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Boekreview The therapist – B.A.Paris
9 July 2023

Boekreview The therapist – B.A.Paris

Once in a while I stumble upon an author I haven’t heard of before. B.A. Paris is one. With her book ‘The therapist’ she knows how to hold my attention until I’ve finished it. It doesn’t happen too often anymore that I finish a book in one sitting. But this time I could not put it down.

The therapist

When Leo asks Alice to move in with him she needs some time to think about it. They have been seeing each other for about 18 months now, but while Leo is working in London and Alice lives in the country, they only meet once a week during weekends. Maybe it’s time to take their relationship a step further. So, when Leo tells her he bought a house in a gated community in London for a very reasonable price she decides to move in with him.

Neighbours

Her neighbors seem nice enough, though there’s something about their behavior towards her she can’t quite put her finger on. It seems they like her well enough when she invites them over, or when they meet in the square in front of their homes, but she feels they judge her behind her back. Slowly she discovers a devastating secret about her new home and the woman who lived there before.

Alice

Alice becomes obsessed with trying to find out what happened two years before, but nobody wants to talk about it. They keep secrets from her and Alice feels more and more threatened by events that happen in their new home. Is she going crazy? Or do things happen that are not ‘normal’? And what does Leo know about all this? Has he been honest with her from the beginning?

Psychological suspense

I love books that dig a little deeper into the minds of the people they write about. This book does not disappoint. Up until the end there were surprises. Not gory but nightmarish in details and suspense I just couldn’t put it down. B.A Paris is a bestselling author who has written many psychological thrillers. She is French/British and her first book was a New work Times bestseller. She has since sold millions of books all over the world.

 

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Boekreview The Ice coven – Max Seeck
25 June 2023

Boekreview The Ice coven – Max Seeck

This is the second thriller with Jessica Niemi as the main character. She works as a detective and she’s called in to solve a missing case. ‘The Ice coven’ tells the story of two missing people. Both happen to be influencers and have a large following on their social media accounts. The similarities between the two seem to stop there. Until a picture of the same lighthouse is posted on both their accounts.

Murder

But every way Jessica examines this case leads to nothing. When someone gets killed the pressure is on. What’s with the frog poison and why is this such a hype, all of a sudden? When a local pub draws the attention of the police force, Jessica makes friends with the bouncer. He’s kind and very good looking. But is it such a good idea for her to take their relationship to the next level?

Pub

Every lead seems to revolve around the pub, for instance. So, what does the bouncer know about all the goings on behind the scenes? And is he involved with human trafficking? And what, if any, does this have to do with the two missing people? You won’t know until the very end. When it all comes together you realize that the author has been thinking about this for some time.

Max Seeck

Max Seeck is a Finnish author and received a prestigious award for his first work. I’m curious to read more. I really like this suspenseful thriller. It’s an easy read and perfect for vacation or a day at the beach. I’ve been putting his name on my list of authors I want to read more of.

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Review The green road – Anne Enright
18 June 2023

Review The green road – Anne Enright

In The green road Rosaleen Madigan grows up in an upper middle class family in Ireland. When she meets her husband she falls in love and doesn’t care about his lower-class heritage. Rosaleen’s family, however, never understood her passion. A passion she slowly seems to lose when she is married and has children.

Depressed

She finds herself often depressed and spending her days in bed. While the children all find their own way and leave her feeling useless. They see their mom as a drama queen, who needs a lot of attention. When Dan, her darling boy, decides to become a priest her whole world falls apart. Again. And again, her eldest daughter Constance must be the one to pick up the pieces.

Four children

All four children get their say in chapters in the book. It starts with Hannah, still being a child and trying to take care of her mom. Then we follow Dan, who has moved away to New York and Toronto, Emmet is third. He is the one who cares for everyone but the people in his nearest circle. He’d rather spend time in poor countries where babies die from hunger and disease than being around family and friends. Constance has married well, she adores her husband and her children and is a very happy person. But her life seems to be turned upside down.

