Good Morning to all my friends and welcome to our first book club read at The Reading Frenzy. This is a test of sorts so I want to thank you all up front;
To all of my friends who’re following from B&N all my new friends who I’ve yet to e-meet and of course to Lisa who’s generosity of her time and her sponsoring of our NOOK
giveaway. In a way you’re all responsible for if this goes forward (no
pressure)
So let’s get started with questions for week one
PLEASE NOTE:
there will be at least one other post during the week with an addition question or two so just keep this website bookmarked and scroll down the days, it’s usually on Wednesdays but that’s not firm.
there will be at least one other post during the week with an addition question or two so just keep this website bookmarked and scroll down the days, it’s usually on Wednesdays but that’s not firm.
Week One
Friendship Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
Friendship Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
Chapters 1-8
Please use these questions as a jumping off point, do not
think they’re the only thing to chat about. I love it when you add your own
thoughts bring up questions that come to you.
We’ve met the female friends and most of the core
characters.
What’s your first impression of the “girls”?
Do you have a favorite yet, or is there someone who pushes your dislike buttons?
What’s your first impression of the “girls”?
Do you have a favorite yet, or is there someone who pushes your dislike buttons?
IN EUROPE:
The friends have arrived
Tell us your thoughts about the “Dinner in Darkness”
The friends have arrived
Tell us your thoughts about the “Dinner in Darkness”
About Amsterdam and Judy’s trip down memory lane.
Lisa uses humor throughout the first part
Tell us your thoughts on the humor itself and what effect it has on the novel
Tell us your thoughts on the humor itself and what effect it has on the novel
If you follow Lisa on FB you’ll know that she devotes quite
a bit of time to her life with Teen girls.
Do you think some of that “experience” has seeped into her pages?
Do you think some of that “experience” has seeped into her pages?
I look forward to all your responses!!!
Monique - having hard time moving on after Lenny's death. I like her very much. It was very generous of her to take Judy and Becky to Europe.
ReplyDeleteJudy - seems to be the strongest member of the group who helps both Monique and Becky overcome their fears. She was a wonderlust and is reliving her adventures through Europe which I think adds to their trip.
ReplyDeleteBecky - seems to be the weakest member as she continues to brood about her relationship with Marco. I can relate to her feelings about Gina who has caused most of the problems in her marriage, as I have a step-son who makes my relationship a little rocky with my husband.
I am having a hard time with comments from my i-pad. I am at my daughter's house helping to set up the nursery for my grandson's arrival at the end of May. Maybe when I get to my computer at home it will be better.
ReplyDeleteEadie, Congratulations on the upcoming grandbaby!!!!
DeleteSorry for the problems, it's like we're still at B&N and the gremlins are here :)
thank you for your wonderful comments so far I look forward to more.
deb
Thanks, Debbie! Yes I am excited about my second grand-baby! I have a grand-daughter that's 5-1/2 but she lives in Charlottesville, VA. She is coming to visit when Finn Michael Cody is born. I love his name but Finn took a little time to get used to.
ReplyDeleteI will attempt to answer more discussions questions. My computer is co-operating a lot better than the ipad.
The Dinner in Darkness was very interesting. Becky was interested in bringing them here in order for them to experience what her life would be after she went totally blind. They were able to hear, feel, smell and taste better than they could see. Becky remarked to them, "Maybe after an evening in mutual darkness, you'll see how well I mange. Then you'll both stop treating me like I'm going to stride off a bridge and drown in some canal." I think it was Becky way of saying that she will manage and didn't want them to be so overprotective.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Judy's trip down memory lane. It was a way for the group to learn more about their friend. Judy never told them about her experiences at home and I think the others were quite surprised about the things Judy showed them. It was a real eye-opener into the culture of Amsterdam and the dangers hidden there. I believe that by the end of this trip, they will be learning many different things about each other.
ReplyDeleteI found it rather humorous how Lisa used the smell of Brut, a rustle in the room, the sound of curtains blowing, a feeling of warmth and the hearing of Lenny's rumbling baritone in her mind to indicate a visit of Lenny from the beyond. As I am now thinking about this, it is similar to the experience of being blind and almost reminds me of the feelings from The Dinner in Darkness. Hmmm!
ReplyDeleteI just recently became friends with Lisa on FB, so I am not really familiar with her dealings with Teenage girls. But, I did notice some sound advice that Judy gave Monique in how to deal with Kiera.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to become more familiar with Lisa's writing, so I did read both of her other novels last week and I must say that I did enjoy them both!
