Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

I don't listen to many books on tape. I just can never think of one that might be as good to listen to as it is to read. I need to be better about that, because I think I'd get through a lot more books if I listened to some of them.

I listened to this book on my recent drive to Boise and back. I was by myself in the car, and the story kept me entertained and my mind awake for the whole trip (5 hours each way).

This was a fun book - a clean regency romance, much like a Georgette Heyer book. I liked the story, and the reader was very good.

Room by Emma Donoghue

I did not want to read this book. I've heard about it for quite a while, but the premise just seemed so depressing. A mother and her son hidden away for years - in fact he was born while his mother was kept in this room (a shed actually).

Well, it was chosen for my book group, and the girl who chose it usually picks books I like. So I tried to begin the book with an open mind. I actually liked the book. It helps that quite a bit of the book actually takes place after their escape.

It was fascinating to think about it. I wonder how I would do under the circumstances. I find myself still reflecting on the book, and I finished it a few weeks ago.

July Report

Oops! Here is is August 4 already. I completely forgot we were into a new month.  I'm so far behind in posts, it is ridiculous. Maybe that will be my goal for next month: catch up on blog posts.

1. First things first: I'm doing well on this, mainly because I'm participating in a group that is focusing on all these things for 8 weeks. It feels great.

2. Photo labeling and scanning: I scanned a lot. That also feels great.

3. Household organization: I think perhaps this might qualify as an oxymoron in my life. I will count keeping up on the weeds in my vegetable garden as a success in this area. (If I don't get out there this week it might count like a fail instead.) Our tomato plants are gigantic. I don't know if we will be able to find any fruit once it ripens. It's like a jungle out there. Which, considering how poorly they were doing earlier this year, is a miracle.

4. Projects: No sewing done. That makes me sad. But, I did learn how to make the whole wheat bread that the rest of Ray's family makes, and have made a few very successful batches. I secretly call it whole wheat cake. Why did it take me 25 years to do this? Several people have volunteered to teach me in the past, and Ray's dad has demonstrated for me several times. Finally this year my daughter Debra taught me how. She is so patient. I'm very happy about finally achieving that goal.

Long May She Wave

Our neighbor Harold (who every Christmas puts up the star on our mountain - read about it here), has enriched our July this year.

The morning of the 4th of July

Yes, that's an enormous flag you see there, hanging in one of our canyons. (My understanding is it is hanging on parachute rope, and it was quite a feat to get it up there.) It can be seen for miles. What a thrill it is to look up at the mountain and see it waving in the wind. It makes my heart sing. 

Thank you Harold!

Roses in Moonlight by Lynn Kurland

Light, formulaic romance - completely clean as to language and sex. Lynn's books are a nice break for me.

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

This man can write! I don't know where to start, there are so many things I loved about this book.

I'll just say this: this morning I decided I would read while on the treadmill. Before I knew it, I closed the book (finished) and discovered I was turning the corner on four and a half miles.

Schmidt weaves a great story with consummate skill. He is subtle and just lets the aha! moments slip right in among the rest of the story. He draws the characters by their actions and conversations. All emotions are appealed to without feeling "played" by the author.

I could go on forever. Bottom line: read this book. It's excellent.

Other books I've read by Gary D. Schmidt: The Wednesday Wars, and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. Both excellent as well.

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

My friend Jennifer recommended this book. She said, "It's kind of funny."  She was right on the money.

This is the story of Allan Karlsson. On his 100th birthday, he decides to run away from the Senior rest home he lives in. He climbs out the window and disappears. That happens on the very first page. The rest of the book is about his adventures once he climbs out the window, and the story of the rest of his life up until that time interwoven throughout. Allan led a very unusual and at many times very exciting life.

The story is told in an almost whimsical manner. I giggled through parts of it, and enjoyed the whole book. I would never have chosen to read this book on my own. In fact, I almost returned it to the library without even reading it. I decided to give it a try because of Jennifer's recommendation. I'm glad I read it.

June Report

Oops! June ended and here it is already the 4th of July. Here's how I fared in June:

1. First Things First: I'm trying to step up the exercise and eat fairly clean this summer. We'll see how it goes. Meanwhile this is a "just keep plugging away and trying to be better" category of life.

2. Photo Labeling and Scanning: I have a pile of photos to scan. They've been there for quite a while. They'll be done in the next two weeks.

3. Household organization: I work on this in my head all the time. Somehow that makes me feel like I'm actually doing it, then I look around and realize no, still just in my head. I have kept up on the weeds in my vegetable garden. I organized my downstairs bathroom closet. We had a lot of company coming and going - that's my excuse.

4. Projects: I cleaned out a bunch of files. I did not get the other items done on my list.

Here's my feeling about my June lists: oh well. I was busy with a lot of things, not much of which can easily be cataloged. That's okay! It was a good month for people, which is all important to me. So overall I feel great about things.