The Seventh Most Important Thing

The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall
Read December 2023 - Zoom Reading Circle

The Seventh Most Important Thing was a December read for Zoom Reading Circle.  I believe this book is actually considered young adult fiction but it was based on a true man/event (which we all found quite fascinating!) 

The story starts with a young boy named Arthur throwing a brick and hitting ‘the junk man’ in the head. As part of his required community service (and at the request of the junk man himself, in lieu of a harsher sentence) Arthur goes to work for 120 hours for the junk man.  On his first day Arthur is given a list of the ‘Seven Most Important Things’ that he must gather each day in the provided old shopping cart.  They include glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans and mirrors.  Arthur can’t imagine that this is a serious list or that he is to go through people’s trash to find these ‘important’ things... but that is indeed the job he has been given for his community service.  So he begins...  When Arthur finally sees what the junk man is doing with these 'important' things, creating a massive piece of folk art, he realizes there is so much more to this job and that man than he ever could have realized.  And more to himself, as well.  This was a lovely book that touched my heart.  And led me to want to learn more about the folk artist, James Hampton, who really did build a Throne of the Third Heaven and it really did make it to the Smithsonian.  I rated this book 4.5 stars.  Zoom Reading Circle rated it 3.9 stars. 

Some of my favorite passages...

In other words, there could be a lot of reasons why people decided to save some things and why they threw others away - reasons that might not make any sense until you dug much deeper.  Which, Arthur thought, might be a small clue to the Junk Man’s list. 

Have you ever met an artist who was creating heaven?  Lots of people have done Hell.  Hell is easy to create.  

...that’s the night when I had my first vision, my first dream, of building heaven out of broken things.

A lot of people have done worse with their lives than taking ugliness and turning it into something beautiful. 

Some angels are like peacocks.  Others are less flashy. Like city pigeons.  It all depends on the wings. 

If you are, like me, interested in more about the real man who inspired this tale, here are 3 links you should check out. 

Artist James Hampton

https://americanart.si.edu/artist/james-hampton-2052

The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly

https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/throne-third-heaven-nations-millennium-general-assembly-9897

Taking a Closer Look at James Hampton's The Throne of the Third Heaven

https://americanart.si.edu/blog/throne-james-hampton

The Incredible Winston Browne

The Incredible Winston Browne by Sean Dietrich

Read December 2023 - Zoom Reading Circle

The Incredible Winston Browne 

I had mixed feelings on this book.  Part of me truly loved the down home story and I definitely felt I knew the people.  It depicted small town southerners pretty spot on.  :D  Good and bad!  It takes place in the 1950’s in Moab, Florida where the local sheriff, Winston Browne, finds out he is dying of cancer.  He doesn’t share this news with his friends or community, but just keeps on doing what he does... which is apparently helping everyone out and doing good works.  The author does a good job of making you feel like you know the characters and you do find yourself rooting for them.  

One part I didn’t like is that while this is clearly set in the 1950’s, with all the misogyny and etc of the era, there isn’t even the slightest bit of enlightenment that maybe these weren’t the best of times.  It is all just depicted ‘as is’... with no slight nod even to the future where some of this should never again go down that way.  In that way, this book seemed a bit backwards to me.  However, the overall ‘feel good’ aspect was there and by the end I was even finding myself a bit teary eyed - so I fell right into it.  :)  

There was a strange religious cult side story that was a bit odd, and definitely disconcerting, but ultimately, it was an easy ‘feel good’ read.  I rated it 4 stars.  Zoom Reading Circle rated it 4.2 stars.

Side note - I mentioned on our zoom that there was another book that kept coming to mind as I was reading the Winston Browne book… I highly recommend Doris Kearns Goodwin’s memoir about growing up in New York in the 1950’s - as a big Brooklyn Dodgers fan. You don’t have to even like baseball to love this book.  Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir by Doris Kearns Goodwin.  Truly one of my all time favorite books. 

