"I seek the substantial in life."
  --Jim Harrison


Jim Harrison, an American author, poet, lover of food and the great outdoors, died this week. He was 78 years old, admired by many, when his heart stopped beating.  Some compared him to Hemingway, and some just enjoyed the person he was.  Mario Batali, chef and T.V. personality tells the story of reading and loving Harrison's writing.  Batali explains that he has followed Jim Harrison "more than I would follow the Bible or Koran."  When Batali's  restaurant, Babbo, opened in 1998, Harrison stopped in one day and  not finding the famed chef there, left him a signed copy on his book, The Road Home. When Batali realized that he had missed him, he immediately called Harrison's agent. The agent was surprised that Batali even knew of  the author and decided a meeting was in order. Thus, began a warm friendship, that included many a meal together.

I truly hope that Jim Harrison found "the substantial" in his life.  The first time I read that quote of his, I tried to think about the substantial in my life.  What did I have that was "of considerable importance, size or worth?"  My career was substantial in my life, as was my home, but none of the material things that I had worked for held a candle to the worth of those I loved.  My family and friends show me what is important in my life. My sister helped me through the treacherous steps of childhood and has been by my side through every moment of my life. Her family enriched my family and made our experiences richer.  I am lucky to still spend time with my dad, and though my mother is no longer with us, I see parts of her in all of us. I saw tomorrow in my children's eyes and felt the greatest joy at the sound of their laughter.  I now feel great pride in what they have become and comfort in the sound of their voices. I see my yesterday, today and tomorrow in Arthur's eyes and realize, every day, how lucky I am to be married to a man who loves me as much as I love him, makes me laugh every day and works with me to always find " the substantial" in our lives together.  

Everyone who knows me knows that books are a substantial part of my life, and The First Patient by Michael Palmer is a book that I really enjoyed reading several years ago. Since we are living through such a highly charged political time right now, I picked it up and found myself getting lost in it again.  It is well written, keeps the reader guessing and introduces very well developed characters both in and out of the political arena. It seemed a perfect book to review for those of you who have not read it.  

Petite Confessions: A Humorous Memoirette with Sassy Drink Recipes, by Vicki Lesage is simply a short memoir of a girl who likes her wine.  Her memories are touching and funny as she takes us through her college experiences and then off to a life in Paris.  We see how motherhood changes her and what life in a foreign country is all about.  Anything dealing with Paris gets me a bit nostalgic, so this was a fun book for me to get lost in for a few hours.  

I hope you all find the substantial in life, because it is really right under your nose, but while you are looking, I hope you take plenty of reading breaks.

As always, complete reviews of these books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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Genre: Medical Thriller

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Michael Palmer's death was a major loss to his fans, but luckily he left behind a number of novels for us to read and re-read.  I loved the way he mixed medicine and politics to weave together stories both captivating and frightening, and The First Patient certainly is one of his best.  When President Andrew Stoddard calls on his old roommate Gabe Singleton to take over the job of his personal physician who has suddenly disappeared, country doctor Gabe feels he must agree.  Once there he starts noticing that his old friend is acting strangely...possibly going insane. He knows it is in his power and his duty to transfer power to the Vice President, but Gabe fears a conspiracy, rather than natural causes, is causing his old friend's mental issues. 

Palmer makes his characters come to life as we watch Singleton dodge bullets and track down bad guys in this well-written novel.  His ability to make us believe in the nanotechnology that he uses (don't forget, this book was published almost a decade ago) is a testament to his research and writing skills.  His story kept me guessing and the inter-relationships between characters kept me interested.

For any fan that missed this book, this will be a found treasure, and for those who never read Palmer, you are in for a treat.  I don't want to give away any "spoilers," but this is a perfect book to read during our time of political turmoil.

- Beverly


Publisher - St. Martin's Press
Date pf Publication - February 19, 2008

Genre: Memoir

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Vicki starts this collection of peeks into her life by telling us that her drink of choice in college was cheap red wine mixed with Fanta.  Now if that sounds a bit odd, imagine how it would go over in Paris.  Luckily she arrived in Paris without her boxed wines and soda, and she quickly got used to the fine wines that Paris had to offer. She does end her first chapter with her recipe for a Sangria Spritzer though, so we know she still has the memories. 