Eadie, thanks for your thoughtful responses. I love the name Finn :). I'm glad you read Lisa's other novels too. Did you catch the pic of us from last year when we read The Proper Care And Maintenance of Friendship?
DeleteYes, I did see that picture - very cute!
DeleteI wish I had that many good friends. Unfortunately, in this life, you are lucky if you have one loyal friend!
DeleteThat's very true Eadie. it reminds me of how close I've become with my on-line friends so much so that I would drive hours to meet one if the chance came up.
DeleteDo you find that true too?
Yes, I would love to meet Suze. She seems so full of life! Gotta love that girl!
DeleteHi Deb, and everyone else!! As usual, I am behind but only by a teeny bit, so I want to hop in here but probably not discuss all of your questions. I'm going to catch up by tomorrow evening, so I'll be back. I'm enjoying immensely this new book by Lisa; it has the same warm and deep feelings that 'The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship' has. So it's a little like coming home again... I am still 'meeting' the characters, so I can't really say that I have a favorite, or even an unfavorite, yet. But if forced to choose, I'd have to say I'm pushing Marco to the bottom of my friends list. For someone who has asked his wife to welcome an unwieldy daughter into their home, my first feelings about him dwell on his lack of gratitude. While I can't relate to vision problems, there are parts of the lives of the other women that definitely resonate for me, and I don't have a problem with any of the ladies. I'm sure I'll want to revisit that thought a little later.
ReplyDeleteLike Eadie, I enjoyed Lisa's use of the physical 'cues' of Lenny's presence - the whiff of Brut, the warm feelings. I didn't see it as humorous so much as coming from some very deep well of sadness, though. But I need to rethink that one as more of the humor of the story comes through.
Well, given that I've only just finished chapter 4, that's probably all I can say right now. Back later!
Elaine
What I found humorous, I should have explained further, was also the mental conversation Monique was having with Lenny about her taking out the bucket list again and leaving her to deal with Kiera who was a handful. Especially, when Lenny remarks about his wish that they ride motorcycles and he says, "i just wanted to see you in leather.
DeleteIt reminded me of how I always look at my digital clock when it's 1:11 or 11:11 and think of my mom. She would always comment about those times on the clock. She would say, "the sticks are up".
Elaine, I know you're a busy lady we'll be expecting you to chime in soon.
DeleteEadie, I loved feeling Lenny in the room :)
DeleteI expected Karen (Muse) from B&N to post last night she and hubby are traveling to their new home but we all know what travel entails sometime. So I expect to hear from her today.
I know the feeling because my mom always visits me through the clock. I don't know how many times, I look and "the sticks are up" and I always say "hi mom". Very comforting feeling and right when I need her! Lol
DeleteI've lost several people, but I've never really had a sense of their presence. In fact, there were times I was hoping for it, but it never happened. I can see how that would be a comfort!
ReplyDeleteIn rethinking my favorite characters, I am feeling a little bit annoyed with Judy right about now. She went crazy with the local lingo in London and totally neglected to wait for Becky. For someone who was surprised by the invitation to join the trip, I think the trip is now becoming all about her. (I'm into chapter 6, I'll catch up on my bus ride home!)
Elaine I've had a connection with my dad like that. We were very close and I was devastated when he died.
DeleteThanks for your comments, and yes Judy is sort of acting like a know it all right now.
Are you traveling this week?
chat w/you later
Not traveling this week, Deb. But last week I went to help my daughter pack up, and next week we're taking an actual vacation and attending her graduation at Smith College! Woohoo!! Just crazy busy here, as usual.
ReplyDeleteHello, folks, thanks so much for joining in! I'm looking forward to being a part of Debbie's new venture. I hope you're all enjoying Friendship Makes The Heart Grow Fonder -- I'll try to check in during the evenings to answer any questions and just chat.
ReplyDeleteEadie-- congratulations on your second grand-baby! You mentioned the dinner the ladies eat at the restaurant in Amsterdam. I modeled that experience after an actual restaurant in London called "Dans le noir," but the idea came from a science experiment that one of my daughters had to do for homework. She blindfolded me and her sisters and we had to identify different foods just by taste and smell. It was harder than I thought it would be--MUCH harder--and so I really wanted to incorporate that kind of "blindness" into the book so that Monique and Judy would have a better understanding of what Becky will be going through--and have Becky realize, as well, how much she already compensated for her dimming eyesight. It's very perceptive of you to notice that there's a sort of blindness in Monique's perception of Lenny, too, since she can only sense him in ways other than sight.
