Before I Go by Colleen Oakley FIC Oak

I liked the cover so I looked inside.  I found out that it was a book about a 27 year-old woman named Daisy who is married to Jack.  Their life is crazy because Daisy is working on a degree and Jack is finishing up becoming a vet.  They don't have lots of time with each other but they are deeply in love even though Daisy is driven crazy with Jack's inability to put his dirty clothes in the hamper or clean up after himself.  They are feeling lucky because they are about to celebrate the three year anniversary since Daisy finished her cancer treatments and was declared cancer-free.  In a few months they will be able to start doing all of the things that had been pushed back until after Jack's graduation - vacations and babies for instance.  But now her Doctor has called because of his concern after her usual blood test.  The news is bad, very bad.  Daisy begins to focus on poor Jack being left alone.  She needs to find him a new wife.  Now I have read several books with this theme but I think this one was my favorite.  Oakley's characters seemed very believable and it brings you back to the age-old question "What would I do if I knew my time was limited?".  There are plenty of humorous moments also.  It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think  - and it would have made me stay up to the wee hours if my eyes hadn't protested!   Loved it!

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The Escape by David Baldacci FIC Bal

John Puller is back in the latest from Baldacci.  If you have read previous books you know that Puller is good, very good at his job.  His investigating abilities are unparalleled.  In this book there is more at stake than ever.  While John was overseas two years ago serving his country, his older brother was arrested for treason.  Robert Puller denied his guilt but was found guilty and sentenced to life in a military prison.  One night there is a horrific storm and when the transformers blow the prison is in the dark - there are back-up generators but they somehow failed.  When this happens the cell doors should all close but instead they all opened.  When the lights come on Robert Puller is gone and there is a dead body in his cell.  Now everyone is looking for him.  Who better to find him than John?  So begins an intriguing cat-and-mouse game to find out the truth of Robert's "treason" and who was behind the escape.  Fast-paced and intriguing mystery!

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Seven Letters from Paris by Samantha Vérant 944 Ver

How often have you said "You can't make this stuff up"?  Well here is another non-fiction book that surpasses most romantic novels.  When Sam (Samantha) was 19 she was on a Euro-rail pass vacation in Europe with her friend Tracey.  They were enjoying a bottle of wine and dinner in a café when they were approached by two Frenchman. The guys took them on a whirlwind tour of Paris late into the night.  Sam hit it off with Jean-Luc.  Late the next morning they were meeting up again and spent the rest of the day together until the girls had to catch their train.  Jean-Luc begged her to stay but she couldn't change her ticket and she was on a limited budget.  When she returned to her college in the U.S. there were seven letters waiting for her.  (They will make you melt.).  Sam got caught up in her life and didn't reply.  Now it is twenty years later.  Sam is in an unhappy marriage.  If that wasn't bad enough she has also lost her job due to the economy.  This is the story of how she rediscovers the letters that she had kept all these years and decides Jean-Luc deserves an apology letter.  With the help of the internet she is able to get a work e-mail address for him.  And so it begins again!   An enjoyable book with a very happy ending!

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The Stories We Tell by Patti Callahan Henry FIC Hen

This was a good book!  It is about the balance of a marriage, family dynamics and of course the always present secrets found in every family.   Eve and her sister Willa grew up in a very strict fundamentalist family.  Eve survived rather well except she never feels quite good enough.  Willa became an alcoholic.  Eve marries Cooper who comes from a prominent southern family.  He is struggling with his business.  Eve, on the other hand, took a hobby and is turning it into a successful business.  That is causing some problems in the marriage.  Their daughter, Gwen, is a teenager who is starting to get into trouble.  When Willa comes to stay in the guest house as she tries to get her life back together, the dynamics of the house really start to change.  Willa and Cooper have some issues with each other.  But they are involved in a car accident.  Eve doesn't understand why they were even together in the car.  Cooper's explanation doesn't make any sense to her - and indeed after talking with the medical staff she finds out that it couldn't be true.  Yet keeping up appearances might trump finding out the truth.
      A good read that will keep you interested.

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The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein FIC Ste

This book came out several years ago and a friend recommended that I read it.  But knowing that it was about a dog's life I knew that it was also about the end of a dog's life.  Having elderly dogs at the time I couldn't face a sad dog story.  Now I have an energetic 3 year old and I was strong enough to read this!   It was a wonderful book.  Well-written and emotionally engaging.   It is told through the eyes of Enzo a mixed-breed dog who is at the end of his life.  He isn't sad about it because he intends to come back as a man.  He is quite the philosopher and has learned a lot by watching tv and he is quite worldly!

Enzo began his family life with just Denny who is in the world of auto racing.  Over the years Denny marries Eve and they have a daughter, Zoe.  Enzo takes his responsibilities very seriously.  The years bring a lot of joy and a lot of heartache.  Through every part of the journey Enzo is by Denny's side.  I laughed and I cried - it is a great book.

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Being Mortal: Medicine and what Matters in the End by Atul Gawande 362.175 Gaw

   

I read a lot and every so often I find a book that I think everyone should read - and this is one of them.  The following is a quote that appears on the Amazon page and it sums it up nicely:
"This book could be a game changer, if enough people read it and take it to heart. Atul Gawande addresses end-of-life care, and how we're getting it wrong, both within the medical establishment and in our families."  N. B. Kennedy

I truly believe that.  Gawande explains the history and background of how we got here - to a society that seems unable to talk about the end and all of the things that can happen to us and to our loved ones. We get a look into the institutional housing of our elderly and how their residents react to different situations.  We see how something as simple as live plants can make a huge difference.  His book is filled with stories.  At the beginning they are people he met through his professional life as a doctor but later it becomes more personal as his family members face these end-of-life obstacles.  And when it becomes personal everything changes and it is not as easy.  

And as with every good American story a lot of things come down to money.  Taking away choices in a residential home is a cost saving measure.  I think the descriptions in the book will make you think and I hope will lead you to have some meaningful conversations with the people in your life. 

This book is available at the library and WILBOR offers it as an e-book and an audiobook.

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Did She Kill Him? by Kate Colquhoun 364.152 Col

 
The sub-title of this book is "A Torrid True Story of Adultery, Arsenic, and Murder in Victorian England".  Something for everyone!   I liked this book but not because of the sordid things going on.  I have read about better affairs and better murders.  What I enjoyed was a look into the world of Victorian England.  Reading about life there was fascinating.  There is heavy emphasis on what it was like for women.  The trial took place in 1889.  The defendant was Florence Maybrick.  She was a southern belle who ended up in a marriage to a much older Englishman, James.  The marriage led to the birth of two children but also to unhappiness and adultery.  If you like reading about different historical eras I think you will like this one.  The English legal system of the time was also interesting.  Also comforting was the fact that even back then people were rioting when they didn't like a verdict!  I also appreciated at the end of the book where Ms. Colquhoun gave us a follow-up on what happened to all of the main characters.

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