"Bearpond Books

Kate Braestrup, a Unitarian Minister, beautifully blends her own life story, spirituality and nature writing in her memoir. She is just a great story teller. I felt like I was sitting with her in her living room and she was relating tender stories of her children, rescue stories from the woods of Maine and religious questions. As chaplain to the Maine Game Wardens she is present in situations when people are missing in the woods. She waits with families and lets them give her direction as to what they need from her – silence, prayers, or maybe even just another pair of gloves. AND if you enjoy this book, there’s a follow up – Marriage and Other Acts of Charity. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m certain it will offer the same wonderful insights.

It’s out in paperback – Christopher Moore’s raucous retelling of King Lear. It’s enjoyable on so many levels. I kept wondering how different scenes were portrayed in Shakespeare’s telling. The story is told from the point of view of Potter, the fool and there is the suggestion of romance, the definite intrigue of plotting by daughters and sons-in-law to overthrow Lear. It has the classic adventure of the original and the laughs of Moore’s sense of absurdity. A fun winter (or summer) read.

What is the role of the writer? Prophet? High Priest of Art? Court Jester? Or witness to the real world? Looking back on her own childhood and the development of her writing career, Margaret Atwood examines the metaphors she and other writers have used to explain their activities.

Once after an author breakfast at a book convention when A Long Way Down was about to be released, I was 2 people away from having Nick Hornby sign my advance copy. Then time ran out and he needed to be whisked away to the official autographing table so it didn’t happen. I still love the book even though it doesn’t have his signature. In the world of Nick Hornby books my favorite is About a Boy and next is a Long Way Down.

His new book Juliet, Naked is due out on September 29 and I got the pleasure of reading an advance copy. It’s a music based story about Amy and Duncan, a couple who stay together mostly by force of habit. Duncan is obsessed with Tucker Crowe, a musician who mysteriously stopped his career 20 years ago. Fans are still blogging and speculating and Duncan continues to pilgrimage to Tucker Crowe “sites”. Amy could really care less until she hears an advance copy of Tucker Crowe’s new release – an unplugged version of an earlier electrified one – thus the title Juliet, Naked. She posts her own review of the CD on the official website and receives a reply from someone who claims to be Tucker. This begins a journey of e-mail communication and connection.

Nick Hornby has woven together some interesting ideas for this scenario, but to be totally honest, I did not thoroughly love it. It started off strongly, but I think the ending did not equal the engaging beginning. I am disappointed to say this.

Once the book is out and you’ve read it, I’d love to hear from you about your reaction.

Partial Cast of Characters:
Margot Harrington - an American book restoration specialist who has been living in Florence since the 1960’s.
Woody – Margot’s new American lover who moved to Italy when his teenage daughter was killed in a bombing.
Esther – the American director who is making a film about Margot’s story.
Miranda - an American actress who has studied Margot’s book about finding a 16th century Italian erotica book in a convent and is now the star of the movie, playing Margot.
A great book for late winter/spring. It offers the flavor of Italy, a bit about filmmaking, some romance, some drama.
This is a sequel to Hellenga’s earlier book Sixteen Pleasures which tells the beginning of Margot’s story. I didn’t read it and I’m enjoying this book on its own.
beginning of Margot’s story. I didn’t read it and I’m enjoying this book on its own.