One of my favorite reads in a long time! Quirky and fun!!

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

I love this book! For me, it was in some ways reminiscent of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon and The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry, and perhaps to a lesser degree, Love Anthony by Lisa Genova. I suppose the main similarity to these books is the fact that the protagonist exhibits certain symptoms of autism/Asperger's Syndrome. However, I believe Simsion has hit on a formula that may appear more pertinent to many adult readers. Firstly, it centers on the themes of adult relationships and romance, which typically resonates with most adults' trials and tribulations in said areas. Secondly, there is much humor, both subtle and overt, interspersed throughout this book--I was definitely laughing out loud many times as I read it! Thirdly, there were secondary themes of monogamy/'open marriage', paternity, parent-child relationships, and professional ethics/morality. This probably makes the book appear much more complex than it really is. (I just love to parse out themes!) But have no fear--I found it to be extremely readable AND enjoyable! I was a bit surprised that all three of the other book club members who read this by the time we met were in agreement that it took a while for them to get into the story. Not so for me! I loved it from the first word on. :) All three of them really liked it and it did provoke great discussion.

There are so very many episodes/situations I would LOVE to quote to you verbatim, but I will attempt to pull only those which tickled me the most! (Trust me--there are MANY!!) Upon considering his best friend's (one of only two friends at that time) request to present a lecture in his stead, Don Tillman considers:

"...on the designated evening I had scheduled ninety-four minutes to clean my bathroom." (1)

Yep! That was within the 6th sentence of this book. A dead give-away! :) My first thought--Can we say "OCD"? :) Plus, I'm sorry, but did he literally scrub every square inch of that bathroom with a toothbrush? The only time I spent that much time "cleaning a bathroom" was when I had to contend with the rust stains created by iron-rich well water, requiring much scrubbing! Don proceeds to outline his three options:

  1. Cleaning the bathroom after the lecture, resulting in loss of sleep with a consequent 

      reduction in mental and physical performance.

  2. Rescheduling the cleaning until the following Tuesday, resulting in an eight-day period of 

      compromised bathroom hygiene and consequent risk of disease.

  3. Refusing to deliver the lecture, resulting in damage to my friendship with Gene. (1-2)

So...I don't know about you, but these specific thoughts would probably never enter my mind, for many different reasons. However, in some ways I admire someone who can be so thoroughly regimented and rational. Wow...

  I presented the dilemma to Gene, who, as usual, had an alternative solution.

  "Don, I'll pay for someone to clean your bathroom."

...This was an excellent outcome, and an illustration of Gene's ability to find solutions to social problems. (2)
In my opinion, it also proved Gene had excess disposable income, and, was probably a very self-serving egotistical man, willing to do whatever it takes to get his way... Though obviously, he has served as a true friend to Don, a person with whom most people have found it impossible to spend much time, let alone someone with whom to comfortably initiate and maintain a friendship. Personal note: I tend to be drawn to those who appear to be judged by the overall majority as 'socially different.' Perhaps mainly due to the fact that as a young child I was ostracized by many others due to environmental and social circumstances beyond my control--I can just relax and accept/appreciate more 'variability' in social skills and behaviors than most other people. 

  Two lunchtimes were sufficient to research and prepare my lecture on Asperger's syndrome, without sacrificing nourishment, thanks to the provision of Wi-Fi in the medical library café. I had no previous knowledge of autism spectrum disorders, as they were outside my specialty. The subject was fascinating. It seemed appropriate to focus on the genetic aspects of the syndrome, which might be unfamiliar to my audience. Most diseases have some basis in our DNA, though in many cases we have yet to discover it. My own work focuses on genetic predisposition to cirrhosis of the liver. Much of my working time is devoted to getting mice drunk. (6) 

Ha! Simsion does such an excellent job of interspersing humor throughout this book! 

As Don explains in his lecture:

  "Asperger's isn't a fault. It's a variant. It's potentially a major advantage. Asperger's syndrome is associated with organization, focus, innovative thinking, and rational detachment."  

  A woman at the rear of the room raised her hand. I was focused on the argument now and made a minor social error, which I quickly corrected.  

  "The fat woman--overweight woman--at the back?" (10)

Again--humor used in the course of making a point!! :)

At different times during his lecture, the students were chanting, "Shoot the baby!" and "Aspies Rule!" At the close of the lecture Don notes to himself:

  The parents made no constructive suggestions; some even tried to suppress their children's creativity.

  I raised my hands. "Time's up. Excellent work. All the rational solutions came from the aspies. Everyone else was incapacitated by emotion." (11)

And Don was absolutely correct, however, some would note that there were ethical and moral dilemmas associated with his proposed scenario as well... :)
Later, Claudia asked if Don had enjoyed the Asperger's lecture. 
I...told her I had found the subject fascinating.
  "Did the symptoms remind you of anyone?" she asked. 
  They certainly did. They were an almost perfect description of Laszlo Hevesi in the Physics Department. (21)
It should have hit a bit closer to home than that, I would think! ;) I gathered that Gene and Claudia had planned for Don to give this lecture as an introduction to discussing his own personality characteristics. 

I loved Don's ability to not only accept but appreciate Daphne's qualities and particularly her enthusiasm to learn and his enthusiasm to teach her. He was able to continue accepting and interacting with her in a way that made her happy long after most people would have done so, and I appreciated his patience and dedication to her and their relationship. This demonstrated his loyalty. As with Asperger's, there aren't many who can tolerate and continue to interact with Alzheimer's sufferers. 

As demonstrated throughout this book, Don's thought processes are NOT 'typical' (or 'normal,' if you prefer or still use that word) and provide a seemingly aberrant alternative to the usual... There were times when Rosie could be just as inappropriate:
  "...I'm not proficient at dating. There are so many rules to remember."
  "You're doing okay," she sad. "Except for staring at my boobs." (61) 
Ha! Caught! However, upon questioning, he can describe the pendant she is wearing in detail, as well as the one from earlier in the day, so he was able to justify his excuse of looking at her pendant(s). :)

Perhaps Don himself summed it up best:

  Ultimately, the entire father problem was caused by Gene. He almost certainly taught the medical students an oversimplified model of the inheritance of common traits. If Rosie's mother had known that eye color is not a reliable indicator of paternity and organized a DNA test to confirm her suspicions, there would have been no Father Project, no Great Cocktail Night, no New York Adventure, no Reform Don Project--and no Rosie Project. Had it not been for this unscheduled series of events,...I would still be eating lobster every Tuesday night. 

