MEDICAL ERROR

MEDICAL ERROR by Richard Mabry was read for the 2001 Medical Mystery Madness Challenge.

From Amazon.com:

Dr. Anna McIntyre's life was going along just fine until someone else started living it.  Her patient died because of an identity mix-up, her medical career is in jeopardy because of forged prescriptions, and her credit is in ruins.  she thought things couldn't get worse, but that was before she opened the envelope and saw a positive HIV test with her name on it.  Her allies are two men who are also competing for her affection.  Dr. Nick Valentine is a cynic who carries a load of guilt.  Attorney Ross Donovan is a recovering alcoholic.  The deeper Anna digs to discover who's behind the identity thefts, the higher the stakes.  Finally, when her life is on the line, Anna finds that her determination to clear her name might have been a prescription for trouble.

I didn't care too much for this book.  I thought the story was a little far-fetched with too many coincidences.  On the plus side, written by a doctor, the medical references were accurate, which is not always the case in medical mystery books.  He also tried to inject a little bit of religion into the book, which seemed out of place.

This was a new author for me.  I found the book while searching free books for my Kindle.  It turns out that this is the second book in a series.  I doubt that I'll bother looking for the first and subsequent books.

THE POSTMISTRESS

THE POSTMISTRESS by Sarah Blake

From the back of the book:

In 1940, Iris James is the postmistress in coastal Franklin, Massachusetts.  Iris knows more about the townspeople than she will ever say - for example, that Emma Trask has come to marry the town's doctor, and that Harry Vale watches the ocean for U-boats. Iris believes her job is to deliver secrets.  Yet one day she does the unthinkable:  slips a letter into her pocket, reads it, and doesn't deliver it.

Meanwhile Frankie Bard broadcasts from overseas with Edward R. Murrow.  Her dispatches beg listeners to pay heed as the Nazis bomb London nightly.  Most of the townspeople of Franklin think the war can't touch them.  But Iris and Emma and Frankie know better...

THE POSTMISTRESS is a tale of two worlds - one shattered by violence, the other willfully naive - and of two women whose jobs are to deliver the news, yet who find themselves unable to do so.  Through their eyes, and the eyes of everyday people caught in history's tide, it examines how we tell each other stories, and how we bear the fact of war as we live ordinary lives.

I didn't care for this book.  According to the above blurb, it sounded good.  What was in the letter that Iris read and didn't deliver?  But that's not how the story was written.

I felt no connection to any of the characters.  Iris and Emma were bland and nondescript.  Frankie had the most character of any of them, but I felt her role in this book, and her connection to Franklin, was strange.

I read this book along with some former Weight Watcher Booklover friends - I'm anxious to hear what they thought about it.

UNBROKEN: A WORLD WAR II STORY OF SURVIVAL, RESILIENCE, AND REDEMPTION

UNBROKEN:  A WORLD WAR II STORY OF SURVIVAL, RESILIENCE, AND REDEMPTION by Laura Hillenbrand was read for the Just For Fun Reading Challenge 2011.

From Amazon.com:

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood.  Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared.  It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane's bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard.  So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant's name was Louis Zamperini.  In boyhood, he'd been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails.  As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile.  But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater.  Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve and humor; brutality with rebellion.  His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

In her long-awaited new book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in SEABISCUIT.  Telling an unforgettable story of a man's journey into extremity, UNBROKEN is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

This was a fantastic book.  Written in a matter-of-fact style, with no embellishment of the facts, it was frightening to read.  As I read about the experience of Louis and his two raft-mates, I thought how terrible that must have been for them.  But then it got worse for them, and I turned each page, wondering what else could be done to these men.

I don't understand war.  I don't understand how people can be turned into sadists and do the things that the officers of the POW camps did.  The will to survive of the POWs is the only thing that kept them alive.  They refused to allow their spirit to be broken, to be stripped of their dignity.  Even the smallest of victories gave them the strength to take whatever was done to them.  I admire these men.

But how they must have suffered, both during their time as POWs and after they returned home.  No one who hasn't experienced what they did could understand it or know how to treat them.  During nursing school, I did my Psych rotation at a VA Hospital.  I sat in groups with men who suffered PTSD after coming back from Vietnam to a country that ignored them and their problems.  Now I have a slight, very slight, understanding of what they must have been feeling and seeing and hearing.

