And the bad times

My oldest son and I have been estranged for almost 10 years. I am trying to work things out to mend the rift in our relationship. But it has been difficult. There have been family functions to which I have not been invited although my older children have. I have mixed feelings about this. At time I feel betrayed. At others I figure at least I can hear about him. He is married (he and his now wife lived with us for several months in the late 90s when their home was ruined in the aftermath of a terrible snowstorm) and last December they had a baby girl. I have never seen her although she does have my middle name (and that of my mother, for whom she is really named). But this picture of little Tea Renee is too precious. As a grandmother I have to embrace this child. It breaks my heart that I have missed so much. She was baptized at our family's old church Friday night and I was not invited. My daughter took this picture beforehand. I pray every day that my son will be able to let the past be behind him and think about the future. For what a legacy is this to this baby?

Pre-Halloween Fun

40 pounds of pumpkins - $24.00

Lunch out with family - $50.00

A day with our granddaughter (and son) - Priceless

Review: Identical Strangers by Paula Bernstein and Elyse Schein

Growing up Stacie (Elyse) Schein felt she was always missing something. When, in her mid 30s she finds she has an identical twin sister she wants to meet her more than anything.

At first it would appear that the two women couldn’t be more different. Stacie (who goes by her middle name, Elyse by this time) lives a bohemian existence in a cramped Paris apartment. Paula is married and has a young daughter. But on closer inspection they are both film critics, both have an older brother (also adopted). It isn’t long after they find out about each other that the two meet – and are stunned.

Although this book says it is a memoir, it is much more than that. The two women discover soon after they meet that the reason they were split up was for an experiment being performed on twins and triplets who were intentionally separated for the study. Told in alternating points of view by both Paula and Elyse, they go into different twin studies, give statistics on twins, and much more.

As they find out more answers, they have more questions, the final one being who was their mother and why were they given up?

I couldn’t put this book done (read on my Kindle). As a mother of twins (even though they are fraternal – boy/girl) I probably had a higher interest in the story than someone who didn’t have twins but this is recommended to all. The rather shocking reasons for the study coupled with the story of their birth mother had me clicking through the book at a feverish pace, wondering how it was all going to turn out.

This book is well-written, interesting, and unputdownable – the perfect read.

Books on the Nightstand

In response to a blog a http://www.booksonthenighstand.com/ I am posting the pictures of what is on my night stand and immediately adjacent to it. Now the pictures on the bottom where those on my night stand and adjacent to it last week before I weeded out some books and moved them into the spare bedroom where they completely filled the right side of a double bookcase! I knew, of course I had a lot of books on the nightstand as I couldn't fit anything else on there, barely the lamp and the radio. In fact, the drawer was pulled out and there were books on it too and I was terrified that they were going to break the drawer in half before too long. Thank goodness for a strong all-wood nightstand! But I never believed I had as many in there as I did. You will also note my beloved Kindle on the night stand. That was supposed to completely replace my book-buying obsession. Ha! And I am not even going to count the number of books in the Kindle, let's just say between samples and actual books, it has now gone to 12 pages. I admit it. I am a bookaholic. (You note I am not taking a picture of the actual library, or all the books stores in boxes).

REVIEW: Schooled by Anisha Lakhani

What Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus did for Nannies and Lauren Weisberger did for the fashion industry, Anisha lakhani has now done for the NYC private school teachers and tutors.

Becoming a teacher over her parents’ objections, recent Columbia grad Anna Taggart is thrilled to land a plumb job as a teacher at a posh Manhattan private school. However, her salary is barely going to cover her rent in a cramped 5th floor walkup let alone her other expenses. However Anna feels teaching is her calling and can’t wait to teach the 7th graders Shakespeare and Lord of the Rings in her own fun way. It’s not long before she discovers she can make literally thousands extra a week “tutoring” wealthy students. The word tutor is a bit of a misnomer. Anna soon discovers she’s not tutoring at all but is expected to actually do the students’ homework for them. She at first doesn’t want to sacrifice her principles but when she discovers “tutoring” can not only pay her rent on a luxury apartment but buy her designer clothing and accessories and a lifestyle she’s only dreamed with, she’s clamoring for even more students.