Some of my favorite passages - 

Here, nobody ever died.  At least not in print. They went 'on to Glory'. It was ridiculous. 

Even non-dancing Baptists, who were incognito tonight lest they be seen making repetitive dance movements. 

‘This was just dancing. Dancing ain’t the same as drinking.’ Spoken like a true Methodist. 

The whole world seems trivial when someone is dying, as though the world’s problems have always been trivial, but people have been too preoccupied to notice how silly they are. 

But he could see now that life wasn’t a journey; it never had been.  It was art.  Like a flower.  All a daisy has to do is bloom and be pretty.  There was nothing to accomplish, there was no path to follow, there were no mile markers.  Life was a blossoming thing, vivid and lovely in the sunlight. 

(Below is my favorite quote from the book - and really one of my favorite quotes EVER from a book!)

Winston Browne had known the greatest thing that ever was, and he felt so incredibly grateful.  Whatever you called it - life, existence, being the human experience - he had known it.  He had touched it.  He had held it.  He had loved it.  It was wild.  It was pretty, sad, remorseful, exciting, dangerous, terrifying, lonely, full of angst, peaceful, rewarding, cruel, sorrowful, interesting, gentle, surprising, and full of people.  Oh, the people.  They were the best part of it all.  Hands down.   

Recipes for a Sacred Life

Recipes for a Sacred Life: True Stories and a Few Miracles by Rivvy Neshama

Read December 2023 - Well Read Book Club

The December book for Well Read Book Club was Recipes for a Sacred Life.  I listened to this one, as well, and it was quite enjoyable.  Basically, it is short stories and anecdotes by the author that highlight her quest to live a sacred life.  She weaves together stories of her family history, people she has encountered and the miracles they have shared, to recipes from her family and heritage... into a tapestry of wisdom and grace.  You could probably read this book one stand-alone chapter at a time but taken as a whole it provides a picture of methods and mantras to approach each day and live life to its fullest  (which this storyteller so gracefully shows is often made up of the smallest things).   I rated this book a 4. 

Christmas Reads 2023

Several Christmastime reads 

Read December 2023

Over the Christmas holidays I was able to listen to several audiobooks and all were enjoyable additions to the season.  

The first was The Christmas Table: A Novel by Donna Van Liere.  This is part of a series called ‘Christmas Hope’ by this author.  I enjoyed this one quite a bit but probably wouldn’t go out of my way to read others in the series.  However, I can see one per year being a nice story.  I chose this story because it is focused on a homemade table and different people who come into contact with it over the years.  You get each storyline from their perspective and by the end of the book all the parts are pulled together, which is very nice.  The only thing that didn’t sit as well with me was the inferred message of ‘pray and you will receive healing’ since that isn’t the way it always works, and I cringe when that is the message.  Not helpful for folks who have bad things happen regardless of prayer.  But overall, it was a good story and heartwarming for the season.  I rated this book 4 stars. 

Another enjoyable audiobook over the holidays was Mistletoe at Moonglow by Deborah Garner.  This is the first in the Moonglow Christmas series, which in itself is a spin-off of one of the installments of Garner’s Paige MacKenzie mystery series (The Moonglow Cafe).  I read all the Paige MacKenzie books years ago (and pretty much everything else she has written, including her Sadie Kramer mystery series) but had never read any of these holiday Moonglow books.  This was a short book (about 150 pages so not very long audio) and included many characters we got to know in the mystery book.  It was a lovely and happy holiday book about welcoming places and people.  Quite enjoyable and I would definitely add the other Moonglow Christmas books to my list of reads.  I rated this book 4.5 stars. 

And here is another example of a continuation of storyline from a beloved mystery series.  Christmas at Greenoak by Marty Wingate which is listed as #7.5 in the Potting Shed series (one of my favorite cozy mystery series).  This story revolves around our beloved Pru Parke, the American gardener living in England, married to a British detective.  Instead of a murder mystery, this Christmas mystery is all about a mysterious stranger Pru meets at a Christmas market... with all events leading toward a Christmas meal at Greenoak.  I loved getting to revisit dear Pru - having fallen in love with her character and the entire Potting Shed mystery series.  (I also love the Birds of a Feather series and even the First Edition Library series by this same author.)  I rated this short holiday book a 4.5.  (Note - Marty Wingate now has another cozy mystery series that I am enjoying - The London Ladies' Murder Club series). 

