BOOK REVIEW - "WINTER GARDEN" by KRISTIN HANNAH (NO SPOILERS)

WOW...... 

WOW........... 

WOW...............

HISTORICAL FICTION is my favorite genre and I seem to be drawn to books about WWII - perhaps because this war ended just 7 years before I was born or perhaps because in school we were never taught anything about it. Could this be because it was all too "fresh"......?? Now it seems that there is an overabundance of WWII books. Is our generation searching for "answers"?? 

To find a book about WWII that takes place in RUSSIA, was a new slant for me - I was intrigued to read it. It's a story of love, family and strength-of-spirit under STALIN'S rule in LENINGRAD, RUSSIA. I'm embarrassed to say that I had to look up the location of LENINGRAD and was astounded to find that the city was called "LENINGRAD" from 1924 to 1991 when the name was then changed to ST. PETERSBURG.

I was physically and emotionally moved by this book. For 50 pages or so I think I forgot to breathe. Spell binding. Gut wrenching. I had about 80 pages to go and didn't want to put it down, but had to take a break for a small glass of wine, a deep breath and for my blood pressure to return to normal.

KRISTAN HANNAH is one amazing storyteller. She has the writing capacity to make the reader feel right in the environment with the characters. I had this same reaction when I read her 2015 "THE NIGHTINGALE"- also an excellent book that takes place during WWII but in France. 

Although the book was on my shelf for several years before reading it, I appreciate that my friend Bev recommended it, way back when. But, be warned, "WINTER GARDEN" is NOT a book for the faint-of-heart. This is a story that will stay with me for a very, very long time........... 

JOAN

WHO'S TRAINING WHO?? (or is it "WHOM"?)

CLOVER!!! is such a smart, creative and insistent girl.

At first I would scold her bad behavior, then I tried to ignore it. Now I get a kick out of it - most of the time......

Here's her standard routine to get my attention -  

If I'm on the computer or with my head in a book for too long and she hasn't been able to move me into "play with me time", she walks around the house and knocks over different items, one by one.  It's the same items every time.  I should probably pay closer attention to see if it's in the same order each time - THAT would be interesting.

Her favorite - a wooden, hand-painted vase on the bottom book shelf - 

A glass coaster from the wine room table - 

A wooden stool in the kitchen - 

A basket in the kitchen - 

She pushes open the revolving kitchen cabinet door - 

And pulls out the heater grates from the floor - 

Yes, she dropped THAT ball into THIS heater duct with her head tilting back and forth, back and forth, wondering when it was going to pop back out!

Wait a minute, scroll back..... did you notice the kitchen grate in the "stool" photo?

But look at this beauty..... how can I possibly get upset with this Girl??  

I'm sure you've figured out that SHE is training ME!!

Of course that's dirt on her nose.....  doesn't she look proud of her freshly dug hole?  

EI YI YI

JOAN

TURNING 60 (4 years ago)

When I was in my late 50's and approaching AGE 60 (!!!!!) I was literally "KICKING AND SCREAMING". And OK, I was also SWEARING........ 

• HOW is it possible that I'd be in my 60's already?? 
• Where did the time go? 
• How much time do I have left?
• My life is almost over, isn't it?
• What do I want to do with the limited time I have left?
• How can I turn this potentially negative and depressing event into a positive one?

So, inspired by something I read about a girl turning 30, I copied her idea.........

I created a LIST. 

A list of "60 THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MY 60's"!!!

30 things in your 30's is 3 each year.  That means 60 things in my 60's will be 6 each year. As if you needed help doing the math..........  but you get the idea, I'd better get busy.

So I took a look at my list today and updated it. In 4 years, I've completed 19 of the 60. Let's see, 4 years times 6 things a year is 24.  I'M NOT ON TRACK!!  YIKES!!

I started off like a jackrabbit and completed 12 in 2012 (year 1).  

Then 2 in 2013.  

Then 1 in 2014.  

Then 3 in 2015.   Hmmm...........

Goals are good. They give focus.

I DO have 2 things in the works for this year.  Oh yeah, I need to accomplish SIX THINGS don't I?!!

If you're a curious person (which I certainly am), you're probably wondering WHAT IS ON THAT LIST OF MINE?!  Ok, here is what I've accomplished so far:

1.  Visit Annency, France	2012 (04)
2.  Visit Nantucket again	2012 (05)
3.  Tour the Zappo's warehouse near Las Vegas	2012 (06)
4.  See Cirque du Soleil - "O"	2012 (06)
5.  See Jackie Evancho perform live	2012 (08)
6.  Tour Eastern Europe	2012 (09)
7.  Visit Prague	2012 (09)
8.  Visit Budapest	2012 (09)
9.  Take a River Cruise in Europe	2012 (09)
10. Visit Vienna	2012 (09)
11. Visit Saltzburg	2012 (09)
12. See Barbra Streisand Live in Concert	2012 (10)
13. Tour somewhere in Italy or Europe with Mimmo again	2013 (11)
14. Take a road-trip with WILLOW	2013 (12)
15. Tour Croatia with "THE GIRLS"	2014 (12)
16. Visit Monticello	2015 (07)
17. Do a wine tasting tour in VA	2015 (07)
18. Take my niece Shelby, Ryan and the kids on a decadent trip (France and Venice)	2015 (08)

Yup, in the first year (2012), I knocked off 6 of them in one trip to Eastern Europe.  I was motivated! And since my passion is travel, you can see that most of my items include visiting new places and experiencing new things. And I still have 6 open slots on my list if you want to share a good idea with me.

I love my list. I love what I've done so far and I love what I have remaining on my list. So you see, being "IN MY 60's" is a pleasant experience so far. It's all in one's perspective, isn't it?!

Maybe I need to eat that 3-DECKER ICE CREAM CONE and check THAT off my list this year.........

JOAN