Christmas

When mom decides it’s time for all of them to get together for an old fashioned family Christmas everything explodes. Emotions run high and fights are wild. Everything revolves around Rosaleen, as always. Then when Rosaleen walks away from home and cannot be found, the family pulls together. Will Rosaleen walk the green road forever with her late-husband or will they find her just in time?

Anne Enright

Winner of many awards, Anne Enright is an Irish writer. Born in 1962 she lives in Dublin en has written many novels. Her Irish upbringing is evident in her novels. Family is important, so is religion and interaction between the people you love.

 

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Review When we were sisters – Beth Miller
11 June 2023

Review When we were sisters – Beth Miller

The novel ‘When we were sisters’ talks about relationships. Relationships between siblings and their parents, friends and broken families. Laura and Miffy, aka known as Melissa, Lissa, Mel and Missy, become good friends when they are small. Best friends forever. At least that’s what you think when you’re about 7 years old.

Close

Laura’s family is Catholic, Miffy’s family is Jewish. Miffy’s brother Danny falls in love with Laura. He is her first real boyfriend. Of course, no future can ever come of it, two such different religions will never work out. But Laura and Danny are young and don’t worry about things like that. As their children are close, the parents become good friends as well. In some cases a little too close for comfort when Miffy and Daniel’s dad falls in love with Laura’s mom.

Worries

Now the worries they expressed over the relationship between Laura and Danny seem to fade, when their parents decide to get married. Laura’s dad has vanished years ago, Miffy’s parents break up. This is the end of a friendship that should’ve laste forever. Laura moves away with her new dad. Danny becomes her step brother and Miffy her step sister. Only now they don’t want to have anything to do with the daughter of the woman who stole their dad away from them.

Years

Years pass by, when Michael, their mutual dad, falls ill and needs an operation. When it seems like he won’t make it Laura and her mom need to contact his kids Miffy and Danny. In the meantime, Laura is married and has a daughter, Evie. Danny has married an orthodox jewish woman and has 5 children. When the two meet up again, there is still a spark between them. They fight it, but it seems more difficult the more often they meet.

Death

When father Michael dies, Miffy comes back for the funeral. How will their relationship unfold? Will they become friends again or will they be forever each other’s enemies? A quick read full of romance, jealousy, break-ups and finding lost time. I enjoyed it as a beach read.

Beth Miller

Beth Miller sees herself as ‘the tall blonde who writes’. Full of humor she tells us how many odd-jobs she’s had. In all walks of life. The best she is at drinking tea. She is the champion tea-drinker, according to her website. She can’t be any other than English of course. She’s written quite a few movies and two non-fiction books. She spends her time, when not writing, on teaching how to write.

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Review Spare-Prince Harry
4 June 2023

Review Spare-Prince Harry

Just think about it: You are born as the second son to Diana and Charles. There is an older brother, the heir to the throne. But suppose something will happen to him, they will need a spare. He has been seen and treated as such, from the first day he was born. Except for his mom, who adored him. Of course the book ‘Spare’ has been written by Prince Harry as an autobiography. This means he can say or write whatever he wants to.

First time

For probably the very first time in his life. And he is not holding back. Is it the truth? The paparazzi and press don’t believe so. They are quick to judge, yet again, that Harry and his wife Meghan are purposely making everything way more dramatic than it is. I doubt it. After reading this book I felt both sorry and respect for their life.

Youth

Up to his 12th year he had a good childhood. His mom not only took care of them but she cuddled her boys as much as she could. I had the pleasure of meeting Diana and her boys when they flew into Aspen. On a commercial flight, no private jet, she seemed like a very ‘normal’ young mom having a great time with her two young sons. I hope they will look back at this week with joy, as I don’t think there was much press present. Aspen is used to ‘celebrities’ and royalty.

