Lost Letters...

I've just finished reading Lost Letters, Neil Mulligan.  What a nice story line.  It was predictable, no earth shattering revelations, just a love story with no blood and guts or lewd sexual scenes, or fowl language.  I love that the author was accurate in his religious facts, and  historical facts as well, even if the story line is fictitious.  I love the mother and daughter relationship, and most certainly loved the "love story" portion.  These love stories really do happen, there are people in the world that only fall in love once, and are faithful to their love.  I don't read much romance, and I wouldn't say this was a romance, the only mystery left in this book, for me, was What happened to Tommy?  I'd have wanted to know.  For a very calm, nice read please give it a go.

Up next: 

For Your Tomorrow: The Way of an Unlikely Soldier by Murray, Melanie.

 

Lost Letters completed my What's in a Name Challenge of 2013, this is a new author for me too, I also bought this book and read it for that challenge.  

Teaser Tuesday... Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English

My Teaser today is not from a book, it's from the mailman. He's such a tease. I deduced that a large envelope meant some kind of offer for further study, I phoned my eldest to discuss, and we concluded at 10 p.m. (yes I waited all day, the tease arrived unusually early) Yes, my son received a large envelope with a return address that was most acceptable. (Usually it's Amazon.ca, he orders a great # of books.) Since it's a federal offense to open mail not addressed to you,or so my boys keep telling me,  and I really wanted him to get the good news first, I had to watch it sitting there ALL DAY.  YES it is good news.  He's been offered admission to a Graduate Studies Program.  WOO HOO! his mother is delighted I think he is too. I will enjoy yet another first day of school.  After grade eight they really didn't want to pose for pictures, but knew their mother would nag the cr_p out of them if they didn't.  WOO HOO again.

On the other front of reading, I've finished reading Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English, Natasha Solomon.  I REALLY enjoyed this story.  I don't know why I have a link to refugees, and England but I do. Perhaps it's my parents being refugees and the many stories we listened to about their encounters throughout those years in their lives we will never really understand, or perhaps it's a previous life I'm remembering (time travel you know).   I loved all the characters and the story line delightful.  I know how Sadie felt trying to remember her mother and father, and holding on to the past that was so sacred to her.  How brave refugees are,imagine leaving everything you know to trade it in for a life that you thought would be a whole lot safer and happier and then to find out it was not all that you thought it would be AND never being able to go back. I remember some forty years ago, when my parents first returned to their homeland for a short visit.  I was with my mom, she hadn't seen her brother since he was twelve and here he was middle aged, she knew little about them and yet the visit seem to flow together as though they had been together all those years.  She darn near died when she saw the shambles her family home was in.  WAR is such a waste of everything.  My parents, just like the Rosenblums, rebuilt their lives and became proud Canadians, but one wonders?

I read Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English as part of my Regan Arthur Challenge
I'm also reading off my shelves this summer, no new books for at least June, July and August and I'd like to say part of the War Through the Generations Challenge WWII, but I'm a couple of years late on that one, so we'll say it's part of my What's in a Name.


Up next, The Wisdom of Hair, Kim Boykin.

Saturday Snapshot... Just dreamin' of spring

No these are not up yet, but I had to remind myself how great they looked.  I don't think I'll have any this year, those darn squirrels.  I could understand if they needed to eat them, but they don't they just pull them out and leave them to not grow.  UGH!  I was at the cemetery the other day and someone had brought a lovely flower box full of these beauties and here's me chasing the rodents away and digging them in deeper.  In my back flower bed I put chicken wire around my flower bed and it seems to have worked, but I can't do that everywhere or I'll be picking my letter carrier out of the wires.  Wouldn't Canada Post like that?  What's he doing cutting through my flower bed, I've already told him to stay out, every time he thinks I'm home he does the all the way around route, but I have evidence to the contrary, who does he think he's messing with, I watch CSI.  Anyway hope the weather where you are is wonderfully sunny and springlike and the blooms are a plenty. 

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce from at home with books

On the reading front, I finished The Burning Air, Erin Kelly.  HOLY SMOKE this is definitely going on my list of top ten.  If you like a little mystery and a whole lot of thriller, you must read this one.  Love the character development and the story line was just so gobsmacking in your face,   I'm sure the look on my face made people on the train move to another compartment.  BRAVO Erin Kelly.

