Easter 2010 in Yuma!

I had a lot of fun hanging out with my nieces and nephews. They are truly fun and sweet kids. I know it's been a while since my last book blog, but I am having trouble finishing anything. I've started 3 of the Kurt Wallander mysteries, Olive Kitteridge, and last night I started The Help. That will probably be the first one I finish, so I'll let you know. Vacation time is coming to a close and I've not read enough, but what am I gonna do at this point? Anyway, hope everyone had a beautiful Easter. Let's enjoy this Spring weather before the heat sets in!

The Buzz

This weekend's read. I actually purchased this at one of our Tucson stores a couple of months ago. I had never heard of it, but the words inside the front flap intrigued me:

"We don't want to tell you too much about this book. It is truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know something, so we will just say this: This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice. Two years later, they meet again. The story starts there. Once you have read it you'll want to tell everyone about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens. The magic is in how it unfolds."

Having finished the book, I can honestly say this statement was completely unnecessary and an obvious marketing ploy. So, job well done. I bought the book and read it.

The story is about a refugee girl, Little Bee, who has ended up in England looking for the white couple she encountered two years prior on a beach in her native Nigeria. It is a story of loss and sadness. A story of hope and survival. It received fantastic critical praise when first released and while I enjoyed the way Cleave wrote the book by alternating the narration of each chapter between Little Bee and Sarah, the English woman from the beach, the story overall was lacking something. I liked the descriptive thoughts of Little Bee but I didn't buy some of the changes the character goes through once she is in England. The scenes between her and Lawrence (Sarah's married lover) just annoy me and honestly, Lawrence is a throw-away character (plot-filler). I also was pissed at the ending. I wanted a more substantial, concrete ending. There is no written resolution, only what you as the reader plug into these character's fates, so that was a disappointment. Overall, I would recommend this book, but I can't guarantee that you won't also be disappointed. And if you don't want to read it, you can always wait for the movie. It will star Nicole Kidman and starts shooting in 2011.

This week's book...

So a few years ago, I bought "Winner of the National Book Award", a novel by Jincy Willett. It sat on a shelf in a bookcase for 5 years, until one day in ended up in my "to be traded in" pile. And away it went, onto a shelf in the store for another customer to enjoy. I haven't thought about it since. And then last week, during another meeting, I asked my go-to's for a book suggestion and Jincy Willett was it. I remembered having owned and then trading in the book just recommended to me, so I figured I'd just go back to my store and buy it again. Well, when I went to get a copy, her more current offering, "The Writing Class", jumped out at me as more interesting for the mood I was in. So, home it came with me. I have to admit it was slow going at first. A page here, five there. But after the first couple of chapters, I couldn't put it down. So last night and today was spent devouring this witty gem. The book follows a group of wannabe writers all attending the same writing workshop taught by a once critically praised author who has seen better days and hasn't published anything in ages. The mystery starts from the first class as the students start receiving curious, if not mean, critiques of their writing. Then odd things happen: a Ted Bundy mask, missing classmates, crude drawings, and whispered phone calls. Then a murder (or two) and the whodunnit is in full blown mystery mode. The characters are well written, the humor is a bit dry but I laughed out loud, and you just can't beat the tension created as the class struggles to figure out who the culprit is. A review listed on the jacket of the novel says: "The Writing Class is alternately funny, sweet, and suspenseful. It's a mystery written for book lovers, and books like this are what caused book lovers to fall in love with books in the first place." -The Buffalo News

I couldn't have said it any better!

Lots and lots of reading!

So this week I read three books. I don't know what it was, I was just really in the mood for reading. The first book is the one mentioned in my previous post. A great read, you should definitely check it out. The second book was "The Girls from Ames". I just loved this book. It was like secretly reading someone's diary. Filled with laughter, some tears, and all heart. What I most identified with in this book was the bond between all the women. While I don't have close "friends" from childhood that I still stay in touch with, I have my three sisters. As we have grown in age, we've become great friends, as well as sisters. I know we each have our own lives, friends, worries, responsibilities, families even, but we are always there for each other; whether to lend an ear, offer a laugh, or pick each other up when we fall. I totally recommend this book to all you ladies out there. And to my sisters, if you are reading this, keep an eye out. A copy is coming your way soon.



