At first I wasn't too excited about reading The Edge of the Haight by Katherine Seligman. The book seemed simplistic and appeared to gloss over the lifestyle and difficulties that a homeless person endures and encounters. Then again, those of us who have not faced those difficulties or had family members who have, are not necessarily prepared for how one needs to live or the choices that one must make to survive. Farther into the book, if you truly listened while you read, it depicted the some of the reasons that "regular" life doesn't work for everyone. It showed how just one person caring might change a life for the better.  It's a quick, easy read and makes one think beyond your comfort zone in dealing with those with less than ideal living situations.

I enjoyed reading The Smallest Lights in the Universe by Sara Seager. I usually don't read memoirs as they can be poorly written and drag on, but this one is engaging and interesting. Ms. Seager has amazing talent and dedication to her profession (astrophysics). She throws in just enough personal information that you feel like a friend who can empathize with her as she works on learning domestic skills. She deals with gender discrimination, the death of her husband, and raising two kids while widely travelling for her profession with grace and intellect. We all may deal with one or two of those issues, but not all! The book is well worth the read.

I would recommend reading Caroline Leavitt's With or Without You.The title subtly weaves its meaning through the main characters' life changes throughout the book. It's easy to emphasize with the agonizing feelings and needs resulting from the life altering effect of a quick decision, followed by smaller, more gradual changes in these characters' lives. Their personal growth and self-realization make them better, happier persons. more able to make good decisions allowing them to apparently lead richer lives. Growing, maturing, and owning our choices, while being kind and forgiving to others, is a lesson learned by all without, we hope, facing major life altering events, with or without those to which were are most close. The writing is a bit wordy but maybe contributes to the feel of agonizing over decisions.

"He Started It " is a common childhood refrain. It usual identifies who "he" is and what "he" started followed by the typical consequences. Sounds familiar, we all did it and had to learn to take responsibility for "It".  But what happens when it is carried too far, becomes a game, based on winning? Winning an inheritance by outlasting your siblings on a last trip stipulated by Grandfather to receive any part of that inheritance.The book "He Started It", draws you into several chilling scenarios where "He" could be one of any of the characters. And "It" could be any one of their actions to win. How does it start? Will it end? How far would you go? It's a quick, easy, increasingly chilling read right down to the last sentence. It would be interesting developing discussion questions for this book!

The In-Betweens is an interesting, nonfiction book that tells three stories. First, it follows the birth and life cycle of Camp Etna, a spiritualist camp, in upstate New York and those who believed or not in mediums, spiritualists, and the after-life. Second, it tells the early story of empowering, women throughout historical times and events. And last, but not least, it tells the story of Mira Ptacin as she encounters her own truths. 

Ms. Pitacin has wandered toward funeral traditions since young, while dealing with the loss of a sibling while young. Current practices often leave those grieving without satisfactory rituals to embrace this part of our life cycle. We hold a visitation followed by a funeral or memorial service and the burial to say good-bye; but is it resolved that easily? Most religions tell us that there is heavenly life after death. Do we know how it works? Can we have one last conversation with our loved ones? Can we resolve those issues left too long?

Camp Etna, with its difficulties, has survived for decades. A place mainly for women, it is filled with those seeking peace, spiritual growth, and a place where others are like them. It allowed and allows those there to be counted and heard as important and good as they are, those that sometimes connect this world and the next. From the late 1800s, these (mainly) women, were standing up for their rights and the rights of all women to be heard, to live the life they desired, to be free and counted. I rather like their premise of find your own truths or beliefs.

Although I would describe the writing as weak at times and without effective development of topics, it is an interesting, timely book. Many people will walk away from the topic of spiritual growth and communicating with the dead. Many call it malarkey or hocus pocus -- directly opposite of their mainstream religious beliefs. The smattering of tests done by Harry Houdini was certainly fun! Have you played with a Ouija Board? Gone to a palm reader? Know someone who just seemed to be able to know what was going to happen?

With an open mind, the book might just be a fun and enlightening read no matter what your beliefs. Decide for yourself.

 

Lily starts her adult life with regret and reminders of the death of her newlywed husband. She gets a second chance at reawakening her passions in the couture fashion industry in Paris just before the Nazi Germany invasion. As an artist, she thinks in primary colors red, yellow, blue, and the emotions they evoke. Then, as she begins to live again, she adds in the secondary colors, whose meaning follow the blended meanings of their primary colors. A light wash of gray adds fogginess to a picture…and maybe life?

She goes to Paris to visit her brother who is studying to be a doctor. He experiences true love, and the extravagances of wealth, through his married girlfriend Ania. He takes Lilly to the House of Chanel, favored by Ania, to buy her an elegant party dress. However, Lilly wants a dress by Schiaparelli. The two designers are enemies in business and social circles. Lily acts as a neutral party to help each understand the other.

We follow Lily's life through the difficult times of friends and countries with opposite ideas and choices:  the classical, elegant, and practical vs the bold, experimental, and surreal. It is a time of connections and alliances, different backgrounds and futures, life and death. What choices do we make? How will it affect our future? How do we move forward? Lily learns a great deal as she and her friends and family deal with the effects of WWII. Our choices remain with us forever and some are forgiven, others are not.

