Very Strange Day


I have spent the last nine months caring for my youngest grandchild while her mother teachers high school English.  Today is my first weekday at home and it feels very strange.  I am very used to the routine that we have developed and I miss her but it is time for her to have Mommy time.  So, what am I doing with my day, you might say.  Well, the stock answer for everything is "laundry".  Yes, I am doing laundry and, while it isn't my favorite chore, it does feel good to see the accomplishment of having the laundry pile dwindle. 

I have also taken the time to blog my book reviews before I forgot what I read and now I have taken the time, between laundry loads, to watch a couple of old movies.   I absolutely love vintage movies and watch them every time I get a chance. 

Today I viewed "Not As A Stranger" starring Frank Sinatra, Robert Mitchum and Olivia de Havilland.  It was the 1955 Stanley Kramer production based on the 1954 book by Morton Thompson.  What can I say -- what is not to like about a youngish Sinatra and Mitchum.

Now I am watching "The Miracle Worker" with Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke.  The 1962 movie, based on the 1959 play by the same name that originated as a 1957 episode on Playhouse 90.  I saw this movie when it first came out and was immediately taken with Helen Keller and did much reading on her life and her accomplishments.  Even today, when asked, I have to say that she was one of the most inspiring public figures I had ever learned about. 

So, what does my afternoon hold for me?  Hmmm...I don't know, maybe a little Sprout or Disney Channel.  I think this is going to be a bigger adjustment for me than it is for the munchkin!

Musing Monday - June 10, 2013


The questions of "what am I currently reading" and "what have I recently bought" sort of go together this week.  I am currently reading "Sullivan's Island" by Dorothea Benton Frank.  I originally purchased this for my Nook but, after getting aggravated about always needing to charge the thing, I opted to buy the book.

One of the problems I have with e-readers is, while you can see what page you are on, you can't "see" how far you have gotten in the book.  I was surprised to see how far I had gotten on the Nook when I found my place in the physical book.

Yesterday, while at B&N, I also bought "The Secret of the Old Clock".  This is the first in the Nancy Drew series and I decided this would be my next choice for the children's book challenge I am participating in.  I didn't read much Nancy Drew when I was growing up -- just didn't like mysteries but I think now, as an adult, I am really going to enjoy it.

Last week I also learned how to check out books from the library using my Nook.  The title I chose was "A Highland Christmas" by M. C. Beaton.  The checkout time is fairly limited so I am not sure I will get this one finished before I have to return it but I am enjoying the Hamish Macbeth series so I will probably have check it out again.

Book Reviews


In recent news, it has been brought to our attention that the US government has been spying on us -- yes, American citizens.  I understand the explanation why -- sort of -- but it still makes my skin crawl.  I have had friends say they are going to go back to using paper to write communication instead of email which I think is a lovely idea if we can get past the need for instant gratification.  Of course, a lot of folks will have to brush up on their handwriting skills for sure but I think actually sitting down and writing a note sounds refreshing.  I don't send a lot of emails so I am not too worried about being spied on in that respect.  If somebody wants to check my shopping habits well, there isn't too much covert operation going on there, either -- a bit of surfing at Vera Bradley and Barnes and Noble and some clothing shopping -- and really, who cares if the world knows what size underwear I wear -- I have recently lost over 25 lbs. so I am sort of proud of the fact that I will be shopping for new unmentionables in a smaller size -- shout it to the rooftops.  That brings us to my blog.  I thought about how blogs are being watched and recorded and kept and if there is a file for interesting blogs and boring blogs and decided that mine would file nicely under "boring" and since I mostly post book reviews and sometimes the random snowfall snap, I doubt I am going to be put on some sort of "watch" list.  If I am then they need to re-evaluate their system because they are watching the wrong person.  So, that leads into my current blog on book reviews -- I am behind and this is an effort to catch up so the reviews won't be lengthy.

I have been enjoying several formats for reading lately -- books, ebooks, and audio books during my commute.  I have come to realize that of the three, I prefer physical books and audio books.  I discovered that the library, at least Summerglen Branch, has a huge assortment of audio books and, since audio books are pricey to purchase, they are free and that is even better!

The Runaway Quilt - Jennifer Chiaverini

This title is part of the Elm Creek Quilts series by Jennifer Chiaverini.  In this particular story, Sylvia Compton is approached by a stranger at a quilt show who asks about a quilt in her possession named after Elm Creek and she wonders if it is connected to the Elm Creek mansion that belongs to Sylvia.  The question sparks Sylvia's inquisitive nature and after searching the attic for a trunk, Sylvia discovers some old quilts and a journal that sheds light on a lot of things including the stran -gers quilt.  It is part history, part mystery and all enjoyable.  I recommend.

