Linda C. Wright's Blog, page 15
October 11, 2015
Front Yard by Norman Draper
Front Yard by Norman Draper
After winning first place in the world famous Burdick's Best Yard Contest, George and Nan Fremont have happily settled in to enjoy their new found fame and fortune. They won the prize despite sabotage from another contestant. Now they have set their sights on a beautifying the front yard too. After a few glasses of their favorite merlot, topped off with a gin and tonic, nothing can stop them. Or can it?
Jealousy abounds in the town of Livia and all eyes are set on the Fremont's yard. I'm not a gardener, so I found myself lost in the plant names and gardening terminology. I had a difficult time picturing what the flower beds and trees should have looked like and why everyone thought they were so beautiful.
I also found this story too busy. It had a large cast of off the wall characters to contend with, many of whom were quite entertaining but others who lacked purpose. As I read further into the book, I started thinking that they were all too similar, quirky but all in the same way. Alcohol flowed on almost every page to the point where it overwhelmed the story of the garden. George and Nan decided to give it up but only for a few seconds. A couple pages later, they were back slugging it down. By the end, there was so much history, dirt, fairies and treasure flying around, I had trouble keeping it all straight.
I want to thank Net Galley for my free copy of Front Yard. Unfortunately it didn't contain a topic I had much interest in. A gardener would feast in this story but it wasn't for me.
After winning first place in the world famous Burdick's Best Yard Contest, George and Nan Fremont have happily settled in to enjoy their new found fame and fortune. They won the prize despite sabotage from another contestant. Now they have set their sights on a beautifying the front yard too. After a few glasses of their favorite merlot, topped off with a gin and tonic, nothing can stop them. Or can it?
Jealousy abounds in the town of Livia and all eyes are set on the Fremont's yard. I'm not a gardener, so I found myself lost in the plant names and gardening terminology. I had a difficult time picturing what the flower beds and trees should have looked like and why everyone thought they were so beautiful.
I also found this story too busy. It had a large cast of off the wall characters to contend with, many of whom were quite entertaining but others who lacked purpose. As I read further into the book, I started thinking that they were all too similar, quirky but all in the same way. Alcohol flowed on almost every page to the point where it overwhelmed the story of the garden. George and Nan decided to give it up but only for a few seconds. A couple pages later, they were back slugging it down. By the end, there was so much history, dirt, fairies and treasure flying around, I had trouble keeping it all straight.
I want to thank Net Galley for my free copy of Front Yard. Unfortunately it didn't contain a topic I had much interest in. A gardener would feast in this story but it wasn't for me.
October 4, 2015
Buddah in Blue Jeans: An Extremely Short Zen Guide to Sitting Quietly
Buddah in Blue Jeans: An Extremely Short Zen Guide to Sitting Quietly by Tai Sheridan
We all seem to have busy lives full of hustle and bustle. A common complaint is that we never have a moment to ourselves to relax. If you've ever thrown your hands up, thinking there was no hope, this book is for you.
Sitting quietly, listening to the ocean of your breath, can help solve a multitude of issues and calm your soul. As the author says, sit quietly for three minutes or sit for three years, and be amazed at what you may learn about yourself. And not that sitting quietly takes much instruction, but this book will walk you through how to do it.
And it's an extremely short guide. It will only take a few minutes of sitting quietly to read it. And we all need a little quiet time, so go for it.
We all seem to have busy lives full of hustle and bustle. A common complaint is that we never have a moment to ourselves to relax. If you've ever thrown your hands up, thinking there was no hope, this book is for you.
Sitting quietly, listening to the ocean of your breath, can help solve a multitude of issues and calm your soul. As the author says, sit quietly for three minutes or sit for three years, and be amazed at what you may learn about yourself. And not that sitting quietly takes much instruction, but this book will walk you through how to do it.
And it's an extremely short guide. It will only take a few minutes of sitting quietly to read it. And we all need a little quiet time, so go for it.
October 3, 2015
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
Child 44 is a book I never would have picked up on my own. It's this month's book club selection. When I began reading it, I had no knowledge of what I might be getting into or even what the book was about. The first chapter turned my stomach, painting a picture of starvation, bitter cold and fear in 1933 Russia. Honestly, I thought I was headed for a twisted version of The Hunger Games.
