February 23, 2024 HAZY SHADE OF WINTER

 

My bookclub (can't believe we've been together 19 years)  came up with a great idea this month. We are going to read Luanne Rice's new book Last Night. This book is a murder mystery set at the Ocean House in Rhode Island. Fun right? BUT even more fun--We are going to take the book club on the road. A road trip to the Ocean House in March where we will discuss the book at their famous Jazz Brunch. FUN. Can't wait. The only worry on my mind at this point is that there's a dress code--- "Resort Chic".  It's gonna be hard to be resort chic in March but I'll figure it out. Just finished the book the other day so without further adieu---As the story unfolds, Maddie Morrison, a renowned artist, and her six year old daughter, CeCe, have relocated from California to the Ocean House as she is getting divorced. It is Christmas time and the Ocean House is decorated and festive. Although a blizzard is hitting the area, Maddie and CeCe decide to go for a quick walk around the resort for some fresh air---and never return. Meanwhile, Detective Conor Reid and his girlfriend, Kate, arrive to spend a romantic weekend.  As they wait to check in, Maddie's sister Hadley shows up looking for her sister. Reid, Kate and Hadley then go out in the blizzard to look for the pair and find Maddie's dead body under a blanket of snow---and CeCe is missing.The  Ocean House becomes the center of an investigation as Reid and other officers try to find out who killed Maddie and find CeCe. There are many twists and turns in this mystery that centers on greed, jealousy and revenge. I enjoyed the story--it was a quick read-but I felt that the characters were weakly drawn and lacked  depth. I wasn't really rooting for anyone AND the ending was too contrived. BUT it was set at the Ocean House and I enjoyed that it was a local mystery. Read it and see what you think. 

February 13, 2024 DON'T EAT THE YELLOW SNOW

 

SNOW DAY. Nothing like a day off from school in FEBRUARY. Love it. It's really coming down out there. Looks like some HEAVY SNOW to shovel. Wonder what people who work from home do? I guess there are good and bad things about working from home----especially when it SNOWS. At least when a teacher has a snow day--they get the day off. It is one of the only PERKS left about being a teacher. Teaching is a REAL grind. The routine is monotonous and rigid. EVERY DAY---NO FLEXIBILITY AT ALL. DEALING WITH OVER 100 KIDS A DAY--THEIR PARENTS--AND ADMINISTRATION. Every day is a whirlwind and my head is usually swimming by the time I get home. So thanks again Mother Nature. I appreciate it. Another good thing about being home is having some free time to write my blog. Just finished a keeper called The Guncle by Steven Rowley. Parick O'Hara is a former sitcom star who lives a somewhat reclusive life in Palm Springs. After tragedy strikes, he suddenly becomes the primary temporary guardian for his nine year old niece, Maisie, and six year old nephew, Grant. Although Patrick loves them, he has absolutely no idea how to raise children. The children, who refer to him lovingly as GUP (gay uncle Pat), really need him to step up to the plate. Armed with a list of "Guncle Rules" and a sense of humor, GUP quickly realizes that although parenthood is a lot of responsibility, he wouldn't want it any other way. This is a funny, but also thoughtful book about love, death, recovery, and grief that I really enjoyed. It is about 336 pages that fly by---Heard there is a sequel that I'll have to check out. Enjoy. 

February 4, 2024 ISLAND GIRL

AH. CANCUN. Just got back from a lovely destination wedding. Never been to Cancun before but can report that it was the perfect place to relax and forget about winter for awhile. It was 80 something degrees every day with a beautiful breeze. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. IT WAS PERFECT. Got up every morning and went for a run--incredible breakfast--beach--pina coladas with FLOATERS--relax--REPEAT. Did I mention the incredible FOOD, SERVICE and WEDDING. It was like a fairy tale. I guess all good things must come to an end though--so here I am--back to winter--work--running in the cold AND feeling grateful to be able to do so. Read this very quirky, mystery, Sci-Fi, kind of book on the plane that came highly recommended by NPR called My Murder by Katie Williams. Set sometime in the future, Lou is a happily married young mother who has been killed by a serial killer. Luckily for her, Lou and the other victims have been cloned (with most memories intact--except their murders) and returned to their lives. Although Lou is thankful that she has been given a second chance, navigating life as a clone is difficult, especially, when her daughter, Nova, knows the difference. Lou and the other victims attend a support group weekly where they discuss their problems and try to piece together the circumstances of their murders. One day at the group, Lou realizes that her death was different from the other survivors and she becomes determined to figure out what exactly happened to her. As the truth unravels, Lou starts to question her whole world and wonder who she can really trust. Find out what happened to Lou in this dark, scary and very different murder mystery with a serious twist when you read this 300 page tale for yourself. Yikes. 