Ms. Hillenbrand took seven years to write this book.  Her research was outstanding, ranging from personal interviews with Louie and other POWs to war documents and pictures and medical evaluations.  The subject matter made this book hard to read, but one I could not put down.  Please read this.

HEARTWOOD

HEARTWOOD by Belva Plain was read for the 2011 Pub Challenge.

From the book jacket:

Though Iris Stern considers herself a modern woman, with a successful academic career and a happy marriage, she still holds steadfast to her old-fashioned sensibilities.  Burt as the mother of three adult children, each with their own lives and burdens to bear, she often finds those sensibilities called into question when confronted with the choices her children have made.

For one of Iris's daughters, it's the choice of a fresh start in New York City - and a last chance to save her troubled marriage.  While Laura and Robbie cope with an impending separation and its effect on Iris's young granddaughter, Iris herself must come to grips with the discovery of a long-held family secret.  But it's an emotional parting of another kind that looms most prominently on Iris's horizon - as neither her beloved husband, nor the solidity of her own marriage, is immune to the ravages of time.

Through separations and reunions, the changes we cannot avoid and the love that sustains, Iris will weather whatever lies ahead with a faith that cannot be shaken.  Like the inmost rings of a tree that abide through the generations, she will be as strong as heartwood.

First thing, the above blurb from the book jacket is incorrect.  Iris has four children, not three, and Laura is her only daughter.  Just wanted to clear that up.

I've read every book by Ms. Plain and loved them, especially her earliest books, EVERGREEN, THE GOLDEN CUP, and TAPESTRY.  When I started this book, I felt that I knew the characters.  As I read further, I realized that some were characters in those earlier books.  This book is the conclusion of the stories in those books.  But it is not necessary to have read the earlier books to follow this story.

The characters in this book felt real.   They had problems and pain and made mistakes; they were by no means perfect people.  But they were able to work through them and go on with their lives.  There was one incident where the possible resolution of a major problem seemed to be a little too easy, but overall the book seemed true to life.

Ms. Plain died in 2010 and this is the last book she wrote.  I'm going to miss her books.  But I have copies of all of them and plan on re-reading them soon.

NEW YORK: THE NOVEL

NEW YORK:  THE NOVEL by Edward Rutherford was read for the Chunkster Challenge 2011.

From Amazon.com:

Edward Rutherford celebrates America's greatest city in a rich, engrossing saga, weaving together tales of families rich and poor, native-born and immigrant - a cast of fictional and true characters whose fates rise and fall and rise again with the city's fortunes.  From this intimate perspective we see New York's humble beginnings as a tiny Indian fishing village, the arrival of Dutch and British merchants, the Revolutionary War, the emergence of the city as a great trading and financial center, the convulsions of the Civil War, the excesses of the Gilded Age, the explosion of immigration in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the trials of World War II, the near demise of New York in the 1970s and its roaring rebirth in the 1990s, and the attack on the World Trade Center.  A stirring mix of battle, romance, family struggles, and personal triumphs, NEW YORK:  THE NOVEL gloriously captures the search for freedom and opportunity at the heart of our nation's history.

I love New York City.  I think it's one of the most interesting places I've visited.  The hustle and bustle, the different and distinct neighborhoods, the beauty of the buildings and Central Park, the people from all walks of life - there's always something going on.  I was so excited to read this book.  But, unfortunately, I found the book to be a disappointment.

The story follows one family through the history of New York from the early Dutch settlement to present day New York.  This family, the Masters, are a wealthy group and their story is told from the point of view of the upper class.  Other families are introduced to bring in the stories of the different nationalities settling in New York - the Germans, the Irish and the Italians - as needed to detail certain events such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the beginnings of organized crime.

I would have liked to have read more about the city itself, including all five boroughs, not just centered on Manhattan and Brooklyn.  Where were the stories of Yonkers, of Queens, of the Bronx?  Giving the author the benefit of the doubt, I'm assuming that there was no way to tell a complete history of New York and all its people in one book.  There is so much in New York's story that could have been told but wasn't as it didn't fit in with the lives of the Master family.

Large periods of time were jumped over and characters disappeared without an explanation of what had happened during those years.  Historic events such as the stock market crash of 1929 were glossed over in a few pages.

As this is the first book of his that I read, I'm not familiar with his writing style.  I felt the writing to be too cut and dry.  There were no vivid descriptions of the city or the people.  The style was more "he said, she said" with no indication of the thoughts of the people involved.  I never formed a connection with any of the characters and didn't really care what happened to them.

