Book Review: Gracie's Secret

The cover of Gracie's Secret is gorgeous and inviting. The premise is intriguing. The hook offered on the back cover reads:

"Time stops for Jen when her beloved daughter, Gracie, is involved in a terrible car crash. Pronounced dead at the scene, it's a miracle when paramedics manage to then resuscitate the little girl.

"The relief Jen feels at Gracie's recovery is matched only by her fury at the driver of the car - her ex-husband's new girlfriend Ella.... But then Gracie begins to tell strange stories about what she heard in the car that day, and what she saw in those moments near death. It's clear that there's something shocking hidden in Ella's past... but exposing it could tear all their lives apart."

Though sucked in at once, I soon grew weary of this tiresome mother. How can she keep losing track of her three-year-old? If it happened once, I'd be vigilant for the rest of my lifetime, yet the toddler wanders off three or four times. This is especially shocking given the depth of love this mother supposedly feels for her cherished child (a worship to the point of obsession).

Still, I went along, despite shuddering when the reader knows the new boyfriend isn't the best choice for a rebound relationship (and don't expect a clean read, even though the narration is directed from mother to daughter). He repeatedly affirms that they belong together and are good for one another. I needed more convincing. I guess I wanted to shake the protagonist too many times. Plus, the dual narration between Jen and Ella didn't flow as well as I would have liked. It was an enticing read, just not as satisfying as I had hoped. I'd give it two and a half stars. It didn't take my breath away (as promised on the back cover), but it kept me turning pages, sometimes to my regret.

Book Review: The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

If the title's a mouthful, the tale is a gollywhopper! Too far-fetched for me, but an entertaining story. Those looking for a wild-ride-of-a-book, need look no further than The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. The story of Allan Karlsson's life has more twists-and-turns than an Indiana country back road.

Life is hard when old age forces you into a nursing home that regulates your every move and limits your alcohol consumption. That's why Allan, intent upon missing his own 100th birthday party, climbs out his window and makes his way to the bus station. He plans to take whatever route his money affords. Is it his fault that a young scamp asks him to watch a large suitcase while he uses the restroom? With nothing but the slippers on his feet, Allan makes a rash decision to take the luggage with him on his bus journey. What ensues is a rollicking tale of an unlikely heist and the gangsters' futile efforts to retrieve their booty. In the intervening chapters, the reader learns the back-story of Allan's patchwork life, full of intersections with famous individuals and adventures extraordinaire, making the flight of the 100-year-old man even more outlandish.

After viewing this trailer for the movie, I might just have to rent it one day (although many complain the trailer leaks too many spoilers - so you might not wish to view the trailer until after you've read the book).

Book Review: When We Were Grownups

I loved the premise of Back When We Were Grownups. Anne Tyler introduces a woman who wonders if she has turned into the wrong person, a woman she never meant to be. I can relate to that sentiment. I often marvel at who I am now compared to who I expected to become at this point in time. Did events conspire against me to alter my true personality? Did I succumb to the pressures of living and lose myself? That is exactly how Rebecca Davitch feels. The trajectory of her life veered off into unexpected territory when she broke her engagement and married a man with three daughters. Now, at fifty-three, she looks back on who she has turned into and doesn't recognize herself anymore.

But, even with the similarities, I couldn't fully get behind this protagonist. I never grew to like or understand her. What's more, I kept expecting there to be a resolution or growth, yet the character ended the story in approximately the same condition she began. When her earlier love interest returns, I thought "this might be the game changer," but... no she doesn't find herself through that relationship. She throws parties for a living even though she cannot muster enthusiasm for the job. She may not appreciate who she has become, but she doesn't venture out to discover who she should be.

The back of the book promised one would "come away not only refreshed and delighted, but also infinitely wiser." Oh, if that had only been true! Instead, Rebecca remains stuck and I, as a reader, remain unconvinced of the book's merit.