Austenland - Shannon Hale

I don't read much "chick-lit" but I found this on audio book and decided it would be something really fun and light to listen to  on my commute and I was right.  The main character has a lot of back luck in love because, being obsessed with Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy, she compares every man in her life to HIM and they all fall short.  So, upon the death of her great-aunt, she receives as an inheritance, a vacation to Austenland, a reality, living history amusement park sort of place that she is to visit for three weeks and hopefully have an attitude adjustment.  She goes, she participates, she does a lot of soul searching and does, indeed, adjust her attitude and her life accordingly.  It was fun -- I recomment.

Porch Lights - Dorothea Benton Frank

Franks books seem to be very formulaic and this one is no different. The main character, a thirty-something nurse in the military with a fire fighter husband and a ten year old boy loses her husband in a fire while she is stationed in the Middle East.  She comes home to an a life that has been abruptly altered while she wasn't even there, a very depressed child, and the idea that she has no idea what to do so she retreats to her mother's house in the Low Country only to find that her mother is entranced by the doctor next door, her father now spends all his time in his "alternate residence" in the next town and her son doesn't want to go back to their home in New York.  It all works out as you know it would, it has a happy ending -- and a scary hurricane -- but it is a feel good book and one you can curl up and get "into".  I recommend.


The Christmas Blizzard - Garrison Keillor

What can I say -- this is Garrison Keillor's answer to "A Christmas Carol".  It was another audio book and I have to say that I found myself laughing out loud, all by myself, in the car at 6 a.m.  It was fun, it was odd, it was strangely insightful and  I enjoyed it and I recommend it -- actually, I don't know about the physical book but I really enjoyed the audio book, read by the author - very good.

Life Class - Pat Barker

Another audio book, this was the story of three friends in art school at the beginning of World War I.  As could be expected the three friends form a love triangle.  The war takes is toll on the trio in different ways -- it is sad, it is frustrating, and you just get sort of angry at the girl because she seems to be playing both guys against each other while being the quintessential "artist".  It was good but it was sad but still a definite recommend.

Death of a Village - M. C. Beaton

If you read my blog you know that I absolutely love the Aunt Dimity mystery series.  I was never much of a mystery reader until I discovered those and I am still reading that series.  So, while looking for yet another audio book I ran across the M. C. Beaton books on CD and decided to give one a go so I chose "Death of a Village" and now I am just as taken with these as the Dimity series.  The best way to describe this story is "George Gently" meets "Waiting for God".  It was funny, in a way, and you had to fall for the bumbling, affable Hamish Macbeth.  I have a mental picture of the tall, lanky, ginger haired copper that, while seems to be a great policeman, seems to lack a lot of pizazz with the ladies.  It was really good and I am now reading another title in the series on my Nook - one that I actually checked out of the library on my e-reader -- a new talent I just discovered! I recommend "Death of a Village" and I will review the next one when I get done.

This year I have engaged myself in two book challenges  -- the Goodreads 2013 Book Challenge which I signed up to read 20 books, 17 of which I have completed.  They suggest that I "up" my goal but I think not, I think I will just enjoy my summer of reading and not worry about a challenge.  I have also signed up for the Pre-1960 Children's Book Challenge of which I have only read two.  I would like to enjoy this challenge a bit more during the summer -- I have the burning desire to read "Little Women" yet again -- I will  probably revisit some of my childhood favorites -- most of which were published before 1960 and I will review here.

So, as my summer begins I wish all of you a happy summer!

The Eagle Has Landed!


For those of you who don't know, my little netbook crashed and burned a couple of weeks ago.  Hubs did a search for a new one and decided on a new Asus.  It is a little bigger than my old one -- a very nice size -- and it is very thin.  The keyboard is a lot more user friendly and I am very pleased.  It came in the mail a couple of days ago and I have been spending a little time to learn my way around it although it isn't much different than the old one.  It is much faster and very lightweight and I am thrilled.  So, hopefully I can get caught up n my emails and get back to blogging.

I'm Still Here!

I am still here but I have just been busy -- and a bit tired.  We had a bit of a day trip yesterday which means that today I sat here holding my aching feet.  I have been doing a lot of reading -- and listening -- and I have a blog started for a couple of books reviews -- maybe this week I can get back on track! 

I am feeling so bad about all these storms today and all the people affected by them as well as the storms last week just down the road from us.  I guess it is the time of the year but.....

Anyway, just checking in -- bad allergy attack, leaky roof, bad weather resulting in lack of sleep -- yeah, I will catch up!  Have a great week!

