Book Review: Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield

Set in Victorian times, Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield tells the story of William Black and how he ultimately pays the price for killing a rook when he was just a boy. The rook that was killed was an ancestor of Thought and Memory, the rooks of the god, Odin. William pays for his crimes through the loss of family and friends but strikes a deal for the survival of his daughter.He believes this deal is the construction of Bellman and Black Mourning Goods Store. It is later, he learns this is not the case.

At first, I was not aware the story was set in Victorian times. It was not until about 1/3 into it, that may have been a mistake on my part but it was easily overcome. About half way of the book, I correctly predicted the ending of the booking, which was disappointing. I was hoping that with every turn of the page, I would encounter the twist and turns of Setterfield's previous work, The  Thirteenth Tale. However, this never happened, which left me disappointed.

Without taking the thrilling The Thirteenth Tale into account, Bellman and Black did provide an entertaining tale full of history, culture, and mystery. If you are a Setterfield fan, I would recommend this book. However, I feel that she was pressured to write something so quickly after her best seller, The Thirteenth Tale.The book did seem rushed but still well put together. For those who are thinking about reading her work for the first time, I suggest reading Bellman and Black first then The Thirteenth Tale. Overall, I will look forward to Setterfield's next work, but with trepidation.

Eve of a New Life

So today is the 1st Anniversary of the start of my son's new life. Today is not his birthday but the process that became his birthday. He wasn't due for another month but complications arose and he had to be taken early. It was on this day (in the afternoon) that I had to leave work early due to bleeding. The doctor told me to go to the hospital because my dear boy would be taken by C-section in the morning. Now I have a great and bright little boy who I cherish and couldn't live without (even though he is sick today and driving his mom and dad bonkers...okay mostly dad).

Love you Cap'n Monkey! (not pictured below)

Book Review: Wideacre by Philippa Gregory

Author: Philippa Gregory
Title: Wideacre
Publisher: Touchstone Book
ISBN: 978-0-7432-4929-4
Rating: 7.5 (1 lowest and 10 highest)

I must admit that I adore Ms. Gregory's books. They fascinate me with her ability to dwell into history and manifest a story rich in detail and interest. This book was no exception and rarely disappointed. However, there was disappointment. The book, a first in a trilogy, dealt with a young woman, Beatrice, trying to keep her family home in Georgian England. This is no easy task because of the laws of inheritance. Of course she does not make the right choices (or we wouldn't have a novel), but the wrong choices are terrible. Obviously there is significant money trouble and the author spent a great deal of time and effort on going over this subject. It hit too close to home and I found myself not enjoying the book. I am all for reading the suffering of others and how they make things better. However, I found myself not wanting to read anymore because the character infuriated me with her bad financial decisions. All in all, I would recommend this book and enjoyed it. I hope the next book in the series is better.

My next book I am reading is Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield which was published by Emily Bester Books and has ISBN: 978-1-4767-1195-9.

Have you read Wideacre? Have you read Bellman & Black? Do you have a book I should ready? Let me know.

Payday

Yep, it's payday. Probably the most depressing time of the week. You get all hopes when you get your check and then you start the bill paying. Then grief of seeing your hard earned greenbacks walking out the door. Welcome to life as an adult! That would be Mumsy's favorite saying to me. But things are bound to get better, right?! Yes, of course they are. My family and I are champions of bill paying and will continue to do so till everything is set right. Until then, water down the soup, cut the meat thinner, and read instead of a movie. It could be worse...trust me it could always be worse.

Moral of the story: Count you blessings everyday. You woke up this morning. You have a roof over your head. You are healthy. No one has died. There is food in the fridge. Take joy where you can because you do not know what tomorrow holds.

Why?!

I don't understand why some people want to blame others for their own mistakes. Then they claim that they are happy when in fact they are miserable. I don't understand why a parent should yell at their adult child and tell them they are done being a parent. You are never done being a parent. Heck, Mumsy is 60 and I am 38. There are many times I need her, even if it is just a soundboard. I am grown, have my own kids, a house, a career, and I find myself needing Mumsy to get my head straight. Being a parent NEVER stops. Mumsy is even going to a 5k with me this weekend to cheer me on.

Now I will say that a parent's role can change. My relationship with Mumsy has gone from parent to now friend, which is awesome right now. My friends think that she is a really cool lady because she enjoys going to movies, dinner adventures (yes I said adventures), spending time with the kids, and more. I will never understand a parent who pops out a kid, raises it, and then when adulthood comes, the parent disappears. It doesn't work that way people. We are terrible as children. The fun doesn't really start till we are grown and actually have intelligent conversations with you, possibly with a glass of wine, but then I digress.

Have you called your kids/parents today?

Patience

I have also thought I had a great amount of patience for things that I cannot change. However, lately, I have found myself extremely irritated when things do not happen when and how they should. You would think that someone with my life experience would have the patience of a saint. Nope, the older I get the more I want things my way. Pathetic. I should no better. I am always harder on myself than anyone else. That is something that I am working on. I have to be willing to cut myself some slack. I need to set my alarm to wake up earlier, get up on my schedule, and wake up slowly like I like. I am not a morning person. Hopefully with that change, my attitude for the morning and the rest of the day will be better.

Are you a morning dove or a night owl? How do you cope with your own sanity and the needs of work/life?

Health-Forced Laziness

When I eat, I have to sit still for at least 30 minutes. It is all due to my surgery I had seven years ago. I did not heed this warning last night. Cap'n was crying because he wanted down to play and I made the mistake of eating brown rice. However, it was such a tiny amount that it let food down put stuck to low that I couldn't correct it. Trust me, you don't want to know how I correct it. So from 6:30 to 9:30, I was in a chair trying to get it to stop. I couldn't even read Buggy her bedtime story. Not good at all. So needless to say, the house was not picked up. Of course I didn't not feel guilty about it at the time. I was pampered. Buggy covered me up with one of her blankets. Cap'n gave me many hugs. Mr. J made me something hot to drink to get the food to go down. That did the trick. However, I got up this morning and saw the state of the house. OMG! I spent the morning doing dishes in a furious pace in order to get to work on time. Thank the divinity I work at home. So I have a lot of work to do when I go to lunch. I am glad it's Friday.

On a happier note, I am having a craft day tomorrow. Since we are broke due to Mr. J coming back from Florida for business, I am going to catch up on scrapbooking. I have yet to finish Buggy's book (it ends when she was 1 1/2. Did I mention she is 5.). I need to finish our wedding album. I need to get her ABC workbook started and I need to get Cap'n's ready. I don't have one yet for him but I can look to see what I have. Then I have game on Sunday that I need to prepare for and of course there is the mopping, sweeping, cooking, and the laundry. Oh and one more thing....make sure the dogs have a bath.