Today was a very busy blogging day - I had stuff to do and episodes of TV to watch, and before you start thinking Watching TV does not count as a daily obligation, I can assure you dear readers that in my life it does. If I go more than a few days without it I start to feel disoriented, as if I have woken up in someone else's life. But, I'm a multi-tasker, so I pulled it off, and still read today's book (it's inspirational, I know.)
Today's book, "Slumber parties, swimming pools, boyfriends, lakeside summers, family holidays--Susan Allen Toth has captured it all in this delightful account of growing up in Ames, Iowa, in the 1950's. Charming, wise, funny, poignant, and true, Blooming celebrates an innocent and very American way of life."
Shallow thoughts:
- Today's book was another one of those gentle books that slowly unfolds like an old movie - where practically nothing happens - and yet, I really enjoyed it. And then later discovered, while I was on page 91, that I have already read this book a few years ago. How sad is it that I was actually able to make it all the way to page 91 before realizing that I've read this book before. I think I'm becoming too indiscriminate of a reader.
- Favorite passage, "When she was four years old, my daughter, Jennifer, began to develop a sense of history. "What was it like in the old days, Mommy? Did you wear long dresses? Did you ever ride in a covered wagon?" - Wow, there's nothing like being asked if you were alive in the covered wagon days to make a person feel youthful. I know because I was once asked in my Mary Poppins days if I was alive before cars were invented.
- Favorite sentence, "We all knew that the Wards wished Sara would find somebody more suitable to go steady with, which made their romance seem somehow threatened and even more exciting to watch." - Ahh, the drama of youth when everything feels like it's the MOST DRAMATIC THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ANYONE. If only I could say that I left that quality behind, but it seems that every day of my life is the MOST DRAMATIC THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ANYONE. I think it might be time for me to accept that it wasn't youth that made me do that - although I have stopped reenacting funeral scenes from movies (Beaches) while throwing myself on fake coffins (piano benches) so I think I'm making progress in that area.
So, in conclusion dear readers, I would recommend this book with the caveat that it's probably not the book for you if you don't enjoy slow, gentle books.
