I enjoyed this book by Fern Michaels. It is only the second one I’ve read by her.
Central to the story are three sisters ranging in age upwards from 69. They were so funny to me, especially when they instigate a ‘kidnapping’ of sorts, which is really a rescue. I suppose what I like about them is that I want to be like them when I get to that point in life — feisty, involved, loving, fun to be around, engaged in what is going on around them, taking care of their families. I wasn’t enamored of the amount of drinking they did. And there is a brief mention of a child born and left to be raised in Japan.
Alongside their stories (and two brief forays into romance for two of them) is the story of their grown niece, interwoven with the stories of the historical nature of where they live, as well as those who live in their neighborhood.
Also central to the story is the subject of organ donation (which was done against the will of well-beloved character.) It ultimates in finding those who received the donations (by computer hacking) — and ultimately redemption.
It is a story of love, affirmation and good will, with a tidy ending, perhaps tidier than real life would be, but evidencing forgiveness.
I think I enjoyed it as much for the older women and their relationship to each other as anything. In some ways they reminded me of a beloved grandmother. While there are difficult subjects tackled, they are tackled in a light way. Sort of like the substance of whipped cream. Not real satisfying, but an attempt to be deeper than the average romance novel.
I came across this interesting woman, Ruth Hamilton, yesterday, and now I can’t remember where. Perhaps you’ve looked at my various links and seen the link to the oldest blogger — well Ruth was even older — 109, imagine! And embracing new technology!
If you want to see and listen to a woman, born in 1898, who was the first women elected to the legislature in New Hampshire, who was one of the first women to have a radio talk show, who taught diction to movie stars, have fun perusing this site for more of her.
I’m always on the look out for people who lead interesting lives as they age — and for the ones that younger people gravitate toward because they have a zest for life that is contagious. If you play around at the site, you will find her eulogy and also information about a book she wrote as well as excerpts. It’s fun listening to her talk about God. For example, she asks God why she has lived so long, and all she hears is, “Shut up!”
Who do you know who might qualify as another Ruth? I’d love to have more real life stories of real men and women who are living vibrant lives as they get older.
This book is a coming of age book for the forty- or fifty- or sixty- year olds. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only was it entertaining, it was affirming and real — or as real as it could be if you were in these circumstances.
Jackie Laurens is the divorced mother of two young children. She and her husband had grown apart in their twelve years of marriage, as people do, but the deciding factor was his affair. It’s hard to know if he did or didn’t, but he isn’t very nice at the moment, and she found out through emails.
Jackie finds her life turned upside down. It is lonely in many ways as she figures her way out after the divorce. Her long time friends don’t understand where she’s coming from. Their husbands are friends with her ex-. They all feel in some way she should have settled for what she had, not taken steps to correct it. But her husband is showing his true stripes in his dealings with her, so I figure she did the right thing. And they’d like her to date again. Basically, her friends would like it to be as it had been — that way they don’t have to think too hard about their own lives.
Complicating it all, is that in the midst of her heartache, her kids are being typical bratty kids with their sibling arguments, as well as repeating what they have obviously heard from their dad.
One of her group of friends, Anne, decides to treat the two of them to a few days in Hawaii. We know Anne’s husband isn’t enamored of the idea — and he gets sick moments before Anne is supposed to show up at the airport. And he gets well, just as quickly when she calls Jackie to say she won’t be showing, but Jackie should go on her own.
Jackie’s already at the airport, and her kids are at their dad’s. So she bites the bullet, gets upgraded to first class, and heads to Hawaii on her own. Somewhere in the last 12 years of marriage she has lost herself. The woman who used to have a spirit of adventure, who used to travel on her own with no qualms, fights against her better judgment in order to go ahead with the trip.
I loved her stream of consciousness as she finds out who she is again. Many women could identify with this and have found themselves at similar crossroads.
In some ways it reminds me of the book (and movie) that is similar to this whose name I have mercifully forgotten. The one where the author had a similar experience in RL.
Anyway, in Hawaii she finds Kai, the surf instructor who is significantly younger than she is, but at 30 to her turning 40, it is a doable age difference. She should count herself lucky! The alternatives were the older, paunchy guys, multiple married, rich, but creepy.
