Author: lindacw53

The space between us by thrity umrigar

| lindacw53

The Space Between Us it this month’s book club selection. I’m sure the conversation will be lively since this book raises so many issues about the human condition and our daily struggles.

Bhima is a poor, illiterate woman who works for a rich Parsi family in Bombay, India. She has her own cup for tea that never comes near the rest of the family’s dishes and is forbidden from sitting on any of their furniture. Bhima must squat in the corner when sipping her tea. Sera, the wealthy employer, although living what appears to be a comfortable life, is trapped in her own brand of misery. When Bhima’s granddaughter, Maya becomes pregnant, neither woman expects the painful hand they are both about to be dealt.

The author’s prose is gorgeous, immersing the reader into the smells, the congestion, the poverty, the power that is the Bombay. She also clearly depicts the life lived by those with wealth and the clear division from those who are trapped in the slum. The differences between the two are made very clear in the reader’s mind. The Space Between Us paints a stunning picture of the racial divide of poverty versus wealth, education versus illiteracy, and the divide of gender, men versus women. This story will allow you to feel a range of emotion and it will touch your heart. It will make you think about what you can do to make life better for all of us in this often angry world.

South of happily by g a anderson

| lindacw53

Recently I participated in the Sunshine State Book Festival in Gainesville,Florida thinking I was going to sell the dozens of books I carted all that way in my trunk. Never having done this before, I learned a lot about the ups and downs of independent book sales. What I didn’t know and never expected was all the talented and friendly women I met and that I now am happily to call my friends.

The author of South of Happily, G. A. Anderson was my table mate. I became interested in her book from hearing her describe it to interested book browsers. Since I’m strictly a Kindle reader I didn’t lighten her load of paperbacks but ordered it instead on my kindle.

Katy Kiss is the daughter of Hungarian immigrants who run a Hungarian restaurant in a small Florida beach town. Katy’s marriage has taken a free fall off a cliff. She’s never been known for making good decisions and this is one of them. Dylan is a scumbag. When she secretly files for divorce, the shit really hits the fan. Thankfully her best friend, Jesse, is a tough, sharp tongued lawyer who doesn’t waste any time reeling Katy in.

While the divorce escapades are in full swing, Katy’s parents leave her in charge of the restaurant while they set off to enjoy their retirement in exotic lands unknown. They end up in their own version of craziness half way across the world. Katy is torn in a thousand different directions between her no good husband, her wack a doodle parents and a secret past.

South of Happily is funny, witty and sharp. I want to give this Indie author the spotlight for a change. You may not find this book in your local library or bookstore but Amazon has a plethora of Indie books waiting for you to read and enjoy, including South of Happily.

The one hundred years of lenni and margot by marianne cronin

| lindacw53

I want to start by saying this book is a delightful. Next I will tell you that Lenni is 17 and Margot is 83 and they meet in a hospital. While some readers may think the book is going to be sad, and it is at times, mainly, it’s filled with charm, friendship, love and laughter.

Lenni is a teenager who makes many unlikely friendships while confined to the hospital. Although not religious, one day she ends up in the chapel and meets Father Arthur. Their conversations are priceless, funny and thoughtful. When the hospital decides its patients may benefit from art therapy, Lenni finds she has more in common with the elderly artists than those her own age. It is in art class she meets Margot.

The pair adds their ages and it comes to 100. Then they decide to paint one hundred pictures to celebrate their combined one hundred years of life. Margot is better at painting and Lenni is better at writing so each picture drawn is given a story in Lenni’s diary.

The love they create among the people who cross their paths is heartwarming. The laughter they find among friends is contagious.Please don’t shy away from this title because it’s set in a hospital. Immerse yourself in it and have your heart and soul filled with love and kindness. We need more of that these days, don’t we?

The reading list by Sara Nisha Adams

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I just might have broken out of my slump. My reading slump that is. I saw this title in a magazine with a list of notable new books and since I am always looking at reading lists for something good to read, this title drew me in.