  Incredible. (292)
Proof that without some spontaneous unexpected life events our lives would prove to be very dull and boring! 

I admit I was very curious about all the hype I had read regarding this book. I strongly advise you to pick this one up and read it, if you haven't already! And if you have, what struck you most about this book? 

There was so much to consider and contemplate...while it sounds rather complex, it was quite simply written and very easily understood. And I loved each of these characters!

Definitely anxious to read the sequel, The Rosie Effect!

Come Along on the Green Gables Read-Along!! We meet all the kids!!

Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery

Getting to know the Ingleside and manse kids is quite the pleasure!  These two groups of children meshed immediately:
The race of Joseph recognized its own. (26) 
As an only child who was fairly isolated on a 180-acre farm in the rural midwestern U.S., I cannot imagine having so many other children to interact with all the time! What fun! Little did Susan realize that the "uninteresting" and "immaterial" lead article about the assassination of "some Archduke Ferdinand or other" at a place "bearing the weird name of Sarajevo" would impact all their lives greatly in the future! And of course, for me, one of the most fascinating inhabitants of Ingleside is Dr.-Jekyll-and-Mr.-Hyde or "Doc" as the large fluffy orange cat is known! As Dr. Blythe/Gilbert noted

  "The only thing I envy a cat is it's purr....It is the most contented sound in the world." (3)
I don't know...as I watch my five fur-babies, I'm pretty jealous of their nice home with lots of love and plenty of food, water, and toys! And their naps! They have the luxury of so many naps!! :)

Gilbert and Anne have just returned from a three-month sojourn overseas. Anne is anxiously awaiting Miss Cornelia's arrival so she can hear about "everything" that has happened to everyone in the past three months. Anne confesses, 
  "Do you know, Susan, I have a dreadful suspicion that I love gossip." 
  "Well of course, Mrs Dr. Dear," admitted Susan, "every proper woman likes to hear the news."   (3)
I can't imagine having left my children for three whole months! However, if you were going to travel back then it had to be by ship over water, and that takes a long time. In discussing the Methodist vs. Presbyterian ministers,
  Miss Cornelia's scorn of men had abated somewhat since her marriage, but her scorn of Methodists remained untinged of charity. (10)

Jem, Anne and Gilbert's oldest, was "the child of the House of Dreams," all the others had been born at Ingleside. 
  He was and always had been a study, reliable little chap. He never broke a promise. He was not a great talker. His teachers did not think him brilliant, but he was a good, all-round student. He never took things on faith; he always liked to investigate the truth of a statement for himself. (16)

Next oldest was Walter Blythe, a poet if ever there was one. He was a "'hop out of kin, as far as looks went. He did not resemble any known relative." He had inherited his mother's "vivid imagination and passionate love of beauty" and read poetry from the time he first started reading. Kids at school thought him "girly" and "milk-soppish" since he was always in out-of-the-way locations reading...while other boys were fighting or playing sports. However, the one time he did choose to fight (to defend his mother's and Faith's honor) he won quite handily!
  With Walter food for the soul always took first place. (19)
Rev. John Meredith and he "had taken to each other and had talked unreservedly." 
Mr. Meredith found his way into some sealed and sacred chambers of the lad's soul wherein not even Di had ever looked. (86)
Philosophers and thinkers, both of them. 'Birds of a feather...' Though Mr. Meredith did eventually meet someone and romance blossomed, at least for a while...

The 10-year-old female twins were far from identical in looks. Anne, always called Nan, was very pretty--a "dainty little maiden." Diana, known as Di, had her mother's eyes and red hair. She was Gilbert's favorite and she and Walter were very close--"she kept all his secrets, even from Nan, and told him all hers." And then there's Mary Vance who inevitably 'stirs the pot' almost every time she opens her mouth! Oh, I would have loved to catch her at it just once! She was so mean!

The children of the manse were allowed to run quite wild, as they were left alone much of the time. Rev. John Knox Meredith was an "absent-minded, indulgent man" who lived in a world of books and abstractions," and his Aunt Martha was a rather poor housekeeper who didn't seem to pay much attention to her nieces and nephews. Meredith's wife had died and he was left to raise their children. However, the Glen St. Mary manse was "very homelike and lovable,"  There was an atmosphere of laughter and comradeship about it; the doors were always open; and inner and outer worlds joined hands. Love was the only law..." (20)
The eldest, Jerry had his father's black hair and large black eyes that were flashing rather than dreamy like his father's. Next in line was Faith, who "wore her beauty like a rose, careless and glowing." 
She laughed too much to please her father's congregation and had shocked old Mrs. Taylor, the disconsolate spouse of several departed husbands, by saucily declaring--in the church-porch at that--"The world isn't a vale of tears, Mrs. Taylor. It's a world of laughter." (22)
Ah, yes, back then truly pious people were to be sedate and quiet-mannered, or what I would consider to be dull and boring! :) Though she was none of those when she confronted Norman Douglas, convincing him to attend church AND contribute handsomely to her father's salary! No one could know how that might impact both Ellen and Rosemary West's futures! 

Next came dreamy Una who was not given to laughter. She was quite serious with her "braids of straight, dead-black hair" and "almond-shaped, dark-blue eyes, caring much more than Faith about others' opinions of her and her family. Carl had the "clear, bright, dark-blue eyes, fearless and direct, of his dead mother, and her brown hair with its glints of gold." Carl knew all about insects and critters, sometimes taking them to bed with him and definitely carrying them in his pockets. I so admired these children for not only creating, but maintaining and enforcing decisions of the Good Conduct Club. How sweet... Of course, until little Carl contracted pneumonia as a result of one of his self-imposed punishments! And of Rilla it was said that her "sole aspiration seems to be to have a good time." Ah...but just wait! :) People can surprise you! 

