Review

Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay.
So I was hoping when I sat down to this book that I would discover an inspirational story that would bring forth hope, which had been driven out of Europe during the reign of the Nazi's. You know, the kind of inspiration that emerges after the disaster, when you realize there are so many amazing people out there doing amazing things in the face of evil. I was wrong, this book began sad and ended with only a sliver of hope.
The novel set in France during German occupation has two heroines. Sarah who was a young girl when her Jewish family was sent to a concentration camp and Julia, an American woman living in modern Paris. The first half of the book goes back and forth between the stories of the two women chapter vs. chapter. While many books are set up in this style, (the first time I experienced this was Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath), at times it can be frustrating if you are a working woman like myself. I only have a limited time to sit a read and I have to remember whose voice I am reading and what had preceded the part I was on, etc.
Not only were the two different voices a mere annoyance it would have been nice if we (the readers) had been given a break from the dark depressing tale that was Sarah's holocaust nightmare when we were reading about Julia. Instead we were led down the loveless, lonesome life that was Julia's. The book does become intriguing at the end... and wraps up nicely... just beware if you want a light story to take you through the week this is not it.

Review

Getting Rid of Matthew, by Jane Fallon.

While I was not profoundly intrigued, I spent several enjoyable evenings curled up with this story. The book focuses on one woman who has an affair with a married man, who decides to leave his wife and move in with his lover. Epitomizing the saying the grass is always greener, each lover realizes that the fantasy is always better than reality. And as us feminists who enjoy a modern day fairy tail, depicting woman who take their lives into their own hands as they hypocritically allow men to lead them astray, love the romance and the drama as the novel unfolds. It was a quick read, great for nights when thinking hurts and an escape is needed.

Anticipation

I have to go to work soon.... Later..... eventually. I would rather get up at the crack of dawn and go to work than wait till later morning to start the day. This is my career choice and these are the hours I have been dealt. Just how do I fill the time, if I start to read I will get sleepy. If I start a project I will not have enough time to see it through. I wish time did not exist, I could do without that dimension. It is the inevitable consequence of living. I stopped wearing a watch several years ago in an effort to slow my relativity down, oh and get rid of the rash that was building up under, a result of constant hand washing in the serving industry.
Speaking of the serving industry...... I am going to go in with an open mind. No one will feel the need to roll their eyes at me today, No-one will bring me down with a snarky comment. I will stay positive, I will be positive! It is only coffee........ right?

By myself.

This fall I visited the Japanese Gardens here in Portland. There is something therapeutic about being a tourist in your own city. Especially when you are there alone and can use all of your senses without distraction. I literally have to take the time to "smell the roses". I work so much and try to squash as stuff as I can into any down time that i have that I rarely fell rested. This place centered me. I took my camera and captured the amazing color that the garden had to offer. There were many other photographers out that day with way better equipment that I could ever imagine owning. I would love to see the photgraphs they took. I worked for a photographer when I was first out of college. I developed the photographs for him and many other amazing artists. It was so inspiring at the time and really laid the foundation for the understanding and appreciation that I have of the art today.
Across the street from the Japanese garden is the Portland Rose Garden. Although all the roses where not in bloom I was able to view some of them.

Janeary 21, 2009

I am inspired. I have spent the morning listening to the national prayer service. I was very impressed with the Reverend Watkins and her challenges to the new President to keep to the promises he has made to us. I am inspired because it is up to th individuals to work together to be complete, to fix our broken country. I have spent 8 years sad, and I am ready for hope, willing the change. I really feel that today is a new day, a fresh start.