More Book Reviews


It seems as if my eclectic, mish mash of a blog is turning into a book blog.  I guess that is because that is what I am doing most of the time these days.  Besides, who blogs about laundry.  Yeah.

So, in the past couple of weeks I have enjoyed three books, one being an audio book.  While I am using the audiobooks to make my commute more pleasant, I am also trying to work through my personal library which has many more unread books than read books.  I am discovering that, while I always thought I had to keep every book that found its way across my threshold, I don't.  I have come across several that will be going to my local used bookstore even though I will probably only get about 30 cents for them.  Maybe I should just donate them to the library -- that sounds like a better thing to do.

I digress.

The first book that I have added to my list on Goodreads is "Garden Spells" by Sarah Addison Allen.

I have had this book on my shelves for a long time and is one of those that I purchased for the cover -- yes, I actually do that -- my bad.  At one point, last year,  I decided to alphabetize my shelves by author so this book was at the very top, sort of hidden.  When I decided to start at the beginning and just read my way through the shelves, this is where I started.  I am not too much of a fan of the paranormal because if it isn't done right it just becomes stupid (read "Bramwell Valley") and I didn't know what to expect of this work -- it could have gone either way in my opinion.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a bevy of great characters, a storyline that wasn't too bizarre and a happy ending.  The story centers around Clare, an attractive yet reclusive young woman.  Never feeling like she fit in she built a world around herself, allowing herself to live in the small town yet be apart from it.  Her sister, who left home at an early age, turns up on her front porch on day with a daughter in tow which was a surprise to Clare because she had no idea what her sister had been up to for the last ten years.  She soon found out as bits and pieces of her sister's life surfaced, along with a very angry, ex-almost-husband.  There is romance, drama, a bit of the mystical all woven into an entertaining story.  Like I said, it could have turned into a silly witch hunt but it didn't.  It progressed well and ended well.  Again, the paranormal genre is not my favorite but I did enjoy this book and would recommend it.

Pawleys Island is the second audio book I have listened to by Dorothea Benton Frank.  The first won my rave review because it was so excellently read, or rather performed, by Robin Miles.  This one didn't have the advantage of exemplary reading -- it was adequate but not the same experience -- but the book was very enjoyable anyway and I would recommend.  It centers around Rebecca Sims, her brute of a husband and their two children.  Rebecca has retreated to Pawleys Island after her abusive husband has soured her children against her, tried to declare her an unfit mother, taken her house and sued her for divorce.  Upon her arrival at her friend's condo, she obtains a job as a framer in Huey's art gallery and meets Abigail Thurmond, a ruthless divorce attorney trying to recover from the loss of her husband and only son.  As the book progresses Abigail and Rebecca become good friends, Abigail replaces Rebecca's hapless attorney and turns her husband every which way but loose, romances are rekindled, new ones started, children are returned home, new beginnings, etc, etc,.  It was good even though I am beginning to see Frank's books as being very formulaic.  This would make a good made-for-tv movie -- I see Judith Light as Abigail Thurmond and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Huey.  It would be very entertaining.  My next audiobook is another of hers, also read by Robin Miles, "Porch Lights".  I will review when I have listened to it.

The final book for this review I just finished this morning -- "The Runaway Quilt" by Jennifer Chiaverini.  This is the fourth book in the Elm Creek Quilts series and deals with the question of quilts being used during the Civil War as signals in the Underground Railroad.  Of course, that isn't the whole of the story -- this tale delves into the background of Sylvia Compson's family -- the Bergstrom family.  Sylvia is the descendant of Hans and Anneke Bergstrom and the sole heir to their homestead Elm Creek Manor where she operates her quilt camps.  As a child she fell heir to a key that opened a hope chest belonging to her great-aunt Gerda Bergstrom.  The chest was somewhere in the attic and not thought  of until Sylvia was approached by a woman at a quilt lecture who was looking for help in identifying a quilt that she felt was connected to Sylvia -- possibly connecting the families. Key in hand, Sylvia searches for and finds the chest and begins to explore the contents -- three very worn quilts and a journal.   The quilts in the hope chest were a mystery that Sylvia hoped would be solved by the journal. After much genealogical research, the origin of the quilt in question was discovered and several questions raised by Gerda's journal were answered as well except for one --  is Sylvia Bergstrom really a Bergstrom at all.   This book is a great escape for quilters and genealogists (i.e. me) and it was so enjoyable I couldn't put it down and then regretted it being finished.  This is a definite recommend -- I might even read it again.

Musing Mondays is hosted by Miz B at  Should Be Reading.  Today I am going to tell you all about my recent book purchases.  There are quite a few.