I could relate to the children catching trout and then cooking them outside over an open fire. My sons had built a makeshift shelter in a copse of pine trees by our house and dug a fire pit over which they placed an old grate from a 'dead' grill. They would take my iron skillets out and cook eggs and bacon and even make toast! They had a blast doing that with their friends! Ever so many scandals and excursions amongst these "race of Joseph" children: riding pigs, playing in graveyards, telling ghost stories... Perhaps the biggest scandal of all was when the manse children (sans Carl who was sick) cleaned the house...on a SUNDAY!! Oh, horrors! ;) Miss Cornelia was quite upset about these activities, but Anne defended them,
"...they're only little children. And you know they've never yet done anything bad--they're just heedless and impulsive--as I was myself once. They'll grow sedate and sober--as I've done."
  Miss Cornelia laughed, too. 
  "There are times, Anne dearie, when I know by your eyes that your soberness is put on like a garment and you're really aching to do something wild and young again. Well, I feel encouraged. Somehow, a talk with you always does have that effect on me." (83-84)
Aha! Anne may not be as grown up as she'd like to let on! However, she is very mature in her handling of people...her interpersonal skills are well developed! Of course, as much as she talked as a child, she certainly got a lot of practice interacting with others! 

Really, I am sad that this Green Gables Read-Along is close to finished! I have adored all these books and though this review is almost 3 weeks late, I had read this book and the last one in the series a couple of weeks ago. Just too darned busy to get reviews posted! But here ya go! I hope my review helps you know this book a bit or even brings some memories if you've read it... I love Montgomery's writing!

Crooked or straight---this river held secrets!!

Crooked River by Valerie Geary

Win a free signed copy!! Simply comment and include your email address here! :) You have until Monday, September 7th at 7PM! 

As I finished reading this debut novel I was reminded of two other debut mystery/thrillers: Tana French's In the Woods and Heather Gudenkauf's The Weight of Silence. High praise from me, since these are two of my favorite writers! The similarity to Gudenkauf's book may well stem from the fact that like Calli, Ollie is also mute. The resemblance to Tana French is in the fact that Geary can create the environment/atmosphere in which to couch the whole story--that virtually becomes a character in and of itself! Difficult to believe this was a debut novel, it was, in my opinion, so excellently written! 

Fifteen-year-old Sam and her 10-year-old sister, Ollie, discover a dead woman floating in the river and although neither of them recognizes her:

  Still, she was somebody's somebody and we couldn't just leave her.

 We should do something. Shouldn't we? Tell someone? And then again, because I couldn't remember if I said it out loud the first time, "We should do something." (3)

And this rather sets the tone for this story--nobody seems to do anything when they should to avoid the virtually inevitable suspicion and ultimate arrest of their father, Bear. For the past 8 years Bear had lived in Zeb's pasture,

"...he hadn't changed much. He put up a teepee and planted a vegetable garden, dug a fire pit and an outhouse, and brought in a picnic table, and of course there were the hives. But there was no electricity, only the sun. No plumbing, only the river and a barrel to catch the rain. No roof over our heads to blot out the stars, no television to drown out the bird and cricket songs, no asphalt to burn the soles of our feet. Most kids would probably hate a place like this, but to me it was home. (4)

His landlord, Zeb, and his wife, were actually more parents to Bear (whose parents had died before his children were born) and grandparents to his daughters, than his wife's parents who visited once a year and sent $20 checks on the girls' birthdays. Their mother dies and they go to live with Bear,

  But this was only a trial period. We have six months to prove the meadow was safe and Bear was a good father. Six months to convince her we could thrive here. Three days in, we weren't off to a very good start. (6)

True. It would freak most parents out nowadays if children were allowed to play off by themselves at a river and discovered a dead body! Probably not the best of starts, and may well explain their reticence to report it to the proper authorities. With other evidence accumulated that incriminated Bear, even Sam began wondering if perhaps she didn't know her father very well, or at least not well enough to feel secure in the knowledge that he could never have committed this crime...she had some doubt of his innocence initially, reminding me of Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon (Another one of my favorite reads that I really must review on this blog! Soon!).

After Zeb and Bear have moved the bee hives to better pollen sources, Sam wonders why they don't try to "fly back home," but her Dad explains,
  "Their hive is their home....Wherever the queen is, that's where they return."
  "But what if the queen's not there?"
  "The colony falls apart." (7)

Could be a bit of symbolism or foreshadowing? Without its mother/wife/'queen bee,' their family...could also...

Ollie has one book that she's been reading since the beginning of the summer, Alice in Wonderland. She and her mother had been reading together in it every night, but had managed to only get halfway through... It is, however, this book that ultimately saves her! 

Ollie immediately senses that Travis is bad.

  I do not like this in-between boy, this almost man. 

  He's not who you think he is.

  He's not your friend.

  We can't trust him. 

  He'll hurt us. 

  Tell him to go away. (80)

She knew... I believe Ollie had what many of us may call a "sixth sense" about people. 

Sam is rather a loner,

  Bear and I both thought trees made better friends than people did. (16)

There are times I would agree! ;)

Per Travis, 
Sometimes the people we love most are the people we know least. (178)

Sam talks to Bear: 
  I clamped my teeth down hard, biting back all the words I wanted to scream at him, all the ways he'd failed us....All the explanations and apologies in the world couldn't change what had happened. We carry our pasts with us, no matter how hard we fight to break free. He knew it, Mom knew it. I knew it now, too. I took a deep breath, and then another. I came here for the truth, and that's what Bear was giving me--take it or leave it. (216)

The epitaph on their mother's grave, 
Beloved Daughter and Mother. As if that was all that counted. As if an entire person was made up of only two parts. 
  She was other things, too. Stargazer, storyteller, bibliophile, chocoholic and something of a weekend wino, gardener, collector of roosters and spoons and oddly shaped rocks, a good hugger, a better back-scratcher, a terrible cook, loyal, passionate, ever the eternal optimist, wife. A loving wife. Despite how it may have looked to people on the outside,...Mom had never stopped loving Bear. And he had never stopped loving her. (238-239)

  "Your sister needs you right now."
  Funny, I always thought I was the one who needed her.
  I guess it comes down to this: Sam and me, we need each other. (314)

These two sisters bravely fight to prove their father's innocence, but what they find is incriminating. Is he innocent? If this sounds as intriguing to you as it did to me, I would highly recommend it! A fantastic debut and mystery!

