ABOUT TIME (DVD)

Have you ever wanted a do-over? So have I.
This delightful movie tells the story of Tim, a young man who discovers that the men in his family can travel through time. Not back in history, but only in their own lifetime. This affords Tim the ability to go back in time and do something over if he doesn't like the way it turned out the first time.
I found the movie very interesting, funny at times and ultimately very touching. I recommend it as one to watch if you are looking for something a little different and unique.

Dancing Fish and Ammonites: A Memoir by Penelope Lively

Lively states in the beginning of the book that this is not really a memoir but a reflection of life thus far.  From growing up in Cairo to escaping with her mother during WWII, Lively gives keen observations about bombed London and how the Suez crisis during her Oxford years awakens her political interest.  She reiterates the importance of books and reading alongside with history and memory.  Looking back from her eighty years, Lively isn't sentimental about old age but welcomes its sensibilities.
In the last section on 'Six Things,' Lively shares a few of her treasures with pictures.  From the duck kettle-holders from Maine to the blue lias ammonites and the leaping fish shard, we come to understand how an object intertwines with one's past and holds significant meaning.  This is an insightful book!

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

    Cecilia's perfect life hits a bump when she finds a letter from her husband addressed to her to be opened in the event of his death.  So begins the interwoven stories of Cecilia, Tess, and Rachel:  three women from the same neighborhood whose lives are all afftected by an event years before.  Moriarty writes alternately about each character, and we see from the outside how another person's actions create unexpected cause-and-effect reactions.
    The characters are well-developed, and very real.  I enjoyed the story, and had a hard time putting the book down.  This was the first book I'd read by this author, and now I look forward to reading some of her previous works.

Practice to Deceive by Ann Rule

Ann Rule is well-known for her true crime writing.  This story is from Whidbey Island, off the coast in Washington state.  The day after Christmas in 2003, Russel Douglas is discovered dead of a gunshot wound to the head.  Police classify it as a homicide, and a long investigation ensues.
    A number of interesting people come into play as investigators try to figure out who killed the man and why.  Rule spends a lot of time developing the background of these people and families.  A lack of physical evidence and no clear motive, however, allow the case to drag out over the course of a decade.
    I looked forward to reading this book.  Rule is a best-selling author and I’ve always been interested in this type of a story, but was disappointed in this book.  There were many instances of redundant information.  And while the backgrounds of those involved are meant to help you understand them better, some of it seems tangential to the main story.  In the end, I wondered if the writing of this book should have waited for a clear sense of motive to be given to us from those convicted.  I will try some earlier works by this author, though.

Kenobi by John Jackson Miller

In case you were wondering how Obi-Wan Kenobi spent part of his time between Star Wars episodes three and four, this is the book for you. “Kenobi”, an action-packed page-turner from John Jackson Miller, gives you several glimpses into both the mind and life of the Jedi Master as he tries to live a life of solitude while at the same time protecting the future of the nearly-devastated Jedi order. Under the alias of Ben, Kenobi has encounters with both Tusken Raiders and the local moisture farmers as he tries to go about his business on Tatooine; and if you know Star Wars history, trouble seems to follow Kenobi wherever he goes. I really enjoyed this book as it strengthened the backstory of one of the more popular Star Wars characters. It is a very fast, enjoyable read, leaving you wanting more and hoping that author has another book coming on this subject in the future. If you happen to be a Tusken Raider fan, the book also gives you glimpses into their lives and how  the Skywalker family story has touched them as well.  “From a certain point of view,” there are many things to be learned in “Kenobi”.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Curmudgeonly book store owner A.J. Fikry has had a tough year:  his beloved wife died, his prize possession was stolen, and his business is slowly failing. Then an unexpected and unwanted arrival brings light into A.J.’s bleak life.  This is a lovely little book about second chances, the power of love, and the enduring importance of books.

Daily Life in Holland in the Year 1566 by Rien Poortvliet

This one qualifies as a coffee table book because of its size. Being of Dutch Heritage and living Pella, my interest was alerted by the title. When I picked it up I was further drawn by the painted pictures and the handwritten text. I started reading page after page, and was soon hooked. I sat down with it two or three times and read it through entirely. At first I thought it was going to be a tale of the author's ancestry. There is a little of his ancestors in it, but it is primarily about what life was like back then. It was fascinating to imagine what life is like without running water or electricity. Dressing, bathing, and cleaning were much, much harder back then, which explains the fact that things were a lot dirtier and that there was a lack of hygiene. Travel and entertainment were a lot less pleasant than nowadays. The fact that a lot more people were poor and hungry was also evident. There was a long, hard winter, political unrest, and the plague to deal with as well. All in all it is amazing that some people actually survived it. This was really and enjoyable book and has cured me from nostalgically wanting to live in the past. I have decided that the modern age is not so bad after all!