Raymie...Clarke? or Nightingale? Perhaps both!

Rarely does a book title draw me in as this one did.

Raymie. I have never heard this name before. Raymie.

And then Nightingale. There had to be some symbolism there, amIright?

And beyond the title? The author--Kate DiCamillo! 

I adored Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures!

This had to be a winner!

Raymie Nightingale 

by Kate DiCamillo

So...this was no Flora & Ulysses. Definitely no raucous 
laugh-out-loud humor as I found in Flora & Ulysses. 
Though I did chuckle alot and laugh a few times...

But there was much poignancy and some real-life angst, 
as well as well-intentioned life-changing strategies and plans.
You can also read the Book Riot review here.

Three girls gather at Ida Nee's house for their first baton-twirling lesson. 
One can already twirl a baton, one helps her grandmother steal food, 
and one is determined to have her family back.

Though they may seem an unlikely trio of 'misfits,' they eventually become the 
"Three Rancheros," determined to perform 'good deeds.' But first...let's meet them!

And then the girl...let out a sob and said. "The more I think about it, 

the more terrified I am. I am too terrified to go on!"

The girl clutched the baton to her chest and dropped to her knees.

Raymie stared at her in wonder and admiration.

She herself often felt too terrified to go on, but she had never admitted it out loud. (2)

So very much said with so few words! My immediate thought? That girl's quite the actor!

And Raymie's "wonder" and "admiration"! Love those words. Just perfect!

What one of us has NOT felt at some point in our lives, especially our younger years,

 "too terrified to go on"?

"Stop this nonsense immediately," said Ida Nee.

Ida Nee was the baton twirling instructor. Even though she was old--over fifty at least...

She wore white boots that came all the way up to her knees. 

"I'm not kidding," said Ida Nee.

Raymie believed her. Ida Nee didn't seem like much of a kidder. (2) 

Okay, that got a chuckle out of me! (And really, is fifty all that old? Thinks someone who is in their 60's! lol) But what, exactly, has these two children so terrified, you may ask? 

[Just] two days before...Raymie Clarke's father had run away from home 

with a woman who was a dental hygienist. (3)

Awww...poor Raymie! How disturbing and disruptive for her! A "great tragedy," according her mother. 

Sometimes the pain in her heart made her feel too terrified to go on. 

Sometimes it made her want to drop to her knees. 

But then she would remember that she had a plan. (4)

And it is quite the plan...

There wasn't time for people fainting. She had to learn how to twirl a baton 

and she had to learn fast, because if she learned how to twirl a baton, 

then she stood a good chance of becoming Little Miss  Central Florida Tire.

And if she became Little Miss Central Florida Tire, 

her father would see her picture in the paper and come home. 

That was Raymie's plan. (7)

Tears came to my eyes when I read this. This poor sweet little innocent, naive girl... Awww...my heart went out to her right then! And you know what? Honestly, I hoped she succeeded in her heartfelt "plan." 

Unfortunately for Raymie, Louisiana, who comes "from a show-business background," what with her parents being a part of a circus act called "the Flying Elefantes." (Yes, 'elefante' is definitely close to 'elephant,' is it not? I did chuckle at the vision of the 'elephant' trapeze act this fostered in my imagination! :)) Louisiana is currently bemoaning her sense of betrayal to the 'family cat,' Archie, since they had to leave him at the Very Friendly Animal Center where he would be fed and well cared for, per her Grandmother. They couldn't afford to feed him any longer, as they barely had any food for themselves. But...Louisiana also...has a plan... 

"I've entered the Little Miss Central Florida Tire 1975 contest, and I'm going to win that 

one thousand nine hundred and seventy-five dollars and save myself from the county home 

and get Archie back from the Very Friendly Animal Center and never be terrified again." (20-21)

With this money she intends to purchase tuna fish since it is "high in protein" and therefore, good for her "swampy lungs." Her grandmother roars up in an old station wagon, shouting,

"Hurry!...Marsha Jean is somewhere close behind. I'm certain of it. 

I can feel her malevolent presence." (26)

Uhm...alrighty then! Oh, my! Poor Louisiana! My heart also went out to her! 

