Big Stone Gap

“People have often told me that one of their strongest childhood memories is the scent of their grandmother's house. I never knew my grandmothers, but I could always count of the Bookmobile.”  

For the second time this month, I'm posting about a book where I looooved a book by the author so I sought out another.  Also, two days in a row where I post where I was disappointed by the second book after I loved the first.

I read Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani while we were on a camping trip and I devoured it.  I loved it and I was so glad that I had picked up another one of her books at a used book sale.  I tried starting Big Stone Gap the next day but it was a tad slow so I moved on to something else.  Well, I really wanted to finish it to move it out of the house and so I trudged through it.

“Or maybe when she realized that he was never going to come and rescue her, she did what all strong women do. She found a way to save herself.”  

I've heard many positive this about this author but I just don't know.  It was slow.  It didn't always hold my interest.  It just seemed blah.  It had the ingredients to be a loved book of mine.  Characters that the author invested in.  Small town atmosphere with a family story.  However, it never grabbed me and that made sad, especially since it is the start of a series and we all know I love a good series!

Description: Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the tiny town of Big Stone Gap is home to some of the most charming eccentrics in the state. Ave Maria Mulligan is the town's self-proclaimed spinster, a thirty-five year old pharmacist with a "mountain girl's body and a flat behind." She lives an amiable life with good friends and lots of hobbies until the fateful day in 1978 when she suddenly discovers that she's not who she always thought she was. Before she can blink, Ave's fielding marriage proposals, fighting off greedy family members, organizing a celebration for visiting celebrities, and planning the trip of a lifetime-a trip that could change her view of the world and her own place in it forever.

Brimming with humor and wise notions of small-town life, Big Stone Gap is a gem of a book with a giant heart. . .

“The terrible things that happen to us in life never make any sense when we're in the middle of them, floundering, no end in sight. There is no rope to hang on to, it seems. Mothers can soothe children during those times, through their reassurance. No one worries about you like your mother, and when she is gone, the world seems unsafe, things that happen unwieldy. You cannot turn to her anymore, and it changes your life forever. There is no one on earth who knew you from the day you were born; who knew why you cried, or when you'd had enough food; who knew exactly what to say when you were hurting; and who encouraged you to grow a good heart. When that layer goes, whatever is left of your childgood goes with her. Memories are very different and cannot soothe you the same way her touch did.”  

I think part of my problem with the book was that there are good legit problems Ave Maria faces but I don't think they were handled properly or details were left out that would have helped.  They just appeared and it just didn't sit right with me.

I loved her friend Iva and maybe if the book had been based on HER, I'd have been hooked.

I will say the writing in the book is good.  She has a way with words and quite a few spots were beautfully written. 

“a dozen...chocolate chip cookies...a pot of coffee, and a good book are all I will need for the rainy weekend rolling in.”  

Have you read Big Stone Gap? Any other books by Trigani that you'd recommend? I'm not ready to totally write her off since I loved Lucia, Lucia!

The Hummingbird

Wow.  This book brought a lot of feelings out in thinking of passed loved ones as they went through the process of dying.  The Hummingbird follows a hospice worker on her case and both patient and hospice worker teach each other important lessons.

It made me think of the night I stayed with my grandma as she passed away.  It made me wish that we would have said more to her, held her hand and acknowledged her more as we sat with her.  Though that was a family full of hurts and not a lot of loving touches, but I do feel like no one should be alone when they pass.  Which is why I stayed that night, even though it was hard for me.  It really wasn't about me.  It was about her and helping her. 

About The Hummingbird

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (September 8, 2015)

Deborah Birch is a seasoned hospice nurse who never gives up—not with her patients, not in her life. But her skills and experience are fully tested by the condition her husband, Michael, is in when he returns from his third deployment to Iraq. Tormented by nightmares, anxiety, and rage, Michael has become cold and withdrawn. Still grateful that he is home at last, Deborah is determined to heal him and restore their loving, passionate marriage.

But Michael is not her only challenge. Deborah's primary patient is Barclay Reed, a retired history professor and fierce curmudgeon. An expert on the Pacific Theater of World War II, Barclay is suffering from terminal kidney cancer and haunted by ghosts from his past, including the academic scandal that ended his career.

Barclay's last wish is for Deborah to read to him from his final and unfinished book—a little-known story from World War II that may hold the key to helping Michael conquer his demons. Together, nurse, patient, and soldier embark on an unforgettable emotional journey that transforms them all, offering astonishing insights into life and death, suffering and finding peace.