Death

After the sad death of his mother everything changed. Around that time Harry had to go to Eton, a very prestigious and very traditional school. His brother Willy, as he calls him in the book, told him he didn’t want to know his younger brother in school. Being a few years older, Willy had his own friends and wasn’t inclined to ‘babysit’. Harry was alone and very lonely. No wonder he imagined his mom to still be alive. She must be hiding somewhere on an island and nobody knew. Just to get away from all the paparazzi, she had found peace. Not until he was an adult did he let go of this idea, realizing that Diana would never have left her boys alone.

Army

Glad when school was over, Harry decided to join the army. Here he was (almost) anonymous. Of course his seniors and his mates knew him, but being treated just like everybody else was just what he wanted. Craved, rather. Unfortunately there were some leaks and Harry had to go from one place to another. Not only for his own safety, what would’ve been a better target than the :Prince of England, but even more importantly for the safety of everybody there. Probably the best time of his life, he hated to leave when things were getting too dangerous. No, not the enemy was most dangerous and no, not Harry was the weak one. Again, the press was all over him and published exactly where he was hiding.

Africa

Another hide-away, for as long as it lasted, was with good friends of his late mom in Africa. They took him under their wing and provided a little bit of freedom from the golden cage. It never lasted long though, before paparazzi showed up behind hedges and trees. Anything for a good shot, so they could get paid thousands of pounds.

Relationships

The few relationships he had were doomed from the beginning. His girlfriends chose a more human life instead of being hunted for the rest of it. Harry was, again, very lonely. Never was he sure of even his best friends. There were always tidbits in the papers that made him wonder who betrayed him. His family told him to not take notice. It’s all part of being a prince. For a while he sort of managed, though he always felt wronged about all the lies about him. As an honest person, he could hardly handle the injustice.

Meghan

But when he fell in love with the one person he truly and deeply loved, things only got worse. Here his fellow Englishmen tried to do everything they could to hurt his lady. She, being American and not at all familiar with the many rules and regulations of the UK and Commonwealth, made mistakes. Of course she did! Her wordt mistake was to take the attention away from her brother in law and his family, and from the second wife of her father in law. This was not supposed to happen. I guess she would’ve happily given them the spotlights. But no, she (and her beautiful mother) was the target.

Choice?

According to Harry’s own story he never wanted to leave his homeland. He never wanted to run away from his family and friends.  Being a military guy he never even thought of shirking his responsibilities. He had no other choice. I believe this. If nothing else, I certainly believe this part. He and his wife, maybe even his cute children, would not have survived otherwise. He didn’t leave, he was forced out. Trying to still be part of the family by working abroad, this was not going to happen. He was stripped of titles, he didn’t get a penny from his father anymore and his brother fought with him, literally.

Hope

Not that he complaints about it much. Being in therapy again, he found out what was most lacking in his life. Now he has a beautiful wife, two adorable children, he still has enough money to get by. What is lacking? Why can’t he be happy? It’s the lack of respect. The craving for respect, all his life has made him feel less than everybody else. Less than human, even. It’s his wife pointing out to him: ‘You are, it’s you I love, you’re my man and you will never, ever be a spare.

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Review The last chairlift- John Irving
28 May 2023

Review The last chairlift – John Irving

Not a big fan of Irving, I had to have this book. Reason was the promise he had used Aspen as his background for this novel. ‘The last chairlift’ was quite disappointing, when you think he takes you back to Aspen. Sure, he mentioned the Jerome, Explore, Isis and some streets in Aspen, but it’s obvious his knowledge comes directly from the Aspen historical Society. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but at times I wondered if he had actually ever been to Aspen. Yes, he has.

Story

The story contains of much, much more than ghosts in and from Aspen. In my humble opinion, a little too much. Irving seems to have wanted to tackle every taboo he could ever think of, and then some. Again, nothing wrong with wanting to address some issues, but enough is enough. How many times can you mention male and female body parts and what pleasure you can gain from using them. As a European I’m quite used to our fascination with sex and the need to be as open about it as possible.

