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Thru My Looking Glass

3/20/2020

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“Sing of good things, not bad; Sing of happy, not sad”
—-The Carpenters


This is indeed a scary time. The news is so disturbing that I stopped reading it, and staying in the house except for our twice daily walks is getting old. We can concentrate on the fears and discomfort, or we can look for the several silver linings in this darkest of clouds.

First of all, the environment is getting a much needed break. With most people staying home, there are comparatively few cars on the road. Many businesses have closed their doors or lessened their work force. There is less exhaust spewing into our air, which gives Mother Nature a breather. I read in Time today that “One of the deadliest epidemics in decades has dented energy demand and industrial output in China, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 million metric tons—close to what Chile emits in a year.” I saw a before/after photo of the Wuhan region and the latter’s lack of air pollution was startling.

Secondly, we are watching companies and individuals take care of each other in remarkable ways. Many restaurants in our area are opening for take-out and delivery only. The staffs come to work every day to cook and deliver to people who can’t or won’t cook for themselves. In return, people are buying gift cards for their neighborhood restaurants so workers will be paid today even if they won’t be used for months.

Comcast is trying to work out a way to give those who can’t afford it free internet for several months, so their children can attend virtual classes. Universal is hoping to put current movies on streaming, so those who can’t go out will be able to watch them. Whole Foods and several other big chain stores are allowing seniors and those who are health compromised to shop before the stores are open to the public.

It is equally heartwarming watching neighbors helping neighbors through this frightening experience. No one seems to care about their neighbor’s political affiliation anymore. People are doing what they can for those around them.  Yes , there are the people who saw this as a business opportunity and bought up all the hand sanitizer, etc, to sell at insane mark-ups, but I have to believe Karma will take care of that. That guy In Kentucky with 18,000 bottles of sanitizer that no one will allow him to sell on the Internet can’t be feeling so smart now.

I am not minimizing this calamity that we are facing economically as well as health wise. I believe that we will probably never be the same after facing this crisis, but I also believe that our very sanity depends on our ability to hang on to the good. It is there if we look for it. Most importantly, we must stay healthy...as a country and as individuals. Please continue your social distancing, hand washing and caring for each other. This too shall pass if we all do our part.

AND READ PEOPLE...READ!

The book I am sharing with you this week is The Big Lie by James Grippando. Grippando has a way of capturing the politics of the day and wrapping it into an exciting legal thriller, and this one definitely fills that bill.

As always a complete review of this book follows my blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly
Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog
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The Big Lie by James Grippando

3/20/2020

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Genre: Legal Thriller
​Click book cover for Amazon.com
Wow! The Big Lie is so topical it is scary. Criminal attorney Jack Swyteck is asked to represent Charlotte Holmes, gun lobbyist and one of Florida’s 29 electors who is bound by oath and law to cast her vote for President MacLeod, because he won Florida by the thinnest of margins. Once again the country will have a president who did not win the popular vote.

When Charlotte announces that she intends to cast her vote with her conscience and throw the electoral college to Florida Senator Evan Stahl, the president's opponent, President MacLeod, doesn’t take it well. His hand-picked prosecutor intends to prove Charlotte is unfit to cast her vote.

Whenever Jack Swyteck is in the picture, you can be sure that his client will have the best representation possible and that we, the readers, will be reading a story to remember. With help from Theo, his “friend/investigator/former client/bodyguard”, Jack is determined to prove Charlotte fit to cast her vote, even while he is loathe to get involved in politics.

Grippando has been one of my go to authors for many years, and his stories always do seemed “ripped from the headlines.” Although there were one or two slow moments in this book, it was certainly worth reading. For the most part it kept me turning pages and rooting for Charlotte to have the right to represent all of the people of her state.

-Beverly

​
Publisher - Harper
Date of Publication - February 25, 2020
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Thru My Looking Glass

3/13/2020

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“I hoard books. Books feel like home!”
― Avijeet Das


Well aren’t we in a fine mess? Just when you think things couldn’t get worse...they do. The novel coronavirus is definitely scary, but the media isn’t helping when they continually refer to it as the “deadly coronavirus.” I understand that they are in business to sell their wares...and panic sells...but no one will benefit from world wide panic.

The problem is that most of the information that is being disseminated is far from factual and therefor far from helpful. Today I read one source that told me 88% of people with this virus have a fever. Another source stated that 40% of people with the virus have fever. One source said it lingers on countertops for three days, while yet another said it lingers a full week. I believe that the media is now just quoting random doctors instead of waiting for legitimate experts.

I can’t figure out the hoarding either. Art needed distilled water for his CPAP machine, and we went from one empty shelf to another for days. We finally found the last two bottles in CVS. Why hoard water? Can’t we just turn on the faucet? Don’t even get me started on the toilet paper shortage. Really? Are we expecting a massive case of a stomach virus too, because that is not a major symptom of the coronavirus.

The biggest danger of this virus is our inability to act responsibly as a society. Why do we have to beg people to wash their hands? Weren’t we taught that as kids? Shouldn’t it be a natural instinct? Why is it so difficult to give up social activities. I live in a community where hundreds of women play cards at the clubhouse every Tuesday. One unknowing carrier can spread it through the group. Just Stop! Social activities can resume when this passes.

We can all live a month or two without movies, shows, restaurants and social gatherings. Stay at home. Experiment on new recipes and watch Netflix. If you think you are invincible and panicking is ridiculous, then think of the elderly man or woman you might infect along the way. Act responsibly and there is no need for panic. Controlling the panic might control the destruction that this is doing to our economy. Unless you have stock in Purell, you know what I am talking about. By the way, those of you who have your guest closet stacked with hand sanitizer bottles...Really? You will never use half of them, but those who need them have none.

I do have an idea about what you can hoard though, so you will have an easier time going through these next few months. Books! The first to get might be The Holdout by Graham Moore, the book I reviewed this week. It is a winner.

As always a complete review of this book follows my blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly
Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog
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The Holdout by Graham Moore

3/13/2020

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Genre: Legal Thriller
Click book cover for Amazon.com
In The Holdout, Graham Moore gives us a legal thriller different than any I have read before, and I hated to turn that last page. Protagonist Maya is part of a jury convened to decide on the guilt or innocence of Bobby Nock, a twenty-five year old teacher accused of murdering Jessica Silver, one of his students. Jessica vanished on her way home from school one day and hasn’t been seen since.

The story alternates between the trial itself and a meeting of the jurors ten years later as they participate in the making of a docuseries about the case. The flashbacks of the trial are told from the viewpoint of each of the jurors as the novel progresses, and when one of the jurors is murdered while making the docuseries, everyone becomes a suspect.

Moore does a masterful job keeping the reader guessing about the original murder as well as the newest one, and each of the jurors pull the reader in with their own life stories told along with their experiences during the trial. When their individual secrets threaten to be revealed during the present day murder investigation, the consequences for all involved could be disastrous.

Moore’s strength in his characterization coupled with his ability to weave together a mesmerizing story make this a book you don’t want to miss.

- Beverly


Publisher - Random House
Date of Publication - February 18, 2020
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