I moved my laptop back to the office yesterday after having it temporarily in the den during my illness/running back and forth to NYC. This morning? The wind is so strong and so loud up here that I feel like in the midst of a tornado! Yikes.
So I’ve turned on my Bose bluetooth speakers and I’m streaming some music to drown out the wind. Can I say that I’ve had it with wind? I’m not a fan, it makes me edgy, and we’ve had a lot of it over the past 3 weeks or so.
Don’s still under the weather, but this particular virus is different than the one I had and, it seems to me, much milder. Nevertheless, I’m making him take it easy over the next few days. He already had a doctor’s appointment scheduled about something else and the doctor confirmed it was a virus. We just have to wait these things out and drink plenty of fluids and rest. Too many antibiotics are overprescribed these days so we avoid them unless absolutely necessary.
I finished Rules of Civility last night and I feel like I’m in mourning today. I cannot say enough about the writing of Amor Towles. He creates the life, topography, culture and flavor of a different era so vividly that you feel as if you’re there. In Rules of Civility, it was 1938 Manhattan. In A Gentleman in Moscow, it was Russia from 1922 until the 1950s. In both cases, I was entranced, completely transfixed. The characters are complex and completely three-dimensional. I felt as if I was saying goodbye to friends when I finished the books. As I lay in bed last night and first thing this morning, I found myself replaying moments from the story, missing my friends, missing that time. I didn’t want it to end.
Towles has written only two books – these two – so now I must wait a few years for a new one. Heavens, I love this man’s writing! I love it so much that I might have to reread them. As it is, I think I’ll have to trundle off to the bookstore today to find something that I can only hope and pray is as compelling. Towles has spoiled me.
Don’t stop, run to your bookstore or library and read these treasures.
The newest page on my calendar from Rifle Paper Co. Fabulous!
If you’re not watching Rachel Maddow, you’re missing a spy story more gripping than anything on screen or in the pages of a novel. We are riveted as Rachel takes the Trump/Putin connections and connects the dots. Each night, a new connection, a new confirmation of the information in Christopher Steele’s dossier. Far better than any fiction, far, far more important, and far more shocking.
The best thing on television at the moment, Of course, this is only our opinion – but we think anything else pales in comparison.
Happy Thursday.
We had two very unsettling days of high winds….sorry to hear they’ve moved eastward. Our yard is littered with small branches. It is calm today…and I am enjoying the stillness. I get that same feeling after I’ve read Louise Penny’s books. You just don’t want them to end. Hope you find another great author for us. Yesterday, I sorted and dusted my TBR books…oh my, I’d better get reading! And I will be checking out Rachel…Sounds good! ;)
We had a huge limb come down from the catalpa last week and we have lots of small branches down as well.
I feel sort of guilty buying a new book when I have so many books in my TBR pile!
Yes, the wind! Relentless. I have a few quotes from Hal Borland on my post today on my blog that you might enjoy about the March Wind. Amor Towles is an excellent writer! And your calendar is so pretty.
Oh, that darned wind! It’s still howling out there. I’ll be glad when it settles down – but then we’re supposed to get SNOW!
One of life’s real treasures when you meet characters in a book who are as real as any living people. They become a permanent part of your consciousness and you feel grateful to have met them.
The wind is having it’s way these days; but so grateful when it isn’t a tornado! Too many people just won’t learn that much of the weather’s destructive ways are created by humans. Too many don’t remember the dustbowl of the 30’s and the horrible deaths as adults and children died with lungs full of black dust. Those black blizzards blew all the way to NY and the east coast All cause by humans and their destruction of the plains and the natural growth that kept dirt in it’s place. Ignorance personified and sadly, it’s partner, arrogance.
Had read a lot about Christopher Steele’s and MI5 and MI6’s dossier on Trump a long time back, but as usual it was ignored by those who had the responsibility to be paying attention to it. Pretty certain it was shared even before the election. But then, the Republican’s corruption wouldn’t let a little thing like MI5 and MI6’s concerns and knowledge deter their plans.
Wishing Don a steady and quick recovery! Best wishes ………Dianne
It’s all on us, isn’t it? Arrogance for sure.
I’ve known of the dossier for quite a while as well, but now it’s been coming out – slowly – that many of the assertions in the dossier are checking out. More and more of them. The Republicans would like to try to sweep this under the rug, but I really think the Press and the Intelligence Community will get the info out there.
I know that feeling. That’s why I read some books again and again.
Exactly. Makes me very happy!
The wind blows fiercely in west Texas, we are known for it. I have just checked out A Gentleman…. can’t wait to start it. Rachel Maddow…I’m on it.
Enjoy it, Melissa. I think it’s a wonderful, wonderful book.
I too hate wind because it makes me edgy. It usually means something will fall!
I also love Rachel Maddow and watch her almost every night. Last night was fascinating.
A couple of weeks ago her story was about a house in FL that turned out to be a way to launder money and HE was involved.
I hope all of this is being payed attention to by the right people and investigated because no other countries have any respect for us right now. We are the laughing stock of the world.
Yes, we have so many trees on our property that it’s scary when the wind really gets going.
I saw that story. He is involved in so much corruption, the mind boggles. The latest? Trademarks in China. Wonder what kind of deal he gave them as President to get that done?
