Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursdays are all about taking the time to appreciate all the little things that actually went right during the week. I am someone who can get flustered very easily - even when the smallest thing goes wrong. So why not focus on all the little things that went right and be grateful?


1. I'm so thankful that the girls finally cleaned out the mound of shoes that had accumulated in the bottom of the coat closet. And I do mean "mound".

2. Speaking of shoes, I'm grateful that I finally made the time to switch my winter and summer clothes and shoes in my closet. (The closet in our bedroom is ridiculously small for two people - the rod is literally only 5 feet long.) Every season Geoff and I have to move our off season clothes out of the closet and into extra wardrobes in the basement. And, of course, for me this involves shoes as well as clothing. Since I'm a bit of a shoe addict, it's a big job. So glad it's done!

3. I'm so thankful and relieved that I was able to clear my schedule a bit this week and get a bunch of stuff crossed off my to-do list. The list was getting so long it was starting to stress me out. But, I have a handle on it now and should be able to finish it up on Friday.

4. I'm grateful that I was able to have a Girls' Night Out with Katie and Madeleine on Friday night - even if Katie bowed out of the movie. We did go out for dinner and (for the most part) enjoyed each other's company without too much tension.

I must say it was a good week. Time with my girls, finally having some summer clothes and shoes to wear (even if it's still unseasonable cold here) and crossing things off my to do. What's not to love?! How about you? What good things, big or small, happened to you this week?

Image from Google Images

Book Review: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

One of my favorite books from recent years is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I recommend this book all the time - to library patrons, friends, family members, people who read my blog and complete strangers. So I was jumping for joy when Lisa See's newest book, Shanghai Girls, was in a recent box of new books that came into the library. I didn't even know See had a new book coming out. Yippee!! Feels like Christmas!

Before I get to the meat of the story, I have to comment on the cover of this book. It is an absolute work of art. This is probably the most beautiful cover I have ever seen on any book. I love the soft color palette, the 1940's feel of the painting (?), the soft focus used on the girls' faces vs. the sharper focus of their clothing. Just gorgeous. The jacked art is credited to FormAsia Books, Hong Kong. Not sure what that is, but I'm going to check it out as soon as I'm done with this review.

Shanghai Girls tells the story of two sisters, Pearl and May, who live in the very sophisticated and "westernized" city of Shanghai in the late 1930s. Pearl and May come from a prosperous family and live a glamorous life full of excitement. This all comes to an abrupt end when their father gambles away the family's wealth and rickshaw business. In order to pay off his debts, he must sell his daughters as wives to two young brothers who have traveled to Shanghai from California to find Chinese brides. Pearl and May seem to go along with this plan, but they have no intention of fulfilling this contract made by their father. Everything changes, however, when the Japanese begin bombing Shanghai and Pearl and May must leave Shanghai in order to survive.

After a harrowing and life changing journey through war-torn China, the two sisters eventually find their way to Los Angeles and their husbands' family. Over the years Pearl and May make lives for themselves in California with their new family. But, through all their trials and for all their lives they remain devoted to each other as sisters.

Shanghai Girls illuminates a period of history that I previously didn't know much about. Learning about the experiences of Chinese immigrants living in California during the McCarthy era was illuminating for me. As was learning about the lives of the immigrants living in Chinatown and how they came to be in America. Fascinating. The story of Pearl and May and their experiences as wealthy Shanghai Girls, as refugees, as newly arrived immigrants, as new brides and finally as women who have built lives for themselves in the US was also interesting. Overall, Shanghai Girls is a good, solid story. It wasn't amazing. It wasn't a book I'll stop strangers on the street to tell them about. On the other hand, if someone was looking forward to or was interested in reading it, I wouldn't discourage them.

I would give it 3+ STARS (I liked it+).

Images from Google Images

Monday Musings

MUSING MONDAYS are hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page. Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about award winning books…

Do you feel compelled to read prize-winning (Giller/Booker/Pulitzer etc) books? Why, or why not? Is there, perhaps, one particular award that you favour? (question courtesy of MizB)

This is an easy one. I absolutely do NOT feel compelled to read prize-winning books. As a matter of fact, I usually avoid them at all costs. For the most part, I find the books that have won the Pulitzer to be dull, boring and/or bland. However, there have been a few notable recent examples, both of which happen to be short stories - Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiria and Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. So maybe I should rethink this. But considering there are so many awesome books to read, I doubt I would ever choose to read a book simply because it won some prize. I choose books based on the description written in the inside jacket and book recommendations from people whose opinions I trust.

