Tag: writing

book-review, books, mystery, reading

Old Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Kate Galley

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When I saw the title “Old Girls Behaving Badly”, I just had to read this. I know I am getting older every day, but this looked right up my alley.

This book is the first in a delightful new series (the second is “Old Girls on a Chateau Escape” and I am eagerly awaiting the third installment).

The stories follow Georgina (Gina) Knight, a 73 year old woman who’s husband left her after 43 years to go find himself. He, of course took all the money with him, leaving Gina with nowhere to go after the house is sold and no income. Gina decides to try her hand at “being a carer” and answers an ad in the paper. Dorothy (Dot) Reed, and 89 year old woman, has a family that is sure she needs to be taken care of, starting at a family wedding. Her niece hires Gina in exchange for room and board. Little did the family realize that Dot had her own reasons for wanting a helper – to catch a thief. Through heavier topics, such as Gray Divorce, Aging and Mourning there is plenty of fun to be had as the ladies that have been counted out become those to be counted on.   

At the end of the story Gina is asked to remain near Dot for as long as she wishes. The mutual concern becoming the basis of friendship between the women. The second book picks up after the first, and there is another thing that Dot needs Gina to help her with. An old friend was writing a memoir and Dot didn’t want any mention of something that happened over 50 years ago to be broadcast to the world. Dot sends Gina to help as a personal secretary while spying. More hilarity ensues as this too unravels.

Each book is fun, if a bit unbelievable. There is plenty of laughter throughout both books, although I liked the first one more than the second. I am looking forward to book #3.

books, reading

Call your Daughter Home by Deb Spera

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It’s 1924 in Branchville, South Carolina.

We are introduced to three strong, but very different women. Gertrude, a white woman beaten by her husband, living in a swamp with her four daughters in severe poverty. After a brutal beating that she wants to hide but can’t – her face is bruised and her eye is swollen shut – her daughter’s raging fever leads her make the difficult decision to save her children, and come to town to ask for a job from Annie Coles,.  

Annie, the matriarch of a former plantation family, runs a financially successful sewing circle, offers Gertrude employment and a place to rent in town. When told she was to start in 4 days time, she turns to Retta, a first generation freed slave that works for Annie, to help the child with a fever. Agreeing to do so, Retta brings possible disaster on her community – a black woman taking charge of a sick white child that may die of hunger under her care is not safe. These women come to each other’s rescue – Annie saved Gertrude by offering a job, Retta saves Gertrude’s daughter’s life, and Gertrude protects Annie, and the town, from Annie’s husband.

While these women were from different social classes and races, the understanding of doing what is right for your children is universal. Helping each other survive is the human condition.   

books, read around the world, reading

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

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This story is slow to build, but compelling. At the outset we are approached by a man asking if we need assistance – but to be assured that while he is not from America, he is a lover of it. The speaker, Changez, begins to tell his story to a foreigner at a café in Pakistan. A student at Princeton, he was able to crack into the American dream, graduated at the top of the class and earned a job at the coveted Underwood Samsom valuation firm on Wall Street. He meets and falls in love with Erica, who is still in love with her dead boyfriend, Chris. The warmth she shows him at first, and her pointing out his politeness and conforming to American ways gives way to her turning her back on him and disappearing. Easy to see that Erica represents America. We appreciate those that come to our shores as long as they are polite and conform to our ways. When 9/11 happened there was a shift in Changez’s view – it was exhilarating that somehow America was brought to its knees at home while they continue to create chaos elsewhere in the world – Erica became overcome with her need to recreate the past. Just as America was trying to recreate the indignation after Pearl Harbor.

As Changez continues to share the story, we learn more of his true feelings of being an outsider, of his self-hatred of turning his back on his people. The person hearing the story has shown himself to be cautious, and suspect of Changez. As the story closes, you are left with the question – how has the arrogance of America impacted Changez and how far has he gone to avenge his country? Is America being duped or are we being overreactive?

book-review, books, humor, memoir, reading

Broken (in the best possible way) by Jenny Lawson

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Jenny Lawson’s take on life is a one I am in awe of. Despite crippling anxiety and depression, as well as a host of physical ailments, Jenny’s approach to life is not like what many of us have been taught. Her stream of consciousness, ADD topic jumping, and battles with medical insurance actually makes total sense. And the stories she shares will bring you to tears as you laugh so hard you may just fall off your seat!

As always, Jenny brings her sense of humor to some dark subjects, bringing humanity to a disease that is not seen or widely understood – even by those that are in its grip. Her explanations of what she goes through should help more people have empathy for what people who have these illnesses go through. You may find yourself remembering when you felt like this but didn’t understand what you were going through. This deeply personal journey of life, with all its wacky tangents and challenges, gives hope to everyone that we can live a better life by surrounding ourselves with people who care, understanding and accepting yourself for your strengths and your challenges, and laughing your way through it all.

If you haven’t read any of her books, you should absolutely get one as soon as you can!