Tall Tales from Kansas

ooh and ick

Those of you who tune in to my posts about books know that I usually only tell about those I think you might be interested in reading. Today I have something slightly different. 

A few weeks ago, when looking through the NYT book review, I read about Dream State by Erich Puchner and decided I must read it. In retrospect, after looking at the review again, I am not sure how I came to that conclusion. I requested it on Libby from the library, found out there was a 12 week wait, and settled in to be patient. 

For some reason it came up for me in just a few weeks, so with eager anticipation for some good listening, I set out on a 3 hour car ride to Omaha. Here is the straight scoop on this book from a regular old reader who just likes a good story and does not write reviews for a living. 

Ooh and ick. That's my review. I stuck it out for 3 hours and 35 minutes, hoping that somehow it would get better, and finally cut my losses. The main thing that I simply could not tolerate any longer was the ridiculous, stilted, dialogue. I am not sure how it is possible that this was an Oprah pick. The only reason I am posting this is as fair warning to have something else ready to go in reserve if you are on a road trip and were expecting this to keep you engaged. 

If you have a differing opinion of the book, do tell us. In the meantime, I am returning it way early so the next person waiting can decide about it for themselves. 

The end. 

this is some fascinating stuff people

Lately I have found myself drawn to the subject of psychedelics, specifically related to their use in serious illness. This curiosity began after a presentation given at a recent educational seminar by Ira Byock, that focused on their use in end of life care. Very intrigued by what I was hearing, I checked out How to Change your Mind by Michael Pollan from the library. 

This is a very deep dive into their long and complicated history, focusing on the use of these agents in modern times, while acknowledging that they have been around for centuries and used in many cultural and religious ceremonies. 

What I like about this book is that while describing the agents and their effects, it focuses a lot on research and their use for people at end of life for "existential distress", as well as for use in depression, anxiety, alcoholism, PTSD, etc... It is hard to argue with the successful trials reported on here. I am not going to go into great detail about how these agents work, how their use with psychotherapy is a key component, or reports by individuals who have used them and the impact they have had on their lives. If you are at all intrigued by this, you should explore it. I also just found out there is a documentary series of the same name on Netflix that I am going to watch. 

One of the things that Ira Byock stressed in his presentation is that the benefits of taking these agents is that they provide one the opportunity to have an experience that can end up affecting your life by changing your perspectives of the world and how you fit into it.

This is some fascinating stuff people. If you have read/watched other things on this topic that you thought were solid, please put them in the comments. 

don't leave anything out

If any of you are in the midst of considering retirement, the timing of it, the changes you may experience... this may be a good read for you.  I just finished listening and found many things in it worthy of consideration.  I don't agree with all of it by any means, but definitely felt like Arthur Brooks was calling me out on some things. In a good way. Giving me some things to think about, perhaps in a different way than I have been. I would recommend it for anyone considering doing something different about work.  

Other recent explorations have steered my to the classics and the children's picture book sections of the library.  For some reason I read that Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf was THE one to try, so I did. It is not for me right now, but I did like seeing what it was even about. Something for me to return to at a later date.

In the Half R0om was a delightful flip through right before bed that I enjoyed immensely. Please do tell me the names of your most favorite kid's picture books. 

Stuart Little was a sheer pleasure to read. Who does not need to believe in a mouse who was born to a regular family? Love, love, love, is what I have to say about this one. 

That's it for this week's edition of "Carol Goes to the Library". Let me know what you are picking up, as you see my tastes are quite varied, don't leave anything out. 

the ominous presence of Adolph Hitler coming to power in Germany

I just finished listening to Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear on the libby app from my library.  If ever there was a time to listen to a story with familiar characters, in a voice you know, in a setting you can escape to in your mind, it is certainly now.

This story takes place in London in 1933.  Masie is looking into the death of a man with humble beginnings, much like her own. Friends of her father ask her to look into the case because they think his death was not an accident. Throughout the novel, there is in the background, the ominous presence of Adolph Hitler coming to power in Germany. The reader can feel the author doing her best to prepare us for what is to come in future Masie Dobbs books.  

I am exactly halfway through the series now with 9 installments left. You all know that I am not a binge reader or TV viewer, so I continue to spread them out slowly. Speaking of television though, and WWII, we watched the movie Lee last night. It is the story of Lee Miller a model turned photojournalist who covered the war in Europe. I happen to be a huge fan of Kate Winslet who plays the main character in addition to being the producer of the movie. It was not the best movie I have ever seen, but it was very good and we were both completely caught up in the story. As we look back on the Holocaust, it is hard to understand how it was able to go on, unchecked, for so long. This is the story of how one woman seeks to show the world what was happening in the immediate aftermath. I have included the trailer below. Highly recommended viewing as a reminder of the need to be vigilant in our current political climate. 

 

Tuna Casserole with smashed up potato chips on top

Today I finished listening to The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny. If there was ever a time that called for an escape to the eastern townships of Québec and the adventures of Chief Inspector (though retired in this installment) Armand Gamache, it is NOW. I am NOT going to delineate all the bee's in my bonnet right now related to the person who is playing at being president, it's a lot. 

 So back to the book... a new villain is introduced in this story, and while he is locked up in the Special Handling Unit (The SHU), which is for the worst of the worst kinds of criminals, there was some alluding to the fact that we have not seen the last of him. I could be wrong. Anyway, it's a fast paced novel with appearances by all of those characters you have come to know and love. You know it's a well written story when you can put aside (for an hour or so at a time) the ongoing news about a new bit of foolishness that may or may not happen, may or may not be true, may or may not be legal. Really though... the President now gets to choose which reporters can be part of the Press Corp covering the news out of the White House? Can I have gotten that right? I thought the United States had a free press. oops I said I was not going to list the bees in my bonnet. 

Chris also made the most comforting of comfort foods for supper tonight - Tuna Casserole with smashed up potato chips on top. Don't knock it till you've tried it. 

I wrote to my 3 representatives in Congress yesterday and requested a list of 5 things they have done this week to prevent the continued unravelling of our constitution. I let them know I wanted to hear back from them, though I did not give them a deadline that if they did not respond by would mean they were fired.  Maybe I should have? 

Thank you Louise Penny for saving my sanity this week. 

we can do hard things

QuiltCon is going on right now in Phoenix and I love all the reporting coming out of there from participants. The shared love of an amazing and rich art form, the celebration of diversity, the absolute joy of creating ... is a perfect foil to the anxiety in the world right now. 