A note: Valerie graciously agreed to an author interview and even gave a free book to one of the lucky readers and commenters! How nice is that?!? I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway and felt grateful that as a result of my review posting, another reader would also receive a free copy! Wow... :)

Literary Wives #16

The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel

Check out the other co-hosting bloggers' reviews: 
Emily of The Bookshelf of Emily J
Naomi of Consumed by Ink
Kay of whatmeread

I would like to begin this review with a bit of a personal dislcaimer: I have never really found myself overly enthused about NASA space programs. As a child I was not particularly enamored with the idea of being an astronaut or the specific space missions, etc., though I do remember the disbelief and awe I felt as a teenager watching the moon landing on TV. I was always amazed that any human could endure the physical challenges to become astronauts and fly these missions. At that point in time I never considered much about these men's wives and families. Of course, I was a self-centric teen at the time, and I don't recall much coverage other than showing photos once in a while of the respective wife/wives. As this book demonstrates, it was a time when U.S. society was still strongly patriarchal, overwhelming much thought of the females or children connected to these males, other than depicting them as the quintessential support systems for these men. For example, although I lived through these times, I honestly can't recall much about the wives or families of these men, but I was still young, perhaps I would have paid more attention as an adult. I would highly recommend this book as a way to better realize life at that time in U.S. society. Wives were just wives for the most part at that time; still directly linked to their husbands and not considered as independent individuals overall. 

Each of the original astronauts were selected from the group of military test pilots who could endure the physical hardships believed necessary for successful space missions and who came from small towns. As for the wives:

They knew the stoic code of the test pilot wife. If any one of them lost her husband in a crashing hulk of metal, she'd have to take it quietly and bravely. That was part of the job. (29) 

Something as simple as the sound of a helicopter could (and did for some) literally strike fear in the hearts of these women whose husbands had been test pilots and were now being tested then train to become astronauts. 

  If a husband was out testing a new experimental plane and didn't come home by five o'clock, almost all of the wives experienced the same waking nightmare, imagining the dark figure of the base chaplain ringing the doorbell, telling her she was now a widow. They had rehearsed that awful scene in their minds, over and over. Such was the life of a test pilot wife. They could not possibly have imagined all that would be in store for them as astronauts' wives. (2)

  They had spent the best years of their lives raising kids and supporting their husbands' careers and moving their families from one end of the country to the other, from one dismal base to the next. Now their husbands were astronauts, and they, too, were instant celebrities. 

  NASA didn't provide the wives with any instructions....The wives would have to handle the reporters the way they'd handled all the ups and downs of service life--with slightly knitted eyebrows, perfectly applied lipstick, and well-practiced aplomb. (5-6)

Marge Slayton (wife of astronaut Deke) had actually been married and divorced but did her best to hide this information from NASA,
  Divorce was taboo at the space agency, which believed that stable home lives were essential for success in orbit. One of the first among NASA's many unofficial rules was: if you don't have a happy marriage, you won't have a spaceflight. (15) 
So, basically, no matter what happened in your marriage, you were expected to put on a "happy face" and pretend all was well, or your husband's career as an astronaut was over. 

I appreciated all the personal vignettes about the various astronauts and their wives in this book, many humorous and many poignant. One that caught my attention was that Betty Grissom "often joked about her heard-earned 'P.H.T.' degree--Putting Hubby Through." (6) She worked full-time to support them while he earned an engineering degree at Purdue. The invasiveness of the press at this time appalled me, though I don't know why, except for the fact that I consider the press now to be overly-invasive! I couldn't have imagined how bad it was for these women! To have photographers and journalists barge right into your home! Not only uninvited, but unannounced, etc.! How awful would that be? There was no respect for the wives' or children's right to privacy--none! They literally had to learn to live with curtains drawn at all times, and not just opening the door when someone rang the doorbell, just in case! Unbelievable!

Interestingly, Trudy Cooper, Gordon's wife, was a "damn good pilot" in her own right and had separated from Gordon due to his extramarital affair. However, once he had completed the initial astronaut testing including "sperm counts, electrical stimulations, five barium enemas," he showed up at her door begging her to reunite with him. 

  He was about to be an astronaut; all that was left for him to succeed was to produce a loving wife. A Good marriage would ensure his appointment. After all, how could an astronaut handle the pressures of getting shot into the heavens if he couldn't even handle his wife on Earth? (18)

Trudy felt Gordo was the best pilot she'd ever seen, and that "If anyone was going to outfly those Russians, it was Gordo." It was likely the fact that Life magazine offered $500,000 to be split equally among the seven astronauts in exchange for exclusive rights to stories about each astronaut and each wife that may have 'sealed the deal.' These men were typically drawing about $7,000 per year in military pay, so over $70,000 per family was like winning the lottery! I was shocked that NASA did not pay these men more. Basically, if not for Life Magazine, their wives/families would have still been living on those test pilot wages, and that wasn't much, in my opinion, not to risk your life each and every day in such 'experimental' pursuits. 

