Book Review: Neither Here Nor There

This third installment from the audio set I purchased for a buck at Goodwill was not as satisfying as the other two. This time around, I was glad it was an abridged version. While the book maintained the usual level of humor, it ventured into crude territory to get there. The seedy underbelly of European cities might make things humorous, but at the expense of listeners who prefer clean reads. I set it aside but was without another audio book, so I reluctantly picked it up again. If I hadn't, I would have missed the sections devoted to Italy. I may have loved Rome, but based on Bryson's descriptions, I would enjoy other parts of that glorious country as well. His descriptions of Naples, Sorrento, and Capri were alluring, but I'm thrilled I dodged his experience of being pick-pocketed in Florence (I had heard that street thieves were relentless). One day, maybe, I'll get back to Italy and do a full-fledged tour.

Content Caution: 📒 - drugs, language, sex

Book Review: Every Day in Tuscany

For over forty years, I've been an Anglophile. I never experienced a yen for Italy. Then, in 2017, I took a solo trip to London/Paris/Rome. If I had to rank them, I enjoyed Rome the most, then Paris, and London the least, this time around. I had a marvelous time in Italy and only wish I had spent more days there. Two days in Rome was simply not enough! Now, whenever travel videos come on my Facebook feed, showing Italian streets and sights, I'm always interested. Plus, Maria Novajosky's book about her Italian heritage whet my appetite even more (see my review here).

The author of Every Day in Tuscany is a poet, so the writing is highly poetic. Almost too much so. Is that possible? She waxes lyrical about the Renaissance painter Luca Signorelli and expounds on many recipes and foods. I'm a horrible cook, so I didn't even bother to open the expanded final CD for the pdf of recipes. Still, it was fun to hear someone articulate what she loves about Italy. It was, as the back cover proclaimed, "a passionate and inviting account of the richness and complexity of Italian life." Yet, if asked to rank the two similar books, I would choose Maria Novajosky's An Ocean, an Airplane, and Two Countries Full of Kisses over this memoir. Perhaps more accessible.

Book Review: Rascal

Written in 1963, two years prior to my birth, this children's memoir tells of a simpler, more wholesome time. Set in 1918 in Wisconsin (near to my past home in northern Illinois), it recounts the adventures of 12-year-old Sterling North and his pet raccoon. This book has sincere boy appeal, but is also entertaining for all. It made me hearken back to times when you could go on a trip and neglect to lock your house doors, when family was nearby and always at the ready to help you in times of need, and when young boys could make pets of wild creatures without worrying about legislation against them. Dipping back in time with Sterling is a satisfying exercise and made me want to know more about the author. The Amazon listing for the book shows the 1st edition copies go for over $300 now. Of course, you can still access it in cheap paperback modern form and I listened to the audiobook. I wonder if they illustrated the book. Suitable for ages 8-12, this would make an excellent classroom read-aloud.

Cedar Point Trip

Back in January, we started planning a family trip to Cedar Point (a favorite destination for the boys). Bryce and his girlfriend wanted to schedule it to coincide with the Indy 500. While the boys and Elizabeth rode rides, John and I planned to take a day trip to Kelley Island. We booked the rooms, the 2-day tickets, and the fast passes. We intended to drive two cars, so Bryce, Elizabeth, and I could return home late Saturday evening. Then, the complications mounted. 

Trevor belatedly realized that he intended to attend his girlfriend's high school graduation that Saturday. Sean had trouble finding a friend to bring instead (especially since, having purchased fast passes, it had to be a friend unafraid of daring rides). Our two foremost options for a dog-sitter came up dry. Toby's groomer suggested two college students but they couldn't take the dog. I tried Rover.com, but so many of the options were homes with several large dogs, and we knew our Toby would not tolerate such an environment. Thus, I decided to remain home with the dog, while John took Sean and a friend and Bryce and Elizabeth drove my car. But Bryce really wanted me to come along.

Finally, I logged back in to Rover and tried to find a good fit in a town close to where Trevor will be for his girlfriend's graduation. Success! We arranged to have Trev drop Toby off that morning and I would pick him up the following morning after our return late the night before.

We had a wonderful time. Friday morning was a bit frantic (heavy rain made the drive stressful), but we arrived at the Breakers hotel (right on the Cedar Point property) around 2 and by 3, Bryce and Elizabeth, Sean and his friend Ben, were riding rides. It rained from 4-6, so John and I ditched our plans for Kelley Island. Our riders were unfazed as they were under cover in the line for Maverick. Then, we received a dreadful text. Bryce's wallet went missing. They weren't sure if it disappeared on the ride or in the crush of the crowd departing the ride. They searched but came up dry.

While they were at the hotel desk requesting replacement tickets and room keys, I prayed that God would intervene and not just return the wallet, but return it intact. The wallet had Bryce and Elizabeth's driver's licenses (necessary for their flights home), a few credit cards, room keys, and cash inside. After a lovely dinner at TGIFriday's and a delicious treat at the ice cream shop in the hotel, Bryce, Elizabeth, John, and I retired early, while the boys went back to ride more.

On Saturday, the four-some had fast passes and John and I had regular entrance tickets. The Breakers provides early entrance, so we bee-lined for Valravn (one of my favorite coasters), where we lucked into front row seats (for a virtual experience, watch this YouTube video). 

Most of the day, John and I held phones while the others rode the rides, but it was nice to walk around with them (and we did ride the Ferris Wheel). 

Eventually, we made our way to Maverick, where an employee remembered finding the wallet with two TX licenses inside. They sent us to lost and found - the wallet was there and contained everything. Praise God!