Being embarrassed by the person currently occupying the White House, speaking on the behalf of my country (but really following his own agenda) is a terrible spot to be in. I can only be "in it" for short periods of time everyday. I am so grateful to all of the individuals standing up and speaking the truth, openly defying what they know to be illegal and false. Thank you Janet Mills (governor of Maine). Thank you JB Pritzker (governor of Illinois). Thank you to the Associated Press for not conceding to calling the Gulf of Mexico something else, and for filing suit over the issue. 

Steering away from that for a minute... these are my first attempts at month 5 of the Block Studies Collective - "Big Slice". I am not going to lie, it looked like it was going to be "too hard for me". How often do we tell ourselves that? In the last years, I try to replace that notion with "we can do hard things". Because we can. 

Having creative outlets, places to retreat to, where one can make, read, bake, is a balm. 

Last night, right before I went to bed I finished Billy and the Minpins again. It made me wish for warm sunny days where I can be outside - searching for minpins out in the wild, perhaps while they are riding on the backs of robins. I also finished Do Nothing, a great reminder that we don't have to always be "doing" to be our best selves. 

Forward we go. 

maybe Ina will let us stay in her Paris apartment

My friend Annette is a wonderful cook and often uses Ina Garten's recipes. So, when she told me she was reading Ina's memoir I jumped in. As soon as my turn for it came up on Libby that is. It took a few months, but I am a patient waiter. Sometimes.  

As I began to listen, I was a little "iffy" about it. Ina is so talented and I have enjoyed her shows on the Food Network, but I wasn't getting caught up in her story as much as I thought I would. There wasn't enough depth for me. 

I kept going because I like her voice and was interested in what she was going to share. Once we were brought up to the time when she purchased The Barefoot Contessa and she started talking about food, recipes, style, and her approach to cooking and celebrating with food I settled in. She makes me want to try my hand at one of her recipes. 

Bottom line:  Keep going! I am so glad I did. In the last hour or so she really does a lot more reflecting about her life, which I wanted her to be doing all along. Also, I ordered a copy of her first cookbook from a used book store. It's coming from a Goodwill store in Milwaukee. To quote Ina - "HOW GREAT IS THAT?!" I also told Sister that I want to go to Paris - as soon as we can arrange it. Ina talking about being there, opened up my memories of going there with Mary Ann in 2005. We NEED to go back. She agrees. I knew she would. Maybe Ina will let us stay her her Paris apartment? 

the daily life of a woman in the late 1700's is amazing and infuriating at the same time

Today I finished The Frozen River by Ariel Lawson. I have been listening "like nobody's business" because I had just one day left before it was whisked away on Libby (which I absolutely adore so don't think that is a criticism). Luckily I had some driving to do which gave me the opportunity to pay proper attention as I was drawing to the conclusion of the story.  

This is a novel about Martha Ballard, an 18th century midwife, living in a small town in Massachusetts. The reader is presented with a murder and a rape pretty quickly into the book and Martha is drawn into these situation as both a medical provider and a friend. I will not detract from your enjoyment of the story by telling you more. Martha is a journal keeper and records births, the weather, and other details of daily life... which is how we are able to know about her in the first place. Her role as a midwife, and the daily life of a woman in the late 1700's - which is amazing and infuriating at the same time. Kind of like today? I couldn't resist that given the state of reproductive health rights in the United States in 2025.

One of the things I liked best about this book was that at the conclusion of the story, the author provided a great background about how she came to write the book, how she learned of Martha Ballard in the first place (because of her journal), what she took literary license with and why, and what ultimately happened to her and her family. A great way (in my mind) to honor the reality of the person and the liberties that are needed to create a "good story". 

Recommended.

2025 daily readings

For 2025 I want to spend a bit more time staring into space and reading in the mornings.  Here is what is holding my interest right now for these sessions. 

The idea is to take a quick dip into a few, then reflect on them for the day (or not). Sister told me about Alan Lightman - In Praise of Wasting Time. A nice review of the benefits of getting unplugged from all our technology for periods of time EVERY day. Good stuff. 

Upstream by Mary Oliver - a collection of essays. A splendid way to begin or end the day. Dottie gave me this years ago. It's a keeper for re-reading. 

May Saron - Journal of a Solitude is an oldie (1973) but feels relevant today. Observations about life. One entry a day is a perfect format for what I am doing.  

Finally, and this one is absolutely NOT for everyone. Love is a Dog from Hell by Charles Bukowski is a collection of his poetry from 1974 to 1977. I am not sure how to describe this collection except to say it is filled with his experiences with women. Lots of women? Very irreverent and rambling but at the same time tidy and well written. A glimpse into the life of a poet who lived hard? You will either throw this book across the room after you read one poem, or like me, you will be unable to turn away and not completely understand what it is about his poems that make you read another. But you do.  

Except for the Alan Lightman book, these are all books that were on my shelves already. Don't you love it when you go to your own library for a read? 

Please share with us if you are now, or have in the past, done something similar... and what you read from that was brilliant - or at least meaningful to you.  

shopping in Waitrose

Piglet, by Lottie Hazel, is my first finish of the new year. It was on the list of books readers could vote on (in the NYT) for best books of 2024. I read a review, was intrigued, checked on Libby, and it was available. Done. Sometimes it's as easy as that when looking for my next read. Anyway....

In previous posts about books, we have discussed reading for plot, characters, setting, and/or writing. I enjoyed this novel for a bit of all 4. Since going to England with sister this past year, I love being reminded of our time there by little things, such as the mention of shopping in Waitrose, or a stop at Paddington Station, and our differing names for common things, as well as the locations mentioned. For me, this was mostly a plot driven story, but I did like the characters, and the author did a wonderful job describing the main character's delight in cooking and her complicated relationship with food. The basic story is of a woman getting married very soon and she finds out days before the wedding that her fiancee has lied to her. Excellent plane/train reading. 

Narration by Rebekah Hinds is spot on. Forgive me for that, I could not resist.

..."the perfection of this sphere which transcends all language"...

Orbital, by Samantha Harvey, is the story of one day in the life of 6 astronauts on the international space station. It is filled with descriptions of what they are seeing, how they are feeling, what it's like to exist in zero gravity, what they miss, what they look forward to when they return. There are is also the occasional thoughts of a person on earth in relationship with one of the astronauts.