I kept hoping for more, but the book offered less and less as the story continued.  Mr. Rutherford has written two books about Ireland, but at this time, I don't think I'll bother reading them.

WHAT A GREAT EVENING!

Yesterday, my friend Gwen and I drove from Cumming to Social Circle, GA for dinner at the Blue Willow Inn.  If you're from this area, I'm sure you've heard of the Blue Willow Inn.  It has been here for almost 20 years, serving a buffet of the best Southern cooking I have ever eaten.  Fried green tomatoes, macaroni and cheese like  my mother used to make, prime rib, salads, sweet potatoes, fried chicken, and more.  And the desserts - peanut butter pie, pecan pie, coconut custard pie, coconut cake, banana pudding and more.

The Inn is a converted church, filled with antiques.  Heavy wide casings around the doorways, pocket doors, a wide staircase to the second floor, and a big front porch, complete with rocking chairs to sit while you're waiting for your table.

Unfortunately, hard times have hit the Blue Willow Inn.  Miss Billie, the 73-year old owner, recently lost her husband and is having trouble keeping the Inn afloat.  There was an article in the Atlanta paper last month telling about the problems.  If you live anywhere in the Atlanta-Athens-Augusta area, please take an afternoon and visit the Blue Willow Inn.  You'll have a wonderful meal and help this lovely lady keep her dream alive.

After spending almost 2 hours eating and talking, Gwen and I drove on to Greensboro, GA for the highlight of the evening - a John McDermott concert.

I absolutely adore John McDermott.  He has the most beautiful voice and is such an entertaining and humble man.  He is very concerned about the veterans of the United States and Canada and performs songs relating to them.  He has opened the McDermott House Canada, a palliative care center for veterans, military and first responders facing terminal illnesses.  He also helped fund the Hope McDermott Day Program Center at the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans, in honor of his mother.  John is a truly humble, compassionate man who believes deeply in his causes.

And the voice!  Pure, clear - the type of voice that raises goosebumps up and down my arms.

The setting last night was at Festival Hall in Greensboro.  It was small and intimate, holding possibly 400 people, if that many.  And the place was packed.  John was there with 4 musicians - 4 very talented musicians.  He told stories about his family, explained the background of various songs he sang, and joked around with the audience.  He sang old Irish songs and songs about war and even sang a song my kids knew when they were little - I'm My Own Grandpa.

During the intermission, John was in the lobby, available to sign programs and take pictures and just chat with the guests.  I asked him if he would sing a song for me that was my grandmother's favorite, Galway Bay.  Sure, he said.  And lo and behold, when the second half of the show started, he did.  How many musical stars would change their program and add a song just because someone in the audience requested it?  And how many would be standing in the lobby during intermission (and after the show also) just to say hello to the ones who came to see him.  He appreciates his audience and tells them so.

He ended the show with an encore, his own special rendition of Danny Boy, sung acapella.   For a few seconds after the song ended, the room was dead silent.  We all were mesmerized by his voice and it took a while for the spell to be broken.  Then the cheers and applause started and lasted quite a while.

If you ever have a chance to see John in a concert, please do.  It's hard to put into words the feeling you get when you hear this voice.  He usually tours in Canada, with a few visits to the US each year.  The next time he's going to be in the US is in July in Niagara Falls.  I might have to take another trip to the Falls this summer!

This picture is blurry - I need to teach Gwen how to hold a camera still!  Damn, he's cute for a mature man!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

I've heard that everyone has a little bit of Irish in them on St. Patrick's Day.  I hope all my "Irish" friends have a great day!

Watch out for the leprechauns!

GOING UNDER THE KNIFE

I'm having my eyelid surgery on April 25.  My dermatologist will be doing the work, and also doing a scar revision on my melanoma scar on my upper chest.  He told me that I really do need an eyebrow lift also, which he doesn't do, but he's going to use Botox to get the same result.  The Botox will last about 6 months, then I'll have to have that repeated.  That works for me.

And then, two days later, he's doing lipo.  I'm finally going to get rid of this spare tire I've been carrying around my middle for many years.  And for a lot less money than I thought it would cost.

I'm excited!

JUST CHECKING IN

It's been a busy couple of weeks.  Shelby and Mike are now completely moved in, and our "expanded" family seems to be doing well.  A few minor problems, but overall things are going smoothly.

