Tag Archives: book

Mar7

a rude awakening.

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what a wonderful way to relax

ending a long day with a beautiful book

all about finding your comfort

settling in at last

not a care in the world

tucked into my warm cocoon

until

the book’s spell

works a little too well on me

and i am very suddenly and very rudely awakened

right out of my comfort zone

after falling asleep and dropping the book on my face

hard.

it should come with a warning.

 

—

“littera scripta manet – ‘the written word will remain’. that’s true, but it won’t be that much comfort to me.’

-christopher hitchens

Oct2

journey.

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“If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless.”
“no book is really worth reading at the age of ten
which is not equally – and often far more –
worth reading at the age of 50 and beyond.”
-c.s. lewis
—
credits: author- kate dicamillo, candlewick press
Sep15

lwd. (laughing while driving.) is this a ticket-able offense?

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The Patron Saint of Second Chances

 a debut novel by Christine Simon

—

on my weekday commutes to school

i listen to quite a few books

and this

was the first one in a long time

that had me laughing out loud while driving

while i may have looked a bit crazy

 it was so worth it for the belly laughs

all from this book

set in a small italian village

filled with larger than life, passionate, eccentric characters

who you will absolutely fall in love with

a community who finds a way

where no path is clear

using the power of optimism, love, and fate

(along with a few pleas to obscure patron saints)

to overcome all obstacles.

you simply will not want this beautiful story to end.

 bella.

—

“my optimism wears heavy boots and is loud.”

-henry rollins

 

 

—

image credit/publisher: atria books

May16

above water.

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i first crossed paths

with this brave and amazing future author (trish kearney)

years ago on her blog:

“my thoughts on a page”

https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/8642668

where she wrote about

her family, her careers, her loves and losses, her daily life in ireland

when i later traveled to ireland

we met in person

(even though her children warned her i might really be a male serial killer)

we spent a great afternoon at an outdoor pub

near the water on a beautiful day

getting to know each other

i had no idea what her whole story was

until she began writing posts about her childhood

 floating the idea of writing her memoir

including painful buried trauma she had endured

as a young championship swimmer

over time she gained confidence

decided to tell her story

to find personal peace

to hold her tormentor responsible

to no longer be a victim

to help others who might not be ready to speak.

what followed was

her book, “above water”

a podcast, “where is george gibney?”

and unforeseen consequences

both good and bad.

this is a book of truths

of regaining power over one’s own life

of bravery

of survival

 of living to tell the tale

of an unbroken spirit

of healing

of helping others.

i give it my highest personal recommendation

here’s to you, tric, and to all who suffer in silence

you are their brave voice for each and every one of them

and i’m so proud to call you my friend.

—

“you don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there.”

-Edwin Louis Cole 

 

—

“above water” is available at:

the book depository (paperback – free worldwide shipping)

https://www.bookdepository.com/Above-Water/9781529333640

 

amazon u.s. – kindle format (and on june 21 (presale) in paperback) in the u.s.

amazon uk – available now

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Above-Water-Childhood-Enduring-Survivors-ebook/dp/B08HMPF1PP

—

Reviews:

Not an easy read but an essential one … an important book that celebrates the power of the human spirit―Irish Independent

A completely compelling book … this is ultimately a story of Trish Kearney’s triumph―Irish Times

Trish Kearney’s memoir is proof that the powerless and betrayed can survive and triumph―Sunday Independent

An extraordinary story, at times heart-breaking but ultimately inspiring. Trish’s courage, her determination and her warmth light up those dark secret places―Woman’s Way

A powerful story beautifully told―Irish Examiner

Inspirational―Sunday Business Post

About the Author

Trish Kearney is a writer and mother of five living in Cork, Ireland. Her weekly ‘It’s My Life’ column ran in the Irish Examiner for over two years. She also has a popular blog, ‘My Thoughts on a Page’ and was awarded Best Personal Blog and Best Writer at the Irish Parenting Blog Awards in 2015.
Above Water is her first book.

Sep24

topsy-turvy.

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 some may never think of this book as great literature

yet it is clearly one of my favorite books to read aloud

while this family is different from most

they accept absolutely everyone without judgement

always making the best of things

and seeing the good in other people

 the kinder think back on this

 learning to say ‘it’s just topsy-turvy’

when things change, are different than they expected, or don’t go as planned

they just smile and take it all in stride

  for this reason i do find it to be pretty great indeed

and i think what a beautiful lesson and way to be.

“all really good picture books are written to be read 500 times.”

-rosemary wellls

Jul6

extraordinary.

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rereading one of my favorite books

well-worn/well-loved

dr. zhivago

  sweeping epic set in russian history

extraordinary characters

extraordinary times

pasternak a poet

i would love for it to have

a different ending

for just one reading

yet know

it would not be

the story it was meant to be.

 

—

“literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people,

and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.”

-boris pasternak

Apr19

please don’t ask for extra glasses.

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it is my great pleasure to introduce you

to humor writer and fellow blogger Barb Taub’s latest book

PLEASE DON’T ASK FOR EXTRA GLASSES

it’s a rollicking tale of friendship, fun, travel to India adventure and misadventure

all taken with a tiny grain of salt and huge dose of humor

it’s a wonderful multi-cultural mashup of history, color photos,

travel tips, shopping advice, food suggestions, language and negotiation skills,

and chock full of ‘I wish we’d known that/what not to do lessons’

even if you never plan to travel to India, you’re sure to enjoy this read.

–https://barbtaub.com/

Amazon US

Amazon UK

—

“she generally gave herself good advice, though she very seldom followed it.”

-lewis carroll

Feb28

book fairies.

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how sweet to find this book 

 sitting outside on the window ledge of a downtown store  

on a sunny saturday

just waiting for someone

to pick it up and take it home to read. 

gratitude to the book fairies.

—

“books are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. books are humanity in print.”

-barbara w. tuchman

Jan25

writing desk.

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what you might imagine it to be vs. what it might quite possibly be.

 

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i recently listened to this book written and read by stephen king, and loved every minute of it-

a mix of his personal story and very straight shooting practical advice.

“It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write,

remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room.

Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around.”

― Stephen King

—

Amazon book review summary: Short and snappy as it is, Stephen King’s On Writing really contains two books: a fondly sardonic autobiography and a tough-love lesson for aspiring novelists.

 

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image credits: tom gauld, simon and schuster