Mukesh is a widower, struggling to find his way without the love of his life by his side. Aleisha is a teenager working in the library during her summer break. It’s just a job since books are not her thing. Mukesh’s wife, Naina, loved books, but lately he’s been sitting in front of the television watching nature documentaries. He wants desperately to find the same connection with his granddaughter his wife had through books. One day he makes his way to the local library looking for recommendations and meets Aleisha.

Let’s say their relationship gets off to a rocky start but with her discovery of a reading list tucked in a book, they both find what they need in their lives. Along the way they find the love and support they both were searching for.

Not everything in this book is hearts and roses. It deals with very serious topics of depression and suicide. The lessons contained in the pages in a short list of books guided these unlikely friends. By the end, I was crying, sad tears and well as happy, love filled tears. For those of you who know me, if a book can make me cry for any reason, it worth the read. Check out The Reading List and check out the books on this special list. You might learn something new and find some new friends along the way.

My sister’s grave by robert dugoni

| lindacw53

One of my dear, book loving, Facebook friends joined in to suggest books by Robert Dugoni. I’m always looking for new authors and titles and many of my friends have also linked up on Goodreads so we can see what each other are reading. I don’t usually select crime thrillers like this one but I love to be helped out of my box in order to try something different. It’s good for the brain.

Tracy Crosswhite has been tormented by her sister’s disappearance for over twenty years. She left her job as a high school chemistry teacher to pursue law enforcement. Now working as a big city detective, her small town roots have never left her mind. Determined to find out what happened she will never stop asking questions about what happened that fateful night the last time she saw her sister.

I’m always fascinated by men who write from the perspective of a female protagonist. While I’m not familiar with the analytical mindset of a woman detective who solves crime for a living, I think the author did a great job of capturing the Tracy’s psyche. This book includes it all. It has a crime at it’s center but also romance, deceit, good guys turned bad and bad guys turned good and a huge blizzard complete with a power outage. The story kept me interested start to finish.

To start the new year, I jumped out of my reading box and I enjoyed it. What genre will get you out of your box? Try something new to you. It just might be the jump start your new year needs.

My book year in review 2023

| lindacw53

It’s been a pretty dull year for books in my life. I read a lot. Goodreads pegs me at 73 books. I targeted 65, like I do every year. The goal remains the same each year since it’s no fun to fail even at reading books. But I will say, 2023 was a what I call my book drought. Nothing seemed to capture my heart in a big way.

Best Historical Novel – The Road Home by Kristin Harmel. This is a short story set in France during Wold War II. I love her full length novels and this short version was no different. It’s not a novel as the category suggests but the best historical piece for me.

Best Mystery – The Cloisters by Katy Hay. This book is full of sinister characters playing off the naivety of the other well formed characters. The story is set in the medieval museum in New York City called the Cloisters. The strangest thing is I spent a lot of time in New York City in my youth and visiting museums was my thing. I’ve never been to the Cloisters so it’s now on my bucket list for sure.

Most Nostalgic – The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg. This is a charming and funny look at a high school reunion. Having attended my 50th high school reunion this year, the story resonated with me. My own reunion was so so so special and I’m glad I reconnected with a class full of wonderful people. This title was pure fun.

Best Non Fiction – The Art Thief by Michael Finkel. All I can say here is that this is a story you won’t believe unless you read the book. Fascinating to say the least!

Best Humor – Brenda’s Beaver Needs a Barber by Bimisi Tayanita. This is book is a great party gift, Secret Santa, retirement, anytime gift. It’s in the children’s section on Amazon but full of adult innuendo which will lead to side splitting laughter. Trust me on this one. Or watch the You Tube video. You won’t be able to stop laughing for a very long time. ROTFL!

Most Frustrating Celebrity Book Club Pick – Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood. This book was a trainwreck from start to finish. How it even got published is a mystery let alone picked as a very public book club selection. I’m sorry I wasted my time on this one.