We just found out that our older daughter Susan (Shelby's mom) will be moving in with her boyfriend about 5 miles from us.  Ashlie will finish the school year where she's going now, but will have to transfer next year.  I know she's not going to be happy about that, but there's nothing she can do about it.  She'll make new friends - it will just take a little bit of time.  Shelby had to make that adjustment when she moved in with us in her junior year and she did just fine.

Panda news - Lun Lun is now taking baby Po into the dayroom each morning.  She's been putting him in the hammock for nursing sessions and to nap.  He's starting to walk more too.  Now that the weather here is getting nicer, I see a zoo trip on the horizon.  Look at how cute mom and baby are:

I had a therapeutic deep tissue massage on my lower back and neck a few days ago.  It hurt, but seemed to help some.  I can actually turn my head a little further to each side.  I'm going back for a longer massage, mainly on my lower back.  This time I'm taking some Aleve before I go!

I posted a while ago about Donna's bathroom renovations.  It's slowly coming together.  They finally got the mirrors off the wall and will be doing the grout on the floor tomorrow.  Then some drywall repairs, baseboard and quarter round installation.  The vanities then will need to be installed, after some plumbing detours are made.  Painting and shower doors - and it will all be finished.  It turned out to be a much more involved project than Donna had expected and she has to rely on outside help to get it finished.

I guess that's about all that's been happening around here.  What's new in your neck of the woods?

PALE ROSE OF ENGLAND

PALE ROSE OF ENGLAND by Sandra Worth was read for the Pub 2011 Reading Challenge.

From the back of the book:

1497:  The news of the survival of Richard Plantangenet, Duke of York, has thundered across Europe, setting royal houses ablaze with intrigue and rocking the fledgling Tudor dynasty.  With the keen support of Scotland's king, Richard - known in England as Perkin Warbeck - has come to reclaim his rightful crown from Henry Tudor, accompanied by his beloved Catherine.  Based on a prophecy by a soothsayer that Catherine would be loved by a king, she believes Richard will succeed in his quest.  Instead, Catherine would soon be prisoner of King Henry VII, and her beloved husband would, unimaginably, be stamped as an imposter.

As a favored lady-in-waiting to the queen, Catherine keeps Richard close to her heart, unwavering in her loyalty.  Her dazzling beauty brings unwanted affections from a jealous king and enmeshes her in a terrifying royal love triangle.  With her husband facing execution for treason, Catherine, alone in the glittering but deadly Tudor Court, must find the courage to spurn a cruel monarch and shape her own destiny, winning the admiration of a nation.

I've enjoyed reading about the War of the Roses in English history, especially reading about Richard III and the Princes in the Tower, his nephews Richard and Edward.  There continues to be much speculation about what happened to the princes - did Richard kill or have them killed, did they escape, did they survive?

This book is based on the assumption that young Richard did survive and had been taken from the tower.  He has now come back to reclaim the throne.  Married to Catherine, they return to England where they are captured.

Ms. Worth has written a fantastic book detailing Catherine's life, with and without Richard, and her undying devotion to and belief in him.  Catherine is depicted as a strong woman who faces and handles challenges, all the while trying to find her son Dickon who was taken from her as a toddler.

Whether or not Richard was really the Duke of York or a pretender to the throne is left to the reader to decide.  I'm still on the fence about this - I guess I'll just have to read more about the War of the Roses.

FEBRUARY BOOKS

February was a busy month - not the best for reading, but I did manage to fit in 5 books.  With Shelby and Mike moving in and the things I had to do to get the house ready for them, I didn't have a lot of time to just sit down and read.

Here's what I read:

WHAT A WOMAN MUST DO by Faith Sullivan (Just for Fun Reading Challenge 2011)

THE GOOD DAUGHTERS by Joyce Maynard

CROSSING OCEANS by Gina Holmes (What's in a Name 4 Challenge)

THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN by Kate Morton (Chunkster Challenge 2011)

THE MATCHMAKER OF KENMARE by Frank Delaney (Ireland Reading Challenge 2011)


I bought a Kindle last month and CROSSING OCEANS was the first book I read on it.  I'm loving it!  I'm in the middle of a 900-page book right now, and it's really nice not to have to carry that big book around.  The Kindle is so light and fits right into my purse.

Did you read anything special last month?

MADE IT

Heavy, heavy rain.  Thunder.  Lightning.  Strong gusty winds.  But they made it, safe and sound.

One more small load today, then all the unpacking begins.