoy!

June 28, 2017 DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC

So this is what it feels like to be retired. LOVE IT. There is nothing better than rolling out of bed at 7:30 to go for a run. It's a great way to start each day. I feel stronger, calmer and much more relaxed. SO HAPPY.  The low humidity has been a HUGE PLUS TOO. It's more fun to run when it doesn't feel like a chore--something ELSE that has to get checked off the list. That's why summer running is SO MUCH FUN.  Only wish I could find some way to continue it during the school year but with my schedule it's never going to happen.  ALL THE MORE REASON TO APPRECIATE WHAT I HAVE--RIGHT NOW.  Remember that race I lost by 1 SECOND last year--IT'S BACK--the annual Sailfest Charter Oak 5k is July 9th. My stomach starts to flutter just thinking about it. YIKES!! No use speculating--I REALLY WANT TO PLACE THIS YEAR--gonna have to REALLY hunker down and kill myself to do it though. GOOD TIMES--wish me luck!!
No use speculating on the book I'm going to review either as it has already been touted as one of the 24 best fiction books of 2015. Erica Swyler's debut novel The Book of Speculation is a wonderful book about the power of books, family and magic. Set on Long Island Sound, Simon Watson is a lonely research librarian living in a house that is slowing crumbling into the sound. His mother, a former circus mermaid, drowned in the very waters overlooking his house when he was only twelve. His father died of a broken heart a few years later and his sister Enola ran away with the circus to be a tarot card reader when she turned eighteen. One day a book arrives at his door from an antiquarian book dealer who bought it on speculation. It is the log of a traveling circus from the 1700s which includes information on the drowning deaths of other circus mermaids all on July 24--the same day Simon's mother died. With July 24 only a few weeks away, Simon tries to discover what the book has to do with his family. Is there a curse on  the women in his family? Will he be able to save his sister from the curse? Find out for yourself when you read this hard to put down book yourself. There are quirky characters and other subplots--I recommend making a family tree because the generations can get a little confusing by the end of the novel. So if you are a fan of The Night Circus or Water for Elephants you will definitely like this 380 page book. It's about a 5 mile run that you will thoroughly enjoy.

June 27, 2017 THE BELLE OF THE BOOK

I have been in love with reading my whole life. I remember when my grandmother bought me a copy of Charlotte's Web in Fourth grade-- I stayed up half the night because I had to know what happened to Wilbur and Charlotte. E.B. White,  Beverly Clearly and Judy Blume were paramount to my childhood. I must have read Are You There God, It's Me Margaret a dozen times. Margaret became a great friend to me. I learned many lessons from not only her, but the characters in every book. Books so influenced my life, that I try to share this life long love with my students as an English teacher.

As an adult, I find the characters in books more interesting than most (okay--many) people. Don't get me wrong, I have many friends, but I long and feel most content when enveloped in a great book. I actually start to get nervous if my pile of "to read" books gets low--seriously!

Since I am a well-known book worm, people constantly come to me for book recommendations. Among my family and friends, I have developed a reputation as a well-read person of quality (usually) literature.  Friends affectionately refer to me as their "book dealer;" someone they trust to help them navigate the often overwhelming variety of choices in the book world.  Hence, my blog, The Belle of the Book. This blog  makes it easier for me to share recommendations and other random things I ponder while out running or just wandering around town.

My hope is that you find this blog not only helpful; but more importantly, I hope it inspires you to want to find a cozy corner where you can curl up with a great novel and pass the day.

 Find my blog at belleofthebookmrr.blogspot.com. You can also follow me on facebook, twitter or instagram. Have a great day. Happy reading.

