Fredrik Backman

 

Every once in awhile, I read an author by happenstance and then want to read everything published by that author. Sometimes, it doesn't even matter if I read the books in the order in which they were published, I just want to read them.

Reluctantly, I read A Man Called Ove and fell in love with Fredrik Backman. I say reluctantly because usually if a book is a best seller or everyone is raving about it, I can't relate to it or don't like it. Which is really embarrassing when I read a lot and review all of the time. Being out of sync in my thoughts with others usually ends in their disappointment in my opinion or somehow I fall short in their idea of what a good book should be. The book, The Shack, falls into that category. It is equally frustrating when I love an author or book and friends are "meh" about it. 

However, I totally relate to Backman's characters, his stories, his portrayal of people who exhibit OCD characteristics and his sense of humor. Maybe because I am of a certain age and can understand how Britt-Marie wants to be remembered. Britt-Marie sees everything as black and white. Everything and everyone has a place and there is an order to her universe. Some of her conversations with the unemployment office made me laugh out loud. She once read about someone who died and wasn't found right away, this story and her sister's death has a profound impact on her. I love the ending of Britt-Marie it is extremely satisfying and just right. 

I read Britt-Marie Was Here before my grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry and was informed by a friend that I should have read Britt-Marie second. Yes, that probably would have been helpful, but they can be read out of order and still make sense. 

my grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry is a Narnia like story of a special bond between a grandmother and her eleven-year-old granddaughter. Out of all of his books, this one was a slow starter for me, maybe because of the Narnia feel and how much I love those books. The fact that it is a story of hope, love, and the cycle of life told in Backman's style elevated it to mythological proportions with the Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas. 

I thoroughly enjoyed both of these books and was sorry when they ended. However, I have Beartown on reserve at the  Public Library and look forward to reading it as soon as it becomes available. 

Fredrik Backman's stories have been published in more than forty countries. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children. His most recent novel is Beartown.

#fredrikbackman #brittmariewashere #mygrandmotheraskedmetotellyoushessorry 

Ibotta

My daughter introduced me to Ibotta while we were on vacation. She is one savy shopper and has racked up savings/rebates of 400.00. I've decided to try it out for 6 months and see if I actually accumulate any savings.

She sent me a link with a special code...I get a 10.00 bonus for signing up and she gets 5.00 when I sign up.

My first day shopping...with the addition of the 10.00, I accumulated 12.00 in savings.

• 1.50 rebate on Clorox wipes at Walmart
• .50 just for scanning my cash register receipt at Walmart

The second day, I received notification that I will get an .88 credit for buying an item through Amazon.

I also found a blog that has strategies for saving even more. Click here to learn how. I hadn't realized that I could purchase the same item more than once to take advantage of an offer by paying separately. 

I can with draw my earnings through a PayPal Account once my balance reaches 20.00. 

I will continue to blog about this experience for the next six months, if you are using this App also, please share your experience. I f you would like to sign up...use my referral code and we both get rewarded...xcxsqbd If you do decide to sign up, let me know because there is a "teamwork" feature and we can get additional bonuses.

#ibotta

Down A Dark Road

Down A Dark Road (A Kate Burkholder Novel) by Linda Castillo. New York: Minotaur Books, 2017. 253 pages. *****

In this latest addition to the Kate Burkholder series, Chief of Police Kate is ambushed by an escaped killer who holds her hostage with his young children. Complicating the situation is the convicted killer is her childhood friend and first crush who claims that he is innocent and he has been framed. Caught between her previous Amish life and her search for justice, Kate doesn't know who or what to believe. If Joseph is innocent, Naomi's killer is still out there and may have been seen by 3-year-old Sadie. It doesn't help that during the hostage negotiations, a compromising picture is taken of Kate and Joseph and Kate is placed on restrictive duty. This does not stop her from uncovering corruption, drugs, and the abuse of power before the murderer is finally identified.

I received an ecopy for a review.

I read this book in one day at the beach and thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast, moving plot, that had some unexpected turns, Kate is at her best ignoring protocol and seeking justice for Joseph and Naomi King. Castillo through this series adds a small insight into the world and thoughts of the Amish. The emotional involvement of Kate takes the story to a new level of complexity and interferes with Kate's judgment. Sometimes when an author writes a series revolving around the main character, it can become stale and redundant...not so with this series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but I suggest you start with book one, Sworn to Silence. 

To learn more about Linda Castillo, click http://www.lindacastillo.com. To read the books in order, http://www.bookseriesinorder.com/kate-burkholder/

#kateburkholderseries  #downadarkroad

Exposed

Exposed (A Rosato & DiNunzio Novel) by Lisa Scottoline. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2017. 351 page. ****

In this latest Rosato & DiNunzio novel, Mary and Bennie are at a crossroads. Mary agrees to represent a childhood friend who has been let go from his job for poor performance. Simon, Mary's client, has a daughter in Children's Hospital, Philadelphia, who is in need of a bone marrow transplant. Her partner, Bennie, is on retainer with the parent company and sees Mary's client as being a conflict of interest for their partnership. They agree to disagree until it becomes apparent to both of them that Mary must leave the practice in order to adequately defend her client from a countersuit. The story takes an unexpected turn when one of the accuser's of Mary's client turns up dead and time is running out for Mary to prove that her friend is not a murderer.