If you're ever in London, or if you're just curious, check out the restaurant: http://london.danslenoir.com/
Also, if any of you are on Pinterest, I have a board there for Friendship Makes The Heart Grow Fonder that has photos of the places Monique, Becky, and Judy have visited, along with celebrity shots of how I envision the women. Feel free to check it out at: http://pinterest.com/lisavergehiggin/friendship-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder/
As for Judy -- yes, absolutely she's a little crazy and self-absorbed at the beginning! Hopefully you'll all warm to her as the story unfolds . . .
Until tomorrow!
Lisa, wow what an experiment. Really I wouldn't have thought that it would be difficult to pick food while blindfolded, hmm something to try.
DeleteI do have one thing I wanted to ask you. While I was reading the parts where Monique is missing Lenny and feeling his presence it really touched me.
How did writing the scenes affect you?
see you tomorrow :)
Lisa: I checked out the restaurant in London and the Pinterest site. Very nice!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAh, Lenny . . . I confess, I fell a little in love with him. ;)
ReplyDeleteLet me tell you a story. When I bought my first home, I arranged for a piece of furniture to be shipped from where I'd left it in storage after my grandmother died. It was a very old breakfront, with curved glass, that used to sit in her colonial-era home in New England. When I was a little girl, she used to keep small porcelain figures in the bottom of the breakfront, so that I could open it up and sit on the floor to play with them while she set the table or prepared dinner in the kitchen. Well, when I unwrapped that furniture in my new home and opened up that old glass door . . . the fragrance of the old wood billowed out and enveloped me . . . tears sprung to my eyes. It was like getting a hug from my late grandmother.
This is what was in my mind when I wrote those scenes with Monique and Lenny. We've all lost somebody, either through death or circumstances. I suspect all of you have tales of your own to tell . . ..
Here. Truck unleaded. Computer lpcated. Mored to come shortly. Now for a really b ig cup of. Coffee. Back soon.
DeleteOh Lisa that is a very sweet remembrance for you.
DeleteI do have a tale, those who have known me for awhile know that I lost my dad tragically in an auto accident, we all wanted someone to blame but we learned that the woman who caused the accident was coming from her chemo treatment and couldn't find a ride home so she drove and had a bad reaction. Yeah we really couldn't blame her, she also died shortly after the accident not from injuries but from her cancer.
My dad was my best friend and it was he who I went to for advice and everything. Shortly after he died I dreamt about a problem I was having and in the dream he solved it, that went on to happen for years after his death. He is and always will be the angel on my shoulder. :)
One Sunday morn around 5:30 on March 12, 2006 I suddenly was awoken by a voice like my mother whispering "Your father died". I woke my husband and told him what I heard. Later in the day, I called my dad and asked him how he was doing. He said that he just got back from the grocery store where he had found about 20 dvd's for $1.00/piece and he said he was going to mail them to friends and family. He seemed fine, so I didn't tell him about what happened. That Thursday, my daughter called from Charlottesville to tell me that she had received dvd's but Grand-pop was not answering his phone. I looked at the calendar and realized that it was March 16th - the day that my mom died in 1998. I told her that he may have gone to the cemetery and try again later. She called again a few hours later and told me that he still was not answering. It was late afternoon by that time, so I called my husband who was 1/2 hr from my dad 's home and asked him to check on him. He called me about 6:30 pm and said that he found my father had died in his sleep. The ambulance driver said that my dad had died 18 hrs. earlier right when it was turning March 16th. My dad always told me that my mom would come back for him but I'd never expected it to be on the same day that she died 8 years prior. My dad also had corn beef and cabbage already made in his refrigerator for St. Patrick's day, so I don't believe that he know she was coming for him either. As I called everyone to tell them my dad has passed, they all remarked that they were watching the dvd that he had sent them.
DeleteThanks for sharing Eadie, it gave me goose bumps
DeleteAh Muse, how I have missed you.
ReplyDeleteAnd cannot wait to hear from you and I know everyone else here missed you too. :)
Now get that coffee drank and get on-line girlfriend :)
I'm only on page 13, but hey that's progress! Just wanted to share I love the voice, am picturing the girls perfectly, lots of details enough to get a great feel as to how each one is like, the mood,etc.