JUNE 26, 2017 YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND

 BENNY'S. Missing my favorite store--ESPECIALLY--this time of year.  Not exactly sure why they closed last year but-- IT STILL HURTS--OKAY??  Went out to the  "other" stores looking for crabbing nets the other day to NO avail. SO--I decided to make the trek across the bridge and around the corner to the "other" BENNY'S and I'M GLAD I DID.  That's the thing--Benny's has everything. I can get my crabbing nets-- beach chairs-- GIANT PINK OR WHITE swan float,  toaster and new kitchen clock in one place.  HIGHLY EFFICIENT. AAAHHH BENNY'S. It really is like walking into a time warp. I'm back in the 1970's again. Pocket protectors, shirts and ties and really good customer service. HOME AGAIN. Even saw some of the employees from the old store working in this one. COOL. So if you're missing BENNY'S--take the 15 minute drive across the bridge--you'll be glad you did. While you're there--I could use a few new tires and a gallon of paint!
 All this reminiscing made me think of a great book I read a few years back called Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. Jacob Jankowski is a 93 year old man living in a nursing home with no control over his daily life. In order to escape his prison, Jacob reminisces about the good ole days. Jacob's story is told through a series of memories while waiting for one of his five children to arrive to take him to the circus.
During the depression, Jacob a veterinary student finishing up course work and preparing for finals, learns  that his parents have been killed in a car accident. Distraught over his parents death, Jacob hastily decides to  jump on a train one lonely night--a circus train belonging to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Jacob starts out with menial jobs but is eventually hired by the circus owner, a ruthless man named  Uncle Al, to take care of the animals. Here, Jacob meets an array of characters  including  a drunk named Camel, a dwarf named Kinko, a violent animal trainer named August, his wife Marlena, the star of the circus and an elephant named Rosie. August is a cruel, heartless animal trainer who not only beats his animals but also his wife. As the story unfolds, Jacob and Marlena fall in love much to the chagrin of August who will do ANYTHING to keep his wife. Will Jacob and Marlena escape from August's clutches? Will Jacob and Marlena be able to save the animals that August and Uncle Al  abuse?? Will one of Jacob's children make it to the nursing home to take Jacob to the circus?
Find out when you read this wonderful book for yourself. It is a well-written, easy to read book that is impossible to put down. It's about 330 pages or a 4 mile run that will keep you guessing until the very end.  Enjoy!

JUNE 23, 2017 THIS IS WHY I'M HOT

If I could devise a way to keep SWEAT from dripping in my eyes during those NASTY-- HUMID--HOT runs--I'd be a millionaire. It seriously STINGS and makes it hard to see--have tried to use my shirt but it's already SOAKED with sweat AND the visor can only do so much. Had some tough runs this week in the heat. Breathing has been more difficult and I've really had to slow down. And talk about sweat--literally dripping from head to toe after every run.  Need to get used to this though  if I'm going to run the Kelley Road Race again this year. It's a summer tradition--a SERIOUSLY SCORCHING run the first Saturday in August. You really have to have a SCREW LOOSE to run it-- BUT SOMEHOW it's become a rite of passage-- every summer. This is the only race I know of that's FREE. For the last 50 years or so the race has been billed as a 12 mile road race--it's actually 11.6 miles--an odd ball distance but that's what makes it unique. Sadly, the race is being changed this year-- Not sure why--but this year it's going to be a half-marathon. ANOTHER 1.5 MILES-- YIKES--I could barely do the run when it was 11.6. It's a tough run at a blistering time of year SO I'll need to get used to this HEAT if I'm going to last. Extreme temperatures are commonplace in Pakistan, the setting for Fatima Bhutto's novel The Shadow of the Crescent Moon. 

