I've come to realize this online diary connects me to people all over the globe, when I link up to socialize. Otherwise it's just nice to sit at my keyboard and get some thoughts out.
Even though I use a lovely planner and write just about everything in it, it's nice to post what I am reading and watching. Observations. Disgust and embarrassment about my country. Plans for books, shows and flowers in the garden.
Almost done reading Buckeye by Patrick Ryan. A buddy read with Susan which has generated much discussion about events unfolding in this long drama. I'll add a review next week but I am sure I will add some spoilers to be hidden via Goodreads as well.
Reading plans are always fluid....even when I write out a few titles in my notebook to keep me on track. As I was fortunate enough to win a couple of books from LibraryThing I will add those to the list. I finished Should Have Told You Sooner by Jane Ward. Thank you, LibraryThing for the book. Complimentary books are always appreciated.
The main character here is Noel Enfield, a woman with secrets. She was named for her grandfather, by the way. She is working at a museum in Massachusetts and has the career opportunity of a lifetime at a gallery in London. Here is the complication (one of many) - she is going through divorce from Andy and she has a young stepdaughter Alice. Noel wants to retain the relationship with Alice but the acrimonious nature of this divorce has Alice picking sides and it's not Noel's.
This one statement from her husband Andy made her decide to end her marriage. "For someone who's never been pregnant you sure know a lot." That was in reference to a woman feeling ill at their party. It was a big secret she kept from Andy; she had a baby and gave it up for adoption.
Noel couldn't continue to live a lie. After 7 years of marriage it's a bit late to explain you had a baby and gave it away. She never did tell Andy so I imagine he was blindsided by the divorce with zero explanation. Starting a marriage with such a big secret was definitely a bad idea.
Back story: Bryn was Noel's partner when she lived in London, also the father of the adopted out baby, and she never stopped caring for him. Before you cast hate at Bryn know that he was never aware of the pregnancy. That is another story woven in explaining the situation. Their relationship started and ended in London and here she is, about to immerse herself on a path that crosses her past and future.
Near the end of the book I liked the what if thoughts Noel had. A mental checklist of things that may have turned out differently. Who among us hasn't had those thoughts? "What if I had stayed in my old life, what if I left Andy but stayed closer, what if I stayed in London, or come back to London sooner...so many different life scenarios.
Main setting is London and Wales. The book touches on Covid, loss, grief, love and forgiveness. It's a book about second chances.
Watching
Shrinking has been one of our favorites and we just finished season 3. The cast work well, the banter is natural and you have some tearful moments in this season. Heck, I had tearful moments in the previous two seasons! I can see how they could end the series here but I hope they will have another season. We will tune in for sure.
Sharing with"
Joy for British Isles Friday
Boondock Ramblings for A Good Book and a Cup of Tea
We're coming down the home stretch of Buckeye! Here I thought Buckeye had harmful secrets ... but Noel's are pretty bad too. She's not too transparent with her partners. I hope you enjoyed the book. And it looks like you're enjoying some good shows. We've watched various seasons of Task, The Night Manager, Tehran, and now into Lincoln Lawyer. ... a little bit of the Gilded Age too. I'll check in with you later. Happy reading.
ReplyDeleteSusan, Noel's decision making is bad, but this book won't compare to Buckeye. I just asked the library for another of Patrick Ryan's books. We've not tried Tehran yet, are caught up on Night Manager.
DeleteHappy reading to you too! I'll write later :-)
Thinking about putting Buckeye on the list--I do love the cover, although I am mindful of the warning about covers and judging of books!
ReplyDeleteI have gotten to the point where I do not start a TV series until all episodes have dropped. I really, really prefer to watch nightly until done, even when that takes a good amount of time. Currently I am waiting for the rest of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Puzzle Lady before starting them.
Jane, covers draw me in every time. Sometimes the story not so much but at least I take a look. Buckeye was not quite a family drama but did cover two specific families and how the interactions panned out. It also covered a good span of history from before WW II through Vietnam. I liked it very much.
DeleteWe are the same way about tv shows. I can;t wait for the next week to see what happens! Shrinking was great, imo, and I didn't know there was a Count of Monte Cristo series. Will check it out.
Should Have Told You Sooner is a great title given what you told us of the plot. I added that to my TBR.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has really enjoyed Shrinking. I've managed to catch some funny moments.
Joy, that title could aply to several of Noel's relationships for sure.
DeleteFor some reason there is no comment box on your latest post (Flowers) so first let me say your Salvias are very pretty, and I’m sorry the pollen continues to be a plague.
ReplyDeleteYay for the free book, and the lovely gift from Vicki.
Wishing you a spectacular reading week
Shelleyrae, thanks so much for commenting. I'm sure it's something i did with that post, on the comments. Ugh.
DeleteAllergies are now handled or the worst of the blooming is over. I wasn't this sneezy when we moved here so it's just a matter of getting through a season and good drugs, lol.
Hope your week is fantastic!
Great post, Tina! And I don't remember if I mentioned it, but I love your header. I'm looking forward to reading Buckeye with my book group later this year. I'll be sure to avoid your spoilers on Goodreads! Glad you and Susan had fun discussing the book. Should Have Told You Sooner sounds like a good read, but maybe not one that you loved? BTW, I finished Celestial Lights and will review it in another day or two. Thanks for passing it along to me! I need to get back to Shrinking. I got distracted with The Morning Show, but will return to Shrinking since it's much more entertaining. We're ready for the final episode of The Pitt on Thursday. I plan to rewatch Season One later this year. It's such a good show! Have a good week, hopefully sneeze-free. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Les. I'll look forward to your review of the Cecile Pin book. I liked her other book Wandering Souls as well. Sad but well written.
DeleteWe had watched two seaons of the Morning Show. Shrinking ended on a good note, emotional. It was cool seeing Micheal J Fox on the show.
I've got The Pitt on my list but we don't have the streaming channnle for it yet. Maybe one day. Or the library may get it.
I love the mug! I hope your allergies are getting better. I take Allegra every morning all year round but have been adding in Zyrtec at night lately. I haven't watched either of the shows you've mentioned but am curious. I mostly end up watching YouTube like TV but am working my way very slowly through Death in Paradise and 911 Lonestar (I love it but it's pretty terrible) and we watch Formula 1 on race weekends.
ReplyDeleteKatherine, it's a very cool mug and can hold loads of water. I am a big water drinker, love the book design.
DeleteI didn't know you could take Allegra year round. So you don't develop a tolerance? Flonase worked for me in combination with Allegra. Zyrtec wasn't recommended for me because of my age. I had thought of it but shouldn't take it. I'm officially "elderly" lol!
"Should Have Told You Sooner" sounds interesting. Sometimes you miss to tell something for all kinds of reasons - important or not that important - and then you never find the right way to do it because it has been so long. Made me wonder if Noel tried to push it away and hide it from herself, too?
ReplyDeleteVisiting from A Good Book and a Cup of Tea.
Cat, thanks for visiting. It was my first time linning up at A Good Book.
DeleteThere were some twists with Noel's story about her time in London, the boyfriend then father of her child, her trying to strat over and bury the past. We know That never works!
That mug is amazing!! You could fill it up and read for a long time with that next to you!
ReplyDeleteErin, it's very cool! Refreshment on these hot days and a book...I'm a happy camper :-)
DeleteGreat mug and I think that colony series might be my cup of tea! I'll have to check it out, if I can ever find time. Too many books and series, not enough hours in the day.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jinjer. We are into season 3 of Colony and I hope it doesn't leave us hanging. Great action.
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