sunday stealing

 

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Thursday Thunks

1. Is there anyone whose home you enter without knocking? Does anyone (who doesn't live with you) have permission to enter your home without knocking? my bestie--but only because she'll see my car and know it's me.  My sisters and my bestie have permission to enter without knocking

2. Tell us about a school trip you took. the drama club took trips all over New England with our one-act play contest entries:  the bus rides were endless and filled with card playing (especially Spades), music, singing, and coloring contests

3. Name three things within arm's reach right now (but they can't relate to your phone, computer or laptop). box of tissues, microfiber lens cloth, and trash can

4. Weather permitting, do you dry your clothes outdoors on a clothesline? I do not, since I don't have access to a clothesline

5. If every flower in the world only bloomed in one color, what color would you like to see? pink

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

This book is post-apocalyptic, dystopian, existentialist at its finest.  As I read, I kept thinking about what if the world were stripped of the cultural touchstones?  How would we define ourselves, our relationships, and our community?

The book has three sections, beginning in the cage, where the young narrator is surrounded by thirty-nine other nameless women of various ages (at least a decade older than her), and develops a sense of self-awareness.  She has no memories pre-cage, no explanation for why they are held in the cage, where they came from, or who the male guards are.  The next section is the escape from the cage: the women are stepping into the barren outside world and naturally form bonds and groups within the larger group. They form a functioning community. Eventually, in the third section, the narrator has outlived the other women and faces her own mortality. 

The author doesn't provide answers to the "why" of the apocalypse; instead, she forces us to look at the "who"-who are we when there is no one left to tell us who we should be?

The translation by Ros Schwarz is beautifully narrated by Nikki Massoud.

From the publisher:

Deep underground, forty women live imprisoned in a cage. Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time, and only a vague recollection of their lives before.

As the burn of electric light merges day into night and numberless years pass, a young girl—the fortieth prisoner—sits alone and outcast in the corner. Soon she will show herself to be the key to the others' escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them above ground.

Jacqueline Harpman was born in Etterbeek, Belgium, in 1929, and fled to Casablanca with her family during WWII. Informed by her background as a psychoanalyst and her youth in exile, I Who Have Never Known Men is a haunting, heartbreaking post-apocalyptic novel of female friendship and intimacy, and the lengths people will go to maintain their humanity in the face of devastation. Back in print for the first time since 1997, Harpman’s modern classic is an important addition to the growing canon of feminist speculative literature.

finished reading

 

I wanted to love this book.  But it was a bit draggy, and through flashbacks in the dual narrative timeline, the reader gained knowledge before the main character, Olivia, which confused me--I had a hard time keeping track of what Olivia knew as she delved into her family's complicated past.  Using the literary technique of the reader knowing more than Olivia and watching her struggle to catch up started to feel more frustrating than suspenseful.

I liked Olivia's backstory, how her estrangement from her father unfolded, as well as the current predicament she finds herself in through cancel culture.  Her desperation was palpable.  And her complex relationship with her father, Vincent Taylor, a very famous horror writer dealing with Lewy Body Dementia, was well developed.  The horror element of her father's work reflects the horror of the family's secrets:  what actually happened to Danny and Poppy, and how Vincent survives.

From the publisher:

In June 1975 the Taylor family shatters in a single night when two teenage siblings are found dead in their home. The only surviving sibling, Vincent, never shakes the whispers and accusations that he was the one who killed them. Decades later, the legend only grows as his career as a horror writer skyrockets.

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she's offered a job to ghostwrite her father's last book. What she doesn't know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies—because it's not another horror novel he wants her to write.

saturday 9

I'll Get By

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

1) In this song, Lauren Alaina tells us she knows she's beautiful and strong because she sees herself as her mother does. Who in your life consistently sees the best in you? my family and my bestie

 

2) She sings that her mother is her "rock." In this context, what do you think that means?  her greatest support

 

3) When Lauren performed this song in concert, she brought her mother Kristy up on stage and held her hand as she sang. Kristy said she was touched, but also embarrassed because her daughter was the entertainer, not her. Do you get shy when all eyes turn to you? it depends on the context--I mean, as a teacher, I'm performing all day

 

4) Lauren began reading in pre-school and always read well above grade level. As a child, were you a big reader? Are you a big reader today? yes and yes!