Based on the author’s own experiences, SCHOOLED may shock those who think the road to Ivy League Schools is paved with the brightest and best. Lakhani exposes a portion of society that feels money can buy anything including good grades for students whose vocabulary and comprehension are at primary school level.

Will Anna come to her senses and realize what is really happening here or will she fall victim to the high-living Manhattan lifestyle her tutoring gives her?
Lakhani is a terrific writer and this book was enjoyable from beginning to end. It flows very smoothly and goes by so fast that the reader is sure to be a bit disappointed to find they’ve come to the end. This is a glorious debut from an author readers will be clamoring to hear more from and it can’t come too soon. Highly recommended,

REVIEW: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I knew right off I would enjoy this book when I read reviews saying it was reminiscent of Helene Hanff’s classic 84 Charing Cross Road, a series of letters between a New York City book lover and a clerk in the London bookstore. A book I loved so much that when in London I sought out its location where only a plaque on a building gives any clue to the former site.

Writer Juliet Ashton is stumped. She has no idea as to the subject of her next book. She is tired of the light-hearted items she wrote to keep her fellow English subjects amused during the war and wants to write something with a bit more substance.

Then she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams, a farmer from Guernsey in the Channel Islands. Dawsey has found her name in a Charles Lamb book she once owned and is wondering if she can help him find more books by the author.

As Juliet exchanges letter with Dawsey and eventually other residents of Guernsey who are members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – a group formed in haste as an alibi to the Germans who occupied the island during World War II. As she continues to receive letters, these people whose lives were so changed so drastically during the German Occupation captivate her. She decides a visit to Guernsey is in order. She also is intrigued about the stories of the now-missing Elizabeth McKenna, a much-loved and important member of the community. The letters also include correspondence between Juliet and her publisher as well as her best friend, a young wife and mother in Scotland which helps to lend depth to the novel as she is able to give her first-hand observations of the islanders she has met.

You’ll laugh, cry, and be absolutely charmed by this wonderful epistolary novel. If you love books you’ll enjoy reading Juliet’s observations of booksellers and readers and why she broke up with her fiancé on the eve of her wedding.

Sales of books by and about Charles Lamb are sure to increase as readers of this novel will want to know more about the book that brought Juliet to Guernsey; sales of Jane Austen books as well as those by the Bronte sisters may also be affected.

The Guernsey tourism industry is also sure to benefit – I certainly would love to book a trip to see this quaint island, out of the way of the usual UK tourist trade.

Sadly, we won’t have any more books from Ms. Shaffer who passed away earlier this year; but perhaps there’s a hidden manuscript somewhere. We can only hope. As it is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is going on top of my reading favorites for the year. Highly recommended.

RIP - A Fallen Hero - Andy Palmer

RIP Andrew Jackson Palmer

I didn't know young Andy Palmer, but as a employee of Jefferson Healthcare had met his father, local gynecologist Bob Palmer several times and had spoken with his mother, Janet on the phone. This is a small town, an a tragedy such as this touches the entire community. Andy graduated high school two months ago--who knew that less than two months later his memorial service would be held in the very place where he celebrated his graduation. Having a grandson the same age, made it even more personal for me.

I wanted more people than those in the Pacific Northwest to know about this outstanding young man and so have included the obituary that was shared with the hospital employees as well as a brief story from regarding his memorial service today. A more complete story about Andy can be found at the Port Townsend Leader newspaper.

Andrew Jackson Palmer shared almost nineteen years with us on the Olympic Peninsula. He was born in Port Angeles, WA on September 10, 1989 to Janet and Bob Palmer as their third son.

Andy attended the Children’s Montessori School, Fairview and Franklin Elementary, Roosevelt Middle Schools in Port Angeles and Port Townsend High School. At 6’5” and 240 pounds he was a natural for football and valued being part of the Port Townsend Football Team for four years. Bonfires on the beach, sporting clays, games of urban golf, fugitive, dark, ultimate Frisbee, baseball, weight lifting, reading and spending time with his many friends filled his days. Andy was a devoted Big Brother and has a little brother in our community. He was very proud of his big red Dodge 2500 turbo diesel pickup truck and might be found out bucking hay for local farmers, working at A+ Rentals, Les Schwab or more recently at Auto Works, all in Port Townsend.