There are musings on space, a cosmic commotion, the shock wave from a supernova, the collapse of a solar nebula, the Milky Way, the billions of years for life to form. It's fascinating to contemplate the unknowingness of the whole of it. There is also the "the human-less simplicity of land and sea, the way the planet seems to breathe, an animal unto itself, the perfection of this sphere which transcends all language".  There is a pervading theme of a lack of borders on the earth when seen from a rotation of 250 miles above that make it feel "endlessly connected".

This is a lovely little book. If you are a commuter like me and listen on audio, the reader - Sarah Naudi has just the perfect voice, which added to the experience for me. I would not have picked this book out on my own, which is what I love about being friends with readers who pass their book thoughts on to me. Thanks Sharron. 

Highly recommended. 

highly entertaining even if a bit ridiculous in areas

Let's see, where should I begin to tell you about my latest read - All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. Ok, how about here...
I am glad I read it.
It's an engrossing story.
The 2 main characters start out as young kids and I just loved them. 

There is also this... it gets way off track at points and leads in unbelievable directions that you had no foreshadowing about. You may talk back to the book like I did along the way... "oh come on", "enough of this let's focus and cut to the chase", "you have got to be kidding me", "no way that happened". 

And yet, for all of that, I come back to being glad I read it. I had to find out what happened to Saint and Patch in the end. It was highly entertaining even if a bit ridiculous in areas. After all, it's fiction and we know it's not true.  Still, if you are like me, you do believe when you get caught up in a really good novel. In the end, that's the crux of it. I could not get into it as much as I would have liked to because of my skeptical nature.

I am extremely interested in other's reviews. Do tell. Please. Don't spare anyone's feelings. 

do we assume the best or do we assume the worst

Most of you know the percentage of non-fiction I read tends to be pretty low. Tonight though, I am going to tell you about Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. Let me start by telling you the reviews are mixed on this book. I picked it up on the recommendation of my librarian friend Annette.

The basic premise is that we are not at all good at attempting to make sense of people we don't know and in particular whether or not they are telling the truth. He cites multiple cases of individuals who have been wrongly judged - some with devastating consequences. There are examples of people who have done terrible things that got away with it for years because it was impossible to believe they could do those things. There are also people who have done absolutely nothing wrong that are judged to be in the wrong and suffer because their actions are misinterpreted. Do we assume the best of people or do we assume the worst? 

Bottom line: tread carefully and check assumptions when entering into conversations with strangers, especially when the consequences of misunderstanding can have serious ramifications. I found this to be compelling reading though I did keep in mind some of the good points made by reviewers.  

If you have read this, please chime in with your thoughts in the comments. 

Burley Coulter is someone you wish you had in your life

Fidelity, by Wendell Berry is what I am here to tell you about today. It's a powerhouse of a short story. Seventy pages of writing that is both spare and generous because the writer seems to live in the heart of this community and knows each person as well as they know themself. And, how each one relates to the other.

The book contains 5 short stories - I started with Fidelity because it was recommended to me by one of the palliative care docs I work with. It is the story of a farming family who take their loved one (Burley Coulter) to the hospital when he gets sick and seems to not be getting better. After a while they realize that what they needed to do was just keep him home in the first place, so they work to rectify the situation.

"...they saw finally that in their attempt to help they had not helped but only complicated his disease beyond their power to help. And they thought with regret of the time when the thing that had been wrong with him had been simply unknown, and there had been only it and him and them in the place they had known together. Loving him, wanting to help him, they had given him over to the best of modern medical care, which meant, as they now saw, that they had abandoned him."

This story took me back, way back to a special patient our team took care of in the ICU about 12 or 13 years ago. He was from a small community in southern Kansas and lived alone in his trailer with his dog, though his 2 sons (bachelors) lived nearby. When he got off the ventilator and knew his time was short, he just wanted to go home. Most families have lots of worries about their ability to care for someone at home who is dying. Not his sons. When they came up to the ICU to get him, walking shoulder to shoulder, one in overalls and one in coveralls, hats in hands, they listened to what would have to happen, and replied they could do it. Yep. The social worker and I just looked at each other and with no words at all communicated that THIS was something to remember.

Very Highly Recommended. 

it's hard to see the natural world the same after you read this

At 512 pages to read, or 23 hours to listen, The Overstory is not to be picked up by those wanting a light read. I started it at when Sharron told me how much she loved it, and as usual, she did not lead me astray. It is a work of fiction, the story of the natural world we are living in, and how it is a living, breathing, connected network that is most complex and amazing. 

Just like with historical fiction, I prefer my learning about the earth, in the form of story. This is a BIG story with a long arc. It brings us into the lives of 9 very different individuals (and their ancestors) and how they come to be captivated by the trees around them. An engineer (the daughter of a Chinese immigrant), an artist (the great great grandson of a Norwegian immigrant), a computer genius (the son of an Indian immigrant), a hippy college student, a psychologist, an Air Force veteran, a scientist whose father taught her about trees, and an unusual couple whose significance to the narrative it takes a long time to see. I was completely captivated. It took me 15 days to finish, and I am still thinking about it.

The thing is, the story is still unfolding. It's hard to see the natural world the same after you read this. Highly recommended with the caveat that it is long and at times detailed. I was very caught up in each of the characters lives and loved bouncing back and forth between them. Thank you Sharron, as always. 

I am interested in others thoughts on the book, as well as other works by Richard Powers. If anyone is inclined to share. 

it worked itself out to just the right place and stopped

I needed to drive around in the car for an extra 8 minutes and 37 seconds to finish Tom Lake the other day. I was spellbound by the tenderness of the story, coupled with the beautiful narration by Meryl Streep. There was no way to stop and pick it up again. Not even if I were to rewind it. I was having a moment that could not be interrupted. 

There was nothing I did not like about this novel by Ann Patchett. The story of a girl from New Hampshire, looking back from middle age, at a full life and all the choices she made. I wanted it to go on, but it worked itself out to just the right place and stopped. 

I loved the story, the settings, the characters, the nostalgia... along with the ache of it all. I reminisced about days in the theatre department at Marymount College in the late 70's and early 80's, and it made me want to find a production of "Our Town" to go and see at some community theatre. It also had me thinking of a drive to Michigan when the cherry trees are in bloom. 

For me, Tom Lake ranks right up there with The Dutch House (narrated by Tom Hanks), my previous favorite by Ann Patchett. I am giving it my highest recommendation.

P.S. Please give me the 4-1-1 if you are someone who travels to Michigan to see the cherry trees. 

if you are offended by cursing ...

