finished re-reading

This book group re-read was as good the second time around.  What really stood out to me were parallels to The Wizard of Oz--the four main characters' found family feels reminiscent of Dorothy's adventure, although there is no wicked witch, there is an enigmatic "great and powerful Oz".  The book begins with a tornado interrupting travel plans.  When Ava, Ray, and Sasha set out with the little dog PJ, Sky eventually rounds out the band of travelers.  I especially enjoyed that this group of mismatched strangers shared their heartbreak and innermost thoughts, creating strong bonds.  The poppy fields themselves are what came to mind for the Oz-like sequence of sleeping.  The yellow-brick road takes the form of an ugly rental car.  There's even a hot-air balloon ride!

It will be fun discussing this with my book group.  Maybe I'm seeing things that aren't there, but we'll have a good time dissecting my theory.

From my original post:  

This book is an absolute must-read for a book club, offering themes and elements ripe for discussion. At its core, the novel introduces an intriguing speculative premise: a carefully vetted process designed to offer grief relief by allowing those who have suffered tremendous loss to essentially sleep through their pain.

While the concept touches on heavy topics--including medical ethics, the complexities of grief and loss, and the role of social media in modern life--the book never feels weighed down. The novel centers on the journey of four main characters who are drawn together on their quest toward the Poppy Fields. It's in creating this found family that the book truly shines. Each character brings a poignant and unique experience of loss, estrangement, and hope, which humanizes the abstract themes. This focus on personal, character-driven storytelling is a major strength, setting it apart from other, often more clinical and distant, works of speculative fiction in the same vein (I'm thinking Never Let Me Go or The Memory Police).   

The audio is particularly well done.

finished reading

For this fourth outing of the Marlow Murder Club, Judith, Suzie, and Becks are solving a mystery set on a Thames River cruise.  The suspects include members of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society and, well, there is drama along with mystery!  Judith, Suzie, and Becks have been specifically told by Tanika to not get involved in the investigation, so the trio finds ways to bend that edict.  This time, Suzie seems to cause the most chaos while Judith puts the pieces together.

This locked-room style mystery is clever--every suspect has a grudge against the victim plus a solid alibi.  And the MADS members are somewhat over-the-top, but, in all honesty, they are representative of people I've seen in my own town's community theater group: the grueling rehearsal schedule, the underappreciation for the technical director, and the diva behavior.

The chemistry between the three leads remains the best part of the series.  And I was kept guessing until the end!  The audio version is fantastic.

From the publisher:  

Verity Beresford is worried about her husband. Oliver didn’t come home last night so of course Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlow’s resident amateur sleuth, for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had hired The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, for an exclusive party with the MADS committee but no one remembers seeing him disembark. And then Oliver’s body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him – it’s time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action.

Oliver was, by all accounts, a rather complicated chap with a reputation for bullying children during nativity play rehearsals, and he wasn’t short of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are convinced they’ll find his killer in no time. But things are not as they seem in the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and this case is not so clear-cut after all. The gang will need to keep their wits about them to solve this case, otherwise a killer will walk free …

the reading nook

 

Tuesday, April 21: The Reading Nook

We are moving right along with our gratitude challenge. We’ve looked at our surroundings, our household "heroes," and the kindness of strangers. Today, we’re retreating into one of my favorite places: the world of words.

As a reader, I find that so much of my gratitude comes from the stories I get to disappear into. Sometimes it’s a specific book that felt like it was written just for me, and other times it’s a single sentence that perfectly captures a feeling I couldn't quite name.

The Prompt: Share a book that you are currently grateful for.

For me:

The Recommendation: I’ve been spending time with The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion recently, and I’m so grateful for the series. The way the author handles Emma's coming of age is just funny. It’s exactly the kind of story I needed this year, and especially this week.  

Whether it's a thriller that kept you up too late (in the best way) or a piece of literary fiction that made you stop and think, there’s so much to be thankful for on our bookshelves.

What are you reading right now that feels like a "win"? I’d love for you to share a recommendation or a favorite line in the comments.

currently

I am...

Reading: Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood

Listening to: Facebook reels

Thinking:  trying not to perseverate on the social media shitstorm

Feeling:   slightly anxious

Celebrating:  vacation week!

