February's Book of the Month

 

Hello Everyone! I chose the picture posted above because it reminds me of reading to my daughter Mareena when she was little. Every afternoon until she was about eight or nine years old, we would take one of her books that she wanted to read or that she was reading and we would curl up together on my big bed. 

We would spend an hour or so reading a chapter of her book, and then take a nap together. Her absolutely favorite author at that time was an English author named Enid Blyton. Ahh, nice memories... 

My picks for 'Books of the Month' will be decidedly more adult these days, but they will be from almost any genre. February's Book of the Month is:

The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy

  Published as: The Copper Beech in September 1992

Publisher: Orion

Birth Name: Anne Maeve Binchy

Born: 28 May 1939 in Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland

Died: 30 July 2012 in Dublin, Ireland 

Canonical Name: Maeve Binchy

Pseudonyms: None

The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy was the eighth book that I read in 2017. I have had this book on my TBR pile since January 24, 2012 and the reread took me six days to finish. I have put this book back on my "keeper" shelf to read again soon.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Who Knew That Jane Austen Could be so Much Fun!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

Well sadly, my niece Stephanie passed away on Wednesday, February 1st after bravely battling through approximately two years of a cancer diagnosis. She was suffering from ovarian cancer and had initially been misdiagnosed by her primary care doctor. She lobbied for a second opinion, but ended up being horribly allergic to many of the chemo therapy drugs that her new doctors tried to give her. Despite all that, she fought long and hard and had the best primary care physicians possible working on her case - Rest In Peace, Stephanie!

To be perfectly honest, there is nothing much going on with me these days. I've been doing all types of puzzles, and reading of course, but I really haven't been doing much of anything else for the past few days. I may have to put down my books and puzzles until I can get my housework back under control...maybe!?!

I'm also still working through an amazing backlog of crossword puzzles and sudoku puzzles from the newspaper. So far, I've done approximately 112 sudoku and crossword puzzles from the newspaper, although I have also done some sum-doku puzzles from my puzzle books, too! Actually, I just finished another one of the puzzle books from my collection last Saturday afternoon - Saturday, February 11th - as well as a Jumbo Crossword Puzzle book early this morning - Sunday, February 26th!

Apparently, later on this afternoon, PBS' 'Masterpiece' will be airing the television adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel Northanger Abbey. Actually, Mareena just told me that she has a copy of the book although she has never read it. I vaguely remember reading several of Jane Austen's novels when I was in school - even Northanger Abbey - although I don't think that I could tell Mareena anything about the story.

To be perfectly honest, I would have to say that many of Jane Austen's novels that I read while I was going to school were rather boring! I don't know why this should have been the case - because I generally loved reading, loved school, loved most of my teachers, and loved everything about the subject of English. Anyway, the television adaptation of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey looks very intriguing, and I'm actually looking forward to reading this book again some time soon. Perhaps with the span of several decades between me and my first reading of it, my impressions will change.

As regards my own reading, the most recent book that I've read was The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy which I finished on Friday, February 24th! This was actually a reread for me from just about five years ago. In my opinion, Ms. Binchy's books are consistently among some of my favorites - very rarely have I ever disliked a book by Maeve Binchy.

I immediately started reading The Doctor's Wife: A Novel by Elizabeth Brundage on Friday, February 24th. Although I already have one other book by this author on my bookshelf, The Doctor's Wife: A Novel is the first book that I've ever read by Ms. Brundage. So far, it's an intriguing plot.

According to Goodreads - as of today, February 26th - I've actually read 69 pages out of 368 in The Doctor's Wife: A Novel by Elizabeth Brundage; or approximately 19 percent. Since my own copy of The Doctor's Wife: A Novel by Elizabeth Brundage actually has 342 pages in it; reading 69 pages means that I have read approximately 20 percent.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Maeve Binchy - The Copper Beech

Reread. The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy (1992)

Length: 391 pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Originally Read: 31 January 2012

Reread Finished: 24 February 2017
Where did it come from? Originally from Bookmooch, then from my "keeper" shelf.

Well, after I had finished reading The Remains by Vincent Zandri on February 15th, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to read next. So I decided to do the same thing that I had done before - look through the contents of my "keeper" shelf. Since I had actually already reread Treasures by Belva Plain back in January of 2017 - and thoroughly enjoyed that book - I decided to choose one of my consistently favorite authors whose writing rarely disappoints me: Maeve Binchy. The book that captured my attention right away was The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy.

I started reading The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy again on February 18th! It was definitely a wonderful book for me to read; a true 'comfort read'! This was actually a reread for me from just about five years ago, after Mareena gave the book to me as one of her 'just because' gifts for January of 2012. Actually, I read this book for the first time over four days in January of 2012 - from January 27th, to January 31st!

My reread of the book took place over six days in February of 2017 - from February 18th, to February 24th! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and have put it back on my "keeper" shelf. I definitely will be keeping this book to read again at some point in the future.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

I May be Doing Too Many Jigsaw Puzzles!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

Well sadly, my niece Stephanie passed away on Wednesday, February 1st after bravely battling through approximately two years of a cancer diagnosis. She was suffering from ovarian cancer and had initially been misdiagnosed by her primary care doctor. She lobbied for a second opinion, but ended up being horribly allergic to many of the chemo therapy drugs that her new doctors tried to give her. Despite all that, she fought long and hard and had the best primary care physicians possible working on her case - Rest In Peace, Stephanie!