Of course, her friends and ex- are dead set against this match, never mind that her ex- is with a younger woman. But she travels back to Hawaii more than once to see him, finding happiness along the way. And she deserves it.
She talks about past miscarriages and experiences one in this book, for those who would find that hard.
I give it a 3.5. I think I’d like to read it again now that I know where it is heading. While it is chick lit, it is not typical. It has more thought in it, as well as being life encouraging and affirming for those of us who could use some.
You might like to know that Heather Locklear has been cast as Jackie in the Lifetime original movie of Flirting with Forty set to premiere December 2008.
When it comes to facial treatment products, I find that I like to at least sample products that friends have led me to. If a friend recommends a product as accomplishing what it is hyped to do, I rely more on their judgment than an ad campaign.
How about you? Have you tried (or bought) something recommended to you by a RL or online friend? Did you find yourself more satisfied with it? (Or trying something you might never have found or tried on your own? There is such a plethora of products now, who can sort through them all?)
There’s something about it that makes me happy. Maybe there is even less buyer’s remorse or second guessing.
Since I was about at the end of a couple of products, I bought something completely new to me on the strength or recommendations. They are significantly less money than the products I have finished. I’ll let you know what I think of them after trying them for a couple of weeks or so.
One of my early pleasures in life was bike riding. There was something about the freedom of it all — being able to go fast, get places on my own, with the wind in my hair, seeing the neighborhood sights up close and more easily than in the car. And it is so much faster than walking! I like to get there!
I still get the same exhilaration. When I’m on my bike, it makes me wonder why it was so long until I rode again. Partly it is because traffic here is heavier and heavier and feels like a speedway. Safety is a factor, after all. And I’ve taken some spills, which I would just as soon avoid, if possible. And then there are the things of life that tend to get in the way, but there is a break in them right now, and I have so much enjoyed the freedom of my bike again.
I’d like to build up my stamina. I have to do it before it gets too hot to enjoy it in the same way. And I have to be able to pedal well against the wind. I don’t think I’d ever be able to take on hills. We call speed bumps our hills here, as it is so flat.
I take it as a plus, though, that I have actually begun to ride again. I’m taking back my life, LOL!
Do you like to bike ride? Do you actually do it? How far do you go? (A friend biked over 13 miles with her husband not too long ago.)
This came across my computer from Insight of the Day today:
I believe people should study a little bit every day. It should become habitual, like brushing your teeth, combing your hair, having a shower or getting dressed. Study the mind, the laws of the universe and paradigms. There’s enough information on those subjects to keep a person studying forever. Bob Proctor
Because I like to learn about new things, I don’t think of it as a habit. I laugh and say once I’ve learned one new thing each day, I can go to sleep.
Recently I read the book Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment. He teaches a very popular class in this. One of his interesting points is to make anything you like, that makes you happy, a habit, schedule it in. Evidently making something a habit means it actually gets into your life on a regular basis. And it takes upwards of a month to make something new a habit.
Be sure to click the accompanying interview with her. It shows pictures of her earlier life when she was dancing and many stills from her newly published book, Helluva Town: New York City in the 1940s and 50s.
She says she is practicing taking photos, much the same as a dancer practices, so if she isn’t pleased with something, she was just practicing.
I’m always on the look out for women leading interesting lives. It’s something to think about.
All I need to know I learned from the Easter Bunny!
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.
There’s no such thing as too much candy.
All work and no play can make you a basket case.
A cute tail attracts a lot of attention.
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.
Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.
Some body parts should be floppy.
Keep your paws off of other people’s jelly beans.
Good things come in small, sugar coated packages.
The grass is always greener is someone else’s basket.
To show your true colors, you have to come out of the shell.
The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.
May the joy of the season fill your heart. Author unknown.
. He teaches a very popular class in this. One of his interesting points is to make anything you like, that makes you happy, a habit, schedule it in. Evidently making something a habit means it actually gets into your life on a regular basis. And it takes upwards of a month to make something new a habit.
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