My Reading Blog

First, there was one and then another and yet another Could they get together? The sky darkened, the wind blew A clamp of thunder A streak of lightening Would it just blow over? A SPLAT and then another and yet another Oh, please let it rain The trees cried, their leaves stretched out looking heavenward. More SPLATS and then the sky opened up Rain came pouring down The trees, plants, grass and animals said, "Thank You" It came for a while and quenched the earth. Not an end to the drought, but a drink for today. Refreshing and cleansing. Thank you, God

Each day is pretty much the same:     I get up at 5:00           Turn on the computer and c heck my e-mails                    Play my words in my games of Scrabble & Words With Friends                            Read my devotions and Bible                                    Meditate and Pray     By 6:00, I am exercising            By 6:30, I have my cup of coffee and read the paper, work the crossword and Jumble                    Have breakfast                            Take Max for a walk                       ...

Goodreads Summary:  "When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm. Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to me...

Goodreads Summary:  "Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars. Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had."  A well written book about friendship, forgiveness, love and a topic that has caused many people much grief.  I had a hard time believing that Meredith didn't know anything about what her husband was doing, but as the book progressed, I realized that she was a very gullible and accepting pe...

Even though it's a couple days early, I want to honor my Mom in today's slice.  Thursday (7/19) would have been her 94th birthday, but she passed on 23 years ago.  She was a remarkable woman - her life was not an easy one, but she always made the best of everything.  Her mother died at the early age of 33, leaving my Mom (14), her brother (12) and her sister (4).  During that era, it was natural for my Mom to quit school and take care of the house, her father and raise her siblings.  Mom never got past the 6th grade, but yet she was one of the wisest people that I know. She always had a smile on her face and had compassion and love for everyone.  Her faith in God was her number one priority and God worked through her in everything she did.  She never complained about "how bad life" had been for her.  She accepted it, moved on and tried to make things better for her family and friends. Even after several bouts with cancer and when she was rea...

All of weather related tragedies that have occurred during the past few weeks, which have caused power outages, have brought back memories of January, 2009 and the ice storm that hit northern Arkansas.  We can truly relate to those who have been without power for the past week or more. On that Monday in January, 2009, my hubby said "We have to get prepared for the storm that they are predicting.  We need to get more wood cut and in the garage, we need to make a tent over the fireplace (we have high vaulted ceilings), we need to get water" - on and on his list went.  I gave him this look that said "You've got to be kidding!".  We worked all morning getting things prepared.  I still thought he was crazy. Later that afternoon, the rain came and then the temperatures dropped and then... THE POWER WENT OFF.  Now we have an "all electric house", which means no heat, no lights, no cooking.  We thought it'll be on soon - we turned on the emergency ra...

Book Cover:  " What if everything you thought you knew turned out to be a lie?  After a layoff and months of struggling, Alice Humphrey finally lands her dream job managing a new art gallery in Manhattan's trendy Meatpacking District.  According to Drew Campbell, the well-heeled corporate representative who hires her, the gallery is a passion project for it's anonymous, wealthy and eccentric owner.  Her friends think it sounds too good to be true, but Alice sees an opportunity to make a name for herself beyond the shadow of her famous father, an award-winning and controversial film maker. Everything is perfect until the morning Alice arrives at work to find the gallery gone - the space stripped bare as if it had never been there - and Drew Campbell's dead body on the floor.  Overnight, Alice's dream job has vanished, and she finds herself at the center of a police investigation, with the evidence mounting against her.  The phone number Drew gave her links...

Goodreads summary:  "An engrossing, epic American drama told from four distinct perspectives, spanning the first major wave of Irish immigration to New York through the end of the Civil War.   Four unique voices; two parallel love stories; one sweeping novel rich in the history of nineteenth-century America. This remarkable debut draws from the great themes of literature—famine, war, love, and family—as it introduces four unforgettable characters. Ethan McOwen is an Irish immigrant whose endurance is tested in Brooklyn and the Five Points at the height of its urban destitution; he is among the first to join the famed Irish Brigade and becomes a celebrated war photographer. Marcella, a society girl from Spain, defies her father to become a passionate abolitionist. Mary and Micah are slaves of varying circumstances, who form an instant connection and embark on a tumultuous path to freedom.       All four lives unfold in two beautiful love stories, which ...

Good Read Summary:  "Starting middle school brings all the usual challenges - until the unthinkable happens, and Fern and her family must find a way to heal. Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible. It seems as though everyone in her family has better things to do than pay attention to her: Mom (when she's not meditating) helps Dad run the family restaurant; Sarah is taking a gap year after high school; and Holden pretends that Mom and Dad and everyone else doesn't know he's gay, even as he fends off bullies at school. Then there's Charlie: three years old, a "surprise" baby, the center of everyone's world. He's devoted to Fern, but he's annoying, too, always getting his way, always dirty, always commanding attention. If it wasn't for Ran, Fern's calm and positive best friend, there'd be nowhere to turn. Ran's mantra, "All will be well," is soothing in a way that nothing else seems to be. And when Ran says it, Fern can a...

Goodreads summary:  " I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances? R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels." I had seen this book title on Michelle's blog and read some of the reviews.  I don't usually read YA books, but Michelle said it was really good.  I agree - ...

It's hard to believe, but our two weeks with "our girls" is over.  We had such a delightful time (along with some challenges - Grandma & Grandpa aren't use to being around 2 year olds 24/7!). They were great little travelers down here and back home - I am still on the lookout for the excavators, tractors, cows, horses, all different kinds of trucks and of course, Jeeps.  The list is endless as to what the girls noticed. They got so excited to see th e deer in our yard - sometimes up to 8 at a time.  One day the faun visited and laid down to rest - Momma was no where to be seen, although I'm sure she was nearby.  M & P always wanted to know "where deer go?"   There were our visits to the lake  - they had fun playing in the sand and splashing Grandpa.  M tried to blow bubbles, but never quite got her mouth close enough to the water.  P cautiously sat and filled her bucket with sand.  Neither one of them wanted to leave. We hav...