But I hung in there. The story fast forwards twenty years. Leo is a rising star in the MGB, the state security force. He's assigned to look into the death of child, whose family insists he was murdered. The communist state brushes the child's death off as an accident. Leo is a war hero, who loves his country, is loyal and follows the state party line. His wife Raisa, is a teacher who goes along with the state as a way to survive. When Leo discovers that a serial killer is on the loose, he and Raisa go against the state and set out to find the criminal.
Child 44 is full of twists and turns. It's a page turner, so be prepared. What struck me the most however, is the range of emotion that this story could evoke. The evil torture of the government on its citizens disgusted me. The cunning of a killer toward children made me cringe. And the tenderness of the love story between Leo and Raisa, brought tears to my eyes.
What a book can make me feel is the gauge I use to rate a story. After the first ten pages, I never thought I could make it through this book. Since it's so rare that I don't finish a book, I kept going. Child 44 is a wonderfully written thriller. The story's "Ah Hah" moment is perfectly placed, releasing some of the tension, but not revealing all the answers the reader is anxious to learn. Mr. Smith's writing style is superb. The subject matter, Stalinist Russia, is a tough one especially for someone like me, who has always lived in a free society. Child 44 opened my eyes to the reality of life in a communist state in the 1950's.
And that's what I love about book club. I'm forced to go outside my comfort zone and learn something new, which is a good thing.
Child 44 is a book I never would have picked up on my own. It's this month's book club selection. When I began reading it, I had no knowledge of what I might be getting into or even what the book was about. The first chapter turned my stomach, painting a picture of starvation, bitter cold and fear in 1933 Russia. Honestly, I thought I was headed for a twisted version of The Hunger Games.
But I hung in there. The story fast forwards twenty years. Leo is a rising star in the MGB, the state security force. He's assigned to look into the death of child, whose family insists he was murdered. The communist state brushes the child's death off as an accident. Leo is a war hero, who loves his country, is loyal and follows the state party line. His wife Raisa, is a teacher who goes along with the state as a way to survive. When Leo discovers that a serial killer is on the loose, he and Raisa go against the state and set out to find the criminal.
Child 44 is full of twists and turns. It's a page turner, so be prepared. What struck me the most however, is the range of emotion that this story could evoke. The evil torture of the government on its citizens disgusted me. The cunning of a killer toward children made me cringe. And the tenderness of the love story between Leo and Raisa, brought tears to my eyes.
What a book can make me feel is the gauge I use to rate a story. After the first ten pages, I never thought I could make it through this book. Since it's so rare that I don't finish a book, I kept going. Child 44 is a wonderfully written thriller. The story's "Ah Hah" moment is perfectly placed, releasing some of the tension, but not revealing all the answers the reader is anxious to learn. Mr. Smith's writing style is superb. The subject matter, Stalinist Russia, is a tough one especially for someone like me, who has always lived in a free society. Child 44 opened my eyes to the reality of life in a communist state in the 1950's.
And that's what I love about book club. I'm forced to go outside my comfort zone and learn something new, which is a good thing.
September 20, 2015
Blackout: Remembering the things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola
Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank To Forget by Sarah Hepola
Although I haven't had a drink in almost 6 years, I still need to be reminded why I made that choice. I knew from page one how painful this book would be for me to read. The title alone told me what was ahead.
Blackouts. I'm sure I've had few but I don't remember. Sarah learned to like beer at a very young age. I also grew up in a time if I asked my father for a sip of his beer, I'd get one. I don't think my drinking started until college but maybe its roots run deeper than Thursday nights at the Brathaus. Oh I forgot, it was high school when my friends and I would sit outside the 7 Eleven until someone would buy us a six pack. See what alcohol can do. It makes you forget.
Sarah is brutally honest in this memoir, from hiding a case of beer in her closet, to being the life of the party, and waking up in bed with men she didn't know. On assignment in Paris, Sarah tells of coming to, in a hotel room with a strange man. She dresses and leaves only to discover she doesn't have her purse. Unable to remember her room number, she enlists help from the night concierge. What happens next, Sarah has never forgotten. Alcohol is the great manipulator.
Blackout is the story of an alcoholic woman and her road to recovery. Under the fog of alcohol, life seemed easier, more free and uninhibited. Giving it up meant Sarah had to be honest with all those things she wanted to forget that were hidden deep inside. I get that. The reason that this book was so painful for me, is that even in sobriety, I need to be reminded how far I have come.
Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank To Forget is not a story only for those of us who have walked down Sarah's same path. Sarah paints a vivid picture of what it is like to be addicted and how hard it is to come out on the other side. But with the support of many people in every facet of an alcoholic's life, a better life is waiting. I can clearly remember what it was like to stop drinking and become sober. Nothing about it was pleasant or fun. It is that ability to remember that keeps me sober. And I think Sarah would agree.
Although I haven't had a drink in almost 6 years, I still need to be reminded why I made that choice. I knew from page one how painful this book would be for me to read. The title alone told me what was ahead.
Blackouts. I'm sure I've had few but I don't remember. Sarah learned to like beer at a very young age. I also grew up in a time if I asked my father for a sip of his beer, I'd get one. I don't think my drinking started until college but maybe its roots run deeper than Thursday nights at the Brathaus. Oh I forgot, it was high school when my friends and I would sit outside the 7 Eleven until someone would buy us a six pack. See what alcohol can do. It makes you forget.
Sarah is brutally honest in this memoir, from hiding a case of beer in her closet, to being the life of the party, and waking up in bed with men she didn't know. On assignment in Paris, Sarah tells of coming to, in a hotel room with a strange man. She dresses and leaves only to discover she doesn't have her purse. Unable to remember her room number, she enlists help from the night concierge. What happens next, Sarah has never forgotten. Alcohol is the great manipulator.
Blackout is the story of an alcoholic woman and her road to recovery. Under the fog of alcohol, life seemed easier, more free and uninhibited. Giving it up meant Sarah had to be honest with all those things she wanted to forget that were hidden deep inside. I get that. The reason that this book was so painful for me, is that even in sobriety, I need to be reminded how far I have come.
Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank To Forget is not a story only for those of us who have walked down Sarah's same path. Sarah paints a vivid picture of what it is like to be addicted and how hard it is to come out on the other side. But with the support of many people in every facet of an alcoholic's life, a better life is waiting. I can clearly remember what it was like to stop drinking and become sober. Nothing about it was pleasant or fun. It is that ability to remember that keeps me sober. And I think Sarah would agree.
September 12, 2015
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
Nella Oortman is whisked away from her small Dutch village to big city, Amsterdam by marrying a man she barely knows. Her family has fallen on hard times financially and Johannes Brandt is a wealthy merchant. In the 17th century, her family sees him as a good match for her. She arrives at the Brandt home with her parakeet and not much else. Her new sister-in-law, Marin immediately sets out to make sure the young and naive, Nella, knows who's in charge of the household. It will not be the new wife.
When Johannes eventually returns home from his travels, he brings his wife a replica cabinet house as a wedding gift. Nella sets out to furnish the house with miniatures. The items are small and detailed, matching the Brandt home furnishings perfectly. Additions to the cabinet begin arriving which Nella has not ordered. She becomes drawn into a dark web and deception of her new life through the tiny items she finds neatly wrapped in brown paper.
The setting of late 17th century Amsterdam was very well developed in The Miniaturist. The historical backdrop of Dutch life drew me in completely. Nella held my attention, with her attempts to fit in a strange place and find her place as a wife. Though only eighteen, she had a strong will. Marin, hiding a secret of her own, tried to break her, but in the end, it was Nella she needed most.
I'm on the fence about this novel. Many things about it, I loved. The writing is good, the story moves quickly and I never felt bogged down in it. The historical aspect of the story is interesting and keeps the plot line grounded. But when I got to the last page I felt let down in a big way. The miniaturist, herself, had such a small role yet commanded the title of the book. Nella deserved much more from this story than she got. But I might not have read it if the title had been different. The Miniaturist serves as a double edged sword much like the story inside the cover.
Nella Oortman is whisked away from her small Dutch village to big city, Amsterdam by marrying a man she barely knows. Her family has fallen on hard times financially and Johannes Brandt is a wealthy merchant. In the 17th century, her family sees him as a good match for her. She arrives at the Brandt home with her parakeet and not much else. Her new sister-in-law, Marin immediately sets out to make sure the young and naive, Nella, knows who's in charge of the household. It will not be the new wife.