The third book I read this week was "Case Histories". I have seen this book hundreds of times in the store. It is always on the shelf, we always take it in, and I have always been curious about it. Someone recently told me they heard it was good and I finally checked out a copy from work. It wasn't what I thought it would be, although it was a good read and I would recommend it. It only took me two nights to read and kept me turning the pages looking for more answers. The ability of Kate Atkinson to weave together so many characters, time lines, and plot points and keep them all straight, for both the reader and the story itself, completely amazed me. The only complaint I had of the story was that I wanted more intrigue, mystery. This is really a book of character sketches disguised as a murder mystery, but the "case histories" are so well written that the lack of surprise revelation can hardly be held against the book. It is really that well written. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I rather enjoyed it. Any suggestions for what I should read next? Let me know.

I just finished...

During a recent meeting in Tucson, I asked my friends and co-workers for a few fiction suggestions. Normally, I read non-fiction or whatever teeny bopper series my sisters suggest ;)
But I don't read a lot of fiction. I try, but I usually give up after 35-40 pages. This is not to say I don't ever read, I read every day, I think I just pick the wrong fiction titles. Sarah, Katy, and now Marshall are all great resources as I have liked pretty much everything they have suggested, so I think I will stick with their recommends for a while. Anyway, Marshall suggested "Then We Came To The End", which was quickly seconded by Sarah. I found a copy at work, started reading, and couldn't put it down. 400 pages, 2 days. If you have ever worked in an office or with a group of people you might not necessarily be friends with out in the real world but spend countless hours with at work, you will probably like this one. Think "The Office" in book form. Some drama, some comedy, and a couple of laugh out loud lines thrown in. Definitely worth your time.

Winter Vacation Yuma 2009

Bobby and Sabra in front of the awesome float he made for the Treehouse! What an awesome job! The light parade was fun too. The weather was perfect and the kids were all terrific.

Just Joan and Miss Mallory having fun at Sunday night's family dinner. We were so lucky to have Joan fly in the day before I left and for all of us to gather together for a meal.

Gotta love him! Grandma Evelyn (great-grandma to this guy) brought cupcakes for the kids.

How Sweet! Tiny and Sydney snuggle up and have a laugh for the camera.

The girls after the parade. Mallory "cart-wheeled" the entire length of the parade with her gymnastics team, while Syd and her girlfriends kept the Treehouse float in check. I love these girls and am so lucky to be their aunt. Super cute!!

Zac, Adriana and Buddy in front of Bob's awesome float. Don't they make a cute couple? It was nice to get some time with Zac this visit. What a good kid.

My Sabbatical

I am very blessed to work for a company that gives a four week paid sabbatical to their employees every four years. My sabbatical happened upon me kinda quickly and I didn't get my act together fast enough to go on the trip I wanted to initially go on. But that's the beauty in procrastination. Instead of Europe, I was fortunate enough to do the Sister's Tour 2009! I started in Pittsburgh with Joanie and had the greatest time. It was leisurely and packed full all in one. We went to at least four museums, including Frick Park, where this cute little conservatory was, and even to Phipps Conservatory, which dwarfs this building much like the awesome dinosaur skeletons at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History dwarfed anyone standing near them. What an awesome experience! Somedays I was on my own and other days I had the sweet company of my little sister. What a treat for me. She is just so special to me and it is a privilege to call her my sister and friend. When I find the cord to my camera, I will post more pics and write more details...

My next stop was San Diego to visit Kelly. An hour layover in Vegas turned into a lucky stop; I won $100 on a poker slot machine even though I had been warned about playing the slots in the airport. Anyway, I ended up in San Diego having the most precious time with my newest niece, Maggie. I didn't know babies could be so happy. She smiles all the time and laughs her little heart out. And she loved me. I had the best time just hanging out watching her explore her new found world. (She started walking a few days before I got there). Kelly is such a good and thoughtful mother. It is both odd and magnificent watching your younger sister become a mother to another human being. This was the little girl you played with and taunted your whole life and now here she sits in front of you with a little girl of her own. Wow. After about a week, I decided it was time to move on and visit Sabra and the kids, so dad met me at Viejas and drove me home to Yuma.

And then the reality of Sabra's new life hit me. I had hardly anytime with her, but I couldn't complain because she has hardly anytime to breathe anymore. Two jobs, four kids, a master's degree at night. Uh, no. I couldn't do it. I didn't think I could admire Sabra anymore than I did, but she one upped herself again. I honestly don't know how she does it. I wish Sabra peace and a quiet place to read a good book. I was happy to get a long afternoon with her as she drove me home to Phoenix. Each visit to Sabra's home reminds me that I must make it a priority to visit her and my family in Yuma more than once a year. I need to stop making excuses.

So I thank you all for your hospitality; opening your homes and hearts to me. I am proud to call you my sisters and humbled to call you my friends. I love you!