As I have mentioned in a past blog, I recently listened to "Folly Beach" on audio book and there were several mentions of "Imitation of Life" by Fanny Hurst.  Now I have seen the Lana Turner/Sandra Dee version of the movie many times but never thought about reading the book.  However, it being mentioned in this book sparked my interest so I ordered it from Barnes and  Noble.  At the same time I purchased "Aunt Dimity Next of Kin".  This is the next book in my Aunt Dimity queue and I haven't been able to find it locally so I ordered it as well.  I happened upon a gift card that I didn't know I had so I used it to purchase "The Runaway Quilt" -- the next in the Elm Creek Quilt series.

I have been listening to audio books on my commute and I like to buy them used so I visited Half Price Books close to my daughter's house.  I have bought the ones I have at other branches of this same store but there wasn't a lot of inventory.  However, there were several offerings at this particular store so I hit pay dirt.  I bought "Austenland", "Life Class" by Pat Barker (BBC audio) and "A Christmas Blizzard" by Garrison Keillor.  The set of CD's by Keillor originally retained for $27 and I got it for $6.99 and it is brand new and unopened so....always check the used bookstores FIRST.

So, that is my recent acquisition!

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson


Shirley Jackson has always been one of my favorite authors.  I have read "The Haunting of Hill House" and "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" which was my favorite of the two.  When I read about "The Lottery" being the scariest thing probably ever written I had to read it so I obtained a copy.  It is a compilation of short stories by Jackson, the last one being "The Lottery".  Well, I had to read that one first to see if it was the most horrific thing ever written and I have to say -- no.  I don't think so.  In fact, it seemed really familiar to me -- had I read it before or seen a movie or something along these lines?  Can't remember but it wasn't frightening.  In fact, the entire book is a bit of a disappointment -- so much so that I won't be finishing it.  Each short story is vaguely written with a twist.  All that I had read were depressing and extremely "psychological".  Honestly, it was very Twilight Zone-ish.  I was not impressed.

I usually don't give up on books -- I  try to only buy books that I know I will like and since I have always been a fan of Shirley Jackson, it never occurred to me that I  wouldn't like this.   However, I don't and I have a huge stack of books in my library to read so I will be putting this one  aside.  Maybe one day, when I have caught up, I will revisit but not right now. 

Why ...

I have always been an anxious person.  I was raised in a home that did not shield me from the things of life -- deaths, fires, accidents, job losses, friend losses, rejection, tornadoes -- you know -- everyday life.  Perhaps these occurrences contributed to my lifelong anxiety, they probably did (especially in the case of fire) but my parents always tried to use these things as a learning opportunity and I have to say that I think I am a stronger person and I never once felt that I wasn't being protected by my family. 

And then...

there were the disaster drills at school, in the 50's, when we were supposed to  was crawl under our desks in the event of a nuclear disaster.  I remember my mother telling me that if anything happened when I was in school and I looked outside and saw a big cloud that looked like a mushroom, don't go outside.  Really?  Don't go outside?  Get under the desk?  All of a sudden I felt very unprotected -- my parents couldn't protect me from THAT! People were buying bomb shelters and having them installed in the yard.  I wanted one and I never wanted to go to school again and I found myself looking outside at the clouds -- a lot.  I was officially a nervous person.

The next time I felt completely out of control of my existence was during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.  With good reason I was pretty scared.  Home was San Antonio which was also home to five military bases -- a pretty significant target.  Schools were closed, we stocked up and stayed in with the tv going.  I was looking out the windows at clouds.  We were fine except for the bit of innocence lost.

As I ventured into high school and college we were in the Viet Nam era with all the political ramifications of the times.  I remember one of my high school dances having to be moved due to bomb threats and there was one sociology class that was finally cancelled because we never had a class that was uninterrupted by a bomb threat and evacuation.  I remember one such evacuation, we were told to leave via the stairwells and not the escalators -- ha! I went down the escalator and was reprimanded by a cop who had been a high school friend -- I told him that I would rather get blown up on the escalator than  get trampled to death on the stairs -- oh, did I mention he was very cute.  He shall remain nameless.  Was I afraid?  Well, initially, yes but after so many times it is like crying wolf.  Besides,  this was the 60's -- great music, great clothes, great dates -- who had time to worry about stuff like that when  we were, after all, invincible.

Then came the 70's and I was grown with babes of my own and my first huge fear was of a meteor or space junk that was supposed to hit the earth someplace.  I was pregnant.  My OB-GYN thought I was crazy and actually laughed at me.  I was petrified.  It didn't fall on me -- in fact, I don't really remember what happened -- but I was unscathed and a bit ashamed of the actual fear that had come over me.

