© 2017 Book Chatter | Book Chatter

Sunday Matters

Last week was pretty good. I did a little reading, some journaling and made a few home cooked meals. It felt good to just BE. I’m the type that flits around when I don’t have something to do but I didn’t do that this past week and it felt great.

Right Now:

No amount of coffee can help the fog I’m in but I shall drink it anyway. Muscle relaxers, pain relievers and allergy meds do not mix but I am being told to take them together and although I space them out, they space ME out. You could ask me to do anything right now and I’d happily say yes to it. As soon as I resemble a functioning human being, I will venture out into the world and begin my day.

This Week:

Hopefully there will be a callback for my daughter this week. My son is auditioning for a Justice League character on Tuesday. I’ve got a couple of appointments but nothing big. Should be a good week.

Reading:

Ulysses. I will be reading it for a long, long time. However, I did decide to read other books with it so right now I am finishing up A Man Called Ove and then I have to take a look at my review copy list to see what’s next.

Murakami released his newest book in Japan. It’s called “Kishidancho Goroshi” (Killing Commendatore) and it’s a big one. It seems VERY unfair that I have to wait for the translation to hit the US but I shall wait. I have no choice! In Japan it’s in two volumes so I hope when it comes to the US it will be one, massive book. I cannot wait! If anyone knows when it will hit the US, please let me know.

Watching:

Bates Motel started up again and it’s good.

Everyone knows I am watching The Walking Dead so that’s not news but the spiked walker from last week was very cool.

I really want to see Arrival.

Yes, I will watch the Oscars once I get home but if it runs into The Walking Dead I’ll have to change the channel.

Making:

My son asked for salad. SALAD. So, I’ve gotta make salad.

I’m not in the mood for much these days. All those meds kill my appetite but veggie or burrito bowls sound good. Maybe I will make some for the week.

Grateful for:

Opportunities. I get a little nervous when someone presents me with an opportunity to do something good that might be a little out of my comfort zone but lately, I’ve just been saying yes and it feels pretty good.

Maybe it’s the meds!

What are you up to? What unputdownable book are you reading? I know it’s not Ulysses.

My Husband’s Wife
By Jane Corry
Pamela Dorman Books, Hardcover, 9780735220959, January 31, 2017, 384pp.

The Short of It:

History repeats itself.

The Rest of It:

The title of this story is a little misleading and it’s not fully explained until the last third of the book but what started off as a rocky start, turned out to be quite a page turner.

Lily is married to Ed. Their marriage is riddled with problems. Ed doesn’t have a full-time job because he’s an artist trying to make a name for himself. Lily, resents having to be the sole breadwinner but when she takes on her first murder case everything takes a backseat including her marriage.

Carla is the little neighbor girl who lives next door with her mother. She’s alone much of the time because her mother chooses to entertain her “boyfriend” Larry in order get the things she needs like rent money, clothes and tuition for her daughter. After Lily and Ed offer to watch Carla, a bond grows between Carla and Ed as Carla becomes Ed’s artistic muse.

This book could be split into two separate novels. Carla’s childhood is interesting enough but once Carla is grown, the story takes a different direction as we follow her into adulthood and see how her mother’s actions impact her later in life. In addition to Carla’s story, there’s Lily’s story and how a murder case from the past affects her years later.

As you might have guessed, Carla and Lily’s stories are intertwined due to Ed but the way they come together is not smooth and dare I say it, a tad awkward. The transition between childhood and adulthood needed a little finessing in my opinion and some of the plot points weren’t realistic but the last third of the book had me flipping pages left and right to see how the story would end.

I think this book tried too hard. It tried to be many things ( a murder mystery, a psychological thriller, a book about relationships, etc.) It lacked focus even though the last third of the book was pretty riveting. All in all this book was just okay for me. It missed its mark.

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

Chatting with friends about books and life…