MISS BENNETT: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLY * DETROIT HUSTLE * HAMILTON

Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberly - Since I won't be home for Christmas this year, I hoped to get into the spirit of the season by going to see this charming play. It was quite fun, although I'm sure that the serious Miss Bennett and the equally serious Mr. de Bourgh mighn't think so. They meet by chance in the library at Pemberly where Elizabeth Darcy, Mary Bennett's sister, has set up a live tree, which no one can understand. Delightful!

Detroit Hustle A Memoir of Love, Life & Home by Amy Haimerl - My hometown has changed so much over the years. Detroit Hustle is the author's story of choosing to move to a new city with her husband as a young pioneers of sorts. Their new city has a troubled past, but young people from all over the country are going there to forge their lives on difficult streets. As the story develops, Detroit becomes home. 

Hamilton - What a lovely treat! I was fortunate to see Hamilton with my best friends and my goddaughter. I knew I would love it; the music and lyrics are so compelling and modern in the telling of the life of Alexander Hamilton, one of America's first revolutionaries and patriots. I think he may be rolling over in his grave to see what has happened in his America this past year. He backed the Electoral College based on principles that are no longer in effect, and the same goes for the second amendment. Were he alive today, analyzing and writing about current issues, he would be so pleased to see that his nationalist policies are in place, but he'd be distraught to see how many of those policies have been used to put our country in great debt. This musical biography was fabulous.

THE NARROW ROAD TO THE DEEP NORTH * A SHOE ADDICT'S CHRISTMAS * BURMA SURGEON

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan - The circle of Dorrigo Evans full life took him from humble beginnings to the best that life has to offer. Through it all there was always a book at his side. This  story is remarkable. When Dorrigo's brother Tom tells his deepest secret, I knew that the story had been worth the long hard read. 

A Shoe Addict's Christmas by Beth Harbison - After a long deep serious book, sometimes a silly little Cinderella fairy tale is in order. This one is like a piece of candy. Enjoy the sweetness for a minute and then it's over. And in this case, I didn't want more! 

Burma Surgeon by Gordon Seagrave, M.D. - This is perhaps the most well-known of the Burma books. It was written in the early 1940s by a missionary doctor who lived and worked in Burma. This is an amazing story and the photos are amazing. He believed that anyone is capable of doing anything and so he trained young native girls to be nurses who could do almost anything he could do, whether it be care for patients or drive for two days to another town, or learn a new language. When I was in Myanmar, I thought it was kind of strange that there seemed to be a hospital on every corner. Dr. Seagrave might be the reason. 

THE GIRLS * THOSE WHO LEAVE AND THOSE WHO STAY * THE COLDWATER WARM HEARTS CLUB

We are home from a two week Thanksgiving vacation in Puerto Vallarta, and it was so relaxing to suspend responsibility. Even so, I was busy busy all the time. Our days were shaped by the noon "Aqua Fitness" class at the pool with Edgar and/or Clara. Around that, I was playing Pokemon Go, and Pokemon were popping up all over the place, but there was only one pokestop near us at the local Starbucks by a pirate ship that used to be part of the entrance to a miniture golf place. So I'd go into town to walk the malecon along the waterfront because there are at least 10 pokestops that can be hit in a 10 minute walk. Steve even got on the program and accompanied me for a lot of steps and miles. I'm halfway through Level 26 and filling out my Pokedex. 
And of course I read, and of course I did jigsaw puzzles. Peter joined us for a few days which was the highlight of the trip. 

The Girls by Emma Cline - Narrated by Evie, a 14 year old often left to her own devices by her divorcing parents, this story has a clear voice. Evie lives in a small town in California in the 1960s, and becomes kind of obsessed with Suzanne, a rough older girl who lives on a commune in the desert. It's all likely, but trashy in a compelling way. The innocent title somehow lets you think you might be getting a sweet story, but instead you get this hazy crazy stuff that happened to and around Evie.

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante - Now I'm wondering whether this is autobiographical. The author is so invested in the life of her main character, Elena, also known as Lina, who tells the story of the people she grew up with in a poor neighborhood in Naples, Italy. This is the third in a series of four novels, with the same dull conversational style including the characters' politics and discussions and writings. Lina has followed her nose, stuck to her studies and "made it". The end of this book was almost worth all the reading of the previous three, and from the beginning, there's been a mystery on top of it. I can wait to find out how it all ends. 

The Coldwater Warm Hearts Club by Lexi Eddings - Simple and sweet. Lacy is a small town girl who was swallowed up by the big city and comes home to regroup. It's all very sweet and even the sad parts don't seem too bad. (Is it the cover?) My favorite line in the book was said by an old woman who told Lacy that "...if where you are ain't the happiest place to you, then you ain't home yet."  Who knew that this was the book that would give me food for thought as I think about where the future will take us. 