But then, Beverly, the third member of this trio of baton-twirling-wannabes, slashes her pocketknife through the air, stating her intention to "sabotage the contest," since she hates "spangly things." :) As Raymie is completing her Miss Central Florida Tire application, she idly wonders if Beverly must actually enter the contest so she can sabotage it... :) Another chuckle from me... Though Beverly obviously has reasons for her anger, as she states that in the past, her mother has entered her into more of those contests than she can count.

Throughout the book, Raymie imparts bits and pieces of information given to her through the years by her elderly neighbor, Old Mrs. Borkowski. 

Old Mrs. Borkowski said all the time that the sun could not be relied on.

"What is the sun?" said Mrs. Borkowski. "I will tell you. 

The sun is nothing but a dying star. Someday, it will go out. Phhhhtttt." 

Phhhhtttt was actually something that Mrs. Borkowski said often and about a lot of things. (22)

Okay, that did make me laugh! And I could relate to Raymie's close relationship with this older female neighbor. After my first child was born, I would take him down to visit with my neighbor who was in her late 80's; none of her children lived very close nor visited her very often. She actually taught me how to raise African Violets and gave me my first plant starts! Though I believe she was much more pleasant overall than was Mrs. Borkowski! For instance, I cannot recall her ever saying "Pfffftttt"...not even once! However, I never trimmed my neighbor's toenails as Raymie did for Mrs. Borkowski, since she couldn't reach her feet and therefore never tied her shoes either. That Raymie is a sweetheart, isn't she? 

Raymie's mother appears to be in a state of shock. In addition to Old Mrs. Borkowski, Raymie also has a relationship with Mrs. Sylvester, the secretary at her father's insurance office. She calls and talks with her periodically. It is Mrs. Sylvester who suggests she read to residents at the Golden Glen Nursing Home as her "good deed" to include in her Miss Central Florida Tire application. In her room, she selects the library book, A Bright and Shining Path: The Life of Florence Nightingale, for this task. (Note the last name--Nightingale--she saved lives. :)) In going to the nursing home, Raymie decides to walk rather than ride her bike, so that she could "flex her toes and isolate her objectives," just as Lifesaving 101 coach, Mr. Staphopoulos had taught her to do. He believed

that flexing your toes cleared your mind and that once your mind was clear, 

it was easy to isolate your objectives and figure out what to do next. 

For instance: save whoever was drowning. (58)

I seriously wonder if this works. I intend to try it. I'll let you know the results! :)

Raymie ends up losing her library book at the nursing home and is relying upon Beverly to help her get it back, just as Louisiana is also relying upon Beverly...and Raymie to help rescue Archie from the Very Friendly Animal Center. Why Beverly? Because of Beverly's statement:

Fear is a big waste of time. I'm not afraid of anything. (79)

It was quite different for Raymie who would periodically try to 

rearrange her soul, working to make it invisible. (81)

Ah, poor Raymie! She just feels so insignificant, doesn't she? Though when she's happy she can feel her soul growing and becoming lighter, but when she's sad, it "shrinks." Then drama begins at the second baton-twirling lesson...

...Ida Nee cam marching toward them, her white boots glowing and her baton flashing.

She had on a spangled top that sparkled like fish scales. Her hair was very yellow.

She looked like a mermaid in a bad mood. (82)

Yes. I couldn't help it. I just had to laugh at that "mermaid in a bad mood" vision! Though Ida attacks Beverly, hitting her on the head with her baton and Louisiana launches herself upon Ida Nee and holds on for dear life. It is apparent someone has already hit Beverly, evident by the bruise under her left eye. We later learn it was her own mother who hit her... :(

Raymie is amazed to learn that Beverly's father is a cop, but a cop who lives and works in New York City! Beverly doesn't "have a father," either, just like Raymie! Though Beverly plans to move to New York as soon as she can--she has already run away twice, once even reaching Atlanta! This revelation is made while they're at Louisiana's house, currently without electricity due to no money. Beverly has left the room...

"I think her heart is broken," said Louisiana.

Raymie's soul shrank further.

"Beware of the brokenhearted," said the grandmother, "for they will lead you astray."

Outside, it started to rain even harder.

"That's all of us, though, Granny, isn't it?" said Louisiana over the noise of the rain.