She goes on for the first few chapters discussing her party girl lifestyle and enjoyment of the "occasional" alcoholic beverage.  Each chapter ends with a drink recipe.  Of course motherhood changed her partying ways as well as the tenor of her writings.  I enjoyed her cute stories about family more than those beginning stories, but that could just be me.  She talks about the language issues, like the time she tried it endearingly call her husband a little flea and ended up calling him a virgin.

This short memoir about life in the city of lights made me smile and shared some interesting recipes.  She even tells us how to make a face mask with honey and cinnamon to clear up acne.  Is it an epic novel!...no.  Will it win a Pulitzer?...unlikely.
Will it give you a small window into life in Paris?...absolutely.  Vicki is laughing through her adventures and has decided to take her readers along for the ride.  Sit back, relax...and maybe try one of her recipes as you enjoy this light memoir about living and loving in Paris.

- Beverly 


Publisher - Party Girl Press
Date of Publication - March 7, 2015

"Sometimes the most important changes start in small places. "
                                            ---President Barack Obama


I just finished reading the full speech that our President made on Cuban soil this week.  I know that his visit to Cuba brought about many mixed feelings, but his message was a strong one for us all to heed. We don't have to give up our values in order to work with people who have different values, as long as we are all working for a common good.  At this point in our history, that common good would include a peaceful (terror-free) world where we respect our environment and the rights of ALL people.

This is not an impossible dream in our country.  Throughout our history, radical groups have hijacked our political system, but we have always found our way back to business as usual.  Although the radical right and left speak loudest during current times, most of America wants to find compromise.  We are well aware of the dangers that we face from factions outside our country and can only succeed in conquering these terrorists if we face them as a united front.  

Like many Americans, I have had sleepless nights empathizing with the attacks that took the lives of innocent people in Paris and Brussels.  We, in the United States, feel their pain and need to find a way to work together and conquer this insanity.  We need to do it without finding scapegoats to carry a burden they do not deserve.  We need to do it without making citizens and legitimate visitors to our country feel like they must prove their allegiance every day.  We need to do it by acting like a family that although populated with people who have different ideas, will always put aside their differences and face their foes together.  Our President, like our mother/father, may not always be doing what we feel is right, but in a time of crisis we must stand by him and hope his knowledge of things we are not privy to is leading him to make the correct decisions. The end result might not be our choice, but one thing is clear... In a time of danger, we certainly can't be obstructionists and expect a positive outcome.  

Speaking of other countries and customs, the book Hold Still by Tim Adler took place in a country whose ways were foreign to me.  I love reading about other countries and customs, and Albania proved an interesting setting. The book grabbed my attention immediately (imagining accidentally photographing the moment of your spouse's death) and never let go.  This book with its unusual premise is definitely worth reading.

There may be no death in Steve Dublanica's tale of the life of a server, but Waiter Rant is certainly an eye opener for those of us who enjoy eating in restaurants and are often frustrated with the service.  The author shares his frustrations with those he serves as well as those he works with (and for) so well, that you might begin to feel a bit of sympathy, instead of disdain for your server the next time your water glass isn't immediately refilled. 
​

As always, complete reviews of these books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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Genre: Non-Fiction

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Since I started writing my blog, I became interested in all sorts of other people's blogs.  When I was told that Steve Dublanica's book, Waiter Rant, comes from his blog of the same name, I couldn't resist reading it. Working with the public is never easy, and the wait staff in a restaurant gets to deal with people at their pickiest.  Steve Dublanica  does a good job introducing us to the public he deals with daily.

Starting his restaurant career in New York (after going to school to become a priest and then becoming a psychologist, only to find both careers wrong for him) he introduces us to some of the most difficult customers a server has to deal with on a daily basis.  His experiences with other servers, kitchen staff, management and customers give the readers an entirely new respect for those who take their dinner orders after a hard day's work.

I reviewed a book years ago that changed my view of those who "take our orders" (awfully demeaning phrase) in a restaurant.  They are generally underpaid and abused as they stand on their feet all day.  They come to work while sick because they have no paid sick time, and they work double shifts to keep their jobs.  The customer then blames the server for every mishap or delay that is clearly the fault of the kitchen staff and use this as an excuse to under-tip.

Dublanica's book is written through his eyes, and he believes that 20% of his customers are "socially maladjusted psychopaths." I like to believe he is stretching a bit, but I have witnessed too many confrontations to dismiss his rants.  The book describes his experiences, gives tipping advice and even tells us how to be good customers.  Of course some of this is written for shock value, but on the whole this is an interesting book that can open your eyes to  the trials and tribulations of serving the public.