Andy is survived by his loving parents, brothers Rob, a firefighter and Henry, a merchant mariner, grandparents Bob and Ina in Sequim, aunt Beverly and cousin Camille in Santa Barbara, aunt Marilyn Acker of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, family in Canada of aunt Cheryl Acker and cousins Gayle in Kamloops, Joyce and Josh in Vancouver, Karen, Grant and Kayla in Iqaluit, and many more.

Andy had an unerring sense of right and wrong since childhood. He will always be remembered as one who held himself to the highest principles of truth, fairness, justice and kindness. He was loyal, honest and trustworthy- loved by all that knew him. He will be missed but we will all be better for having known him. Andy would ask those who survive him to conduct their lives with integrity and compassion for a better world.

Andy died honorably as a firefighter for the National Park Service on the Iron Complex fire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Weaverville, CA on Friday July 25, 2008.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Monday, August 4 at 10 AM at McCurdy Pavilion, Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington. All who knew of Andy are invited.

In lieu of flowers, an Andy Palmer Memorial Scholarship fund has been established through the Port Townsend High School Scholarship Foundation. Donations may be sent to the Foundation at 538 Calhoun Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368.

MEMORIAL

PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. -- The sound of fire engines echoed through Port Townsend streets, as a precession of 100 fire trucks honored a fallen firefighter.

Eighteen-year-old Andy Palmer died while battling a wildfire in California's Shasta Trinity-National Park two weeks ago. He had been a firefighter at Olympic National Park for only one month.

"When he got called to go to California he was just thrilled, just on cloud nine," said family friend Andy Loos.

Representatives from 54 different agencies crowded the memorial service at Fort Worden in Port Townsend. Some flew in from California and Oregon to pay their respects.

"Andy probably would have said 'unbelievable,' " Loos said. "He would have felt this truly amazing, I think."

Friends described Palmer as a "gentle giant." At 6 foot 4 inches and 240 pounds, the Port Townsend High School graduate towered over everybody. His size made him a natural offensive lineman during his high school years.

"Andy loved playing football. I never started a game without a hug from him and a prayer of strength from his favorite movie Boondock Saints," said teammate Christian DuBois.

He added that Palmer never turned down a free plate of food.

Palmer joined the Olympic National Park as a seasonal firefighter. He died on his first assignment when a tree fell on him. Port Townsend High Athletic Director Scott Ricardo said Palmer told a colleague "to tell his mom and dad I love them" as he was being hoisted from the fire lines.

Palmer would have turned 19 in September and planned to major in mechanical engineering at Montana State University in the fall.

A scholarship fund has been set up in his name, for future Port Townsend High students.