When Johannes eventually returns home from his travels, he brings his wife a replica cabinet house as a wedding gift. Nella sets out to furnish the house with miniatures. The items are small and detailed, matching the Brandt home furnishings perfectly. Additions to the cabinet begin arriving which Nella has not ordered. She becomes drawn into a dark web and deception of her new life through the tiny items she finds neatly wrapped in brown paper.
The setting of late 17th century Amsterdam was very well developed in The Miniaturist. The historical backdrop of Dutch life drew me in completely. Nella held my attention, with her attempts to fit in a strange place and find her place as a wife. Though only eighteen, she had a strong will. Marin, hiding a secret of her own, tried to break her, but in the end, it was Nella she needed most.
I'm on the fence about this novel. Many things about it, I loved. The writing is good, the story moves quickly and I never felt bogged down in it. The historical aspect of the story is interesting and keeps the plot line grounded. But when I got to the last page I felt let down in a big way. The miniaturist, herself, had such a small role yet commanded the title of the book. Nella deserved much more from this story than she got. But I might not have read it if the title had been different. The Miniaturist serves as a double edged sword much like the story inside the cover.
September 7, 2015
The Undertaker's Daughter by Kate Mayfield
The Undertaker's Daughter by Kate Mayfield
There's always a reason I'm drawn to certain books with unusual titles or captivating covers. The Undertaker's Daughter brought forward a memory when I was a teenager. I had a very good friend, Georgia, whose parents had a vacation home on a lake in a small town in central Ohio. Every weekend I went with her to water ski, swim and cruise down main street on Saturday night. We were 16, so of course boys were also in the mix.
One boy we met was the undertaker's son. The family lived upstairs and the funeral home, downstairs. He gave us a tour of the embalming room. I remember the walls being painted that old hospital green, a stainless steel table in the corner and hoses neatly wrapped up in even circles hanging on the wall. Just like Kate, the author of this book, it creeped me out.
Kate and her family move to a small southern town so her father can run a funeral home. Every time the phone rings, they know someone has died. That means they must stay upstairs and be quiet until the viewing and funeral are over. That's a difficult task for a family hiding enough secrets to fill all the coffins in the showroom downstairs.
What I found intriguing about this story is not so much the business of death but about living life with the hand we're dealt. Much of this story is about Kate as a child. It's not until later in her life does she learn about her father's affairs and drinking habits. Her sister is said to be moody and in reality is severely bi polar. The family's black maid cooks for them but must eat all her own meals alone. Kate's first boyfriend is black which she knows must be kept secret or her family would be destroyed.
I didn't view this memoir as a story about death, but one about racial discrimination, mental illness, alcoholism. For Kate these things were swept under the carpet. Not until she became an adult did she begin to understand how it shaped her future.
So don't stay away from this book because it appears to be about a funeral home. The Undertaker's Daughter is a memoir and a story about life.
There's always a reason I'm drawn to certain books with unusual titles or captivating covers. The Undertaker's Daughter brought forward a memory when I was a teenager. I had a very good friend, Georgia, whose parents had a vacation home on a lake in a small town in central Ohio. Every weekend I went with her to water ski, swim and cruise down main street on Saturday night. We were 16, so of course boys were also in the mix.
One boy we met was the undertaker's son. The family lived upstairs and the funeral home, downstairs. He gave us a tour of the embalming room. I remember the walls being painted that old hospital green, a stainless steel table in the corner and hoses neatly wrapped up in even circles hanging on the wall. Just like Kate, the author of this book, it creeped me out.
Kate and her family move to a small southern town so her father can run a funeral home. Every time the phone rings, they know someone has died. That means they must stay upstairs and be quiet until the viewing and funeral are over. That's a difficult task for a family hiding enough secrets to fill all the coffins in the showroom downstairs.
What I found intriguing about this story is not so much the business of death but about living life with the hand we're dealt. Much of this story is about Kate as a child. It's not until later in her life does she learn about her father's affairs and drinking habits. Her sister is said to be moody and in reality is severely bi polar. The family's black maid cooks for them but must eat all her own meals alone. Kate's first boyfriend is black which she knows must be kept secret or her family would be destroyed.
I didn't view this memoir as a story about death, but one about racial discrimination, mental illness, alcoholism. For Kate these things were swept under the carpet. Not until she became an adult did she begin to understand how it shaped her future.