Enough

But after pages and pages reading about bodily functions, homosexuals, lesbians, little people, disabled people, colored people, transgenders, I was so ready to give this book a miss. Enough already. Don’t some authors (and filmmakers) realize that the more you want to bring taboos into the open, the more you set them apart as something ‘freakish, something not completely normal’? ‘Cause when you would be convinced that any people and their actions, are the most ‘normal’ in the world (which most of them are of course) you would not even think of putting them into the spotlights. ‘Look how hip (and courageous)  I am by writing about this, how non-racist I am, how I welcome everybody slightly different than many of us.’

Adam

Adam is the son of a, non-married, lesbian mother. His niece, and his best friend, is lesbian and gets a relationship with a non-speaking lady. ‘Mute’, she finds her way through life miming her thoughts and needs. Adam’s mother finds love with a female co-worker, and simultaneously with a little man who turns out to be transgender. Hopping from one bed to the other and back, she teaches Adam to be openminded about love, sex and relationships. That she also shares her son’s bed is part of this open-mindedness. The author really wanted to crash boundaries. Nobody was going to tell him he held something back, or forgot some ‘iffy issue’. Again, too much. Especially since he feels the need to go into detail, way too much detail.

Halfway through

When I was halfway through I seriously considered putting this book aside. As a hardcover with close to 900 pages, was I willing to spend any more time on this? I’m glad I did. The second half of the book is way better than the first. It seems like the author finally gets to the storyline and leaves the bits of infantile pieces about pee and poop behind. Now the story unfolds and gets interesting. We get to be more intimate with the minds of the characters instead of their physicalities. The interaction between the characters is interesting. I like psychology and, admittedly, John Irving can definitely write. He has succeeded in putting all the different storylines together at the end.

Late

A bit late in the story, but happy I finally got to enjoy the book, I was nontheless glad I finished it. John Irving is a Canadian/American writer and has many fans all over the world. His extreme ways of introducing his world in his work is not quite my cup of tea. Though I have to admit I loved his book ‘Cedar House rules’. A script writer as well as a novelist, his work is appreciated by many. He has won several awards and his books have been translated in almost every language. ‘The last chairlift’ is his 15th novel.

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Review Aspen Unstrung-Sandy Munro
21 May 2023

Review Aspen Unstrung-Sandy Munro

Any book about Aspen is, by my definition, worth reading. At least, the first pages. And when a book is written by a good friend, it’s even more interesting. I got ‘Aspen Unstrung’ when I was visiting Aspen, last September. It took me seven months to open it to the first page. I kept postponing, because I wanted to savor it, but I also couldn’t wait to dive in.

Aspen Unstrung

The title Aspen Unstrung says a lot, if not all. People who were fortunate enough to know Aspen a few decades back, have noticed the difference. Of course, any place will go through changes as we all must, in life. Still, when a very small mountain town is bombarded by thousands and thousands of people, there’s bound to be a development you cannot control.

Turkeys/Tourists

As Sandy describes in his book, fortunately there were powers in Aspen who, at least, tried. They tried to accommodate all the tourists (named ‘turkeys’ by locals) flocking to town in winter. Also, they tried to put a ban on the building of houses too large for anybody to want to live in. Apparently the more money you have, the more rooms you need. And so, even though there were restrictions, more and more huge places appeared on the mountains around town.

Building your own

In the late ’60s en early ’70s Aspen, in the Roaring Fork Valley, was not that crowded, yet. Sandy and his lovely wife Mary Lynn wanted to settle and raise a family in these mountains. They saw what was going to happen sooner or later and decided, with the help of many, to build their own home. While they still could afford to. Now they had never even been close to undertake such an endeavor. But after years of working their ….. off, long summer weekends (in winter there’s not much to do but a lot of skiing).  They acquired many blisters and even more knowledge than they will ever need again. But eventually they succeeded in building their dream home.

