Recent Reads: The Lovely Bones and Everything's Eventual

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I have decided that I really like my low-cost method of building our home library.  Once a month or so, I go to the thrift store or library sale, and spend around $10.  Since reading and watching baseball are my mainstays of relaxing, I figure that is pretty darn cheap.   After my shopping spree, I come home, put my new-to-me books on the shelf.  When it is time for a new book, I see which one jumps out at me and go for it.  

Here are my latest second-hand book finds that turned out to be wonderful new friends.  The first one, The Lovely Bones, was written in 2002 by Alice Sebold. 

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

It does deal with a serial killer.  It is told through the voice of  Susie, the young girl who died.  It is not gross, and it is not scary.  There is intrigue and suspense, but it isn't like Silence of the Lambs or anything.  There is abundant insight regarding family and friends; their feelings and the impact that Susie's sudden death has made on each of them.  I really like the fresh view of Heaven and life-after- death thing that Alice Sebold gives us.  I found myself thinking, well, that makes sense.  It could be that way.  

I guess that there is a movie from the book, but I haven't seen it either.  (I am so out of touch with movies these days that it is unreal.)  For those of you who have read the book and seen the movie, what did you think?  

I recommend this book.  I want to keep it forever and ever, but I am going to loan it to my BFF Nancy first.  It sure was worth the $2.00.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

This book cost me .75, and I had never even heard of it either.  Oh well, all in good time, I suppose.  I did take about 10 years off from Mr. King, and he wrote a lot of books in 10 years.  I don't think he can help it, anymore than I can help taking pictures. So, anyway, Everything's Eventual is a collection of short stories that Stephen King wrote over time.  

His introduction alone, "Practicing the (Almost) Lost Art" is worth the full price of the book.  This comes from page xvi, and I quote (duh!):

"I've continued to write short stories over the years, partly because the ideas still come from time to time -- beautifully compressed ideas that cry out for three thousand words, maybe nine thousand , fifteen thousand at the very most -- and partly because it's the way I affirm, at least to myself, the fact that I haven't sold out, no matter what the more unkind critics may think.  Short stories are still piecework, the equivalent of those one-of-a-kind items you can buy in an artisan's shop.  If, that is, you are willing to be patient and wait while it's made by hand in the back room." ~ Stephen King


Stephen talks of how many forms of writing have been lost over time, including plays and many magazines.  But, apparently, poetry never goes out of fashion, or good novels.  He wrote this book in 2002, and discusses how well things first went with his online publishing of "Riding the Bullet".  It is always interesting when Mr. King writes right to us, his dear readers; as if he is sitting across the restaurant table explaining his thoughts.

Not only do we get a great story in each chapter, but after each short story is done, Mr. King gives us writing tips, and how he came up with his idea for the story itself.  I love it.

I just figured out what I was doing in 2002 ... I was a single mom, working part-time, going to school full-time and reading school books instead of books for fun.  I missed a whole bunch of good new books, apparently.  Glad I get to read them now!


Take care,


Kathy M.

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