This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection

Those of you old enough to have watched Carol and the gang every week will take a trip down memory lane! When I discovered Carol Burnett had written another book, I couldn't wait to read it. "This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection" is just that. Laugher and reflection. Short little chapters that will make you laugh out loud. Carol talks about her love of "Nanny", her grandmother who raised her and their close relationship. She recalls her early days in Hollywood, how she moved to New York and struggled until she got her start in theatre and then television. After working on Garry Moore's Variety Show, she was offered her own television specials which eventually lead to her own comedy show. Who could forget the hilarious skits of "The Family", a totally dysfunctional family with Vicki Lawrence as "Mama, Harvey Korman as "Ed" and Carol as "Eunice" ? I remember laughing so hard when Tim Conway (who later joined the Carol Burnett show) would be in a skit with Harvey Korman and ad lib lines causing Harvey to lose it and break out laughing. Was it the writing or just Tim causing Harvey to lose it that made you laugh? Hard to tell.
Lucille Ball, Ray Charles, Jim Nabors, Carol Channing and so many more "famous" actors and performers graced the stage with Carol and simply created an hour of pure entertainment that you can't get today. Carol reminisces about her movie roles, my favorite one was Miss Hannigan in the film version of Annie.
Of course Julie Andrews is mentioned and Beverly Sills, both women who became close friends with Carol. I loved watching and listening to these women when they performed together.
We are reminded of Carol's personal life as well. Her marriage to Joe Hamilton, producer of the Carol Burnett show and television specials and their three children. Their unfortunate divorce and the death of their daughter Carrie. Carol found love again when she married Brian Miller in 2001. Congratulations!
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely, 100%! Especially to those of us who grew up waiting for the Carol Burnett show to come on each week and allow us to smile, laugh out loud and simply be entertained for one glorious hour! Who could forget that closing song....I'm so glad we had this time together, just to have a laugh or sing a song. Seems we just get started and before you know it, comes the time we have to say so long. Ahhhh....those were the good ole' days!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future by Michael J. Fox

I admit it. I have enjoyed all three of the books Michael J. Fox has written. I have laughed and cried while reading his words of optimism, hope, and the real world of "life".
This year I have two sons who graduated from 8th grade. True, they didn't graduate from high school or college where you hold your breath praying that she/he will make a really good choice to continue their education by attending a college or a trade school. After all, you WANT them to become responsible adults and pay taxes right? They have to continue their formal education to get there right? Hmmmm...
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future, Michael shares his success stories and his failures. From the time he is in elementary school (and hates most of it) until he leaves in the middle of high school he knows he wants to be an actor. He wants opportunities that he believes he can only get here in the United States. With his parents approval (and monetary support) he sets off on a path that brings success but hard times as well.
The story touches on his television and movie career. Michael discusses his relationships with his family and friends and he doesn't shy away from discussing his relationship with alcohol and Parkinson's disease either. Life lessons. Sometimes it is what it is. Just accept it and move on.
We all know we make our own choices-the good ones and the bad ones. Yes, sometimes we repeat those bad decisions a few times before we learn, that's a life lesson. Accept responsibility for them and move on. Life lessons, real life experiences are what we learn from. Enjoy the moment, learn the lesson and move on, there is more to learn!
This book is only one hundred pages long and is really a quick read, one you will enjoy. If you haven't read Michael's other books; Lucky Man or Always Looking Up, I highly recommend those as well. Happy Reading!

May Adult Book Clubs

The Adult Book Club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. On May 12, 2010, the club members will discuss Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. The story of a retired judge and his orphaned grandaughter living in the Himalaya.

The Mystery Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. The club members will discuss The Art of Making Money: The Story of a Counterfeiter by Jason Kersten on May 19th. 2010 . This true story begins when a poor Chicago boy is forced to provide for his family after his father abandons them.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

I recently had the opportunity to listen to this book that came highly recommended to me by one of my co-workers who owns a dog (or two). Living with children and three dogs myself, I wanted a great book to listen to on my way back and forth to work. I was not disappointed.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, narrated by Christopher Evan Welch, was one of the BEST books I have listened too! The story is told from Enzo, the dog's point of view. Enzo is the constant companion of Danny Swift, a stock car racer. The story begins when Enzo is a puppy and how he and Danny form this lifetime commitment to each other through thick and thin. While Danny is at work, he leaves the television on the Weather Channel to keep Enzo company. Enzo believes that is when he first developed his thirst for knowledge. In time, Danny marries Eve and life gets a little complicated for Enzo, sharing his time with Danny with Eve. Before long a baby girl, Zoe, joins the family. Enzo loves Zoe and Zoe loves Enzo. The family is happy and life is great. That is, until a fatal illness attacks Eve. Unfortunately, the story gets very real now and life is a horrible struggle for Danny. He loses Eve, he is unjustly accused of a terrible crime, and to make matters worse, he temporarily loses custody of his daughter Zoe. Danny and Enzo maybe knocked down, but they live by the motto "There is no dishonor in loosing the race, there is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose." Danny fights his battles and wins. Enzo must fight his battles as well, painful joints, poor eyesight, tiredness, and old age. He realizes his time on earth is almost up and he is determined to come back---in some form, to rejoin Danny and Zoe. Check out this great book or the sound discs and discover the relationship between man and his best friend....a dog!