John remained behind with the boys, while Bryce, Elizabeth and I drove home. By 10 the next morning, the dog was retrieved, Bryce and Elizabeth departed for the Indy 500, and I awaited the return of John and the boys. On Monday, we enjoyed a cook-out and 2 lengthy games of Purdueopoly (great fun!). Tuesday, Elizabeth returned to Houston and Wednesday morning, Bryce returned to Dallas. Their visit was far too short, but enjoyable nonetheless. 

Book Review: The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse

How can a war novel be light-hearted and tender? Throw in a dog with an unusual name, an orphaned land girl with a dim-witted cousin and maternal auntie, and an American pilot with a big heart - that's how. Val Eliot is as protective of her cousin Willy as Willy is protective of the mistreated dogs on his employer's farm. She agrees to help him rescue one pup Willy has named Peter Woodhouse (after an advertisement on his crate), but where to hide the pup? The American soldiers on a nearby base agree to take on the dog as a mascot and good luck charm.

The story meanders, but is full of hope and charm. Even in bad times, there are good people. Reaching out to help another may come at a risk, but some will take those risks. This is such a sweet story of friendship. Plus, I was amused to find Muncie, Indiana playing a role in another Alexander McCall Smith book (also the home of a character in The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection). Perhaps the author met someone from the town.

Falls, Fails, Fears, and Favors

FALLS:

Tuesday, May 17th, was an unfortunate day. My father was taking my mother for a walk in her wheelchair when he hit a rut in the road. In attempting to keep my mother from spilling to the ground, he held firm to the handles and flipped over landing on his side, shattering his Apple watch, and bruising his ribs. They wondered if my mom had broken her shoulder in the fall, but x-rays revealed no break. 

They were both quite sore for a while, yet still managed to drive over to Orlando to visit with my sister and her family and my older brother, Mark, and his family, all vacationing there at the time. I was green with envy seeing their little reunion over our favorite pizza, Giordano's:

(My parents, brother, and sister are all at the far end of the table. Look at that pizza! Yum!)

FAILS

Also on Tuesday, May 17th, Trevor had an accident while in his weightlifting class at school. Both Trevor and Sean have been intensely committed to the weightlifting program. Trevor is in the "1000 club" and Sean in the "900 club." Trevor is one of the best lifters at his school and they hound him constantly, wanting him back on the football team. But with a job at Culver's and a girlfriend, he feels he doesn't have time for football.

Trevor was maxing that day, lifting 495 pounds, when he failed. The safety bars were set too low, so he landed on his rear and, in going down, heard his knee pop. He arrived home limping, convinced that it was merely a torn meniscus and nothing to worry about. But, we were concerned enough to take him to the doctor on Wednesday, where he had x-rays.

FEARS

Although the x-rays revealed no bone breakage, the doctor was pretty sure it was a torn ACL or PCL ligament and would require surgery. We were so disheartened, having been through that whole ordeal with his broken leg back in 2018. The prospect of more pain medication terrified us. We immediately began praying over the situation. On Thursday, he had an MRI. On Friday, they called to inform us that the MRI showed no harm to the meniscus or the ACL/PCL ligaments. Apparently, just like in his broken leg, he had a cyst in that spot. The cyst popped and the fluid caused the swelling, pain, and inability to fully straighten his leg. What a praise! No surgery! No 6-12 month recovery time! No lengthy restrictions on lifting. We were so relieved.

FAVORS

My poetry book, Watching the Wayward: Psalms for Parents of Prodigals, has been out in e-book format for almost two months. In the initial publicity, for a week in April, it garnered the #1 new release in Religious and Inspirational poetry. 

Then it dipped, but later rose again to #33 in Religious and Inspirational Poetry. 

Slowly, I've been accumulating a few reviews and on May 26th the book ranking jumped back up to #25. I so appreciate the individuals who took the time to leave a review.

Now, the paperback is set to release on June 7th. The week prior to this release is of utmost importance. Amazon will schedule the book's availability through their site based on the number of clicks and purchases made prior to that release date.

So, the favor I am asking: please take a moment and FOLLOW THIS LINK to the book's listing, to drive up the interest markers and aid in the availability of my book to those who wish to purchase it and have it readily available. Of course, if you are interested, I would love an actual purchase, either from Amazon or directly from my publisher. 

Just a reminder, you can easily access sample pages from the Amazon page or seven sample poems in pdf form from my author website. And, if you know a parent of a prodigal, please pass the word along about this resource. It is an extremely isolating road to walk and just knowing someone feels your pain speaks volumes to distraught parents. If you bought the book and are willing, please leave an honest review on the Amazon page. Thanks in advance for any action you take to improve the prospects of my book launch.

Book Review: With Love from London

The name Sarah Jio jumped out at me in my library's recent acquisition list, but I couldn't remember what book of hers I had read. The title provided an even stronger draw, With Love from London. Add in an inherited bookstore and I felt compelled to read. At the start, the tale seemed too contrived and strained credulity. But halfway into the novel, I suspended my disbelief and lapped up this story.

Abandoned as a pre-teen when her mother returned to her native England, Valentina Baker harbors resentment and confusion to this day. News of her mother's death forces Valentina to travel across the ocean to decide what to do with the London bookstore she has inherited. On the heels of divorce, she is more than willing to flee the States, but the bookstore's debts threaten any plans she might have for forming a new life in London.

The revelation of the truth behind Eloise's disappearance from her daughter's life seemed too slow. This caused my half-hearted interest in the beginning. I kept thinking to myself, "Who would do something like that?" It was too much of a stretch. However, as the story progressed, I liked Valentina more, understood Eloise's dilemma, and even embraced the love stories portrayed. I'm not a great fan of romance books, but it is nice to dip into one now and then for a light-hearted read. Moreover, I'm always game for a book that incorporates London and books.