ReplyDeleteHi Lorelei,
DeleteEveryone say hi to a new groupie!!!
Thanks for being here!!
deb
Welcome Lorelei:
DeleteWon't take too long to catch up. Very interesting easy reading!
Eadie
Hi Lorelei! Like you, I like the characters and I'm behind; but we'll catch up soon. Edie
DeleteI forgot to mention that Lorelei is a facebook friend of mine :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteEadie, what an amazing story!
ReplyDelete. . . and Mountain Muse, where are you? I can't wait until you join the discussion, we had so much fun last year!
Also, ladies, I'm having some technical difficulty getting my picture attached to these posts -- I just want you to know I'm trying!
I guess Mountain Muse is either unpacking or still drinking her coffee!
DeleteLet's all stand outside and Yell MUSE!!!!!!!!!!! and see if that'll get her here :)
DeleteLisa we did have fun last year didn't we.
here's the link to last year's week one convo in case anyone want's to reflect -
http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Fiction-General-Discussion/Week-one-The-Proper-Care-and-Maintenance-of-Friendship/m-p/1303401/highlight/true#M16669
Hey, it worked! Phew!
ReplyDeleteSo now I can say a real HELLO! I'm so glad to be here.
Lisa:
DeleteYou look a lot better than that red and white blob!
Eadie
I'm finally caught up! And I'm still not over fond of Judy... I believe you, Lisa, I'm sure I'm going to like her, but that time isn't now. In fact, I'm feeling a bit snippy about Becky as well. It seems a bit unfair for her to take her friends to the 'blind restaurant' without a little warning. I realize it's something she can relate to, and I know she wanted her friends to get a feeling for what she faces, but still. And she definitely should have taken Marco up on the international calling plan offer, as she has small children to be checking on. I know, I'd be feeling sorry for myself too, but she had lots of things to consider before taking this vacation. Honestly, I feel a little sorry for Monique right now. She's dealing with her thoughts of Lenny and her grief from losing him, and her friends are just a bit too self absorbed.
ReplyDeleteAll that said, I'm really enjoying this book, Lisa, and am going to forge ahead immediately!
Hi Elaine! I just got caught up as well. And, LOL, in my comment below I say that Judy was my favorite character in chapts. 1-4, but that Red Light District tour in Amsterdam made her my least favorite --- for a while. I'm back to liking her. I think Judy is the real-life-friend I know best--settled and mature, but occasionally wanting to slip back into that risk-taking dare-devil girl of her youth. Yep, I know her. I'm kind of with you on Becky. For someone who says she wants more kids, she doesn't act too concerned about the kids she has now. I haven't figured her out yet. And I agree with you about Monique. She seems the least selfish, right now. I want her to quit grieving about Lenny, but I don't want her to lose "touch" with him (like the wind touching her neck in London!)
DeleteEdie xoxo just saying :)
DeleteHi! I'm going to make this short--already got erased once. Favorite character (up to this point--Chapter 5, arrival in London--yes, I'm behind!): JUDY. In the first chapters, she was the most emotionally mature and then I really liked the childlike sense of adventure this trip brought out in her. Monique seems too caught up in logistic and the scope of the entire trip to really enjoy it. Becky seems too frightened--as I'm sure she would be. Even with Judy's annoying London lingo mania, this group needs the awe and wonder she adds to their travels. I was a bit surprised that she left Becky in the airport, but then I thought perhaps Becky needs to be shocked into realizing what she can do on her own and when she needs to ask for help.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLisa, Yay great looking lady :) and we are vert glad you're here.
DeleteEdie Welcome to the "new" monthly read. Edie is also from our B&N forum. It's good to see all the old "faces" :)
I'm waiting until tomorrow to put in my two cents :)
deb
Hi Edie, it's so funny how the same set of circumstances can arouse such different feelings in readers! I read an article about Herman Melville a LONG time ago, and he was asked how he felt about the fact that everyone had differing interpretations about Moby Dick. His response was something to the effect that he considered it a success for that very reason. So, Lisa, if you didn't already know it, you're a success!
ReplyDeleteI know what you're saying about Judy being a breath of fresh air, but I still feel like she's making things a bit too much about Judy. I've started reading chapter 9, and I'm not going to introduce a spoiler here, but I'm hopeful I will change my mind.... I never had a 'Judy' in my life, at least not one who was SO 'Judy'.