Told with piercing empathy and heartbreaking realism, The Hummingbird is a masterful story of marital commitment, service to country, the battles we fight for those we love, learning to let go, and finding absolution through wisdom and acceptance

Deborah has got to be the most patient woman on earth.  I want to her when I grow up.  I have no idea how she was able to calmly stay silent when her husband did some of the things he did or when her patient said some of the things he did.  Maybe I am just a reactor but I really cannot keep my mouth shut.  Which is probably a character flaw, but I think standing my ground is good. But it probably gets me in trouble.  I digress.

I liked how the author went back on her other patients and told little stories and the lessons they had taught her when she was with them.

This is a book that gets you thinking and handles tough subjects.  War, PTSD, marriage, hospice, family... it's good!

 
What do you know about things that happened in the United States during WWII?  Has anyone you know used hospice care? Do you have someone in your family that you have written out of your life?

I received this book for review but all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Dark Places

“The truly frightening flaw in humanity is our capacity for cruelty - we all have it.”

I loved Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and have heard so much praise on her other books but it still took me a few years to finally read another one of her books.  So many books to read, so many other things occupying my time!  I really have to admit though I have put a huge focus on trying to read books that I have sitting around my house before getting newer books unless I'm doing them for review because I need to make more room in my house!

Description: Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice" of Kinnakee, Kansas.” She survived—and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, the Kill Club—a secret secret society obsessed with notorious crimes—locates Libby and pumps her for details. They hope to discover proof that may free Ben. Libby hopes to turn a profit off her tragic history: She’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club—for a fee. As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started—on the run from a killer.

“I am, I guess, depressed. I guess I've been depressed for about twenty-four years. I can feel a better version of me somewhere in there - hidden behind a liver or attached to a bit of spleen within my stunted, childish body - a Libby that's telling me to get up, do something, grow up, move on. But the meanness usually wins out."

My overall opinion is this was a disappointment.  We read this for our Books & Bars August pick and no one said they liked it better than Gone Girl, but those who hadn't read Gone Girl liked it more than those of us who have read both. 

We discussed that perhaps it is because this was written before Gone Girl and she had time to perfect her writing, which is somewhat true for many authors I think.  There were times when I had to skim read because I was ladeda a little too much detail or something I didn't really care about.

There were a few twists.  Nothing as dramatic as Gone Girl, in my opinion but there were some.  The clues are there if you are paying close attention. 

It is dark.  It is haunting.  It's a tad disgusting.  But if you like suspense and you like darker books, you should check it out.

“There are few phrases that annoy me more than I won't bite. The only line that pisses me off faster is when some drunk, ham-faced dude in a bar sees me trying to get past him and barks: Smile,it can't be that bad! Yeah, actually, it can, jackwad.”  

Have you read any books by Gillian Flynn? What dark books have you read recently?

Goals and Accountability

Goals have been brought up a lot in the recent trainings I've attended for my new job (which I love, by the way) and it has gotten me thinking.  I know I've briefly shared that I  love making lists.  A lot of those lists are goals.  A lot never gets crossed off.  I'm not very good at keeping myself accountable for my goals  I'm not a good goal achiever.  I'm great at making them.  I'm great at planning.  But the follow through needs some help. 

When I got my fitbit for Christmas it really helped push and motivate me earlier in the year.  I was racking up steps and busting my butt to beat people in competitions.  I was working out a lot and even though I never lost weight (which is my ultimate goal) I know I lost inches.  I never measured but my clothes felt a hell of a lot better and I was able to fit in smaller sizes without the scale budging.  I mean I even used other peoples scales because I was convinced that mine at home had to be wrong since I was having progress.

Well, then the summer happened.  I fell off the wagon hardcore.  May was pretty much the beginning of my downfall.  It coincided with a lot of work stress and then I started a new job and I indulged a lot.  I've been in about a month straight of trainings with not always great eating options and I've slacked on the walking and the step counting and had my fitbit lost/stolen in there. 

When I got back from a week long trip to Chicago, I knew I did not want to step on the scale because it would not be pretty.  Well, I did yesterday and it was worse than I had thought.  So I've formulated yet another plan and I'm going to hold myself accountable because I am not happy with my current situation.  It's harder than hard for me to budge my scale, make time for working out, clean my house, make time for my family and make time for other activities I like.  I've been all off balanced lately with the energy I've put towards the different areas of my life. 

