It’s Hard Bein’ In Charge

“Finding the good inside can often come from asking ourselves one simple question: ‘What is my most generous interpretation of what just happened?’”

“Being a parent is like folding a fitted sheet: no one really knows how to do it.” That line will preach. I currently have a four-year-old and a one-year-old, and I feel as if I’m taking one step forward and two steps backward…on the daily!

Enter Dr. Becky Kennedy. You may know her from her infamous Tik Toks and Instagrams about how to set healthy boundaries with your children. But did you know that she’s written a parenting book? With her lifetime of knowledge, Kennedy’s Good Inside focuses less on shaming parents and more on informing them about understanding children through connection. Her central premise revolves around the simple belief that all humans—children, parents, caregivers, any human out there—are good inside. That’s it! Simple and straightforward.

Dr. Kennedy’s book was both informative AND uplifting. The part I found most applicable was about building “Connection Capital,” a currency in which you earn your children’s time and trust. As parents, we are the biggest spenders of this capital because we are constantly asking them to do things that they don’t want to do—like leaving parties or playdates, stopping a behavior, transitioning to another activity, and other stuff they don’t enjoy. (It’s hard bein’ in charge.) Because parents spend so much of this currency with their children, they, in turn, must be the largest earners. I felt like that was a terrific metaphor to underscore the emotional work that parents have to put in with their children on the daily grind.

While Dr. Kennedy gave many options for building connection, I wish she would’ve broken it down like Nelly Furtado a little bit more and talked to me beyond just Sayin’ It Right. (A little shoutout to my Millennial readers right there.) Some concrete examples on how to set boundaries and deliver consequences would’ve been helpful for a novice parent like me. Four out of five stars for this book and some really solid parenting advice.

Posted by Michelle

Bruce Bogtrotter, Let’s Eat Cake!

“A little magic can take you a long way.”  Roald Dahl

Don’t think for one minute we’re going to let today melt into tomorrow without wishing Roald Dahl a Splendiferous Birthday! If anyone should’ve lived productively to the ripe age of 107, it’s Lofty. Angels above, please give that man some heavenly chocolate. And a yellow notepad with an HB pencil for the happy occasion. I beg you. Just now, I learned that old Roald had some of his favorite things buried with him—you know, like the Vikings. Any guesses as to his “grave goods”? He went with a fine burgundy wine, a few snooker cues, his HB pencils, and a power saw. (A power saw…that man!) Oh, and chocolate of course, from Charlie’s factory no doubt. How about a moment of silence for the giganticus author?

Speaking of giganticus authors, can we talk about one of Rae’s faves for a minute? In 2019, when Rachel recommended Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House, she professed she was “well on her way to becoming a solid fan.” I think it’s safe to say her admiration for A.P. has fully grown. I know mine has. (I’m pretty sure the dog lovin’, prize-winning author, and independent bookstore owner is living our dream.) I really enjoyed Patchett’s latest: Tom Lake. The year is 2020. The setting is a tight-knit family’s cherry farm in gorgeous Northern Michigan. The protagonist is a modern-day mother who tells her three twenty-something daughters (home to pick cherries to sustain the farm and their family during COVID) about how she dated a movie star (in embryo) when she was their age. That probably doesn’t sound overly exciting. But we’re talking about Ann Patchett here—who can make the smallness of life look both beautiful and desirable. (I love her faith in human goodness.) She lassos nostalgia and infuses it into her relatable pages. If you’re in the mood for “a thoughtful, elegiac tale [that] celebrates the ordinary and anxieties of first love, family, and fateful choices,” this one’s for you.

P.S. Be sure to listen to this book—Meryl Streep’s performance was genius. It was, not surprisingly, a little [audible] magic!

Posted by Tracy

A Full Course of Literary Meal

“They call that a Good Lord Bird,” he said. “It’s so pretty that when man sees it, he says, ‘Good Lord.’”

I can no longer remember why I took my eye off James McBride and The Good Lord Bird. Forget about that gold sticker on the cover. And the fact that Ethan Hawke and Daveed Diggs star in Showtime’s Limited Series of the same name. The title should have been enough to capture my attention and hold onto it—long enough to pick up a copy and put it emphatically down on the growing tbr pile next to my bed. For the life of me, I can’t imagine why I took my eye of McBride.

I suppose William of Ockham has the best explanation for my wandering eye. The old friar/philosopher would say the simplest answer is usually the best one. The simplest answer is I get so d**n distracted when surrounded by so many good books. Despite my attention deficit, I’ve just righted a wrong. I finished McBride’s latest: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store—and I absolutely loved it. As in, this-will-be-one-of-the-best-books-I-read-all-year loved it.  

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store is technically a murder mystery. That’s how the book begins, with a skeleton at the bottom of a well (40 years after the fact) in a place called Chicken Hill. Few would call Chicken Hill anything but ruinous. For me, it was a bit magical. Chicken Hill produced characters (some blacks, some jews) like Paper, Chona, Big Soap, Fatty, and Moshe. That was just the start of the literary magic. Chicken Hill provided me with a lovely community. Reviewer Jana Siciliano likely said it best: THEGS “is a full course of literary meal. The voices of the characters are so specific to each of them that readers feel as if they are meeting a brand-new, real-life person each time, and their quirks live well beyond these pages. Besides humor, there is actually an ending that celebrates unity, love and togetherness in a world where those things are no longer givens.”

Posted by Tracy

Dip Your Toe in the Water

“One always has riches when one has a book to read.”  —Jacqueline Winspear

Who am I to contend with the British puzzler who conjured up Maisie Dobbs? Personally, I feel filthy rich when I have a great book to read. Great as in “of an intensity considerably above the normal or average.” Thank goodness for writers like Jacqueline Winspear who think average is a failing formula. Why, oh why, have we not talked about Winspear before now? I’m baffled. Incredulous. In fact, I scrolled through the entire blog, from last week’s post down through the years—all the way back to August 19th, 2015—no Winspear. Shame is working overtime on my face. So, without further ado, it’s time for you to meet the British mystery writer whose “interested in how ordinary people have endured in extraordinary times, especially a time of war.”

If you love a series and a quirky character that rocketed out of an award-winning first novel, meet Winspear through the eyes of detective Maisie Dobbs. You’ll be glad you did. (Dobbs doesn’t have a cult following by accident.) If you prefer to dip your toe in the water, start with Winspear’s latest The White Lady. Not-Your-Average Jac creates a highly intelligent, unimpeachable character in Elinor White. This history-based mystery vacillates between the 20th century’s two world wars. Elinor’s life is forever changed by the 1st and she finds her country in need of her for the 2nd. But the real mystery takes place in 1947, when the wartime operative is trying to leave her turbulent life behind. She can’t seem to ditch her moral duty. And so she helps her vulnerable neighbors who happen to be tied, by blood, to one of the most powerful (and dangerous) criminals in London. Elinor’s help, in turn, unknots a haunting secret of her own.

Winspear goes well beyond the bounds of average in The White Lady. I love her timely underlying theme that men always underestimate women. Which gives us an advantage. I’ll defer now to Rae’s very own Louise Penny: “The White Lady is a triumph of storytelling. Rarely have I been swept up into a novel, into the lives of the main characters, so quickly and thoroughly. Winspear creates in Elinor White a complex, endearing, achingly flawed hero. This is both fast-paced and thoughtful, bold and nuanced, a thriller that is thrillingly human. I loved it.”

Posted by Tracy

Love Out Loud

“I think the most important thing a woman can have—next to talent, of course—is her hairdresser. “ —Joan Crawford

Look at Joan go. I’ve gotta say, I couldn’t love my stylist more. The woman is a genius with a pair of scissors, not to mention tint and a brush. Devron’s one part therapist, one part hilarious, one part philosopher, one part confidant, and I can’t keep track of how many parts love out loud. She’s lovely. Will it surprise anyone that we chat about books every time I’m in the chair. Sometimes we text about our latest favorite. When Devron said I had to read Mad Honey, I took her seriously. Then I saw Jodi Picoult’s name on the cover and thought to myself, I don’t think I can do it.

The book snob in me nearly won out. But I trust my girl with this head of hair and recommendations with a bang. Mad Honey openly tackles topics surrounding gender, identity, abuse, and love. The story weaves between Olivia, a beekeeper who ditched her abusive husband to save her son from a similar fate, and Lily, a troubled teen who struggles in high school and falls prey to suffocating judgment. How do these women’s stories braid together? Olivia’s son, Asher, falls in love with Lily. In their small New Hampshire town, a murder and a court case ensued. You’ll waffle over whodunnit. Picoult and Finney Boylan co-authored some suspenseful moments. More importantly, they provide a primer on hot and trending issues. I have to give the girls credit: their collaboration was filled with interesting facts. I learned some good stuff and some important stuff too. Shout out to my girl, Devron, who’s clearly cut out for this recommending biz.

Posted by Tracy

The Sunday Scaries

“If we don’t go mad once in a while, there’s no hope.” —Rachel Joyce

Anyone else got a case of the Sunday Scaries? How is Monday only a few short hours away? I’m here to say that three is not the magic number if it marks how many jobs you currently have. Summer term is kickin’ my fanny. But not nearly as much as National Chemical. (The essay consulting gig is just fine.) I’m bound to go mad. Let’s just hope it’s a once-in-a-while affair.

Of course, three is the magic number where Rachel Joyce and Harold Fry are concerned.  I have no good reasons for just now reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, a decade after it was published. How did the slow-but-steady walkin’ Brit land at the top of my tbr pile? The answer’s pretty simple: I miss Marge and Enid. No surprise there. I do have a surprise however—like Harold, I just kept going. I went on to read The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy and Maureen: A Harold Fry Novel.  