Lisa loves to take a social issue, in this case, a father is supposedly fired from his job because of the high cost of his daughter's health costs. The affordability and availability of health care is a current hot button for many and Lisa captures the emotions of the frustrated parent who cannot cure his daughter. The book is dedicated "to the physicians, nurses, and staff of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia." My son was a patient there when he was a baby and Lisa has recreated the feelings of helplessness and hope that exists amid the chaos and pain. The scenes with Mary's father and his friends are always funny and representative of neighborhood Philly. This story is a compelling summer read.

I received an electronic and a hardcover copy for a review.

Lisa Scottoline is a New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of twenty-eight novels. She has 30 million copies of her books in print in the United States, she has been published in thirty-five countries, and her thrillers have been optioned for television and film. Lisa also writes a weekly column with her daughter, Francesca Serritella, for The Philadelphia Inquirer, and those stories have been adapted into a series of bestselling memoirs, the first of which is entitled Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog. Lisa lives on a Pennsylvania farm with an array of disobedient pets. Visit Lisa at www.Scottoline.com, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram @LisaScottoline.

#exposed #rosatoanddinunzio

Friendship Bracelet - Row by Row Junior

The hardest part of sewing the Friendship Bracelet is choosing the fabrics!

 This is an easy block to sew, all straight seams. Thankfully, she remembers everything she learned at Christmas! 10 is a great age for sewing; better attention span and willingness to do it right!

The instructions are clear and the blocks go together quickly.

Choosing the decorative elements from Nona's stash is another huge undertaking...

Another layout choice...

Ta dah! Friendship Bracelets and High Tops are done...3 more rows to go!

#campnona #friendshipbracelets #rowbyrow2017 #rowbyrowjunior2017 #rowbyrowexperience

High Tops - Row by Row Junior

The first Row completed and Shae collected a blue ribbon for it! Jan at The Quilt Block in Exton, PA was gracious enough to pose for a picture awarding the ribbon. It is so much fun to see this happy face for completing something that she started. We bought shoelaces at the Dollar Store that she will add them once the top is quilted. Kudos to the creators of this summer project. Shae and I have had such a great time together!

Shae decided to start with the "High Tops" Row by Row. No surprise because she picked out really cute fabric for this row. She started by tracing the pattern for the high top 4x on Heat and Bond lite.

Once traced, they were ironed to the wrong side of the fabric.

She decided to pair the fabrics for the shoe, toe and sole. 

Each possible shoe was added to the background squares to see how they looked before they would be permanently placed.

The instructions said to place the shoe 1.25 inches from the bottom edge of the background square.

All of the pieces are ironed and the High Tops look great. Next step, auditioning thread to applique them tomorrow.

#rowxrow2017 #rowbyrowjunior2017 #hightops #rowbyrow2017 #onthegorowbyrow2017 #campnona

A Man Called Ove

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.  Atria books, 2014. 253 pages. *****

Ove is a curmudgeon of the first order. He doesn't understand why people don't follow the rules. He distrusts most people and wishes everyone would leave him alone especially the needy neighbors with their chatty little girls. Ove can't understand how his life turned out the way it did and he has little sympathy for those who rely on others to fix their problems.

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. I traveled last month and it seemed like either people were carrying it or the book was front and center at the airport newsstands. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I laughed out loud and cried. (I'm not an easy crier)  Having recently read The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg, I thought I knew where the story was headed and it did in some ways, but there were enough subplots to keep me interested. I read this one for me (I didn't receive a review copy) and finished it in two days.  When you reach a certain age, we all know a person like Ove and I definitely am that age. There are so many levels to this story -- it's a love story between two unlikely people;  a commentary on growing old and feeling useless; societal norms and expectations and the irony of life goes on whether we want it to or not. I saw some negative reviews and I can understand why not everyone can relate to Ove. I'm sure someone younger may read it and think that isn't going to happen to them and it may not. There is a certain sadness to growing old and Bette Davis and Ove remind us that "Old age ain't for sissies." I've placed Backman's latest book, Britt-Marie Was Here, on hold at my public library and look forward to reading it.

Fredrik Backman, a blogger and columnist, is the New York Times bestselling author of My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry. Both were number one bestsellers in his native Sweden and around the world, and are being published in more than thirty-five territories. His latest novel is Britt-Marie Was Here.  He lives in Stockholm with his wife and two children. Visit him online at his blog: FredrikBackman.com, on twitter @backmanland, or on instagram @backmansk.

#ove #amancalledove