I have just spent a very enjoyable number of days listening to this group of essays, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, written and read by David Sedaris. This is a selection that I might not have normally picked out as something to listen to, but a good friend of mine recommended it so I jumped in. With both feet. 

Oh my GOSH! It was fantastic. So many topics that I could relate to about family, travel, relationships, and just living everyday life... but so hilariously. Near the end there were also a few essays thrown in where he assumes personas/perspectives that are radically different. I covered my mouth in something like horror, and cringed a time or two and kept going. These were the essays that made me think (and still laugh - at the absurdity - nervous laughter... are there really people like this out there?). I absolutely LOVED it. Warning - if you are offended by cursing you should not listen. If however, you can roll with a well placed vulgarity, David Sedaris knows exactly how and where to use them. 

P.S. if you listened to this, please tell me you too almost wet your pants when he was telling the story of the family in the airport and one of the young people was wearing a t-shirt that he read out phonetically every time he said it.  I was crying. 

the perspective of women and everyday people in the writing down of the meaning of words

My latest listen, courtesy of Libby from my local public library, is The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams.  This is a fictionalized version of the origins of the Oxford English Dictionary, wrapped up in the story of Esme. A young woman, raised by her father, who grows up in the Scriptorium where he works as a lexicographer. 

It makes me want to read more about the origins of dictionaries, and how the words have been defined, and by whom, based on what context. I had never thought before about the lack of the perspective of women and everyday people in the writing down of the meaning of words. 

Highly recommended. The Bookbinder of Jericho, the second book by Pip Williams, has been added to my list of must reads. 

P.S. let me not forget give a nod to Pippa Bennett-Warner, who beautifully narrates this audio version. 

working undercover as a professor of philosophy

I am so enjoying reading books these days that take place in England. Such is the case with # 8 in the Maisie Dobbs series "A Lesson in Secrets". Another quite enjoyable listen for me. Maisie in on assignment for the crown in a college in Cambridge, working undercover as a professor of philosophy. It was nice to catch up with Maisie's trusty assistant Billy Beale, consider the relationship developments with Masie and James Compton, learn that Chief Inspector Robert Stratton is making a career change, and meet Dr. Francesca Thomas who seems like she may be destined to make an appearance in a future story.

There was also foreshadowing of WWII and the beginning of worry regarding the Nazi regime. Another good story from Jacqueline Winspear.  

As soon as I finished this, I picked up a copy of The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald.  Sister is reading it right now and tells me it's good. It's on the bedside table for before slumber reading. It's about a woman who opens a bookstore in a small town in ... wait for it... England! I am just at the point where the bookshop has opened for business. So far, so good. 

my urge to visit Montreal, Quebec City, and the eastern townships..

The 10th installment in the Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny - The Long Way Home, brings closure to the dangling situation that is the marriage of Clara and Peter Morrow. Forgive me, but he is sort of a shit at times, don't you think? But I shall not disclose the outcome... most of you already know since you are way ahead of me in the series anyway. It was nice to see how Armand and Reine-Marie are faring in their new home in Three Pines, and to find Jean-Guy Beauvoir and Annie doing well after so much turmoil. I was also pleased to check in with Myrna and Ruth. 

We did not get to spend as much time in the bistro eating vicariously all the wonderful things prepared by Gabri and Olivier and described so well by Louise Penny, but there will be more of that in the next installment. I will say this reading has seriously amped up my urge to visit Montreal, Quebec City, the eastern townships, and now Baie-Saint-Paul.  A good dive into Airbnb might be in my near future. It's so much fun to look. 

As with all the books in this series - I highly recommend The Long Way Home.

until one day things change

My latest read/listen has been The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout. I wanted to get to know Bob Burgess after meeting this character in Lucy by the Sea. It was interesting, and not at all disconcerting, to jump back in time and get to know the back story of this man and his nuclear family. 

This is the story of a family, and how each member gets into their "place" in the order of things, with the expectations that go along with that role. Until one day things change and curveballs adjust how each person fits in the family. 

Once again, Elizabeth Strout provides us with a richly detailed story that builds the foundation of a wonderful fictional community that so many of us are delighted to visit on a regular basis. Highly recommended. 

to see if in that first novel I could have predicted where any of this would go

It is hard to put my finger on just why I love the character of Lucy Barton as much as I do. Because she is flawed? Because she openly shares all her worries? Because she says things I sometimes think in my own head? All I can say for sure is I just finished Lucy by the Sea, the 4th novel in the Amgash series which features Lucy Barton as the main character, and oh I will miss her.

In this story, Lucy's ex-husband William, takes her to Maine near the beginning of the Covid Pandemic where they isolate in a small town in an old house by the ocean. It was almost strange to be reading a book about the experience of Covid so soon (it still feels very present to me) and I found myself thinking back about many things that were happening during the worst of it all. As with everything I have read by Elizabeth Strout, I highly recommend this novel. 

Having come to the end of the Amgash series, I decided to do something I almost never do... get another book by the same author right away. After meeting the character Bob Burgess in Lucy by the Sea, and getting to know him a bit, I feel compelled to go back and find out more about him. Those of you who know (and love) Lucy Barton as I do, are aware that Elizabeth Strout has a cast of characters that make appearances in many of her books. While the name Bob Burgess has come up previously, I hadn't really started to get to know him until this book. Happily her novel, The Burgess Boys was available on the Libby App, and has been downloaded.  

When I went to the web site to find out more about the Burgess Boys, I discovered there is another Lucy Barton book coming out in August. This delights me to no end. Between now and then, I want to go back and listen to My Name is Lucy Barton again. Just to see if in that very first novel I could have predicted where any of this would go and how much I would enjoy following her life story. 

What would we do without books? I can't even imagine. 

one of those stories that stays with you

My latest read/listen was a good one. A well developed story about Bird Gardener and his mom Margaret, an American poet of Chinese descent. She is the author of a poem that has become the mantra of those brave enough to speak and act in opposition to PACT (Preserving American Culture and Traditions Act). As the story opens, I originally think I am back in the early 1940's until there is mention of cell phones... and I realize that it is a present day dystopian novel about what can happen if we are lulled into complacency.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng is a novel about the power of story. Bird's mom has told him stories his whole life, and they have prepared him (though he did not understand that is what she was doing), to move through the world no matter what circumstances he is dealt.

I listened to this on the libby app.  It is read by Lucy Liu who has the most wonderful voice. 