On the creative front, I finished my princess chair.  The group have decided it should be called the preparation H chair, when I remember to take a photo, you'll understand why.  I won't have it home for a couple of weeks, it will be in the booth at the Creative Festival along with my cork chair and stool.  Now the request is to write up a little journal of the two transformations and the story behind them.  And I'm finally getting around to making a couple of cushions from some gifted embroidery, my aunt created.  I'm going for a McKenzie Child's look, with a little wild animal print,  the clerk at the fabric store was looking at me kinda strange.

Sunday Salon... Among Others

Well I finished Among Others, Jo Walton.  Well, I'm not sure what the criteria for a book award is but clearly I was not on the judging team.  I liked it, don't get me wrong, but award winning? not sure about that.  It could have been a bit more, heck a lot more.  I was expecting the end, but the middle seemed to be a list of books I have not read, I started to write them all down, gave up after eight.  Since I hadn't read any of the books being discussed I found it difficult to compare them, I loved that father and daughter had these discussions.  How special.  I would have like to know a little more of the background of the characters, was she a twin or not?  What was the car accident? I was half expecting Mor to be unstable and that we would discover she had an illusion of having a twin.  The witch mother thing wasn't developed enough either, and beyond that it was a teenage romance. 

In short Among Others (no idea where that title came from) is the story of a teenage girl who has come to live with her estranged father, after having had some kind of accident, which apparently killed her twin, and left her disabled.  Apparently she escaped her mother...? She remains in contact with her mothers family and maternal grandfather.  Magic is practiced here as is the strong discussion of Science Fiction books. Lists and lists of them.  She is enrolled in a private school where we see her develop some superficial relationships, and where she falls in love with a much older boy.  I found it somewhat disturbing that after only two weeks into the boy/girl relationship Mor was ready for a sexual relationship, she was planning contraception, but I'm thinking she's fifteen! I know, I know statistic show I'm naive.   Mor (the young teenage girl) has escaped from her witch mother... this is a cloud hanging over the story, that is never really made clear, to me at least.  I love the connection that grows with her dad and her dad's father, somewhat surprised at her relationship with her dads sisters, but... Did I like the book, sort of, but not as much as I would have thought.

What else did I do this week? The usual, laundry and cooking.  Almost no painting, very little furniture restoration, and I know I have fabric for my princess chair, but can't find it.   It's been a cold week, and I'm struggling to fight this cold thing off... Just resting and watching the Oscars tonight, as soon as I stop yelling at the T.V. for Downton Abbey ending, Can you believe it! What are they thinking. This isn't a soap opera.... What's up next?  The Bleak mid- Winter, Julia Spencer. I thought this was a suitable choice for this very snowy/cold winter week ahead.  What was that ground hog seeing?  Have a good week.

What's in a Name...

Welcome to the sixth What's in a Name challenge This challenge was originated by a young blogger named Annie, who hosted it for two years. When she decided to give up on being the host, Beth Fish took over the challenge.

I credit this challenge with being one of the prime reasons for my becoming a blogger, so I am thrilled to be its new host.

Here's How It Works

Between January 1 and December 31, 2013, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title:i.e. Deep down True, The Girl Below, The Diva Digs up the Dirt, my choice: The Light Between the Oceans
2. A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title:i.e. Loose Lips Sink Ships, The Knife of Never Letting Go, Breadcrumbs  my choice A Red Herring without Mustard
3. A book with a party or celebration in the title:i.e.  A Feast for Crows, A Wedding in Haiti, Cocktail Hour under the Tree of Forgetfulness my choice Strangers at the Feast
4. A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title:i.e. Burning for Revenge, Fireworks over Toccoa, Catching Fire, The girl who played with fire (hopefully, it's awfully long)
5. A book with an emotion in the title:i.e. Baltimore Blues, Say You're Sorry, Dreams of Joy, my choice Mr. Rosenblum dreams in English.
6. A book with lost or found (or equivalenti.e. in the title: The Book of Lost Fragrances, The World We Found, A Discovery of Witches)my choice, Lost Girl

The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.
For more information click here.