When the other wives finally asked Louise Shepard how she could abide Alan's "fooling around," she replied: Because I'm the only one he really loves. (49) The others felt as if she stuck her head in the sand and was in permanent denial. Surprisingly, Louise established the Astrowife ritual of the post-flight press conference on the lawn--
  Though still not thrilled that their own husbands hadn't been picked to go up first, the other wives did have to admit Louise made a wonderful First Lady of Space (57)

This book continues on with more personal information about these wives and their children. Competition among the men was fierce, and it was sometimes tough for these women to maintain their own relationships with each other regardless of their husbands' competitiveness. I did appreciate the fact that the New Nine wives and Mercury wives did not immediately bond, to say the least, it took quite awhile for them to come together and form any type of cohesive group. I rather think this may have been due more to societal changes (feminism, etc.) than to their own personalities, however. 

We learn that the Apollo I test explosion was likely caused by NASA not doing due diligence in the design and testing of the apparatus in order to meet deadlines. Gus Grissom had helped design other space mission vehicles and had warned that this one was not yet ready...and then died as a result. So very sad...and then NASA chose to send a security detail to the Grissoms' house afterward, ostensibly to provide protection from the press, though Betty felt it was to protect themselves from her "the loosest cannon" who "might shoot off about that lemon." (166) The wives certainly had no power, especially with NASA. When it came to burying Ed White, his wife Pat was unable to stand up to NASA about the burial site Ed had wanted, though Frank Borman called NASA and arranged it for her. 

Additionally, we learn that President Johnson basically moved NASA headquarters to Texas only to help his home state, and in the wake of that move, the astronauts then had to travel from Texas to Florida for training each week. One of the big perks to the guys was the fact that the military provided each of them with a T-38 jet (I hope that nomenclature is correct!) to fly back and forth each weekend. This led to the astronauts having access to some 'extracurricular' activities if you will, or more precisely, as they were called, Cape Cookies, girls who made themselves available to the astronauts during the week when they were in Florida "training." Groupies, might be a more accurate term?In effect, each astronaut had the open opportunity to have affairs with these women during the week and many, probably most, took advantage of it. As closely as NASA monitored everything with these men and their lives, that was obviously deemed acceptable by the powers that be... Definitely the old patriarchal double standard at play. :( This truly angered me! What the hell?!? Though I shouldn't be surprised, after all, government positions have overwhelmingly been occupied only by male WASPS... When one astronaut gets a divorce and remarries, the new/second wife is NOT welcome to join the Astronaut Wives Club, though she tries to do so. If for not having read this book, I probably would not have understood their attitude toward her, but I definitely can see it from their perspective now...

Richard Nixon threw a celebratory ball for the Astronauts after the moon landing:
  All the astronauts were at the ball, from the Nineteen to the Fourteen to the New Nine to the original Mercury Seven. Eight astronauts had been lost along the way--Ted Freeman, Elliot See, Charlie Bassett, Gus Grissom, Ed White, Roger Chaffee, Ed Givens, and C.C. Williams--but with six months to spare, America had landed on the Moon, fulfilling Kennedy's goal to reach it before the end of the sixties. It was perhaps the greatest adventure America had ever undertaken, a Manhattan Project for peace. (233)
However, in the aftermath there was at least one mental health breakdown and one suicide among the astronauts and their wives. Although perhaps those simply reflected comparable stats among society at large at that time. In relating Buzz Aldrin's difficulty adapting to civilian life back on Earth, it was clear that the experience of traveling through space for so long and actually stepping foot on another celestial body, the Moon, was life-altering. I assume it may have been a bit similar to PTSD, returning from such an all-consuming experience to 'normal' everyday life would probably be tougher for some than for others. And coping with those changes would be quite the challenge for their spouses. 

During my tenure of working on higher educational campuses, I had the pleasure of working with a Physics professor who was adamant in his belief that there was no functional reason for human lives to be risked in space exploration--that it could all be accomplished remotely using robotics, etc. His contention was that NASA chose to use humans simply to encourage the general public to accept and support space exploration so that the vast amount of money spent wouldn't be questioned or cut. At the time I felt this was a rather cynical view, but in the years since I have begun to agree with him...as I learn more about the meaningless public relation ploys used by both business and governmental entities, my own cynicism about much in the U.S. society has taken wing...

1. What does this book say about wives or about the experience of being a wife?

I believe it is rather obvious that in the U.S. in the '60's as part of a HUGE governmental program, these wives' experiences were directly linked to and virtually controlled by NASA. If their husbands were to be successful in their careers, they would have to play their own roles! 
...an astronaut's wife did not disclose her fears to anyone. They all knew fear was contagious. Even though most of the ladies harbored the exact same dark thoughts, they couldn't risk sharing them." (206)
The expectation was for the wives to accept anything and everything and keep on smilin'--to be Primly Stable as they nicknamed it themselves. As Jane Conrad stated:
  I think we look like the Stepford Wives, don't you?...Because we all tried to be so calm and so cool and everything, but we were a far cry from Stepford Wives. (257)
I have been struck in this book as in the majority of those we've read thus far for Literary Wives, by the ability of these females to assert themselves in whatever way was possible given the limitations of their current-day society/culture and their plights within. These wives demonstrated an immense diversity, just as with any group of people, and yet, they learned to care for each other and cooperate to a great extent, regardless of all the challenges to overcome. Females are so resourceful and resilient! 

2. In what way does this woman define "wife"--or in what way is she defined by "wife"?

These wives' husbands' careers defined their lives for them to such a great degree, particularly for those original Seven. They had to be successful in their roles for their husbands to have the opportunities to succeed in their careers, plain and simple. There was no women's lib or feminism allowed! At least not in the public eye. 

  Susan [Borman] knew the code of the military wife. Her whole life revolved around supporting Frank's career. 

  "Hey, Chris, I'd really appreciate it if you would level with me. I really, really, want to know what you think their chances are of getting home."
  "Okay, how's fifty-fifty?"
  Susan wasn't sure if that made her more or less worried. 
Worrying and waiting was what these women did, and they seemed to form very supportive friendships among themselves to endure their roles as "astronaut wives." ...Marilyn Lovell, with tears in her eyes, spoke for many of the wives when she said, "Those were the best years of my life." (264)
One of the wives stated of the astronauts:
  "They were like rock stars. It was sickening." All the same, it was absolutely thrilling. 
     (257)
And realistically, 
..."Who could ever compete with the Moon? I was lucky if I could come in second." (257)

Have you read this one yet? It was informative on many different levels. Though it's main subject is the spouses of the astronauts, it also provides some political backdrop of the time, as well as other aspects of society. Let us know your thoughts! :)

Third in the Cadillac, Texas trilogy!

