August 13, 2023 TRIP AROUND THE SUN

 

Six birthdays between July and August. That's a lot of CAKE, PRESENTS, PARTIES, COOK-OUTS.  I'm exhausted. Just finished the LAST party yesterday. It was the Queen's bday. Not sure why but her birthday goes ON AND ON. Seriously--for days and days.  It all started with her STAYCATION on the beach--gorgeous week--6 friends and a lot of fun. It ended last night with a Mussels party (her fav) with family and friends. Enjoyed vegan pesto pasta, salad, bread and vegan key lime pie!! I'm telling you--I need a vacation from her staycation. Gonna kick up my feet--relax--and review the book I just finished. I totally enjoyed Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. This beautifully written family saga spans 1960-2008 and is set in Chicago. As the story unfolds, William Waters is the unfortunate child of parents spirally from the death of his sister. His parents are detached and their grief leaves William feeling unloved and unwanted. The only positive in his life is basketball. He excels in high school and is eventually recruited to play in college where he meets Julia Padavano. Julia and her sisters, Sylvie, Cecelia, and Emeline, are inseparable; best friends who share a tiny house with their parents, Charlie and Rose. After meeting William, Julia decides he's the one for her, but William's unhappy childhood haunts their future and an unforeseen tragedy changes everything and threatens the Padovano sisters' close relationship. This is a story about sibling love, family love, relationships, shifting allegiances, loss and acceptance. The characters are interesting, flawed people that you will come to love and miss when the story is over. It's about 400 pages of brilliant writing. Enjoy.