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
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
—
amazon uk – available now
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
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
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.
—
“she generally gave herself good advice, though she very seldom followed it.”
-lewis carroll
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
what you might imagine it to be vs. what it might quite possibly be.
—
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.
—
image credits: tom gauld, simon and schuster
image credit: pictoral arts journal
that surprising and wonderful moment
when you discover
there is yet one more unread book
written by one of your favorite authors
hiding in plain sight
waiting for you to pick it up.
—
I didn't have my glasses on.... 