January 16, 2024 DON'T LEAVE ME NOW

I've been waking up at 4:45am on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a 5:30am hot yoga class for two years. It's REALLY early BUT it's a great way to start the day. Went to bed last night wondering if we were going to have a delay------Maybe I wouldn't have to get up at 4:45am??? Go to the 7:00am class instead?? Didn't hear anything about a delay--so set my alarm for 4:45. DRAGGED myself out of bed-saw the snow--but STILL NO DELAY. Got myself ready for yoga---walking out the door when I got the notification. NO SCHOOL. What a bummer. I could have slept in a bit--had I known. UGH. Got in my car and went to class. At least that's done. Now I have time to write my blog.  It's been a long time since I read a Jodi Picoult book. They got too formulaic for me--but a friend gave me Mad Honey which is co-written by Jennifer Finney Boylan, so I thought I'd give it a try. As the story unfolds, Olivia McAfee, a single mother who survived domestic violence, has moved back home, to Adams, New Hampshire, to take over her father's beekeeping business. She and her son, Asher, have been living on the farm  for about 8 years when Lily Campanello and her mother, seeking a fresh start,  move into town. Asher and Lily, both seniors in high school, meet and eventually start dating. One day Olivia gets a call that Lily is dead and Asher is later arrested for her murder. The book flips back and forth between Olivia and Lily as the reader learns about the murder trial from Olivia, and Lily's life before her death. This book is about so many things--There's lots of information on bees and honey which I found very interesting. It's about courtroom drama. It's also about gender identity,  acceptance, and personal information versus secrets. It was a real eye opener to me to read about the life of a transgender person or child, and I have to say I learned a lot. Perhaps the authors tried to do too much in this book because it is heavy. It is a real page turner though. It was suspenseful, heartbreaking and left my head spinning. It's about 465 pages that still has me thinking.....so it was worth the read. Enjoy. 

January 9, 2024 DON'T YOU REMEMBER

Have you ever started a book--that seemed familiar--but you couldn't remember if you'd read it before? Well that's what happened to me with the book I'm going to review. It came out in 2009--so I could have read it 14 years ago. WHO KNOWS. It's part of a detective series set in Minnesota. I've read several books in the series OUT OF ORDER--so I'm trying to go back and read the ones I missed in order. I really enjoyed this book BUT still am at a loss as to whether or not I read it before.  OH WELL--- William Kent Krueger, the author of Blood Hollow, is an excellent writer. Blood Hollow is the 4th installment of the Cork O'Connor series. As the the story unfolds, it is winter in Minnesota and Cork is involved in the search for a missing teenager who is  the daughter of a wealthy resident of Aurora where Cork lives with his wife and family. The search is fruitless because of a blinding snowstorm, but as Spring arrives, her body is found. Although Cork is the former Sheriff of Aurora, he becomes involved in the investigation after Solemn Winter Moon is suspected of the crime. Solemn, a troubled native American who lives on the reservation, is the nephew of a close family friend of Cork and he feels an obligation to help the boy, who just happens to be the dead girl's ex-boyfriend. In addition, Cork's wife, a lawyer, agrees to defend Solemn against the accusations. This exciting mystery has several twists and turns with an ending I didn't see coming. There are several great characters in the book that appear in each novel--another reason to love the series. One of the most interesting "characters" happens to be the landscape and weather. Krueger's writing bring them alive as the reader feels the frozen terrain, snow and sleet like its really happening. This is a series that could get you through this LONG, COLD winter.  It's about 368 pages that you will totally enjoy. Happy Reading.

January 1, 2024 BEST BOOKS OF 2023

It's that time of year again. Looking back over the year to see which books I enjoyed the most. Ready or not here they come: My FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2023 IN ORDER:

1.  This is Happiness by Niall Williams. Reviewed 10/29/23--Blog title "Molly Malone"

2.  The Last Chairlift by John Irving. Reviewed 7/29/23--Blog title "Every Day I Write the Book"

3.  Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo. Reviewed 8/28/23--Blog title "Chain of Fools"

4. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. Reviewed 8/13/23--Blog title "Trip Around the Sun"

5. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Reviewed 9/24/23 Blog title--"Tears in Heaven"

6.  I'm Glad my Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. Reviewed 4/9/23--Blog title--"Don't Cry Out Loud"

7.  The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. Reviewed 5/13/23. Blog title--The Long and Winding 

     Road"

8.  Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Reviewed 4/30/23. Blog title "Another Day in Paradise"

9.  Racing The Rain by John L. Parker Jr. Reviewed 12/18/23. Blog title--"Born to Run"

10.  Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Reviewed 9/23/23. Blog title--"Glory Days"

Hope you've had a chance to read some of these awesome books. If not --winter is long-- so snuggle up on your coach with a cup of tea and enjoy. Looking forward to many greats books in 2024. Happy New Year. 

December 27, 2023 ROCKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE

 

Remember when you took Christmas for granted?  Well NOT anymore. It was a COVID CHRISTMAS at our house. Seriously. NO presents, NO family--NO NOTHING. Yes--IT IS  a lot of work getting ready for Christmas Eve and Christmas BUT the alternative is MUCH WORSE. Realized how much I appreciate my family and friends AND how much I depend on them to make the holidays MERRY. So next time you complain or feel stressed about the holidays--STOP for a moment--and think of the alternative. It's all good. NO worries--We will be celebrating Christmas this weekend and will be GRATEFUL for that. HOHOHO. The only good thing about being stuck home with COVID--I finished a very good book, The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng.  As the novel unfolds, it is 1947 and Leslie Hamlyn has been living in Africa for many years. One day she gets a book in the mail, The Casuarina Tree by William Somerset Maugham (author of The Razor's Edge, The Painted Veil, Of Human Bondage-- my favorites) that immediately makes her think  back to  the Island of Penang. It was 1921, when  Leslie and her husband, Robert found out that his old war buddy, Willie Maugham, and secretary were going to spend two weeks with them at Cassoway House. Willie was desperate to find a subject for his next book, especially, after finding out he had lost everything on a business venture. His marriage of convenience was a disaster and his sexuality was often in question as he traveled around the world with his secretary, Gerald. As Willie and Leslie forge a friendship,  he learns of her connections to Chinese Revolutionaries including Dr. Sun Yat Sen. He also learns more than he bargained for about the island--murder, affairs and other fodder for his next great book. This novel of 320 pages is based on real events--it's a multilayered tale of love, deceit, betrayal and hypocrisy--on every level--that is unforgettable. This is historical fiction at its best--Enjoy.