The Yellow Rose Beauty Shop 

by Carolyn Brown

I love this cover!

Piper, Charlotte, and Stella have been best friends...well, forever! They each know the others' deepest and darkest secrets...or do they? Evidently not...as we discover in the beginning of this story about poor Stella and her mother, Nancy's, determination to 'marry her off'! Nancy should have known better than to enlist the help of the Prayer Angels led by Heather when she spoke up:

  "Pray for my daughter. She needs a husband." (1)

Which was then posted verbatim on the sign in the churchyard the very next morning, and set off the 'shit storm' with which both Stella and Nancy must deal over the next few months. As Piper so elegantly put it,
"Hey, Stella, have you seen the billboard in front of the church? I saw it when I took the boys to day care. Who's got a pregnant daughter in town?" (6)
Then Charlotte echoes the same sentiments as she walks in:
"...what does that sign mean? Who's pregnant? Who is getting a baby by Mother's Day? Boone and I've decided to wait two years to get pregnant. Mama says that I shouldn't start a family when I'm past thirty, but if we wait two years then I'll only be twenty-nine when the baby comes. Now, would somebody please tell me whose daughter needs a husband because she's pregnant?" (7)
And, like Piper, Charlotte immediately believes Stella IS pregnant! 
  "Some friends you are. I'll say it one more time--I am not pregnant. I can't believe Mama did this. She's lived here her whole life and she knows how folks talk. This could ruin our business. You know what small-town gossip can do. We don't need a scandal like this." ...
  "The town is barely big enough for two beauty shops as it is, and we've just now got things built up and..." (7) 
And then she bursts into tears. Though Trixie reminds them,
"I understand how you feel, but don't worry about the shop. If we've proven anything up at Clawdy's, it's that gossip is damn good for business." (8) 
(See The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society Jubilee for proof of that.) The same proved to be very true for Carlene, Alma Grace, and Patrice at Bless My Bloomers, too (The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off)! 

  "I've never seen you cry like this," Charlotte said.
  "Not since that rotten boy ruined your reputation our sophomore year," Piper said.
  "I'd almost forgotten about that son of a bitch," Charlotte said. (8)
Awww...but Stella certainly had not forgotten, not one bit, which explained her reluctance to tell all about her love life! Piper said she should be pissed...and:
"She was pissed--God almighty, but she was pissed--but a tiny little part of her heart understood that her mama only had her best interests at heart. Too bad that little 10 percent couldn't do anything about the pissed-off 90 percent." (9)

Nancy enters the shop and no one says a word...until she asks why everyone's so quiet. She brings out her favorite saying, "Lord love a duck," (13) and admits she had no idea the other Angels would react this way and spread such gossip. When she tries to get the others to trim her hair (Piper whispers to her, "I wouldn't trust her with scissors if I was you." (14)), Piper states aloud,
  "Not on your life. I wouldn't touch anyone's hair who's prayin' for a marriage to take place. I wouldn't wish a damn husband on my worst enemy, and Stella is my friend." (14) 
You see, Piper is still in the throes of bitterness due to her ex-husband's adultery and unwilling to believe any woman could ever be happy married, or that it will last! (I could relate to that belief, since it required years for me to soften up on that hard-core attitude following my own spouse's betrayal and resulting divorce!) However, Charlotte is currently engaged and planning a wedding, so Piper must tamp down her own negativity to support one of her very best friends. And Charlotte politely declines the offer to cut Nancy's hair:
  "No, ma'am. I have to work every day with Stella. If I cut your hair she'll think I'm on your side. I wish Stella could find someone to love her like Boone loves me, but it would be wise if you'd take her name off the list and let her do her own husband hunting." (14)

However, in so many ways, her mother needn't worry... Just because her daughter has chosen not to inform anyone of recent changes in her own personal life, that doesn't mean she needs help, at least not this kind of 'help'! :) Ah...the dangers of exposing your own personal hopes and fears to others, especially in Cadillac, Texas! 

Agnes befriends Stella in her battle against Heather (and Violet): "Us redheads got to stick together." (32) And they do! The shit storm truly heats up when Heather decides this is her 'golden opportunity' to establish a 'marriage ministry' with Stella to be the first woman she successfully marries off, and to raise money she plans a 'barbecue ball' ("glorified barn dance" according to Agnes) with single women on one side and single males on the other, to be paired off for the evening through a random drawing of names. Once Violet becomes her staunch ally in this plan, Agnes makes her own plans! And when Agnes plans...well, let's just say, I would always want her to be on 'my side'! :) Who comes out the winner in this battle of wills? 

Piper finally has the opportunity to directly stand up to her ex-husband after he literally and figuratively infiltrates her personal space and demands his summer visitation with their sons, taking them away with him. I loved how she worked this all out: moving and not giving him her new personal address, insisting they always meet at the shop in the future. And Stella's parents get to spend their time helping Piper and her sons...in preparation for their own grandchildren? Well, who knows? 

I admit I initially found it just a wee bit difficult to fully 'suspend my disbelief' with some aspects of this book, though I suppose anything is possible. Cadillac is such a small town and yet twice now (the first time was in The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society Jubilee) a man has been sneaking into a woman's house to make love to her and no one notices! Ah, well...okay, I'm in, regardless of my first reaction! :) And I admit I found it a bit strange that your two best friends would not only have keys to your house, but would feel free to wonder in and out of it at will. Not me! I want my house to myself unless I specifically invite someone to visit! ;) It worked well for the three of them, well, perhaps not so much at times for Stella and her man... :)

What happens in the end, you might ask? Well, you should read it to find out! It even seems that Piper has softened up a bit regarding males toward the book's end! There are many other surprises, too, and most people appear to be quite happy, well, perhaps not Heather...or Violet...but did they deserve to have their dreams come true? And I'm really anxious to see what the new flower shop owner has to contribute to Cadillac! (Hint to Carolyn's editor!)  However, until then, The Wedding Pearls is due to be released December 15th! Another women's fiction entry for Brown. Perhaps a nice gift suggestion? 

