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.

If you enjoyed this post, you will enjoy Baja Greenawalt's blog!  

Just  "CLICK HERE" to get there.

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.
 

This and That Saturday:

This morning, Cary and I made the 45 minute drive from Mayberry into Redmond to attend a town hall meeting.  (Cary went to the one in La Pine last night too.  And, on Thursday evening, we both went into Bend to a DEQ hearing.)  It is all very interesting stuff.  

I took notes during this morning's meeting, and am writing up a little article for the Newberry Eagle, but I don't know if they will have room or will want to publish it.  If it does get published, I'll post the link so that you can read about the meeting, but I don't think most of you want to know about it now ~ political stuff about Oregon.  Still, it is fun for me to practice being a reporter.  Being a reporter is my secret dream.  So is writing a wonderful best selling historical novel about the beautiful State of Oregon.  Just so you know.  If you were wondering.  So that I can pay off my student loans.

Rep. Matt Wingard ~ Rep. Gene Whisnant ~  Senator Chris Telfer ~ Rep. Jason Conger ~ Rep. Mike McLane

Gene, Cary and Chris

Oregon State Representative Gene Whisnant, 

Cary Matthews, and Senator Chris Telfer

Things Can Change on a Dime ....

After we left the meeting, we drove into Bend and stopped for Chinese food to go.  I was dressed up in slacks and a jacket, with some high-heeled boots.  This was only because I cannot find my nice jeans.  They are lost.  And this is a big deal, because I only have three pairs that fit ... an old pair of Cary's, ones that are fraying on the thigh, and my good ones.

So, anyway, I guess that I was looking sharp to the lady with the shopping cart full of returnable water bottles.  She stopped me before I got to the door, and started to tell me that she should have a sign in her cart that said she was not homeless.  Nope.  She was living in the motel next door.  And she had heart problems, so if she should keel over as we spoke, everything that I would need to revive her was in the child seat of the shopping cart.  I was thinking, well, I think I'll call 911 first, lady, but somehow I didn't really think that we would actually end up facing that situation.  I was right.  Thank goodness.

She didn't use to be living in an old motel, she told me.  No! Things can change on a dime. Her husband was killed because he walked out the door of a store, and right into the path of an oncoming bullet sent from one drug dealer to another.  Heroin dealers.  He died a couple of days later.  I told her that I was sorry to hear this, that it was a very sad story.  However, besides losing him, she lost her home and income, and she wanted me to know that this could all happen to me too, in an instant!  He owned his company and she was his secretary.  They put in big systems, once upon a time (something to do with phones).  And now, look, here she was.  

That all hit too close to home, to be frank about it.  My husband owns his own company, I am his secretary, even though I call myself the general manager, and we put in big systems too, except that ours are septic instead of telephone.

I talked to her for a while and said, yes, I do know how quickly things can change.  I'm sorry that happened to you.  Cary was offering her up some cash, but she said no thank you, so he went on inside.  The lady and I finally came to a stopping point in our conversation, and I went inside too.  I thought, now what was that all about, really?  Why did she pick me?  Because I was handy?  Because she was lonely?  Or because for the first time in quite awhile I wasn't in my old jeans and sweatshirt?  Did I look hoity-toity to her, climbing out of my 6-year-old car, and walking into a restaurant with my husband, as happy and as carefree as a woman can be after leaving a Town Hall meeting?  It was like she was really trying to send me a message, and that she wanted to make sure that I got it. 

I don't know what the whole thing was about, or what I sparked in her when she saw me.  Geeze.  Next time I am just going to wear my old holey jeans so that I won't be mistaken as hoity-toity, I think. Just know this, I am not taking my life for granted!  She didn't believe me, but I really do know how things can change on a dime, for better or for worse.  I'm also going say a prayer for her.  She has been through a lot.  More than lots of folks.  She was a very nice lady, and I hope that when things change quickly for her next time, it will be for the good. 


The end.
 

My Soup is Featured on Lynn's Blog!

Easy Split Pea Soup with Ham

My friend Lynn, from the blog Present Letters, has recently created two neat cooking blogs: Lynn, What's For Dinner?  and  Lynn, What's for Dessert?  Lynn has flattered me by including my Split Pea with Ham recipe on her blog!  Thanks, Lynn, you are such a sweetie.  Please make sure to check out all of Lynn's work when you get the chance.

Well this is really great!  I went into edit a few sentences and Blogger deleted the whole second half of my post! I wasn't even touching that part.  Gone in an instant, like that lady's poor husband.  So, I'm sorry new Sunday readers, the book reviews are gone.  The were on Stephen King's: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and Martha Beck's:  Expecting Adam.  Both are good books, and read them if you can.  I am so disappointed.  


Oh, well, have a wonderful Sunday,


Kathy

If you miss a day, you miss a lot!  Don't miss out on the news ... Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.

Recent Reads: Evergreen by Belva Plain

I just finished this book, and boy is it good on so many levels.  It was written by Belva Plain, and was published in 1978.  I bought it at St. Vinnie's but I am pretty sure you can still check it out at the library.  I am definitely keeping my eyes open for Belva Plain books now.

The story is about Anna, Joseph, and their family.  It is also a really good book regarding the history of America from prior to WWI all the way into the 1970's.  There are undercurrents of lost love and infidelity; being Jewish in America and the prejudices that went along with that; the atrocities of war; the intricacies of family relationships, and above all:  putting the family unit first.  A bit of the beauty of old houses is thrown in for good measure.  

This book is meaty and long.  588 pages long.  It took me a couple of weeks to finish it, and I worked on it everyday.  I always looked forward to picking it up again and wondered how everybody was doing when I was doing other things.  To me, that is the sign of a great book.  I really enjoyed it. 

The history part of it is so important too.  It helps to explain why people loved America so much, and how an immigrant could arrive by boat without even a penny and eventually build an empire.  Back in the old days.  Then, something like the great depression could level the country and break nearly everybody, but some folks were able to rebuild and regain again.  I guess in one way, Evergreen is about the American Dream and how a free and capitalistic society does offer opportunity to the individuals within.

So, anyway, I do recommend this book if you enjoy books like this.  It is well worth the time you put into reading it.


I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!


~ Kathy

Recent Reads:

I have recently finished two more Amy Tan books.    

The first one is "The Hundred Secret Senses", which was published in 1995.  This is the second time that I have read it.  The story is about two sisters Olivia and Kwan, who share the same father. Kwan is discovered by Olivia's family as their father is dying, and comes from China to live with his other family.  Kwan's beliefs of past lives, reincarnation, and constant interacting with her deceased friends and family make Olivia think she is nuts.  

I love this book.  It is so well written, and well researched.  It is also very funny as well.  I give it 5 stars.

The second book is "The Joy Luck Club" which was published in 1989.  I read it a long time ago too.  It is well written, because it is Amy Tan doing the writing, but it gets a bit confusing on who is who.  The story is about four women from China who live in San Francisco and have been playing ma jong together since 1949.  Each woman is featured, along with at least one of her daughters.  So, there are the stories of eight woman, when they were young, old and in between.  Sometimes I couldn't figure out who was who, especially when the older women were featured as girls in China.  Finally I decided not to worry about all of that and to just enjoy the story happening in one particular chapter. 


As always, there is a thread of the intricate mother and daughter relationships made more complicated by Chinese born mothers and their American born daughters.   Amy Tan's books are so full of history and Chinese culture.  I have been learning a lot about the Chinese religious beliefs, and it has been very interesting indeed.


You can't go wrong with an Amy Tan book.  They are not the fastest books to read, but they are very worth your time.


~ Kathy