How about you? Do you feel compelled to read award winning books? PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with your opinion or link to your own Monday Musing post.

Sentimental Sunday

This week's Sentimental Sunday is a tribute to good friends. We have been friends with the Ns and the Rs since 1997 when our oldest children were all in Kindergarten together in AZ. Over the next four years M, B and I formed a wonderful friendship as did our children and our husbands. It was wonderful, especially since we were all living away from our families. We spent four years making wonderful memories together.

Then in 2001, quite by coincidence, both B and I moved back to RI. I say "back to RI", because I am from RI and B, who is from CT, had previously lived in RI for several years (though by the time she was in RI, I was already in hell AZ). Needless to say, this was not good news for M. It didn't help that B and I both moved on the exact say day! Again, completely by coincidence. A few months after we moved, M came to RI to visit. She fell in love with the place. The following summer the whole family visited and the year after that the Ns moved to RI as well!!! Isn't that just amazing? B, M and I have now been friends for 12 years. Our oldest children, who brought us all together in Kindergarten, are about to become seniors! Unbelievable. And for all these years, M, B and I have been there for each other. We've shared triumphs, sadness, joy and heartache. And lots of laughs.

One year M presented B and I each with a framed photograph of 6 Adirondack chairs placed in the sand facing the ocean. She said that those chairs represented the six of us (M, B, me and our husbands) and how someday when we all retire we will occupy those chairs. Well, we didn't have to wait that long. In 2005, our three families vacationed at a lake in New Hampshire. There just happened to be a bunch of Adirondack chairs there. We arranged them in the sand, we each took a seat and one of the kids snapped our picture from the back. (I'm the second one from the left). I love this picture. And I love all the people in it.

Calling All Book Bloggers

This week I spent way too much time searching the Internet for book and blog related blogs and websites. And I did find a few gems among the rocks. But, as I said, it took up a lot of time. Since many of you are bibliophiles and book bloggers, I thought I would share what I found with you.

Book Blogs:

Here's what I discovered about book bloggers. There are oodles of book blogs out there dedicated to Romance, Fantasy, and Mass Market paperbacks. Not so many deal with contemporary literary fiction. Which is a bummer for me. The good news? I found three!

Curled Up with A Book is a very unique and visually gorgeous blog written by a young woman who lives in San Francisco. She loves everything books, libraries, words... and lists. Basically a girl after my own heart. While she does do some book reviews, what she does very well is highlight (in spare, but gorgeous photos) book related art. Yes, art. Right now she's showcasing photos of libraries. I can't adequately describe the beauty and fascination that is Curled Up with A Book. Go check her out. You won't be disappointed.

Book by Book is Sue Jackson's book blog. Sue is a writer who loves to read. And it shows in her oh-so-well-written posts. Book by Book was the first blog I found that deals with literary fiction. What a relief that was! She and I have similar tastes in books. Sue not only writes wonderful book reviews, she also does a couple of weekly book memes. Thoughtful and illuminating memes. I love a silly meme as much as the next person, but I really love a great book meme. Book by Book is also definitely worth a look for all you bookworms out there.

State of Denmark is written by Ms. Mazzola, an English teacher in living in Maine. Ms. Mazzola also writes fabulous reviews of literary fiction. She has a TBR tab on the top of her blog. What a great resource for finding new books to read. Her reviews are very will written, her blog has a professional and calming "feel" and she spices things up a bit with an occasional book meme and interesting book related lists. Visiting her blog feels like taking a break from the hecticness of life. State of Denmark is a must visit for anyone who loves literary fiction.

Book Related Blogs

During my search I also found 3 other sites that deal with books/blogs in some way. OK, I found lots more than 3, but I've separated the wheat from the chaff.

Book Blog Directory is the brainchild of Kay - a book blogger and a book blog reader. She created this site as a clearinghouse for book blogs. Anyone can submit a book blog to be included in the Book Blog Directory. All it takes is an email to Kay. I am now a proud member of the Book Blog Directory and will be putting their badge on my sidebar soon. So, if you're looking for book blogs to read (all types of genres are represented) or if you'd like to get your blog listed be sure to visit the Book Blog Directory.

