finished reading

What a timely novel.  It deals with cultural appropriation, cancel culture, diversity, racism, and other themes.  Written by an Asian-American author the story is told from a white woman's perspective as she steals and publishes her Chinese-American friend's novel about Chinese laborers in WWI.  It's about who gets to tell stories.  

It's an excellent book group selection!  There is so much to talk about.

Synopsis:

June, a struggling writer, witnesses the death of her more successful friend Athena, a Chinese-American author. Seized by jealousy and ambition, June steals Athena's unfinished manuscript about Chinese laborers in World War I. Editing it heavily, June publishes it under a pseudonym and a hint of Asian heritage, achieving the acclaim she craved. However, her success crumbles as accusations of plagiarism and cultural appropriation surface, forcing June to confront her actions and the skewed priorities of the publishing industry. 

#52bookclub prompt 41: a sticker on the cover.

challenge day 19

 

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April 19th:   If you could have any historical figure as your neighbor, who would it be and why?

I considered Benjamin Franklin but knowing he's a man about town, it might be too much commotion and coming and going all day and night.

I considered Henry David Thoreau thinking he'd be fascinating to talk to, but he's a rabble-rouser and I don't know if I want that right next door.

Thinking of Thoreau got me thinking of Ralph Waldo Emerson and how thoughtful his writings are. He might be a good neighbor. But wait!

Why do I automatically think of male historical figures? Why not an influential woman from the Transcendental movement???

So, my final answer: Elizabeth Palmer Peabody! She was key in the Transcendental movement and opened a bookstore hosting intellectuals and leading lively discussions. She also opened the first English-language kindergarten in the United States. My neighbor is a bookstore owner and teacher. That's perfect!

three on thursday

  

 

Thing one:  I went to a new nail salon today.  A former student owns it.  We had a lovely visit and I have a fantastic manicure!

Thing two:  Vacation week is flying by!

Thing three:   there are things I sh/could be doing but I'm not.

finished reading

Lonely widowed Jamaican immigrant Hubert Bird spins elaborate tales of an active social life to his daughter in Australia. When she announces a visit, Hubert scrambles to create the reality he made up, leading him to help found a quirky community project to combat loneliness, reach out to an estranged old friend, and explore a new romance. I loved how this story becomes a "found family."  

Ultimately, this is a lovely book about reinventing and reconnecting.  And who hasn't experienced loneliness?

From the publisher:

Hubert Bird is not alone in being alone.
He just needs to realise it.

In weekly phone calls to his daughter in Australia, widower Hubert Bird paints a picture of the perfect retirement, packed with fun, friendship and fulfilment.

But Hubert Bird is lying.

The truth is day after day drags by without him seeing a single soul.

Until, that is, he receives some good news - good news that in one way turns out to be the worst news ever, news that will force him out again, into a world he has long since turned his back on.

Now Hubert faces a seemingly impossible task: to make his real life resemble his fake life before the truth comes out.
Along the way Hubert stumbles across a second chance at love, renews a cherished friendship and finds himself roped into an audacious community scheme that seeks to end loneliness once and for all . . .

Life is certainly beginning to happen to Hubert Bird. But with the origin of his earlier isolation always lurking in the shadows will he ever get to live the life he's pretended to have for so long?

#52bookclub prompt 35: title matches lyrics from a song.

challenge day 18

 

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April 18th:   What's the weirdest dream you've ever had?

I used to have a recurring dream about the cow comics of The Far Side by Gary Larson. There was a specific one of cows in a convertible but I can't find it.

wordless wednesday

 

finished reading

Ernest Cunningham, the narrator, honors the Golden Age of Detective Fiction in a clever and interesting style.  I don't think I would have enjoyed this if I had read it instead of listening to it.  Barton Welch's narration was perfect.  

My big complaint is the large cast of characters--it was difficult keeping the family members sorted.

Synopsis:

The darkly comedic novel, "Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone" by Benjamin Stevenson, takes place at an Australian ski resort. The story unfolds during a tense family reunion where Ernest Cunningham (Ern) gathers with his relatives. The central event is the release of Ern's brother, Michael, from prison.  Adding to the tension, Ern's wife is now with Michael, and a snowstorm traps the family at the resort. When a dead body is discovered, Ern, a self-proclaimed amateur sleuth, must figure out who the killer is before he or someone else becomes the next victim. 

