December 31, 2019 AULD LANG SYNE

Can't believe it's the last day of 2019. Time to make the list. Yup--my favorite books of 2019. Read 60 books this year--wrote 56 reviews. That's an average of 5 books a month. Thinking about doing the 100 book challenge next year but don't know when I'd find the time to read 40 additional books. Last year when I wrote the list--it was really hard. The list was long and I had to keep paring it down because there were SO many books I loved--but this year was very different.  After reviewing my blog--there were ONLY nine books I'd read again or consider having in my library. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy many of the books but they were NOT KEEPERS. Hope you had a chance to read these books but if not--here they are again. (drum roll please) My list of the best books of 2019:

1) Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald reviewed 9/6/19--blog title-Communication Breakdown
2)  Chances Are by Richard Russo reviewed 10/12/19--blog title-Don't Be Afraid
3)  Where The Crawdads Sing reviewed 10/4/19--blog title-Sittin' On The Dock of a Bay
4) Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak reviewed 3/3/19--blog title-Let It Snow
5) The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar reviewed 8/22/19--blog title-Free Fallin'
6) The Lost Man by Jane Harper reviewed 3/28/19--blog title-Thursday's Child
7) Tin Man by Sarah Winman reviewed 7/5/19--blog title-Born in the USA
8) The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien reviewed 7/11/19--blog title-It's a Long Way to Tipperary
9) The Dutch House by Ann Patchett--will review in 2020

Hope you have a safe, happy, healthy 2020.
Happy Reading
-The Belle of the Book

December 29, 2019 BALL OF CONFUSION

Couldn't wait to get Erin Morgenstern's new book. Had my name on the waiting list for months. I absolutely loved  her first book The Night Circus--it was a national bestseller translated into thirty-seven languages. As soon as I got the email from the library--I zoomed downtown giddy as a school girl.  I finally had it in my hands for two whole weeks. I'm gonna say right off that her new book The Starless Sea is HEFTY-- a commitment. One I was more than willing to make based on her last book. Unfortunately that's where the excitement ended.  I tried to will myself to like it. I kept telling myself it would get better if I just stuck with it. But I have to admit that  I really did not enjoy The Starless Sea. 
Here's the premise--Beneath the Earth there is a hidden world at the shore of the Starless Sea. There are all kinds of tunnels and rooms and buildings filled with books and stories. The people who live there are the keepers and protectors of the stories. In order to get to this world one must believe and "see" the painted doorways that act as entryways. After Zachery Ezra Rawlins discovers a mysterious book in the library, he becomes obsessed with finding the Starless Sea.  Zachery's quest leads him to a masquerade ball where he meets Mirabel and Dorian, dwellers of the Starless Sea. The duo convince Zachary to join them in their battle to save The Starless Sea. Pretty sure I have it right. I have to admit that I found the book very confusing. I kept thinking I missed something so I kept going back to reread but I was still confused. It's also not really my type of story---I never liked Harry Potter either--sorry. If you're a Harry Potter fan then maybe you will like this book. Like I said--it's hefty--almost 500 pages that felt like a 10 mile run to me. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.

December 29, 2019 SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT

Been distracted. Feeling a little down. The holidays are sometimes difficult for me. When I get like this--I either binge read to keep my mind occupied (4 books in the last week)  or clean random things. So--I was cleaning out a drawer in my hutch last week-- filled with old XMAS cards. Talk about getting distracted. By the time I finished with those--I discovered an old manilla envelope that contained  pictures of me from birth til about fourteen. There were even old report cards including my kindergarten report card--a good year for me--AND  my report cards from grade 7 and 8. Those were tough years for me. My mother got divorced again and our lives were in upheaval. My grades went DOWN in every subject except READING and I  missed a lot of school. Although the report cards were a springboard to some painful memories, they helped me remember that reading was my salvation THEN and continues to be a salve NOW.  If you're feeling like you need a little escape from life-- look no further than The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.
This psychological thriller begins with Alicia and Gabriel Berenson--a seemingly perfect couple. She is a famous painter while her husband is a famous fashion photographer. They live in a beautiful home near London where Alicia spends her days working in her studio. One night Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot and Alicia kills him--five shots to the head--and never speaks again. After the trial, Alicia is sentenced to The Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London. There she meets Theo Faber--a criminal psychotherapist determined to "cure" her. He becomes obsessed with solving the mystery and getting Alicia to talk again. Why did Alicia kill her husband? Why is Theo risking his career to find the truth? Will Alicia ever talk again? Find the answer to these questions and many others when you read this novel filled with twists and turns that will leave you shaking your head. This book is about 340 pages or a 3 mile run that you won't be able to put down. Have Fun.

December 17, 2019 BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO

Took a ride over to Kelley's Pace in Mystic the other night for a book signing. The place was hopping. There were many runners and  fans eager to hear Amby Burfoot and Gail Waesche Kislevitz talk about their new book Runspirations. Yes--I wanted to hear them talk about their new book but I was also there BECAUSE my son illustrated the book. Proud Mother moment and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. It's funny--when he was  little--I never imagined that he'd grow up and NOT need his MOM anymore. BUT IT HAPPENS. I know it's our job as parents to guide our children so that they can be independent--successful adults but it's BITTERSWEET. It's hard to let go.  I don't see him  much these days. He's got an apartment--a girlfriend--  a busy life. AND I'M SO HAPPY FOR HIM. Life is good. BUT--every so often--I wish  he still needed me like he used to. CAN'T believe I'm saying this but I ACTUALLY miss cooking for him. These days--I get texts from him asking for recipes and cooking advice. Too funny. 
If you're looking for some advice or running inspiration--look no further than Runspirations--Amazing Stories, Timeless Wisdom, and Motivational Quotes to Help You Run Stronger Every Day. This little gem was written by Amby Burfoot, former editor of Runner's World and 1968 winner of the Boston Marathon, and my friend  Gail Waesche Kislevitz. Gail has been running for 52 years and has completed  all six World Marathon Majors. She's also written six books --that I've reviewed--and highly recommend.  This book includes several amazing short stories of runners who will inspire you to either keep running or start running. One that sticks out in my mind is Sarah Reinertsen. She ran seven marathons--in seven days--on seven continents--with only ONE leg. There is also a section on timeless wisdom that includes tips on training, nutrition, shoes, health, injury prevention, running form, cross training, weather, safety, and lifetime running. The last section of the book is devoted to motivational quotes. This book is a must for every runner. It's full of practical advice and inspiration. It's about 175 pages or a 2 mile run that will keep you moving forward.

