Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Hello everyone. I hope you're having a good day.

Do you do goofy stuff to brighten the day? When we were dating my husband used to talk with Mickey Mouse's voice.  My sisters and I text movie lines back and forth, I'll tell you my favorite but if you're easily offended or underage please don't read the next line. "He would have an enormous svanschtooker." "That goes without saying." "He's going to be very popular."  Know what movie it's from?  Just like with the triplets, I'll have to disown you if you don't.  It's from Young Frankenstein. My dad always liked "Stay close to the candles, the staircase can be treacherous."  Also from Young Frankenstein, funny because the candles are unlit.  

I don't want to talk about politics on my blog, but here in the USA it's a mess.  To you around the world, please remember that Americans are different than the government. Also, the virus is spreading like crazy here. A little while ago, the daily amount of people in my state diagnosed with Covid in one day was around 2,000...a horrific number. Today, it was almost 7,500. Absolutely terrifying.  My point in discussing goofy stuff and horrible stuff is that during this difficult time we need as much foolishness as we can get or the bad stuff is overwhelming.

I recently read Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. This is the author who has written several best selling books, including A Man Called Ove.  In this novel, a bank robber needs somewhere to go after making their escape. They run into an apartment building, to a unit that is for sale and at the time is having an open house. All the potential home buyers become the robber's hostages. Obviously the robber has issues and secrets but so do the buyers. The characters are very well developed and the reader comes to care for each of them. The story is interesting, sweet and at times will have you thinking twice about several issues. Most importantly this book is funny. Laugh out loud funny, read pages to others funny. Exactly what the world needs right now. You will not be disappointed with Anxious People, it just may help you find your smile.

Anxious People would make a great gift.

What Lies Between Us by John Marrs

Hello everyone. I hope you and your loved ones are all well.

Have you ever done anything to a family member that perhaps wasn't so nice?  When we were kids, I was fighting over a hula hoop with one of my sisters.  We were each pulling on the opposite side of it, probably rendering it more of a hula oval. Since my sister refused to let go, I did, on purpose. My sister went flying backwards and cut her chin on a metal cabinet (we were in the garage). In fact, she had to have several stitches.  Today, she is a married woman with two children and she still will not let me forget our struggle. In my defense, let me veer a bit off topic and tell you about what kind of a kid she was. When we were on a long car trip, we would define our space in the back seat by ridges stitched into the upholstery.  One time the windows were open, the same sister complained to my mother, that my hair blew into her "airspace". Yes, you read that correctly, apparently, my then eight year old sister thought she was NASA....I invaded her airspace.  Okay, now rethink the hula hoop ordeal, see I'm not the only bratty kid!  We all hurt the people we love. Hopefully it's by accident, but sometimes it is on purpose.

I recently read What Lies Between Us by John Marrs. If you haven't read anything by Mr. Marrs you are missing out. I've read and enjoyed three of his books. This is the story of a mother and daughter. Sounds like it might be sweet and uplifting. It isn't, instead it's dark, twisty and has that wonderful thriller tension. Maggie, the mother, doesn't spend her days vacuuming with pearls on while a pot roast cooks for dinner. Nope, Maggie spends her days locked in the attic, beyond locked she is chained.  Her daughter, Nina, is the person imposing the odd imprisonment. The book surrounds discovering why this odd duo behaves as they do and if it will ever change.  It is a quick, page turning and enjoyable read.  You'll never look at your family in the same way.

Christmas is coming, I wonder if Amazon has hula hoops.

The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan

Hello everyone.  I hope you're enjoying the day.

I was fortunate to grow up in a very nice neighborhood. It was nick named "peanut butter hill" because once you paid for your house all you could afford to eat was peanut butter. I have to laugh as my house payment is more than ten times my parent's. Although it was a nice area, it wasn't nanny nice, it was babysitter nice.

My mother had an older lady stay with me when my parents went out. One night she had the nerve to tell me that there was no such thing as Santa. My parents were furious as I was still very young and they loved everything Christmas. Now to be honest, as an adult, I totally believe in Santa...who doesn't? Anyway, my sisters, the triplets, came along and a few years later I was the babysitter, it was no fun. Funny thing, one of my sisters is married to the nephew of the Scrooge like sitter. By the way, he loves Christmas.

I recently read The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan. I love stories full of atmosphere and this book has plenty. The bulk of the novel takes place at an English manor house, owned by a Lord and Lady.  Their daughter, Jo, is just seven when her beloved nanny disappears.  Years later, after losing her husband, Jo and her daughter are in financial trouble and forced to move back to the manor.  Now only the Jo's mother Virginia survives. While Lady Virginia is grateful for her family being there, something is off. She holds secrets that could change everything. This becomes very apparent when a body is discovered on the property, a body that could be the missing nanny.

