05/31/20
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General
Posted by:
Ann @ 2:54 pm
We are finally in the green phase in Northwestern Pennsylvania. I have an appointment to get my hair cut and my nails done tomorrow morning. Yeah!! Both appointments are greatly needed.
This month the weather has been a bit freaky in our part of the world. We had three snow falls in the first two weeks of May, followed by lots of rainy windy days and then two days near 90 degrees. As if all the disruptions brought on by Covid-19 to normal life as we knew it weren’t enough! Today is a cool sunny day. Amazingly all the stores sold out of window air conditioners rather quickly after just two hot humid days.
I have mostly neglected my current writing project, we have a large lawn and I’ve been very busy mowing, mulching and potting flowers. Add to that a health crisis with my husband and one scary night sitting in the E.R. waiting room, the days flew by. He is doing well enough now, but as my brother reminds me, after three score and ten, we’re all living on borrowed time! We celebrate lots of family birthdays in May. And I can’t help it, Mother’s Day makes me sad since my mother has passed ten years ago.
I have read a few good books this month. Two of them were technically Young Adult novels. (What does my little brother know about borrowed time when I’m young-in-heart enough to read YA novels!?)
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. 2016, Historical Fiction. Set in 1945, fate brought four refugees together as the Soviets plundered their way through the forests of Northern Europe towards Germany. The four main characters were well-developed, their personal tragedies threaded through the novel in such a compelling manner that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. It was also the story of sinking of the Wilhelm Gustoff, 9,000 people died, many of them young children, the worst Maritime accident in history. This was such a good book that I want to read more books by this prolific writer.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. 2020. Fiction. (The prequel to the Hunger Games series.) I loved the Hunger Games novels and then the movies. This novel does not disappoint, the characters and plot are well-developed with many unexpected turns. Another page turner.
Dead Man’s Bones by Susan W. Albert. 2005. Fiction. Book #13 China Bayles Mysteries.This is a free standing novel, it is not necessary to read them in order. The author grabs the reader on the first page and never lets go, the intrigue and innuendoes are plentiful and fun.The plot and characters are well developed with surprises when you least suspect them. Moves female sleuths to new level. I have read three other books by this prolific author and plan to read many more.
Blue Marlin by Lee Smith. 2020. Fiction. A witty and wise novella about a 13 year-old girl who goes to Key West with her parents on a physician prescribed geographic fix for her parents marriage. Her father ended his lusty affair and the estranged family find their way with the help of Cary Grant, Tony Curtis and a few friendly strippers. A good book!
White Trash, The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg. 2016. Nonfiction. The author surveys political rhetoric and policy and popular literature, and scientific theories over four hundred years. She attempts to destroy assumptions about America’s class-free society-where liberty and hard work were meant to ensure real social mobility. There were numerous statements throughout the book that showed the author’s bias but overall it was certainly a worthwhile read.
We only watched one good movie this month, Knives Out, for the second time. We enjoyed it even more this time! Then we shared it with friends before returning the DVD to Netflix. We also watched the series on PBS, World on Fire about WW2’s effect on several European families. It was very good and we look forward to season 2 next fall.
Stay well, my friends. And please do keep reading.
Later, Ann
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