finished reading

I've read four or five books by Sally Hepworth, but this one feels a little different from her usual fare.  Maybe it's because this focuses on children and the foster care system.  I liked that each of the three main characters develops a distinct personality, and the sister dynamics are very real.  Miss Fairchild's character arc was, to me, predictable.  How her backstory unfolded was not a plot twist--I don't know if it was supposed to be, that's how obvious it was.

Adult Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were scarred from their foster experiences with the very volatile Miss Fairchild.  Their familial bond never left them, though.  

While the plot twists didn't quite catch me off guard, the heart of the story--the unbreakable link between three women who survived brutal forms of abuse--will stay with me.  It's a darker Sally Hepworth, but still chilling; the usual domestic suspense genre takes on a grittier, emotional core by exploring the foster system.

Interestingly, there are two competing views of the foster system:  Alicia's professional experiences as a dedicated, thoughtful, caring advocate, in contrast to how the system worked when she was a child.  Hepworth made the system more than a backdrop to the story.

From the publisher:

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?

A thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.

saturday 9

Good

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

1) This song begins with a guy realizing he's home alone. Do you enjoy being all by yourself? yes!

2) He watches the sun throwing shadows on the floor. Which room in your home lets in the most sun? a toss-up between the spare bedroom and my bedroom--both have southern exposure (one east one west) 

3) He sings that he may write a letter to his ex. If you were inspired to send someone a handwritten message, do you have stationery or notecards on hand? What about first-class postage stamps? I have blank notecards and stamps

4) This week's band, Better Than Ezra, got their start in Baton Rouge. All the members attended LSU and played their first gig at Murphy's, a bar near campus. When you were in your early 20's, where did you and your friends go to socialize? we called it the Barmuda Triangle--the Mai Tai lounge, Champs (a sports bar), and Coppers (a wanna-be upscale lounge)

5) While the band refuses to disclose the origin of their name, many assume the "Ezra" they refer to is poet Ezra Pound. Do you often read poetry? fairly often--a few times per week

6) In 1995, when this song was popular, Michael Jordan "unretired" and returned to the Chicago Bulls. Tell us about a decision you wish you could undo. nothing comes to mind

7) Also in 1995, Phoebe Buffay first performed "Smelly Cat." Do you recall what show she sang on? Friends (one of my comfort shows)

8) Legendary New York Yankee Mickey Mantle died in 1995. How is your team doing so far this young baseball season? they played their first game of the season today and I haven't heard how they did--they won't return to school for a few more hours

9) Random question: What's in your garage, besides your car (lawn tools, holiday decorations, old paint cans, etc.)? sadly, I do not have a garage

finished reading

I haven't enjoyed a series in a while--where I finish a book and immediately move on to the next installment.  I am so caught up in Emma M. Lion's world that I just can't get enough.  Emma's quest to find employment is madcap and funny! I enjoyed the celebration of Emma's birthday as she finally came of age and is now the mistress of Lapis Lazuli House and of her destiny!  The Golden Age of Friendship with Islington, Pierce, and Hawkes is ramped up in this volume.  

From the publisher:

There is bedlam, and there is delightful bedlam.

This afternoon touched on the second, much to my pleasure.

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:  the weather has not cooperated very well for this vacation.  Otherwise, it's been a good week.

Thing two:  every day I had something going on--I haven't had a hurkle durkle day.

Thing three:  it was a stellar week for audiobooks:  I listened while I puttered!

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

Click the icon to play along

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.