Book Review: Daily Writing Resilience

Both aspiring and seasoned writers face rejection and powerful bouts of self-doubt. Any writer will tell you it comes with the territory. So often, for me, fear holds me back from launching my writing into the world. I've written before outlining my question of whether my writing talent amounts to a puddle or a lake (clearly not an ocean, much less a tsunami). But what if every writer could receive a pep talk in their ear before they embark on a writing session? Football teams always approach their goal with a motivational speech to fire up the players. Why not writers, too?

In Daily Writing Resilience, Bryan E. Robinson, PhD, provides 365 motivational nuggets for writers. He acknowledges the struggle and offers comfort, reassurance, and inspiration. So many non-writers hold a simplistic view of the writing process. To them, you write a book, find an editor, and get published. Plenty of friends and family members pass along websites promising an easy path to publication. I appreciate their well-wishes, but those who are in the trenches know the battle is brutal and the results aren't always remarkable. Often you must slough through the valley of despair and force yourself to keep on trying.

I recommend this book for any writer who struggles with self-doubt or discouragement. If you buy the book, you can use it as intended, in daily doses. Since I had a limited window, on loan from the library, I copied several quotes and inspirational thoughts. Each page has a quote, a meditation, and a takeaway. Several of the takeaway passages provided fodder for my daily free-association writing.

A few of my favorite quotes: "I love my rejection slips. They show me I try." - Sylvia Plath, and "Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open." - Natalie Goldberg

A few of my favorite takeaways: "What does your heart long to say?"; "How committed are you to honing your craft?"; and "If you give up, you'll never know if you had it in you to pull it off!" As the author reminds the writer again and again, "the #1 key to writing success isn't good writing, but instead - perseverance!"

Book Review: Vinegar Girl

Although I'm familiar with Anne Tyler's name and had often run across her books, I had read nothing by this author. I think I will have to remedy that further. I really enjoyed Vinegar Girl. This retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew does an outstanding job of presenting a modern take on the classic tale. I fell in love with the caustic Kate and sympathized with her dilemma. Well done, Anne Tyler!

In Vinegar Girl, Kate Battista's life lacks direction. College didn't pan out for her, due to a bold response to a professor's ineptitude. So instead, she settled into the role of caretaker for her scientist father's household. She has her empty-headed younger sister, Bunny, to manage, endless household chores, and a less-than-ideal position as assistant for a preschool class. She has alienated the parents of her charges with her forthright candor often. Now she's on probation, not that she'd mind losing the job. The only thing that brings her satisfaction is her gardening.

But Dr. Battista is about to ask her to do more than merely manage his household and his taxes. He values his life's work more than he values his daughters. Thus, when his essential research assistant faces deportation, Dr. Battista plans to remedy the problem by marrying Kate off to Pyotr. This way he can satisfy the immigration requirements and keep his research on target. But can he convince his recalcitrant daughter to comply and aid him in this manner? Will he lose years' worth of research progress or will Kate put her foot down and insist upon having her own say in the matter?

I loved the audio version. Kirsten Potter did a phenomenal job of bringing the story to life. Her distinct voices for the various characters were excellent. She fully fleshed out the whiny teenager, the foreign lab assistant, and the strong-willed protagonist. I recently gave up on a retelling of Jane Eyre (My Plain Jane), so it pleased me that this was a more satisfying experience.

Top Ten Anticipated Reads of Fall 2018

With a pile of books already accumulated, I doubt I'll get to these upcoming releases immediately, but these are the top ten books I'm eagerly anticipating, in order of release:

Deb Caletti's A Heart in a Body in the World - 9/18/18 (technically not a fall 2018 release, but I surely won't get it until then) - This one strikes me as a YA version of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Deb Caletti capably opens up the heart of her characters. In this book, Annabelle runs 2,700 miles, from Seattle to Washington, D.C., attempting to outrun a tragedy from the past year. While walking is more my speed, I relished another YA running book by Wendelin Van Draanen, The Running Dream, so I'm open to try another YA book about a runner.

Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo - 10/2/18 - When Louisiana Elefante's grandmother wakes her up in the middle of the night to tell her they must flee, she is not surprised. Her grandmother is given to wild whims. But, this might lead to a whole pack of good-byes. I think I'll have to read her previous book, Rayme Nightingale, first because Louisiana is introduced in that tale.

