Reading and Experimenting at the Beach

I'm pretty much technology challenged. On Monday we upgraded our phones for the first time in about 4 years and my new one has a camera.

I took this picture yesterday when I was at Ocean Park Beach. I read One False Move for about an hour then decided to experiment with my phone's camera feature.

Then, today, I figured out how to send it to my email!

I'll be part of the 21st century before you know it!

I'm typing my entry Saturday night this week while watching the Olympics and the Red Sox because tomorrow I have to drive to NH for a funeral. Well, they are calling it a celebration. It's for the wife of my department head at school. She was only 52 and died from what began as a melanoma about a year ago. The doctors tried everything but the damn cancer just kept on growing. So, I'll be gone all day since it's a 2 1/2 hour drive one way.

I did begin One False Move by Harlan Coben and am enjoying it like I always enjoy his writing, but between company and just feeling kind of sad, I haven't really felt like reading much.

I Love This Series

I needed this trip to New Jersey and Stephanie's world!

I can't tell you how many times I chuckled out loud.

You'd think after so many books, I'd be sick of reading them, but, no way! Somehow, Janet Evanovich manages to keep the writing fresh and entertaining.

If you're in a funk and need a book to lift your spirits and, basically, just tickle your funny bone, pick up one of these and you'l be cracking up before you know it.

An Oldie but Goodie

I'm still in the middle of reading this and I'm really enjoying it but it's the type of book I like to read in between other books. Each chapter is about a female poet and the biography parts are really interesting. There are also 2 poems by each artist and they are accessible and sassy.





I'm embarrassed to say that I'd never read this book! I know, I know, inexcusable for and English teacher.

I saw the book at my niece's and asked her if I could borrow it. My two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter is visiting so I started reading it out loud to her (She's a bit young for it and didn't understand all of it but she loved the pictures.) and had tears in my voice before the end of the first chapter. Kylie said, "Grandma, are you sad?"

I finished it this afternoon while she was watching a Maisy video and put it back on the bookshelf. After her movie was over she took it back out and spent about a half hour going through it enjoying the pictures all over again.

Now I understand why it's a classic! We should all have a little of Anne's spirit in us.

The Culprits

Brian posts a writing prompt each week and the most current one asks what book or other piece of art influenced us as kids.



I especially remember reading these two series of books. I'd go to the library (By myself! I was maybe in 5th grade.) and just browse around looking for new additions.




I'm not sure, now, why I loved them so much. Maybe it was the perfectness of their lives, or the adventures, but these are the kids who got me into reading.

Busy!

It's been a busy (and fun!) few days with company so I don't have much time to post right now. Hope everyone is well and enjoying their reading time.




I did manage to finish this yesterday afternoon when I had a couple hours to myself. It was soooooo good! At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like it as much as Love Walked In her first novel because this one has a different format, but after twenty pages or so, I was hooked.


If anything, the writing in this second novel of hers is even more exquisite. It just shines!


And I have to admit that I was glad I was alone when I read the ending because I had to keep stopping to wipe the tears out of my eyes.

Keeping Faith

I had a hard time about half way through this book and wasn't sure I was going to finish it but I kept slogging through and I'm glad I did! I read in bed last night until I couldn't focus then sat on the couch this morning reading until I finished.

As usual, Picoult weaves an absorbing tale and writes with such gentleness and illumination that I just love swimming in her words.

Faith is seven years old and talks to God. Her parents have just split up and both want custody. That sounds very simplistic but there is so much more to this thought-provoking novel about beliefs. Definitely worth the time to read, even through the middle doldrums.