December 8, 2019 DOWN BY THE RIVER

Did I ever tell you about my fire-bellied frog?? Well it's REALLY not my frog--BUT it's become my responsibility. LIKE I NEED MORE TO DO??  It's just like getting a puppy. The kids beg and promise to take care of it BUT that only lasts a week.  Yup--who's the one buying the crickets--ME. Who's the one cleaning the tank--ME. Who's the one changing the water--ME. Who'd a thunk a little frog would live SO long--it's been three years. We used to have two frogs. One escaped and his remains were found behind a bureau months later. We bought another AND that one escaped too. Not sure what happened to that little guy SO now we are back to ONE--just ONE little fire-bellied frog. He escaped ONCE too but I found him hip hopping down the stairs.  They are tricky little fellas. If you leave the top  open for more than a minute--GONE. Wish we never got the frogs in the first place--BUT it's til death do us part--for my sake AND his--I hope he goes first--no one else is gonna take care of him. All this frog talk has me thinking about nature and the book I just finished by Peter Heller called The River. 

Wynn and Jack, the main characters in The River, have been best friends since college orientation. They bonded because both love adventure and the outdoors. The pair decide to canoe the Maskwa River in Northern Canada before starting their final year of college. At first the trip is peaceful and everything they hope for, but before long they smell fire and realize that they have to outrun a wildfire. In addition to the fire, the pair hear a couple violently arguing as they paddle by an inlet. The next day the man appears on the river in his canoe without his wife. The pair must decide whether they should turn back toward the fire to search for the woman or make their way to safety. This is a story about friendship, strength and the power that nature really has over humans. Find out if the pair make it out alive and if they find the woman when you read this real page turner for yourself. It's only 270 pages or a 3 mile run that you won't be able to put down.

December 1, 2019 BORN TO RUN

Grateful for so many things this Thanksgiving. Grateful to spend the holiday with family and friends. Grateful that everyone--at this moment--is HEALTHY & HAPPY.  Especially grateful to Prevent-Heal-Thrive for an amazing 5K yesterday. Their Festive 5k Run/Walk/Roll--AND--1 mile Conga Line was the ultimate tribute to their sister Michele. Over two hundred people came together to support a family forever changed by the death of a woman who may have been tiny in statue but was seriously one of the strongest women I've ever met. One thing I've learned this past year is that people grieve in many different ways. The Cote girls have taken their grief and channeled it into helping others. It's a noble cause and one that would have been dear to Michele's heart. What better tribute to their sister than by offering comfort, hope and assistance to other cancer patients and their families. I want to thank the Cote girls--really ladies--and  the whole Bassett family for their continued friendship and for the comfort all of you have given me this year.  It really takes a village.
I'm sure Olive Kitteridge felt great comfort after her marriage to Jack Kennison in  Elizabeth Strout's  sequel Olive, Again. If you haven't read Strout's Pulitzer Prize winning book of 2008 Olive Kitteridge or watched the HBO miniseries, I recommend you do so before reading the sequel. In the newest book, Olive is a seventy year old widow who decides to marry her neighbor Jack Kennison. Her son is flabbergasted, but who is to judge what it's like to be alone in your old age. This is just one of the short stories in the collection that totals thirteen. Each story is interrelated and takes place in Crosby, Maine. Olive is still a cantankerous, judgmental Northerner, but she's also a loyal, honest and kind person too. She's quite a dichotomy--she's a real person--good and bad. By the end of the novel Olive is eighty-four and living in an assisted living facility nearing the end of her life. I totally enjoyed reading about Olive again, but did find it sad at times.  It is a must read if you loved the first novel as much as I did. It's about 305 pages or a 3 mile run that will stick with you forever.

November 23, 2019 OH WHAT NIGHT

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

November 16, 2019 WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT

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

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

November 11, 2019 LAND OF CONFUSION

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

November 5, 2019 THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND

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

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

'

October 30, 2019 TEACH YOUR CHILDREN

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

October 26, 2019 I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN

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

October 20, 2019 AND THE HEALING HAS BEGUN

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

October 12, 2019 DON'T BE AFRAID

Terrified. That's probably the best word to describe it. YUP. The day I agreed to take over the art department at my school. Terrified--Nervous--Excited. The art department has an excellent reputation which is why--I WAS AND STILL AM-- TERRIFIED. I don't want to be the ONE to lead us down the ROAD TO RUIN. Seriously--I was an Art history major and an Art minor. Yes--I've taken many classes over the years but-- I'm NO PICASSO.   COULD I REALLY TEACH ART???? I've finally realized that I don't have to be PICASSO.  Just because someone is a GREAT ARTIST doesn't mean they can teach. I'm a TEACHER. I can teach. So what if it's a bit of a learning curve--CHANGE IS GOOD. I'm having fun. I get to work with charcoal, ink, paint, pastel and introduce students to a whole new world. I get to teach them HOW TO SEE--like an artist SEES. And if I'm lucky--I'll inspire some budding artists and help change the way they see the world. ISN'T THAT COOL. Don't get me wrong--I'm still terrified and nervous but SUPER DUPER EXCITED. 

Lincoln Moser, the main character of Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Russo's new book Chances Are...., is also excited but for a very different reason. Lincoln is headed to his family's beach house on Martha's Vineyard for a reunion with his college buddies, Teddy and Mickey.  It's the first time the trio has been back to the house in forty years--without Jacy.  Jacy was also part of a their college group even though she hailed from Greenwich and had no business hanging around a bunch of scholarship boys. Jacy's been missing since she walked away from the house headed to the ferry all those years ago. Her mysterious disappearance has haunted the trio for forty years. Will they finally discover what happened to Jacy now that they're older and wiser? While each man harbors secrets, could one of them be involved in her disappearance? Find out when you read this well written wonderful story for yourself. I really enjoyed this book. This book is a mystery but it's so much more. It's about friendship and the comfort their shared history brings. It's about old friends--people who can not be replaced. They're the ones who know where you're from and how you've grown and changed. This lovely story is about 300 pages or a 4 mile run that I was sad to see end. 

October 4, 2019 SITTIN' ON THE DOCK OF A BAY

Hype. I hate when a book gets TOO hyped up. Everyone is talking about it so you think IT MUST BE GREAT.  It hangs out on The New York Times Best Seller List--FOREVER. You order it from the library AND IT NEVER COMES because the list of people waiting for it is ENDLESS.  AFTER SEVERAL  months --someone lets you borrow it. FINALLY. I know you're thinking--why didn't  I just buy the book right?? I can't. I ONLY buy books that I want to keep in my collection. That means I have read it--loved it--and HAVE to HAVE  IT. That's my rule--or I'd have to rent out a storage unit for my books and that doesn't make sense. BACK TO THE BOOK.  I finally have THE BOOK and can't wait to read it. And that's where the HYPE sort of ruins it. My expectations are HUGE. Don't get me wrong-- I really liked the book--but I wanted to LOVE IT. I wanted to add it to MY LIST of best books EVER--that DAMN HYPE. That's what happened when I read Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. 