So don't stay away from this book because it appears to be about a funeral home. The Undertaker's Daughter is a memoir and a story about life.
August 26, 2015
The Day That Rolls Around Every August
The Day That Rolls Around Every August
It's that time again, time for my annual birthday post. Ugh. I'm not looking forward to this one at all. Sixty! How in the hell did that happen? A friend of mine called yesterday to tell me that 60 is the new 30. Sounds good to me, so I'm sticking with it.
I was going to write a very different kind of post today than I originally planned, but I awoke this morning to a dining room table filled with gifts from Richard and Ginger and a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Pam and the grandkids. Richard doled out the gifts in a very specific order.
First he gave me a card from Corinne, the next door neighbor. Her birthday was yesterday so we commiserate together, and it had a beautiful sentiment about the beauty of being 60. Next came Ginger's card, also with a nice verse. Ginger is 9 years old. Here's what she wrote in her card.
"Just remember Mommy, you are still younger than me!" LOL!
Next I opened a series of presents containing scratch off lottery tickets, a tradition for all special occasions at our house. I won $25! I had ordered some clothes from a catalog that had been hidden when they arrived. Now they were wrapped and I opened them as if I'd been surprised!
Lastly Richard brought me a box that was a mystery. (I would not normally write about this topic in a blog, but this is too funny to ignore!) I slowly unwrap it to find a picture of a scantily clad woman with a huge smile on her face on the box. Are you getting my drift here? It's a vibrator!
There is a big sex store down in Melbourne. In case, you were wondering, I've never been there. With nothing to do one day, he drove down while I was at work. The sales girl helped him pick out the best one, the one she likes best. He checked the money in his wallet.
"My wife checks the credit card bills. What will it say on the bill if I charge this?" he asks.
"The name that's on the sign on the outside of the building," she replies.
"I don't have enough cash." Richard counts out all his change too.
"Are you military or retired military? I'll give you a 20% discount." I have a feeling she's been down this road before with her customers. I'm surprised she didn't ask for an AARP card.
Richard answers 'retired military' and walks out with my gift.
Lastly Richard hands me a card from him. The card itself made me laugh but what he wrote in it made me cry.
"Linda, I met you in your twenties, we got married in your thirties, we made it through your forties and fifties. I may not see you turn 70 and certainly not 80, so let's enjoy your sixties together."
It's going to be a very good decade, I just feel it.
It's that time again, time for my annual birthday post. Ugh. I'm not looking forward to this one at all. Sixty! How in the hell did that happen? A friend of mine called yesterday to tell me that 60 is the new 30. Sounds good to me, so I'm sticking with it.
I was going to write a very different kind of post today than I originally planned, but I awoke this morning to a dining room table filled with gifts from Richard and Ginger and a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Pam and the grandkids. Richard doled out the gifts in a very specific order.
First he gave me a card from Corinne, the next door neighbor. Her birthday was yesterday so we commiserate together, and it had a beautiful sentiment about the beauty of being 60. Next came Ginger's card, also with a nice verse. Ginger is 9 years old. Here's what she wrote in her card.
"Just remember Mommy, you are still younger than me!" LOL!
Next I opened a series of presents containing scratch off lottery tickets, a tradition for all special occasions at our house. I won $25! I had ordered some clothes from a catalog that had been hidden when they arrived. Now they were wrapped and I opened them as if I'd been surprised!
Lastly Richard brought me a box that was a mystery. (I would not normally write about this topic in a blog, but this is too funny to ignore!) I slowly unwrap it to find a picture of a scantily clad woman with a huge smile on her face on the box. Are you getting my drift here? It's a vibrator!
There is a big sex store down in Melbourne. In case, you were wondering, I've never been there. With nothing to do one day, he drove down while I was at work. The sales girl helped him pick out the best one, the one she likes best. He checked the money in his wallet.
"My wife checks the credit card bills. What will it say on the bill if I charge this?" he asks.
"The name that's on the sign on the outside of the building," she replies.
"I don't have enough cash." Richard counts out all his change too.
"Are you military or retired military? I'll give you a 20% discount." I have a feeling she's been down this road before with her customers. I'm surprised she didn't ask for an AARP card.
Richard answers 'retired military' and walks out with my gift.