Entertainment Weekly - The New Classics: Books - 100 Best Reads from 1983-2008 -

1. The Road , Cormac McCarthy (2006)
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (2000)
3. Beloved, Toni Morrison (1987)
4. The Liars' Club, Mary Karr (1995)
5. American Pastoral, Philip Roth (1997)
6. Mystic River, Dennis Lehane (2001)
7. Maus, Art Spiegelman (1986/1991)
8. Selected Stories, Alice Munro (1996)
9. Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier (1997)
10. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Haruki Murakami (1997)
11. Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer (1997)
12. Blindness, José Saramago (1998)
13. Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (1986-87)
14. Black Water, Joyce Carol Oates (1992)
15. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers (2000)
16. The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood (1986)
17. Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez (1988)
18. Rabbit at Rest, John Updike (1990)
19. On Beauty, Zadie Smith (2005)
20. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding (1998)
21. On Writing, Stephen King (2000)
22. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Díaz (2007)
23. The Ghost Road, Pat Barker (1996)
24. Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry (1985)
25. The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan (1989)
26. Neuromancer, William Gibson (1984)
27. Possession, A.S. Byatt (1990)
28. Naked, David Sedaris (1997)
29. Bel Canto, Anne Patchett (2001)
30. Case Histories, Kate Atkinson (2004)
31. The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien (1990)
32. Parting the Waters, Taylor Branch (1988)
33. The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion (2005)
34. The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (2002)
35. The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst (2004)
36. Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt (1996)
37. Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi (2003)
38. Birds of America, Lorrie Moore (1998)
39. Interpreter of Maladies, Jhumpa Lahiri (2000)
40. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman (1995-2000)
41. The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros (1984)
42. LaBrava, Elmore Leonard (1983)
43. Borrowed Time, Paul Monette (1988)
44. Praying for Sheetrock, Melissa Fay Greene (1991)
45. Eva Luna, Isabel Allende (1988)
46. Sandman, Neil Gaiman (1988-1996)
47. World's Fair, E.L. Doctorow (1985)
48. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver (1998)
49. Clockers, Richard Price (1992)
50. The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen (2001)
51. The Journalist and the Murderer, Janet Malcom (1990)
52. Waiting to Exhale, Terry McMillan (1992)
53. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Michael Chabon (2000)
54. Jimmy Corrigan, Chris Ware (2000)
55. The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls (2006)
56. The Night Manager, John le Carré (1993)
57. The Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe (1987)
58. Drop City, TC Boyle (2003)
59. Krik? Krak! Edwidge Danticat (1995)
60. Nickel & Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich (2001)
61. Money, Martin Amis (1985)
62. Last Train To Memphis, Peter Guralnick (1994)
63. Pastoralia, George Saunders (2000)
64. Underworld, Don DeLillo (1997)
65. The Giver, Lois Lowry (1993)
66. A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, David Foster Wallace (1997)
67. The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini (2003)
68. Fun Home, Alison Bechdel (2006)
69. Secret History, Donna Tartt (1992)
70. Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell (2004)
71. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Ann Fadiman (1997)
72. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon (2003)
73. A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving (1989)
74. Friday Night Lights, H.G. Bissinger (1990)
75. Cathedral, Raymond Carver (1983)
76. A Sight for Sore Eyes, Ruth Rendell (1998)
77. The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)
78. Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert (2006)
79. The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell (2000)
80. Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney (1984)
81. Backlash, Susan Faludi (1991)
82. Atonement, Ian McEwan (2002)
83. The Stone Diaries, Carol Shields (1994)
84. Holes, Louis Sachar (1998)
85. Gilead, Marilynne Robinson (2004)
86. And the Band Played On, Randy Shilts (1987)
87. The Ruins, Scott Smith (2006)
88. High Fidelity, Nick Hornby (1995)
89. Close Range, Annie Proulx (1999)
90. Comfort Me With Apples, Ruth Reichl (2001)
91. Random Family, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc (2003)
92. Presumed Innocent, Scott Turow (1987)
93. A Thousand Acres, Jane Smiley (1991)
94. Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser (2001)
95. Kaaterskill Falls, Allegra Goodman (1998)
96. The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown (2003)
97. Jesus’ Son, Denis Johnson (1992)
98. The Predators' Ball, Connie Bruck (1988)
99. Practical Magic, Alice Hoffman (1995)
100. America (the Book), Jon Stewart/Daily Show (2004)

Those I own are in blue, those I've read are in red

Early Review: Testimony by Anita Shreve

TESTIMONY
Anita Shreve
October 21, 2008
Little, Brown, and Company
Hachette Book Group
ISBN: 0-316-05986-2
320 pages

Anita Shreve never plays it safe with her books and her latest, Testimony, is no exception.

Avery Academy is a small private school in Vermont. Everyone who attends has been carefully screened and selected to attend. From the rich young freshmen to the athletic seniors tapped for college play; no one attends Avery Academy by chance.

But for Avery Academy, all is not as it seems from outside its gates. Parties, which include alcohol and drugs, still occur and kids still get in trouble. This sets the scene for a horrible sex scandal from which no one will come out unscathed, not the students, not the parents, not the headmaster of the school; and not even the citizens of the town of Avery who don’t even usually pay too much attention to what goes on behind the hallowed gates up on the hill just out of town. Parents find that even though they pay for the best education for their children, send them to the best schools available, they still can’t protect them. Adults find that passionate desires can have far-reaching effects that can change lives forever.

