Book Reviews

 Here are a few things I've been reading recently.

Happy Wife by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores, Adult fiction, 2025

What it's about: Nora marries an older man and becomes part of the rich elite in a Florida town. Or I should say, is rejected by the other rich, gossipy women of the town. Her husband ends up missing, and she has to solve his disappearance to save herself.

What did I think? I generally don't read society, relationship novels, but the suspense of what happened to Nora's husband made this an interesting read.

What did others think? It was a pick for the Read with Jenna book club, and there are still holds on it at the library even though it's been out for a year. Good Reads and Amazon give it a B+.*

* Goodreads and Amazon have different rating systems, so I generalized with letter grades.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick, Adult historical fiction, 2025

What it's about: In 1963, four women in a new neighborhood form a book club and read The Feminine Mystique. It opens their eyes and gives them a new perspective as they navigate the difficulties of their lives. The book does a good job of reminding us of how many fewer privileges women had at that time.

What did I think? At first, I thought the book was a little preachy and wondered whether it would go beyond the women's rights issues. But soon, the characters and their lives became center stage, and the challenges women faced at that time became just another "character", instead of the main "character". Also, the book has incredible detail in its descriptions of the products, styles, etc., of the 1960s. I found this interesting to a point, but thought there was too much of that at times. However, overall, I enjoyed the book.

What did others think? We read this book in book club, and the club really liked it. It provided for an interesting discussion as others shared the prejudices they had faced as women. The Book Club for Troublesome Women has also appeared on several bestseller lists and in book club picks.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, Adult fiction, 2025

What it's about: 70-something, Sybil, has written letters all of her life to friends, family, authors, politicians, and to anyone and everyone she wants to. We read her letters and learn about her life as a retired attorney and divorced mother with two adult living children and one who died in childhood. She has a degenerative eye disease and is going blind. She also struggles with the fact that she was adopted.

What did I think? I enjoyed the book's letter format and the variety of letters shared, ranging from the mundane to deeply personal, and I enjoyed getting to know Sybil that way. At times, I had to put the book down because of the various traumas that were being described. However, the book had satisfactory endings to the different story threads. I missed reading Sybil's missives when the book ended.

What did others think? The book's popularity spread by word of mouth and is now on many bestseller lists and best-of lists. I was on the wait-list at the library behind hundreds of other people, so locally it is a popular book. One acquaintance said that she has read it three times already. 

The Ghost Writer by Julie Clark, Adult mystery thriller, 2025

What it's about: Olivia is a professional ghost writer who currently can't get a job because of her outspokenness. She accepts a job writing a memoir for her estranged father, who wants to tell the real story of what happened when his two siblings were murdered 50 years ago. He has a degenerative disease that affects him both physically and mentally, including having hallucinations. Olivia has to figure out what is real and what isn't in her father's memories. Tension slowly builds as more things are uncovered and is relentless until the end.

What did I think? This is another book that I wouldn't have picked up on my own because I generally don't read thrillers. However, it was recommended by a friend when I was between books. The Ghost Writer captured me from the beginning and held me to the end. When I had to take a break from reading, I was thinking about it. It's not a happy book and involves much dysfunction and teenage angst, but it is a compelling read.  

What did others think? The book is well reviewed and on the New York Times best seller list.

Until next time... 

Today

Today, I'm going to remember that patience is a virtue.

Last fall, we planted a crepe myrtle tree in our backyard because it brought back fond memories of living along the Gulf Coast. 

This spring, we watched as all of the other trees leafed out, and our crepe myrtle remained bare. We saw that our neighbor's crepe myrtles got leaves while ours remained naked. I was ready to call the nursery where we got the tree and ask for a refund. And then, lo and behold, we saw our first leaves. I guess our tree was just taking a little longer to get used to its new surroundings.

So, today. I will remember this tree and try to practice patience when I start fretting over something that I don't think is happening fast enough.

Thankful Sunday

 I am thankful for my library.