Lastly Richard hands me a card from him. The card itself made me laugh but what he wrote in it made me cry.
"Linda, I met you in your twenties, we got married in your thirties, we made it through your forties and fifties. I may not see you turn 70 and certainly not 80, so let's enjoy your sixties together."
It's going to be a very good decade, I just feel it.
August 22, 2015
Take Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Take Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde
I'm not exactly sure how Take Me With You ended up on my Kindle. Maybe because the blurb talked about a man, August, who traveled every summer and wanted to go to Yellowstone and ended up with two unexpected passengers for his adventure. I have a thing about Yellowstone. Old Faithful is quite spectacular and I've even been known to go to the Old Faithful web cam just to watch it since I'm not there live and in person.
Yellowstone was only a small part of Take Me With You, yet I was not at all disappointed. The first tear I shed was on about page ten, when I was introduced to August, Wes, the mechanic and Wes' children, Seth and Henry. August's dog Woody, wiggled his way into my heart too, probably by page eleven. From then on my emotions were kicked into high gear, laughter, tears, fear and surprise.
I couldn't put this book down. I never like to rehash the story lines in my reviews and I won't here either. What was this book about? It's about the fact that it takes a village to raise a child, that alcoholism is a disease that can be overcome but it takes alot of hard work to do it, that the love of a good dog can break down barriers and that grief over the loss of a child will never leave but can be healed. And sometimes taking a chance against your better judgement, is worth it in a million ways you never thought about.
August made Seth and Henry feel important, something they never got at home. Seth and Henry helped August stay strong after the loss of his son and the onset of a debilitating illness. Together they formed a bond that would never be broken. Take Me With You touched my soul on so many levels, I never wanted it to end. I never expected the range of feeling I got in return from reading this book. It's one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
I'm not exactly sure how Take Me With You ended up on my Kindle. Maybe because the blurb talked about a man, August, who traveled every summer and wanted to go to Yellowstone and ended up with two unexpected passengers for his adventure. I have a thing about Yellowstone. Old Faithful is quite spectacular and I've even been known to go to the Old Faithful web cam just to watch it since I'm not there live and in person.
Yellowstone was only a small part of Take Me With You, yet I was not at all disappointed. The first tear I shed was on about page ten, when I was introduced to August, Wes, the mechanic and Wes' children, Seth and Henry. August's dog Woody, wiggled his way into my heart too, probably by page eleven. From then on my emotions were kicked into high gear, laughter, tears, fear and surprise.
I couldn't put this book down. I never like to rehash the story lines in my reviews and I won't here either. What was this book about? It's about the fact that it takes a village to raise a child, that alcoholism is a disease that can be overcome but it takes alot of hard work to do it, that the love of a good dog can break down barriers and that grief over the loss of a child will never leave but can be healed. And sometimes taking a chance against your better judgement, is worth it in a million ways you never thought about.
August made Seth and Henry feel important, something they never got at home. Seth and Henry helped August stay strong after the loss of his son and the onset of a debilitating illness. Together they formed a bond that would never be broken. Take Me With You touched my soul on so many levels, I never wanted it to end. I never expected the range of feeling I got in return from reading this book. It's one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
August 18, 2015
The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
I've been searching for a book club to join for a long time. I live in a retirement community so you wouldn't think a finding a book club would be an issue, but they meet at 10 am. Ever since I went back to work, a morning meeting is out of the question. Finally, I thought to call the local library and guess what! They have an evening book club!
The Dovekeepers was the book selection for the month. I've never read Alice Hoffman before and with close to 600 pages, I feared I may not make it to the end. Boy, was I wrong. The Dovekeepers tells the story of nine hundred Jews living on Masada in the desert, under siege by the Romans. We see life in the mountain fortress through the eyes of four women all assigned to work in the dovecote. Each arrives at Masada from a different path. Each has a story, and a secret which eventually binds them all together. Their fight for survival often conflicts with a deep faith that governs their way of life.
Alice Hoffman has given us a poignant, beautiful and gripping novel. It has been meticulously researched and written. I learned so much about a piece of history that I knew little about and it touched me deeply. The language used to tell these women's stories is magical. How they are woven together is perfection. The Dovekeepers is not to be missed.