I have started to purchase this book several times.  What finally made me click "buy" was hearing someone say that the first hundred pages were slow but then it took off and barreled to the end.  I didn't find this to be true. I thought the pacing was pretty consistent throughout. While perhaps not keeping you on they edge of your seat, it was far from boring. Pages kept flipping and soon it was over. In addition, it holds some pretty major twists and a considerable amount of action for a book about an elderly lady, her daughter and granddaughter living in an old English manor house.  I enjoyed it equally, start to finish.

If you're good, maybe Santa will bring you The Nanny for Christmas.

Craven Manor by Darcy Coates

Hello everyone. This post is a bit long, so if you want to skip to the book part and ignore the personal stuff I won't be the least bit offended. Start at "I recently read".

I thought I would finally tell you about our haunted house as I've mentioned it several times. When hubby and I were first married, we were very fortunate to buy our first house, a small townhouse. Five years later and we were bursting at the seams. We found a neighborhood we loved. We put contracts on several houses but something always happened. I finally said out loud that I would buy any house on this street but that one...pointing to a certain Victorian. Now as you can all guess, yes Virginia there is a Christmas and yes, the Victorian is the house we ended up buying. It had been divided into apartments, had no heat or air, you literally had to go outside to another entrance to go to the second or third floors and was home to lovely active termites. We would have to restore our new baby. But...the house had been great at one time, it had a ballroom, a large dining room with staff call button in the floor so you could hit it discreetly under the dining table. There was a beautiful staircase, a huge third floor and a big ol' wrap-around porch. 

Amazing things happened while putting the house back together. While taking down a false wall, we found a wall with original raised paneling behind it, with the picture hangers still in place. On the third floor we found, tin types, button up shoes, booze bottles, servants love letters, a corset, paintings, original drawings by a national gallery artist, needlework, toys, and kids writing on rafters that had long been walled off. We talked to one of those kids, who was then in her seventies. The experience was amazing. If you ever have a chance, do it. 

One night while sleeping in our newly completed bedroom, I awoke to find a woman bent over me.  She was moving hair off my face. I screamed, broke into tears, was violently shaking and obviously ran out of the room. It was a kind, gentle interaction, I just was ...I don't know, frightened doesn't cut it. Anyway, after that day, things started happening, not just to me but to my nonbelieving husband as well. There would be hard soled shoes making footsteps up our stairs.  A doorknob would constantly rattle and turn back and forth. In the family room, you would see a shadow and hear something fall, but nothing was ever out of place. I finally looked up the local paranormal society and they considered a house haunted if you had one of a list of things happen. We had EVERYTHING on the list happen, and not just at night, in broad daylight, every day. We ended up getting used to it. My husband started traveling for work, and whatever was in the house started to feel almost protective. By the time we moved, eight years later, we regret leaving our pal behind. 

Later a tv show (A Haunting) used our house as a set and burned sage. I'm hoping that didn't send the ghostly resident from the house she obviously loved so much.

I recently read Craven Manor by Darcy Coates. This is the story of Daniel, who is down on his luck. He receives a mysterious job offer from an unseen employer. He is offered a generous salary and place to stay if he'll be the gardener at Craven Manor. The Manor is quite spooky, and although it has been vacant for years it has lots to hide. This is a great example of a haunted house story, with a mystery thrown in. Darcy Coates has written several haunted house books; this is my second and they've both been quite good. This book doesn't have tons of gore, nor will it give you nightmares, but it is fast paced, interesting, spooky, and will get you ready for all things ghostly. It may haunt you with a bit of book hangover after you're done. Just lots of fun. By the way, that other book I read by Coates is The Haunting of Rookward House.

You know, sometimes when you're outside doing a bit of yard work, it's best to not look up to the windows of your house...you never know what you'll see.

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

Hello everyone. How are things on your side of the planet?

Were you a good kid? I was a brat, especially as a teenager. I can't imagine the stuff I put my parents through. My sisters were even worse! (yes, that was for their benefit but I can't help that it's true) We were so lucky to have two great parents. Still, there are some things that parents can't solve.

I recently read Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell. This is about a teenage girl, Saffyre. Something bad happened to her when she was a young child that she is still trying to deal with. To help her, Saffyre has been seeing a therapist, Roan, who has his own secrets. When he declares her ready to stop therapy Saffyre is caught off balance. She still hasn't told him her biggest secret. Add in a neighborhood of some not so nice people, a sexual predator on the lose and you've got a whole lot of suspects when Saffyre suddenly goes missing. This book is a typical Lisa Jewell thriller. An enjoyable, easy read with plenty of twists. You'll think you have this figured out repeatedly but will still be wrong. 

If you're in the mood for an interesting thriller, you may want to not shake your etch-a-sketch board and keep Invisible Girl visible.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Hello everyone. I hope you are having a great day.