Very highly recommended. I have only given you a few details so as not to spoil the story as it unfolds for you. It is one of those novels that stays with you. As it should. 

why she takes cases that involve reuniting families

It is with much sadness that I report I have finished listening to Celine by Peter Heller. I got it from the library on CD and have been listening to it on a 90's era boom box, upstairs in the art room, while I work on my quilt. There is a comfortable chair in front of some windows up here and it's perfect for stitching, and listening. I have been completely taken with the character Celine. A 60 something private eye who surprises you at every turn with her ability to take command of any situation using her weaknesses as strengths. I just hate that there are no more stories featuring her as the main character, but sometimes that's for the best. I guess.  

Peter Heller skillfully crafts a story of a young woman, searching for her father, who enlists the help of Celine. While she is working on the case of this disappearance that happened 20 years ago, we learn about Celine, and why she takes the cases that involve reuniting of families. It is a well told story that unfolds at a perfect pace and in a well described setting that makes you feel like you are following along for the ride. Note to self: get yourself up to Montana, in the fall, while you are still able to amble around. 

Highly recommended. I am off to chase down this authors other books because if they are as good as this, they must get on my list.

a travel time of less than 30 seconds and no need to pack a suitcase

Happy Sunday from Kansas where we continue to be warm/cool, then cool/warm, with lots of intermittent wind thrown in, along with occasional clouds/sun and rain. This is normal weather in Kansas. FYI.

I have just finished a 3-day Palliative Care virtual conference from the second floor of Tall Tales Headquarters. You have to love a travel time of less than 30 seconds and no need to pack a suitcase. Good stuff. I am mulling it all over in my mind as I write this.

While I decide what I learned that is important to begin to incorporate into my daily practice I give you these things to consider. Tulips are for sale in the grocery stores. Love, love, love.

I just read a new children's book about grief. It'a a keeper. Well written, beautifully illustrated. Sylvester's grandmother has died and he decides to write her a letter. 

A wonderful thing for a child to do, compose their love into a note that can be mailed. Why not? 

I would recommend this for any child who has lost someone. I got this copy from my local library.

I continue to hand-stitch away on the triangle quilt. I think I have finished quilting around well over half of the 225 triangles.  Quite enjoyable. Especially while watching the last season of The Crown. Which we have just recently started, and are enjoying immensely.

The End. 

if Greek mythology appeals to you...

I have just completed the first in a "new for me" series that my reliable book recommender Sharron told me about. She started this series at the urging of her granddaughters. I absolutely love the idea of the intermingling of the generations influencing each others' reading. I dove right in to Ariadne by Jennifer Saint and was quickly captivated. 

This novel revolves around Ariadne and her sister Phaedra. It follows them from their home on Crete as their lives unfold. The stories of the Gods are brought to life as the sister's experience the impact of the Gods on the daily existence of humans. The relationship of mortals with the Gods is so interesting. The "stories" are timeless but I love how the author calls out how women are so frequently impacted by the actions of vengeful Gods. I learned more about the Minotaur, Daedalus, Icarus, Dionysus, Persius, Theseus, Medusa etc. I think many of us, during our school years, had contact with Greek mythology. It's surprising how much of that I recalled, and it made me want to read more. There are 2 other books in this series (Elektra, Atalanta) and another one coming in May 2024. 

If Greek mythology appeals to you, check this series out. I listened on the Libby app through my library and Barrie Kreinik is an excellent reader.

deep satisfaction and enjoyment

I have just spent a most enjoyable almost 18 hours catching up with Inspector Gamache and my friends from the village of Three Pines up north in Canada. As always we are presented with a new mystery to solve, while in the background there is the ongoing corruption in the ranks of the Sûrete du Québec and Lt. Jean-Guy Beauvoir remains entrenched in difficulty. The bistro continues to serve the most amazing meals, Myrna is still operating the bookstore, Ruth and Rosa make appearances, Clara contemplates the departure of Peter, we get to know Superintendent Thérèse Brunel and her husband Jérôme better, and Chief Superintendent Francoeur remains easy to dislike. 

This chapter (book number 9 in a series of 19), has us readers headed in a new direction at it's conclusion. I am along for the ride, wherever Louise Penny wants to take me. This series continues to provide deep satisfaction and enjoyment for all the hours I am engaged with the characters. 

I will go ahead and say it again, I am forever in debt to Sharron and Marti for telling me about this series. Very Highly Recommended. 

the remarkable octopus who lives at the Sowell Bay Aquarium

This little succulent cutting has continued to bloom in the kitchen window since being moved indoors in the fall.  Ahh the ability to adapt and continue to flourish (and even bloom) is a marvelous thing. 

The sunny mild days have been nice for short walks... I think I have gotten a bit lazy in the cold, wanting to sit by the fire in the morning for coffee before bolting out the door. I don't know about you, but if I don't bolt right away, I can get pulled into all manner of "stuff".

Butterscotch latte's are back at Barkers on Massachusetts Street. 

Finally (because people were coming over to our house) the Christmas garlands over the table came down and the old hearts and other assorted valentine themed things went up.  Immediately I "feel" springy. Can daffodils be far behind?

On the reading front, I sat in the parking lot behind Sarah's today, in the shade of a nice old tree, reading the last several chapters of Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt. It's due tomorrow, and though I could certainly keep it longer... possession being 9/10's of the law, but other folks are waiting and I don't want to make them wait longer than necessary.  Hence the unusual reading spot that is relatively close to the library. 

This is the story of Tova Sullivan whose son Erik died 30 years ago, under circumstances that were never really settled. Cameron is a young man whose mother left him when he was nine and he didn't know his father. Ethan is the Scotsman who runs the local grocery story and may be a little sweet on Tova. Marcellus is the remarkable octopus who lives at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Avery is the owner of a local surf shop. Somehow their lives are all connected in ways that are revealed as the story unfolds. Quite an enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

Mary Ann worried she might be a vampire

As I approached the end of Dracula by Bram Stoker, I found myself wanting to enter a time machine and go back to 1969, to South Carolina. More specifically, the TV room at our house on Shaw AFB, at 3:30 pm (or was it 4?), everyday after school to watch Dark Shadows. We sat clenched in dread and excitement as we watched Barnabas Collins and Quentin Collins and Angelique, and some lady with blonde hair as they barely escaped alive or undead from whatever new calamity was upon them. Seriously, right this second I want to watch an old episode, though it's best I not, for fear of disappointment by what I thought at the time, was so thrilling. I am a little surprised that Angie let us watch it at all. But I digress...