Grateful for:  very kind police personnel 

Enjoying:  a delightful Zoom meeting with a colleague from the University, where we discussed a book we might incorporate into our history classes

Weather:  34° and light snow 😠

A quote I want to share: 

finished reading

In this volume, Emma has some poignant moments dealing with grief amid her usual chaos and mayhem.  Her relationships with Young Hawkes, Islington, and Pierce are more fully developed.  I'm so curious to see if any of them turn romantic in nature, as all three have potential.  One of the hijinks Emma is involved in is the second favor Emma owes to ner'do well, Jack.  Learning about Guy Fawkes Day was entertaining as the neighborhood's traditional celebration took place.  

I want to live in Emma's world.

From the publisher:

I took Treasure Island to church with me as a talisman.

“What a lovely bible,” Mrs. Tribly said.

“Isn’t it just?” I replied, hoping she would not ask me to read a favorite verse aloud.

I do not believe the psalmist wrote,

Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest,

Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighbourhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

finished reading

This multi-generational look at family is wryly amusing and poignant.  Told through multiple perspectives, each narrator fleshes out the nuances of the family's dynamics.  Focusing on a sister feud that shapes interactions among family members, the interconnected stories and experiences offer a glimpse of small, everyday moments.  I wasn't as invested in some of the narratives and found the portrayal of children to be stereotypical.  The competitive relationship between the sisters rang true.

From the publisher:

When their beloved sister passes away, Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein are unmoored. A misunderstanding about apple cake turns into a decade of stubborn silence. Busy with their own lives—divorces, dating, career setbacks, college applications, bat mitzvahs and ballet recitals—their children do not want to get involved. As for their grandchildren? Impossible.

With This Is Not About Us, master storyteller Allegra Goodman—whose prior collection was heralded as “one of the most astute and engaging books about American family life” (The Boston Globe)—returns to the form and subject that endeared her to legions of readers. Sharply observed and laced with humor, This Is Not About Us is a story of growing up and growing old, the weight of parental expectations, and the complex connection between sisters—a big-hearted book about the love that binds a family across generations.

sunday stealing

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More Questions From Steph

1) Are you the sort of person who can nap or sleep anywhere, any time? except for moving vehicles of any type, yes

 

2) Have you ever walked in your sleep? yes, as a kid

 

3) Do you chat with your Uber/Lyft/taxi driver? if I'm by myself, I probably will exchange pleasantries 

4) Do you remember what you did on Valentine's Day? I met with my Breakfast Club friends and later had book group

 

5) How many laptops have you owned over your lifetime? hmmm, three or four

 

6) How many countries have you visited? 18--I was in Canada yesterday

 

7) Did you/will you go to work today? I'm on Spring Break from school until the 27th

postsecret

 

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

finished reading

I first read Lisa Lutz's The Spellman Files back in 2009, and returning to it in 2026 was just as much fun! The shenanigans of the Spellman family: a group of private investigators who can't help but investigate each other, remain the gold standard for 'weird and funny' character work. This series came out before the domestic thriller craze, so this mix of family snark and actual mystery still works.

The stories are told through Izzy’s chaotic perspective, but the youngest Spellman, Rae, might just be my favorite. Her intense dedication to surveillance-- and snacks--is a highlight. Honestly, this family dynamic is so cinematic, it’s a wonder it hasn't been turned into a limited streaming series yet. I needed a break from heavy thrillers; this re-read reminded me why the Spellmans are so special.

From the publisher:

Meet Isabel "Izzy" Spellman, private investigator. This twenty-eight-year-old may have a checkered past littered with romantic mistakes, excessive drinking, and creative vandalism; she may be addicted to Get Smart reruns and prefer entering homes through windows rather than doors -- but the upshot is she's good at her job as a licensed private investigator with her family's firm, Spellman Investigations. Invading people's privacy comes naturally to Izzy. In fact, it comes naturally to all the Spellmans. If only they could leave their work at the office. To be a Spellman is to snoop on a Spellman; tail a Spellman; dig up dirt on, blackmail, and wiretap a Spellman.

Part Nancy Drew, part Dirty Harry, Izzy walks an indistinguishable line between Spellman family member and Spellman employee. Duties include: completing assignments from the bosses, aka Mom and Dad (preferably without scrutiny); appeasing her chronically perfect lawyer brother (often under duress); setting an example for her fourteen-year-old sister, Rae (who's become addicted to "recreational surveillance"); and tracking down her uncle (who randomly disappears on benders dubbed "Lost Weekends").