To be perfectly honest, there is nothing much going on with me these days. I've been doing all types of puzzles, and reading of course, but I really haven't been doing much of anything else for the past few days. I may have to put down my books and puzzles until I can get my housework back under control...maybe!?!

I'm also still working through an amazing backlog of crossword puzzles and sudoku puzzles from the newspaper. So far, I've done approximately 107 sudoku and crossword puzzles from the newspaper, although I have also done some sum-doku puzzles from my puzzle books, too! Actually, I just finished another one of the puzzle books from my collection on Saturday afternoon - Saturday, February 11th - and am delighted to say that the book actually came from the six-pack of puzzle books that I received on Friday, March 4th of last year.

I have also started doing jigsaw puzzles again. So far, I've done another four puzzles out of my giant box of twelve that has held my interest for the better part of the past six months or so. That means that I have done all twelve jigsaw puzzles out of the box of various puzzles.

As regards my own reading, the most recent book that I've read was The Remains by Vincent Zandri which I finished on Wednesday, February 15th! Actually, I thought that the author wrote an intriguingly original story, and really captured the personalities of his female characters very well. In my opinion, he wrote a poignant and extraordinarily sensitive story.

I immediately started reading The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy on Saturday, February 18th. This is actually a reread for me from just about five years ago - over four days in January of 2012 - from January 27th, to January 31st, 2012! I really enjoyed this book the first time that I read it and I'm sure I'll enjoy it again.

According to Goodreads - as of today, February 21st - I've actually read 144 pages out of 400 in The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy; or approximately 36 percent. Since my own copy of The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy actually has 391 pages in it; reading 144 pages means that I have read approximately 37 percent.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Jigsaw Puzzles and 'Comfort Reads' Are the Orders of the Day!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

Well sadly, my niece Stephanie passed away on Wednesday, February 1st after bravely battling through approximately two years of a cancer diagnosis. She was suffering from ovarian cancer and had initially been misdiagnosed by her primary care doctor. She lobbied for a second opinion, but ended up being horribly allergic to many of the chemo therapy drugs that her new doctors tried to give her. Despite all that, she fought long and hard and had the best primary care physicians possible working on her case - Rest In Peace, Stephanie!

So back on Sunday, February 12th, Mareena and I weren't able to make it to the radio station because of the nor'easter snowstorm that blew through. Also, our downstairs neighbor Pamela - who is usually our ride to the station - put her back out while shoveling the driveway on Saturday, February 11th! Since there was also a ladies basketball game going on that day as well - and the show would only be an hour and a half as a result - we decided to call someone in to do our show.

The person who usually fills in for us was on vacation in Key West, Florida so we wound up calling our station manager Darrin who stepped forward to do our show in his place. Darrin told me over the phone that he had something unexpected planned for our listeners - which actually turned out to be a radio broadcast of an episode of 'The Twilight Zone' called 'Long Live Walter Jameson'. It actually turned out to be very entertaining to listen to the show, even though I don't usually like anything having to do with science fiction. The experience brought me back to a time when I used to listen to the BBC Radio Dramas as a child and a young adult every afternoon at 3 P. M.

I'm also still working through an amazing backlog of crossword puzzles and sudoku puzzles from the newspaper. So far, I've done approximately 104 sudoku and crossword puzzles from the newspaper, although I have also done some sum-doku puzzles from my puzzle books, too! Actually, I just finished another one of the puzzle books from my collection last Saturday afternoon - Saturday, February 11th - and am delighted to say that the book actually came from the six-pack of puzzle books that I received on Friday, March 4th of last year.

I have also started doing jigsaw puzzles again. So far, I've done another two puzzles out of my giant box of twelve that has held my interest for the better part of the past six months or so. That means that I have done ten jigsaw puzzles out of the box of twelve.

As regards my own reading, the most recent book that I've read was The Remains by Vincent Zandri which I finished on Wednesday, February 15th! Actually, I thought that the author wrote an intriguingly original story, and really captured the personalities of his female characters very well. In my opinion, he wrote a poignant and extraordinarily sensitive story.

I immediately started reading The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy on Saturday, February 18th. This is actually a reread for me from just about five years ago - over four days in January of 2012 - from January 27th, to January 31st, 2012! I really enjoyed this book the first time that I read it and I'm sure I'll enjoy it again.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Vincent Zandri - The Remains

7. The Remains by Vincent Zandri (2012)
The Rebecca Underhill Trilogy Book 1
Length: 272 pages
Genre: Horror

Started: 10 February 2017

Finished: 15 February 2017

Where did it come from? Many thanks to my next door neighbor for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 4 February 2017
Why do I have it? I like horror and Vincent Zandri is a new author for me.