Set in North Carolina, the marshlands are as much a character in this beautifully written novel as Kya, a young girl who is forced to fend for herself. At the tender age of six, her mother abandons the family, followed by her older siblings, leaving her to live with her abusive alcoholic father. By the time she is ten years old, she is completely alone in the marshlands. Kya has never been to school and only learns to read and write after her brother's friend Tate takes an interest in helping her. Because she has spent most of her years alone in the swamp, the locals refer to her as the swamp girl. People avoid her when she comes to town and treat her like garbage-- except for Tate. After a popular football player is found dead in the marsh, Kye becomes the obvious suspect and is put on trial for murder. Find out what happens to Kya, Tate and the Marsh when you read this deeply moving novel that's  part coming of age story, mystery, love story and meditation on nature. It's about 400 pages--4 mile run--that I think you will enjoy.

October 3, 2019 THE WAY I FEEL

Art is transformative. It has been proven to reduce stress--increase self esteem--foster growth and create a sense of well-being. When you get in the ZONE--It's a type of meditation.You really get lost in the process. Completely focused--calm-in control. It's a wonderful feeling. The problem is--GETTING THERE. In order to get there--you have to--COMMIT --LET GO--SEE. That's what I tell my students. Committing is really scary. But once that's accomplished--let go of insecurity and doubt. STOP worrying about it. The last and most difficult thing to do is SEE. It sounds easy enough but it's not. The  BRAIN has a funny way of  creating pictures in the mind for any images we've seen before--BUT they're actually NOT what we really SEE. Example--think of a tree and your brain will conjure up an image BUT go look at a tree.  What you see is really quite different. The trick is to--trick the brain--be more intuitive--AND-- that takes practice.
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende is a wonderful story that spans several generations and continents. Alma Belasco's is a lucky little girl. Because of her mother's intuition, she is sent from her homeland, Poland,  to live with her aunt and uncle in San Francisco in 1939 and narrowly  escapes the horror of World War II. There she meets Ichimei Fukuda, son of their Japanese gardener.  While Alma and Ichimei's friendship turns to love, the Japanese attack  Pearl Harbor and the Fukuda family is sent to live in an Internment Camp. This lovely story unfolds as Alma reveals her past to her care worker Irina and grandson Seth while living at Lark House, a nursing home in San Francisco. Find out how Alma and Ichimei find each other again and what ultimately becomes of their forbidden love when you read this beautifully written novel. It's about 350 pages or a 4 mile run that melts away.

September 26, 2019 ONLY A FOOL WOULD SAY THAT

In the merry land of Trumpville, all is NOT well. The English language is taking a beating.  It's being twisted and turned so much that most SANE people don't understand what the HELL is going on. Trump rants-- raves-- stretches the truth from here to Hawaii SO often that we have to turn him OFF or lose our sanity. He creates euphemisms--that only he understands--and THEN just when we think we get it--he changes the meaning again. UGH. I get the Republican idea of the trickle down effect but I thought they were talking about money--the economy--NOT words. Just check out a few new ridiculous job titles that are so convoluted--like 90% if what Trump says-- it would take a POLYGLOT to figure out exactly what THESE PEOPLE DO. Went for a physical a few weeks ago and found out that the receptionist I've seen many times is now called  an ENGAGEMENT AMBASSADOR--that's a serious title. I  had NO idea either that my paperboy is actually a MEDIA DISTRIBUTION OFFICER. Not kidding. Got a card in the mail the other day from an insurance salesman--OOPS--I mean FAMILY PROTECTION  CONSULTANT. It's Crazy. I'm just a teacher and I'm sticking to it. 
 Something else that's a little crazy is the book I just finished called My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Set in Lago, Nigeria, Korede is a responsible nurse who is overlooked by everyone in favor of her younger sister Ayoola, who is drop dead gorgeous and clearly the favorite daughter. Because, Korede is the older sister, she feels responsible for Ayoola, even when called to help Ayoola clean up the mess after she kills her boyfriend Femi. Ayoola has killed before--three times to be exact and Korede has helped her cover up the crimes. When Ayoola sets her sights on Dr. Tade, Korede is clearly upset. She has fantasized about him for years. Will Dr. Tade falls for Ayoola too or will he realize Korede is the sister for him? Find out the answer to that and many more questions when you read this dark almost absurd story for yourself. The writing is good but the story is clearly just for entertainment. It's about 240 pages--a very quick 2.5 miles--that is CRAZY.

September 22, 2019 FOR ALL WE KNOW

There's a difference between knowing and understanding?? What?? I'm serious. We all know that we should be thankful for.......... We know THIS but we don't really understand it until we gain wisdom from experience. Make sense?? When we are younger we think we understand things we can't possibly comprehend. We think we appreciate......but again we have to experience to truly appreciate. I can honestly say that I NOW appreciate every day--where I live --the people in my life--because I know that in the blink of an eye it could be gone. It happens every day. And it's random. Take a walk --bask in the sun--dance in the kitchen. Smile and say thank you. Rowan Caine, the main character in Ruth Ware's new book The Turn of the Key, could have been very different if she had learn these things. 

Rowan Caine is a twenty-something year old woman from London. When she's turned down for promotion at a day care center, she decides to find a new job. After reading an ad for a live-in  nanny in Scotland with great pay, she applies for the job. When she arrives at Heatherbrae House for the interview, she is overwhelmed with the beautiful home and seemingly perfect family. She accepts the job even though several other nannies have left under mysterious circumstances. So begins the nightmare that ends only after one of the children is dead. The story is told in the form of a letter. A letter from Rowan, who is in jail awaiting trial, to Mr. Wrexham, the lawyer she is trying to persuade to take her case. This ghost story has many twists and turns with a shock at the end you will never guess. It's 334 pages--3 mile run--that's hard to put down. It's not my favorite Ruth Ware book--but it's definitely worth the read. BOO.

