The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

Interesting book. I'm still thinking about it every once in a while and wondering what especially appealed to me.

Will Schwalbe's mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This book is sort of her journey through the process of dying--explored and explained via the avenue of books the two of them read together and discussed during the nearly two years of her treatments.

The book is not sad at all. In fact it has the same "temperament" that Mary Anne Schwalbe exhibited during this time in her life. Practical, calm, introspective, thinking about others.

In the book you learn about Mary Anne, but not many details of her actual lifetime. Yet you come out feeling as if you know her. Of course it is written from her son's perspective and although you can tell he thinks the world of her and her accomplishments, none of the book is over the top. Like I said, practical, calm, etc.

I've read several of the books they discussed. Some of them I agreed with how they felt, but most of them I did not. Yet I still felt some connection because we've read the same books. One thought that crossed my mind frequently was that it seems like all they must have done in their lives during this time was read. Or else they are both champion graduates of the Evelyn Wood speed-reading course.

I liked it. Not over the moon about it, but I liked it. I probably wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been chosen for a book group read. But I'm glad I read it.

Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley

I can't believe I forgot to include this book earlier! I actually read it before I left on vacation (before Mariana). Perhaps that's why it escaped my memory.

I've enjoyed the Flavia de Luce novels, and this is one of the better ones. If you haven't read the series, begin with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. They're well worth the read.

Cat's Claw by Susan Wittig Albert

I think this might be book 20 of the Pecan Springs/China Bayles mystery series. So many times a series can become tired. I think there have been a few of these that I haven't liked as well as the others, but for the majority of this series, I've been very happy with her books. In this case Susan Wittig Albert was right on her game.

I really liked it. I picked it up, and barely put it down to eat or sleep. I guess it was just what I needed!

Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson

This is the sequel to Hattie Big Sky, but stands alone just fine. I can't find a review of Hattie Big Sky on my blog--I must have read it before I started the blog. It's excellent, a Newbery Honor winner. I highly recommend it. Hattie is an eighteen year old girl who inherits a homestead in Montana. Hattie Big Sky is the story of her life there.

Spoiler alert: if you want to read Hattie Big Sky, read it before you read the rest of this review. I mean it. It's worth reading the other book first. Then come back and read this book. It's also well worth reading.

Hattie Ever After picks up a few months after the end of Hattie Big Sky. I can say that it stands alone just fine, because I didn't remember a lot of details about Hattie Big Sky. Hattie moves to San Francisco, and wants to become a reporter. I don't want to give away what happens, so I won't give any more details. I really like Kirby Larson's writing, and I loved learning more about that particular time in San Francisco. The book was fun, and insightful at the same time.

Grace Interrupted by Julie Hyzy

This is the second in the Manor House Mystery series. I'm liking this mystery series, and in fact have the third book sitting on my nightstand, ready to get to when I've finished a couple of other books.

There's something comfortable about a nice series. It's like visiting family, knowing a lot of the characters already. It's not the same as a great piece of literature, or a fun or intriguing new novel, but there is certainly a place in my life for the predictable. Especially when so much of my surroundings are unpredictable. Sometimes that's just what I need.

I've really been getting a lot of reading in, and I'm loving it. Something always gives when that's the case, and I think it's my housekeeping. And perhaps some quilting. Oh well. It's all worth it!

Frederica by Georgette Heyer

Ditto from my last post.

The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer

Georgette Heyer's books are great for vacations.They are predictable Regency historical romances. They're clean, and easy to keep track of what's going on in the book.

My only complaint is the dialogue sometimes contains too much "slang" of the time period. Some of that is hard to follow. But I know that I can skim over that and not miss anything crucial to the story.

March Report

The best part about March was that big section of the month where we went on a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. Pure heaven, and pure relaxation. I want to go back! I'll have posts about that later, when I get pictures more in order.

1. First things first: I keep plugging along at this. I need to revive my enthusiasm for exercise and get back to doing it most days. I do it, but not quite as often as I'd like. Eating has gone okay. I'm so far from perfect, but it isn't horrible. And I only gained 3 pounds while on the cruise.(And I did exercise while on the cruise.) Scripture reading could be more consistent as well.

2. Photo labeling/scanning: A few photos scanned, none labeled. I have at least gotten all pictures off my cameras.

3. Household organization: Ha! Does it count if I organized all the things I needed to take on my vacation, then promptly washed and put them away when I was home?

4. Project list: I've been assigning myself a project a month. I finished January's on time. I finished most of February's. I'm still plugging away on March's. For February I began organizing an emergency binder. One that has information needed if something happens and I have to leave the house quickly, or if something happens to me or Ray or both of us and our children need to access information quickly. It's very close to being done. In March I started to gather up supplies to be used in a short term emergency. A 72-hour kit. I had one I put together many, many years ago, and got it out and am making a list to get it updated. I'll add a couple of items a week to my errands and will have it ready to go very soon.

I'm feeling pretty good about these things although on paper it doesn't look like I get a lot done. There's progress being made, and that's what is important to me. I want to have a life that is a little more focused, and these goals help with that. The most important thing in my life are the people in my life, and often these goals take a back seat to them. That's as it should be.

Now I'm off to plan what I want to accomplish in April.