Bhutto is a well known writer  with many ties to Pakistan. Her grandfather, hanged in 1979, was a former Prime Minister as was her uncle, Benazir Bhutto, before he was assassinated.  Her father was also murdered in an attempt to overthrow General Zia in 1996.  Her family has quite a history. Bhutto is obviously  quite knowledgeable about Pakistan, politics and life in Pakistan after  9/11 and the "War on Terror."
This fictional story takes place in Mir Ali, a village in Pakistan near the border of Afghanistan. It is commonplace to see American drones killing the Taliban and innocent children--Sunni Muslims bombing Shia Muslims--even the underground movement fighting its own corrupt government  for independence. It's a volatile region--a war zone. Bhutto's story takes place here in the course of one day.  It is the day before Eid Holiday and three brothers-Aman Erum, Hayat, and Sikandar decide to visit three different mosques because it is too risky to be together. Aman Erun, the eldest, is here on holiday. He sold his soul to the government in order to get an American visa to go to college. He also left behind his sweetheart, Samarra,  in order to go to America and make something of himself.
Sikahdar is a doctor who is married to Mira. On the way to the Mosque they are accosted by the Taliban bent on killing anyone failing to answer the question correctly. Are you Shia or Sunni?
The youngest brother, Hayat, is a Shia Separatist, a high ranking member of the underground where he moves weapons and heavy artillery. He and Samarra, also involved in the movement, become involved and tangled in a web that could end in disaster. Find out what happens to these five people by the end of the day when you read this engaging, time appropriate novel. It is only about 240 pages--or a 4 mile run--with a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. Enjoy

June 20, 2017 WHO'S GOING TO DANCE THE POLKA

While out running this morning, my comrade and I got into a discussion about--YET-- another way our  world has changed. One glance at the weekend section of The Day and the average reader is BOMBARDED with events. TOO MANY CHOICES.  IT'S CRAZY.  This, of course,  led to a lot of memories and laughs about simpler times--when there weren't so many choices. So without further ado.......Remember when The Wizard of Oz was only on ONCE a year--it was an EXCITING event. We couldn't wait--to pile around the television in awe--ESPECIALLY-- the first time we saw it in COLOR!! I can't tell you how long it took me to realize that the same actors played both roles--OKAY--I ONLY SAW IT ONCE A YEAR!!  Then we moved on to the fireworks...........When I was a kid--a trip to see the fireworks--was like going to Disney!! Heck--the fireworks were only ONCE a year and were PURE magic. Today--not so much.  Even a trip to Ocean Beach was cause for celebration when I was a kid. We would go  every summer  because it was home to a major event--POLKABRATION.   It would literally take over the boardwalk for at least a week every summer. The men would come dressed in their finery--white shoes, pants, belt--adorned with a red shirt and smiling face. The women came all gussied up too  in their fancy dresses--splashed with color and different designs. They really whooped it up-- dancing around the boardwalk from morning till dusk to the Dick Pillar Band.  Talk about a major event--this was a vacation for thousands of people--every year.  I know--I know--everything changes--it's what makes the world go round. Some changes are good and others-- NOT so much. No one knows this better than Okonko, the main character of Chinua Achebe's awarding winning novel from 1958 Everything Falls Apart. 

This wonderful piece of historical fiction actually paved the way for other African American writers. It has been translated into more than 50 different languages and sold over 20 million copies world wide. It is also a mainstay in high schools around the world because it is relevant--even today-- in many ways. This story takes place in the fictional village of Umuofia in the 1890s. Okonko is a leader in his Igbo village. He is a wealthy, hard-working, wrestling champion with an almost morbid obsession with masculinity--because his father is a weak man with zero standing in their tribe. Okonko always feels he has to prove himself, a need that eventually brings about his demise.  He has three wives and several children that he treats poorly. The story unfolds in three parts.  The first tells of Okonko's life, family history, society and the rituals of the Igbo people. The next section begins  when Okono and his family are banished from the tribe and must live in exile for  seven years--at a time when British colonialism comes to Africa.  In the final section, Okonko and his family return to the tribe and are distraught by the changes as Christian Missionaries have been converting the "African savages." Okonko wants to fight them but he does not have the support of his tribe. Find out what ultimately happens to Okonko, his family and the tribe when you read this benchmark in African literature. This masterpiece is only about 150 pages long--a mere 4 mile run--that tells about Western enlightenment by a man and family who lived through it.