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton - 10/9/18 - Once again, in Kate Morton's signature style, a novel told by multiple voices across time. In 1862, a group of young artists seclude themselves in a manor house to seek inspiration and creativity, but their time ends with one missing and another dead. Over a hundred and fifty years later, an archivist finds a satchel containing clues. This fills me with intrigue.

Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief - 10/9/18 - When their father mysteriously disappears, the five Dunbar brothers must make their own way in the world. The #1 Amazon choice in YA multigenerational family fiction. I trust the author of The Book Thief to weave another wonderful story.

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom - 10/9/18 - This book is the sequel to The Five People You Meet in Heaven. It has already garnered an average of 4.8 stars from reviewers on Amazon. This story focuses on the heavenly reunion between amusement park mechanic, Eddie, and Annie, the little girl whose life he saved. It promises to proclaim that every life matters and every ending is a beginning.

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks - 10/16/18 - This story reveals how a chance encounter can entwine two disparate individuals, defying decades, continents, and fate. Filled with regret, hope, and tenacious dreams, it is another story woven by this romantic master storyteller. Makes me want to revisit his non-fiction travel book, Three Weeks With My Brother.





House of Gold by Natasha Solomons - 10/23/18 - I discovered the gifted Natasha Solomons last year when I read both The House at Tyneford and The Song of Hartgrove Hall. This book, once again, promises a saga about war and Jews, wealth and family separations. I love the lyrical writing of Solomons and expect this to be another beautifully-told tale.

The Love Letter by Lucinda Riley - 11/1/18 - This is the only book I'm anticipating by an author I've never encountered. The title hooked me, as it promises a story centered on a letter. Plus, it is supposed to be about an aging actor who, at his death, leaves behind a letter with a shocking secret. Multiple characters want to get their hands on this missive. Since this is a re-release under a new title, I'm assuming it's previous standing as a bestseller will prove true.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty - 11/6/18 - Nine strangers descend upon a remote health resort for ten challenging days. Each is seeking something different and each has a story to share. As their lives intertwine and their stories unfold, the Amazon blurb promises the reader a page-turner "that will make you laugh and gasp." Amazon offers a chapter sampler here, but most reviewers felt cheated by this free little teaser.




The Colors of All Cattle by Alexander McCall Smith - 11/6/18 - This 19th installment of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series makes me want to rekindle my interest and catch up. I'm several books behind, so it will take a good while before I'm ready for this one. The Colors of All Cattle promises a story where Mma Ramotswe reluctantly runs for a seat on the city council. I have given up hope that my library will continue to purchase the audio versions of this series, so I must give in and read the books in paper form (oh how I love to hear the character names pronounced with an accurate accent and the delightful voice of narrator Lisette Lecat).

What books are you anticipating?

Book Review: The Clean 20

When it comes to eating, I crave simplicity. Ha! That's just a euphemism for "I'm too lazy to take the time to prepare healthy foods, so I snack on unhealthy things that are easily available." Plus, I'm horribly ineffective. While I love to read about making changes, I seldom apply what I read. Thus, on the heels of the pep talk in The Aging Brain, I read another book on simple changes to improve diet and health. For me, my reaction to raw vegetables is similar to Cookie Monster's reaction on this hilarious t-shirt my boys found and purchased on a recent thrift store run:

In The Clean 20, Dr. Ian K. Smith supplies a list of 20 simple and easy clean foods to incorporate into your diet for 20 days. It sounded easy enough for even me! The inside cover shows photos of the twenty healthy foods and they look inviting. As he introduces each one, he provides information about the selection process and the benefits accrued. I was sure I could incorporate most of these into my diet:

1) Avocado; 2) Berries (I love strawberries and enjoy making smoothies); 3) cheese (somewhat surprised this made the list because I consider cheese fattening, but thrilled I didn't have to squelch my cottage cheese consumption); 4) Chicken; 5) Chickpeas; 6) eggs (I ate many spinach and cheese omelets); 7) Kale (the author allows spinach as a basket buddy alternative); 8) Lemons (a no-go for me); 9) Lentils (another food where I can add spinach); 10) Nuts and seeds (I fudged and snacked on Dark Chocolate-covered Almonds whenever I needed a treat); 11) Oatmeal; 12) Quinoa (no-can-do); 13) seafood (I consumed salmon); 14) Squash (or basket buddy alternatives: carrots, zucchini); 15) Sweet potatoes; 16) tomatoes (fresh from our garden); 17) Turkey (surprising); 18) Whole-grain bread; 19) Whole-wheat pasta; and 20) Yogurt.