Told from multiple points of view (I counted 20) in less talented hands the narration could get confusing. But with Shreve, it did not. Perhaps that was because with over a dozen of these narrators we only hear from them once or twice.

However the story essentially belongs to three people: Mike, the headmaster of the school who we get to know the best, and Silas and Noelle, the two star-crossed lovers; Silas the basketball star, the local boy made good, son of average farmers from the town of Avery and Noelle, the talented musician destined for Julliard. As the story of the events of that one evening of sex and alcohol unfolds it is becomes clear that Silas stands to lose it all. But what sets in place such behavior uncharacteristic of the normally mild-mannered youth is at the crux of the rest of the story.

A graphic beginning describes the events of that tragic evening; and this is so graphic that it could tend to turn off some readers, readers who may be unfamiliar with Shreve’s work. But those who have come to know and trust Shreve as an author will be compelled to keep reading and be certainly glad they did as the events unfold, a bit at a time, through the voices of not only Mike, Silas, and Noelle, but parents, classmates, and the other students involved in the scandal. We also hear from a reporter who eventually wins the Pulitzer for his reporting of the events.

However as the story develops, readers see that the scandal is only the tip of the iceberg for a greater tragedy that will even more deeply affect those involved.

This is Shreve at her best. She tells a compelling story so eloquently that is one of those deemed “unputdownable” -- be sure to start this one early in the day so you will have plenty of time to finish as once you begin it, you will not be able to stop turning the pages.

Early Review: True Colors by Kristin Hannah

I was privileged to get an early copy of True Colors by Kristin Hannah for review. It doesn't come out until early 2009, but to pique your interest:

TRUE COLORS
By Kristin Hannah
St. Martin’s Press
2009

There are several things readers have come to expect when they read a Kristin Hannah book—that they’ll get an amazing, compelling, emotional story, that they can’t put down once they’ve started. While TRUE COLORS is no exception, there is a degree of depth to this novel that sets it apart from anything the author has written in the past. A degree of depth that won’t simply satisfy her legions of current fans, but I dare say should bring her to the attention of many more.

Spanning nearly 30 years in the lives of the Grey sisters of Water’s Edge, a waterfront ranch on the shores of Washington state’s picturesque Hood Canal, first meet the sisters in 1979 just after the death of their beloved mother. It’s obvious from the beginning that her loss is going to leave an enormous hole in their hearts and have long-lasting effects in the lives of these young girls. But even worse, their grieving father Henry buries his soul when he buries his wife, coping with life by drowning his sorrows in a bottle of hard liquor.

The book quickly fast forwards 13 years where we find oldest sister Winona just beginning her law practice in the nearby town of Oyster Shores, Aurora a young wife and mother of twins, while the youngest the beautiful but fragile Vivi Ann is an expert barrel racer on the western rodeo circuit, living at home, helping her father on the failing ranch that has been in their family for generations. Vivi Ann soon comes up with a plan to save the ranch and resurrects it into a thriving horse arena for lessons and competitions.

Meanwhile Winona, who has been fighting a weight problem all her life, may, at long last, have romance come her way when her childhood crush, veterinarian Luke Connelly returns to town. She is excited that this time their relationship may become more than just friendship—until he is captivated by the beautiful ViviAnn. Although Vivi Ann doesn’t totally return his feelings, they eventually become engaged. Winona has a difficult time hiding her jealousy. All of this causes a rift between the sisters that won’t soon be mended, especially when the new ranch hand and quintessential “bad boy” Dallas Raintree excites Vivi Ann much more than Luke ever can. This sets in place a tragedy that changes the complexion of the sisters’ relationship forever.

This also sets in place events that propel this novel from one of Kristin Hannah’s hallmark “domestic dramas” into one that is part legal drama, a coming of age story of a teenage boy, a story of redemption and forgiveness, and of loyalty and unfailing belief in someone when it really counts.

