All posts by Ti

I, Mona Lisa by Jeanne Kalogridis

I just finished our book group pick for this month. It was readable but left no surprises. The story is told by Mona Lisa herself and although the characters seemed quite rich, the plot left a lot to be desired. Here is the synopsis from Barnes & Noble:

“Florence, April 1478: The handsome Giuliano de’ Medici is brutally assassinated in Florence’s magnificent Duomo. The shock of the murder ripples throughout the great city, from the most renowned artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, to a wealthy wool merchant and his extraordinarily beautiful daughter, Madonna Lisa. More than a decade later, Florence falls under the dark spell of the preacher Savonarola, a fanatic who burns paintings and books as easily as he sends men to their deaths. Lisa, now grown into an alluring woman, captures the heart of Giuliano’s nephew and namesake. But when Guiliano, her love, meets a tragic end, Lisa must gather all her courage and cunning to untangle a sinister web of illicit love, treachery, and dangerous secrets that threatens her life. Set against the drama of 15th Century Florence, I, Mona Lisa is painted in many layers of fact and fiction, with each intricately drawn twist told through the captivating voice of Mona Lisa herself.”

Read it if you are a fan of historical fiction and enjoy a bit of mystery strewn in with romance.
Ti

Soooo Not Fair

I had my regular appointment with my Rheumatologist today and long story short, some numbers were good, others not so good. The numbers that are in need of improvement seem to be a direct result of some of the meds I am taking. I can’t stop taking these medications though so I am being asked (yet again) to exercise MORE, eat even less and I am not allowed to add salt to anything. I gave up coffee and I even gave up (gasp) Diet Coke. Now that was a punch below the belt for sure.

To make matters worse.. he is now adding MORE meds. Prior to October 2007, I never took medications except over the counter stuff for a headache or cold. Prescriptions? Peeeeeshaaaw (said in my best Shirley Feeney voice). Gotta love Laverne & Shirley. Okay, I am dating myself.

As you know, a sure-fire way to snap me out of my misery is usually a material purchase of some kind. Well today I didn’t even have to spend money. I have been answering surveys and reading book blogs to distract myself from the horrors of a life without Diet Coke and once in awhile one of the publishing houses sends me something for my time. They sent me a copy of The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble. Can’t wait to sink my teeth into it.

It’s the little things that make you happy.

Ti