June 18, 2017 PAPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG

It's that time of year again. Father's Day. It's a time to honor those men who take their parental responsibilities seriously.  They change diapers, wake up at all hours of the night to clean up vomit, calm a child down after night terrors and even make room for a little one in their bed after a bad dream. Being a parent is hard work--every day for the rest of your life--it's a lesson in selflessness that never ends. Unfortunately, many children grow up without fathers. Statistics estimate that  24 million children in the United States--1 in 3--live without a father. Fatherlessness is one of the most significant problems facing our society. It IS what's wrong with our world.  It saddens me on every level when I hear young mothers actually say "baby daddy" when referring to the father of their child.  It's even worse when I five year old uses this term??? I actually cringe. Is this the new norm?? If it is  then we as a society are in a lot of trouble. This has to change. Fatherlessness hurts everyone. Statistics have proven that children without fathers risk--living in poverty--substance abuse--teen pregnancy--dropping out of high school.  I wish I knew how to stop this cycle that perpetuates a helplessness that can easily be prevented. Many of these themes are explored in Nathan Hill's highly praised new novel The Nix.

First saw this book in the New York Times Sunday Book Review. It came recommended by one of my favorite writers--John Irving and it was referred to as Dickensian. Knew immediately it would be my cup of tea. Hill's novel is about many things including love, betrayal, politics, family relationships AND it is also a satire on society today. It's a huge undertaking--he actually spent 10 years on it and it shows-- the writing is both wonderful and introspective. The main character is Samuel Andreson-Anderson. He is a thirty year old English professor and failed writer. Sam has a nix--something that he loved that disappeared and took a piece of his heart. His mother, Faye, who abandoned him when he was 11 years old. He hasn't heard from her in 20 years until she gets  arrested for attacking a well-known politician and her image is splashed all over the news. Sam decides to help his mother, but in order to do so, he must find out her secret life in Chicago during the 1968 riots. Hill takes the reader back to Faye's childhood-- her difficult relationship with a father she never understood-- to Sam's childhood--when his mother left the family--and back to the present. This sweeping novel is told through several characters--including  an addicted gamer named Pwnage, a college student named Laura Pottsdam who is trying to get Sam fired, Sam's childhood friends, Bishop & Bethany as well as Guy Periwinkle, Sam's publisher. It's a menagerie of interesting characters that somehow come full circle by the end of this winner of the Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction. It is a novel that is SO relevant today that it IS well worth the 600 pages. It's a commitment though--perhaps an 8 mile run--that you will not regret!

June 16, 2017 MAKIN' PLANS

Just updated my mileage so far--455 miles--only 545 more to complete the 1000 mile challenge. Hoping to run 45 more miles by the end of June--then I'll have exactly 6 months left to run the other 500.  20-25 miles a week--80-90 miles a month over 12 months. I'm no mathematician BUT I think that will add up to over 1000 miles. That's the plan anyways. I'm really NOT a planner. SERIOUSLY.  This whole running schedule sounds like I'm some kooky, rigid person--I'M FAR FROM IT. I have no idea what's going on from one day to the next. I actually HATE plans. When I was younger, I used to have a calendar that was covered with plans--I actually looked forward to a FULL calendar. Knowing I had a plan comforted me in some odd way. Today, I CRINGE if I have too many things to do. If I have plans on consecutive nights--NOW that's a BIG problem. I have no interest in PLANS anymore. Not sure what happened. I used to love going to parties--socializing--the whole shebang.  NOT ANYMORE--making conversation--chit chat--eye contact--is A LOT of work these days. Must be an age thing. Macon Leary, encounters these problems and many more in Anne Tyler's winner of both the National Book Critics Circle Award and Ambassador Book Award, The Accidental Tourist. 

This is a wonderful, beautifully written novel about a couple, Macon and Sarah Leary, whose lives are  torn apart after the murder of their 12 year old son Ethan. Both are lost in their own sea of grief. Macon is a travel writer who publishes travel tips for businessmen--even though he hates traveling. He craves comfort, sameness and the ordinary-- which eventually drives his wife away. After Sarah leaves, Macon lives with his dog, Edward, until he breaks his leg and is forced to move in with his sister Rose while he re-cooperates. Macon's family is a collection of odd-balls. Rose is the caretaker--she's been taking care of Macon's eccentric, social blundering brothers for years. Add Macon and his dog to the mix and chaos ensues. The brother's can't stand Macon's dog and demand that Macon get him trained. Muriel Pritchett is the dog trainer. She is loud, tacky, outgoing, the opposite of Macon in every way. She also has a 7 year old son. The two eventually  start dating and Macon learns to live again--until his wife finds out and wants him back. Will Macon end his affair with Muriel and go back to his wife or will he choose to live a different kind of life?  Find out when you read this lovely book. It's about 350 pages or a 5 mile run--that will capture your heart. I don't say this often but---the movie is fabulous too. It was up for 4 academy awards in 1988 and won one. Enjoy!