But when Izzy's parents hire Rae to follow her (for the purpose of ascertaining the identity of Izzy's new boyfriend), Izzy snaps and decides that the only way she will ever be normal is if she gets out of the family business. But there's a hitch: she must take one last job before they'll let her go -- a fifteen-year-old, ice-cold missing person case. She accepts, only to experience a disappearance far closer to home, which becomes the most important case of her life.

saturday 9

 

Drive My Car

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) Who would you allow, without hesitation, to drive your car? my sisters and my bestie

 

2) When you're riding in the backseat, do you use your seatbelt? always

 

3) In this song, a young girl tells her boyfriend she wants to be a movie star. What were your aspirations when you were in your late teens/early 20's? Did you realize them? when I finally settled on a major, I followed that path

 
4) The song was reportedly inspired in part by the relationship between popular British singer Cilla Black and her future husband. Cilla wanted him on the record label's payroll, so he became her road manager and driver. Have you ever worked for, or with, someone with whom you were romantically involved? no

 

5) Although this Beatles song is credited to Lennon-McCartney, it was written mostly by Paul. He recalls showing up at John Lennon's house with the tune ready to go, and lyrics they both agreed were "crap." John gave Paul the car theme, and he took it from there. When has someone recently helped you out of a jam? one of my colleagues alerted me to a social media shitstorm and I'm dealing with it

 

6) Paul also handles the lead vocals. When you hear a Beatles record, can you tell which band member is singing lead? yes

7) When it was first released, this record got a lot of attention for the intricate guitar work by Paul and George Harrison. It's got a lot of percussion on it, too, including cowbell and tambourine. Have you ever played either cowbell or tambourine? (Do you think it sounds like fun?) I have played both, and the maracas

8) Lava lamps were already popular in England but they weren't introduced to the United States until 1965. Today Walmart carries more than 20 different lava lamps. Have you ever owned one? yes, I had my grandmother's vintage lamp

 
9) Random question: Do you have a recurring dream? yes

finished reading

This was a whimsical book, but was, unfortunately, also predictable.  I did enjoy the characters and the setting and the dual narratives.  But the plot twist reveal left me flat.

From the publisher:

The Keeper of Stories meets The Lost Apothecary in this evocative and charming novel full of mystery and secrets.

‘The thing about books,’ she said ‘is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.’

On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found…

For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.

But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder… where nothing is as it seems.

currently

I am...

Reading: I am rereading The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz, after seeing The Gal's WWW post.

Listening to: a Spotify playlist my niece made for me

Thinking:  hopeful that I can hang in there for three days until spring break

Feeling:   hopeful

Celebrating: my students have been working on the assignments without complaining

Grateful for:  light at the end of the tunnel--and theme week that's keeping things fun

Enjoying:  warmer temperatures so I can wear lighter clothing

Weather:  43° and light rain

A quote I want to share: 

second-hand smiles

Tuesday, April 14: A Second-hand Smile

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks looking at the things right in front of us: the sounds, the textures, and the reliable "background heroes" in our homes. Today, I want to nudge our focus outward just a little bit.

This week’s prompt is about human connection. Not necessarily the big, life-changing relationships, but those tiny, fleeting moments with people we might not even know.

The Prompt: Recall a brief interaction with a stranger this week. What was a small moment of human kindness you witnessed or experienced?

For me:

A library lobby moment. I was dropping off a stack of books yesterday and saw a teen hold the heavy double doors open for an elderly woman. He didn't just hold it; he waited patiently while she navigated her walker through, and they shared a very genuine, brief "thank you" smile. It took maybe ten seconds, but it made the whole lobby feel a little warmer.

Sometimes, gratitude is simply being a witness to the fact that people are, by and large, pretty decent to one another.  

Did you catch a "second-hand" smile this week? Or perhaps a small kindness directed your way? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

sunday stealing

 

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Tell Us Something

1. Can you touch your nose with your tongue? no

2. What foreign language did you study in school? How much of it do you still remember? J'ai étudié le français au lycée et à l'université, mais je m'en souviens très peu.

3. What recipe did you most recently prepare? Where did you get the recipe and how did it turn out? buffalo chicken dip, a recipe I got from a former neighbor and it was fan-freakin-tastic!

4. What song have you listened to over and over and over again? not one song but the Fleetwood Mac Rumours album

5. Are there currently any pets in your household? Are you considering adding another? only dust bunnies and they are multiplying!

