A new favorite author for me. Norman weaves the variant personalities of those who find their lives intertwined with each other—those usual way that include family, geographical location, and happenstance. Nothing new here, just life happening-- the particulars vary, but the human depth and nuance  of each person is universal. This is a story of ‘every man’. Howard Norman tells it well. 

    A comforting love story between newlyweds Margaret and David, between William, Margaret’s father and David’s father-in-law, and between the love of each of them from swans. A heartening and a challenging novella. You won’t be disappointed. 

      Another Maggie Hope Mystery. I have read five and I am aware that there is at least one more in the series. I’ve enjoyed following Maggie’s development as a spy as she solves mysteries and prevents catastrophes in World War II Britain. I’ve read the books in order, and suggest you do the same. I wait a month or so before picking up the next book, but I leave that up to you.   

      This book may make my top 12 favorite’s list for the year The magical quality of this story, as told by Adam’s wife Evelyn, gives me hope in the goodness of people and in the mystery of life. As a love story, set in rural farm and horse country in Kentucky and Florida, it confirms that love lasts as situations change. You have to read it to believe it. 

One morning a husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book. 
 
Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, " Good morning, Ma'am, what are you doing ? "Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious ?") You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her. "I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading. "Yes, but you have all the equipment, for all I know you could start at any moment, I'll have to take you in and write you up " For reading a book," she replies. "You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her again. "I'm sorry , officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading."
 
"Yes , but you have all the equipment, for all I know you could start at any moment, I'll have to take you in and write you up." "If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman. "But I haven't even touched you ," says the Game Warden. "That's true, but you have all the equipment, for all I know you could start at any moment." "Have a nice day ma'am," and he left .
 
MORAL : Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think 

   I loved Ford’s earlier book, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, and I love this one, a story of love, resilience, and hope set in Seattle in the early part of the twentieth century and in 1960. There are no perfect answers in life but in doing the best he could, Ernest, a Chinese-Caucasian orphan, led an honorable, happy, moral life. 

      This book offers a serious, well-documented expose into the business dealings of Jared and Ivanka, referred to as Javanka. Their upbringing was filled with greed, sheltered from people from different walks of life, diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, and devoid of examples of compassion for others. I have compassion for them and for others who have no family to show them that love is the way to success and peace. 

    I read this on my Kindle while flying to Italy and then while enjoying pasta in Florence. The prefect entertainment, with offerings of compassion for the kinds of people I admire and for those I don’t. Reading leads me to fewer judgments about the actions of others. Life happens. And yet, at the end, there is redemption for many. 

          This is not an easy read; not one I’d recommend easily; rather one you might read up on and decide if you want to read the story of three generations of women in a dysfunctional family. Thompson, through dialogue, conveys a deep understanding of the nuances of human relationships in families. And there is where the compassion come in.
        I’m not certain this will go on my 2019 Top Ten Favorite Books, but I sure wont’ forget it. 

    I love the writings of C.S. Lewis and I love his life story. Admittedly his life has been romanticized through the movie “Shadowlands” and now through this book. So be it. In spite of Joy (Davidman-Gresham-Lewis) short life ending with cancer, this is a feel good story.