World Book Day

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On this World Book Day, I have three that I want to highly recommend to you:

  • The Writer: A Thriller by J.D. Barker and James Patterson
    This is not generally a book that I would gravitate towards. I don’t know if someone mentioned it to me or if I saw it online. As a writer, I was drawn to the title, although put off by the idea of a thriller – those aren’t really my thing, but I read this, and despite the cliché on the cover – you’ll never forget the ending – I read it, twisted and turned along with the characters, and the ending, well, let’s just say I will never forget it. In fact, I had to read the last two pages twice – it was that unexpected!
  • The Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay
    I was drawn to this by the talented Georgia Tennant who narrates the audiobook. I listened to a sample, and I was hooked on the story! I have just begun reading it and will eventually listen to the audio version. What happens when serial killers get married and have a child? This is your answer. Brilliant concept, very engaging, and I anticipate fun.
  • The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny
    I read this when it came out last fall, and I am now listening to the audiobook narrated by Jean Brassard. I love his voice, and he really brings out the Quebecois culture and accent which is a large part of the Armand Gamache series. Read the first eighteen books first if you can – this newest book has several call backs and old favorites who return. The next book, The Black Wolf, comes out in October of this year.

What three books would you receommend for this World Book Day?

International Women’s Day – 2

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Book Recs

  • Something Lost, Something Gained: reflections on life, love, and liberty by Hillary Rodham Clinton
  • Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It by Janina Ramirez
  • susan, linda, nina, & cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR by Lisa Napoli
  • Song in a Weary Heart by Pauli Murray
  • Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America by Dahlia Lithwick
  • Lessons from the Edge: A Memoir by Marie Yovanovitch
  • Set the world on Fire: A 4- Week Personal Retreat with the Female Doctors of the Church by Vinita Hampton Wright
  • The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore
  • Reflections from Both Sides of the Glass Ceiling: Finding My True Self in Corporate America by Stephanie Battaglino
  • Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage, and Fighting Back by Jackie Speier

Something Hilarious

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Something hilarious just happened this morning and I thought you might like to hear it as an amuse-bouche to what I had planned to post later today.

After mass today, I went to redeem one of my birthday freebies, but before I could do that I needed to go to the nearby bank to deposit some checks for the organization I volunteer for.

I pull into the bank and as I’m about to turn into the drive-thru lane, a flock of geese decide to walk across the driveway. Yes, a flock – at least ten, probably twelve geese, just doing their thing, and honking, uncaring about the rest of the world spinning around them. This is a somewhat common experience in this shopping center, but still…inconvenient.

There is a car facing me.

I put my signal on, and settle in for the long wait.

In the car opposite, the passenger opened their window and dumped out what was left in their snack bag. I don’t know if it was chips or popcorn or what, and I didn’t care!

The geese began to rush to the their miraculous bounty of food.

The driver waved me through, and I turned, no geese in my way.

I had a huge grin on my face. I waved to my new friends, and thought that this is the greatest random act of kindness I think I’ve experienced.

Have a great Monday!