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Review: After the Parade

After the Parade

After the Parade
By Lori Ostlund
Scribner Book Company, Hardcover, 9781476790107, September 22, 2015, 352pp.

The Short of It:

With pain, comes growth.

The Rest of It:

As a young child, Aaron Englund had no idea how his father’s death after a fall from a parade float would affect him in the years to come but when his adult relationship with his beloved Walter ends, he’s forced to take a look at his past.

After the Parade is exactly what I look for in a good read. It’s a quiet story with interesting, quirky characters and unusual situations. When Aaron realizes that he can no longer maintain a relationship with Walter, he moves out and meets a host of people who, although flawed, serve a purpose in his healing.

This is truly a book about relationships. Mother and son, father and son, colleague to colleague, innocent bystanders, etc. I loved how open Aaron was to all of it. He’s a sensible guy and takes his hits as they come but he learns from them too which makes him so relatable. This book is filled with quite “aha” moments. I found myself rereading sections just to let the ideas sink in.

If you are like me and like quiet, meaningful reads then you will enjoy this one. It will be on my list of faves for the year because to me, this was the full package as far as reads go.

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

Sunday Matters: A Tiny Glimpse of Fall

Sunday Matters

This past week began with clouds and drizzle. Of course, this happened AFTER my husband washed both cars. I didn’t even care though. Driving to work at 5 a.m. meant that I had to wear a sweater! Yes!! And, it remained cool for most of the week. It was glorious.

The cooler weather means that soon it will be time for this although today it is expected to be 105 degrees.

Martha Stewart Halloween
Photo Credit: Martha Stewart

Right Now:

Getting some coffee into me. I was up many times waiting for The Teen to come home. He worked a sixteen hour shift because Fright Fest kicked off last night. He came home very late and was exhausted but he’s off today.

This Week:

I may or may not attend Math Night on Tuesday. I know. Sounds so fun! Not. 

Auditions for Joseph are this week and both The Teen And The Girl will be auditioning.

I think that’s it. 

Reading:

I finished The Dogs of Littlefield. Mixed feelings about that one. I am supposed to start a book for a book tour, The Yard but I haven’t yet. I really want to read something for the R.I.P challenge but none of my books are available from the library.

Watching:

American Horror Story started up and it seems very old school in the horror department. This could be good…or bad.

Fear the Walking Dead is lukewarm. I keep watching because the potential for being good is there but at the end of an episode I find myself wanting.

Making:

We are getting Chinese  take-out tonight. Not exactly football food but I have middle-school ministry tonight and haven’t hit the market. 

Grateful for:

We finally managed to refinance our house. We bought in 2007 when prices were through the roof. Our payments were $4000 a month and our property values dropped by half so that made it impossible to refinance. 

Many had to walk away from their homes. We prayed a lot and finally, we were able to refinance. I can’t even begin to tell you how relieved I am. 

What are you up to today?