I received a warm welcome as the newcomer in a well established book club. The discussion was lively and made me think about events in the story in a different light, one that I wouldn't have thought of on my own. I read a wonderful book, one that I never would have chosen myself. And I made some new friends who share my love of books.
Whether you belong to a book club or not, please put The Dovekeepers on your list of must reads. A whole new world may be opened up that you never expected. I know it did for me in more ways than one.
I've been searching for a book club to join for a long time. I live in a retirement community so you wouldn't think a finding a book club would be an issue, but they meet at 10 am. Ever since I went back to work, a morning meeting is out of the question. Finally, I thought to call the local library and guess what! They have an evening book club!
The Dovekeepers was the book selection for the month. I've never read Alice Hoffman before and with close to 600 pages, I feared I may not make it to the end. Boy, was I wrong. The Dovekeepers tells the story of nine hundred Jews living on Masada in the desert, under siege by the Romans. We see life in the mountain fortress through the eyes of four women all assigned to work in the dovecote. Each arrives at Masada from a different path. Each has a story, and a secret which eventually binds them all together. Their fight for survival often conflicts with a deep faith that governs their way of life.
Alice Hoffman has given us a poignant, beautiful and gripping novel. It has been meticulously researched and written. I learned so much about a piece of history that I knew little about and it touched me deeply. The language used to tell these women's stories is magical. How they are woven together is perfection. The Dovekeepers is not to be missed.
I received a warm welcome as the newcomer in a well established book club. The discussion was lively and made me think about events in the story in a different light, one that I wouldn't have thought of on my own. I read a wonderful book, one that I never would have chosen myself. And I made some new friends who share my love of books.
Whether you belong to a book club or not, please put The Dovekeepers on your list of must reads. A whole new world may be opened up that you never expected. I know it did for me in more ways than one.
August 15, 2015
A Year After Henry by Cathie Pelletier
A Year After Henry by Cathie Pelletier
Jeanie Munroe finally gets up the guts to confront her husband, Henry, about his extra marital affairs, until she finds him dead of a heart attack in the bed beside her. Henry loved burgers and bacon and much to her dismay, left Jeanie's questions unanswered.
A Year After Henry his family is grieving and struggling to understand why. Henry's mother is planning a memorial for her beloved son and mailman. Henry's brother, Larry who lost his job teaching at the local high school, has taken over Henry's postal route. He's holed up in his bedroom at his parent's house however, refusing to come out and deliver the mail. Jeanie is stalking Henry's mistress, Evie who works as a spiritual portraitist and part time bartender. The anticipation of Henry's memorial service is driving them all to the brink. Or is it forcing them to face their personal shortcomings head on?
I love Cathie Pelletier's quirky characters who find themselves in bizarre situations in small town, Maine. Her style of writing is straightforward and down to earth. Just like the Mainers I know. Although the situations the characters find themselves in at first glance appear unrealistic, the farther into the book you read, the more you will understand why they acted as they did. And in the end all becomes right in the world.
A Year After Henry is laugh out loud funny, unusual and heart wrenching all rolled into one. If you are looking for something to lift your spirits, Cathie Pelletier's work will bring a smile to your face.
Jeanie Munroe finally gets up the guts to confront her husband, Henry, about his extra marital affairs, until she finds him dead of a heart attack in the bed beside her. Henry loved burgers and bacon and much to her dismay, left Jeanie's questions unanswered.
A Year After Henry his family is grieving and struggling to understand why. Henry's mother is planning a memorial for her beloved son and mailman. Henry's brother, Larry who lost his job teaching at the local high school, has taken over Henry's postal route. He's holed up in his bedroom at his parent's house however, refusing to come out and deliver the mail. Jeanie is stalking Henry's mistress, Evie who works as a spiritual portraitist and part time bartender. The anticipation of Henry's memorial service is driving them all to the brink. Or is it forcing them to face their personal shortcomings head on?
I love Cathie Pelletier's quirky characters who find themselves in bizarre situations in small town, Maine. Her style of writing is straightforward and down to earth. Just like the Mainers I know. Although the situations the characters find themselves in at first glance appear unrealistic, the farther into the book you read, the more you will understand why they acted as they did. And in the end all becomes right in the world.
A Year After Henry is laugh out loud funny, unusual and heart wrenching all rolled into one. If you are looking for something to lift your spirits, Cathie Pelletier's work will bring a smile to your face.
