Book Chatter

The Last Flight
By Julie Clark
Sourcebooks Landmark, 9781728215723, June 2020, 320pp.

The Short of It:

This is the “it” book making the rounds this summer and it’s quite the page-turner.

The Rest of It:

On the outside, Claire Cook has it all. A beautiful home with gleaming appliances, people who are literally at her beck and call whenever she needs them, her work for the foundation is rewarding and satisfying but her marriage to Rory is a constant reminder that things are not golden in the Cook household.

Rory Cook, an up-and-coming political figure comes from a well-known family and expects Claire to behave and act a certain way. If she doesn’t respond appropriately in public then as soon as he has her behind closed doors, he makes it clear to her that whatever she’s done must never be done again.

After fearing for her safety one too many times, she comes up with a plan. On an upcoming business trip, she plans to disappear and never come back. New identifying documents have been purchased and the morning of her plan, she is energized with renewed hope. Until she is forced to change her plans.

When her careful plan to escape is ruined by Rory, she does the next best thing by switching airline tickets with a stranger. She’ll head to Oakland, California and Eva, the woman she meets at the airport will head to Puerto Rico as Claire. This will buy her a little time.

What Claire doesn’t plan on is Eva’s plane crashing into the ocean shortly after takeoff. Could it be a blessing that Claire is considered among the dead?

This is a tightly wound story told through alternating points of view, Claire’s and Eva’s and it held my attention until I turned that last page. It reads like a movie script. There is just the right amount of intrigue and all of the supporting characters all have a role.

My only complaint, is that I really expected some of the story to be set in Puerto Rico. I was looking forward to spending a little time there but since the plane crashes (not a spoiler) before getting there, no time is spent there at all. So you won’t get a vacation-like setting in this one but you could easily read this one on a beach in one sitting.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

Sunday Matters

I think for most of us, we had two good weeks where things were looking up. Numbers were down and there was hope on the horizon. Those were a glorious two weeks.

If you look at the numbers now, they paint a picture of doom and gloom. It’s not surprising. I came to the conclusion earlier in the week that I am just going to continue doing what we’re doing and not to take any chances with our luck.

We all need to cross our fingers, (and pray) that we do not suffer another round of closures. This would be devastating for many reasons. I feel like we still have time to get a handle on it. Yes. California bars are now closed again and our beaches were closed for the holiday weekend. Our restaurants are now closed for dining in, again. But please, no more closures! Just do what you need to do.

Right Now:

I am looking up recipes for pasta salad. My youth group has an upcoming picnic and although I am bringing sandwiches I may also bring pasta salad. It will be outside, at a park with distancing in place. I fear that parks will be closed again soon so hopefully we can actually do this.

This Week:

Guys, hold your hats but my daughter is taking her senior pics this week. They can’t do the cap and gown pic because they are loaned clothing items and COVID rules won’t allow it so she will have to go back for that shot in the spring.

I cleaned up my patio area and now it’s a glorious spot to sit in the morning with my Bible study or current read.

Reading:

I finished The Last Flight and the review posts this Tuesday. I also finished Emma in the Night. That review should post this week as well. Both, enjoyable, quick reads.

I think I will read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine next which is a title on my Summer Reading List.

Watching:

I think everyone and their brother watched Hamilton on Disney +. this weekend. SO enjoyable. That is the one good thing about this pandemic, all the theatre that has been streaming for free. I’ve seen some great theatre.

New Things I’ve Tried:

I started this Bible reading plan for July. Some friends are reading it with me.