A long time ago I discussed the first time I read a book for pleasure, it was The Shining, which I picked because of its metallic cover.  Somewhere in my teenage brain I thought I would look smart reading, yet edgy because of the cool cover and, of course, that it was written by Stephen King. Yet, my book was a flop as far as boy attractors go, my rapidly developing chest, on the other hand, was a big hit. I want to make a comment about men here, but since hubby is standing close-by and half the world's population is male, I'll refrain.  Although I didn't go to the beach this year (virus everywhere), I picked up a book that seemed to fit my sandy reading history.

I recently read Beach Read by Emily Henry. This romance follows two authors, Augustus, who writes serious literally fiction, and January, who writes romantic comedies. Both writers find themselves as neighbors at the beach. Unfortunately, they are also having a problem with writers block. They do the only thing to be done, swap genres. 

I feel like this book you would either love or hate. I didn't hate it, let's face it my mom said it's not nice to hate. However, I didn't love this book, but I respect it. Clear as mud, huh? For me, romance novels follow the "formula" which makes them predictable. Oh so often, it's characters are a wealthy man and poor woman. I love that this author did not go that route. She wrote unique and interesting characters, each with their own issues to resolve. I really like the story idea too. This was really a book trying to be a better, smarter romance. A romance novel that has better writing and a more involved plot.  Emily Henry deserves huge credit for that effort, which frankly would make me read a lot more romance novels. The problem for me with this particular book is two fold, the pacing is much too slow and the story gets bogged down in the details making the book seem to drag. In addition, it is too long. So for me, this book was a miss. Am I glad I read it? Yes. In fact, I would buy it again just to see this attempt at a romance with a bigger story. I think I'll keep Emily Henry on my "buy" list as she is definitely on the right track with a more thoughtful romance.

Picket Fences by Emma L.R. Hogg

Hello everyone. Have you ever noticed how we all have things we say frequently?  It's just our pattern of talking, or in this case writing.  I'm sure I tell you the same things over and over ( I have chicken to bake and vacuuming to do). Maybe you'd prefer someone who writes brilliantly or who has a dainty, elegant style. Sorry, I have stuff to do, lots of stuff to do...insert sarcastic tone here. Anyway, one thing I always say is that I am a thriller girl. It's true, thrillers are my favorite books to shop for and my favorite to read.  Surprisingly, they are rarely my very favorite book by the end of the year. There are only so many places you can go with the plot while maintaining that frantic tension that I adore. Ahhh, but in general fiction, writers have the world. Those, just good darn story, books are what always edges out my beloved thrillers for favorite. While I don't know what the rest of my reading year will bring (in 2020 it's best not to tempt fate), I have a contender for number one!

I just read Picket Fences by Emma L. R. Hogg.  Ms. Hogg is a Canadian author and they are lucky to have her! I LOVED this book.  I was in the middle of reading a major thriller and foolishly read the first few pages of Picket Fences, two days later I'm finished. I don't know how to describe it to you, it's one of those stories that is about nothing and everything. It is the story of a young woman, Sloane, and her friend from high school, Stephie. They made plans for their lives but, as it does for most of us, life changes. 

The story is straightforward, following Sloane as she lives her life, going to work, dealing with parents, husband, Stephie and desperately trying to make her dreams come true. It's a slice of life. The reader also sees parts of the past, learning more about the early lives of Sloane and Stephie, helping us understand why they are the way they are today. It all sounds so simple doesn't it? On the surface it is, but there are undercurrents galore to be explored and lessons for the reader to learn.  This is all accomplished brilliantly thanks to the author's well defined characters. When people are rude and hateful, she makes us dislike them but still have compassion for them and wonder what happened in their past. When Sloane struggles, I wanted to shake her and tell her to snap out of it, but I also recognized many of her traits in myself. Sloane's parents were adorable, yet her mom often annoying. As for Jason, Sloane's husband, the reader is left wondering if he can't be bothered to accomplish his dream of being a game designer or whether he postpones his wishes because his greater wish is for an income that will bring them a happy life now. We don't know if he's unkind, or the nicest, most patient husband ever. Stephie's "friend" Randy, appears to be a loser but then we're reminded not to judge people, as we see how he is smart and sensitive.  I know all these character names and traits mean absolutely nothing to you now, I only include them to show you that this book that has no boat crashes, museum robberies, or mysterious murders, yet it is absolutely amazing.  

I cannot do this book justice with a description. It is about nothing and everything. It's complicated yet simple, happy yet sad. I found myself laughing out loud and then teary eyed.  The storytelling is masterful and I will not forget Picket Fences for a very long time.

This book is being published in Canada so I want to give you some help finding it if you live in the United States. First, you can order it directly from the distributor at https://www.fitzhenry.ca/Detail/1777010144 .  Or you can get it at good old trusty Amazon and have it delivered right to your kindle (gotta love that instant gratification)...actually if you are in the US just give the name to any bookstore and they can get it for you. Need a reminder, it is Picket Fences by Emma L.R. Hogg, read it and it's a name you'll long remember.