September 12, 2019 WE ARE THE WORLD

 9/11. Elvis' death. Pearl Harbor. Assassination of JFK. Apollo 11 landing on the moon. The Beatles first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Titanic sinking. Bombing of Hiroshima. Michael Jackson's death. Lennon Assassination. Sandy Hook. Columbine. Princess Diana's death. MLK assassination. Can you remember where you were when any of these events shook the world? I can remember exactly five. It's funny how these and many other events become a part of us. I thought about this yesterday because it was 9/11. It's hard to believe that it's been 18 years. AND yes--I remember exactly what I was doing when the first plane hit-- as do most other Americans of a certain age. What's really mind blowing is that most of my students don't really know much about it. It's just another day in infamy to them. Violence and wickedness are commonplace in the world they live in.  Every other day there is a mass shooting of some sort. Innocent people die and we are helpless to stop it. The world has definitely NOT become a better place since 9/11. So disheartening. UGH. That's why I read books--the great escape. And what better way to escape then in Rebecca Makkai's kooky novel The Borrower. 
Lucy Hull, the main character of this outlandish novel, is a 26 year old children's librarian in Hannibal, Missouri. One of her most dedicated  patrons is 10 year old Ian Drake. Ian is a precocious, insightful, avid reader whose reading list is limited because his mother is an extreme religious fundamentalist. Because she feels sorry for him,  Lucy helps Ian hide and borrow the books he wants to read. Lucy's concern for Ian grows after she meets his strange mother and learns that Ian has to attend anti-gay classes at his church. One morning when she gets to work, Lucy finds Ian camped out in the library. He has run away from home. Although she should bring him home, Lucy finds herself torn and the next thing she knows they are on a road trip together. This quirky book is about two "odd balls" who essentially kidnap each other and end up finding themselves. This clever novel with interesting characters and many hidden literary references only add to the fun. It's about 350 pages or a 4 mile run that will keep you guessing and shaking your head.

September 6, 2019 COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

Did you know that only 7% of communication is verbal?? That means 93% of communication is NON-verbal.  I'm talking about --body language--gestures--facial expressions. Sounds crazy but I'm here to tell you it's TRUE. First week back at school--I get some VIRUS--and CANNOT SPEAK AT ALL. Crazy because TALKING is a huge part of my job. No Worries. I worked around it. It was the QUIETEST week of my life. Students REALLY PAID ATTENTION AND HELPED ME. I learned to incorporate other teaching modalities--AND--they in turn --utilized different learning modalities. It was very cool. A WIN-WIN. I digress now. Parents. Now that you know the statistics (they are real) think about them when you talk to your OWN kids. THEY ARE ONLY LISTENING FOR TWO MINUTES. Say what you need to say--QUICKLY--THROW IN A LITTLE BODY LANGUAGE --BE QUIET--or you're just wasting your time. ENOUGH SAID.

Do you like historical fiction? Love stories? Time travel? If you do, then you MUST read Lisa Grunwald's new book Time After Time. Set from 1925-1948 in Grand Central Terminal, Joe Reynolds one of the main characters in the novel, is a leverman for the station.  He is in charge of pulling levers and directing the flow of trains in and out of the station. Nora Lansing is a Manhattan socialite who appears in the station one morning in 1937 dressed in flapper clothing, looking totally out of place. After bumping into Nora in the main terminal, Joe is determined to find out more about her. After searching for her for several months, Joe finally finds her again-- in the exact same spot--but it's  1938  and she's wearing the same flapper outfit. Don't want to say too much more other then Nora's comings and goings have something to do with a solar phenomenon known as the Manhattanhenge (this was real) and Grand Central Terminal.  Grunwald does a great job with the history of the terminal--Biltmore Hotel, Oyster Bar, Whispering Gallery--she really brings this city within a terminal to life. I am a sucker for this kind of book so I really LOVED it. It's about 400 pages or a 4 mile walk that I literally read in 2 days. Couldn't put it down because I had to know what would become of their love.

September 2, 2019 KILLING ME SOFTLY

ALLERGIES. If you've ever suffered through them--you're feeling my pain. I didn't get allergy problems until I was in my thirties. One day I was fine and the next thing I knew--I was getting 6 shots a week for 5 years. Between the months of April and June I suffered-- stuffed up-- horrible rashes around my eyes-- sinus infections every other week.  I've been  Allergy Free-- since my desensitization--until the other day. THEY'RE BACK-- I've got post nasal drip--headache--tingly ears--burning eyes --and my throat feels SO raw it's painful to swallow. What the HELL. Thought I was done with  this crap. The scary thing is that I've never had allergy problems THIS TIME OF YEAR.  Praying this is just an ANOMALY. The thought of going through testing again and ANOTHER 5 years of shots makes me want to CRY. Hoping a cup of hot tea will make things better.

Tea and soup make everything better in Marsha Mehran's International bestseller Pomegranate Soup.  Not sure how I missed this heartwarming book when it came out in 2005, but I couldn't resist buying it while I was in Ireland because the author's first name was Marsha. This lovely book is about three sisters, Marjan, Babar, and Layla, who escape Tehran during the Islamic Revolution for a better life. After seven years in London working and saving money, the trio decide to settle in Ballinacrough, a small Irish town,  to open the Babylon Cafe. While many of the residents welcome the girls and their Persian dishes, others including Thomas McGuire, who owns most of the town, try to drive the them away. One of the things I loved about the novel was  that every chapter began with a recipe that had been woven into the story. I'm actually going to try making one of the chicken dishes later this week. So, don't hesitate to read a great story that's well written--and get a good recipe. What more do you want?? This little gem is only 250 pages--or 3 miles--and a real treat.

August 22, 2019 FREE FALLIN'

 Believe it or not--I fell again.  How many times can ONE PERSON FALL-- Seriously?? I can NOT believe my bones are still intact. OK--So I've fractured my elbow a few times--my ribs a few times but NEVER A CAST. Knocking on wood right now. This time--I was running to my car in the rain and SLIPPED. Banged the SAME ELBOW--whacked my Back--Tailbone-Wrists. It's been 9 days and I'm still BLACK & BLUE --with a sickly tinge of YELLOW.  Actually--ICING 3 of my injures-- while I write this blog. Sitting on an ice pack--another wrapped around my knee--another wrapped around my elbow. Trying to recap my falling history. Fell off of a trampoline--hit by a truck--hit by a car- rollerskating/ice skating falls--Nine months pregnant tripped over MYSELF--sidewalk falls --sand falls--running falls--rain/ice/snow falls. OUCH. THERE ARE TOO MANY FALLS TO COUNT. No worries. Still out running--walking--and doing  some WRIST-FREE yoga. CAN'T KEEP ME DOWN FOR LONG.
The same could be said for Bhima, the main character of Thrity Umrigar's wonderful novel of 2018 The Secrets Between Us. Before I go any further, I need to tell you that this is the sequel to The Space Between Us which was a National bestseller in 2006. In the first novel, Bhima has been a servant for the Dubash Family in Mombai for over 20 years. After her granddaughter, Maya, reveals a crime against her by a member of the Dubash family, Bhima is fired and forced to find a new way to support her family. As  The Secrets between Us unfolds, Bhima's only wish is  that her granddaughter attend college and have a better life, and for that to happen,  she needs money.  As luck would have it, Bhima meets Parvati, and older woman with a sad past,  at the local market and the two become unlikely business partners. As their friendship grows, the two women learn to live on their own terms and make peace with the past. This is a story about second changes, friendship and the  survival of women at the lowest end of the caste system in India. It's about 350 pages or a 4 mile run worth every page.