So glad that those winds are not on our doorstep another day. It was wild!! It seemed that the when the birds landed on the feeders, it was almost like a carnival ride. They were swinging forth and back and hanging on to gather a few seeds.
Loved when Rachel said last night to always read to the END of an article. Sometimes the most fascinating-to-be facts are found in the last paragraphs…. seemingly not so important at the time. This stuff that is happening can’t be made up. I don’t know anyone who is as devious as his posse. Unbelievable. I heard yesterday that her show, the past several weeks, has been in the Top 10 most watched shows….. and appropriately so.
Hope you have a good day and that Don is feeling better as the day goes on.
I loved that, too. What good advice! We are really hooked on that show and now we wouldn’t think of missing it.
I’m inching closer to the top of the wait list for ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ and I can’t wait to read it. I hate wind also! We have so many pine trees near us it can be scary. Don just needs to rest and feel better. I avoid antibiotics as much as possible so they will work when I really need them. I hope you find something new to read that excites you as much as these books. Hugs!
Same here. So many trees and, as you know, we’ve lost many, many large limbs in storms over the past several years. Wind ALWAYS makes me nervous now that we live in the country.
Wind! We’re enjoying our first relatively windless day in over a week. Now the painter can try to get the shack painted! Let’s hope he can complete it before the annual migration comes around! Trouble is that when the wind quits, the humidity goes up. Either way, it’s tough to get good painting days at the beach.
Hope Don’s bug leaves soon and glad you are finally on the mend.
I hope he gets the shack painted!
After reading your recomendation of “A Gentleman in Moscow” I downloaded a sample onto my Kindle. From the very beginning it captured my interest, and I put a hold on an available copy in our county library ststem. Last evening I picked it up, and after reading your blog today I’m even more excited to start reading it.
I love all the prints at Rifle Paper Company, and enjoy following Anna Rifle Bond on Instagram. Did you see the special edition Rifle Paper Keds?
Hope Don feels better soon!
Have fun reading A Gentleman in Moscow, Denise. I could pull it off the shelf right now and happily re-read it.
I did see those Keds! So pretty!
We had terrible winds here the past three days, too and I know my friends in Ohio were in the same boat. All is calm finally, so I assume they moved eastward to you. Sorry about that. I can’t tell you how many times Brian had to go outside to retrieve the downspouts that blew off our house and the covering over our patio furniture. There were actually a few road closures in our area due to trees and branches blocking the roads.
Sorry to hear that both you and Don have been sick. We don’t take antibiotics either – unless we have a bacterial infection. They don’t work on viruses and only only destroy the good bacteria in your gut. Not to mention that if they’re over-prescribed, then when you truly need an antibiotic, the less-strong ones won’t be effective. I’m glad most doctors are finally on top of this and won’t prescribe them unless absolutely necessary.
I will definitely put those two books on my reading list. Looked them up on amazon and they sound fascinating.
We lost a huge limb from our Catalpa last week. Broke my heart. Again – during high winds.
Yes, Don’s doctor said there was no sense in prescribing antibiotics and I was glad he was on that page.
I am not enjoying these winds either Claudia!..I have a few things that I want to spray paint and the wind is just holding me back..if it’s not too windy it turns too cold again…If you are that excited with these two books then I know I need to find them too…Best luck to Don getting rid of his virus…Better fight back buddy..you got that big trip coming up real soon!
He’s being careful – though we have snow on the way and he may have to get out there and use the snow blower. I’m hoping the amount is minimal and then I could go out and shovel.
Oh, my! How I LOVED those two books, and how I mourned when I came to the end. I hate having to wait on an author to write another book—I must be far more of an instant gratification person than I imagined…But the prose. The characters. Oh, my. I cherish good storytelling.
And Rachel. My Mom and I meet every morning for breakfast, and the first thing she asks, each day, “Did you stay up for Rachel?” It is riveting, and one has to remember that this is happening in real time and not between the covers of a spy novel.
Finally, I feel you on the subject of wind. A few years ago we moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and our home is perched atop one of those lovely mountains. The wind is sometimes quite fearsome, and most nights I can handle it. But every so often there is a night that just seems to invade my home and I crawl under my duvet and feel like I am riding out the storm.
Take good care of Don, and be kind to yourself.
Leslie P.
Incredibly good storytelling – he is a master.
Last night’s Rachel Maddow was frightening! Just how powerful is Russia within our administration?
Glad you are better and sorry Don is under the weather. There is so much stuff going on around here. They just announced today there is an epidemic of mumps going around. OMG! So many viruses and so varied. Tell Don to get well soon.
Judy
Mumps? Oh goodness! Much love to you, Judy.
It’s so strange how we in southern Mo. have had that same wind. We had 80 degrees today & freezing tonight with a chance of snow on Sat. We have storms all around us tonight. I’m checking on the books tonight with my library. Just found out how to download on my Kindle from the library. It’s almost time for Rachel tonight but I did watch her last night. I have to believe that the intelligence group that’s investigating him will one day soon come up with some kind of charges. There’s just too much.
It’s snowing here today, Jan!
I agree with you about Amor Towles, he has spoiled me with his wonderful writing. I finished “A Gentleman in Moscow” over a month ago and am still thinking about it. I plan on re-reading both of his books.
I am going to do the same thing, Debbie!