June 14, 2017 THOSE LAZY HAZY CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER

First official day of summer vacation for my youngest. It's always an adjustment. As much as we want to abandon the clock--it takes some time to get into RELAXATION MODE. Kids always want to know what the plan is for the day. How about WE HAVE NO PLAN--now--that's my kind of plan!  It's hard for kids to adjust though-- because their lives are so scheduled.  School--sports--music lessons--homework--they really don't have much time left to relax. So when we tell  kids to CHILL OUT--GO WITH THE FLOW--they're perplexed--what's that??  When I was a kid, summer vacations were LLOONNGG, SWELTERING, totally UNSTRUCTURED  days. My brothers and I were left home to fend for ourselves. It was survival of the fittest. On a good day, we had Kool-aid and peanut butter sandwiches-- took off for the day--exploring the neighborhood or walking the streets. Who knows. Luckily, we didn't burn the house down--even though my brothers DID got caught playing with matches--HELLO--WE WERE TOTALLY UNSUPERVISED EVERYDAY.   Boy has the world changed. Today--KIDS ARE OVER-SCHEDULED AND OVER-SUPERVISED. We have gone from ONE EXTREME to the other. There needs to be a happy medium--some balance between the two--for both parents and kids. I think it has something to do with control--but control is REALLY only an illusion.

Speaking of illusions, if you like Harry Potter or Twilight then you will probably enjoy Erin Morgenstern's wonderful novel The Night Circus. Step right up and get your ticket to Le Cirque Des Reves--The Circus of Dreams. This is a wandering, magical circus that appears in neighborhoods around the world without notice. Here you will meet two illusionists--training since childhood to compete in a competition that only one can win. Celia Bowen, daughter of Prospero the Enchanted and Marco Alistair, orphan adopted by Mr. A. H. Celia and Marco along with other circus performers that include a fortune teller, contortionist, and red-headed twins will amaze you with feats of magic that become even more fantastic as the story unfolds. Unbeknownst to their masters,  Celia and Marco fall in love and decide to change the competition into a a collaboration. How will Prospero the Enchanted and Mr. A. H. react to this news?  Find out what happens to the circus and all the interesting characters when you read this well-written, intriguing novel that not only won the ALEX award but also the ALA award in 2012. This book is about 400 pages or a 6 mile run--that is satisfying on every level. Enjoy!

June 12, 2017 KISSIN' COUSINS

Sun--GLORIOUS--sun. What a weekend! Perfect for running and spending time on the beach reading and catching up with our summer friends. I've gone to the same beach for about 26 years now. In that time--I have gotten to know many wonderful people. We see each other every year--between May and September. They have watched my kids grow up and I've watched theirs not only grow up but also get married and have children of their own. A new generation on the beach. The little ones are so much fun to watch--special times and one of a kind memories.  It brings me back to when mine were young and we spent every summer on the beach with the cousins. They arrived in late May and stayed for the summer. The cousins were lucky enough to spend every day together--playing wall ball--swimming--kayaking--wiffle ball--then countless cookouts and bonfires with s'mores.  GREAT MEMORIES. The cousins are all grown now, so I love watching our neighbors and the new generation--sharing time with their cousins--making memories that will last them a lifetime too. The cousins were and still remain  an important part of our lives. Can't help but think back this time of year though and miss the good ole days.   J. D. Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, considers himself lucky to have been surrounded by a large family too as he struggled to make his way in the world.