Weekly Geeks is a great website that presents a different "theme" every week. Usually the themes are bookblogcentric. Themes are posted every Saturday and can be posted about at any time during the week. The following week, Weekly Geeks will feature 5 bloggers' posts from the previous week. Great exposure for your blog. Weekly Geeks also provides a choice of buttons that can be displayed on your sidebar. I'll be adding one soon. For all the necessary information on EXACTLY how Weekly Geeks works click here.

And last, but certainly not least is Best Post of The Week. BPOTW is another great site that can help you get exposure and more readers for your blog. (BPOTW is not only for Book Bloggers). This site is a venue for bloggers to showcase their best posts each week. It's as easy as emailing your best post to Bettyl (who runs BPOTW) before Saturday and voila a link to your post will be listed. She also has a button you can display on your sidebar.

Well that's it. The sum total of seriously hours and hours and hours wasting time trolling the Internet. I hope you find something here that you like. Please feel free to share any bloggy treasures that you've found in the comments. I would be eternally grateful.

Image by Google Images

Photo Roulette

Steph. at domestic urbanite tagged me in this fun and very random game. I love games that have a completely random nature to them. You never know what you will get. Basically the game is like this:


~Open your first photo folder
~Scroll down to the 10th photo
~Post that photo and story on your blog
~Tag five friends to do the same.

Unfortunately, what I got was a very boring photo. Too bad. It would be tempting to pick something more interesting, but that would not be in keeping with the spirit of the game. This picture was taken at an Air Show that was held here in RI a couple of years ago. Obviously something really exciting is going on as everyone is looking up, but of course THAT is not showing in the picture. It is interesting, though, to notice all the sailors in their sparkling white uniforms who came out to see the show. If I'm remembering correctly there were quite a few military planes that performed that day. And I'm pretty sure that's me in the foreground with the tan hat. Though I don't usually wear my hair tucked up. (Sandy, can I get a confirm or deny from you?) Not a very exciting picture or story I'm afraid. Now who to tag? As always if you don't want to participate - no worries.

Sandy at It's a Jungle Out There

Terra at The Emerson Family

Ronnica at Ignorant Historian

Kathy B! at the world according to me

Crystal at Traveling at the Speed of Life

I am going to bend the rules a little and tag my 3 Peeps as well. But since I tag you guys for everything, please feel free to ignore this.

My Peeps:

Tammy at Keepin' in Touch with Mommakin

Alex at Please Try Again

Anita at a wife, a woman, a mom

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursdays are all about taking the time to appreciate all the little things that actually went right during the week. I am someone who can get flustered very easily - even when the smallest thing goes wrong. So why not focus on all the little things that went right and be grateful?

Again this week, I'm having trouble thinking about things to be grateful for. Maybe it's because I'm not focusing on the little things and I'm looking for BIG moments. Oh well. Here's what I've come up with:

1. I'm thankful that on Saturday night my nieces who are 10 and 8 years old spent the night at my house for the first time. Their dad had thrown a surprise party for their mom's birthday and since it was going to go late into the night, we arranged for Madeleine to babysit for them at our house and for them to spend the night. I was a little worried about how it would go, since they had never spent the night here. It was fantastic. They had no trouble going to sleep, they went right to bed with no problem and in the morning they enjoyed the blueberry pancakes that Uncle Geoff made for them. It was a real pleasure to get to spend some time with them.

2. I'm thankful that on Sunday we FINALLY had a warm and sunny day. And I made a point of taking my beach chair outside and sitting in the sun and reading my book. I actually MADE myself do it. And it was pure heaven. (Of course, I fell asleep in the warm sunshine and didn't get all that much read). Oh well.

3. Now here's the biggie. This is seriously a miracle. I can't describe how thankful I am that on Tuesday night Katie came home from work and suggested that she, Madeleine and I have a Girl's Night Out on Friday. WHAT!? I swear I practically fell out of my chair. This is the girl who can't stand to be at home. The girl that rolls her eyes every time I open my mouth. The girl who has virtually no use for her sister (who totally adores her). Yeah, that girl. I said yes as fast as I could so that she didn't have time to realize what she had said and change her mind. Here's hoping it actually happens and something doesn't change before tomorrow night. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

How about you? What are you grateful for this week?

Image from Google Images