August 17, 2019 EVERY DAY I WRITE THE BOOK

REREADING BOOKS. I wonder how many people actually do it--besides me. There are actually many reasons to reread your favorite books--you know--the books that you hold dear to your heart. I spent the last week rereading ONE OF THEM. The books I reread are the books I'll never forget.  They are the books I buy and keep in my library because I want to keep them close to me so that I can reread them whenever I want. The characters in these stories speak to me and become almost real. They are people I'll never forget. I actually remember their names--which is crazy--because I can't even remember the names of my own kids. It doesn't matter that I already know what's going to happen--that's not the point. I guess I reread books because the writing is so special that I want to enjoy it again. They are like old friends--comforting to be around. Instead of reviewing a book today--I thought I'd leave you with a list of  books worthy of rereading to inspire you to either read or reread one.
Books I have REREAD:
-A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry 
 -A Widow For One Year by John Irving
-A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
  -I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
-Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
  -Bleak House by Charles Dickens
-To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
 -Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
-The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson Cullers
Books I NEED to REREAD:
-Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte     -Son of the Circus by John Irving
-A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles  -Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese
-Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham -The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass
-Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton          -The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
-Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 
ENJOY!

August 9, 2019 ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

There are many mental and physical benefits of yoga. Not only does it increase flexibility--balance--muscle tone--strength--circulatory health--energy--vitality--weight loss-- It also makes you more MINDFUL. And that is the KEY. Because it teaches you how to breathe--clear the mind-- AND--live in the moment--It actually reduces stress--anxiety--depression. Yoga has personally helped me get into the GRATITUDE HABIT. Living in gratitude has  changed my whole mind set-- focus on the POSITIVE.   Okay--so I can't run like I used to--that's okay--I'm grateful that I can run and enjoy it. It's easy. And it really works. It's a game changer. The power of positivity is underrated--it attracts others and even changes the atmosphere. Now that's power!  People really prefer to be around people who make them feel good.  Negativity poisons--Positivity helps people thrive. It's a NO brainer. My yoga teachers stress--We have to take care of ourselves first. Then we can take care of others by  shining  our light--gratitude--positivity--kindness-- on others to make the world a better place. If you're looking for other ways to make positive changes in your life, you might want to pick up Gretchen Rubin's book The Happiness Project. 

The Happiness Project is essentially Rubin's one year personal journey to reevaluate her life and make some changes in order to make her life happier.  Rubin first identified the things that brought her joy. Then she made resolutions followed by actions that would help her attain her goal of living a more satisfied life. Some essentials of happiness in her book included--boost energy--remember love--aim higher--make time for friends--pursue a passion--pay attention and keep a contented heart. Rubin spent a month on each resolution and learned many things about herself and her family in the process. One of the interesting things about the book is that she draws on scientific studies about happiness as well as philosophy and the experience of others. There are definitely many parallels you will find between Rubin's struggles and your own as she tries to balance--work--kids--husband--and her own happiness. This self-help book is about 300 pages or a 4 mile run that could put you on the road to starting your own happiness project.

August 2, 2019 GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD

Plastic bags. I'm not a huge fan--but confess that I've been using "Paper in plastic--packed heavy"--at the grocery store for years. Until Now--I know there is a NEW tax on plastic bags--WHATEVER--but that's not what changed my mind. While at East Matunuck State Beach yesterday--I had a life changing experience.  I saw a poor seagull walking along the beach with a plastic bag in its mouth. Tried to lure the plastic bag out of the seagull's mouth by offering it some food but it flew away. So sad. That poor seagull either choked to death or will have a slow painful death after the plastic bag obstructs its digestive tract. I can't stop thinking about it. The story gets worse. While trying to help the bird--a woman walked by and said, "Good it will die now." WHO SAYS THAT. I was shocked. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?? I turned to her APPALLED and said, " How could you say such a thing about an animal?? And she ignored me. I wanted to jump on her and punch her in the head. WHAT DID THE SEAGULL DO TO HER---steal a few potato chips??? When did HUMANS become so INHUMANE??
Juliet Armstrong wonders the same thing after she becomes a spy in Kate Atkinson's novel Transcription. Set during World War II in England, Juliet is recruited by M15 to monitor and transcribe the conversations of British Fascist sympathizers. As the war continues, Juliet becomes a double agent charged with  turning over sympathizers to the government. Her intrigues during the war are somewhat questionable and she gains many enemies who come back for vengeance after the war.  The novel then turns to the 1950's where Juliet and many of her cohorts are now working for BBC. She is a radio producer trying to come to terms with the war. Just when she thinks her war days are over, she is pulled in for one last job that could get her killed. I am generally a big fan of Atkinson but have to confess that I found this novel a bit confusing because it jumped around too much. She is a great writer though--so it could be that I'm just a bit preoccupied with other things. If you like mystery, murder, suspense and spy novels then you should give this a try and see what you think. It's about 350 pages--4 mile run--that I could see being made into a movie.

July 25, 2019 THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR

Today is my MIL birthday. Although she looks about sixty--she's actually 88. She's amazing. She REALLY enjoys life. She doesn't grow--ANY GRASS UNDER HER FEET.  If she's not playing bridge, she's taking piano lessons or enjoying dinner followed by a performance at the Garde Theatre. She even makes it to Carnegie Hall every now and then to enjoy her favorite--Opera. She especially enjoys getting together with friends. Take today for instance--My MIL had lunch with two old friends. These were not only friends from grammar school, but also friends from her Gardner Avenue days.  As they gathered around the picnic table-- it was obvious how much they enjoyed each other's company. They reminisced about the old neighborhood and their days together at Harbor School. Later in the  the afternoon,  they gathered around the piano and my MIL played the oldies but goodies. Music is a true window to the past. Before I knew it, the ladies were laughing about old boyfriends, dances--the good old days. They were back in time and--ALL AGLOW-- for a little while. What a gift. A present that money could never buy. Happy Birthday.