   

5) According to the National Restaurant Association, we like to eat out on Mother's Day, and brunch is especially popular. If you could have whatever you want for brunch, what would you order?  oh--probably scrambled eggs, well-done bacon, and homefries

6) Mother's Day is the third biggest card-sending holiday in the US, just after Christmas and Valentine's Day. Who received the last card you purchased? it was for my dad

 

7) While flowers are the most popular Mother's Day gift, jewelry comes in second. Are you wearing any jewelry as you answer these questions? If yes, did you receive it as a gift or buy it yourself?  no jewelry

 

8) According to the National Retail Federation, more and more of us are celebrating our mothers by taking her to a paint and sip event, a pottery class, or candle or soap making. Which of those four options do you think you'd enjoy the most? pottery--I've always wanted to take a pottery class

9) While there's a spike in phone traffic on Mother's Day, these days it seems the trend is texting. On holidays, do you receive more calls or texts? texts or Facetime calls

finished reading

This series is killing me! The story picks up with the eccentric neighborhood of St. Crispin’s May Fair in full swing. One of the highlights is a strong-man boxing match that features some questionable practices, until Young Hawkes steps into the ring and absolutely stuns the neighborhood with his prowess!

The heart of this volume, however, is the June holiday at Islington’s country estate, Stonecrop. Shifting from the city to the countryside allows Emma, Islington, and Hawkes to soak up the splendor of nature, and these scenes are pure atmospheric magic. While Pierce is back and forth between locations, the time at Stonecrop allows for a beautiful deepening of their bonds. As for Emma and her beau? Their relationship is evolving in such a poignant, slow-burn fashion... but my lips are sealed!

Seeing the backstories of these three very different men unfold further makes the 'Found Family' theme of this series shine even brighter.

From the publisher:

"Strange, considering it all now after a night's sleep, that I'd had no premonition of what awaited. That seems to be the nature of life, however. Things that ought to come with warnings rarely do."

The Year is 1884 and Emma M. Lion has, at long last, gained her majority. Entering a golden age of friendship with Pierce, Islington, and Hawkes, Emma is confident she will manage whatever comes her way. It is The Season she must help Arabella secure a husband, while navigating the threat of Aunt Eugenia, the unflagging adoration of Charles Goddard, and the amusing unpredictability of St. Crispian's. But the secrets of her trusted friends are what might very well bring about disaster.

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

three on thursday

 

Thing one:  this Teacher Appreciation Week has been a dud.

Thing two:  there have been some heavy hits in my school community--two adult deaths by suicide and another death of a colleague's son that might be an accidental overdose.  It has been heavy.

Thing three:  this is the first weekend in a while that I have no solid plans.  I can lie low and fritter away the days!

finished reading

In this latest volume of Emma M. Lion's escapades, I find myself escaping into the world of 1884 England, where our intrepid heroine must finally introduce her Aunt Eugenia to her "chaperone," Miss Agnes Dowd.  The stakes for this meeting are hilariously high, and the execution is pure genius! Without spoiling anything, Emma's Golden Age of Friendship with Islington, Young Hawkes, and Pierce has some convoluted twists resulting in a courtship and a guardianship.  Emma's unconventional friendships, not only with the three very different single men, but with the silent Mrs. Penury, and Agnes, her Scottish maid, are a perfect example of a found family.  I want to be part of that family, too.

The diary-style narration feels as if Emma is sharing her innermost thoughts and secrets with me.  Emma's transition as she navigates the struggle between independence and her pedigree, all while juggling Victorian decorum, makes her a modern marvel.  Emma's wry observations about the absurdities in conventional society keep me reading.

The audio narration is utter perfection.

From the publisher:

"The image of Pandora's Box being opened by my own hand flashed across my mind. A sobering and somewhat disappointing realisation when one understands they are their own worst enemy."

The Year is 1884 and Emma M. Lion has, at long last, gained her majority. Entering a golden age of friendship with Pierce, Islington, and Hawkes, Emma is confident she will manage whatever comes her way. It is The Season she must help Arabella secure a husband, while navigating the threat of Aunt Eugenia, the unflagging adoration of Charles Goddard, and the amusing unpredictability of St. Crispian's. But the secrets of her trusted friends are what might very well bring about disaster.

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

currently

I am...

Reading: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol 8 by Beth Brower

Listening to: tinnitus

Thinking:  I need to start a school countdown--I'm having an excellent year but I can't wait for summer vacation

Feeling:   exhausted

Celebrating:  going to bed early

Grateful for:  I am lucky to have such a strong network of friends and family

Enjoying:  warmer, more spring-like temps

Weather:  47° and partly sunny

A quote I want to share: 

sunday stealing

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In The Past Month Meme

During April, did you ...

