Quote for the Week: Endings

Don't cry because it's over.  Smile because it happened.
                                                            Unknown

Books of February

What is Germany and Japan had won World War II?  What if they divided the U.S. between them?  How different would everyone's life be?  This book takes place in just that scenario.  I didn't enjoy it, but feel compelled to finish every book club choice.

Another book club read.  I was interested to know more about the infamous and power-hungry Duke of Norfolk who played a large role n Henry the Eighth life.  This book focuses on his relationships with his second wife and his mistress.   Not the greatest book but okay.

This book gives a lot of information about Nixon's presidency--his dealings with China, his machinations in ending the Vietnam War, his relationships with the members of his cabinet and his inner circle (not always the same people) and, of course, his downfall over Watergate.  Unfortunately, it reads as if the writer were a sophomore in high school writing a term paper--long, poorly written sentences with so many pronouns you're not sure who he's talking about.  I learned more about Nixon but the book was hard to get through. It was badly in need of an editor.

Her husband has just died after being hit by a bus, but what secrets is his widow concealing?  What did he have to do with the kidnapping and murder of a little girl?  I'd give it a B.

Quote for the Week

Moving is stressful, so this is my new favorite quotes...and I'm following it to the letter.

If I Ran the Country

My friend, Susan Abel Lieberman, is a prolific author.  Her books include "Getting Old is a Full-e Job" and "Death, Dying and Dessert."  This year, appropriately for an election year, she is writing a book on what people would do if they ran the country.  Susan would love submissions from people of any age, gender, political preference, etc. on one serious thing they would do if they had a chance to run the United States.  She is looking for short paragraphs, no more than 75 words.  If you're interested in this project, you can contact Susan on Facebook--Susan Abel Lieberman--for more information.  I hope she'll get lots of responses.

Quote for the Week

Politics is a lot like football--you have to be smart enough to play the game and dumb enough to think it's important.
Ann Richards, former governor of Texas

But it is important, isn't it?

Books of January

The first book of a quartet, it follows two girls in a poverty-stricken suburb of Naples  from second grade to the verge of adulthood.  I found it boring, less like a novel than a series of journal entries.  Will I read books 2, 3 and 4?  Not a chance.  But don't take my word for it.  Ferrante is reportedly one of the great novelists of our time.  (Maybe it was a poor translation.)  Anyway, I just read that the four books are being made into a TV series...in Italy, I think.  Maybe it's better in the original.

Yes, my book club read Mrs. Dalloway.  Am I a Virginia Wolff fan?  No.


Alas, this month was not a good reading month.

Super Bowl Haiku

I wish I had thought of these myself, but I copied them from NPR's website.  Enjoy (and cheer for the Broncos--I'm a Peyton fan.)

Carolina crop

Causes cancer, heart disease

Though not concussions.

Please, Coach Kubiak,

Let Peyton play "hurry up."

Don't you want a ring?

Buried in bedlam,

Unnatural war is waged.

Cats battle horses.

Muzzle talking heads.

Un-mute just for commercials;

Rest room at half time.

Methuselah faces

Carefree Cameron in the

Conflict of the ages.

No one I know would

Watch the half-time show but for

Wardrobe malfunctions.

Roman numerals

Gone from Super Bowl 50.

L equals loser.

Panther's messy meal;

Spits out a few feathers,

Mulls the taste of horses.

Oh no, it's that time!

Big piles of men fall down...ouch!

Can't wait till baseball.

Have you been alive

for all fifty Super Bowls,

the new Dawn of Time?

Iowa caucus;

ISIL; market plunge; migrants.

Time out:  Super Bowl.