I'm hopeful with my new fall/winter hours at work I can become a morning workout person because it does not require me to wake up too much earlier.  As in, it's not a time I think of as 'in the middle of the night' hahaha.    I'm much more of a middle of the day workout person and have tried throwing in 30 minutes walk at lunch time a couple times of week weather permitting.  I'm hopeful I can keep that up this fall and add more times in a week.

This is a long way to say that I have a two week plan and I'm sharing it in hopes it keeps me accountable.  We will forget alllll the other times and focus on this new time.

Week Goals

10,000 steps every day

60 ounces of water at work

M 9/7- 30 minute walk

T 9/8- 5 min walk, 1 min run = 30 min

W 9/9- 30 min walk - Abs

TH 9/10-  2 min walk, 2 min run = 30 min

F 9/11 - 20 minute fitness workout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S9YiDUI9hA

Sat 9/12 - dumbbell arms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU9ig8oaU6E Abs, 30 minute walk

Sun 9/13- 40 min walk

Week Goals
11,000 steps every day
70 ounces of water at work

M 9/14- 35 minute walk

T 9/15- 5 min walk 2 min run = 30 min

W 9/16- 35 min walk - Abs

TH 9/17 - 3 min walk, 3 min run = 30 min

F9/18 -  20 minute fitness workout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S9YiDUI9hA

Sat 9/19 - dumbbell arms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU9ig8oaU6E Abs, 30 min walk

Sun9 20 - 45 min walk
I'm hopeful that starting with 2 goals for the week and a plan for every day will help jump start my healthy living plan.  I know I need to really re-manage my food life but I want to take a bit more time tracking calories of what I am doing to help make switches in the coming weeks.  So, if you see me on social media, please ask if I've worked out today!

Please share your workout routine for the week or your healthy plans for eating for the next week!

Currently...

Reading:  Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigani.  I started it two months ago but I decided to pick it back up.  I loved Lucia, Lucia and I think it is such a different pace I needed to space them out. 

Loving: my daughter's personality.  She is hysterical.  She's loving.  She's awesome and she speaks her mind.  Now if only I could get the 4 year old to be a tad better on the delivery of refusal of stuff.  However, I'm not the best at my old age sooo...
Thinking:  a lot about my job and how I'm going to implement all the new things I've learned in the last few weeks of different trainings I've attended

Frustrated: by my anxiety

Feeling:  like there is never enough time.  I am excited to have a weekend with nothing to do but I really don't when that is going to be.  I travel home from Chicago on Saturday and then need to clean, grocery shop and do laundry on Sunday.  I think I will have comp time at some point next week but I also have 3 more days of training at my alma mater.  I know traveling three weekends in a row has a lot to do with this right now.

Anticipating:  seeing my kid and husband on Thursday night! They are coming to Chicago to see me!!

Watching: right now I'm watching Rizzoli & Isles.  I watched a new show on TNT called Public Morals and that looks good too!

Sad:  that summer is almost over.  I'm excited for fall and football but I don't feel like summer has been long enough!

Working: on a plan for work to organize my responsibilities better.

Grateful: that my husband is bringing my daughter to come see me on Thursday.  I miss them!

Listening: to a few podcasts.  Starr Struck and Undisclosed...

Wishing: that my feet weren't so messed up!

What are you currently reading, listening to and anticipating?

The Cotton Queen

I picked up a bunch of books last June from the library’s used book sale and I really haven’t put a dent in them.  I have a true book problem.  I also had a real reading slump last school year so I have a huge pile up of books that I need to get into before I bring anymore into my house.  Though, I have done a fairly decent job trying to get rid of books this summer.  It’s just hard for me to part with books, even if I don’t think I’ll read them again.  I think I have an attachment issue with books.  Anyway, The Cotton Queen by Pamela Morsi has been sitting on my shelf for a year and I figured this would be a great book to take camping with me.


Description:  The road away from home always seems to lead back to our mothers.

I am not, nor will I ever be, the kind of woman who wears pearls with her apron while cooking meat loaf for her husband. But when I was a kid, my mother, Babs, prepared me to be the next June Cleaver -- teaching me lessons that belonged to another era. Another world, practically. My mother's world. I couldn't wait to leave home and get away from her. But now, well . . . let's just say life hasn't turned out quite as I'd planned. And heaven help me, I'm going home.

Laney Hoffman -- Cotton Queen, 1975

It's funny -- all I ever wanted was to teach my daughter, Laney, how to be a lady so she could find a good husband and take her rightful place in our community. But Laney has always remained convinced that my life and my ideas are, well, pathetic. She has no idea -- no idea! -- what it is to lose a husband, to watch your dreams wither while keeping a smile on your face for the neighbors. Now, that is a talent. Laney is probably too smart for her own good, but being smart hasn't kept her out of trouble. Thank heavens I'm here to help pick up the pieces.

Babs Hoffman -- Cotton Queen First Runner-Up, 1956

I loved this book! It was a great look into the changing roles and views of women in the last 50 years.  It covers women gaining leverage in the work place, fighting for equal footing and the relationship with mothers over the years.

 

Both of the women who the book flipped between had positives and negatives.  I had moments when I wanted to shake them both.  They had issues but they sometimes made poor choices.  Don’t we all. 

 

It touched on some heavy topics that pushed it above the general chick lit category for me.  One of the characters is a solider in Vietnam and is completely changed by this experience.  In turn, this changes his relationship with his entire family when his brother has a different viewpoint.  It forces a divide that takes many years to fix. 

 

It also has a heavy focus on rape and how it can affect the victim’s life forever.  How it changes viewpoint, relationships, mental health and personality.

 

So avoid if that is a topic that is a trigger.  Otherwise, I’d recommend it for a quick weekend/beach read.

What's the last book you read that switched viewpoints? What books have you read about families recently?

Can You Keep A Secret?

For July we picked a super chick lit book for Books & Bars.  We had come off a few months of tougher reads and we all agreed we needed something funny.  After a rather raucous meeting at a local establishment in June we quickly picked Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella because one of us owned it already and the rest of us were numbed by the beverages and were non-caring. ;)

 

Description: Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets: Secrets from her boyfriend: I've always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken. Secrets from her mother: I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur. Secrets she wouldn't share with anyone in the world: I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is. Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.…Until Emma comes face-to-face with Jack Harper, the company's elusive CEO, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her...

 

Oh Emma… She is something.  She is something I can’t stand reading about too.  She’s a cliché woman character that I just can’t get behind.  I don’t do the stupid ditzy chick and that is her.  The dialogue is hilarious and it’s a quick funny chick lit read but it’s just not something I would have ever chosen for myself.

 

Jack is a meant to be complicated character who really isn’t.  I don’t think his character was true to itself all the way through and he just was a jerky kinda nice guy.  I don’t know he just didn’t do it for me in the mystery dark past man role.

 

Basically, if you want a funny chick lit book.  This fits the bill.  And if you need a book that makes you laugh? Go for it.

 

Beach read potential? HIGH.

What was your last beach read?

TGIF!

The high of my week was just want a pleasant time I experience with my family every night this week.  I’m a lot less stressed and I feel a lot more ‘in’ when I’m home with my family right now.  I also enjoyed my parents stopping over for a visit and how excited my daughter was about it.  We also had a great event at work and I got to interact with a lot of kids and parents and it felt good!

 

The low of my week was how yucky I feel about myself right now.  I had made such an improvement in my working out and then totally fell off the wagon in July.  I know I had a lot of changes and what not but that really was not a good excuse.  I went on a few walks but that was it.  Any inches I lost previously are back it feels like and they are all centered in my gut region! I need to eliminate that.

The book I’m reading is I finished The Cotton Queen by Pamela Morsi.  I read this book in practically two days.  It was a multi-generational book that looked at the lives of a mother/daughter pair who thought they were soo different but had a lot in common.  It was a really interesting book.  It switched perspectives between Babs and Laney and there were so many women lib issues covered that it was neat to see the differences between the two generations.  Slightly more than just a quick beach read because it delves into rape, drug use and parental death. 

For my workouts, I completed Monday and Tuesday I started the week strong ha.  Monday I ran on the treadmill a run/walk combo of just over a mile.  I did 50 squats and 30 crunches.  Tuesday I walked 25 minutes on my lunch.  However, that night I started PMSing and used it as an excuse not to lift and then I never did anything else all week.  But I worked an even on Thursday which was a lot of walking and carrying heavy items so at least I was active.  I had planned on working out 4 days this week but hey, I did it twice.  Next week I’ll plan for 4 and aim for 3. 

 

The best money I spent was I didn’t do it, but it was from ‘our’ money.  My husband decided that he had enough of paying my ridiculous student loan payment with the high interest rate so he logged into my account and paid it in full.  Best $18,152.  I’ve ever spent!

My plans this weekend include We are going to Ludington this weekend with some cousins / my husband’s sisters and their families.  So 8 adults and 6 kids! We will hopefully be relaxing on the shores of Lake Michigan!

What was the low and high of your week? Have a great weekend!

