Tuesday, November 04, 2014

Where Is Your Boomark? 11/04/2014)

Happy November! I hope you all are well and in the middle of reading some great books. Did you remember to turn back your clocks this weekend? Those of you who had to, anyway. I generally try to change my clocks that need changing the night before, but I forgot to do that this year. I woke up Sunday morning and thought it was later than it was at first. Then I groaned because it meant my daughter had gotten up at her usual time again.

Halloween was this past Friday and what a fun day it was.  The day would not have been even half as much fun if it weren't for my daughter. I got to help out at her school Halloween party (there were games, and then we went trick-or-treating around the school's neighborhood) and took her trick-or-treating in my office. She loved all the attention. I cannot tell you how many times I heard, "I love trick-or-treating" throughout the day. She got to go again with her father when he got home from work, and in the meantime helped me pass out candy, which she loved doing as well. Mouse dressed up as Queen Izzybella, one of Pirate Izzy's many personas on the cartoon series Jake and the Neverland Pirates show. It seemed quite fitting given last year my daughter was a pirate princess dressed in pirate garb.  This time she was a pirate queen dressed in a princess queen gown. She refused to wear her crown, but did carry around her sword this time around.

Since last we visited, I finished reading Jim Snowden's The Summer of Long Knives, which I reviewed yesterday. And tomorrow my review of Last Train to Babylon by Charlee Fam will go up. Two very different books. I decided I needed something uplifting to read next and so began The Art of Arranging Flowers by Lynne Branard, set in a small town in Washington.  Ruby Jewell owns a flower shop and has served the people of her town for over twenty years. She and her dog, Clementine are well known and well liked in the community. Ruby closed her heart long ago after the death of her sister, and now finds it opening with the help of those around her.  It just so happens qualifies for the What's In A Name Challenge which I'm sadly behind in completing.  I may just complete that challenge yet!

What are you reading at the moment?  Is it something you would recommend?





Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts 
First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where  
participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a 
book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.


I am only a few chapters into The Art of Arranging Flowers by Lynne Branard, but am enjoying it so far. Here is the opening paragraph and part of the second:
Daisy was not crazy. At least not like they said. She wasn't unstable or paranoid. She wasn't disassociative or delusional, nor did she ever display homicidal tendencies. She didn't impost some means of self-mutilation or harbor a borderline personality. She did not require restraints or group therapy and she never intended harm. She took her meds and she was fine. She was not crazy.
The day she died, that cold gray day when I withdrew into myself, that day I cleaned the house from top to bottom, wiped down every wall, emptied every trash can and discarded most of my clothes, that day when I scrubbed and mopped and threw away the things of no matter, closed the curtains in the front room, unplugged all the clocks and disconnected my phone, put on my grandmother's only black suit, changed the sheets, and lay down on the bed, I was the one who was crazy. 

Would you continue reading?


© 2014, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

42 comments:

  1. I'm glad Mouse had a wonderful time at her school Halloween party, as well as her trick-or-treating moments. :)

    The Art of Arranging Flowers sounds interesting. I'm always wondering what it's like working in a flower shop. I suppose I'd be happy seeing those pretty flowers around me everyday, hehe. Btw, that book cover is gorgeous!

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    1. Melody - She really did, Melody. I love seeing her so happy. :-) She asked me last night if we can go trick-or-treating again this weekend and I had to explain to her that Halloween only came but once a year. She wasn't happy.

      I'm enjoying The Art of Arranging Flowers. It's not quite as heavy as my other recent reads. I've always wondered about working in a flower shop as well. I'm not good with plants and flowers at all, but I do love to look at them and smell them.

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  2. WOW, terrific intro, I would definitely read more, if fact I am adding to my wish list.

    Thanks for sharing Wendy. (Glad Mouse had a fun Halloween)

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    1. Diane - I thought so too! I hope you are able to read it and will enjoy it, Diane!

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  3. I love seeing all the little ones on Halloween. Vance never really got into trick or treating, though, and I'm not sure why. He'd go to a few houses and then be ready to call it quits.

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    1. Kathy - I do too. I don't even mind the teens trick-or-treating, especially if they are in costume. :-)

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  4. Halloween is much more fun with kids! Mouse makes a great Queen Izzybella. :)

    The opening paragraphs seem a little at odds with the cover--that makes it even more interesting.

    I'm reading Just City by Jo Walton at the moment. Interesting in that weird Jo Walton way, it starts out with Apollo wondering why Daphne chose to become a tree rather than mate with him.

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    1. Jenclair - It is! I have a friend with no children who would disagree though as she loves Halloween and goes all out every year. :-)

      The opening is rather sad, isn't it, given the cover? I thought so too. From the description of the book, it is more of an uplifting book than you might think initially. We'll see.

      Just City sounds interesting. I like the way you describe the intro. LOL

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  5. Halloween is so huge when the kids are little. My daughter, at 16, is back into it again after a three year hiatus. She loves her candy. My 15 year old stayed home. I swear, back in the day, we'd start planning costumes in early September...

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    1. Sandy - I like my candy a little too much. Ugh. I really need to bring the extra to work and get it out of my house.

      I'm just glad my daughter didn't change her mind about what she wanted to be at the last minute this year. :-)

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  6. Not nearly as big here, we only had four callers at Halloween. It sounds like Mouse had a wonderful time, I think it a great idea that the school gets involved like this.

    Loving the sound of your book, its definitely one I'd read. I'm re-reading The Thorn Birds.