Max Morden is a middle-aged art historian who decides to reexamine his past after the death of his wife in John Banville's Booker Prize winning novel The Sea. In an effort to understand his loss and come to terms with his grief,  Max returns to the seaside town where he summered with his family fifty years earlier and met the Grace Family.  Max was thrilled to spend his days with the twins, Chloe and Myles, as well as their nanny Rose. The trio spent every minute together and Max became a fixture in their summer house until tragedy struck and his life was forever changed. It's no mistake that the widowed Max lodges at Miss Vavasour's Guest House--the former summer home of the Grace family. It's here that he takes the reader back to his childhood and the shocking event that shaped his life. This novel seems simple and straightforward at 208 pages, but it's actually a 4 mile run.  The writing is lovely but demands that the reader work for the novel. FYI ---all you Benjamin Black fans--John Banville is the REAL author and they are great crime novels. If you enjoy books under his pen name, then give Banville a try when he signs his REAL name to the novel.

July 18, 2019 PEACEFUL EASY FEELING

I was 42. Yup. And pregnant. My other kids were ELEVEN and THIRTEEN. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thought I was almost done--when I found out --I  WAS STARTING OVER. OOPS. Sometimes the best things in life aren't planned. Can't imagine my life without him. He's been a JOY from the start. So easy to be around-- just goes with the flow-- calm all the time.  HE'S THE BUFFER EVERY FAMILY NEEDS. He turned twelve yesterday--time is flying by too fast. Although he has siblings-- many times he feels like an only child. He really has the best of both worlds. His siblings dote on him--WHEN THEY COME TO VISIT--and so do we. It's very different having a child later in life. I never worry about him the way I did the others--OVER RIDICULOUS  THINGS.  I'm probably a better parent-- I'm older and wiser-- I don't sweat the small stuff anymore.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY little bug.
Detective Anderson should have--sweat over the small stuff-- a little more in Stephen King's new book The Outsider and he would have saved himself a lot of trouble. If you like scary, creepy, unsettling stories then this is the book for you. Set in Flint City, Terry Maitland, baseball coach, English teacher, father of two young daughters, has just been arrested for the unthinkable. Violently killing and raping an eleven year old boy named Fredrick Peterson. The evidence seems iron clad--DNA, finger prints, witnesses. But, Terry Maitland has an alibi. Iron clad. How could he be two places at the same time. So begins this investigation into the supernatural. Can both sides be telling the truth? Find out for yourself when you read this frightening, suspense-filled novel. Although it's 560 pages--it flies by--so it's only about a five mile run. Remember it is disturbing so don't say I didn't warn you. Also, heard this book is being turned into an HBO series soon. BOO.

July 11, 2019 IT'S A LONG WAY TO TIPPERARY

It's funny.  Some of the most important decisions we make come when we're actually TOO young to know what the HELL we're doing.  I often wonder where I'd be today if I hadn't taken the Road Less Traveled--by accident. Probably living in the projects somewhere--on welfare--a slew of divorces--tribe of kids--NO TEETH. Thankfully--DODGED that bullet--ONLY because I was YOUNG AND PISSED OFF. It really is all just a CRAPSHOOT. I had NO idea how much that phone call would change NOT just my life but also that of my siblings.  Didn't realize that I was the GLUE that held us together or that the relationships we took for granted were over. Forever changed.  I was lucky enough to spend some time with two of my siblings last weekend. We don't see each other often enough but I want them to know that I'm so  proud of them. They've done amazingly well.  They are not only hard workers but also kind, loving parents. Kudos.
 Kate Brady, one of the main characters of The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien, faced many hardships in life after her sad, tragic childhood in Ireland. The Country Girls is a trilogy--The Country Girls (1960), The Lonely Girl (1962), and Girls in their Married Bliss (1964). This wonderful trilogy is the story of two Irish country girls--Kate Brady, forever the romantic, and her best friend Baba Brennan, realist and adventure seeker. Set in 1950's Ireland, the girls meet as children at school. Kate's father is a mean, abusive man who spends all his money on drink while Baba comes from a prestigious family. After being given a scholarship, Kate and then Baba enter a convent school only to be expelled before graduation. In the second book, the girls  move to a boarding house in Dublin in search of love and excitement. In the final story, the girls move to London where they find husbands and realize that married life is not at all what they hoped it would be. FYI--When this book was originally published it was banned in Ireland--religious leaders took offense--too much sexual imagery. Others felt it was a "National Critique."  The book was later made into a film and O'Brien earned the Kingsley Amis Award in 1962.  I really enjoyed this trilogy. The writing is incredible and O'Brien should be commended for bringing long hidden issues to the forefront. It is a bit of a commitment though--the entire trilogy is about 525 pages. BUT you don't have to read the whole thing at once--each book is less than 200 pages. I couldn't wait to read the whole thing because I was completely absorbed in the Irish countryside--the city and the main characters. So it's your choice. The whole trilogy is probably a 10 mile run--total--but worth every step.

July 5, 2019 BORN IN THE USA

It's a tradition on the fourth of July. P-A-R-T-Y on the beach. Felt like I was in a time warp --and for that I'm grateful. Got to spend time with the cousins--a few old friends--and familiar faces from the past.  Great to see the next generation out there playing Spike ball--Can Jam--Wall Ball--Bucket Ball too. My niece EVEN revived the FLAG CAKE--complete with blueberries and strawberries representing the stars and stripes. Enjoyed Grandma's incredible potato salad--baked beans--burgers--dogs and HOME MADE bean burgers for the vegetarians. Signature drink this year--Watermelon Margaritas. YUM. Feeling extra appreciative this year-- we got to spend another Independence day together. It was perfect.
Michael Judd's life was seemingly perfect until tragedy struck in Sarah Winman's beautifully written novel Tin Man. Set in England, this book was about the friendship of Ellis and Michael and how it evolved and changed over the years. The two boys were twelve when they met. They were inseparable--even going so far as to experiment intimately for a time. At the beginning of the novel, it is 1996,  Michael is working at a dead end job and is extremely depressed. From there, the story jumps back in time through Michael's life as a young boy, his marriage to Annie and the disappearance of Ellis. The second part of the book is from Ellis' point of view and fills the reader in on what happened to Ellis during those lost years. Find out Ellis' story and what is keeping Michael stuck in the past when you read this lovely novel of 224 pages or 2.5 mile run. It is a sad, gripping tale of love and loss that is hard to let go.