I finished reading this really interesting memoir the other day and find myself wrestling with many of Vance's important points. First of all, Hillbilly Elegy is primarily the story of Vance's life and Appalachian values. Although he grew up in Middletown Ohio, his ancestors were from Breathitt, Kentucky. Hillbillies, fiercely loyal to their family but in the same token verbally, mentally and physically abusive. These are also people who love their country. They can tell you what  each member of their family did during every war to make America great. Sadly though, many also struggle with alcoholism and drug abuse. They are a culture in despair. After surviving a seriously dysfunctional childhood, Vance somehow made it out. He credits his tough but loving grandmother, grandfather, and the Marines for helping him recognize his potential, learn personal responsibility and gain a strong work ethic. These attributes eventually lead him to be a successful college student and graduate of both Ohio State and Yale Law School. As a hillbilly himself, Vance CAN directly confront the social taboos that others would shy away from. His questions are valid and need to be answered if we are going to steer our world in another direction. Vance poses the question--Where does the BLAME END  and the responsibility START?  Many people have crappy childhoods right? What a waste to let that define your life. Get over yourself and make a difference. Vance blames the Hillbilly culture which encourages social rot--a "learned helplessness" that is detrimental to society. I don't know the answer to the important questions he asks, but I do know he's right on target. Please take some time and read this book. It's only about 210 pages--literally a 3 mile run--that will help you understand a culture in dire need of change and reform who need to take responsibility first.

June 7, 2017 COMPLICATED

This whole glasses issue is complicated. On--Off--On--Off--all day long. Not sure if I've ever mentioned that I HATE wearing glasses!! Had 20-20 vision into my early forties and then WHAM--I could barely SEE a block away--NEARSIGHTED. So I've had distance glasses for quite a while. Low and Behold--went to the eye doctor's and now I'm also FARSIGHTED. Being the VAIN person I am--I decided to try contact lenses. Boy are those hard to operate!!!  After several failed attempts, I finally got them in---not sure how I'll get them out--but that'll be another story.  They're great-- BUT now I can't read because the contacts are for distance. Actually had to run to the store to buy READERS so that I could write this BLOG.  Like I  said--it's complicated. If I do well with these--the doctor is going to let me try contact lenses for both reading and distance. CAN'T WAIT. BREAKING NEWS:  This will be the first time in years that I will ACTUALLY be able to see where I'm running and the people along the way.  BABY STEPS. 

Speaking of seeing, I recently finished Jose Saramago's sequel to Blindness which earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998. This follow up book is entitled Seeing. In this novel, it is four years later.....election day. It's raining so hard that people are not coming out to vote. After the rain subsides, the people are ordered to go out and vote and the polls are jammed. After the ballots are counted though, more than 70% of them are BLANK. A state of emergency is declared as this incident  brings back memories of four short years ago--when everyone in the community was blinded by a plague that hit the city--everyone except the doctor's wife. Could she be conspiring against the government? Desperate to blame someone, government officials put a police superintendent on the case. What he finds will disturb you and it should. Saramago's satire on government, control, bureaucracy and corruption will have you shaking your head because  it actually resembles our world in many ways. Will the doctor's wife become the fall guy in this world gone mad?  Find out for yourself when you read this 300 page masterpiece. It's  about a 5 mile run--well worth every page as the writing is absolutely flawless.

June 5, 2017 MY GENERATION

Had two great runs over the weekend. On Saturday I ran with my comrades. I'll have to say--it's getting QUITE competitive-- as my injured friend has recovered and feeling her oats again. It was all I could do to stay ahead of her.  FUN--TO HAVE HER BACK AND FEELING STRONG AGAIN. Ran alone on Sunday. Reflection time. I thought about the day ahead. Believe it or not--I was going to attend a book signing for one of my FORMER students. I can still remember having her in fifth grade. She loved to READ AND WRITE--A dream come true for any teacher. She was and still is a high achiever--graduating from college in May  and already  publishing  her first book. WOW--YOU GO GIRL! Very proud of her accomplishments. It makes me feel good too--as a teacher. Teaching is a tough business and it's gratifying to see a former student succeed--and become a certified English teacher to boot. I just love literature and it makes me so happy to know that someone who appreciates the written word as much as I do-- will be carrying the torch--to foster a  new generation of booklovers. To all my former students--I am in awe of all you accomplish. Thanks for inspiring me. You help me remember that teaching is an honorable profession that gets more rewarding with each passing  year.