For years, the Underhill twins had repeatedly been warned to never walk through the woods alone. The rumor was that a serial killer lived there - someone who had reputedly murdered his entire family. While Rebecca Underhill may have taken such warnings to heart, her twin sister Molly had always had a more rebellious nature. Besides, the sisters had always felt safe walking through the woods, and they figured that as long as they were together - they could handle whatever came their way.

That belief was put to the test when the sisters decided to explore the delapidated cabin behind their house. They never expected to ever cross paths with the deranged man who actually lived there, but he unexpectedly came home and caught them inside his house. After a particularly harrowing ordeal, the girls managed to escape - but fearing retribution against their family - they swore to keep the entire incident a secret. In the thirty years since their terrifying ordeal, the girls have done their best to forget what happened to them and to move forward with their lives.

Rebecca is now a painter and a special needs art teacher, but unfortunately, Molly has long since passed away from cancer. Suddenly, Rebecca begins to receive a series of cryptic text messages from her sister. As much as she wants to believe that Molly is trying to communicate with her, Rebecca just can't bring herself to accept something so implausible.

It couldn't be their attacker from so many years ago; he was captured and imprisoned for a similar crime at around that same time. Surely he'd still be incarcerated or dead by now - wouldn't he? Rebecca so wants to believe that 'the boogeyman' can never scare her again, and she doesn't want to believe that she ever gave him such power over her - but the night terrors she still suffers from say otherwise.

When one of Rebecca's art students - an autistic savant named Francis - gives her a series of paintings, she is absolutely astounded by what she sees in each one. She realizes that the scenes in each painting depict something from her nightmares - the nightmares she has had every single night for the past thirty years. Rebecca is certain that Franny has absolutely no knowledge of her horrific ordeal, but she is also stunned and confused by the accuracy of each of his paintings. It's almost as though Franny is somehow forcing Rebecca to relive the most horrifying moment of her life.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, the story was intriguingly original and I enjoyed the subtly mysterious elements of prescience that the author utilized all the way through it. I also appreciated the way the author wove memories of the past throughout the present-day story and knitted both stories together. I would certainly say that Mr. Zandri captured the true essence of his female characters and wrote a poignant story with an extraordinary amount of sensitivity - a definite A+!

Actually, The Remains by Vincent Zandri is one of five books that my next door neighbor sent me, all by the same author. I'm not absolutely certain, but I think that the author may be my next door neighbor. Wouldn't that be something?

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Well, I'm Slowly Getting Back Into Reading!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

Well sadly, my niece Stephanie passed away on Wednesday, February 1st after bravely battling through approximately two years of a cancer diagnosis. She was suffering from ovarian cancer and had initially been misdiagnosed by her primary care doctor. She lobbied for a second opinion, but ended up being horribly allergic to many of the chemo therapy drugs that her new doctors tried to give her. Despite all that, she fought long and hard and had the best primary care physicians possible working on her case - Rest In Peace, Stephanie!

Actually, I haven't been doing all that much lately, just watching quite a bit of television and doing jigsaw puzzles. I'm putting my 'blah' attitude down to Stephanie's passing and the snow finally starting in earnest over the past few days. After a small reprieve from the snow, there's supposed to be another nor'easter coming through this afternoon - Sunday, February 12th - and its going to bring about two feet of snow with it.

Since Mareena and I enjoyed both movies that we watched on the 'On Demand' Channel about two or three weeks ago, we are trying to decide if we want to make the practice a monthly occurrence or not. As it stands now, we may choose one movie to watch on the 'On Demand' Channel each month; or perhaps two if the mood strikes us. There are several movies that seem to be very interesting.

I'm also still working through an amazing backlog of crossword puzzles and sudoku puzzles from the newspaper. So far, I've done approximately 98 sudoku and crossword puzzles from the newspaper, although I have also done some sum-doku puzzles from my puzzle books, too! Actually, I just finished another one of the puzzle books from my collection yesterday afternoon - Saturday, February 11th - and am delighted to say that the book actually came from the six-pack of puzzle books that I received on Friday, March 4th of last year.

I have also started doing jigsaw puzzles again. I actually started doing a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle of decorative boxes on Monday afternoon, January 30th and finished it on Monday afternoon, February 6th! It was a surprisingly complex jigsaw puzzle for me, despite taking only seven days to complete. I immediately started doing an eighth jigsaw puzzle out of my giant box of twelve on Wednesday afternoon, February 8th and finished it approximately two days later on Friday afternoon, February 10th!

As regards my own reading, the most recent book that I've read was Debbie: My Life by Debbie Reynolds and David Patrick Columbia which I finished on Monday, February 6th! Actually, it seemed like Ms. Reynolds was such a lovely, down-to-earth person. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading her autobiography.

I immediately started reading The Remains by Vincent Zandri on Monday, February 6th. After a few initial stops and starts with my reading, I'm happy to say that I restarted my reading of the book on Friday, February 10th! According to Goodreads - as of today, February 12th - I've actually read 50 pages out of 286 in The Remains by Vincent Zandri; or approximately 17 percent. Since my own copy of The Remains by Vincent Zandri actually has 272 pages in it; reading 50 pages means that I have read approximately 18 percent.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight