October Report

My October has been spent mostly taking care of Audrey's children while she's been at the hospital with her new baby Katherine. Those things have been the focus of my month and have filled my days and my mind.

The one thing I have done consistently is:

First things first: I've kept up on this pretty well these last few weeks. It's been good to keep a small part of my routine where it should be.

The kids and I have had a fun time. We've been to the park a couple of times, and this morning they all helped me rake and bag the leaves in our back yard - no small feat for an eight, six, and four year old.

Last Tuesday we went trick or treating at the assisted living place where my mom and dad live.They loved it, and so did my parents.

Elizabeth, Matthew, Austin

My dad, Matthew, My mom, Elizabeth, Austin

Austin

Elizabeth (all hair credits or lack thereof go to me - not my forte)

Matthew

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

I liked the book, although I think I liked her Edenbrooke just a little better.

A clean romance that is predictable (a romance is predictable by definition). It was an easy, quick read.

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

This is another book that I wouldn't have read if it weren't chosen for my book group.

Turns out I really liked it a lot.

The idea for the book sprouted from a documentary that the author's son did about a family who lives in a garbage dump in Cambodia. That premise alone put me off about the book. But I'm glad I stuck with the book.

It's worth reading.

Hour Game by David Baldacci

Another thriller from the King and Maxwell series. (I'm disappointed that the TV program didn't get renewed).

It kept me on the edge of my seat. I don't know if I could have read it if Ray were out of town.

I'll get the next book in the series, but I'll wait a little bit. First I need my heart rate to slow down a little.

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

I like Trigiani's books in general. I enjoyed this one, but about halfway through I was no longer driven to pick it up again. (Not a great sign in a book.) Then I committed the cardinal sin of reading--I turned to the back of the book and skimmed a few pages just to see if I thought it would be worth continuing.

In this case it worked in my favor. Or the book's favor, I should say. I was able to get back into it and I finished it. And, in the end, (like I said above) I enjoyed it. Enough that I've requested the sequel from the library already.  We'll see how that one holds up.

These days I've been so busy it's been hard to squeeze in reading. That tells you how busy I've been. A great solution has been reading while on the treadmill. I get a good chunk of reading and exercising in all at the same time.

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

The advantage of belonging to a book group is that you read books that you may never have discovered on your own. The advantage of being in two book groups doubles the number of those books.

Heart of a Samurai is based on the true story of a Japanese boy (Manjiro) and his fishing mates who are stranded on an island during a storm in the mid-19th century. They are found and rescued by an American whaling ship.

The rest of the book is the story of Manjiro and his life. He goes back to America with the captain of the ship that rescues him. We learn of his life there. It is thought that Manjiro was the first Japanese person to live in the United States. Some of Manjiro's art is included in the book. I don't want to give away any more of the book.

This is a thought-provoking book, examining how it feels to be a stranger in a strange land. It also explores the thought that we can become what we desire, even if it seems impossible.

I recommend it!

2011 winner of the Newbery honor award.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I had forgotten how amazing this book is. We read it in our book group last month. The last time I read it was when Audrey was in 8th grade, about 18 years ago (!!)

The book is delightfully funny and witty, which I think is easy to forget amid the drama of the story that unfolds. Atticus, Jem and Scout Finch and of course Boo Radley leave a stamp on our minds that we can never fully remove. Good thing, because we should all remember the lessons so slyly taught within the covers of this book.

I need to go buy a new copy. My old one is falling apart. I believe I'd better start reading this book more often--if not every year, then every other year.

Here's how I will endorse this book: if you have read it, read it again. If you have never read it then get it immediately and read it. It's a life changer.

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

A friend of mine who is on Goodreads recommended this book to me. It's darling--both the story and the illustrations. It's the first Molly Lou Melon book I've read or seen.

Molly Lou is very short, and has some unusual physical attributes. Her grandmother always told her,"Stand tall, Molly Lou Melon". In this book Molly Lou moves to a new town and meets up with a boy who gives her a hard time. She stands tall, and gains a new friend. And I love the very end where we meet her grandmother.

I recommend it. I think my grandchildren will like it.