The book gives daily pep talks and meal plans. I skimmed the 60 recipes at the end of the book and copied eight. Although I enjoyed several of the recipes, a few of them flopped in my incompetent hands. The baby spinach omelet, the green smoothie, the egg and turkey casserole, and the baked sweet potato fries turned out well. I tried the author's easy recipe for making kale chips (it sounded simple enough that even I could tackle it). Alas, it was a bust. Perhaps I didn't distribute the olive oil evenly enough because I ended up with a mix of dry chips and wet. I didn't care for the baked apple oatmeal cups even though they sounded delicious and were simple to prepare.

The author provides an ample list of clean snack possibilities, so it was easy to make healthy choices. I turned to things like mashed avocado on whole wheat toast, hard-boiled eggs, frozen grapes, cottage cheese, and mozzarella cheese sticks with apple slices. Again, I fudged and used regular peanut butter instead of the author's suggested organic. Plus, I applied regular dressing to my salads (cannot abide the healthier oil-based dressings).

Dr. Smith ends the book with a section on exercise, but I didn't incorporate his exercises. I stuck with my daily treadmill time. Still, other readers might enjoy the challenges he provides in that section.

For my final analysis, I liked the ease of incorporating the small list of clean foods into my daily diet habits. It was a simple plan to follow. After a while, it felt limiting, but I pressed on and even lost four and a half pounds during my 20 day experiment. Even now, I turn to the ideas of the book when contemplating what to eat. It can't hurt to apply the mantra on the back cover: "Eat Clean. Live Lean!"

An Eye for Trouble

What a month Trevor is having! First, he breaks his leg during the first official game of the football season. It killed him to miss the second game, but he wasn't mobile enough to manage. Last Tuesday evening, I drove him to the team's away game so he could cheer them on from the side lines. It was quite comical watching his arms flail as he did jumping jacks with them, to the best of his ability, in a wheelchair - ha!

I was glad this week's game was a home game on our own field. While last week I stayed with him during the game (fearing play of the ball might come plowing into the sidelines and further damage his healing leg), this week, I dropped him off and he wheeled himself up the incline and into the stadium. I thought we were home free when I picked him up and drove him back to our house.

Oh, how wrong I was! During the game, Trevor said he felt something enter his eye. Despite the eye irritation, he didn't mention it until bedtime. We have a glass eye wash cup for such needs. He swished water over it several times, trying to extract the object on the surface of the eyeball, but to no avail.

The following morning, I scheduled a doctor's appointment. I tried to explain that it wasn't merely a speck on the eye. In fact, I described it as a pimple on the sclera (white of the eye). The nurse-practitioner who looked at his eye said it appeared the eye was trying to heal over the speck. At least, it had a film over it. She prescribed antibiotic drops and scheduled an urgent appointment (a few hours later) with my optometrist. At the eye doctor's office, they were once again perplexed. If it was a foreign object on the eye, how was it so deeply embedded (given that Trevor experienced it as a sudden irritation the previous night)? After a futile attempt to extract it with a Q-tip, she felt he needed to see the ophthalmologist the next morning.

I recall her saying he might have to dig the speck out of the film covering it and do stitches. Had I heard her correctly? Stitches??? To the eye??? Yikes!