June 28, 2019 PLEASE MR. POSTMAN

The art of letter writing. I think it's gone by the wayside. Yup. In the age of texting-- email--twitter--instagram--instant messenger --NO ONE WRITES LETTERS ANYMORE. I used to love writing and receiving letters--especially-- from my pen pal.  Ask any member of Generation Z about pen pals--they won't have a clue. Have a friend who recently asked her son to put a stamp on an envelope--he asked where?? Not kidding--kids today have never addressed an envelope--bought a book of stamps--gone to the post office. I understand that email is instantaneous and free but it's different. Opening a letter and reading the written word is much more personal. I still have a collection of letters and cards that I've saved through the years. It's fun to go back and read them every now and then--especially the ones from my grandmother. She used to send me cards, notes and recipes all the time. So glad I kept them--just seeing her handwriting brings me  comfort I could never get from an email. Pretty sure the characters in Anne Youngson's debut novel Meet Me at the Museum feel the same way. 
In this epistolary novel, Tina Hopgood's correspondence begins with a curator named Anders Larsen because of a shared fascination.  The Tollund Man--a 2000 year old body found in the bogs--that is housed in the musuem Anders works at in Denmark. Initially, Tina writes a letter looking for her old professor with questions about the Tollund Man and Anders replies because her professor is dead. The letters continue and become more personal over time.  Through letters, the reader learns that Tina has been married for forty years. She lives with her husband and extended family on an isolated farm in England.  After the death of her childhood friend, Tina begins to take stock in her life and the choices she has made over the years. Anders, whose wife went missing on their anniversary, is grappling with loneliness and welcomes Tina's letters. As their friendship deepens, they share fears, thoughts, dreams and wonder if it's too late to change. Will they write a new story? Find out when you read this 288 pager--or 3 mile--thought provoking book about the choices we make.

June 24, 2019 IF A PICTURE PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS

pat123xyz.com

My oldest son was destined to be an artist. It was in his genes. Pretty sure he came out of the womb holding a pencil. HA--He started illustrating books when he was three. NOT KIDDING. By the time he finished grammar school he'd created several comic books series and hundreds of mythical characters and universes.  My house is literally a fire hazard because I've saved every book he's ever written.  He was the kid who couldn't wait for the Young Author's Competition at school BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO WIN--and he did--EVERY YEAR.  Although he fooled around a lot in high school--he was always serious about his ART. It was--FRUSTRATINGLY ENOUGH-- the only thing that mattered. So when it came time for college it was a NO BRAINER to me. When I told people-- that we were sending him to school to be an ILLUSTRATOR --they looked at me like I had THREE heads. OKAY--I get it. It wasn't practical enough BUT I'd have been wasting my money  sending him to school to be..say.... an......accountant. We are all different for a reason and it's these differences that make the world go round. Can't image what would have happened to Jarrett J. Krosoczka if his grandparents hadn't encouraged his artistic endeavors when he was young. 

Jarrett J. Krosoczka is the author and illustrator of several books including the very famous Lunch Lady series for young people. His new book, Hey Kiddo, although a graphic novel too, is actually a memoir. This book deals with some heavy topics including losing his mother to addiction, being raised by his grandparents in Worcester, Massachusetts, and finally finding his father when he was a teenager. Although Krosoczka couldn't count on his mother, his grandparents were a force in his life. They encouraged him with his art, sent him to summer art programs, and stood proud as he graduated  from RISD in 2000. This book is important because it is written for young people. It is not only about growing up and coming to terms with addiction, but how art saved  and shaped his life. The illustrations, letters, cards and other artwork  are incredible--coming from different points in his life and inserted throughout the novel. They add a whole other dimension to this 320 page--2.5 mile run. Krosoczka said, "Creating the art for this book has been the most profound artistic endeavor I have yet to undertake and it has truly been a lifetime in the making." Enough said. 

June 20, 2019 BOOK OF LOVE

Who plans their vacation around books?  Pubs maybe but books?  I do. Don't laugh. I'm serious. Just got back from Ireland. Wonderful trip. Started in Dublin where I  visited the oldest bookstore in Ireland. If you love books--you too must visit Hodges Figgis  on Dawson Street.  It's four floors of books including a WHOLE area dedicated to the Easter Rising of 1916. It's a REAL bookstore with REAL booksellers who KNOW books. Talk about books. When in Dublin the Book of Kells is also a must. Not only that but take a gander at Trinity College Library. Incredible. There are over 7,000,000 books--sized and placed alphabetically from A to Z--vertically-- at least 3 stories high. I've never seen anything like it.  While in Killarney couldn't help but stop at Dungeon Books.  Great selection of second handbooks and a friendly staff. While in Galway I also found my way to Charlie Byrne's Bookshop. Named Best Book Shop by the Irish Times, this unique store houses over 100,000 books in a maze-like store. It's filled with nooks and crannies where one could get lost for days. Loved it.
 I also loved the book I read on the plane--The Strays by Emily Bitto. Set in Australia in 1930, Lily the narrator of this thoughtful story, is an only child who longs for a different sort of life. After meeting Eva Trentham at school, the two girls become inseparable and Lily becomes a fixture in the Trentham household where non-conformity is the norm. Eva's father is a  avant-garde painter, who  opens his home to other like-minded painters to live-work-collaborate. In doing so, the girls, including Eva's sisters Beatrice and Heloise, are left to raise themselves and navigate an adult world they don't understand. Find out what happens after this "Utopian Society" turns dystopian when you read this 260 page novel. It's a beautifully written story about childhood, friendship and how the decisions we make shape our lives. It's a 3  mile run that packs a powerful punch. Enjoy.

June 9, 2019 SHOWER THE PEOPLE

It's started. Yup. Wedding showers. It's ALL coming around again. The kids are starting to  get married.  The shower was lovely. It was a traditional shower--what's now called the PERSONAL SHOWER. I hear there are all kinds of showers these days--Jack & Jill Showers--Gift Card Showers--Lingerie Showers--Display Showers--to name a few. It's crazy. The Jack & Jill is for the couple who can't stand to be apart. They make it more of a cocktail party with gifts. OKAY. The Gift Card Shower--although easy-- seems TOO impersonal to me. Do the guests sit around and watch the bride-to-be open envelopes??   On to the Lingerie Shower. Why waste the money.  These days--girls seem to walk around wearing lingerie anyways!! They need-- china--pots--pans--towels--champagne glasses. Another type of shower on the horizon is the Display Shower. Here--guests are asked to bring unwrapped gifts which are then displayed in the room so that the bride doesn't have to waste time opening the gifts. Good idea to save paper-- I guess-- but  I'm definitely a fan of the Personal Shower. Women--gifts--alcohol--good food. Only thing better is having it at home--makes it more personal, Right?? Don't think they had showers in 1639 when the main character of Dominic Smith's book The Last Painting of Sara De Vos was painting her masterpiece.
This wonderful novel is set in three different time periods and told through different characters. Sara De Vos, one of the main characters, is the first woman artist admitted into the City Guild of St. Luke in Amsterdam 1631. After the death of her daughter during the plague, De Vos paints a haunting work entitled At The Edge of the Wood that eventually ends up being purchased by the De Groot family.  Jump to the 1950's--Marty De Groot is a wealthy lawyer from Manhattan whose family has owned the painting for over three hundred years. The painting now proudly hangs in his bedroom and is known as Sara De Vos' last surviving work. Ellie Shipley is a struggling art history graduate student who lives in the Brooklyn. Against her better judgment, she agrees to forge the De Vos  painting--a decision that ultimately upends her quiet life in Sydney forty years later. Now a famous art historian and curator, Shipley comes into possession of the original and the forgery while hanging a show. What happened to Sara De Vos after her daughter died and her husband left her? How did the De Groot family come into possession of the painting? How was it stolen from Marty? What happened when Marty and Ellie met? Find out the answer to these and so many other questions when you read this part mystery--part love story--part art lesson that will stick with you forever because the prose is brilliant.