I am going to call my first classic read (listen) for 2024 a success. It's a long listen - 19 hours, but now that I have listened to it, I am sure that it would have been hard for me to get through it if I had been reading. It's told from the journals, diaries, etc of the main characters - Jonathan Harker and his wife Mina, Professor Abraham VanHelsing (vampire expert who happens to be from Amsterdam and he is voiced by the narrator with the speech patterns of someone who does not speak English as a first language, and with a marvelous accent), there is also Lucy Westenra (Mina's friend) and Dr. John Seward, Quincy Morris, and Arthur Holmwood (the three fellows who all love Lucy though her heart belongs to only one of them). Of course the Count (Dracula) is in there but only as he is told of by the others. 

I loved (in my mind) going back to the original story and thinking about how all the tales that have come after it followed the general superstitions and "teachings" about how to keep a vampire away, what their powers are, and how to kill one.  Professor VanHelsing is the one who does all the research and figures out how they should proceed in trying to get rid of Dracula.  

A teeny bit of investigating into whether or not Bram Stoker's Dracula (published in 1897) was the original - led me to the 1871 novel Carmella by Sheridan Le Fanu. It could be that at some point I will read that... but not right now. I am dipping into something a bit lighter first.

Overall, I am quite glad to have read Dracula. The story will stay with me for a long time... especially since it's linked to my already existing memories of the Dark Shadows soap opera. Which, by the way, I did confirm with my siblings that we all did watch though Dottie and Ray gave it up for lent because it scared them so much. Mary Ann also recalls having to lay down and take a nap with mom when it was over and watching her mouth/teeth carefully because she had slightly pointed canine teeth and Mary Ann worried she might be a vampire! You can't make this stuff up. We all had a good laugh tonight about that one. Thank goodness for siblings and shared memories.  

something akin to a summer beach read to balance out the snow

If you need something akin to a summer beach read to balance out the snow and chilly, gray days of January, may I suggest Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty?  It's been on my list for ages. Can't recall how it first got on there. I wasn't at all sure I was going to be able to stick with it initially... but it ended up being just what I needed.

It's the story of the 3 Kettle sisters. Triplets. Lyn, Cat, and Gemma and they are turning 33 this year. I listened on Libby from my local public library. The narrator, Heather Wilds, does a wonderful job, giving each sister their own unique voice, while maintaining that lovely Australian accent. If you can get it on audio, it absolutely adds to the enjoyment.

There are fights, accidents, affairs, pregnancies, picnics, cheating husbands, weddings, anxiety attacks ... just the stuff of everyday life. 

I do not know how she captured the inner world of the main characters

I am struggling with my description of this novel, Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson. It is the story of 2 young girls who come to live with their grandmother after the death by suicide of their mother. It takes place in a small town in Idaho, on a lake, with a train that runs through it. After the grandmother dies, they are cared for by 2 great aunts and then the sister of their mother who had not been around for many years. 

Marilynne Robinson uses a lot of words in her writing. It is at times hauntingly beautiful and at times I found myself thinking "what the heck! where is this going? and could you please speak more plainly". I almost stopped reading at one point. I do not know how she captured the inner world of the central figures in the story, in what to me, seems a most accurate way. Finally, here is what I will say about it... this is a book that I will not forget the plot of, nor will I forget the 2 main characters. I will also never look at a transient person in the same way again as I consider what might the circumstances of their life have been that led them here. 

I will be most interested in the thoughts of anyone of you who have read it. I will be doing some lighter reading next. Who has favorite holiday reads? Titles in the comments please, and thanks!

 

satisfying on so many levels

Oh me, Oh my, what a book.

My latest finish was a story that is really several stories wrapped up in one. It has so much in it - a harsh father, an evil step-mother, star crossed lovers, the plague, the death of a wonderful boy, and on and on. It is the story of William Shakespeare (though he is never named in the book) and his wife Agnes, in a novel form, so loosely based on a part of their lives. 

Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell, is written so beautifully. The words and sentences are structured in a way that is almost musical, though that may not make sense unless you listen to it read perfectly by Ell Potter. I enjoyed this one immensely. It is satisfying on so many levels - characters, language, setting, story, all hit the mark for me.

Highly recommended. 

I thought at the time "this is something I will like"

As is often the case with books, the memory of who told me about them, or where I read about them is forgotten. BUT I do recall, when I add them to my list of books to read, that I thought at the time, "this is something I will like". This was true as well with Love & Saffron by Kim Fay. 

It's a different sort of story, about 2 women who begin a correspondence in the early 1960's, after one of them reads a column written by the other. They each get something from this relationship that causes the correspondence to continue over the course of some years. It is lovely for the discussions of food, the evolution of a friendship, and what it was like being a woman in the 1960's. It's a quick read, if you want it to be. I lingered over it slowly. One of the women lives in LA and the other in the Seattle area. If you are like me, you enjoy seeing in your mind's eye, the places that are visited in a novel.

A pleasurable little read. It made me want to be a better letter writer. 

he becomes forever entwined in their rich, full, messy, beautiful lives.

When I completed Rebecca a few weeks back, I felt certain I would have to muddle through a less than good next read in return for that gift of an excellent literary experience. But somehow the God's smiled on me and Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano came up as available on my library request list.

Before I dive into my feelings about the book, can we just talk about that amazing painting on the cover? Wow, wow, wow! Jessica Miller is the artist and I just absolutely love her style. 

So, back to the book.  This is the story of William Waters, a young man who was brought up in a home with no love or attention from his parents.  When he goes to college he collides with Julia, one of the close knit Padovano sisters and he becomes forever entwined in their rich, full, messy, beautiful lives. This story is told, by turns, from the perspective of all the major characters. I was fully immeshed from the get go. 

Read by Maura Tierney, who voiced these characters perfectly. 

Highly recommended. 

a good history lesson while spending time with a most likable character

I just left Maisie Dobbs at her apartment in London, having wrapped up her last case about a cartographer from America who was killed in the war and his body was just discovered. His parents needed some things cleared up and so sought Maisie's services. She and Billy got down to business and and figured out who did what and why and as usual it was a satisfying visit. Tea was drunk, biscuits were eaten.

A new relationship begins, someone's health improves, and someone dies. There, I gave you a taste without giving anything away. Probably all of you have read this already anyway. I tend to move through a series slowly, savoring the experience. I like a good history lesson, in a story format, while getting to spend time with a most likable character.