1. Drink alcohol? no

2. Eat sushi? no

3. Go shopping with friends? no

4. Eat an entire box of cookies by yourself? yes--but not in one setting

5. Dye your hair? no

finished reading

This story follows the life of Emmeline Darling, and the dual timelines weave together to tell a tale of resilience.  As an elderly woman, Emmeline enrolls in a memoir-writing class at her local library.  The act of writing and sharing their stories creates a bond among the class and friendships form.  There is something incredibly heartening about a group of strangers finding common ground through storytelling.

Emmeline is a quirky character.  Her eccentricities charmed me, even when I thought she was over the top. Her dog, Vera, made me want a dog of my own--a loving companion to share quiet moments and adventures alike.

Although certain sections were slow, I enjoyed this thoughtful look at family, friendship, and a life well-lived.

From the publisher:

Born into a basket of clean sheets—ruining a perfectly good load of laundry—Emmeline never quite fit in on her family's rural Nova Scotian farm. After suffering multiple losses in the First World War, her family became so heavy with grief, toxicity, and mental illness that Emmeline felt their weight smothering her. And so, she fled across the Atlantic and built her life in England. Now she is retired and living in a small coastal town with her best friend, Vera, an excellent conversationalist. Vera is also a small white dog, and so Emmeline is making an effort to talk to more humans. When she joins a memoir-writing course at the library, her classmates don't know what to make of her. Funny, loud, and with a riveting memoir, she charms the lot. As her past unfolds for her audience, friendships form, a bonus in a rather lonely life. She even shares with them her third-biggest secret: she has liberated hundreds of spoons over her lifetime—from the local library, Cary Grant, Winston Churchill. She is a compulsive spoon stealer.

When Emmeline unexpectedly inherits the farm she grew up on, she knows she needs to leave her new friends and go see the farm and what remains of her family one last time. She arrives like a tornado in their lives, an off-kilter Mary Poppins bossing everyone around and getting quite a lot wrong. But with her generosity and hard-earned wisdom, she gets an awful lot right too. A pinball ricocheting between people, offending and inspiring in equal measure, Emmeline, in her final years, believes that a spoonful—perhaps several spoonfuls—of kindness can set to rights the family so broken by loss and secrecy.

The Spoon Stealer is a classic Crewe book: full of humour, family secrets, women's friendship, lovable animals, and immense heart.

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.

saturday 9

I'll Get By

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

1) "I'll Get By" was very popular song in the 1940s, and we're taking a look at the recording by Dick Haymes and Harry James because it got the most airplay. Can you think of another song that has been recorded by more than one artist? one of my favorite cover songs was done by Johnny Cash, when he remade the Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt"

2) In this week's song, vocalist Dick Haymes sings that he won't complain about the rain. Do you have any complaints about the weather this morning?  it is a beautiful, sunny morning!

3) Dick was briefly married to movie queen Rita Hayworth. Known as The Love Goddess and The Strawberry Blonde, Rita was famous for her magnificent mane. She dyed her dark brown hair red to get attention and it worked. Have you ever experimented with a different color? If yes, were you happy with the results? nothing dramatic or drastic--I liked the results but didn't keep up with it because I didn't want to over process my hair

4) Dick was the lead vocalist of the Harry James orchestra. Like Dick, Harry had a movie star wife. Betty Grable was famous for her legs. Her bathing suit poster inspired hosiery manufacturers to single out her perfectly proportioned thighs, calves and ankles. Betty herself joked, "I'm a star for two reasons, and I'm standing on them."  What do you think is your best (physical) trait? my lips

5) Betty's weren't the only legs that fascinated Harry. He was known for his stable of thoroughbred racehorses. Have you ever been to the races? I used to go to the local harness races at the annual Fair

6) Teenaged Harry played trumpet with The Beaumont High School Royal Purple Band. Did you belong to groups or clubs while you were in high school? so many, I can't remember them all but my biggest impact was from the Yearbook staff and the Drama Club

7) In addition to "I'll Get By," Judy Garland's "Trolley Song" topped the charts in 1944. When did you most recently take public transportation? I cannot recall

8) Also in 1944, Diana Ross was born. First with the Supremes, then as a solo artist, she has sold more than 100 millions records, making her one of America's most successful female singers. Who is your all-time favorite "girl singer?" kd lang, Annie Lennox, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt--I can't narrow it down to one!