June 4, 2019 BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG

Running again. And feeling good. I can't believe it. Really thought my running days WERE over. It's been a long road--about 18 months. Won't say better than ever--just a new me--with a new attitude. Don't see myself  running many races--or setting any PR's--but that's okay. Just happy to be out there. There's really nothing better than pounding the pavement with a friend or two--especially this time of year. Appreciating nature and the wonder that is Spring--Can't believe how much I missed it-- thankful to be back.   Kudos to Vinyasa and Ashtanga Yoga for helping me  build the strength I desperately needed  in my upper body--especially my core. Core is key. Having a stronger core has enabled me to change my whole running stance. Just used the key principles I learned in yoga and applied them to running. Sounds simple but it's easier said than done. Here's my new running MANTRA-- Stand up straight--tuck the tail bone--hug the stomach to the ribs--run. Repeat.  If you're a runner of a certain age looking for a little inspiration--look no further than Gail Waesche Kislevitz's new book Running Past Fifty: Advice and Inspiration for Senior Runners. 
Gail has been a friend and inspiration for over twenty years. She's been running for about fifty years and is NO stranger to injury. She looks at running as a "gift that needs to be nurtured, respected, and loved." If there's one thing I've learned from my injury--it's this lesson. Gail is also an award-winning journalist and author of six books on running and sports. In this book, with a foreword by Amby Burfoot, Gail interviews many famous senior runners including Jeff Galloway, Ed Whitlock, Bill Rodgers and Kathrine Switzer. Their stories, however different, have many similarities. They are stories of people who share a love of running; a love that continues to shape and change their lives. These are people who plan to run way past fifty-sixty-seventy-eighty-even ninety. This book is important because it's about maintaining a healthy lifestyle through running and learning to balance expectations and set realistic goals.  I really enjoyed the stories about Amy Bahrt, Kathy Bergen and Julia Hawkins--who is turning 102!! She's got some great advice to live by. Enjoy this 265 page book  or a 4.5 mile run that's worth every step.

May 28, 2019 TWO SUNS IN THE SUNSET

Discrimination. It's a virus--APPARENTLY--without a cure. Racial--Religious--Gender--Age--Sexual Orientation--Ethnicity. Whatever. It's all BAD. Is it Ignorance--Narrow Mindedness--Fear --Arrogance or some combination?? Do people bash others in order to feel better about themselves?? Is it lack of self-esteem?  I wish I could understand why people behave BADLY-- or say the things they say--without batting an eyelash. We are ALL just people. So what if our skin color is different or we practice another religion?? When you get right down to it we have SO much more in common. It really doesn't matter who your God is as long as you are a decent person. And  people--regardless of skin color--care about the same thing. Their families. They worry about  keeping them safe--happy--healthy. Some lyrics from an old Pink Floyd song just popped in my head--Ashes and diamonds/ Foe and friend/  We are all equal in the end. Truer words were never spoken--time to wake up and STOP drinking the kool-aid. 
No one knows this better than Neel Patel the author of If You See Me, Don't Say Hi.
Neel Patel is a first generation Indian American who grew up in Illinois. In his debut collection of short stories, Patel explores what it's like to be a first generation Indian American through several interesting, unforgettable characters. Many of the characters are discriminated against or treated unfairly because of their difference. He also explores stereotypes in American society and  works to undermine them as well as poke fun at them. Make no mistake--his stories may make you uncomfortable-- but that's the point. He wants the reader to understand the experience of the Indian in America today. He also wants his readers to see beyond skin tone--stereotypes--and realize that Indian Americans are just people too. I really enjoyed this collection of stories and you will too. It's about 230 pages or a 3 mile run. Not a huge commitment but a huge lesson. Enjoy.

May 21, 2019 SHOUT IT OUT LOUD

Just want to send a little shout out to The Queen--AKA--my lovely daughter. She's spent the last year working FULL time AND going to school FULL time. Did I mention that she also has a  little "Uber" job-- a babysitting job--and a BOATLOAD  OF HOMEWORK every weekend. YIKES. She's been out of her mind CRAZY for the last year but I'm sure she'd say it's worth it as she's graduating this Thursday with a Master's Degree in Moderate Disabilities--with a 4.0 GPA. So proud of her. Five years of school is finally over--time to start ADULTING--her word not mine! Now comes the scary part--applying--interviewing--securing-- a job.  I keep telling her it will all work out. Any school system would be lucky to have her.  She's smart--funny--kind--and a VERY  hard working, dependable teacher. A natural. Kudos kiddo--the rest is just icing on the cake. Congrats.
Mrs Creasy, one of the characters in Joanna Cannon's International bestselling novel The Trouble with Goats and Sheep isn't so fortunate.  Set in England in 1976, the story centers on the sudden disappearance of Mrs. Creasy. Some people blame it on the heat, but Grace and Tilly, two 10 year old girls, disagree. The girls decide to spend their summer solving the mystery. In order to find clues, the girls go door to door to interview their very quirky neighbors.  As the story continues, the girls come to realize that Mrs. Creasy's disappearance might be connected to a mysterious fire in the neighborhood ten years earlier. They also believe that their neighbors know a lot more about Mrs. Creasy's disappearance than they are willing to admit.  Could Mrs. Creasy have stumbled upon some incrimination information? How is Walter Bishop, their  eccentric oddball neighbor, involved? Who are the goats and who are the sheep--literally--in the story? And does God live in their neighborhood?  Find out the answers to these and many other questions when you read this lovely, beautifully written novel for yourself. It's about 350 pages or a 4 mile run that will keep you guessing until the end.