Kristin Hannah excels in knowing how to pull at the reader’s heartstrings, to touch their emotional sweet spot, and with TRUE COLORS she pulls at those heartstrings and doesn’t let go. TRUE COLORS is Kristin Hannah at her very best – maybe even better than her very best. As usual readers need to keep the hankies handy for the read that is absolutely unputdownable and totally satisfying. As impossible as it seems, Kristin Hannah just gets better and better with each read; I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Review: Molokai by Alan Brennert

I didn't know when, if ever, a book would ever attempt to overtake Katherine as my favorite book of all time and although Molokai by Alan Brennert hasn't quite succeeded, it has come darn close and I am afraid has taken over the #2 slot from Outlander. When one cries tears of joy and sadness for the last 150 pages of a 388 page book, you know it has touched a chord. Spanning nearly 80 years from the late 19th Century to 1970, it is a story of epic proportions.
Young Rachel Kalama is taken from her home at the tender age of 7 and by age of 8 is interred at Kalaupapa on Molokai, more commonly known as Father Damien's Leper Colony. Apart from an uncle who is already there, she is all alone. Yet even with her sadness, with her little girl sweetness, she quickly charms everyone she comes in contact with and makes several very special friends along the way including two women who takes on motherly roles who couldn’t be more different from one another. From Rachel’s friendships with the other young girls – who are all there as if the were orphaned, to romances, to mischief she gets herself into, Brennert breathes such life into this wonderful character. So much so that when you read historical accounts of Father Damien’s Colony you fully expect to read her name among the former residents.

Rachel quickly gets into the reader's heart in such a special way, taking a hold of it and not letting go, not even after the last page is turned. She will stay with me for a long, long time. The story is one that made me for once glad for my insomnia as I was able to stay up until 3:30AM finishing. Then I couldn’t wait to discuss it with my husband and fellow readers the next day. I simply can’t recommend this book highly enough. If you love a good story with characters that simply stay with you for a long time, if you love the Hawaiian Islands, if you are more interested in reading a bit more about Hansen’s Disease (as leprosy is now more correctly called) or are simply just wanting a good book that you can’t put down than I urge you to give Molokai a try. My only regret is that I didn’t get it to it sooner. It had been recommended to me about four years ago and had been on my TBR pile for nearly three years. Don’t make that mistake. Read this book and have your heart deeply touched.

Review: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

I usually begin my reviews with a brief synopsis, but in the case of Firefly Lane, I want to get the important stuff out there first: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – Kristin Hannah is at the top of her game with this emotional three hanky read!

Just what is a friend? And what would you do for your best friend? What kind of sacrifices would you make? Many of us will never find this out. But some of us will. Some of us already know. Kristin Hannah shows us with this outstanding novel what friendship really is and how it can endure over the years. She shows us the power of friendship.

Now for the a few details – without revealing so much as to rob readers of discoveries they should make themselves. Kate Mularkey and Tully Hart meet when they are in junior high – both felt they were outsiders. Tully comes into Kate’s life a low point. She is the most beautiful, classiest person she has ever met – and she has moved right across the street. But Tully has a secret, one she hides with a lie. Eventually Kate learns to trust Tully and they become best of friends with a friendship that lasts through college and as their lives take very different paths. But this doesn’t mean everything is always easy between the two. And it doesn’t mean that one isn’t jealous of the other, but it does mean that they are there for one another. Which, as the story evolves, reveals itself in a powerful way.

Those who grew up in the 70s will love the references to the songs as the decades go by. Those who grew up in the Pacific Northwest will enjoy all the references to familiar events and locations that make everything come to life and lend an air of authenticity to the novel.

I have followed Kristin Hannah’s writing career from the beginning. From its start with a romantic hero with the unusual name of Stone Man McKenna to a wonderful time-travel set in the San Juan Islands (Once in Every Life) to the gut-wrenchingly emotional If You Believe to her breakout novel On Mystic Lake and then several bestselling novels that have made her a favorite with readers everywhere. Now with Firefly Lane she has simply reached the summit of the mountain. Make yourself comfortable – set yourself by the fireplace, grab a cup (or two or three) of your favorite beverage, a box of tissues, and put your feet up. You’ll be there for a while because you won’t want to put this book down once you’ve started. Oh – and you’ll probably want to your best friend’s phone number handy for you’ll want to phone her as soon as you finish.