From the publisher:

Everyone in my family has killed someone. Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once. I'm not trying to be dramatic, but it is the truth. Some of us are good, others are bad, and some just unfortunate.

I'm Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I'd killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it's a little more complicated than that.

Have I killed someone? Yes. I have.

Who was it?

Let's get started.

Everyone in my family has killed someone:
My brother
My stepsister
My wife
My father
My mother
My sister-in-law
My uncle
My stepfather
My aunt
Me

#52bookclub mini-challenge prompt: let you down.

challenge day 17

 

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April 17th:   Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?

I would rather be able to fly. Because that's similar to teleportation in my mind. And living in Northern Maine, we are remote and the nearest city with good shopping is 3 hours south. Plus, I would like to visit my Pennsylvania and Virginia sisters more regularly and they are 20+ hours away by car.

challenge day 16

 

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April 16th:   What childhood game would you love to play again if you had the chance?

My Virginia sister and I played Pay Day for hours and hours. We always played Crazy 8s and there is also the EPIC 38-year grudge match* of Spite & Malice that is ongoing.

*for the record, I have a substantial winning streak!

currently

A day late...

I am...

Reading:  All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle (I'm just starting it)

Listening to:  Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson (I will finish it tonight)

Loving:  friendships

Thinking:  I am organizing little tasks for the week

Feeling:  relaxed and happy

Celebrating:  this vacation week as a Self-Care Celebration:  after a weekend filled with friendship and laughter, I have self-care appointments all week--a hair appointment today, a massage tomorrow, a manicure Thursday, and more!

Grateful for:   an invitation to go with some girlfriends on a weekend getaway--we stayed at Seal Harbor (which is on Bar Harbor) and had a magnificent time laughing, playing games, eating, and enjoying the beautiful Atlantic Ocean at a distance

Enjoying:  my freshly coiffed hair

Weather:  it is 42° and cloudy

A quote I want to share: 

challenge day 14

 

Click here for the prompts!

 

April 14th:   What's the most embarrassing song on your playlist? (We won't judge...much!)

As a 58 year old woman, my love of Harry Styles is embarrassing. A single song? All of them!

challenge day 13

 

Click here for the prompts!

 

April 13th:   Friday the 13th! Superstitious or not? Share your funniest "bad luck" story (or how you defied the odds!).

I am not superstitious.

I defied the odds by NOT getting sick with conjunctivitis nor norovirus when they were making the rounds at school.

challenge day 12

Click here for the prompts!

April 12th:  Space Day! If you could travel anywhere in the universe, where would you go?

I have never had a desire for space exploration or travel. Maybe I feel too small or insignificant or something existential.

finished reading

This is billed as an Adventure Romantic Mystery and I'll say that's accurate.  I liked the main character, Lily, a lot--she's strong, feisty, and goal-oriented.  I also liked the male main character, Leo, who's highly intelligent without being overly nerdy.  Their second-chance romance was interspersed with adventure and mystery.  The secondary characters deserve their own books!

I am not an outdoorsy type but I really got sucked into the adventure hunting.  The legend and lore surrounding Lily's dad were fun.

From the publisher:

Growing up the daughter of notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without much patience for the profession… or much money in the bank. But Lily is nothing if not resourceful, and now uses Duke’s coveted hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah. It pays the bills but doesn’t leave enough to fulfill her dream of buying back the beloved ranch her father sold years ago, and definitely not enough to deal with the sight of the man she once loved walking back into her life with a motley crew of friends ready to hit the trails. Frankly, Lily would like to take him out into the wilderness—and leave him there.

Leo Grady knew mirages were a thing in the desert, but they’d barely left civilization when the silhouette of his greatest regret comes into focus in the flickering light of the campfire. Ready to leave the past behind him, Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love. Unfortunately, Lily Wilder is all business, drawing a clear line in the sand: it’s never going to happen.

But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn’t a gimmick after all. There’s a chance to right the wrongs—of Duke’s past and their own—but only if Leo and Lily can confront their history and work together. Alone under the stars in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they’ll risk their lives and hearts on the adventure of a lifetime.

#52bookclub mini-challenge prompt: desert you.