Life has gone on.  I have lived through much more of the "life stuff" and I have seen so much more.  Am I afraid?  No, not any more.  I am, however, disgusted.  Really so disgusted.  What in the world is wrong with people?  Why don't people appreciate what we have in this world?  Why are people so hell bent on destroying everything? It makes me sick.

Musing Mondays

Musing Mondays hosted by Should Be Reading has sort of expanded their format with lots of choices to blog about.  So, I am going to go with it.  I have developed a new "reading" habit -- audio books -- which I blogged about previously.  I thoroughly enjoyed the first book so I went out and acquired another by the same author, "Pawley's Island"  .  I am currently listening to it on my daily commute and I am enjoying it as well except.....

The first novel  was ready by actress Robin Miles and was completely enjoyable.  The second is being read by the author and I have to say it is not the same experience.  Oh, it is a wonderful, engaging book and Dorothea Benton Frank is a very talented author but....

Not such a great reader. 

She is adequate and I am enjoying the book but I am wondering how it would be with another reader.  When I  purchased the cd's, I was raving to the salesman about the first book and how I really enjoyed it and he said, yes, but it depends on the reader.  I now know what he means. 

However, I am really enjoying this author and will continue to enjoy her books whether they are in printed form or audio.  I recommend her highly.

WOW!

Yes, indeed, wow!  As you probably know, I have a long commute each day and, being the anxious soul that I am, I am always looking for ways to make it easier or more enjoyable.  In my youth I loved to listen to rock and roll music and sing along in my off key, monotone shrill, preferably with the windows up so my teased, sprayed "bubble" do wouldn't move an inch.  Or a quarter of an inch.  Anyway, those days are gone.  No, I don't sing any better but the love of rock and roll music has diminished and the hair has revolted and taken on a life of its own.  I still  like the music of the 60's as much as I ever did but it sets my teeth on edge to listen to the "oldies" station and only hear music of the 90's.  There is a station -- KAAM -- that plays REALLY old music, like from my babyhood, but the reception isn't so great.

So, I moved on to conservative talk radio.  Yes, I am conservative in my political views, for what political views I have.  I am pretty much blah about it all but I thought maybe listening to "talk" would be easier to listen to than "squawk".  WRONG.  Oh, listening to it was fine but by the time I got home I was either so depressed or so angry that I discovered that it wasn't helping my commute at all.

What to do?  Well, my son used to listed to books on CD so I thought I would give it a try.   Off to my neighborhood used book store to score a copy of something.  I looked at what they had to offer -- not a bad selection but my goodness -- the price on those puppies, even used! My eyes rested on a "copy" of "Folly Beach".  I had looked at the book in B&N many times, only to put it back.  Then I looked at it on the sale table at B&N, only to put it back but I took a longer look at this little box of CD's.  Mostly at the price.  $4.99.  Yep, I thought it looked like a great introduction into audio books.

I was right.  I don't know what it was but this was a fabulous experience.  It was read by Robin Miles, an actress who has devoted much time to reading books for the blind.  Her voice, with her soft, flowing southern accent reminded me or Werther's Original caramel candy.  Her voice changed with the characters so there was never any trouble following the storyline.  She didn't read this book, she "acted" this book.  It reminded me of old time radio programs.  It was so smooth and so entertaining that I was sad when it ended. 

The story was actually two plots in one -- the story of Cate Cooper and her rise from the ashes of what was her marriage after the suicide of her philandering husband, Addison Cooper  and the story of Dorothy Heywood, wife of Dubose Heywood, and her collaboration with her husband and George Gershwin in the writing of "Porgy and Bess"  --as written by Cate Cooper.  Technically I guess this could be called historical fiction because the story about the Heywoods and Gershwin, was true.  Dorothea Benton Frank did  a fantastic job of weaving the stories of these two women together -- one fictional, one real -- and bringing all the lush scenery and atmosphere into play as well.  Add in a few "characters" like Ella and Aunt Daisy, a bit of controversy like Ella and Aunt Daisy, an annoying daughter-in-law Alice, neurotic daughter Sarah and introduce a bit of  sauciness to Cate  and you have all the makings of a great "southern" novel.

So, I was in B&N the other day and there it was, this glorious piece of fiction, on the sale table again and I really wanted to buy it for my personal library but I put it down, yet again. I decided that my CD's would have to go on the shelf instead because I don't think reading the book would have the same impact as listening to Robin Miles' beautiful voice.  This is one I might actually have to listen to again!

BTW -- it was a wonderful solution to my travelling problem -- I don't think Mark Levin will miss me, do you?