Book Review - Quick Takes

This book was way sad but immensely readable. It's about the Salem witch trials...kinda. The story centers on one family whose mother is accused and imprisoned on charges of witchcraft. Most of her children, including her oldest daughter who narrates the story, are imprisoned also. Basically the mother is an opinionated woman who refuses to obey the religious town leaders. The book is really well written and not melodramatic in the least.




This book is written by the author of the 'Shopaholic' book series. Apparently she publishes under two different names. I can't begin to understand why. Look, these books aren't going to win the Booker Prize or anything but they are damn entertaining. It's summer. I need something to read by the pool. Don't judge me.




I read this while Kevin and I were on vacation in Vancouver. Needless to say, we came home and bought a puppy. It's not like that pet psychic lady from TV. This guy just makes the point that dogs are animals snd treating them like dolls or children is probably gonna backfire on you. He also thinks that if you need to keep your pet in a crate for 20 hours a day while you work, live and sleep then perhaps, your life is too full for a dog. Don't get mad at me. Cesar said it.



This is the follow up to Pillars of the Earth. I really liked them both. Be warned. They are both WAY long.



This is another sequel. The second installment of the Spellman novels. This one was even funnier than the first. Seriously, read them.

Quoted

"Between excessive citizen activism and excessive trust or passivity, the former is far preferable to the latter."

Glenn Greenwald

Watermelon!

Michael Jackson - Rest in Peace

I was ten years old. I remember being mesmerized. My little brother and I bought the Thriller LP and played it until my parents threatened to rip off their ears. I wish he hadn't taken a turn toward crazytown in the last few decades. This is how I will choose to remember him.

Kate and Jon

I admit that I'm overly interested in this couple's marriage. I'm not proud of that. In my mind, I have written about seventy furious blog posts regarding the breakup of this marriage. Please don't tell me it's none of my business. I'm fully aware of that. But I also know the long, painful road that these two are about to take. They won't be going alone. And I am just so friggin weary of people telling me how resilient kids are and how it's so much better for kids to have parents that are 'happy', blah, blah, blah.

Rabbi Shmuley says it better than I ever could so I'll shut up and just politely request that you read his take on the subject.

I’m looking at the divorce itself. I’m a child of divorce and the idea that divorce doesn’t affect kids is a lie, a terrible lie, which is parroted in our society because of how commonplace it has become.

Go read the whole article. It's ok if you disagree. I would love to be wrong about this subject.

Quoted

"A jackass can kick down a barn but it takes a carpenter to build one."

-Sam Rayburn (D-TX)

Book Review

Look, I think we all know that nobody appreciates a Tudor story more than me. My fascination with Henry VIII is long established. It's hard to disappoint me with this subject matter. This author somehow managed to bore me nonetheless.

Obviously it's a great story. But Alison Weir took a wrong turn somewhere along the way. Basically she is a historian. She has written lots of nonfiction books and the Tudors are one of her main areas of expertise. I'm wondering why she didn't just stick with nonfiction.

The main problem is that this novel is all basically true. From what I can tell, the only thing that makes this book 'fictional' is the dialogue that she creates. It's a fantastic story but Weir didn't create it, she just embellished it. Honestly, if all that is necessary to write a novel is to take a real event or person and add some made up conversations, you should expect my first novel very soon. It will either be about an English preschool teacher who marries the Prince of Wales or about a young black guy who becomes president of the United States.

Scenes from Kline Manor

The girls move the living room furniture and do a hip hop dance lesson from our cable's ON DEMAND selection.


Kaylee: "Savannah, stop breathing so hard. You're making me nervous."

Katie : "I'm having chest pains."

Quoted

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people."

Eleanor Roosevelt

A long walk in Stanley Park

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Quoted

"As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever."

Clarence Darrow

Book Review

Wally Lamb...

I feel honored to read his novels as they are published because I fully believe that he is the John Steinbeck of the 21st century. Someday my grandkids will read these books. I predict whole college courses will focus on his novels. He's just that damn good.

I read this book while Kevin was on a business trip. I had to. I knew once I started it that the home and family would be ignored until I finished it and I was right. Luckily, Lamb only publishes a book every 5 years or so.

I admit that when it comes to books I may be overly effusive. But I don't consider it hyperbole to say that this book is one of the great American novels. It's the story of Caelum Quirk and his wife, Maureen. They both work at Columbine High School. The story begins just before the shooting there and ends at present day. Lamb's charcters are fictional but the events that he uses as a backdrop are all real.

As I read this book, I began to think that Lamb was overdoing it by including all these events...Columbine, 9/11, Afghanistan, Irag, Katrina. But then I realized, we lived through all these things. Why shouldn't his character?

Lamb is a master at creating a backstory that is often more interesting than his main narrative. In this novel, his backstory is of Caelum's family, specifically his great grandmother, and their involvement with women's prison reform. I know that sounds boring as hell, but I assure you, it ain't.

Read it and weep.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Deep Thought

Just because you can blog every ridiculous thought that goes through your mind doesn't necessarily mean that you should.

The Four Seasons

Let's just say that you are travelling. And let's assume that you desire accomodations that appeal to a sophisticated tourist such as yourself. Look no further my friend. This hotel will hook you up.

You need a platter of giant pears?
They got 'em.

You need maid service twice a day in case you are too stupid to figure out how to turn down your own bed?

You're in the right place.


But let me introduce you to the most important amenity in this room.

The bathroom telephone



Now I realize that I'm just a boring housewife who has never needed to take a call while on the toilet but look closely at that phone. Did you notice the 'Hold' button? Let me just say this. If you happen to need a phone in your hotel bathroom, I don't understand you but I also won't judge you either. But if you need two separate phone lines in your bathroom, you have issues that need addressing. I'm just sayin...

Hermitage Junior Docent

Kaylee's class had the opportunity to take a field trip to the Hermitage. Some of the kids voluntered to participate in the Junior Docent program. Of course, my diva deluxe drama queen superstar, Kaylee couldn't pass up a chance to dress up and perform.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Happy Birthday Dylan!

18 years ago, Dylan was born and I was graduating from high school.

Now he's all grown up and nekkid on my blog. Life is an interesting little journey, ain't it?

You're legal now buddy. Don't do anything that might result in the need for a bail bondsmen.

The Graduate

My baby...all grown up and graduating from high school.

Just kidding. Dylan was 15 when I started dating Kevin so I guess his mom and dad get to take credit for him. I'm still proud of him though.

One down. Six to go :)