Also an audio read during the holidays, I checked out Shepherd’s Abiding by Jan Karon to listen to as I puzzled.  I had read this one as part of the whole Mitford series years ago but decided to listen to it again since it had been awhile and it was a Christmas theme.  I loved it soooo much!  In fact, I loved this audio version so much that I have now purchased almost all of the Mitford series in audiobook form.  I am seeing that the narrator of this particular book, John McDonough, is the narrator for most, but not all of the audio version series.  Clearly, if possible, I am choosing those narrated by him.  He was the perfect voice to bring all the beloved characters from Mitford to life.  Can’t wait to revisit this entire series.  I rated this 5 stars. 

Glory Be

Glory Be by Danielle Arceneaux

Read December 2023

Glory Broussard Mystery #1

I was on a roll with good mysteries!  (I read this one right after The Marlow Murder Club)  This is the first in a new series and I cannot wait for more to come out.  I was first drawn to read it because it is set in Lafayette, Louisiana (near my old stomping ground) and I don’t recall any other books set in that location.  

The main character is Glory Broussard, another fabulous woman ‘of a certain age’ who works as a small time bookie (her ‘office’ is in the local coffee shop).  But when a dear friends sudden death is labeled a suicide, Glory sets out to prove that isn’t true.  Glory, along with her daughter who has returned from NYC with her own secrets, begins to investigate.  There are so many wonderful characters and the setting of southwest Louisiana (SWLA) shines through.  I listened to this one and Glory’s ‘voice’ was so vivid, I could see her in the room with me.  Excellent start for a new series and I can’t wait for more Glory Broussard! 

Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly

Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly by Marie Bostwick

Read December 2023

Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly 

This was a fun little book to read.  Not my norm, but I really, REALLY needed light and fluffy to get over the previous book (Death and Judgement by Donna Leon).  This did the trick for sure. 

Esme Cahill gets fired from her New York publishing job, divorced from her husband, and then her grandmother dies.  The same grandmother that she hasn’t seen nearly enough in recent years.  She ends up traveling down to Asheville, NC to visit her grandfather where she discovers he is about to lose the family business - a lakeside retreat.  Of course she stays to help get that back going well, and as she does she discovers more about her late grandmother’s life and legacy.  Throw in some romance, a then and now storyline, and even a connection to Biltmore and you have a lovely story that shows that ‘failure’ isn’t always what you think.  I thoroughly enjoyed this and rated it 4 stars.

Because of the above fun book, I later chose to read The Restoration of Celia Fairchild.  I ended up not finishing it.  Not because I didn’t like the book, per se, but things got busy and it just didn’t draw me back.  I felt like I already knew the general storyline from reading the Esme Cahill book.  This one was about a a young woman, Celia, who loses her job, her husband and then returns to Charleston, SC (another southern city of renown) following the death of her Aunt Calpurnia, who she hadn’t seen nearly enough in recent years.  (see what I mean about same storyline?)  Add in her decision to stay and restore the home her Aunt left to her, a bit of romance, and what I am quite sure was a lovely and light resolution, complete with some romance and newfound confident identity, and I just felt like I had ‘been there, done that.’  So not a bad book, just too much the same book as one I had already read.  I rated it 3 stars for being a pleasant diversion, anyway.  

I much prefer an author who writes 'different' stories, not all of the same type.  Amy Harmon is an author who comes to mind.  I really enjoy her books and they are NOT the same plot-line over and over like a Hallmark movie.  