Praise God, it didn't come to that. The first ophthalmologist decided it was most likely a cyst as opposed to a foreign body in the eye. Since he'd seen nothing like it before, he wanted to be in the room when the senior ophthalmologist viewed the eye and offered his prognosis. They ended up in agreement. The senior ophthalmologist suggested a speck of something entered the eye briefly and the eye formed the cyst of fluid to fight off the invasion. Considering the cyst is not causing any problems (no discharge, no pain, no vision loss, etc.), they recommended we continue with the eye drops and watch the progress of the cyst (please, Lord, don't let it develop to the point of some of the "cysts on the eye" shown in Google Images - double yikes!).

So, next Friday will be a full day for Trevor, with an ophthalmologist follow-up in the morning and an orthopedic specialist follow-up in the afternoon. Although we're hoping for good results there - and perhaps a further reduction in cast size - we're worried about the healing process because he has taken three falls on the crutches, thanks to slippery bathroom floors, stray backpack straps hanging out into the walkway, and lack of room to maneuver. Poor boy deserves to catch a break sometime.

You can't keep him down, though. He begged to go to the varsity game tonight,but with rain in the forecast, that's out of the question. So glad his spirits haven't dampened. It thrilled him when I offered lunch out at Dairy Queen in between his two appointments. I promised "a treat for the trial of your trouble, Trevor."

Book Review: Monday's Not Coming

If you wish to improve your writing ability (as I do), it is best to read what is popular in your chosen genre (for me, YA). However, the popular selections in YA today often make me uncomfortable (filled with questionable content). This book, Monday's Not Coming, won't appeal to everyone. It is gritty and raw. It is, as Laurie Halse Anderson calls it, "a mesmerizing, punch-in-the-gut story." Despite plenty of cursing and references to sexual behavior, I couldn't stop turning pages. I was desperate to learn the outcome. Although told by an African-American narrator, the story is important for all people and races because it treats a societal ill we cannot afford to ignore. And that is the heart of this tale: society ignoring the signs.

Claudia Coleman returns from her summer away at her grandmother's house eager to hook up with her lifelong best friend, Monday Charles. It seems unusual that Monday's phone has been disconnected. When her friend fails to show up on the first day of school (her favorite place of sanctuary), it convinces Claudia something is wrong. Yet, she cannot get a straight answer from Monday's mother or her sister, April. Monday must know how much Claudia depends on her to navigate the troubled waters of middle school. Why would she abandon Claudia to fight these battles on her own? Moreover, why won't anyone listen or help her find her best friend? Is April right? Did Monday hide her true nature from Claudia because she feared judgment and shame? Is something wrong, or does Monday merely no longer wish to be her friend?

This hard-hitting YA novel paints a painful portrait of fierce friendship and a terrifyingly believable account of a tween who slips through the cracks. Tiffany D. Jackson provides a compelling voice and well-developed characters. Her writing is seamless. Her pacing is, for the most part, precise and powerful (I occasionally wished it would get to the outcome faster).

While difficult to read and outside my comfort zone, I don't regret the time invested. I might even consider attempting Jackson's debut novel, Allegedly. That novel received equally high praise. Kirkus Review and Publishers Weekly labelled it "well conceived and executed," "searing and true," and "absorbing and exceptional." If you can look past the language and moral issues (necessary to portray realistic characters), this book provides a thought-provoking, socially-significant read.

Book Review: A Few of the Girls

I happily stumbled upon the audio version of this short story collection by Maeve Binchy. A Few of the Girls contains a variety of stories, all with Binchy's signature touch for fleshing out characters so you feel they are real people. Many of the stories focus on love, friendship, and adventure. I think my favorite one for character development was "Sandy's Suitcase," a story about a trendy woman who goes on holiday and mourns the loss of her luggage until others rally around to salvage her experience. Another sad story, of a young boy who doesn't understand what is going on around him but thinks his family is preparing a "custardy case" for his birthday, also tugged at my heartstrings. I delighted in listening to the four excellent narrators give the stories flair with their Irish accents. If you've never encountered a Binchy book before, do start with the novels published during her lifetime (Tara Road, especially, or Minding Frankie,  A Circle of Friends, Quentins, etc.) and, if at all possible, listen to them in audio form so you feel like you are right there in Ireland with the characters.