The Thirteenth Tale

This book was recommended by my sister-in-law who normally reads more non-fiction than fiction. That in itself intrigued me. Diane Setterfield's novel about Margaret Lea, a biographer who works in her father's bookstore. Margaret is requested by the prolific author Vida Winter to write her biography. Truth be told, Margaret hasn't read any of Miss Winter's books. So as a good biographer, she starts and also does some researching of Vida herself. She finds out that Vida does many interviews every year by journalists hoping to be the one to get the scoop of the real Vida Winter. Margaret is the lucky one because Vida decides that she has no more stories to tell so she may as well tell the truth. The subsequent story of Vida's life interwoven with Margaret's own sucks the reader in from the first page. There are many great lines: "What good is the truth, at midnight, in the dark, when the wind is roaring like a bear in the chimney? What you need is the plump comforts of a story." Also, "All children mythologize their birth. It is a universal trait. You want to know someone? Heart, mind and soul? Ask him to tell you about when he was born. What you get won't be the truth; it will be a story. And nothing is more telling than a story." And many, many more. At over 400 pages long, this is a big book but a very quick read because 'nothing is more telling than a story'. There are multiple references to the classic novel "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte which I know this reviewer will want to read. Thumbs up for a "new" classic....Enjoy!

Sunday List of Dreams

If you have not read anything by the best-selling author, Kris Radish; well, what are you waiting for? Kris has written three other fiction novels: The Elegant Gathering of White Snows, Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn and Annie Freeman's Fabulous Travelling Funeral. Read them all! Now Kris has released in 2007, The Sunday List of Dreams and in this reviewer's opinion, you are not living if you have not dreamed. Or you are at least not being truthful. Connie Nixon is a recently retired nurse and divorced mother of three grown women. While she is living the first day of her life as a retiree, Connie hears her house talk to her. Her best friend, Frannie, helps her to realize that she is not crazy but should have somebody check the wiring in the house. Connie does and while they are checking out the wiring, she checks them out. Who doesn't look at the scenery when it is presented in such a cute package! Oops, Back to the review, Connie is cleaning out her garage and comes across a box of her estranged daughter, Jessica's things. Lo and behold, Jessica is the owner of one of the most successful sex toy shops in the country. What ensues is a wonderful tale of self-discovery, family enlightenment, social commentary and downright hilarious (don't drink too much or you'll wet yourself) events to make up another in the continuing saga of great storytelling telling by Wisconsin's own, Kris Radish. Thumb way up to point at my dreams aspiring upwards.

Roxie and her reviews are back

It is good to be back after a month's sabbatical. All of the Oscar-nominated movie watching, party planning and shovelling the foot of snow on Oscar night. What a difference a month can make. No more snow on the ground, near 80 degree temperatures in March and now rain, rain and more rain to cleanse the earth and as I like to put it, to cleanse myself of the dust that has accumulated in my soul from not writing for so long. Oh how I have missed this partner of mine. The portion of my soul that speaks from my heart openly and honestly to enlighten not just my life but perhaps some reader out there. A wish to dream that my words could translate from my fingers through the keyboard and into someone else's eyes, mind, heart and soul. Dream + Discipline = Doing (as in what you must do according to the depths of your being.) In my case, "DO THE WRITE THING"!