A- Z

It's been a long time since I've done a survey style post.. So why not today? I'm stealing this from Amber. 

A – Age: 31, it just doesn't seem right.. I live by Jimmy Buffett's words, 'growing older but not up'.  Though I am maturing in my older age ha.

B – Biggest Fear: the unknown
hor
C – Current Time: 9:45 pm

D – Drink You Had Last: currently drinking a Short's Bellaire Brown.  Love my Michigan craft beer!

E – Easiest Person To Talk To: my mama

F – Favorite Song: I don't really have one.. I like country.. I love singing to Luke Bryan and Eric Church.. and some top 40 stuff..

G – Grossest Memory: I have dealt in such gross matters it's hard to pick something that stands out.  I mean I've been thrown up on by a child not my own, stepped in a child's poop on the floor... I mean i dont know.. my kid had super gross poop for like a year ha.

H – Hometown: a very small town in MI that I will not name because it basically would out me if someone googled.. not to say someone couldn't figure it out anyway.. I just don't like connecting a lot of dots ha

I – In Love With: coffee.  I've become a bit obsessed in the past year.  more so than normal

J – Jealous Of: People who know what they want to do in life

K – Kindest Person You Know: probably one of my former coworkers

L – Longest Relationship: 12 years with my husband.. we will have been married for 8 this  month

M – Middle Name: my maiden name..

N – Number of Siblings: 1 – younger brother

O – One Wish: to know if I want to have another child or not.  I always thought I'd want four.  I think if I stayed home and didn't need to worry about work it would be easier to make this decision.  But I like the lifestyle we have when we both work.

P – Person You Spoke To On The Phone Last: I'm thinking it was a client at work yesterday.  I rarely talk on the phone!

Q – Question You’re Always Asked: When are you going to have another child?

R – Reason To Smile: It’s a Saturday night!

S – Song You Last Sang: I tried singing along with Ariel when we were watching The Little Mermaid earlier and my daughter told me to stop

T – Time You Woke Up: 6:53 when I heard my daughter screaming for me to get out of bed

U – Underwear Color: pink and black

V – Vacation Destination: this summer we've done Higgins Lake and Clear Lake with Ludington (Lake Michigan) and Port Crescent (Saginaw Bay/Lake Huron) on the agenda.  Savannah/Charleston is going to be our next planned trip I think

W – Worst Habit: interrupting people

X – X-Rays You’ve Had: knees and ankles and arm.. maybe the knee was an MRI.

Y – Your Favorite Food: nachos

Z – Zodiac Sign: Aries

I’m just going to pick some random letters for you to answer in the comments. Tell me the answers to: D, G, S and V! 

Double Mint

Last summer I was introduced to the Davis Way Crime Caper Series and read the first books as quick as I could.  I was contacted again this summer because the 4th book, Double Mint, came out this summer.  I was glad to cozy up in my chair and read about Davis's hilarious misadventures.

Description: It’s convention season at the Bellissimo Resort and Casino and Davis Way Cole barely notices. It’s hard to pay attention when you live in a Jambalaya Junkyard. But when Special Events Coordinator Holder Darby walks off the job just as five hundred Alabama bankers pour in the front door, Davis steps up.

Or would that be in? Definitely in. Davis steps in.

It.

Not only has the convention director vanished, but a certain Bellissimo guest is missing. One who forgot to pack the million dollars he left in the bathtub. It looks like our redhead newlywed Super Secret Spy’s lazy summer is over when the Bellissimo vault is robbed. Can Davis connect the dots before it’s too late? Can she get her Taser gun back from Bianca Sanders? Will she be stuck with Eddie Crawford’s 1962 Cadillac forever? What Davis needs is a little faith. And a lot of luck.

DOUBLE MINT.

New money. Old sins. Back to jail. And a cat.

(A cat?)

Break the Bank

Like the other books, there is something special going on in the casino and of course there is an issue with it.  Of course no one will listen to Davis (I mean she does tend to ramble and ridiculous things seem to follow her but...) and she plunges head into finding out the whodunnit, why and when.  Of course there is a motive for her (get rid of Magnolia from her apartment) but it is after all her job to protect the casino's interests! 

The book is funny, this series is hilarious.  I would highly recommend it as a humor book!

However, I'd recommend starting at the beginning! It's hard to jump in to the characters without the background.  But have no fear, it will only take you 3 days to get to book number 4 because they are that funny and that quick to read!
 
What humor books/authors have you read? What cozy mystery books have you read? What has made you laugh out loud recently?

I received this book to read for review but all thoughts and opinions are my own!