Here it is, the middle of August and we are still entrenched in this virus. As a matter of fact, it is worse now then it was at the beginning. It is wearing on me for so many reasons and in so many ways. I'm sure we all have our own issues with it but I need an ending deadline and I don't see one for us in the near future. I do see hope on the horizon though but until things change I'm still keeping my world small. I'm fortunate though that books have always saved me. Even as a young child, when my life would got turned upside down, I was fortunate to have a local library close by. Did you know, back in the fifties and sixties each city had many libraries? There was one main branch and many smaller branches throughout the city, usually attached to a school district but more about that another day. Books make it possible for me to leave the unpleasant and bizarre behind and go to another happier country, city, or home and escape with the people on those pages. This group of books I am about to share with you are the books I read when the pandemic started. These are the books that helped keep me sane and hopeful. Every day I read. There is nothing new about that, but in those first days, I was consumed in an alternative universe as I just tried to understand in small steps what was happening in my world. Because it's a big pile...I'll keep the descriptions small but will star them for you as to my appreciation of them. Let's get started.
Redhead by the Side of the Road: Anne Tyler If ever you need a pick me up and take me away Ann Tyler would be your girl. I've loved her for years but it has been a while since I have read her. This one was wonderful. Her writing has a way of holding your interest because she writes with humor and pathos. Her characters are well thought out and they are comfortable to be around. This is a sparkling new novel, her latest, about second chances, misconception, and the sometimes elusive power of human connection. Honestly, you can not go wrong with this book. You will feel better for having read it...5 Stars...
The Dutch House: Ann Patchett Ann Patchett is another author that I love and again, I had not read her for a while...now that I'm writing it, I find it interesting that I choose these two familiar authors to help me through these dark days. Her writing is beautiful and descriptive. "Do you think it's possible to ever see the past as it actually was? I asked my sister: We were sitting in her car, parked in front of the Dutch House, in the broad daylight of early summer." An excerpt from the book. That one quote is where I am some days...wondering more and more about the old days...World War 11, my mother and father’s time. I loved this book. I love her writing and now I need to read more of her. 5 amazing stars.
Indian Horse: Richard Wagamese As you know my son gives me lots of books, which I really appreciate. When I see the Amazon smile in my mail and I know I hadn't ordered anything I can count on that being a book from Chris. It tells me two things, we both share a love of reading and that he knows me well enough to send books that I might not try but is pretty sure I will like and learn from...This was one of those books. My husband and I have been on three mission trips to the Navajo Nation in Kayenta, Arizona. I've learned so much about our native American friends but there is always more to learn. This book had many lessons for me. It's the story of Saul Indian Horse. He was a child when his family retreated into the woods. Winter approaches and Saul loses everything, including his beloved Grandmother. It's a short book but so rich in history and survival, racism and hatred. It's a heartbreaking account of a dark chapter in our history and a moving coming of age story. The writing is hard but truthful. I would read anything that Richard Wagamese wrote. 5 plus stars.
When All Is Said: Anne Griffin Now this one I got from my husband for Christmas. Makes perfect sense that he would give me a book about one night in a bar in Ireland. He's Irish and loves bars and pubs. The story is about Maurice Haninigan. He's alone, as usual, though tonight is anything but. If you had to pick five people, to sum up, your life, who would they be? If you were to raise a glass to each of them, what would you say? And what would you learn about yourself, when all is said and done? A lot to think about. It was well written, humorous, and warm with a touch of sadness tossed in for good measure. It really did get me thinking about the people in my life that I would write about. Perhaps someday I will do that. Not so sure it would be in a pub though but it could be over a glass of wine. 4 stars.
The Pull of the Moon: Elizabeth Berg I know, you would think I had read them all because I love her so much and I had read this one many years ago but for some reason, this title popped up several times in conversations about her books. I pull out my old tiny paperback from 1996 and went at it. My husband looked over at me one night when we were reading in bed and in shock said to me "how can you read that tiny print." Fortunately, I had just had cataract surgery so I was in good shape. After a few pages, I didn't even notice the small print anymore. When Nan turns 50 she writes her husband a note and then just leaves him home alone. She had a tugging at her heart to go out and find herself before she might go crazy. Although it sounds strange what one of us would not have liked to have done that at one point in our life. Get in the car and just drive, meeting people along the way. It is an upbeat book and her adventures were inspiring. She thought she was really leaving home but she was just out there trying to find her way back. Brilliant. 5 star
Paris Was Ours: Penelope Rowlands This was a really fun book and by this time in the Coronavirus outbreak I was ready for some fun, even if it only came from inside the covers of a book. I love Paris and this year we missed our trip in May so I had to read about it. Thirty-two writers share their observations and revelations about the world's most seductive city. Short stories, essays, and a memoir about favorite places and people. So many pages full of underlines of places I want to visit, gardens I want to wander in, books store I want to hang out in and cafe's everywhere that I need to get to. I need wine in the daytime, Croissants anytime and chocolate and cheese all day long. It was my May trip on paper and I thoroughly enjoyed it...Now if only I can get there next year and find some of these hot spots. In the meantime, I have underlined the books written by these authors so I'm going to have to check those out also. Armchair travels. 5 Stars
Round two...I told you books were saving me and I really did have my nose buried for the first few months...but then, I'm always reading. This time though, I was doing survival reading. It's a different kind of reading...call it escapism if that suits you better. This is where I mixed it up a bit.
