This is my response to #PumpkinSpice
Hope someone enjoys it.
#Falling

My favorite books capture aspects of human nature and relationships that we all understand and have experienced but have struggled to put into words. (Proust has done it the best for me). I am definitely enjoying this last book in the series so far. I expect things can go downhill though.

Well, I‘ve got to read the last book after reading the first three. I hope Ferrante redeems herself.

Umm…you know it had to be a song. This is the best I could do with the prompt. But truly this song has a history of producing much heat. I‘ll leave it at that.

“And you burned me up within your flame”

“Fire and Desire”- Rick James and Teena Marie

https://youtu.be/GqGWCyIsl5A?si=Fg1RpmfoV7D4Nyvd

Prompt: #Bonfire
#Falling

My boys loved this book when they were babies. That‘s been a long time ago. My oldest son turned 43 on today, his birthday.

Prompt: #BigMoon
#Falling

This is the 3rd book in the Neapolitan Quartet, about the toxic relationship between Lila and Elena. I found it to be almost unbearable to read, having to engage with such flawed characters. I steadily grew in my dislike of them due to the regressions in their identities and morality. By the end, I was as so emotional that I cried. Positively this may show the author‘s ability to stir feelings if that was her point.

I thought I just might find something for the prompt in one of my zillion old cookbooks. I cannot believe I was right.
Prompt: #cider
#Falling

Betcha you‘re not surprised it‘s music! My Daddy loved music which played almost nonstop in my house when I was a child many, many years ago. This is one that I heard often. - “Autumn Leaves”

Prompt: #leaves
#Falling

https://youtu.be/YVedK1VUfLM?si=TPPZPnXPnaZw0JJv

This book is in my Library Thing books so I have it somewhere (a lot of my books are not shelved since my move). Anyway I had and still have this plan (among many ) to take up knitting. Maybe even a sweater one day.
Prompt: #sweater
#Falling

There was music from my neighbor‘s house through the summer nights.

(This was the novel I first thought of in reference to the prompt)

#Neighbors
#Falling

“Shall I ever write again one of those sentences that gives me intense pleasure?” (Among her next to last entries before her suicide)

So sad how she considered herself to be a poor writer. She considered writing to be her therapy. She felt she had to do it in order to live. This is a theme in her books especially “To the Lighthouse” which was autobiographical.

Prompt: #DearDiary

#Fallings

It‘s me with music again. If you have been following me, you already know.
Prompt: #boots
#falling

https://youtu.be/GM1kzbAgo_E?si=ZebIzNY1AfOfvuEJ

I guess you can say I am being innovative on these. This is the best I could come up with for today‘s prompt. I‘ll share the link again in case anyone wants to share with their children or grandchildren or enjoy it yourselves. It‘s one of my 14 months old grandson‘s favorites.

https://youtu.be/_6HzoUcx3eo?feature=shared

#barn
#falling

I think in lyrics all the time. When I saw the prompt for the day, this song came to mind for some unknown reason. It came out sometime in my late childhood, I think. It‘s a sweet song so I‘ll share it in case you might want to listen to it.

https://youtu.be/HnhrBGzcN3Q?si=VWD9SB2Pk9n10uCh

Prompt: #apples

#Falling

Prompt: Library Fun

Fun for real! I loved going to the University Library. It brought back lots of memories as I worked for 3 years at the University Library when I was an undergraduate.

#Falling

I did not think I would but I found one for the prompt. It was in my husband‘s bookcase.

Prompt: #Football

#Falling

But every family has a ghost story. The dead sit at our tables long after they are gone.

(This pulled me in right away. I often wonder about this)

I was surprised by how much I disliked this book. I have to love at least one of the characters. They were not for me. I liked most of the other Anne Tyler books that I have read. I‘m not sure why I gave it a thumbs up. I probably will change that.

Prompt: #whatsfordinner

#Falling

I am challenging myself to stay on track this month.
(My husband and I were just now talking about how we are doing these kinda things as a way to cope with stuff like… our son‘s small business and the recent effects…enough said)

Prompt: Wildlife
#Falling

Found this in my Audible Library …. I have not transitioned to Audio books yet though… they put me to sleep…I think it has to do with my ADHD

See why I like stream of consciousness? 😂

I have to finish this third book in the series and move on to the final one. But, if this was the first and last of dealing with them, I would be done.

Prompt: Scientist

#CharacterCharm

It‘s not that I am a perfectionist, I‘m just determined to get them all done is all. Is this denial or rationalization or both.

I‘m thinking this counts for the Prompt: Time Travel

#CharacterCharm

I have loved his books but have not read this one.

I am going to put it in my Book Bingo @TheAromaofBooks

Prompt: Author

I can‘t say she‘s my favorite author but she definitely is whom I find to be most intriguing.

#CharacterCharm

Pat Conroy talks about his lifelong love of books and reading in this memoir, one of my favorites.

