For those of you who read this book for #NYRBbookclub - The New Yorker has an article about Elizabeth Hardwick and Robert Lowell in the December 16th issue.

I took this photo at a bug/art exhibit. While it's beautiful, those bugs could also cause sleepless nights.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/12/16/marriage-betrayal-and-the-letters-...

I was rewarded for cleaning out a drawer filled with random items. I found a bookstore gift certificate from June of 2016 that hadn‘t been used yet! Unimaginable that I had never used it, right? This book was on so many ‘must read‘ lists and still wasn‘t at any of my libraries so the decision on what to buy was super easy. It‘s up next.

A book that sat on my shelf for ages! It tells the true story of the Soviet Union‘s dissolution of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia and the deportation of millions to labor camps for 10-15 years. A YA novel that packs a punch.

I have a habit of buying myself presents during this time of year. One book was purchased to read for the #Nyrbbookclub, the second purchased to read before my daily meditation, and the third purchased to rip my heart out.

The lives of each family member is explored as the father, a violent, philandering criminal, lies in a coma. The ways in which the patriarch affected each person is deep and painful. I found the sections involving the wife to be quite compelling. The bargains she made with herself and the love/hate she felt for her husband were well portrayed. I appreciated the structure of the storytelling and I find the characters have stayed with me.

Gracie's facial expressions when I tell her there is yet another list of books that I need to find and read. So much great reading to be done! My TBR stack is so high that I'm quite sure I won't be able to finish them all before I die, but that's what wills are for, right? Onward! I'm off to find books published in 2019.

(By the way, the hairstyle was Gracie's idea, not mine.)

https://lithub.com/our-50-favorite-books-of-the-year/

I wish I had liked this book more. I think there might have been an enormous amount of brilliance in the story, but I struggled and whined through the majority of the book. Marriage is hard, divorce is hard, women do the majority of the mental & emotional side of parenting, apps make it easy to have sex. There. Those, to me, were the key points. My daughter was quite eloquent though in explaining the nuances that i missed while I was whining.

Going through my mother‘s things and I came across a box of old postage stamps. “What the heck am I supposed to do with these? Are any of them worth any money? Can I just chuck them?” Then I came across this stamp, issued by the post office in 1973. I‘m sure my mother kept it because her aunt lived with Cather for almost 40 years. Still not sure what to do with some of the ancient stamps, but this one I‘ll definitely keep.

Lily King, author of Euphoria, has written a powerful book about a daughter dealing with her alcoholic father. From the beginning, as she is let in on the secret that she and her mother are leaving the next day while, at the same time, her father is buying her a puppy and asking her opinion, King pulls you into the emotional trauma of a young child whose family is coming apart. The struggle to love a seriously flawed parent was detailed and true.

Excuse me? From the back of the book. Sardonically cheerful? It‘s sardonic all right, but I haven‘t found one cheerful note within it.

Leander walked throughout the village yesterday reading this book. The chickens, the kids leaving school, the puddles to jump in, nothing distracted him. After 25 minutes of walking and maneuvering the book as he turned the pages he requested we get back home so he could sit on the couch and enjoy his book. 💕💕

This is Jake Burton Carpenter, the man who brought snowboarding to the world. He passed away last night at 65 years of age. I worked for him for a number of years & he singlehandedly taught me that you can be a wealthy business owner and also be incredibly generous with your employees. He especially loved to give gifts and $ at Xmas, and would shut down work when a big snowstorm came so employees could snowboard. He was a kind & gentle leader.

I can see why they put such a bright cover on this book: it‘s depressing! The agony and ecstasy of an older single woman just about did me in. Her flights of romantic fancy and her vulnerability got to me. The writing was terrific and had me riveted to her story. While Judith and I have almost no similarities, the author put me squarely in her situation and it wasn‘t a pleasant feeling. #nyrbbookclub
@vivastory @Leftcoastzen

Thoroughly enjoyed this story of a young woman searching for her mother. Following Tropical Storm Irene in Vermont, it appears her mother has been swept away in the flooding. The author touches on many topics: addiction, inhabitants of communes and the extended families that result, a hidden Abenaki heritage, the beauty and destructive power of nature, mother/daughter splits and discoveries, and of generations of women lovingly caring for others.

This wasn‘t quite what I was expecting but I admit I went in cold. What I am leaving with is finally understanding what a prosperity church is all about. I didn‘t realize that‘s what those mega churches are all about. There are a number of problems with their thinking, not the least of which is that if you have cancer it‘s your own fault. She highlights how that affected her throughout her treatment.

Well over a decade ago, this book introduced me to Medjugorje, a holy site where Mary‘s presence is ever-present. At a time when I was looking for the Divine Feminine, Donofrio‘s book gave me just what I needed. Since then, Mother Mary has had a major impact in my life in large and small ways. Finally, after years of wishing I could go to Medjugorje, I leave later this week for a spiritual pilgrimage.