6. As an adult, have you ever performed with a drama group? (Student productions don't count.) yes

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

finished reading

I finally circled back to this series! I realized I read the first one back in April of ’24, so honestly, I was due for another round. Once again, the author is leaning hard into that classic Golden Age of Detective Fiction vibe: think a total locked-room mystery, very Agatha Christie, but with a modern wink. What really gets me, though, is the narrator, Ernest Cunningham. He’s constantly breaking the fourth wall and "chatting" with the reader, which is just so cheeky and clever. I love the self-deprecating wit, and especially how he keeps poking at the "rules" of detective fiction. It’s like he’s inviting us to solve it right alongside him--or at least laugh while he tries to.  The audio is great!

My only complaint is that the cast of characters was difficult to keep straight.  

From the publisher:

When the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society invited me to their crime-writing festival aboard the Ghan, the famous train between Darwin and Adelaide, I was hoping for some inspiration for my second book. Fiction, this time: I needed a break from real people killing each other. Obviously, that didn’t pan out.

The program is a who’s who of crime writing royalty:

the debut writer (me!)

the forensic science writer

the blockbuster writer

the legal thriller writer

the literary writer

the psychological suspense writer

But when one of us is murdered, the remaining authors quickly turn into five detectives. Together, we should know how to solve a crime.

Of course, we should also know how to commit one.

How can you find a killer when all the suspects know how to get away with murder?

saturday 9

Leather and Lace

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) As you answer these questions, are you wearing leather, lace, or both? neither

2) This song is a duet between members of two superstar groups – Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac and Don Henley of The Eagles. Which band do you listen to more often, Fleetwood Mac or The Eagles? Fleetwood Mac
 

3) In this duet, "lace" tells us she is stronger than we know and "leather" admits that sometimes he's vulnerable. Do either side of this lyrical equation apply to you? Do you think you're either tougher than people realize, or more sensitive than they know? probably more sensitive than they know

 
4) Both Stevie and Don are born Westerners. Stevie spent her early childhood in Arizona and Don was born in Texas and stayed there through college. Today Stevie has two homes – one in Pacific Palisades and another in Phoenix – while Don has a beautiful home in Dallas. Do you feel rooted where you are? Or can you see yourself moving to another city or state in the future? I'm pretty rooted

 

5) Stevie and Don were romantically involved in the 1970s, but after they broke up they remained friendly. Not only did they record this song in 1981, they went on tour together in 2005. Have you recently heard from an ex? no, it's been quite a while

6) Stevie admits a lifelong passion for Animal Crackers, those little cookies shaped like tigers, bears and elephants. Is your go-to snack sweet, like Stevie's, or is it salty? I'm very much a mood snacker; I don't really have a go-to snack

7) Don likes Velveeta on his burgers. Describe your ideal cheeseburger. medium-rare, with some kind of cheese (I'm not terribly fussy) and then depending on the cheese, there will be toppings

8) In 1981, when this song was popular, both Maserati and Mercedes Benz introduced luxury convertibles. Have you ever owned a convertible? Would a convertible be practical for your lifestyle? life in Northern Maine is not ideal for a convertible

 
9) Random question: What are you most looking forward to this week? at 2:45 on Friday afternoon my vacation begins!

finished reading

I’m happy to report that this book group re-read really stood the test of time. It’s an incredible coming-of-age tale about four friends navigating the messy realities of broken homes and teenage rebellion. The story masterfully weaves two timelines: Louisa’s modern-day quest to solve the mystery of a world-famous painting and the artist’s own story from twenty-five years prior, which serves as the heart of the book.

It's poignant and funny and moving.  The audio narration is fantastic!

From the publisher:

"The world is full of miracles, but none greater than how far a young person can be carried by someone else's belief in them."

Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of a wide expanse of sea. But Louisa, soon to be eighteen years old and an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise. She is determined to find out the story behind these three enigmatic figures.

More than two decades before, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up every morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that, after a chance encounter in an alleyway, will unexpectedly be placed into Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to discover how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more anxious she becomes about what she'll find. Louisa's complicated life is proof that happy endings are sometimes possible, but they don't always take the form we expect them to.

Fredrik Backman's signature charm, humor, and attention to the poignant details of everyday life are on full display in this funny, moving novel. His most heartfelt and personal tale yet, My Friends is a stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of art and friendship.