My Favorite of the Three

I’m so glad I met Harold. He is memorable in the same way Ove is, but he’s no curmudgeon. He’s 65, retired, and a bit listless where life is concerned. When he receives a letter from a former co-worker and old friend, Queenie Hennessy, who writes from her hospice bed to say goodbye, he writes a quick reply. He walks to drop it in the post box. He passes one box, then another. Harold decides to keep walking. Maybe Queenie will live if she knows he’s on his way. While Harold walks the length of England he learns to live again. I’m with the reviewer who said, “A gentle and genteel charmer, brimming with British quirkiness yet quietly haunting in its poignant and wise examination of love and devotion.

Different Angles

The companion novel to Joyce’s bestselling Man Booker Prize finalist revolves around Queenie’s point of view. Even though she’s bedridden, Queenie takes us on a journey of her own. It’s true, “The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy underscores the resilience of the human spirit, beautifully illuminating the small yet pivotal moments that change a person’s life.” Joyce is too good. Her prose is excellent, and her insights are even better. I love an author that makes me think and feel deeply. I love that her novels are laced with hope.

Lovely Closure

The finale of the Harold Fry trilogy is short and redemptive. It’s Maureen’s turn to speak. Who is Maureen you ask? If you know Harold, you know his wife, Maureen. She also takes a journey up North, to Queenie’s beach home in Embleton Bay, where she comes to terms with her past. Understanding isn’t always easy to come by. Maureen “is a quiet miracle of a book.” And Rachel Joyce, like our girl Rae, is an absolute keeper.

Posted by Tracy

Hey, Soul Sister

“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.” —W. Somerset Maugham

I know it’s our nation’s birthday, which is, of course, cause for celebration. But I’m still lamenting the fact that Rae and I were in the same zip code yesterday and we couldn’t get together. Work has taken over our days. Tired has taken over our bones. It ain’t right. Our charmed lives have fallen, and they can’t get up. Thankfully, we’ve constructed a refuge from the occasional miseries of work—a refuge in books. Fabulous books.

Hello Beautiful is a fabulous book. In fact, guilt washed over me this week when I read “The 20 Best Books of 2023 So Far, According to Amazon’s Book Editors” because Hello Beautiful was ranked number 1—and I read it over a month ago. I should have told you sooner. (But work has taken over my life.) I should have told you sooner about Ann Napolitano’s intimate story that focuses on four close-knit American-Italian sisters. Their warm family orbit is as quirky as it is lovely.  And their unique familial bond appears to be invincible. When relationships begin to rupture and estrangement ensues, Napolitano seizes the moment (and our hearts) to teach us about the power of interconnectedness and learning to love each other for who we are. Having read Dear Edward and now Hello Beautiful, I’m inclined to agree with the reviewer who said, “I feel Ann Napolitano is one of the best literary fiction writers out there today. Her novels are so moving, vivid and truly capture the essence of humanity.” Thanks Ann, for refuge when I’ve needed it most.

P.S. I almost fell off my seat when I listened to Napolitano’s acknowledgements. Because one of her main characters is a basketball player, it makes perfect sense that she recognizes sources like the history of basketball. When she said—and I quote—“Nothing makes me happier than sitting on my couch with my husband and two sons to watch a Golden State Warriors game,” my heart leapt. Then she followed with “I would like to thank Steph Curry for the joy with which he plays”; I nearly lost my mind. I’ve got three words for you Napolitano: Hey, Soul Sister.

Posted by Tracy

Do You Believe in Magic?

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” —Roald Dahl

Who doesn’t love Roald Dahl and his glittering eyes? I wonder if he’d even watch our news. Sometimes it feels harder these days to find enchantment in the world around us. Thankfully, we have books—likely places where we can wrap ourselves up in portable magic. Props to Patti Henry for dispensing pure charm in her latest novel, The Secret Book of Flora Lea. 

Henry’s story revolves around two sisters. In an effort to escape the London bombings during World War II, fourteen-year-old Hazel and her younger sister Flora are evacuated to a small village along the River Thames. Hazel watches over and comforts Flora by telling her stories about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own. Her tales alway begins the same way: “Not very long ago and not very far away, there once was and still is an invisible place right here with us. And if you were born knowing, you will find your way through the woodlands to the shimmering doors that lead to the land made just and exactly for you. Keep an eye out for the secret doorways. They’re hidden everywhere, and only visible to those who are worthy. Fortunately, we are worthy.”  

The magical stories of Whisperwood and the River of Stars (known only to Hazel and Flora) come to an immediate end when Flora suddenly disappears near the banks of the river. Hazel is devasted and blames herself for the loss of her little sister. Flash forward twenty years later to Hazel unwrapping an illustrated book titled, Whisperwood and the River of Stars. She knows that this book is somehow connected to her missing sister. Hazel begins a passionate quest to uncover the truth from her past.  

The Secret Book of Flora Lea is a heartwarming tale that I would recommend to anyone that believes in the enduring magic of storytelling. Maybe even 5-star worthy! It makes me realize how much I’m looking forward to Tracy and Rachel sharing their magical gift of writing a beautiful story. 

Posted by Sharee