I'm on to the next set of chapters! Back soon.
Elaine
I just realized that I've changed names on many of you. When I last read with my friends at B&N book clubs, I was WhiteGinger--here you'll see me as Edie. Perhaps with another EAdie in our discussions here, I should go back to WhiteGinger(?) Nah. I figure I've created enough confusion already and I can't even get my picture--my real picture--from the blog membership list to show up on any of my posts. If I tried to change my name, I'd probably delete myself altogether!
ReplyDeleteEdie (aka WhiteGinger)
Edie, I sure hope you get to get that pic and welcome (what she's really saying is that she confused the moderator) :)
DeleteI'm sure glad you're back
deb
Oh geez, I'm not about to start messing with my picture - you'll all have to put up with my favorite melon-helmeted cat! I'm not sure where this blog is grabbing it from, but if I change it, I'm not sure what else I'll be changing. My kids think of me as our cat mom, so I think that's good enough for me! ;-)
ReplyDeleteWelcome the other Edie! Glad you could join us!
ReplyDeleteI updated my picture to the current one I use now. Proud that I'm still here. You know you never know with this sites if you'll get lost in oblivion!
Deletemakes you feel like your back at B&N getting hit by gremlins :)
DeleteNice pic Eadie
Thanks Deb! I lost 50 lbs. between pictures, so I like to update when I can. I feel that I have earned the picture of the new skinny me! lol
DeleteWow Eadie that's quite an accomplishment. I hope you were trying and not because of health issues though
DeleteWell, it was over a 2-year period. No, it was not health related but I do feel much better and my blood pressure is better. I count calories and only eat about 1200/day. Just educating myself about how many calories are in certain foods and just making better choices. Of course, when my husband and I go out to eat over the weekend, we have dessert but we split it and then we eat mostly salads all week. lol
DeleteCongrats, a few years ago I lost 45 on the Southbeach diet, I love that it's right up my alley and just last week I did a purge and went back on the restrictive 2week part of it to drop a few to get rid of the "winter coat".
Deletevery nice - just makes you feel all around better!
DeleteElaine said: <<I read an article about Herman Melville a LONG time ago, and he was asked how he felt about the fact that everyone had differing interpretations about Moby Dick. His response was something to the effect that he considered it a success for that very reason. So, Lisa, if you didn't already know it, you're a success!<<
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elaine! That pretty much sums up how I feel when I read everyone's posts: Every woman comes at a book like this from a different perspective, so the character who is one woman's favorite can be another reader's LEAST favorite, and that's just fine. It's a real thrill to read the strong reactions, so keep 'em coming!
On a completely different subject, when I sat down to write this book, I wanted it to be somewhat inter-generational: Judy is just 50, Monique is in her mid-forties, and Becky is in her late thirties--and each woman is in a different life stage (young kids, older kids, empty nest.) Aren't our lives like that, too? One of my best friends is twenty-five years older than me (not my mother!), and one of my closest writing friends is fifteen years younger. I like the idea that women in different stages of life can still "reach across the aisle" and help each other in both good and bad times.
Just a thought....
I love that the novel is intergenerational. I too have friends who are different ages than I am
Deleteand just think back to our parents and grandparents and that was not common back then.
Lorelei said something earlier about loving your "writing voice" and I really have to agree with her Lisa, it's one of the things that keeps me coming back to you is how effortlessly your novels flow and it's like you're a PHD in friendship.
That's what I like about our online friends - you never know how old they are unless they tell you! Age is just a number anymore and we can all learn from each other regardless the age!
Delete<3 <3 <3
ReplyDeleteOkay Pals I heard from Muse, she's moved in stumbling over boxes but she's having trouble with her internet hookup so she'll be with us as soon as she can. I say lets raise all our routers and maybe the extra boost will reach her. :)
ReplyDeletegreat - hope she gets it fixed soon!
DeleteOh and be sure to check out my post today on The Reading Frenzy, My June author is in :)
ReplyDeletejust visited
DeleteHi everybody, thanks for the warm welcome! Made it to page 60 and there are lots of situations I'm familiar with, except the illness, but you know so far I'm enjoying Judy. She has that moment of spontaneous humor that I love. Like and when they arrive in London. She sounds so much like me in that I'd be learning the language and all excited to show around. And I'm also like Monie bc of the following a checklist, organized for the trip. And my heart goes out to Becky. I haven't read anyone's comments yet to be objective. Will read after I get to page 80 ;)
ReplyDeleteAh Lorelei, thanks for your comments.