What I appreciated: while the physical brutality of slavery is noted, it‘s the emotional brutality that Coates focuses on. The devastation of having your spouse and children sold, the riches acquired through the work and sale of you and your loved ones. The book had a bit more magical realism to it than I expected but it works. I have also realized that I have an elementary knowledge of Harriet Tubman and want to research her in greater depth.

I was looking for pictures of water for this post. Came across a photo of two of my grandkids, cousins, this summer. Well they‘re close to water! 😀 But very far removed from the reality of this book I‘m reading. Holy Toledo. When I‘m not reading I‘m thinking about the characters and just want to get back to it. Coates has me completely wrapped up in the story.

Because of the long line of library patrons waiting to listen to this I only had enough time to read the first and last third of the book. Missed the entire part about the power of dreams. However, what I heard was interesting and informative enough that I‘ll get back in the queue. Now I know why melatonin never worked for me - it only informs your body that it‘s time to sleep. It doesn‘t actually help you fall asleep.

I listened to this for the first time and I can see how this book could have blown the roof off in 1963. I venture to say it still can. I need to listen to this a second time to really catch all the points that Baldwin highlights.

Need I mention just how much I miss her? How much I miss her partner? We were so fortunate, weren‘t we? I‘m so glad she wrote her memoir, allowing us to know in even greater detail the trajectory of her life. She is a woman of beauty, strength, and grace.

“This country has failed its children, August, failed its own claims about democracy and humanity. The American Dream, in particular, sometimes seems more like a ghost haunting our way of thinking than like a sacred contract worth signing toward some future.” Amen to that.

#Vermont

I understand complaints folks had with this book: her frequent conversation with her never-to-be-born child being the most discussed. However, I found this book to be outstanding in outlining class issues, naming them directly and providing historical details. Reagan did a number on the working class and for years people have voted against their own economic salvation. She did a good job telling her family‘s story which couldn‘t have been easy.

Received this ARC through Librarything. Included in the package was this bumper sticker. That‘s getting put on my car pronto. 💕💕

Quotes by Harjo and Berry. (Sorry if the type is too small for some to read.) A great beginning to a book as far as I‘m concerned. A Vermonter writes about a disappearance following Tropical Storm Irene. While this is fiction, the storm and a disappearance definitely happened. The thought was a young man was swept away. He was never found and I often think of him.

(Across the street from my house/those trees are bright red, though they appear to be orange in this photo!) Whitehead does a great job with this story, one that is horrific in detail. It brought to mind stories circulating about a Catholic orphanage in my neck of the woods. It‘s important that these events are placed in front of the public, but it‘s getting harder to take in the information. I really need to know there is good in the world.

An easy-peasy (that‘s a technical term, obviously) read. 😀 A widow who feels guilty for not mourning the loss of her husband and a major league pitcher who has the yips (a truly technical term). A gentle romance novel with no big surprises but it was a welcome pause in my reading journey.

The Litsy synopsis states Anthony Marra fans would like this book and I 💕 Marra. This novel is written in the same style as The Tsar of Love and Techno and has background stories similar to others written by Marra. Phillips weaves and blends stories to bring together a rich chorus of characters. The main theme, the disappearance of two young children and how it affects all involved throughout the course of a year, was a very satisfying read.

The National Book Award list has arrived. Please, please let Disappearing Earth win. Okay, fine, the only other book I read on the list was Trust Exercise. I have the others in my pile waiting to be read. But still.... please let Disappearing Earth win. https://lithub.com/the-2019-national-book-award-finalists-are/

#Vermont Keith Edmunds Photography

Today I heard Elton John's 'Ballad of a Well-Known Gunman' as I was driving through the brilliant foliage of Vermont on a deserted road. It brought this book immediately to mind. There is a section in the book where a gunman hides in the mountains and this was the Vermont image that I had in my mind as I read it. The book clearly has been dogging me since I finished it. I'm double-thumbs-upping it.

4.5 Stars. It‘s rare that I read westerns, but for some reason I chose to read this one. It kept me riveted from start to finish. The story of an orphan, a young woman who must pass as a man as she pursues her brother, a wanted gunman.

I haven‘t read anything by Holland but I heard her read some short stories last night and they sure were good. Her responses to other writers were thoughtful and encouraging.

#VermontStudioCenter

My abbreviated horoscope for today. Seems like very good advice.

Somehow the number generator that the Book Cougars podcast hosts used picked me!! Love surprises in the mail.

