Book Chatter

Sunday Matters

It’s funny how people from Southern California talk about the weather. We don’t have seasons but we expect this time of the year to be below 105. I mean, is that too much to ask? We ALWAYS have a heat blast in October but never this bad. The winds and heat have turned all brush into tinder. Not good.

I feel like it’s affected everyone’s decision to not decorate for Halloween. I don’t know how much candy to buy now. Will we get the same numbers when our neighborhood is practically void of decor? Probably not.

Right Now:

I am recovering from a busy week. My body is rebelling by allowing me to feel every ache and pain. I feel like I fell out of a window.

This Week:

I am taking Halloween off which makes it an extra special day. I am going to cook and make snacks and then my daughter and her friend will go trick-or-treating and my husband and I will hand out candy with the dog. Sometimes, he goes with her but she is getting to be the age where a chaperone is frowned upon. My son has to work Fright Fest that night.

The volleyball season is over and the banquet is this Thursday. I can’t believe how fast it went. It was SO enjoyable for all of us. Great kids, great parents and we love the coaches. We could not have asked for a better season.

Reading:

I am finally into Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. I started it once before but got distracted by other things. It’s reminding me of Did You Ever Have a Family.

I am also reading Lab Girl by Hope Jahren for book club. It was my pick so I am supposed to lead the discussion but it’s the same night as the volleyball banquet so I will not be there for it. Bummer. I was looking forward to it.

Watching:

I’m about to breakout Halloween.

Making:

These days I have to go for easy so anything that can be cooked in one pan is good. I could live on stir frys but my family gets tired of them. I love the idea of just cooking everything in a wok.

So, we’ve had sandwiches a couple times this past week. Chicken veggie soup that we served over rice. Pizza. Gluten free corn dogs! I know. It sounds so wrong. For Halloween I am making rigatoni and meatballs. The Girl’s request.

Grateful for:

The ladies in my life group.

If you had asked me two years ago to join a life group, I would have said no. I was too busy and I didn’t know enough about the Bible to discuss it. Plus, I couldn’t see myself with a group of women on a regular basis. I am too tired at the end of the day and just want to crash. I still feel all those things and yet I am now in a life group and could not imagine life without one.

Support. Study. Great meals and conversation. Accountability. I am grateful for all of it.

Your turn:

I leave you with this, what is your favorite movie to watch as Halloween approaches? Mine is Halloween. The classic with Jamie Lee Curtis.

Sleeping Beauties
By Stephen and Owen King
Print: Scribner Book Company, 9781501163401, September 2017, 720pp.
Audio: Marin Ireland (Narrator), Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher)

(Note: Review of both audio and print copies)

The Short of It:

After falling asleep, women around the world find themselves wrapped in a cocoon-like substance. Alive, but for how long?

The Rest of It:

I read Sleeping Beauties as part of a read along (@sleepingbeautiesRAL). Truth be told, I always look forward to King’s fall releases but this one was a little different. Mainly, because he wrote it with his son, Owen. However, the tone of the book was very different from what he’s written before.

Much of the story details how one particular town is overtaken by this “webbing” and how the male inhabitants, although baffled by it, are also terrified that their significant others, their daughters, mothers and sisters may never come out of this dream state. This is a real concern for them but for some, it begs the question, why? Why are they so concerned? Because their loved ones will never be the same? Or because they will now be forced to live without women taking care of the house? The kids?

Sleeping Beauties is a horror novel but not in the traditional King sense. It’s King’s way of burning a bra without owning one. It’s a poster-waving tribute to women’s rights but the agenda was too obvious and much of it felt scripted. There are no surprises here and truthfully, I felt a little depressed when I turned the last page.

Because some of you have asked, I could tell which sections King wrote and which sections his son wrote. All of the weird, quirky mannerisms and the setting of the stage, felt like Uncle Stevie to me. The progression of the story felt like Owen may have handled that part. Of course, I can’t know for sure but that is my guess. It would be interesting to know their writing process for this one.

Audio & Print

I read this in print and listened to it on audio. I tried both formats because in print, the visuals were pretty stunning. King is so good at setting the stage. The audio copy was pretty respectable though. Read by Marin Ireland, I felt she did an admirable job of giving each of the many characters a true, authentic voice. As you may know, King loves to includes lots of characters and this book was no exception.

In the end, the story left me wanting . I feel dissatisfied and a little angry. Perhaps, this is the point.

Nevertheless, she persisted.