By Alexander McCall Smith. Fiction. c. 2005. Published by Anchor Books.
McCall Smith uses an unusual technique in this book – it was originally serialized fiction for a newspaper, so each chapter has to introduce a scene and finish it.
It was not nearly as enjoyable as the book series – The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency – that led me to pick up this work by the same author. He paints his characters just as well — they just weren’t as charming. He also paints a striking portrait of Edinburgh, Scotland, its landscape and levels of society.
What it lacked was follow-up, which can probably be attributed to the format. Characters entered the scenes and left, never to be seen again. He nicely wraps up the stories of Pat, her vain flat-mate Bruce and her clueless employer Matthew and their odd triangle, but I was not satisfied at the end with poor little Bernie’s conflict with his overbearing mother.
My rating? 6 out of 10. It was a good light read, and even compelling in some places, but I didn’t identify well with any of the characters. It’s possible, however, that 6 other people out of 10 would recognize either themselves or someone they know.
by Jeannette Walls. copyright 2005. Published by Scribner.
This is an amazing memoir, written with a lot of conversation and short chapter segments, which makes it very easy to read.
Jeannette and two of her siblings not only survive but thrive under their extremely neglectful parents – both eccentric, fanciful, highly intelligent and irresponsible.
The mother is self-centered, the father an alcoholic. The conditions they force upon their children are unbelievably harsh; they seem to have no conscience about the environment they provide for their children.
Though the mother inherits great wealth, she will have none of it. She prefers the adventures that poverty brings. The father occasionally has a tinge of conscience but is a slave to his drink.
What they do bestow on their children – especially on Jeannette – is a love of learning, intelligence, and a story no one else could tell.
My rating? 9 out of 10, which means I would recommend it to 9 out of 10 people. The 10th person might not appreciate nor see the value of the graphic details of children neglected. Writing style? Something to be imitated. You can tell Ms. Wall is a pro.
It’s a typical busy day in the office. You’re fielding calls, answering e-mails, greeting people as they come into the office.
Then someone calls who is angry before you answer the phone. They are ready – expecting – a confrontation. They have reasons to be upset and are determined you’ll hear them all.
After forty years of experience in the business world — often as the front desk person – I’ve learned how to respond.
I’ve learned how to unruffle feathers. I’ve learned when it’s important to be firm and when to give in, when to insist on what’s right and when to turn the other cheek.
If you’re the target of a complaint – whether or not it’s justified – here are my suggestions for responses to avoid, and some you might want to try. Read more…
Most people talk excitedly about the New Year as a new beginning, a fresh new start. For some reason, I haven’t been able to get into it this year.
Maybe it’s because I’m always making promises I don’t keep, and it gets old after awhile. Why make year-long resolutions when I’m not fulfilling my week-long promises?
I heard one man say he hesitated to make resolutions for things he should already be doing. I tend to agree with him.
Others advise you not to make resolutions; set goals instead. I agree with them, too. Read more…
This is a trilogy set in England spanning from after WWI to after WWII. The titles of the books, in order, are
The Bird in the Tree, published in 1940 The Herb of Grace (entitled Pilgrim’s Inn by American publishers), written in 1948 The Heart of the Family, written in 1953.
About the Author
A quick look at Wikipedia also reveals this about Elizabeth Goudge’s writings: Her favorite among her books was The Little White Horse (1946), which is also a favorite of J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter stories. Read more…
“It’s too hot.” “It’s too cold.” “I’m too busy.” “I don’t have anything to do.”
And the complaints go on and on. Just name it, and we’ll complain about it: our health, money, our age (no matter what it is), the government, the weather, other people, our job, our children, our parents. You get the picture.
Complaining can be such a habit we don’t even realize we’re doing it.
Sometimes it’s how we interact with a certain group of friends: we have gripe sessions. Read more…
What I like most about good books are the nuggets of philosophy found scattered throughout their pages – nuggets that cause me to think or re-consider my own attitudes.
Though expressed by fictional characters, such nuggets also offer insight into the personal philosophies of the writer.
The simply named *The Bird in the Tree by Elizabeth Goudge is full of such nuggets, most often thought or said by Lucilla, the Eliot family matriarch.
Following are some of the pearls of wisdom I gathered while reading this first book of Goudge’s Eliot Family Chronicles. The trilogy also includes The Herb of Grace and The Heart of the Family. Read more…
You have the wrong parents.One of the most powerful influences on how efficiently your body burns calories is your genes.
You’re an adult. It takes a lot of energy to grow up. Once you’re full grown, you won’t burn as many calories while you sleep or sit as you used to.
You’re 5 foot 2. A tall person, with more body surface area, typically has a more efficient basal metabolic rate (BMR) than a shorter person of equal weight. BMR accounts for 50 to 60 percent of the calories expended every day. Read more…
Sure – a brisk walk may be more advantageous than a leisurely one for physical health, but sometimes a leisurely walk is better for mental health. You might even learn things – or at least find something to wonder about.
During a recent trip to Nashville [ask about our new grandbaby!], I often took advantage of a nearby walking trail, part of the Smyrna Greenway System.
One sunny Sunday afternoon five of us decided to hit the trail, which lent itself to what I would call a conversation walk.
I love conversation walks. You’re not just sitting and talking; you feel like you’re accomplishing something. You’re going somewhere, even if when you get there you turn around and come back. It takes little physical energy and even less mental energy.
Walking in a group also give us a chance to wonder out loud.
About Horse Apples, for instance…
“What are those big green round bumpy things?”
“I think they’re called horse apples.”
“Why do they call them horse apples? Is it because horses eat them?” Read more…
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