John Fusco wrote the screenplays for Crossroads, Young Guns, Young Guns II, Thunderheart, Hidalgo, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron and The Highwaymen, among others. He is also the creator of the Netflix series Marco Polo. He lives 4 miles away from me. He and his 11-piece band played the blues at our tiny Rocktoberfest event. I couldn‘t believe how good they were! He sounds like Randy Newman.

I was grumpy going into this book. Quindlen has made a fortune talking about her life and for some reason that fact was bugging me. But she‘s a smart lady and I‘m a grandmother, so, okay, I‘ll check it out. Turns out she taught me a thing or two and did it with humor and a dose of kindness. Any grandmother would appreciate what she has to say. Here is Gracie May who popped a squat to talk about the sun spots on the sidewalk. Grandkids are 💕💕.

Of course everyone - men and women - should read this. I was saddened, though, by the fact that this is the exact same message that those of my generation were proclaiming in the 70‘s and 80‘s. The professional reviewers were so enthusiastic that I thought the essay might carry some hidden key that made all the difference to our struggle. It does not.

Another honor for Alison. Merriam Webster recognizes the Bechdel Test.

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/merriam-webster-adds-bechdel-test-to-its-dic...

It‘s my three year anniversary on Litsy. In that time Captain Adorable had grown as well. Here he is now, clairvoyantly wearing a unicorn with wings outfit for the parade which, for some reason, also included unicorns. (Confused yet? I sure was.) Of course the Velocireader shirt from Out of Print and a homemade necklace completed the ensemble. Thank you Litsy friends for three great years.

I really enjoyed this book. Kagge writes about walking, which would seem to be a simple topic, but he has a lot to say. He adds the thoughts of other philosophers to round out the topic. If you need inspiration to get off the couch this book will help. However, I believe he would tell you to leave the earbuds at home.

On a personal note, one of my kids saw this photo and noted he looked like at least one of my past love interests. 😂😂

As a follow up to my last post. “In Whalen, Minnesota (population 62), folks had always wanted to have a parade but couldn‘t figure out a way to do it in a town less than two blocks long. They decided to have a “stand-still parade,” wherein the color guard ... marching bands, floats, horseback riders, and fire trucks (from other towns since Whalen didn‘t have any) stood still when the parade started and the crowd walked around the parade.” 😂😂😂

The parade in our town is an adventure. Down the Main Street, interruptions galore, antique cars that stall, horses that don‘t want to move forward. Then it turns around and comes back again. All in the space of 15 minutes. 😂😂😂 As I waited for the parade to move forward I began to read my NYRB book. I looked up as I heard the crowd cheering - unicorns! I love this little village. It‘s just too cute for words.

I‘ve had many a sleepless night lately in which to read the random thoughts of this woman. I have to say that while it‘s a bit of a chore to read, there are passages that stun me. I see myself so clearly in her descriptions of the malcontent, of the snarky observer, of the person looking for meaning. I‘ve also known so many who are strident in their communist political views, yet end up living their lives like the rest of the “placid” masses.

On the plus side, I enjoyed the audio. However, I must have been living under a rock because I had no idea it was yet another book about World War II (can we stop now?) and I didn‘t realize it was a young adult novel until I was almost done. That being said, it highlighted an event that I was unaware of. The author‘s note at the end was interesting and informative.

Michelle‘s description of the date that she & her husband had in New York 4 months into the Presidency was lovely. Then she mentioned how the Republicans went into overdrive saying how costly and extravagant it was to the taxpayers. How hypocritical, considering what we know about how the current occupant of that position spends our tax dollars. Not a peep from the Republicans. Golf anyone? Sorry to interject politics here, but I‘m infuriated.

I often turn to Emmanuel‘s two books when I need to remember that every moment of my life I am offered the opportunity to choose between love or fear. “Fear tells you, “I want to make you safe.” Love says, “You ARE safe.”

#inspiration
#selfimprovementsept

Not directly related to books, but more related to a passion that many of us share: the gift of music. I spent Friday night with 50,000 people at Fenway Park singing with The Who. Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Ringo‘s son playing drums, and a huge orchestra behind them. The concert was beyond my wildest dreams. Luckily there are videos on YouTube so I can relive the moment. 😀 If they come your way, I encourage you to experience the magic.

“Journeys of discovery are not something you start doing, but something you gradually stop doing.” Leander and Gracie exploring with their lawnmowers.

At the end of July, the lovely George Hodgman committed suicide. He had been a well respected editor and wrote a terrific book about returning home to care for his mother. He would occasionally comment on my Facebook posts and for some reason I felt very close to him. He was funny and cared so much about so much. Yesterday I realized I hadn‘t heard from him and in looking him up I learned of his death. I‘m so sad that he needed to leave us.

I‘ve never read one of his books but I understand he‘s popular. 😀 A Vermonter as well. 💕💕 Anyone want to come to Vermont for the foliage and the book talk?