Running out of Berg

I'm down to my last two Elizabeth Berg novels. Her new one isn't due out till Spring of next year. "Durable Goods" is the first of three novels about Katie, a young girl on the cusp of womanhood. I've read and reviewed the other two and finally found the first one. It was good to have the information held within this first novel and now the puzzle pieces all fit together. Katie is an Army brat and her Mother has died of cancer leaving her with her 18 year old sister and her abusive Army Father. Time frame is the early 60's in Texas. It's hard to make friends when you move as often as they do. She's been waiting for the events her body needs to go through to make her a woman and she finally wakes to the big day. It's almost the end of the school year when her father announces another move and this time to Missouri. Her older sister refuses to leave and disappears in the night with her boy friend. Now she's alone with just her father and headed for a new life in a new state. I'm sad to have to say goodbye to Katie's life. Having grown up in that time frame so much of what she experienced were things that I did too.

Another year without trick or treaters. This makes about 22 years. It's kind of sad to not see those little faces in their scary little costumes. We live rather remote and there aren't any little ones in the area. I was going to wear my witch's hat to work today but couldn't find it. I'd like to have the power to put a curse on at least one member of management. She smacked me across the back the other night to get my attention instead of using my name and calling to me. Something like that is totally unacceptable and I could have probably gotten her fired. Of course I would have had to have the witnesses admit that they saw it happen but they are other employees that probably don't want to rock the boat. When I told Hubby about it he was so furious I thought he was going to burst a vessel. He was demanding I quit but that wouldn't be smart right now. I'll just stay as far away from her as possible and hope that we don't have another incident.

James Patterson strikes again

This was a different kind of novel for James Patterson. It was co-written by Hal Friedman who is the father of the main character. "Against Medical Advice" is a novel about a young boy that develops Tourrets Syndrome and OCD. Just before he turns 5 his life is thrown into turmoil with uncontrollable tics and involuntary utterances. Shuttled from one Doctor to another and put on medications that would knock a horse out this true story is so moving you can't help but feel all the pain this young man goes through. It gave me a whole different insight into this dreadful syndrome.

Another novel

Kathy Reichs is what she writes. She has the degrees and the talent. What she does in real life shows in her writing. Sometimes the technical lingo makes my eyes glaze over but it's real. Her latest novel is "Devil Bones." It covers what is believed to be some witchcraft or devil worship. Throw in a headless body and the death of a well liked detective. The main character is Temperance Brennan and she's a forensic anthropologist and a chief medical examiner. She's always working the case from the lab to the streets. An excellent read!

Hours cut

I've noticed a considerable drop in my hours at the new job. Apparently between the economy and the season it is the time they cut way back on part timers. Unfortunately it's not a good time for me to have my hours cut. I was thrilled today when the night girl came in and announced that she couldn't take her Thursday night hours. I raced to the coordinator and begged her for those precious 4 1/2 hours. Just hope I remember to tape ER which I'm going to miss because of this night time work schedule. Oh well! Got's to do what I got's to do! I was warned that the cut backs will get worse. It is very slow. The night girl was complaining about the job and how she's tempted to walk out. Says she doesn't need the hassle! You go girl!!!! More for me!

We're up and running with the new coffee pot. Happy birthday, Hubby! Nice gift for him.

Coffee fix

We discovered yesterday that our year old coffee pot had bit the dust. Disposable electronics! We had three old ones that I have no idea why we had kept but they all went out to the garbage pickup this morning. We had a French press that we used for yesterday's and today's consumption but we headed off to the local (25 miles) Sam's Club. Of course while you're there to buy a coffee pot you have to get coffee, some meat, some pens, a couple of books, a shirt and then there was the $40 annual fee that we needed to renew. We decided on a one cup at a time Cuisinart. A little more than we wanted to spend but then maybe it would last a little longer than a year. Got home and put all the goodies away and got the coffee maker out of the box. I decided to read the instructions which I never do and followed them to the tee. After a call to their service number we were told to reset it by unplugging it and waiting an hour. If it didn't work then; take it back to the store. Well, it's back in the box and tomorrow hubby will make the 50 mile round trip to return it to Sam's. The dilemma is whether to try another just like it or just go somewhere else and get another kind. Decisions, decisions! I'm so tired of having to replace everything so quickly. I think we've had 10 microwaves over the years. Crockpots? I've lost track! Electric shavers? Every year! Televisions? Too numerous to mention. Cell phones? Oh my! I must say...I've had the same alarm clock for about 25 years. Guess I just jinxed that one. Suggestions for a coffee maker are welcome.

A different read

This novel by Andre Dubus III is "The Garden of Last Days." The setting is Florida in September of 2001. The characters are April, her 3 year old daughter Fanny, her landlady and babysitter Jean, AJ, a regular at the strip club where April works and Bassam, her last customer on a fateful night. Jean suffers what she thinks is a heart attack leaving April without a sitter for Fanny. She calls the strip club and is told that the manager would keep an eye on her and let her stay in the office and watch Disney videos and sleep until April gets off work. AJ is a man newly separated from his wife and child and hanging in the strip club making time with one of the strippers. He's thrown out for holding her hand. He's drunk, angry, and lonely. Bassam is a Mideasterner on a mission in a few days time and deciding to enjoy himself at the "gentleman's club." He pays for April to attend him in a private room. He's throwing money around and she grabbing it up. These elements lead to a page-turning narrative. It's set in the seamy underside of American life at the moment before the world changed. If you loved "House of Sand and Fog," you'll love this one.

Another Author comment

Got a response from the author on my review of Geoffrey S. Edwards' novel, "Fire Bell in the Night." Pretty cool that they take the time to search for reviews (or pay someone to do it). Makes me want to search for other books by him. Guess that's the plan.