Home

In those days a home meant home for everybody wanting to come visit. At least, for  Sandy and Mary Lynn who are the most gracious and open-minded people I know. ‘MI CASA ES SU CASA’ seems to be their motto. Whenever I had the pleasure of visiting, there were always friends around. I have great memories of the hot tub, but I will honor the most important (if only) rule in Aspen: ‘What happens in Aspen stays in Aspen’. Though not all the time…

Kidding

Just kidding. Sandy did a great job telling stories of the old town and its Aspenites, without disrespect or disregarding boundaries. The story is partly biographic. Sandy tells us about his job as a teacher at Aspen High School. Sandy is a few years older than me. Had I grown up in Aspen, I would’ve joined AHS and he surely would have been my math teacher. We would’ve probably ended up hating each other. Math was SO not my thing.

Music

A big part of the book is dedicated to music. This is my favorite part. I’ve always loved (live) music, but before I met Sandy, I never ever heard of bluegrass. Being from the Netherlands there’s not a lot of bluegrass around.  I fell in love with the tunes, and was awed by the speed with which those musicians played their (many) instruments. As Sandy often joked: ‘In bluegrass music you get more notes for the money’.  Music was (still is) a huge part of Aspen’s community. I’m still flabbergasted by the level of talent in ‘our’ valley. A great musician himself, Sandy was around town a lot, playing with different bands.

Atmosphere

After being a teacher for quite a few years, he decided he wanted to do something else with his life. He became the proud proprietor of Aspen’s only music store: The Great Divide. Oh, the many hours I spent in there. As in their home, Mary Lynn and Sandy knew how to attract people in the music store as well. There was always time for a joke and a ‘smoke’. Mary Lynn, a very talented artist, didn’t have much time to look after the music business. So Sandy was the main one to keep up the store, with help from his fellow musicians, dreaming of being around the best guitars in the world.

Aspenites

As with all towns, no matter where in the world, the best memories are always of the people we meet. In the 50 or so years Sandy lived in the Aspen area, he knows everybody. And everybody knows Sandy. Much liked by everyone, for his humor and great heart and soul, he is kind of the center of town. I’m sure he will laugh when he reads this. But seriously, whenever they had a gig or there was something fun going on in town, it felt (and certainly looked like) everybody orbited around Sandy. It makes me smile, even now. He has magnetic powers.

Memories

As I think back on the years I’ve known Sandy and the people he describes in his book, I can only feel gratitude. We’ve known some good times, had some great laughs and shared a tear or two. I was an avid ‘Flying Dog Bluegrass Band’ fan and never missed a gig. I couldn’t play an instrument, though Sandy tried to teach me. The guys always invited me along. On road trips, far and close by, I often felt like the extra member of the band.  I treasure those memories more than they will ever know. It was a way for me to explore the ‘honky tonk’ lifestyle, the music festivals, the ‘real’ laid back American way of the West. So very, very, different from our hectic European ways.

Personal

Back to the book, Aspen Unstrung is a great read for everyone. Even if you’ve never been in a mountain town your whole life. You will recognize the camaraderie, the friendships and yes, sometimes the hardships, of making a home. My plan about writing an unbiased review seems to have gone up in smoke from the first word. There is no way I can keep my personal feelings out of this article. I am sorry, I tried. I highly recommend this book to everybody. You will love it, I guarantee! And if you want to read another splendid book, by the same author, try ‘Finding Uri’. This book is about finding his father, who died in WW2, when Sandy was 4 years old. Many years later, after his mom died, he found letters from his parents, written during that time. Talk about personal, an absolute ‘must read’.

Order

Please order your book(s) directly from Sandy at:

sandymunromusic.com

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Review For the missing – Lina Bengtsdotter
14 May 2023

Review For the missing – Lina Bengtsdotter

The first book ‘For the missing’, in the series about detective Charlie Lager is a winner. Charlie is sent from her police station in Stockholm to a small village Gullspång, to help with a case of a missing person. She really doesn’t want to go. She was born and grew up in Gullspång and left at the age of 15.

Secrets

She cannot find a way, without spilling her secrets of the past, to refuse this assignment. So pretty soon she leaves Stockholm with her coworker Anders. The missing girl, Annabelle, is 17 years old and her parents are frantic. Nobody has seen her since she went missing and the whole case is a mystery.

