Book Chatter

Save What’s Left
By Elizabeth Castellano
Anchor Books, 9780593469170, June 2023, 204 pp.

The Short of It:

Chaotic in an oddly entertaining way.

The Rest of It:

“An outrageously funny debut novel about a woman who moves to a small beach town looking for peace, only to find herself in an all-out war with her neighbors..” – Bookshop.org

I actually thought this book was hilarious. I picked it up when I wasn’t feeling too great and was instantly perked up. Unfortunately when I finished it I was really out of it so couldn’t formulate my thoughts. This is my best attempt now.

Kathleen Deane finds herself on a little discovery adventure when her husband of 30 years decided he no longer wants to be married. This is a shock. I mean, 30 years is a long time. As she tries to make sense of it, she begins to think about her next steps and that lands her in a small beach town. The idea of growing old in a quaint little beach town has always appealed to her so she sets it all in motion to make it a reality.

What she doesn’t count on is the town being completely off kilter. Construction, building violations and city officials who do not return her calls. It’s comical at best. The interactions with neighbors and honestly folks just walking by really make you rethink idyllic beach towns. Do they exist?

This story is very episodic. This happens and then that happens. Every time I picked it up it put a smile on my face . If you need something a little different to add to your reading list, add Save What’s Left.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

Sunday Matters

I come to you all with good intentions, to be consistent with posting and reviewing but health issues can truly derail a person. Good news, my referrals were finally put in for MRIs (brain and spine) so I hope to have answers soon.

In other news, my son’s job on the reservation had to be cut short. Toxicity in the workplace cannot be ignored. Once again he is seeking employment and perhaps a new direction. In his down time he created a non-profit that combats graffiti with urban art done by local artists.

Right Now:

I have student ministry this morning and will be working on a message for November later. My brain has to go through this “gathering” phase and then the inspiration pours out.

This Week:

Let me just say that Halloween should always be on a Saturday. Tuesday is just not acceptable. The traffic just to get home from work will be a nightmare. I’ll be lucky if I can get home before the first trick or treaters arrives! Plus, cooking dinner. The wait times for delivery or takeout are brutal on Halloween. I will probably throw something in the Crockpot.

Reading:

I heard about a re-telling of 1984 titled Julia. I’m intrigued. I just added it to my Kindle.

Watching:

We were in the mood to watch a spooky movie so we tried the remake of Friday the 13th. Oh boy. It was not good. Honestly, the original is not great either but I guess I prefer the campy-ness of it.

Listen, you all have a really good week. I hope to get those MRI appointments made this week. I am trying to remain hopeful but it’s alarming to be able to walk one minute, and then a few moments later be completely unable to control your legs. Pray for me, please. Wish me luck. Think positive thoughts. I appreciate it.

Chatting with friends about books and life…