As Charlotte's grandmother always said, 
  When life gives you lemons, make chocolate chip cookies and make the whole world wonder what you've been up to." (81) 
Ah, yes, make 'em wonder...that is my plan! :)

Gone With the Wind Read-Along Check-In #2

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Chapters 11-20

My biggest revelation from this section? How could I have ever forgotten the details of Rhett's profession of attraction (not sure I would exactly call it "love"...?) to Scarlett?!? But I had! 

In reading Ashley's letters sent to Melanie, Scarlett rationalizes...
She knew Ellen would rather see her dead than know her guilty of such dishonor. This had worried Scarlett at first, for she still wanted to be like her mother in every respect. But the temptation to read the letters was too great and she put the thought of Ellen out of her mind. She had become adept at putting unpleasant thoughts out of her mind these days. She had learned to say, "I won't think of this or that bothersome thought now, I'll think about it tomorrow." Generally when tomorrow came, the thought either did not occur at all or it was so attenuated by the delay it was not very troublesome. So the matter of Ashley's letters did not lie very heavily on her conscience. (146)
But honestly, what did 'lie heavily' on Scarlett's conscience? Not much, from what I can tell! She pretty much sets her own rules and guidelines whenever possible...

Pre-War Scarlett!

Scarlett becomes bored by Ashley's words after reading this:
  I am not afraid of danger or capture or wounds or even death, if death must come, but I do fear that once this war is over, we will never get back to the old times. And I belong in those old times. I do not belong in this mad present of killing and I fear I will not fit into any future, try though I may. Nor will you, my dear, for you and I are of the same blood. I do not know what the future will bring, but it cannot be as beautiful or as satisfying as the past. (148)
Mitchell describes how these 'old ways' have already changed: marriages are happening within days, the old decorum of courting and all the rules and delays that go with it are out the window as men who fear being killed within days or months are anxious to marry now! 
...you had asked me what was in my heart, and the fear of defeat is there. Do you remember at the barbecue, the day our engagement was announced, that a man named Butler, a Charlestonian by his accent, nearly caused a fight by his remarks about the ignorance of Southerners? ...We should have paid heed to cynics like Butler who knew, instead of statesmen who felt--and talked. He said, in effect, that the South had nothing with which to wage war but cotton and arrogance. Our cotton is worthless and what he called arrogance is all that is left. But I call that arrogance matchless courage. (148)

Sorry, just LOVE Clark Ga...Rhett! Yum!

As Melanie informs Aunt Pittypat of Ashley's true thoughts,
..."He thinks the war is all wrong but he's willing to fight and die anyway, and that takes lots more courage than fighting for something you think is right." (164)
Scarlett is shocked to
...realize that anyone as absolutely perfect as Ashley could have any thought in common with such a reprobate as Rhett Butler. She thought: "They both see the truth of this war, but Ashley is willing to die about it and Rhett isn't. I think that shows Rhett's good sense." She paused a moment, horror struck that she could have such a thought about Ashley. "They both see the same unpleasant truth, but Rhett likes to look it in the face and enrage people by talking about it--and Ashley can hardly bear to face it." 
  It was very bewildering. (164) 

Her only curiosity about the letters was to know if Ashley wrote impassioned letters to his wife, and he did not. To her mind, that meant he truly didn't love Melanie and did love her. She surmised, 
He lives inside his head instead of outside in the world and he hates to come out into the world and--Oh, I don't know what it is! If I'd just understood this one thing about him years ago, I know he'd have married me. (149)
Actually, Scarlett...he is 'cerebral'--you however, are NOT! Oh, Scarlett, your emotions haven't changed since you were 14 years old regarding Ashley. Granted, that was only 4-5 years ago, but...really! I find myself angrier about her Ashley obsession earlier on than I have been in past readings! Guess I'm older and a bit more impatient with her. And it's just wrong! He is married to another woman--your own sister-in-law and housemate, for goodness sake! :) (Perhaps this is now much more important to me than it was in the past, having been betrayed by a spouse...)
...her dream asked no more than acknowledgement of his love, went no further than hopes of a kiss. (150)
She was done with marriage, but not with love, for her love for Ashley was something different,...sacred and breath-takingly beautiful, an emotion that grew slealthily through the long days of her enforced silence, feeding on oft-thumbed memories and hopes. (150)
Can we say 'Drama Queen'? ;)

Rhett had effectively 'released' Scarlett from the bonds of mourning and social isolation at the bazaar and continued to take her out whenever in Atlanta; this was yet another 'convention' that was undone by the war, especially as long as Scarlett willingly worked as a nurse caring for the wounded, who were literally lying in the streets, due to overcrowding/lack of hospital beds and/or lack of any shelter. Though nursing was enlivening to her in the beginning (and got her out among people), as she could convince so many of these soldiers she really cared for them and win their adoration and attention, it eventually became no more or less than an unpleasant and grisly chore to her. And though Rhett's attentions were a welcome distraction, 
...there always lurked in the back of her mind the disquieting memory that he had seen her at her worst and knew the truth about Ashley. It was this knowledge that checked her tongue when he annoyed her. And he annoyed her frequently. (153)
  For all his exasperating qualities, she grew to look forward to his calls. There was something exciting about him that she could not analyze, something different from any man she had ever known. There was something breath-taking in the grace of his big body which made his very entrance into a room like an abrupt physical impact, something in the impertinence and bland mockery of his dark eyes that challenged her spirit to subdue him. 
  "It's almost like I was in love with him!" she thought, bewildered. "But I'm not and I just can't understand it." (154)
Oh, Scarlett, if only you would listen to yourself!! :) You might have saved yourself and those around you so much sorrow! And who was Rhett's sole and most stalwart advocate in Atlanta society? Not Scarlett...no, it was Melanie! She would never forget his generosity in returning her wedding band AND his unfailing courtesy toward her. Though outside of the many military heroes, he was the most talked about man in Atlanta at the time, "...she felt that what he needed was the love of a good woman." (155) Rhett would have been quite amused had he known... 
  There were few ladies who could resist his charms when he chose to exert them, and finally even Mrs. Merriwether unbent and invited him to Sunday dinner. (157)

The Merriwether's learn of their oldest son's death...