Recently, a friend asked Ward and me to join their Mahjong group. Neither of us had ever played before, so we weren't sure if we wanted to. And then, voila, we discovered that our library was giving beginner Mahjong lessons yesterday.*

So for the free Mahjong lessons (not to mention all of books, movies, etc.), I am thankful.

Until next time...

*We found the game complicated, and Ward's not sure if he wants to play again, but I want to learn more.

This and That

 I think it's time for a little speed blogging. 

So let's see. What's been happening around here lately? 

For the early part of the week, we had a heat wave with temperatures in the 90s. So each morning, we got up and out early to work outside before it got too hot. I have been continuing to plant flowers and veggies, and I think I have filled most of the beds and pots. Now, to keep everything watered until it becomes established. With the heat every day, that took a lot of watering.

Allium moly. This didn't need watering. It is well-established.

However, last night we had a storm and a cold front come through. I heard at exercise today that we are going to have 10 straight days of rain. I guess I don't have to worry about watering; I'll have to worry about things rotting. Once again, I'm glad that I'm not a farmer and at the mercy of the weather for my livelihood. I appreciate all the people who are.

I planted some old seeds I got at a seed swap. We'll see if any of them come up. They are all perennials, and I will move them around if I have any success.

And speaking of exercise, you may remember that one of my goals when I retired a year ago was to get more regular exercise. I reported on my progress here for a while as I was trying to establish routines. I am happy to report that I am still exercising about 4-5x/week, with a mix of aerobics, strength training, and stretching. I like the line dancing I do, but still consider the other things not fun. But I do like the social aspect of some of the classes. That makes up for some arduous exercises. 

There goes the timer. It's time to get up from the computer and move to a bigger screen--the TV and watch and old Doris Day and Cary Grant movie. A good wind-down to the evening.

Until next time...

Throwback Thursday

Looking back at my blog during the A-Z Challenge has inspired me to post more things from the past, so here goes my Throwback Thursday plan. Every Thursday, I plan to post something from the past that occurred the same week.

Today's post is a look back to 2011, when we got our first bird feeder. We have had many feeders over the years and many visitors. We have very much enjoyed watching them all. About a year ago, we added the Merlin App to our bird "watching," and that is bringing a new fun aspect to it all.

Presently, we have fewer birds at our feeder than we would like, but there are plenty of birds around enjoying what nature has to offer.

So without further ado, here is the blast from the past. 😀

*********************

May 21, 2011

Our Fine Feathered Friends

Recently, for Ward's birthday, we put up a bird feeder, suet feeder, and bird bath. He wanted to become a bird watcher---at least from our windows. We put out expensive seed and suet and waited for the birds to come. Slowly, but surely, they have been finding their way to our gourmet offering.

However, did I mention the whole family is severely lacking in our understanding of birds? Until the new feeder, I was the advanced one because I could identify both a cardinal and a robin. Ward could spot a blue jay, and Wally and Theodore knew a crow when they saw one. That was about the sum total of it. One time, my sister, a longtime birder, took me birdwatching. While she was saying, "Look at the white on the tip of the bird's wing," I was saying, “Which tree?”

After a couple of weeks of watching, we're very proud of our new knowledge. We can now tell you that house finches are our most frequent visitors, the male cardinal doesn't like sharing, and the feeder REALLY swings when a crow lands on it. We can also tell you that we have both pileated and downy woodpeckers enjoying the suet, but neither one seems to resemble Woody Woodpecker. We're still a little confused about all of the little brown and gray birds, but we think we have been visited by a black-capped chickadee, a white-breasted nuthatch, and a house sparrow.

We've also had the ubiquitous visitor to every bird feeder—the squirrel. So far, the “squirrel-proof” feeder is doing its job, but we are enjoying the squirrel's antics as it tries to eat from the suet feeder in all positions. So far, upside down seems to be the favorite. Perhaps it's trying to copy the woodpeckers.

Who knows what we will see next? Maybe it will be something exotic. I just hope that we will be able to recognize it when it comes.

A Footnote: Special thanks to the boys' Aunt Martha—the bird expert who has been a tremendous help in getting us started.