Puzzle #73 - Falcon - 1000 pieces - Christmas in Edinburgh

Puzzle #73 of 2023 

Finished December 28, 2023

Falcon - 1000 pieces - Christmas in Edinburgh

Image by Victor McLindon

Well, this turned out to be my last puzzle completed in 2023.  A nice one to end on.  Falcon puzzles have challenge to them and lovely images that take me to places I would like to visit.  :)  (again)  

This puzzle grew on me as I worked it.  At first I thought it might be a bit boring but as I worked on it I became more engaged. That is nice when that happens.    

I've been listening to audiobooks while puzzling lately and so think about those books when I look at these photos.  I completed a book called The Christmas Table while working this puzzle.  It was a good book except for the implicit 'pray and everything will turn out okay' message.  It doesn't always work out that way.  :(  But overall, I enjoyed the book and it was certainly a good holiday listen/read.  Same with this puzzle.

I remember walking this street (Victoria Street) in Edinburgh when I was there - but I have to admit I'm glad I was there in June and not in December!  :)

Puzzle #73 of 2023 

Finished December 28, 2023

Falcon - 1000 pieces - Christmas in Edinburgh

Puzzle #72 - 500 pieces - Gibsons - Magic of Christmas set of 4 - The Nativity Play

Puzzle #72 of 2023

Finished December 26, 2023

Puzzle #72 - 500 pieces - Gibsons - Magic of Christmas set of 4 - The Nativity Play

Image by Trevor Mitchell

This is a nice set of Christmas puzzles from Gibsons.  Always good quality and fun images.  This is the 2nd from this set that I have completed... this time I did the children's play.  (last time was the town square Christmas tree and shopping one).   I can't find a specific name for this puzzle but will go up and look at the box later (have already put it away).  Started this on the small/temporary puzzle table and was able to finish back in my regular location.  I much prefer it there.  :)  Now I have a few days to really enjoy some puzzling time - my Christmas present to myself!!

Update - this one is called The Nativity Play and the one I did previously was called Window Shopping.  The two remaining puzzles are Letter to Santa and The Queen's Speech. 

Finished this one up.  Very pleasant puzzle experience. Parts were a bit trickier than I might have expected which made it a fun puzzle.

love the poster

Puzzle #72 of 2023

Finished December 26, 2023

Puzzle #72 - 500 pieces - Gibsons - Magic of Christmas set of 4 - The Nativity Play

Puzzle #71 - 550 pieces - Ceaco - Tis the Season

Puzzle #71 of 2023
Finished December 23, 2023

Ceaco - Tis the Season - 550 pieces

This was a fast and fun one.  Just what I needed at this busy moment.  I always want to do the Christmas puzzles but Christmas is exactly when I have ZERO time.  :(  Also, I have to be away from my regular puzzle table set up because that is where the Christmas tree goes.  So I can't do the bigger puzzles on this smaller board and set up area.  But this was fine.  Enjoyable and Christmasy.  Ceaco puzzles aren't bad... I have avoided them for a long time thinking they weren't high quality.  They aren't at the top of the heap, but they also aren't at the bottom.  And they have a poster, which you know I love.  :)

Puzzle #71 of 2023
Finished December 23, 2023

Ceaco - Tis the Season - 550 pieces

Puzzle #70 - House of Puzzles - Christmas Past No. 12 - 500 pieces

Puzzle #70 of 2023

Finished December 2, 2023

House of Puzzles - Christmas Past No. 12 - 500 pieces

Image by Tracy Hall

I liked the last one by this same artist so much, it made sense to do another of hers.  This one was truly enjoyable as well.  I am really liking this new brand (to me) and the images on the puzzles.  The box is kind of nice, too... only 500 pieces and the box is thinner and smaller for easier storage. You still have the uniquely shaped pieces (as seen in one photo below) which is fun.  Just an overall pleasant puzzling experience.  Will definitely purchase more from House of Puzzles in the future.

some of the specially shaped pieces

Puzzle #70 of 2023

Finished December 2, 2023

House of Puzzles - Christmas Past No. 12 - 500 pieces