"Aren't we all brokenhearted?" (132)

These three unlikely misfits help each other cope with their broken hearts and do good deeds as "the Three Rancheros"! 

Old Mrs. Borkowski dies and while at her funeral, Raymie is upset, but Louisiana appears by her side and hugs her while she cries. 

"Shhhh," said Louisiana. She patted Raymie on the back..."I'm sorry for your loss."

Raymie heard the squeaky sound of air entering and exiting Louisiana's swampy lungs...

"There, there," said Louisiana. "You just keep crying." 

Her lungs squeaked and her bunny barrettes made clicking sounds each time she patted Raymie's back...Raymie would have thought that there would be no comfort to be had from someone as 

insubstantial as Louisiana holding her, but it was actually very comforting, 

even with all the barrettes and lung wheezing. (148)

Unfortunately, Louisiana's grandmother was there to steal some food for them. Unwittingly, Louisiana leaves the auditorium through an emergency exit, setting off the alarm, but further aiding her grandmother's escape, avoiding apprehension! 

And so it is that through calamity and chaos: a runaway grocery cart with a girl and dog, a swimming dog, a girl who cannot swim, a girl just rescued from drowning, a hospital stay, a Little Miss Central Florida 1975 contest winner, and a trip to the top of Belknap Tower, that Raymie Clarke, Beverly Tapinski, and Louisiana Elefante truly do become "the Three Rancheros" and love and support each other as true friends do. Oh, and Archie. How could I forget about Archie? :)

This is definitely one for my grandchildren to own and read.

Have you read any of DiCamillo's books?

I find her writing style to be unique and touching. 

It started as just a book club...

The Book Club by Mary Alice Monroe

One of our Borders Book Club members wanted us to read and discuss this, because she felt our own club was reflected within this story in many ways. In searching for a cover photo for my posting, I was rather amazed at all of them I found, six in all, with the one directly to the right being the cover on my copy. I guess they all "work" with the story contained within. This book reminded me of many others concerned with a group of women who become close friends, when initially drawn together as a group of strangers, united by nothing more than a common interest...in this case, reading books! 

It showed great fortitude and strength on my part to put this book down on Sunday night (I had begun reading it late Saturday night) with only 120 pages to go. I really wanted to finish it before going to bed, but also knew I had to work the next day, so I went to bed like a good girl should! But I thought about this book throughout the day and what was going to happen in the end.

This was an unexpectedly poignant and rather intense read compared to some other books I have read with a similar premise, I feel as if this one depicted more conflict within the group/between members than others have done. However, it could just be that Monroe's writing made it seem more compelling to me. Monroe's writing was more direct and action-driven than other authors of similarly themed novels I have read--there just seemed to be more unresolved conflict and ongoing tension, though not too much. One of our book club members felt these women spoke to each other a bit too directly, rather disrespectfully at times, whereas, we do not typically do that to each other within our group. (Yay, us! :)) There were spots where the language seemed a bit too "flowery" for one of our members, and I felt some of the "romantic encounters" were a bit more detailed than necessary, plus, in all, I found Eve and Paul's relationship just a bit "too good" to be believed, though I wish each of us could find our "knight in shining armor" as she seemed to do. All of us enjoyed reading this one!

Eve is just one of the five women depicted in this novel. And although we learn many of the more intimate details of all the women's lives, it is Eve's story about which we learn first. Monroe's writing is absolutely excellent, in my opinion. Eve Porter's husband, Tom, is departing on yet another business trip: 
     She was his trusty sidekick, or as Tom often put it, he was the captain and she the 
     navigator.  
        Lately, however, she felt the ship was going down. For no reason she could 
     articulate, she'd begun looking for lifeboats. It wasn't so much that she doubted the 
     competence of Tom, it was just that the buttons of his jacket didn't shine quite as bright 
     anymore. Or perhaps the voyage was just too long. 
        Eve shook these mutinous thoughts out of her mind and stepped out into the morning
     air. "Today will be a good day," she said firmly, silencing her heart murmuring, "He will   
     not ruin my day." (13)