9) Random question – Last week we asked about the garage. Let's turn our attention to the glove compartment (aka glove box). What have you got in there? a box of masks (just in case), proof of insurance, an expired temporary handicapped sign, a very small ice scraper

finished reading

This novel's exploration of marriage is mostly told in short first-person chapters from the points of view of Roy, Celestial, and later, Andre.  Roy and Celestial are newlyweds who are torn apart by Roy's arrest and subsequent incarceration for a crime he did not commit.  During the five years they are apart, their separate lives and experiences change how they both view marriage.  In contrast, their parents' marriages are also explored.  

The narrative structure is divided into distinct sections, and while it begins and ends with first-person chapters, the middle portion, covering the five years Roy is incarcerated, is told through letters between Roy and Celestial.  Eventually, Andre (Celestial's lifelong friend and the best man at their wedding) becomes a narrator, as the love triangle develops.

This book interested me more in the aspect of social injustice and class identity (Roy and Celestial are up-and-coming movers and shakers in  Atlanta) than in the relationships.  

From the publisher:

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn't commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy's time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy's conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together. This stirring love story is a profoundly insightful look into the hearts and minds of three people who are at once bound and separated by forces beyond their control. An American Marriage is a masterpiece of storytelling, an intimate look deep into the souls of people who must reckon with the past while moving forward--with hope and pain--into the future.

attitude of gratitude

 

Tuesday, April 28: The End

We’ve reached the end of our little "Non-Challenge" Gratitude experiment. When I started this, I promised there would be no points, no streaks, and no pressure. I just wanted to see if I could tilt my head a different way and notice the good stuff that’s already here.

Looking back at my posts over the last few weeks, from my reliable microwave to the series I'm enjoying, I’ve realized that gratitude isn't a destination. It’s more like a muscle. The more I practiced looking for those "background heroes" and "second-hand smiles," the easier they were to find.

Final Reflections:

• What I learned: I learned that even on the days where everything feels heavy, there is almost always a "nothing" problem to be thankful for (like the Wi-Fi staying connected or a good iced coffee).

• What I’ll keep: I’m going to keep looking for that small moment in the busyness of my day.  I'll keep adding to my gratitude journal (where I write three things daily).

The Final Prompt: What is one thing you’ve started noticing more because of this challenge?

Whether you joined in for every prompt or just read along silently, I’m so glad you were here. This blog has always been a place for me to figure out if "this is as good as it gets," and these last few weeks have convinced me that "this" is actually pretty wonderful.

finished reading

Is there such a genre as cozy romantasy?  If so, this fits.  It's a sweet romantic fantasy set in a witchy world.  I loved the quirky characters I don't often see in books, like neurodivergent or clubfooted.  And these characters weren't defined by their differences; the differences were one aspect of who they are. Anyhow, the diverse cast of characters created a delightful found family.  The Inn is a cozy, ramshackle refuge that magically invites worthy guests.  My favorite guest is Sir Nicholas of Mayfair, the young knight from the local medieval fair who champions the Inn.  The country setting, the quirky garden, and the zombie rooster Roo Roo were cozy--I wanted to stay.  

Once the quest to figure out the components of the power-restoring spell began, the action picked up.  I liked that the madcap plan sort of worked.  

From the publisher:

Sera Swan was once one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her magical Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep the talking fox in check, and longs for the magical future she lost.

When she learns about an old spellbook that holds the secret to restoring her power, she turns to Luke Larsen, a gorgeous historian who might just be able to help her unlock the book’s mysteries. Luke, who has his own reasons for staying at the inn, never planned on getting involved in the madcap goings-on around him and definitely had no intention of letting certain grumpy innkeepers past his icy walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he not only agrees to help, but also finds himself thawing.

Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone... and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

sunday stealing

 

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Five Things You Didn't Want To Know But I'm Telling You Anyway

1) Has anyone ever told you they would love you forever?  yes--we are no longer a couple

 

2) Who is the last person you were in the car with? Valerie, Lois, and Gail--it was a bookish adventure

 

3) Do you have big plans for tomorrow (Monday)? it's back to school after a lovely week of vacation

4) How long do you typically spend in the shower? probably ten minutes

 

5) What were you doing at 7 AM yesterday (Saturday)? getting ready for my bookish adventure

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.