One of the most heartbreaking practices was families and friends waiting for each day's listing of the dead. As a mother to three sons (and grandmother of 7) I cannot imagine the agony of waiting to see if your loved one, distant relative, neighbor, friend is included. Awful that we humans kill each other...

Rhett keeps trying to get Scarlett to quit wearing black clothing, especially since she is attending all social activities anyway. (This is one of my favorite scenes!) So he brings her a green bonnet! When she asks whose it is, Rhett replies,
"It's your bonnet, who else could wear that shade of green? Don't you think I carried the color of your eyes well in my mind?" (169)
Aw...how romantic! :) As Scarlett asks the price and offers to pay for it over time, Rhett replies,
  "I don't want any money for it,...it's a gift."
  Scarlett's mouth dropped open. The line was so closely, so carefully drawn where gifts from men were concerned. 
  ...I simply can't tell him I won't accept it. It's too darling. I'd--I'd almost rather he took a liberty, if it was a very small one." Then she

was horrified at herself for having such a thought and she turned pink. (170)
Eventually, Rhett does no more than graze her cheek with a 'kiss,' though she was all puckered up waiting for a real kiss, as he points out to her! Scarlett muses,
If he didn't want to marry her and didn't even want to kiss her, what did he want? If he wasn't in love with her, why did he call so often and bring her presents?
  "That's better," he said. "Scarlett, I'm a bad influence on you and if you have any sense you will send me packing--if you can. I'm very hard to get rid of. But I'm bad for you."

"...I shall bring you presents as long as it pleases me and so long as I see things that will enhance your charms....And I warn you that I am not kind. I am tempting you with bonnets and bangles and leading you into a pit. Always remember I never do anything without reason and I never give anything without expecting something in return. I always get paid." (172)
At least he did warn her! :) 

The very next day Melanie is appalled because she allowed Belle Watling, an infamous local "madame" to talk to her and give her money for the hospital...which was wrapped up in a monogrammed handkerchief which Scarlett immediately recognizes as one of Rhett's since she has one just like it, and thinks, "Oh,...if I just wasn't a lady, what wouldn't I tell that varmint!" Hah! Poor Scarlett. Was that perhaps the jealous bug biting?  

Scarlett makes a sash for Ashley's gift...

While home on leave, Ashley admits to Scarlett, 
"I think the Yankees have us....[They] are buying soldiers from Europe by the thousands! Most of the prisoners we've taken recently can't even speak English. They're Germans and Poles and wild Irishmen who talk Gaelic. But when we lose a man, he can't be replaced. When our shoes wear out, there are no more shoes. We're bottled up, Scarlett. And we can't fight the whole world." 
Ashley explains that this is why he is asking Scarlett to
"...look after Melanie. She's so frail and weak and you're so strong, Scarlett. It will be a comfort to me to know that you two are together if anything happens to me. You will promise, won't you?" 
  "Oh, yes!" she cried, for at that moment, seeing death at his elbow she would have promised anything. (192)
Scarlett had no idea what the implications of this rash promise would mean for her future. Just as he is leaving Ashley is weak enough to allow Scarlett to see his true feelings of love for her. This just gives her more hope overall. And I'm still irritated with her for all this trying to hang on to what I feel is nothing more than a 'school-girl crush'!! ;)

Rhett pulls strings to learn that Ashley has been taken prisoner and refused to take an oath and join the Yankees to save himself from imprisonment. Scarlett was angry that he'd not taken the oath and then deserted. When she asked Rhett if that isn't what he would have done,
  "Of course," said Rhett, his teeth showing beneath his mustache.
  "Then why didn't Ashley do it?"
  "He's a gentleman," said Rhett, and Scarlett wondered how it was possible to convey such cynicism and contempt in that one honorable word. (200)
In this case, honorable does not necessarily denote smart in a self-preserving way, does it? 

Though I'm no big fan of war or fighting strategies, Mitchell's description of the Yankee approach toward Atlanta through charges, retreats, and encirclement was rather fascinating... 

And finally, Rhett's profession to Scarlett:
"...while I like you immensely, I do not love you and it would be tragic indeed for you to suffer twice from unrequited love, wouldn't it?"..."I should love you, for you are charming and talented at many useless accomplishments. But many ladies have charm and accomplishments and are just as useless as you are. No, I don't love you. But I do like you tremendously--for the elasticity of your conscience, for the selfishness which you seldom trouble to hide, and for the shrewd practicality in you which, I fear, you get from some not too remote Irish-peasant ancestor."..."I want you more than I have ever wanted any woman--and I've waited longer for you than I've ever waited for any woman." 
  "Are you asking me to marry you?" 
  "Good Lord, no! Didn't I tell you I wasn't a marrying man?"
  "But--but--what--"
  He rose to his feet and, hand on heart, made her a burlesque bow.
  "Dear," he said quietly, "I am complimenting your intelligence by asking you to be my mistress without having first seduced you." 
  "Mistress! What would I get out of that except a passel of brats?" 
  And then her jaw dropped in horror as she realized what she had said.
  He laughed until he choked...
  "That's why I like you! You are the only frank woman I know, the only woman who looks on the practical side of matters without beclouding the issue with mouthings about sin and morality. Any other woman would have swooned first and then shown me the door." (237-238)
Oh, Scarlett, and this is why I love you so!! 

I love reliving this book 10 chapters at a time! Cannot wait until I've read it completely and then I will watch the movie for about the 9th time or somewhere in that range! If you've never read GWtW you really should give it a try!