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    1. Tracy - I'm sure if Mouse went to a regular type school or a center they wouldn't do quite as much for the kids. It was a lot of fun.

      I've never read The Thorn Birds, but I have heard good things.

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  7. This is an author I'm not familiar with, and the opening is interesting. I will look forward to your review! Glad you all had a great Halloween!

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    1. Monica - This will be my first by the author. So far so good!

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  8. After reading those opening paragraphs, I want more! I'm getting this book.
    I enjoyed Halloween this year too because of my 3-yr-old granddaughter. I sewed her doctor costume--scrubs and a white lab coat--and she had a great time listening to people's hearts with her stethoscope. What a fun time!
    My Tuesday post features a Navajo mystery by Tony Hillerman: THE BLESSING WAY.

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    1. Sandra - Haha! I hope you like it when you read it. I'm enjoying it so far.

      Your granddaughter's costume sounds great, Sandra. I sure wish I could sew. My daughter has a medical kit and she loves giving people "exams". It's so cute.

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  9. Wow! What a great opening. I would read more! I'm glad you had such a great Halloween!

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    1. Pat - The Art of Arranging Flowers is good so far. I am counting down until lunch time when I can read more. :-)

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  10. What a beautiful cover. That and the opening are enough to keep me reading. Have a good week!

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    1. Cat - I think it's beautiful too. :-) I hope you have a good week too!

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  11. What a pretty cover! I would read on!
    Thanks for stopping by.

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  12. I love Mouse's little personality! She seems to really know what she wants and loves. :) Halloween was fun for us as well--it definitely makes a difference having little ones who are so joyful about it all. Poor Elle is very disappointed that it won't be Halloween for a very very long time.

    The clocks. Today was the first day that the girls slept to almost normal times. I'm really really trying to stay in the habit of getting up earlier--something I talk about every single November but never seem to manage!

    Have a great week Wendy!

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    1. Trish - Mouse does seem to know her mind well much of the time. :-) She's a sweetheart. I am glad you had a fun Halloween too. Mouse is right there with Elle. She wasn't at all happy last night when I told her she couldn't go trick-or-treating right then and there and that she had to wait until next year. I tried to comfort her by pushing Thanksgiving, but she immediately chimed in with Santa and gifts.

      Mouse seems to be doing okay with the time change at this point, other than complaining about it being so dark when I get out of work. Yesterday she was upset because she thought it meant she had to go home and go to bed right away. Today was better. It was a little easier when she was younger.

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  13. The art of arranging flowers sounds good. I'm glad your Halloween was fun. Have a nice week. kelley—the road goes ever ever on

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    1. Kelley - I am enjoying it so far. I hope you have a good week too, Kelley!

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  14. Glad you had such a fun Halloween.

    The first two paragraphs of your book interested me enough to want to read on. Hope you enjoy it and that it fits the bill of being lighter than your recent reads.

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    1. Catherine - I love this time of year. :-)

      I have a feeling The Art of Arranging Flowers will be just what I need. :-)

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  15. The Art of Arranging Flowers sounds like a good book. Have a great week!

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    1. Yvonne - It's good so far! I hope you have a great week too!

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  16. I'm intrigued by the intro...and doesn't the title remind you of The Language of Flowers?!

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    1. Sarah - I think when I first picked up this book to read, I was thinking it was The Language of Flowers. I have that one on my shelf to read too. :-)

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  17. Oh, wow, what a powerful excerpt! I was holding my breath, waiting to see what would come next.

    Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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    1. Laurel - I thought so too. It grabbed me right away. I still haven't learned much about Daisy, although I am learning how liked Ruby is in her small town. So far, I am enjoying it. :-)

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  18. I'd pick this book up if I were in a bookstore because the cover is so beautiful. The intro didn't grab me right off. I'd like to read a few pages before deciding.

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    1. Margot - I don't think I could resist it either, Margot. I love a pretty cover. :-)

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  19. I'm so glad Mouse had a good time on Halloween! We did too though I about froze to death. I love that she was Queen Izzybella. We've all of a sudden gotten really into Jake again as well. Halloween is so fun with a little one!
    I have The Art of Arranging Flowers but keep putting off reading it I'm glad to see you've enjoyed what you've read so far. The intro is definitely intriguing. Definitely should move this up the list!

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    1. Katherine - Brr! Halloweens out my way aren't generally very cold--although I did make my daughter wear a sweater as it was a little chilly. I am glad you had a good Halloween otherwise!

      The Art of Arranging Flowers wasn't a perfect read, but I did enjoy it in the end.

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  20. I would be thrilled not to have any DST to deal with every six months. Its just very disruptive and annoying too. I am still waking up earlier than normal just because I am still synced up to my old clock. That means, I get tired sooner in the evenings. Oh well, it's getting better for now. Until next time.

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    1. Athira - Me too. I wish the government would abolish DST. It's really confused my poor daughter. No amount of explaining about the moon coming out earlier helps. She still thinks I'm always late picking her up now that it's dark. I'm sure she'll adjust, but I didn't expect it to take so long.

      What you say makes a lot of sense. I hadn't thought about it, but that may be what's happening to me too--tiring sooner because my body is still on the old clock.

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  21. She looks adorable! Gage loved trick or treating too - even if he couldn't eat most of the candy!

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    1. Stacy - Haha! While Mouse probably could eat most of her candy, she's not a huge candy fan. She's eaten very little. She'd much rather divide it into several different pails or bags and then sort and rearrange. LOL

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