- Beverly


Publisher - Harper-Collins eBooks
Date of Publication - October 13, 2009

Genre: Thriller

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I ordered the sample of this book, Hold Still, and couldn't stop reading it.  When I got to the last page I immediately ordered the full book.  What a great premise. The first sentence of the book grabbed me..."Kate Julia photographed the moment of her husband's death." 
Kate takes a trip to Albania with her husband Paul, who returns to his home town for a funeral.  They are in their room in a luxury hotel when she snaps his picture.  He turns, steps out on the balcony, and the next thing Kate sees is his broken body on the street below.  Unable to accept what happened, she keeps looking over her pictures. The last picture she took appears to show something strange, and Kate knows she must find the truth.

She attends a support meeting, meets Priest, and they begin to investigate the people and events surrounding the life and death of Paul.  Adler does a great job making his characters come to life.  I was able to experience many emotions right along with them.  I was a little lost in the beginning with the several scene changes, but it did not take me long to be able to follow the different threads. I enjoy reading stories set in different countries, and this was my first in Albania. The action had me holding my breath at times, and Kate had me pulling for her throughout the story.  

I will definitely be searching out more books by Tim Adler to add to my library.

- Beverly


Publisher - Amazon Digital Services
Date of Publication - March 17, 2016

"A Reader Lives A Thousand Lives Before He Dies. The Man Who Never Reads Lives Only One."
     ...George R. R. Martin


It has been several years since I have been in my own classroom, and I must admit that I miss the way teaching used to be.  I loved coming up with new and creative ways to make readers out of non-readers.  Spending time in the library finding the perfect book for each child was always an adventure, and showing my students how words could transport them to places they might never see was a challenge I met with enthusiasm.  

The slow erosion of creativity in the classroom precipitated the slow erosion of my career as a teacher.  I, who used to jump out of bed each morning with a million ideas for a day of learning, could barely think of facing the day.  Teaching "to the test" took away all ability to teach "to the student."  After a day spent teaching:

1. What is the main idea of this story
2. What is the best title for this story
3. What was the author's purpose for the story

there was no time left for the taking of a trip through the author's words into a world of new ideas. The very thing that used to bring me joy as a student became a vehicle to make my students dread coming to my classroom.

Two things happened on the day I knew I had to leave the profession I loved.  Before school my department head explained that Julius Caesar was being removed from the tenth grade curriculum because the county said it took too much time away from learning test requirements.  Shakespeare had become a distraction.  Next, I walked into my classroom that morning and saw a bunch of zombie looking kids nervously awaiting another practice state assessment test.  I flashed back to entering my classroom in a previous year and overhearing a debate between several students about what message Shakespeare was trying to deliver when he had Caesar ignore his wife's warning on the morning of his death.  I realized  at that moment I was no longer opening doors for my students.  I was now being forced to put stumbling blocks in the road to the thousand lives they could be living.

I was a good teacher who loved my profession and loved your children.  Many of us turned and left rather than continue to foster this fear of learning.  I tell you this today because education seems to be getting lost in the rhetoric that is politics today.  As parents, grandparents and future parents we need to make sure that we elect officials who will see beyond the test and into the hearts of our children.  We need to pay as much attention to our candidates for the senate/house, and make sure that they know we expect our students to get a rounded education that teaches them that there is beauty as well as function in the world they are inheriting.  We need to bring excitement back into the classrooms and reintroduce books as a gift instead of just a means to an end.

This week's  books served as "gifts" for me.  I enjoyed P.C. Zick's journal, From Seed To Table: Growing , Harvesting, Cooking and Preserving Food, very much.  She takes the reader through a year of her life as a gardener.  She and her husband grow much of their own food and give the reader tips as the book progresses.  The book is written in the style of a blog and really held my interest.

My fictional adventure for the week was the first book in a series that I will most definitely follow.  An Eye For Murder: the Ellie Foreman Mystery Series #1 by Libby Fischer Hellman is a great book for those who like history and suspense tied up in an exciting adventure that will have you shivering and smiling on the same page.  Ellie is a charming protagonist and Hellman knows how to tell a great story.  

As always, complete reviews of these books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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Genre: Mystery

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An Eye for Murder starts in Prague in 1944 and ends up in present day Chicago. It starts in the third person and ends up in the first person. It grabs you on page one and doesn't let go.  Ellie Foreman is a documentary film-maker, recently divorced from a Kevin Costner look alike who can't get his act together.  She is raising her daughter and doing some amateur detective work in this well-written novel.