Introducing you to my granddaughter, at age 4 (can‘t believe she turns 6 next week), who is my inner child come to life.

I actually have enjoyed this collection better than Oliver.

Poet

#CharacterCharm

Poet

This book was part of my effort to understand poetry better. I have not gotten far after all of these years.

#CharacterCharm

She is my favorite of all time. I love her. I am one of her “Lambs” for sure. I will not get started. 😂

#musician

This prompt fits perfectly with one of my quirky interests I don‘t know exactly why I am interested in this subject matter. #maid #CharacterCharm

(Oh! This is for tomorrow. At least, I‘m early! )

This has been my life work, over 40 plus years of being a psychotherapist, doing my part to try and heal these wounds. #wounded #CharacterCharm

(Sorry to do this all out of order but I love it.)

This is the third book in a four-part series so I have to finish to learn what happens but I am getting so bored with Lila, one of the friends in this complicated relationship. There is page after page about her. If it was not a series, I would not finish this particular book. Just saying.

And surprisingly found this one on one of my bookshelves. I remember reading it a long, long time ago and finding it fascinating. Gonna re-read.
#Murderer #CharacterCharm

Wow! Someone recommended this to me years ago and I found it used. This was great for reminding me. #artist #CharacterCharm

He is the ultimate. I have such a big crush on him.
I think he‘s still out there on his yacht somewhere. #vigilante #CharacterCharm

“Many who are working among the suffering…thought they were going as the benefactors but they invariably found themselves being helped and liberated themselves.”

(Just one of the insights from this book that resonates with me. This little book is one of my favorites as well as the book of Job in the Bible is my favorite.)

#prophet #CharacterCharm

This has been my favorite on this topic.

#Widow #CharacterCharm

“I‘m an eighty-three-year old woman”, she said, looking at him.

(It‘s still hard for me to conceive Olive as being #elderly.)

I finished the novel hoping there‘s a way for her to come back again, was left feeling that I need to learn more about her.

She brought back in her latest novel. (Please leave me in the dark about how.)

I love “Olive”, one of my favorite characters.
#CharacterCharm #elderly

Suddenly she was seized with the cold realization that she would be asked to sew many black dresses in the months ahead as her patrons…donned the somber colors of mourning custom demanded. #seamstress #CharacterCharm

It‘s interesting my reading tastes have changed over time. I loved this series, with this getting it all started, when I was in my 20s. I would not choose it to read now. However, Jason is unforgettable. #CharacterCharm #Spy

She is one of women with whom I have long been intrigued. I have even been to Versailles. She led a short, ultimately tragic, yet interesting life. I have not read this novel but have read historical accounts. Fits the prompt of Day 1: #Queen
#CharacterCharm

This is actually one of my favorite memoirs, dealing with lots more than writing. It fits for #King prompt,rhetorically, I think.

Enjoy your Sunday!

#CharacterCharm

Edited to add: This has motivated me to shelf my zillion books after a move. They are basically stacked on a floor in a room I was making into my reading room. That has not. happened either Sigh. Anyways. Thanks!

My Current Read fits with the prompt! Yay! #CharacterCharm #Mother&child

This is the third in the four part series. It is the best one yet, to me, so far in the first few pages. It‘s interesting though that its start is entitled “The Middle Part” but the narrator is now in her sixties. I am curious now about the last novel. I highly recommend these books.

This is the story of the early adult years of this friendship, the epitome of a love-hate relationship. The nature of the relationship vacillates from one extreme to another. The proclaimed writer of the story, so far, one of the two friends, is named Elena. I can‘t help but believe that this is her true story of a life with Lia. The emotional intensity and astute observations regarding human nature in these novels are amazing & unforgettable. 4/5

One of my favorite songs and albums from back in my day. #Julyvibes #FamilyReunion #July23

https://youtu.be/i6zsg2GbLqc?si=fpjAuxrQS5nuzKD6

I love music as much as books. Both have saved me through some of my darkest times and further entertained me at my happiest . They have done all sorts of things for me. I literally think in lyrics more than once a day. This came to mind for the EAGLE prompt. Love this song: “I want to fly like an eagle to the sea…let my spirit carry me” #Julyjazz #Eagle

It has the colors of the prompt. I added in a bit more white. 😊 #JulyJazz #Redwhiteandbluecover

I love this song. “Free Mind” by Tems
“I need to free my mind; this is the peace that you cannot buy”
I also love the book: Pilgrimage of a Soul.
It‘s about #Freedom #JulyJazz

https://open.spotify.com/track/2mzM4Y0Rnx2BDZqRnhQ5Q6?si=wahP4Q51RiiOqBRYqDE_7A

A day late but here it is! #JulyJazz #forgiveness

Surprise! Surprise! I am a bibliophile Clinical Psychologist, starting a Bibliotherapy group with some of my clients, reading and discussing this book them. How fitting for the #mentalhealth prompt today. #Julyjazz