Reviewing The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo was hard for me. It is a very complex book set in the 1930's in Malay, or Malaysia as Americans would call it. Britain's colonial empire had reached Malay and many ex pats were living there. They influenced societal culture and served as a stark contrast to the native culture.
The main characters, Ji Lin, Ren, Shin, and one or another of several physicians and lady friends, seemed drawn to each other, no matter where any settled. Their names, in one form or another, made up the five virtues, so they seemed a "matched set." Ji Lin was knowledge, Ren humanity, and Shin integrity. Yi, a part of the after world and Ren's twin, stood for righteousness. William and Lydia, both escaping their pasts in England, were ritual. Native culture says all are needed in life and they work throughout your lifetime to come into balance. This seems to agree with western thought, phrased as maturing or coping.
Step siblings raised together Ji Lin and Shin deal with sibling rivalry, love, and women's changing roles. Shin is encouraged and helped to enter medical school, while Ji Lin, who is smarter, is expected to marry well. Both enter into an agreement with Shin's father that enables them to pursue what they want - if they can decided on what that is.
Ren and Yi are connected even after Yi dies at the age of seven or eight. Ren feels the pull to join Yi, but does not understand what is happening. Ren is a houseboy to first Dr. McFarland, followed by Dr. Acton, and then Dr. Rawlings. Each man has his secrets, and they share more than a passing interest in local legends about night tigers.
Are there things that crop up repeatedly in your life? Is there something that causes them to be resolved? Are night tigers real? These are subjects to discussion and confusion for all.

This exceptional book looks at talent, greed and accomplishments in the writing world. It is eerily on target in this day of electronic and social media. It is applicable across all professions.

Through exceptional writing, character development, and story line, it considers decisions we all face every day. What makes a story, or ad or design, your own? Have you seen things in social media or at conferences that would make you and your company more successful? Have you woven ideas heard at a dinner gathering, conference, or neighborhood pool party into an award-winning product? Was there a mentor that opened doors for you?

Today I sit at my desk pondering a good ad idea that was developed by a competitor in a neighboring city. We're loosely held together through a national organization that provides basic layouts and copy to adapt to our local needs. We've also always taken the unofficial stance to use whatever another member has developed to help get across our message.

Should I get credit for the ad I develop based on their layout and even use of some copy disguised as coming from my city?

How far would you go? What is your ladder to the sky? Read this book today.

Our House by Louise Candlish is a story about how tangled our lives can become. The unexpected twists and turns in the lives of the main characters, Fi (ona) and Bram Lawson quickly keep you interested and involved. It keeps you thankful for the problems you have.

Most of us start our adult lives with wonder, excitement, and energy to achieve our lofty goals. It sometimes goes better than we could ever hope, and sometimes spirals into situations in which we have no idea what to do, especially in this electronic age.

Fi and Bram marry, have two boys, and an upscale life – a home in a sought after area, wonderful jobs, and good friends. Or do they?

It quickly dissolves when Fi catches Bram in a second round of infidelity, and decides she cannot continue being married to him. She takes the high road in separating and keeping a good quality life intact for her boys. They take turns narrating how it is going – adjustments, discussions, difficulties, and good times. Then Fi comes home one day to people moving into her adored, status-symbol home! Her furniture and possessions are all gone. Imagine sitting on a chair at a table that you have never seen before in "your" kitchen!

As Bram's story of infidelity, drinking, and driving issues unfold, it is clear that one could not have predicted the next steps, how dishonesty spirals into more than can be straightened out, and affects friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike. Are there really people like that in the world? Would they really take everything they could and run? How lack of communication makes things even worse? Could Fi have been less naïve and more aware of things a little out of place?

You will be thinking about this novel after you finish it. Wondering if only…would this have happened? A very dark novel, that is worth the read

The Necklace by Claire McMillan has something with which everyone can identify. The book maintains interest with topics of family connections, dynamics at holiday dinners, and youthful hopes and dreams. Cornelia, "Nell", a strong and likeable main character, looks to find her place in the family and the world. She and cousins Pansy and Emerson continue sibling rivalries started in their grandparents' generation; Ethan, Ambrose, and Lou Lou were close and competitive siblings. Aunt Lou Lou raised Nell's mother, when her own mother, May, died young. Nell's mother also died young.

Growing up, Nell often felt like the black sheep of the family. Nell's place in the family, and that of her mother, seemed at issue. She often found herself in the place of honor next to Lou Lou at holiday dinners during the infrequent visits to the family estate. Lou Lou impressed and embarrassed her with tidbits of important social graces that all young girls of a certain social status should know.

Upon Lou Lou's death, the cousins gather at the family home to mourn their grandmother and aunt. As an attorney, Nell is designated the executor of the estate. Lou Lou bequeathed each of the three cousins an equal share of the estate plus some individual gifts. Nell's specific gift was The Necklace, which was not immediately located. When found, in the back of a dresser drawer in a random drawstring bag, it appears to be nothing more than garish costume jewelry. When appraised, the rare and valuable necklace becomes a cause of disagreement in the division of the estate. The book explores attempts to negotiate ownership of the necklace, its history, and of family issues long past.

The Necklace is an enjoyable book. The well-written book is a quick, easy read.

From 1456 through 2017, major comets displays judged from mediocre to brilliant are tracked. These comets seem magical by members of Roisin and Francois and their families.

Roisin and Francois seem to have a special bond, not explained by their backgrounds. Roisin was raised in Ireland and Franois was raised in France. Roisin has an unexplained desire to see new and different places, running from commitment, seeking something inexpicable. Francois, on the other hand, seems content to stay in one place his entire life, pushed on by his grandmere, and the pull to find something he cannot define. Both face their own demons and desires, and the eventual safety and security they find each other.

Does the past influence our future? Is it in our genes, our heritage? Can it follow us where ever we go? Sedgewick explores these questions through a tightly woven story of family and comets that come and go. The book was easy to read with a depth not uncovered until the very end. I think the characters could have been developed more, their angst and longings better defined. The story line was interesting and unusual. I would recommend reading this book, although it isn't for everyone.