I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui. Many of us, myself included, take for granted the rights and privileges we have living here in the United States of America. I have a voice and opinions that when I feel the need and the appropriate time, I use without hesitation.

This true story takes place in Yemen, in 2008. Nujood, a little girl of ten years, loves to play with her brothers and sisters, go to school, draw with colored pencils, play hide and seek with her friends, and enjoys eating chocolate. Isn't that what children are supposed to enjoy doing? Not so in Yemen. Child marriages and child trafficking are common occurrences.

Nujood is born in a small village called Khardji, with only five stone houses. No grocery stores, no barber, no doctors or even a medical clinic, not even a mosque. She was brought up to never question a man, not even her own brothers. She was never taught how to make a choice. Her own mother, uneducated, was married off at sixteen years of age and bore sixteen children, some of whom died in infancy. The family was large and very poor.

The family suddenly moved to Sana'a, a larger community with grocery stores, taxi's, schools, hospitals and police. For the first time in her life Nujood was allowed to attend school, which she loved! Then, without any warning, in February of 2008, Nujood's father told her he had some good news--she was to be married!

Nujood did not want to be married, she wanted to continue with school, play with her friends, and draw with her colored pencils. All she remembered hearing were the words her father told her older sister Mona, "one less mouth to feed". Within days she was put in a wedding dress too big for her small body, and married off to a man over thirty years old. A man who promised Nujood's father he would not have relations with her until she had reached puberty. After the wedding, Nujood, Faez-her husband, and his family returned to Khardji where they lived. Despite making promises to Ali, Faez did indeed rape and beat Nujood that very night.

Nujood went from being a little girl to a married woman overnight. Faez regularly beat her and forced himself upon her each and every evening. Nujood begged to return to her parents and her family.

After several months Faez agreed to take her back home for a visit. She pleaded with her family to allow her to stay home and get a divorce. Absolutely not, she would not dishonor and shame her family, she was married now. Nujood desperately plans her escape. One morning Nujood was sent to the store for some groceries when she took matters into her own young hands. She went to the courthouse and demanded to see a judge. She waited and finally was allowed to see a judge who listened to her problem, she was ten years old, married to a man who was over thirty, a man who regularly beat her and raped her. She wanted a divorce.

The media hears of her story. Newspapers and television personnel want to interview her and listen to her story. Nujood is assisted in her quest with the help of a woman attorney, extremely rare in her country and two judges. She has her hearing and is granted her divorce. However, because there are no shelters in Yemen for young girls, Nujood is sent back home to live with her parents and her family. Not exactly the best scenario.

This story is not over. Nujood is twelve or thirteen years old today! She continues to live with her parents, although both are ill. She and her younger sister have returned to school. In November, 2008, Glamour magazine named Nujood, the youngest divorcee' in the world, as one of their "Woman of the Year" recipients. As a direct result of all the media attention, this book was written and Nujood and her family are living a bit more comfortably today. This story is a very quick read and one I promise you won't be able to put down easily.

April Book Clubs at the Library

The Adult Book Club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room. On April 14, 2010, members will discuss The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Set in Nazi Germany, this story is told by Death. Death tells the story of Leisel, a young girl who steals books to help her get through the horrors of war.

The Mystery Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in Meeting Room B. The group will discuss Still Life by Louise Penny on April 21, 2010. Set in a small Canadian village, a retired school teacher and amateur artist is found dead during deer season.

The Busy Mom's Book Club will be discussing Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin on April 12, 2010 in Meeting Room B. Set in 1897, three Swedish girls embark on a journey to America in search of a better life.

Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt

Birth. Death. Sorrow. Healing. Roger Rosenblatt's book Making Toast is his own true story, the story of the unexpected death of his one and only daughter Amy Elizabeth Rosenblatt Solomon. Amy was a daughter, sister, friend, pediatrician, wife, and mother.

Making Toast is the story of what happens to Roger, his wife Ginny, their sons; Carl and John and their families and of course Amy's husband Harris and their three children; Jessie, Sammy, and James, aka "Bubbies" after Amy's death.

Upon hearing the new of their daughter's death Roger and Ginny immediately rush to Harris and the children. To comfort and be comforted. Life still moves on. Everyone needs to be taken care of, especially the children. Roger and Ginny begin to "fit in" to Amy's and Harris's home. They adjust their own retirement plans and employment responsibilities to become child care providers, chauffeurs, cooks, tutors, room parents, and of course Grandpa, aka "Boppo" and Grandma, aka "Mimi". Boppo starts his day earlier than the others. He has mastered one household duty--making toast and eagerly offers it to those who join him in the early morning. The children attend school, after school play dates, sport activities, music lessons and more. Harris continues his medical practice as a hand surgeon. Boppo and Mimi and the rest of the extended family members adjust to life without Amy all the while keeping her forever in their hearts. They cherish the moments they shared with her.

Mr. Rosenblatt offers the reader a book that takes note of the minute, everyday life experiences that help us heal after suffering the loss of a loved one. Yes, there are a bad days. We wake up, have some "toast" and start a new day. A really good book!