DeleteSee this is why I love our discussions I just found out some of your secrets :)
xoxo
Just wanted to pop in and say a quick hello to everyone. Some of you may remember me from the B&N forums as aprilh. I just finished reading this week's section so I'll be back a little later to post my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteApril
Hi April, (waving) I'm so glad you're here :) :) :)
DeleteGlad to be here with all of you! :)
DeleteApril
Ok it's my turn to answer my own questions :)
ReplyDeleteIf I had to pick a favorite right now it would be Moni but I have to admit that each of them annoy me at times
Lisa has such a unique way to make each of her characters so real, it's almost like I'm irritated with a friend of mine.
The dinner in the dark was a bit over the top for Becky to pull but then I have to remember that she's not only wrestling with the fact that she'll be blind soon but her marriage is also going through some very trying times. So I forgive her
Judy would have gotten a sock in the mouth in London :)
Lisa's humor is so effective for me I find myself belly laughing at some of these things while wiping tears away by the comment a few sentences before
I know first hand some of Lisa's FB posts so yes I think her dealing w/teenage daughters definitely seep into her novel a time or two.
It's almost time for week two LOL how'd that happen :)
I liked that all the women were in different stages in their lives. Monique had lost her husband and was preparing to send her daughter off to college, Judy was trying to figure out what to do with her life now that her children were grown and out of the house and Becky still had young kids to raise and was faced with the challenge of becoming blind. Having all the women in various times in their lives made the book much more interesting than if they were all the same age and shared the same experiences at the same time. This way, Judy is able to give advice to Monique and Becky on how she handled raising her children and help them through the challenging times. The other women are able to learn from Judy's experiences. I think the age difference will prove to be helpful later on to Becky when her sight begins to fail. The other two women will be able to help her in taking care of her children.
ReplyDeleteI was wrapped up in all the women's stories immediately. Each one was able to capture my attention from the beginning. I think though that Monique was my favorite character in this section. My heart went out to her. She was faced with the challenge of completing the bucket list she made with Lenny before he died. In a way she was closing that chapter in her life and moving forward. Not an easy task. This was the last thing she and Lenny had planned to do together, making it that much more difficult for her to do without him. In a way, after each item is marked off, she loses the idea that she and Lenny would be able to go on this exciting trip together.
April
The dinner in darkness sounds like an amazing experience, one that would be difficult but would be interesting to try. I'm sure it came as a shock to her friends, but I think Becky chose the experience to get a taste of what was in store for her once blindness set in. A way maybe of seeing if she had what it took to tackle the challenges ahead. I think it was also a way of giving her friends a sense of what she will be going through and to prove to them that she can manage by herself. Becky seems to be getting frustrated with her friends worrying about her and trying to help her at every turn and being cast in darkness gave her the courage to begin to open up to her friends, something she needed to do. I think I sympathize with Becky the most of all the women, so I could see why she chose that experience for herself and her friends.
ReplyDeleteJudy's walk down memory lane in Amsterdam opened up a whole new Judy for me and her friends. I thought it was very interesting that she kept her younger self a secret from her friends. I could see if she was ashamed of some of her actions, but I didn't get that impression from her. If anything, I felt she was proud to let Monique and Becky in on her wild, adventurous younger self, to show she lived a whole other exciting life before she was married and had kids. I think a part of her enjoyed shocking her friends with this side of herself that she had long ago let go of. I do feel like she's trying a bit too hard though to recapture her younger self. I think she's lost at this point in her life and isn't sure where her place is anymore now that she doesn't have five children to look after.
One thing that stuck with me in this section was the conversation Becky had with Monique about not being able to have any more children due to her diagnosis. It was interesting to me that Monique remembers Lenny hinted that he wanted more children, but Monique put him off until he quit hinting, because she was secretly afraid she wouldn't be able to love another child like she loved Kiera. I'm wondering if that's something she regrets after losing Lenny and if she'll admit the real reason she didn't have more children to her friends later on.
April
April thanks for your comments!
ReplyDeleteI want to wish all our Moms here a happy mother's day :)
ReplyDeleteOh, Anonymous, you are a veeeerrrrrrry perceptive reader! 'Nuff said!
ReplyDelete