Recommended. 

following along in suspense as the tale unfolded so magnificently

Just today I finished Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Oh, what a glorious 15 hours of listening it was. From the famous first line  "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again..." to the final moments, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I read an article a few months ago, about how a book written 80 (or so) years ago can still be so widely read all these years later. Based on that, I got on quite a long waiting list on Libby through my local library and was really blown away by how quickly I was hooked the moment I began to listen. The good news is, if you are one of the friends I talk with regularly, I am about to be done telling you how FANTASTIC it is. At least I promise to try. 

I listened to the audiobook version that is narrated by Anna Massey, who did a stellar job. Chris won't say this out loud, but he is going to be extremely sorry when I stop walking around the house speaking in the voice of the new Mrs. de Winter, referring to Rebecca, Maxim, and Mrs. Danvers, using my very best English accent. 

Happily, I had not seen the movie and was following along through the passages of Manderley, out into the woods, down to the cove below the headlands, into the morning room, the gardens, the library, and the west wing... all in suspense as the tale unfolded so magnificently.

Do check it out if you haven't read it. I give this one the highest recommendation possible. 

Please do me the favor of suggesting what classic I should tackle next. I have most certainly put Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier on my list already. Sister says I should read the original Dracula, what say you?

I want to know yet I don't want to know how this is going to play out

Book # 8 in the Inspector Gamache series does not take place in Three Pines and it does not involve a full team of investigators from the Sûreté du Québec. Instead, this story unfolds in a monastery, where they specialize in Gregorian chants and aside from that live in isolation and silence. Until one of the monks is murdered.

Then Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir are dispatched to solve the crime. We are given a deeper look into the corruption in the top ranks of the Sûreté and the sense of optimism that we feel near the beginning of the story has disappeared by the end. It is a turn I did not see coming. 

I'm not sure how long I will be able to wait until I dive into installment #9. I want to know, yet I don't want to know how this is going to play out.

I also want to listen to some Gregorian Chants. 

As always, very highly recommended.

the reader by turns empathizes with both perspectives

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones is, as the name implies, the story of a marriage and what happens when the husband is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.  It does not focus on the crime or the legal battle, but rather, as the title implies, what happens between a husband and a wife under these circumstances. We are shown their relationship as a couple, but also hear the individual voices of Roy and Celestial.  

This book is very well written, and the reader by turns empathizes with both perspectives as well as with Andre - the third character in the triangle. The author manages to bring the story to a conclusion which does not leave the reader (at least not this one) irritated by the use of some kind of formulaic ending. 

Highly recommended.

though it is not literary greatness, you do feel something for the characters

This is my latest read, I have been listening to it on CD while I sit upstairs, in a comfy chair, with my back to the window to allow the light to shine directly on my stitching. The Life we Bury, by Allen Eskens, is one of those books you sort of race through (though when you are listening you really can't race) to find out what happens.

The story is one you have heard before, with characters you know from the familiar roles they fill, but nonetheless you listen. Because though it is not literary greatness, you do feel something for the characters and hope that things will turn out like they should, with wrongs being righted and a path for good things to happen in the future. On that basis I will say have a listen. It would make a good book to read on a plane, or a train, but not alone in a cabin in the woods. 

Plus... I swear it made me stitch faster while I was listening. And that, is a very good thing.

... so that she may have a voice

I just finished listening to The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abe Daré. The main character in this novel is Adunni, a 14 year old girl living in Nigeria, trying to do everything she can to get her education, so that she may "have a voice". She was told about the importance of education by her mother, who has been dead for a number of years as the story opens. Though her father promised his wife, as she was dying, that Adunni would continue her schooling, this does not happen. 

This is a story of much hardship, suffering, and throughout the story a spirit that refuses to give up despite the odds. I was struck by Adunni's innate sense of right and wrong and her struggle to understand how the world is different if you have money and are a man as opposed to poor and a woman. 

This book has a wonderful main character, the settings are well described, and you are very invested in wanting to find out what happens to Adunni. It is written in the vernacular and the use of language brings Adunni to life fully. 

Very highly recommended.

Clara is finally wising up

I just finished listening to A Trick of the Light, book # 7 in the Three Pines series with Inspector Armand Gamache, by Louise Penny. I do enjoy a quick visit to the Eastern Townships and a chance to catch up with a most interesting group of characters. I love how they continue to develop as the stories unfold. This particular book involves the murder of a woman Clara knew when she was young but had fallen out with long ago.  

As they work on the case, flushing out all possible suspects, we find the Chief Inspector and Jean-Guy Beauvoir continuing to recover from past injuries.  The culinary delights served at the bistro remain tantalizing to read about, and it appears that Clara is finally wising up about that no-good (in my opinion) husband of her’s, Peter. 

A most satisfying listen, and of course it is highly recommended. 

a story of hardship, faith, tragedy, love, and miracles

When I look back in December at all the books I have finished in 2023, Peace Like a River by Leif Enger will be a top contender for my best read of the year.  I have completed many good books this year, but this is one of those in a class by itself.  Reuben, Swede, Jeremiah, and Davy are characters written in a way that stay with a reader. It's a complex (and yet simple) story of hardship, faith, tragedy, love, and miracles. Leif Enger knows how to turn a phrase. I found myself re-reading things, sometimes out loud, to more fully enjoy how he puts words together. 

I am giving this a quadruple highly recommended rating, and am glad I have my own copy to keep on the shelf for a re-read in the years to come. 

treated unfairly at every turn

Since the beginning of May, the Kansas Summer Reading camp has finished 9 books. The last selection, was Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I could not stop listening to it, in the car, on my walks, while needlepointing, unloading the dishwasher - you get the idea. It drew me in from the first few pages, kept my attention, and I really liked Elizabeth Zott (the main character). Elizabeth is a chemist in the 1950's/60's and is treated unfairly at every turn based solely on the fact that she is a woman. 

I feel certain that many of you have read it, and I will want to know what your thoughts were. I don't think it will spoil anything to tell you that all the things got wrapped up pretty neatly at the end.  Endings are hard. When they are all tidied up that sometimes feels the same as when too many things are left for the reader to figure out. All that said, I highly recommend this book.  If you have one last trip to take this summer pack it in your bag, you will not regret it. 

Girl, Boy, Woody Nickel, Red, and the old man

Here is the latest finish for the membership of the Kansas Summer Reading Camp.  West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. My sister in law, Cheryl Jean, told me about it ages ago and I have finally gotten around to it.  It made for good front porch reading this week. 

