Weekly Mews: Happy Easter & My Bookish Thoughts on Big Little Lies & Dog Songs Along With April's TBR Winner

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where participants discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics. 

Happy Weekend! Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate. I know for many Easter will not be what it has been in the past. Church services either via drive in style or streaming. No big gatherings with family and friends. Our Easters have always been on the quiet side, and so it will not be much different than usual for us. Mouse has been counting down the days until Easter, and with everything, I did not want her to miss out. We are expecting the Easter Bunny to visit as usual, leaving a few eggs behind for Mouse to find in the morning, along with a basket filled with goodies. Her dad promised Mouse we could watch the new Trolls movie which just came out. Maybe we will pop some popcorn to go with it.

Our Easter Tree

What I Am Reading: This week I finished reading Mary Oliver's Dog Songs in honor of National Poetry Month, I also finally finished Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies. I am now enjoying Starbreaker (Endeavor, #2) by Amanda Bouchet. I had not realized how much I missed Tess and her crew. I am not too far into this science fiction novel, but I can already tell it will be action-packed. I am hoping Starbreaker will break through my reading malaise.

What I Am Watching: I sneaked in a couple of episodes of Big Little Lies while my daughter was napping. I can see what all the fuss was about. I think I might like it more than the book, although is that fair to say so early in? As a family, we have continued with our Harry Potter and Marvel superhero marathon.

Off the Blog: We have had what seemed like nonstop rain for the past several days. I kind of miss the nonstop melodramatic storm watch news stories of seasons passed. Instead everything is about the coronavirus. I try to keep my news intake down to a minimum for the most part got sanity's sake, but some days that is easier than others.

Last weekend, news came out that two sheriff deputies in my county died of COVID-19. It hits close to home considering how closely my agency works with law enforcement, often working alongside them. It is hard not to think of my colleagues who are out there in the community, the risk to them. Restrictions at work have tightened even more to try to protects us and protect those we work with.

Although it might seem like the middle of a pandemic would be an odd time to move programs and staff around, the agency I work for decided now was as good a time as any. I am now supervising another program in addition to my other one. This just came about this past week, and so I am still learning what all of my responsibilities will be. I am looking forward to it. It seems like it will be a good fit.

I am still going into the office half of the week.  The teleworking the other two days is going well. I am finding my rhythm, although I imagine it will change up some with Mouse starting distance learning Monday. I do not have a lot of flexibility, but what little I do have will come in handy.

Someone knocked over the tent. Again. 

(She does it on purpose.)

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? 

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
(Berkley, 2014; Fiction, 465 pgs)

Surprisingly, I somehow avoided all spoilers for this novel since it first came out and so went into it blind. The reader learns straight away there has been a death--whether a murder or an accident--we are not told right away. Set in a beach side community, the novel centers around the lives of three mothers in particular: Madeline (who now I am only able to picture as Reese Witherspoon), a funny and passionate woman with two young children and a teenager who Madeline cannot seem to connect with; the beautiful Celeste whose life with her wealthy husband and twin boys is the envy of every mother at the school; and Jane, a young single mother who seems to have the weight of the world on her shoulders.

I enjoyed Big Little Lies. I jokingly referred to the mama drama in the book a few times when mentioning it to my husband or friends. There was certainly plenty of that. Moriarty also tackles more serious issues including relationships with exes and their spouses, domestic violence, date rape, and bullying. I really came to feel for and like Madeline, Celeste and Jane, rooting for them as they struggled with their individual situations.

I liked the author's The Husband's Secret and had been wanting to read something else by Moriarty for some time now. The television series loosely based on the book had received a lot of buzz, and I was curious about that as well. Just from seeing the first two episodes of the series, I find myself liking the more in-depth glimpse into the various characters lives, particularly the minor-but-significant characters, the show offers. But also the main characters, especially in regards to Madeline. I have a new appreciation for her character. And that's just in two episodes. Who knows if that will change the more I watch.

While Big Little Lies was not a "love it" book for me, I did like it. I would like to read more by Liane Moriarty. She has a way with characters and relationships that draw a reader in.

*

Dog Songs by Mary Oliver (Penguin Books, 2013; Poetry, 144 pgs)

I was browsing my TBR shelves and came across my copy of Dog Songs by Mary Oliver. It seemed the perfect choice for National Poetry Month. For years now I have heard nothing but wonderful things about Mary Oliver's poetry, but I had never given her work a try before. Until now. Poet Mary Oliver shares her love for her dogs in this delightful collection. It brought back so many memories of my own dog, Riley, and the many dogs I grew up with. Those of you who have followed my blog for some time may remember that I was a dog person long before I became a cat person. I still love dogs, even though it has been years now since we had to say goodbye to my Riley.

This really was the perfect book to read right now, with tension and anxiety so high given the world situation. These heartfelt poems took me back to a kinder time and was a reminder of the simple pleasures in life.

While I enjoyed all of the poems, I do have my favorites. Like "A Bad Day" in which Mary Oliver admonishes her dog Ricky for barking and trying to rip the couch only for Ricky to remind her that his day has been a long one too--leaving him alone, not letting him out, feeding him late, a shorter walk than usual, and not playing with him like usual--so is it any wonder he is acting out? The poem came to mind that evening when I found myself getting frustrated with my daughter, a reminder to be more patient and understanding. I may have had a long day, but so had she.

There is also a poem called "Little Dog's Rhapsody in the Night" which I loved just for its simplicity and truth. It is a captured moment in time between a dog and his human companion, in which their love for one another shines through.

Here are some excerpts from a few of my other favorites:

So I climb on the bed where the light of the moon
is shining on your face
 and I know it will be morning soon.

Everybody needs a safe place. [excerpt from "Every Dog's Story," pg 7]

*

Okay, I said. But remember, you can't fix 
everything in the world for everybody.

"However," said Ricky, "you can't do 
anything at all unless you begin. Haven't
I heard you say that once or twice, or
maybe a hundred times?" [excerpt from "Show Time," pg 91]

*

she adored
every blossom

not in the serious
careful way
that we choose
this blossom or that blossom—

the way we praise or don’t praise—
the way we love
or don’t love—
but the way

we long to be—
that happy
in the heaven of earth—
that wild, that loving. [excerpt from "Luke," pg 19]

I cannot believe it has taken me so long to give Mary Oliver's poetry a try. If you have a favorite of hers you think I should read, please let me know! 

Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman came in at five votes; The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo with ten; and Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai with eleven.  It was a tie up until the very last minute. I finally had my daughter pick the winner. She took a long time deliberating, but in the end, she said she made her selection based on the fact that she knows what it is like not to fit in. It just so happens this book falls within her Accelerated Reader level, and so she's agreed to read it along with me. Thank you to everyone who voted!

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai (2011)

For all the ten years of her life, Ha has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by...and the beauty of her very own papaya tree.

But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Ha and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Ha discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of strangers, the dullness of its food, the strange shape of its landscape...and the strength of her very own family.

This is the moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to another, one life to the next. [Goodreads Summary] 

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week. Stay safe and well.  Happy Reading!

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