Past

Before long she finds out that she’s not the only one with secrets in her past. She meets up with people, old friends and some people she wanted to forget. How long can she keep her secrets hidden? And what will she eventually find out about her own past, the more she finds out about her hometown?

Local police

It doesn’t quite help that the local police is not very willing to lend her a hand. The name Charlie led them to believe she was one of the guys, not some ‘chick’ from the big city here to tell them how to do their job. Suffice to say that Charlie doesn’t feel very welcome in her former hometown. She wants to finish her job as soon as she can and get out of there.

Ingredients

All the usual ingredients for a thriller are there. Still, this book is well worth reading. Its well written and has enough tension to keep you interested. Charlie Lager is a complicated woman you want to get to know better. Her coworkers and friends are a nice bunch of people, all with their own stories to tell.

Lina Bengtsdotter

Lina Bengtdotter grew up in the small village of Gullspång herself. She was born in 1977, and lives with her children in Stockholm. This is her first book and was chosen as best thriller and best-sold thriller in Sweden in 2017. Lina teaches Swedish and Psychology in between writing her books.

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Review Deep South – Paul Theroux
7 May 2023

Review Deep South – Paul Theroux

Mostly all of his books are my favorite, I’m going to add this one. Used to traveling far and wide, Paul Theroux wants to stay a little closer to home this time. In ‘Deep South’ he travels from his homestate of Massachusetts to the Southern States of the USA. To find that no matter where you’ve been on this earth, and no matter the different cultures you’ve been introduced to, the South has its own mystery. Being from ‘elsewhere’ you will always be a stranger to the ways of living there.

On the road

While the author loves to travel by train, this time he will take to the open, dusty and hot, roads by car. It’s the only way to discover the South. Roads that seemingly lead to nowhere, but upon looking closer reveal more than you want to know. After the Civil War, this part of the country seems to be largely forgotten by the people in charge.

Poverty

Almost used to poverty (though you can never and should never get used to it) in African countries and Asia, the author found the poorest of the poor in his own country. Living well beneath the poverty line, in dusty, decrepit shacks and trailers, people try to get by, one day at a time. The main population is black. Maybe not surprising when you think of the ’50s and ’60s. But amazing and unbelievable in this day and age.

Segregation

You’d think the days of segregation are long gone. Not so, in these parts. Still, blacks and whites eat in different restaurants, sit in different rooms and are looked upon with distrust by one another. I had no idea the Ku Klux Clan was still alive, but unfortunately they still operate frequently and in darkness. No, they won’t wear white sheets anymore, which probably makes it even more dangerous. In the cover of night, silent and secretive, they aim at colored people.

Help

People are proud. And rightfully so. Still, as helpful as they are to strangers in their area, they slowly start to accept help from their neighbors. They seem to have given up on government. Too many rules, too many obstacles to obtain loans, with questions like: ‘You want to apply for a loan for your farm? I had no idea black people knew how to farm…’ Apparently it takes a very long time to get used to the idea that people are people, no matter what color their skin is.

Surprised

Apparently the author was as surprised by this backpay thinking as al of us who had no idea. Also, he wonders why the government and projects (like Clinton’s who was raised in the South and must know about the horrible living situations) give millions of dollars to foreign aide. To help build houses and feed people in other parts of the world. All very good of course, but as I said before, the South seemed to have been forgotten by the rest of the country.

Fortunate

I was fortunate to visit the Southern States, while traveling the States during my first visit. I loved every second of it. Yes, we were warned not to walk the roads by ourselves for it could be dangerous. We never experienced any danger. In fact we were met by helpful people who wanted to share their stories. I loved the juicy way of talking, hard to understand for someone from the Netherlands, but lovely to hear. I definitely want to go back someday, as this land creeps in your blood. Whether you like it or not.

Paul Theroux

Paul Theroux is first and foremost a travel writer. He know how to hold your attention while he describes the places and people he meets. Always with respect, never judgmental. Thats why I love to read his books. He takes you with him on his travels and I’m grateful I got to know a little bit more of the mysteries of the South through this book.