It's the story of 2 giraffes who survived a hurricane and were driven across country, from New York Harbor to the San Diego Zoo, where the first female zoo director in the world (Belle Benchley) awaited their arrival. Twelve days on the roads of the US in 1938, with a ramshackle sort of trailer for the giraffes, makes for an adventure to be sure. Especially with a young man from Oklahoma escaping the dust bowl, a young woman dreaming of being the next Margaret Bourke-White, the animal loving zoo keeper trying to pull off the feat when he can't drive the truck, and of course... Boy and Girl - the giraffes. 

It is fiction but based on an actual event. I enjoyed the story and thought it was wrapped up really really well. There was a bit too much constant building to an event that happened in Woody Nickels past which made it hard to enjoy the journey at times. That said, I will recommend it easily. Especially if you love animals. 

When I asked Dottie if she wanted me to send it to her to read, she said YES, and also sent a photo of a giraffe she took while in Africa in 2010.  Our sister gets around.

Mother Nature at work

I am now up to the year 1932 in the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. In this installment - Among the Mad - Maisie is working with Scotland Yard and Detective Chief Superintendent Robbie McFarland to identify the person threatening to wreak havoc on the city of London, if the British government doesn’t do something to help the soldiers from the First World War, who have not been able to return to their “normal” lives after their experiences at war. They are under a timeline and the plot moves quickly. 

I remain a fan of this quite enjoyable series. Maisie’s character continues to evolve as she settles more deeply into her work and home. Her assistant Billie Beale, her friend Pricilla, and her dear father also make appearances in the story.  A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Above are yesterdays morning snippings. There is nothing more fun than arranging flowers harvested on a stroll through the garden.

These sunflowers are from the friendship garden by the school near our home.  All these blooms are on one thick “jack in the beanstalk” type of stem.

Here’s a leaf that wandered into my path on a morning walk. The architecture of this specimen is amazing. Mother nature at work.  

all the twists and turn of life

The Kansas summer reading camp, with just one member, that meets on the front porch of my house, on an irregularly regular basis, is going strong. For some reason, the reading bug has hit me hard and shows no signs of stopping. This is my latest finish. Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark, 576 pages of pure enjoyment, read nightly until I just couldn't stand it and had to carry it outside with me for a daytime reading session in addition to before bed. 

Recommended to me by both Sharron and Marti, I felt relatively certain I would like it. It's the story of Agnes and Polly, two women whose friendship began as children and has continued into their 80's. It's about their families and their lives split between Philadelphia and the coast of Maine, but mostly it's about Agnes and Polly and all the twists and turns of life. This is one of those books you love for the story, the characters, the setting, and the writing. 

Highly recommended. 

a spiffy little summer read

Oh I just hate that I am done listening to The Maid by Nita Prose. This is the story of Molly, a maid at the Regency Grand hotel in NYC. Her gram, who raised her, died recently and she is adapting to living on her own. She is a uniquely delightful, quirky, character, who see's the world through a very literal lens. 

She finds Mr. Black, a hotel guest, who is not a very nice person, dead in his bed. Then we are left trying to find out how to absolve Molly of the crime, which she is most certainly innocent of. There is a great cast of supporting characters including Juan Manuel the dishwasher, Mr. Preston the doorman, Giselle - wife #2 of the dead man, and Rodney Stiles the bartender - who may or may not be her friend but Molly has a hard time seeing beyond the "blue pools of his eyes". 

Wonderful main character first and foremost, fast moving story with short visits to the past to get to know Molly better, and just a spiffy little summer read. Highly recommended. If you can listen, do so. The narrator really adds to the personality of Molly. 

the sort of book that got me hooked on reading when I was young

This is my latest listen on the Libby app from the Lawrence Public Library. The Lions 0f Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis. I finished it in about 5 days because I could not stop listening. It's one of those back and forth stories - alternating between the early 1900's where a woman is living with her husband in an apartment in the NYC public library (he's the superintendent and it came with the job), and the 1990's with a librarian trying to find her way in work and life. There is a connection between the women, which you suspect, but aren't informed of right away. 

What I liked about this book is I wanted to keep listening to find out what happened. It's the sort of book that got me hooked on reading when I was young, plot driven, but with good characters and an interesting setting. A very enjoyable summer read if I do say so myself.

Recommended. 

... our hopes, needs, and desires, shape what we see in the world...

This is my latest non-fiction read. Not something I would have probably picked up on my own but a colleague mentioned it to me and it sounded really interesting. 

Shankar Vedanta does a wonderful job providing evidence in the forms of studies and specific examples of how self deception can at times play a functional role in our lives. At the same time, all forms of self deception will not be helpful and the bottom line is the book provides a great framework for understanding the beliefs of others and how they shape choices in life. 

It sounds really simple to say that our hopes, needs, and desires shape what we see in the world but somehow reading this book provided insight on a deeper level and has made me think more about what is behind some of the decisions that I see made in end of life care especially.

Another part of the book that was interesting to me was a part which described how normal individuals have unrealistically positive views of themselves and exaggerated beliefs in their abilities to control the environment around them.  So reading this you might think that would be a bad thing, but it can also lead to less fatalism.

So much to think about in this book. I am going to return it to the library today, but it may be one that I need on my shelves to re-read every so often. Highly recommended.  

a fun adventure with a kindred spirit that clearly loves food

If you like talking about food, thinking about food, making things to eat, going places to explore new culinary trends, and have more cookbooks than you know what to do with... you are going to want to read Stanley Tucci's Taste: My Life Through Food.

It is a fun romp through his life in food - including his family's roots in cooking and food, his recollections about eating growing up, cooking for family, memorable meals in places where he was working at the time, just a fun adventure with a kindred spirit who clearly loves food as much as I do. Some of his recipe's are included. The book also covers Stanley Tucci's diagnosis of, and treatment for, cancer of the mouth/salivary gland, and how difficult this was for him. Radiation and chemotherapy can really wreak havoc on one's ability to eat. 

My friend Peggy sent it to Annette and I, and said we would talk about it when all three of us were done reading. Intimating a need to take a food centered trip somewhere? I am always up for a trip, and every good trip in my mind involves sitting around a table passing your plates around for tasting, moaning over the pure deliciousness of it all.  

Warning: do not get this book if you will be offended by the occasional use of a good curse word.  I devoured it, swearing and all.