Ellie receives a letter one day that asks for her help.  It seems that Ben Sinclair, an elderly stranger, died suddenly.  Among his possessions was a scrap of paper with her name on it.  When she tries to follow up, she is faced with more death, a break-in and other unexplainable happenings.  She finds a possible Nazi connection as well as a link to a current politician.  Things get more curious with every uncovered clue, and I found myself drawn back to the book when I should have been doing other things.

While this book was first written in 2002, it felt like I was reading a book written this year.  Hellman's characters are well developed and interesting, and her descriptions are vivid.  I enjoyed the history and found myself anxiously turning pages as Ellie got in and out of her jams.  Her problems with her ex-husband were upsetting, and I would have liked to get to know him a bit more.  Her relationship with her dad was realistically portrayed and made me smile watching the two inter-relate.  I even liked the few Jewish words thrown in here and there...I felt that it gave the scenes authenticity.

All in all this was a great find for me, and I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

- Beverly


Publisher - The Red Herrings Press
Date of Publication  -  December 28, 2006

Genre: Non-Fiction/ Food

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Patricia (P.C.) Zick takes us on a journey through a year in the life of her garden.  Her charming book starts off with a bit of a back story on how she met her gardening husband.  Even as a young boy Robert Zick grew tomatoes in his parents' back yard.  
Once Patricia and Robert married, his obsession become hers.  She explains that while their garden may not be officially organic, they follow all the steps to grow it as such.  

Her writing style is easy, and makes the reader feel like a visitor sitting in her home.  She explains all of the basics of gardening and makes me feel that I can actually do it myself. whey live in Raccoon Township, located in western Pennsylvania, and are faced with varied seasons and growing patterns.  Her blog-style writing takes us through the months, and she shares some amazing looking recipes after each "season" of writing.  I am going to try some of her squash dishes this week.

Ms. Zick clearly explains what she knows (composting, canning, etc) and tells us what sources to explore to find information that she doesn't feel comfortable explaining.  For wanna be farmers like me or people who just like the taste of a home grown tomato, this book is a quick read that will teach you a few tricks to growing your own vegetable garden.

- Beverly


Publisher - P.C. Zick
Date of Publication - December 15, 2013

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
                                                   ...Whitney Houston

​
Today, I was reminded once again that our future is so much brighter than the pictures the politicians paint for us.  I got up early this morning and went to a presentation put on by second graders in a nearby school.  They all dressed in home made costumes that represented a well known figure in American history.  They stood by a display that they had made, representing their famous man or woman.  We got to push large "buttons" that sat in front of them, and they recited information that they had researched for this production.  The work-product was surpassed only by their excitement as their teacher walked proudly among them.

Then early this evening I visited a tenth grade group of international baccalaureate students as they displayed the personal projects that they worked on this year.  The students stood by these amazing displays that had obviously taken untold hours to complete and answered questions without hesitation.  Some had taught themselves an instrument, some had researched poetry written by their favorite poets and then wrote pages of their own work.  Some did computer generated animation projects that boggled the mind.  Project after project showed research, creativity and a desire to learn.  What stood out most, though, was they each said that they had fun doing their assignment, even though it took time away from computer games, television shows, phone conversations and all things young people hold dear.  

I came home feeling encouraged about a future led by these young people, and then I sat down to watch the second debate between the candidates in as many days. These people spent so much of their time explaining that we were all doomed, that I had to remind myself that it was all "political speak."  Yes, there are things that need improvement in our world, but there are always obstacles to face.  We may need a financial facelift,  but we have certainly "been there...done that" before.  Yes, we fear terrorist attacks on our soil, but I remember drills encouraging is to hide under our desks to protect us from Russian attacks.  As long as we live in a society where power is sought after, we will face these issues.  Our politicians need to stop using scare tactics and just get down to basic human kindness.  After today, I think I will put my faith in the next generation as our parents did in our generation.

This week I looked for light reads again, with charming characters who could take my mind off of the political forecasts that depressed me.   Both of the books I reviewed, The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre and Dirty Little Secrets, fit the bill beautifully.  They were light reads with a cast of interesting characters.  Both books were hometown mysteries featuring female protagonists.  Just what this doctor ordered. So I prescribe a dose of escapism this week.  "Take two books...go to bed, and call me in the morning if you don't feel better."

As always, complete reviews will follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

Click on the book cover to order a title mentioned in today's blog: