Compilation: 8 Books Set in a Library

I once read a book about a young girl who lived for a time inside a Walmart store. If I had my wish, I'd live inside a library. Of course, the next best thing is to own an extensive library of your own (which I do). Or, failing that, to read books set in libraries. Here are a few I can recommend:

1. The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
2. The Undercover Booklist by Colleen Nelson
3. The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
4. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
5. The Library Book by Susan Orlean
6. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
7. I Work at a Public Library by Gina Sheridan
8. The Public Library by Robert Dawson

Reminds me of the time one son brought home an almost impossible assignment to count the number of books in his home. Perhaps the teacher was investigating the literacy levels of her students as measured by the availability of books in the home. I recently had to pay my yearly fee to keep my library card going (we live outside of the library's community lines). I'm thinking I could easily let it lapse and still find enough to keep me reading for years to come. 😉

Movie Reviews: Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (and Maverick)

I rarely go to see movies in the theater. The last movie I attended (and the first one since the pandemic began) was a movie Sean wanted me to join him in seeing: Top Gun: Maverick. We both enjoyed that one immensely. It was riveting and full of suspense. Several of my friends recommended that movie. Apart from one bedroom scene (implied rather than shown) and some cursing, it was less cluttered than I expected.

Then, my Facebook feed exploded with trailers and ads for the upcoming movie, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. I was so lured in (a British cleaning woman, Paris, dreams above her station) that I watched the trailers repeatedly, to the point where my husband said, "You're watching that again??" You watch the trailer and see if you're not enticed. Once the movie opened, I read hundreds of reviews billing it as a wholesome, entertaining movie with a great message. It was rated PG - another good sign. I couldn't find someone to go to the movie with me. Yet, the lure continued to pull, so I went alone.

The movie is an underdog story. It is whimsical with the feel of a fairy-tale. For example, take the moment that incites the driving conflict: a glimmering Christian Dior gown transfixes Ada Harris when she sees it in an apartment she cleans. The owner explains that, despite the exorbitant cost of 500 quid, it was worth every bit because she feels amazing when she wears the gown. Thus, Mrs. Harris sets her sights on Paris and a Christian Dior couture dress.

Difficulties are inevitable with any dream. She must raise the funds, make the trip, get inside the restrictive showroom, and wait for her gown to be ready. Although much of this is unrealistic (again, fairy-tale quality to it), the message about persistence in pursuing one's dreams is valuable. How satisfying to see arrogance receive a comeuppance. My heart followed every emotional high and devastating low in Mrs. Harris' journey.

I agree the movie is more wholesome than most that come out of Hollywood today. Yet, would it have been so difficult to leave off the can-can dancing scene, drinking, smoking, and mild cursing? It is as if producers must fill movies with some sort of degenerate behavior for fear it will not go over well enough. Never mind those of us who wish movies and books were cleaner.

Still, I would say I enjoyed this movie. I relished the vicarious visit to Paris. It was a light-hearted romp of a film. Rooting for Mrs. Harris to get and wear her dress was inevitable. Even if you are not a fashionista, you will enjoy the bright colors and delightful display. Go forth and pursue your own dreams, even if they are as frivolous as owning a dress above your station!

Book Review: The Greater Journey

Perhaps you've noticed: I'm in a reading rut again. I've been only managing audio books for some time now. Plus, the current fixation is on armchair travel. If you can't move about the world, bring the world home in a book! This book, The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, offered an enjoyable jaunt back in time to the years between 1830 and 1900, and across the ocean to the magical city of Paris. Highlighting writers, artists, and architects, it revealed the many American creatives who ventured to Paris to fortify and bolster their artistic endeavors. It was clear, while listening, that I was missing out on illustrations, so I secured the library's copy of the hardbound book, as well.

At first, I kept thinking, "I've heard this narrator before." In looking Edward Herrmann up, I realized it wasn't another audio book I remembered his voice from, but his role as the father figure on my beloved Gilmore Girls series (yes, I'm back indulging again now that my library boasts the whole seven season series). What a rich tenor for this exposition. Herrmann pronounces the French terms and places like a pro and draws you in with his sonorous voice.

I believe this book, despite its already imposing length (14 CDs), deserves a sequel. It could cover the creative individuals who moved to Paris between 1900 and 2000. More material is available, and creative individuals enjoy learning more about what stimulated and developed others in their talents. I'm no painter, yet I thrilled at the descriptions of artists copying the greats hanging in the Louvre. Moreover, it was fascinating to read about how they created the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. I would happily indulge in another book along these lines, especially if narrated by Edward Herrmann.

Adam Gopnik's lengthier (650 page) book, Americans in Paris: A Literary Anthology, only focuses on writers. Yet, I may seek it to further my investigation into creatives influenced by Paris. (Plus, there are a slew of novels available, as well.) It brings back a happy memory of my walking tour in Paris. Even the rain couldn't dampen my spirits as I lapped up the guide's description of literary Paris.

Book Review: In an Instant

In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing presents the dueling voices of Bob and Lee Woodruff. Together they share the tale of tragedy that befell their family when Bob suffered a traumatic brain injury after a bomb explosion in Iraq while reporting for ABC's World News Tonight. I enjoyed this honest exploration of emotions and expectations. It was an audio experience worth taking. From the outset, because Bob narrates too, we know it will end with remarkable survival and healing. But anyone who has had life change dramatically in a moment will understand how what was once easy and normal can shift into challenging and strange. The Woodruff family endured something many will never experience, yet their experience is universal when held against the challenges that can transpire "in an instant."

Book Review: A Molecule Away from Madness

A Molecule Away from Madness, by Sara Manning Peskin, reminded me of Oliver Sacks' books. Peskin is a competent cognitive neurologist who weaves stories of individuals suffering from a crisis in the brain. Although not quite as delightful as his books, her stories were interesting and the scientific explanations easy enough to understand. Peskin discusses a variety of illnesses brought on by errant molecules in the brain. She explains what went wrong and what doctors are doing to research and correct these problems.

Peskin argues that molecules in the brain can turn into mutants, rebels, invaders and evaders. In this way, a normal college student can wake one morning unable to remember what she had for breakfast and, by the end of the day, assume she is in a zombie apocalypse. Mutants are altered strands of DNA that bring illnesses into families. Rebels are proteins, meant to defend us, that aim at the brain and attack. Peskin writes that using a "locomotive analogy, you can think of small molecules either as obstacles that block the train tracks (invaders) or as fuel required for the train to move in the first place (evaders)." If you are interested in the brain, this book might appeal to you. Since my own brain feels hijacked, I could definitely relate to living just a molecule away from madness. I just pray I can find a way to stave off any mutants, rebels, invaders and evaders attacking my brain. 

Book Review: The Aloha Quilt

The Aloha Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini is the sixteenth book in the Elm Creek Quilts series. I think I'm tiring a bit. If you love quilting, love Hawaii, or have endured the pain of divorce, this book might appeal to you. In The Aloha Quilt, Bonnie is reeling from the recent infidelity and spite of her husband. The man is thoroughly despicable. It is not enough that he takes up with someone else; he does everything he can to keep Bonnie's share of the assets away from her and even threatens to seize partial control of her shares in the Elm Creek Quilts business. To get Bonnie away from all this chaos, her friend Claire invites her to Hawaii to help set up a new quilt retreat, Aloha Quilt Camp.

My biggest challenge stems from my dislike of the main character, Bonnie. Even her new relationship with an interested ukulele player is caustic and difficult to applaud. She never gets around to any personal soul-searching in how she may have contributed to the pending divorce. Instead, she only rethinks what a milk-toast door-mat she has been in her marriage. I am running out of audio books for this series (available at my local library) and I'm not feeling too disappointed. While they provide a clean read, sometimes my lack of interest in quilting cannot carry me through unpleasant characters and less appealing storylines.

Book Review: The Lost Quilter

Jennifer Chiaverini often weaves historical context into her stories of human relationship. In The Lost Quilter, book 14 in the Elm Creek Quilts series, letters found in the attic set Sylvia Bergstrom Compson on a quest to discover the truth about a runaway slave harbored at Elm Creek in 1859. One of Sylvia's heirloom quilts holds the keys to discovering more about African American quilting during the Civil War. The back cover proclaims, "A gripping story of steadfast determination in the face of unthinkable cruelty." I struggled with this one because man's inhumanity to man hammered blow after blow. 

It was a tough book to listen to and not squirm in the shoes of the main character. The atrocities were overwhelming and unrelenting: slaves callously separated from loved ones, beaten for indiscretions of others, and injured for every attempt to reclaim their dignity. I understand that this litany of offenses is based on realities many individuals actually endured. Yet, I wonder whether it heaps countless evils experienced by many onto the shoulders of one character, thus magnifying the evil and minimizing the good. I ached for more redemption in the story, for light amid the darkness. Instead, Joanna experiences despicable cruelty time after time. Indeed, the Bergstroms were the only ones who showed any compassion or kindness to the main character. In the end, it just wasn't my favorite from the series.

Celebrating Old Friends and New

When you have good news and few to share it with, you realize how isolated you have become. My first book of poetry, Watching the Wayward: Psalms for Parents of Prodigals, finally released in paperback form on Amazon on June 7th. It has reminded me of the value of friendship. I was hesitant to return to my writer's group to share the news of my book because I had not attended since the pandemic shut things down. It felt wrong to attend now that I have good news to share, but then... if I didn't share it there with like-minded individuals who would celebrate with me, where else could I share? 

My heart is full because one individual bought the book to place in our local library and another wrote a kind review on the Amazon page. In the days leading up to the launch, I promoted the book on Facebook, but since I have less than 400 friends, my net is small. Still, I cannot express how grateful I am for those who posted photos of my book, with links, saying "Look! I got Wendy Gorton Hill's new book." Each extra bit of publicity helps and I appreciate every share.

But, in all of this, I think my deepest blessing is in the connections I am making with other parents on a similar walk to mine. Several of my friends wrote to say, "This book came just at the right time because we're struggling with a wayward child." Now, I'm also receiving words from individuals I don't even know who friend me on Facebook, and when I ask the connection, they reply they are reading my book. How cool is that? Besides gratitude, it opens up a chance for me to extend my prayer list to dozens of names of parents with prodigals. I now keep a running prayer list.

One such person, a pastor's wife, contacted me recently to share her story. Her daughter, sent on a mission, returned home confused and depressed. The daughter rejected her faith and headed down a wayward path, taking the son along in solidarity. These stories break my heart. The world is full of parents grieving harmful choices of rebelling children. They ache for restoration. This mother spoke of missing the fellowship she once shared with her daughter, discussing spiritual growth. She likened it to a "miscarriage." She was bringing her child into God's kingdom, and then the path abruptly stopped with progress aborted.

I will forever be grateful for all the parents who express how the book has blessed them and reminded them that God is watching while they're waiting for their child's return to the fold. It validates my decision to do what was necessary to make the book available. My joy is also full because of renewed friendships. One college roommate, Anne, reconnected and even came for a weekend visit. 

What fun we had reminiscing about those youthful days. We commiserated over shared struggles and anxieties. We took a day trip down to Nashville, Indiana and walked the streets filled with quaint shops. Chatting on the back porch, we caught each other up on years spent apart. Once again, I say, if this book nets nothing else, it is growing my prayer list, reinvigorating old friendships, introducing new ones, and providing connection where my spokes had broken (like this old post from 2011).