While We've Still Got Feet: David Budbill I call this one poetry during coronavirus. For the last few years, I have really started to enjoy some poetry. Mostly those suggested by people and authors that I trust and whose own books I have enjoyed. That is how I came by David Budbill. I saw this book on a table at my son's house and made a note to check it out. What intrigued me was the title, While We Still Got Feet. What could that possibly mean...these pages were full of little life vignettes of a life lived in the wilderness? Words of solitude and a withdrawal from the world and it's caring. Two things...I found out that poems are not just passages that rhyme...imagine that and I also found out that this book, although written in 2005, rings true today probably more than it did when it was written. Yes, I checked a few of those poems off to read again and again. BTW, while we still got feet and I have the same problem, refers to his age...5 stars
Joy In The Morning: Betty Smith Oh be still my heart. I cannot even describe adequately how beautifully written this book was. It has been on my bookshelf for years. Lots of years and what made me pull it down was that this book was set in Brooklyn, in 1927, the year my Mom was born. Recently, I have been working on some life stories of my own and my Mom's early life has been pretty much a mystery to me. This is the story of Annie McGairy starting when she was 18 years old. It was a story of her falling in love and how difficult those first few years of married life were. The writing was gorgeous. Although it wasn't completely set in my Mom's day it was a look into what marriage and young love liked like during her time. I loved everything about this book and couldn't wait for a time in the day to back to reading it. She also wrote A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which is also sitting on my shelf and I think I read it but now I'm not so sure. I'll be getting to that soon. I noticed when checking the link for this book that a new edition of her book Tomorrow Will be Better is going to be re-released. I have to pre-ordered that right now...More than a 5-star book.
Writers and Lovers: Lily King I had avoided buying this book for a long time. Sometimes when the hype is loud I bypass a book and wait to see how it does. I'm not a big "New York Times" top ten fan, although I always check them out and if there is enough noise, I cave. That is what happened with Writers and Lovers. This is the story of Casey Peabody, whose mother has recently died and she has just come out of a recent love affair. She moves to Cambridge, Massachusetts without any plan. Free-floating she gets a job waiting tables and begins working again on a novel that she's been writing for 6 years. Then strangely enough she falls for two guys at the same time...It was an easy read. A good read but not a passionate read for me. Very well written. I'm still not sure what all the hype was about though. 3 stars
The book that matters most: Ann Hood I really didn't know what to expect with this book but I sure was surprised with what I found. I have read a few others by Ann Hood and always enjoy her writing. This story is about a woman who joins a book club after discovering a mysterious book from her childhood that helped to get her through the trauma of the untimely deaths of her sister and mother. As this was going on, her daughter with problems of her own was missing while living in Paris. It was an interesting read about love, loss, secrets, and the healing power of literature. I'll drink to that. 4 Stars
Braiding Sweetgrass: Robin Wall Kimmerer This was just a delight to read. If you love indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and, plants, being out of doors and, life lessons you will also like this. I can see where it might not be for everyone but it was a new kind of read for me. I do have a great love and respect for the indigenous people and their ways, especially the wisdom that comes in story form from their elders. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a botanist who has also been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. She is also a member of the Potawaromi Nation. The book is full of essays about her life as it clashes with the old ways and her knowledge of science today. Beautifully written and it was also put together so that if an essay wasn't of interest to you, you could move on to the next one. I thought it was all pretty interesting...4 stars.
The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted: Robert Hillman "She didn't stay long as far as marriages go, just a year and ten months. Her note was brief, too: I'm leaving. Don't know what to say. Love Trudy. and so starts a book that is so brave and beautiful. A book about all the human ways to heal a broken heart, through unexpected love, resilient family, and, of course, timeless books. Can one unlikely bookshop heal two broken souls? This is the essence of the book. I really enjoyed this one. It would heal all kinds of things...like the coronavirus. Teaching us lessons on how to move on when things are no longer in our control. It would also make a nice beach read if you can get to the beach but if you only have a nice warm day and a porch with a comfy chair...grab an ice tea or a glass of wine and read this book. 4 stars.
So there you have it. The first batch of the coronavirus book splurge. I am still reading, I read every day but during normal business hours (non-covert) I don't dedicate as many hours to it as I would like. As bad as the being in was at least I was happy to just be reading. Summer is here now and I can't even tell you how much I am enjoying being outside with my garden and all my garden friends, especially the hummingbirds. Before you know it fall will arrive and as it always is with nature, she will bring her own beauty. I fear the virus will get worse before we see a change- over and then it will improve. I'm waiting for that day and trying so hard to be safe for my family and me. I will miss my boys if they go back to school because once again we will have to quarantine, I think it will sadder the second time around. To take that ache away, I will have my books, facetime, and zoom...and before you know it, hopefully, new leadership and true healing. That is what I wish for all of us. I hope in this pile of books you will find something interesting, uplifting, laugh out loud funny, and a bit of a meditation. Stay safe and know that this storm will end as all storms do...See you next time.
“What It Takes
Enough of a house to keep
the bugs and rain out in the summer,
stay warm in the winter.
books, a few musical instruments,
a garden, silence, some mountains,
Maybe a cat.
David Budbill
”