There are all different types of teacher in the world--math, language, gym, health, history--but there is only one piano teacher. The Piano Teacher written by Janice Y. K. Lee is a beautifully written love story set in Hong Kong. In 1942 Will Truesdale, an Englishman, has a love affair with Trudy Liang, a socialite of  both Portuguese and Chinese descent. This poorly timed romance sadly ends as the Japanese invade Hong Kong during World War II. Will is thrown into an internment camp and Trudy, in order to save her loved ones, becomes the mistress of the new ruler of Hong Kong--General Otsubo. Ten years later, Will is now working as a driver for a wealthy family in Hong Kong known as the Chens. The Chen family includes Victor, Melody and their ten year old daughter, Locket. Claire Pendleton, a married woman and newcomer to Hong Kong, is hired by the Chen family to provide piano lessons to their daughter. Will and Claire meet and soon fall into a passionate affair. As their affair deepens, Claire learns about Will's devastating past. She also learns the secrets that the Chen family would rather keep hidden.  Find out for yourself what happens to Will, Claire, Trudy and the Chen family when you read this page turner for yourself. It is about 320 pages-- a 4 mile run--that will have you sprinting for the finish!

June 3, 2017 MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR

Yesterday was officially my last day of school. YIPPIE--made it through  another year--RELATIVELY unscathed.   And the best part--the sun was FINALLY shining. It's been tough goings with the weather--had to run last Sunday in the pouring rain--been trying to wait the weather out since.  It was beautiful yesterday-- sunny and breezy--perfect for an afternoon run. Believe it or not-- my legs are STILL sore from that race--so I've been taking it SLOW. That just shows my age!  I've also been taking it slower at school over the last few weeks. Just exhausted from the RAT RACE--so are the kids. We are ALL ready for a break from the clock. I've  noticed that this time of year-- my FILTER doesn't work as efficiently EITHER.   I few semi--inappropriate things have slipped out now and then so--I KNOW IT'S TIME FOR A BREAK. It happens to everyone. We hit a point during the race--at work or on the road--where our bodies AND minds  weaken--and all of a sudden something pops out--that normally would have been swallowed. YIKES!! If they ever escort me out of the building you'll know why! If they do though, I hope it's by my favorite inspector from the Louise Penny series--Chief Inspector Armand Gamache.

While most people binge watch shows on Netflix, I actually binge read books.  I have a confession to make -- I CANT NOT stop reading the Gamache series. I  finished book seven--A Trick of the Light the other day-- and had to force myself to wait two days before  starting  the next one. THEY ARE THAT GOOD. Penny's mysteries are all character driven stories that happen to be great  mysteries too. The experience is enhanced too if you read them IN ORDER because the major characters appear in each story and they are realist and richly portrayed. I seriously want to go live in Three Pines and hang out in the bistro with them.  In A Trick of the Light, Gamache is once again called to the tiny village of Three Pines after a body is discovered at the home of his good friend and artist Clara Morrow. Clara, a wonderful artist, has finally been discovered and her work is being shown in a prestigious gallery in Montreal. Her dreams have finally come true right?  After the show, the guests arrive in Three Pines for a celebratory party that ends in murder as Clara's childhood friend is found dead in her flower garden. There are many suspects-- including Clara, her husband Peter and a host of other people who are involved in the art world.  Gamache takes the reader into the dark world known as the art scene-- a place where there is competition not only between friends but also husband and wife. Gamache will not only find the killer in the end but even more important--make  the reader reexamine the  human condition--jealousy, guilt, greed. If we are not careful--Penny will teach us a thing or two too.  This exciting page turner is about 350 pages--or about a 5 mile journey--that will leave you hungry to read the next installment. Guaranteed!