Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

Orphaned while aboard ship from Ireland to America, seven-year-old Lavinia works as an indentured servant alongside the slaves in the kitchen of a tobacco plantation. Belle, the master’s illegitimate daughter, takes Lavinia under her wing, and the young Irish girl eventually becomes bonded to her adopted family. Yet, as she grows, she is also accepted into the “big house” by the master’s wife who struggles with opium addiction. Lavinia must learn to straddle two worlds until the day comes when she is forced to make a choice.

The Kitchen House is a debut novel filled with suspense, heart ache, love and humor.

I Remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Wanted – And ALS by Darcy Wakefield

Darcy Wakefield was a healthy, athletic 33-year old English professor until she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2003. Darcy was a runner. She mourned not being able to run, but didn't gave up on life. She embarked on her “fast-forward” life, a life in which she left her job, applied for disability, met and moved in with her true love, bought a house, had a child and planned her own funeral. Wow.  How can you not admire her strength, courage and determination to enjoy what life she had left? This memoir is beautifully written and will surely inspire others to live life to the fullest. I read this book in 2006, and Darcy's love of life continues to inspire me.

Darcy Gammon
Wakefield, 35
CAPE ELIZABETH - Darcy Gammon Wakefield, 35, died from ALS on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005 at her home in Cape Elizabeth.
A native of Livermore, she attended local public schools until 1986; she graduated from the Waynflete School in Portland, in 1988. She then attended Bates College and Smith College, where she graduated in 1992. She earned her MA from SUNY/Buffalo in 1996, and her MFA from Emerson in 2003. From August 1999 until January 2004, she taught English at Southern Maine Community College, where she thoroughly enjoyed her students, colleagues, subject matter, and work setting.
Before getting ALS, she was extremely active, and loved walking, running, hiking, and swimming. Throughout her life, she was a feminist, and firmly supported women's right to choice. She also enjoyed hanging out with friends and family. Her interests included reading and writing, and her stories and essays appeared on Maine Public Radio and National Public Radio, and in numerous publications. She also wrote two books, I remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Ever Wanted - and ALS and No Flies on Bill.
After getting ALS, she was extremely committed to raising ALS awareness. She hoped that awareness would lead to a cure so that no one else would have to die from this awful disease.
She is survived by her fabulous friends; her extended family; her maternal grandmother, Billie Gammon; her parents, John and Nancy Lee Wakefield; a sister, Betsy Wakefield and brother Jonathan Wakefield; a beloved son, Sam; and her true love and partner, Dr. Steve Stout.

Published in Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on December 12, 2005

 

 

Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake

I loved this memoir from Anna Quindlen. I related with many of her thoughts, feelings, and experiences. She writes about her childhood memories, work experiences, marriage, children, friendships, and faith.

Quindlen states that growing older has its perks, such as wisdom and a new perspective on life that makes it more joyful. I agree.

This is a book about her life and the lives of women today.

"It's odd when I think of the arc of my life, from child to young woman to aging adult. First I was who I was. Then I didn't know who I was. Then I invented someone, and became her. Then I began to like what I'd invented. And finally I was what I was again."

From Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen.

Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier

I've always loved the classics, and Rebecca is now one of my favorites. I can't think of anything I didn't like about Rebecca. It's a Gothic romance with suspense and quite a bit of madness.
The narrator meets Maxim de Winter while working as a companion for a wealthy American woman vacationing in Monte Carlo. After a brief courtship, the narrator agrees to marry Mr. de Winter, and the couple travel back to his estate, Manderley. Once there, the new Mrs. de Winter learns that she is Maxim's second wife, and the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who loved and adored Rebecca (the first wife) makes it very clear in sinister ways that the second Mrs. de Winter just won't do.

You can also check out Rebecca on DVD. The film is directed by Alfred Hitchcock and stars Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. The film won best picture at the 1940 Academy Awards.

Book Clubs

The Adult Book Club will discuss Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende. The group meets on the second Wednesday of the month in the boardroom on the first floor.

The Mystery Book Club will discuss The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard on August 21st. The group meets on the third Tuesday of the month in Meeting Room B.

New members are always welcome.

The Woman Who Wasn't There by Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo J. Gugliemo, Jr.

On some level all Americans suffered on September 11, 2001.  You may have witnessed the tragic events via the internet or television.  You may have lost a loved one or knew of someone who died that day.  Someone you know may have lived in New York City at that time.  Regardless, it was a devastating event on so many levels for all of us.
Guilt.   Can you imagine carrying around so much guilt that you SURVIVED such a tragic event?  This is the story of World Trade Center Survivors.  Survivors who suffer from insomnia, depression, divorce, alcoholism, drug addictions, much more and Guilt.  Guilt because they lived through it.
Tania Head was one such survivor.  Her husband died in the north tower and minutes later another plane hit the south tower.  The south tower, where she was at work as a Vice President of Merrill Lynch Company.  Tania was terribly hurt and wakes up in a hospital five days later.  Two years later she still can't sleep at night, she can't work, she is no longer the woman who she was on September 11, 2001.
She goes to the internet and creates an online support system for the people who survived the tragic events of 9/11.  Her group slowly grows and finally connects with yet another group. Survivors come together to talk, share some or all of their stories with others who know exactly what they are going through themselves.  They fight for closure and all try to find a way to move forward. 
But, really who are the REAL survivors of this story?

                                          

Victorine: A Novel by Catherine Texier

In 1899, in a lovely little town in France, Victorine realizes she is tired of being married to a boor, but she loves her children dearly, and it's because of them she has stayed in her marriage so long. On an ordinary day while at the beach with her son, she sees Antoine, a man she loved many years ago when they were teens. He must leave for work in Asia and asks Victorine to come with him to stay.  Despite having to leave her children behind, she feels compelled to follow this passionate man. She tells no one of her decision to leave France, not even her husband and children. This is a story of rebellion, passion, pain, and guilt.