I love the marine analogy Monroe uses here to express the rift that has developed between Eve and Tom. 
     Today was the first day of summer, she realized, her spirits lifting like a kite. She loved 
     milestones of any sort: birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, checks on the calendar, 
     notches on a growth chart. Today would be special, brand-new. She felt it deep inside. 
     ... She was relieved to have the grind of the school year finished. She missed playing 
     with her children. (13)
I had to chuckle at the last comment; that's how I felt when I was a stay-at-home mom. I loved time spent with my children and truly interacted and "played" with them as much as possible. And what a milestone awaited Eve and her children...so much change! As Tom flew out of the house, hurriedly packing his cases in the car, stating he would call later, give her his room number, 
     She nodded and opened her mouth to say goodbye, to wish him a good trip, maybe to 
     say I love you, but he'd already turned his back.
     ... "Her eyes swam in water, and through the white noise of pain in her ears, she heard 
     the car door slam... When the sound of his car disappeared, she felt a tremendous 
     sense of loss. They couldn't continue on like this, she thought, sniffing loudly. When he 
     came home they'd have a long talk, maybe go out to dinner. (18) 
I have felt that same "white noise of pain" in my ears. Have you? That passage perfectly described how I've felt several times in my life. And the idea of not hugging, kissing, or at least saying "I love you," when your loved one leaves...that spoke volumes to me of just how alienated they were from each other. My husband and I have a solemn pact to always kiss each other (at the very least} when we separate for any reason; this was his idea, a carry-over from his relationship with his mother and a very good one, in my opinion! I highly recommend it!

There are so many details I would love to include in a review, but I will do my best to pare it down. :) Doris is the stay-at-home mom who organizes everything and everyone, down to the smallest detail and is seen as rather overbearing, particularly by Annie who is the successful lawyer/professional woman of the group with the perfectly romantic marriage. Gabriella is the plump mother of four who begins working more and more hours as a nurse to makeup for the fact her husband is unemployed. Midge is the single bohemian artist living in a loft, and like Doris, does not have the socially-acceptable svelte slender body type, but does have an overbearing and very judgmental mother. *(I could relate to that!)

Doris and Annie are the two book club members who are probably the least compatible among the five. I had to laugh at her inner dialogue as Doris watched Annie:
     No matter how much money she spent, Doris knew she'd never look like that. Deep in   
     her heart, Doris was convinced it was a secret cult that thin, attractive, successful 
     women kept to themselves just to drive plump, dumpy women like herself crazy. (25)
Hah! And yet, my heart went out to Doris, for I could relate to her feelings of inadequacy based upon nothing more than her physical appearance! So sad that our society makes us feel this way. And although she had money, her marriage was perhaps not what she thought it had been for the past 25 years. Annie develops her own challenges later on, as does Gabriella, as well as Midge. Though I think I could relate most to Midge's challenge of accepting the fact that her mother was moving to be near her:
     As far as she's concerned, everything I do is wrong. She doesn't want to talk, she wants 
     to tell. She doesn't want to just shop, she wants to dictate what I buy. Who I see. What I 
     do. God, that woman is so controlling. I moved out of her house at eighteen because I 
     couldn't stand it then. What makes her think I can stand it now? Why does she think I 
     live alone? (164) 
Following my divorce, my mother was determined to live with me--she even made herself homeless in the hopes I would relent! Midge's description exactly reflects my own mother, with the exception that Edith at least had her own friends, whereas my mother did not, so she was even more smothering! Yep! I resonated with Midge on this 100%! Poor woman...

I loved the discussions about what books should be selected for their book club:
     But we still have to read all kinds of books, books we might never pick up on our own. 
     And there's no way I'd dissect and study a book on my own as much as we do in the 
     group. So sometimes a book I think I'll hate turns out to be wonderful after all. ... I think 
     it's a mistake to only read literary books, or nonfiction, or classics. Or any one genre. 
     Then we'd be stuck. I'm curious about those books that get the buzz, or make the Times 
     list.  (113-114) 
And that sums up what we try to accomplish with the Borders Book Club; we always try to select a variety of books to read and discuss. I agree that diverse reading experiences help develop our understanding of writing styles, themes, and most importantly, others' perspectives. 