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Review The Journey – James Norbury
23 April 2023

Review The Journey – James Norbury

What a cute little story, based on Buddhism and the truth that change is inevitable. In ‘The journey’ James Norbury describes two friends, Big Panda and Little Dragon, who live together in perfect harmony in a small temple high up in the mountains. They have been living there for quite some time and made numerous friends in the forest nearby.

Restless

But Little Dragon feels a bit restless, lately. He doesn’t know why and what causes these feelings. All he knows he’s not as happy as he was before. He asks his best friend Big Panda for advice. Big Panda acknowledges his problem. Yes, this is something big and he needs to take his time to think of an answer. A few days later he offers that it’s time for a journey. It will  be a change for both of them. Reluctantly Little Dragon agrees. He can either accept his restlessness or he can try to do something about it.

Journey

As with every journey, whether it is physical or emotional, there will be obstacles on the way. The two friends encounter lots of them as they travel along the river. Up to a point when Little Dragon has had enough. He wants to return to where he came from. Now comes the biggest challenge of all. Nobody can return to the past. We can never go back in time, neither can Little Dragon. He gets depressed when he thinks of his old life and his old friends.

Acceptance

Until one day he remembers that he can make this new life miserable by living in his past, or he can make changes for the future, or he can make the best of today. He looks around him. All of a sudden the sun starts shining. He finds himself surrounded by new friends and beautiful mountains. And what do you know, there is even a bigger, nicer, abandoned temple up ahead.

James Norbury

James Norbury has written and drawn pictures since he was a small child. But it wasn’t until he was looking for spirituality when he discovered the teachings of Buddhism. He wanted to share its wisdom and Zen stories with the rest of the world. His books about the Big Panda and the Little Dragon were born. Beautifully illustrated it’s a joy to pick them up again and again.

 

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Review Shelter in place – David Leavitt
16 April 2023

Review Shelter in place – David Leavitt

Nobody expected him to actually win, but he did. Devastated Eva decides she doesn’t even want to hear his name. Let alone, speak to her neighbor ever again. That sob did actually vote for the guy! She will ignore him from now on. Her husband Bruce finds everything Eva does to his liking. He won’t go against her wishes. But he can’t help himself not to be too angry about his new president. He forgets he’s not supposed to say the name Tru…oops..at times. Shelter in Place is funny and sad at the same time.

Eva Lindquist

She and her best friend Min take a trip to good old Italy. Eva needs to leave her home and country. She doesn’t feel safe anymore, now that this Tr… has taken over. When in Italy she finds a darling apartment for sale. This is the answer to her prayers. She will buy the apartment and move to Italy. Far away from the country she once felt safe in and far away from the destruction of democracy.

Bruce Lindquist

In the meantime Bruce is left with their artsy friends. He doesn’t quite know how to handle them and himself with Eva gone. When he finds out that his secretary and right hand has cancer and is in debt he finally finds a project he wants to work. First he will take care of her immediate needs. He drives her back and forth to the hospital for her chemo treatments. Then he will take care of her financial needs.

Hilarious

The book is hilarious and at the same time a little sad as well. Eva’s shock and lack of feeling safe in her own country anymore is as real as anything. She will buy the apartment no matter the cost. And the cost adds up. First it’s the garden that’s not included in the initial sale, then it’s the hallway to get to the apartment that needs extra money in even enter the building where the apartment is located. But nothing, absolutely nothing terrifies Eva as much as living in a country with Tr..ooops, at the helm.

Meantime

Bruce, however, thinks it won’t make such a big difference who’s in charge. He likes his neighbors and walks the dogs in his company. As long as Eva won’t find out, he’ll be safe. His secretary takes up lots of his time. He doesn’t want to think about any small issues as buying a million dollar apartment. Still, he loves his wife. With all of her wild ideas and crazy notions.

David Leavitt

David Leavitt is an American author. He was born in 1961 in Pittsburgh and studied English at Yale University. David has written many books, but feels most comfortable writing short stories.

 

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