Most Disappointing – Summer Sisters by Judy Blume tied with The Trackers by Charles Frazier. I happen to have all kinds of sisters, biological, sisters from another mister, sorority sisters so I know a little something about summer sisters. These two didn’t even come close. As for The Trackers, I’m at a loss to even figure out who was tracking who. Both written by well known authors. Both fell far short of expectations. 

Best Overall – If it was written by Joyce Maynard, it should always go to the top of your pile. I loved Under the Influence and The Good Daughters. Both are superbly told family sagas well worth your time. Every title I’ve read by Ms. Maynard has kept me hanging on each and every word. I’ll have to find another to end my book drought in 2024.

There it is. Maybe you’ll find something that piques your interest. Maybe you won’t but it might interest me and my eclectic taste. So let me know what it is. You might help me uncover a winner in next year’s best book list. Happy New Year and happy reading! 

Social Media gone awry

| lindacw53

We all know that one wrong click online will send a slew of ads to our social media accounts for a product we don’t want, don’t need and never will. Trust me I never clicked on an ad for a heated scarf and still I have been targeted. 

First off I live in Florida. Even though there are a few cold days in the winter, it hasn’t snowed in about 40 years. When it’s 40 degrees outside, my friends in Ohio laugh at me if I complain about the cold. They’ve heard the blood thinning excuse far too often. I send them pictures of the blue skies and rainbows. They return pictures of snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Maybe I need to send them a heated scarf.

Secondly, this is Florida. I don’t think I can say that enough. The air conditioner runs 24/7. It’s just a fact of life here between the heat, the pollen, the mosquitos, the blazing sun and the heat, the heat, the heat. I think a heated scarf might put me over the edge even on a cool day.

Thirdly, I’m menopausal. I can sweat profusely on a dime. It will drip down my temples and slide off the end of my nose without warning. I’m told the hot flashes never end and for me that has been true. I sleep every night with a fan on and still I wake up felling like someone dumped a bucket of water on me.

I do not need or want a heated scarf. Just the thought of it turns up my thermostat! I want to be like Jaynie in my latest book. She hides a secret from her best friend, Jill until the very end. You must read it to believe it! 

Now it’s my turn to shamelessly market my own product! Hello Jaynie! is available now for preorder! I promise it will make you laugh! And I’m not that skilled at social media advertising to make it appear on every website you happen to log into! Enjoy!

The Last Phone Booth in Manhattan

| lindacw53

I haven’t read a really good book in a very long time. I guess my selection process needs some tuning up. I’m attracted by covers. This book has a nice one and it’s blue, a color that I’m drawn to. The book was free in the Kindle December read collection. I think maybe the free stuff is dragging me down. Zero cost is quite attractive to me when selecting a book since the library has a long waiting list for all the current books on the best seller list.

Avery Lawrence is a likable enough character even though she’s not the greatest judge of character when it comes to choosing boyfriends. Adam lavishes expensive gifts and a jet setting lifestyle on her so that she gives up her dream of becoming a Broadway star. When the FBI comes to arrest him at their expensive uptown apartment, Avery’s world comes crashing down.

A series of events leads her to the last phone booth in Manhattan. When she picks up the receiver she’s given an address to go to. First she’s led to an old boyfriend Gabe, whom she hasn’t seen in 7 years. Secondly she’s instructed to stand in line for an open call for a new Broadway show. I’m all in on the magical phone booth. Avery, she’s a little slow in figuring it all out.

The story is so full of cliches, it became annoying. One of the first things a writer is taught is to get rid of the cliches. They slow down the story and irritate many readers. The plot is so predictable I almost didn’t need to read the book to figure out what was going to happen next.

Don’t be tempted like me, by the fact that in December this book is free on Kindle. My book drought has gone on for far too long. I need to change my ways. I should pick a cover that I hate and open up my purse strings for a book that will draw me into its soul. Switching up my selection process may save me or it might not. If you’ve read a book that you loved lately, let me know. I’m dying here without a good book to read.