I could relate to these realizations of returning to full-time work:
     She wasn't young anymore. She didn't have the same energy. She expected more 
     respect. And now she also had her children to care for. (151)
I notice the decreased energy and my intolerance for those who cannot respect others, particularly me, within the workplace! :)
        Friendships were easy when life was going smoothly. What was hard was to be there 
     for your friend when life got rough and the friendship was neither easy nor fun. The 
     challenge was to forgive the friend when she failed. (343)
And this sums it up so very well. This book demonstrated the ways in which as a group we can all try to help each other as much as possible, yet no one person can always be there for the other every single time...and that's okay, we must learn to forgive and be grateful for the help from those who are available and capable of giving it at the time. 

I think you would definitely like this book if you have enjoyed Kate Jacobs' Friday Night Knitting Club series (The Friday Night Knitting Club, Knit Two, Knit the Season), Marie Bostwick's Cobbled Court Quilt Series, or Terri Dulong's Cedar Key series (Spinning Forward, Casting About, Sunrise on Cedar Key, Postcards from Cedar Key, Secrets on Cedar Key, Farewell to Cedar Key). And I'm sure there are many others. Strangers can become close friends who love and genuinely care for each other. 

Have you read this book? Did you feel it was realistic? Intense? Similar to others?

You can be assured that I will read more of Mary Alice Monroe's books in the future! 

Any recommendations? 

Flying wasn't really involved!

Kristin Hannah’s Firefly Lane and Fly Away
Do you appreciate and prefer writing that includes detailed vivid characterization and interpersonal relationships among those characters? 

Then I believe you will truly enjoy these two books by Kristin Hannah!

I received a free copy of Fly Away by Kristin Hannah in exchange for an honest review, however, upon researching that book more thoroughly, I discovered it to be a sequel to Firefly Lane and wanted to read that book first. I ordered a copy from Robots & Rogues, my favorite used bookstore in Lafayette, Indiana, and waited a couple of weeks until I had time to devote to these two books. I am glad I read Firefly Lane first, as it gave me the comprehensive background to better understand Fly Away; I don’t believe I would have appreciated Fly Away nearly as much had I read it as a stand-alone novel. 

I was so enthralled with Firefly Lane I literally stayed up until 4:30AM to complete it after having started reading it the night before! (Fortunately, it was the weekend!) I rarely ever stay up beyond 11PM, but this is now one of my favorite books of all time! What a ride this read was! These characters resonated so strongly with me I cannot adequately describe it in words! Though this book is nearly 500 pages long I never noticed as the words just zipped by! Kate and Tully are so real and flawed, yet with that true blend of good/bad, right/wrong that is reality. 

Hannah captures everything in such vivid detail you are literally carried into their world, an “alternate” universe, if you will! You will recognize yourself in these characters’ actions, behaviors, and thoughts on various occasions as you progress through the story. So many aspects are universal to humanity, especially with regard to female relationships; in so many ways, Kate and Tully created the penultimate accepting and supportive friendship! The text of this picture describes Kate's constant and enduring support of Tully...until...the one unforgivable betrayal. Kate was definitely the glue that seemingly held many people, relationships, and family entities together. I was anxious to see how everyone would cope in Fly Away!

The cover for Fly Away depicts the candles suspended from the tree overhanging the patio at Kate and Johnny’s house. Tully suffers one last heartbreaking betrayal, following on the heels of realization that walking away from her successful career has left no opportunity for re-entry in the future. In the wake of her seemingly suicidal vehicular calamity she is left in a coma. With Johnny unable to deal with his own emotional upheaval, let alone aiding his children in their daily lives, Tully’s condition reignites everyone’s passion for their interconnectedness and motivates them to actively care for each other once again. 

 Central to this revival is Cloud’s rehabilitation and ability to cope with life, and therefore, help to save her daughter’s life in a way she never did as a young mother. While a person’s childhood is never “idyllic,” Cloud’s was beyond hurtful, and there is some understanding and sympathy for her plight as an abused and betrayed child herself. It is heartwarming and poignant to see families finally reunited and functioning in a much more respectful and healthy way. I appreciate the fact that Hannah’s ending is somewhat bittersweet—uplifting overall, but not perfectly “happily ever after.” Hannah's treatment of Kate and Tully's relationship throughout Fly Away is unforgettable and memorable. They are together...forever.