THE GENDARME * NEMESIS

I'm back from Myanmar, and it was a wonderful trip and wonderful experience.
This week I've been doing catch up every day, and making slow progress, but progress nevertheless. My life could be so much improved if I just CAUGHT UP. 

The Gendarme by Mark T. Mustian - I'm not sure where I stand on this novel. It was certainly a good and readable story. A 92 year old man starts to recall long buried memories about himself and the things he did when he was a 17 year old "gendarme" during the Armenian genocide. As a gendarme, he was responsible for accompanying refugees out of Asia Minor to Syria. Let's face what didn't get outright said in the novel although it got shown in many ways: they were women and children on a death march, he was a young strong man with a gun on a horse. Believe it or not, there is a love story of sorts in there too. So. It's a good book, but I can't feel anything for this old man and his forgotten memories. 

Nemesis by Peter Evans - And then we have the supposedly true story of the most famous greek refugee from Smyrna, Aristotle Onassis. Our friend Tom recommended this to me as his favorite book. What? Tom! We can do better! It's exhaustingly researched stories about intrigue, competition and unscrupulous dealings. Do I believe the central premise of the book? I don't know. I guess it's plausible. At this point does it do any good to care? Maybe not. My final question is to ask what we can learn from reading this book. We can learn to not be like these people! If we get money, we don't have to be awful, we can be kind people who make good choices and treat others with respect. So if you like to read about, and want to revisit the 1960s and 70s whole Kennedy/Jackie/Ari/Maria/Christina/Bobby/Jack thing, have at it! 

THE HOUSE GIRL * SOLOMON'S SONG * GOLDEN BOY AND OTHER STORIES FROM BURMA

The House Girl by Tara Conklin - The perfect reading material for getting over jet lag is a book you can't put down. The House Girl qualifies! It's one of those two time period stories where a young lawyer in 21st century New York City studies the life of a young woman in the 19th century Virginia. As always, the richest part of the story is that which takes place in history, but in this case, the modern story is pretty good, too. 

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison  -  Another excellent choice for a vacation,  this was one of the books that Peter read in his high school english classes. I remember seeing papers he'd written about a character called Milkman, but I always thought that Milkman was a young boy. He's only young at the beginning of this story which is rich with many other characters, male and female, living in a Michigan town in the 1940s and 50s. This book won the Nobel Prize, and deservedly so. I was going to read it then leave it, but it was so good that I had to bring it home for the bookshelf. 

Golden Boy and Other Stories From Burma by Saw Wai Lwin Moe - This is a wonderful little compilation of Legends, Tales and Fables based on the history, religion and culture of Burma. They are small lessons of the best ways to behave to those around you and the consequences for unkindness or greed. I like that they are not scary, and are based on ideals of good rather than threatening ideas of bad. This is my favorite kind of storytelling: about what to do rather than what not to do. 

BAMBOO PEOPLE * TRAVELING TO BURMA

Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins - (I just realized that I forgot to read the travel guide about Burma.) Bamboo People is about two young boys, one a city boy, one a village boy, now a refugee, caught up in a war they didn't want. It's youth fiction, so it's written with a simple sensitivity about the essential goodness of people. I loved it.   

I leave on my trip tomorrow, and am still a little amazed that it's happening. Going to a whole new place for the first time in such a long time. I'm taking a little break from packing to write this, but have decided to go with the carry on size suitcase. It's a bit of a challenge, but I'll wear and use every thing I take. At least that's the plan. I think I'll post one picture on Instagram each day of whatever was the best or most or representative of that day. So at the end of the trip I'll have 12 memories of the trip forever. If I had a new computer, I'd post them here on herheartonhersleeve, but I don't, so Insta it is. The picture thing is way out of control, but there are pictures galore, so no one will ever have to wonder what I looked like! And with this blog, they won't have to wonder what I did or what I thought. They probably won't care, though. Which is fine. I don't even know if I care! I wonder if I'll ever return to these words to read them again. And how I'll feel if I do. And there you have it, I'm still thinking like a 13 year old. No wonder I like subbing in middle school better than elementary. What do you think, future self?

TWILIGHT OVER BURMA * BURMA RIVERS OF FLAVOR

Twilight over Burma My Life as a Shan Princess by Inge Sargent - As a college student in Colorado, Austrian Inge Sargent fell in love with a student from Burma. She married him, and when he took her home to his country, she discovered that he was a prince, and that she was to be the new Princess of Hsipaw. Her story is beautiful and she lived an idyllic life until her husband, Sao Kya Seng was swept up in the tragic events of Burma's 20th century history.  

Burma Rivers of Flavor by Naomi Duguid - Naomi has explored Burma for many years, concentrating on foods and flavors. Her book is so much more than a cookbook. I've learned about what to wear, how to pronounce letter combinations, and other nuanced information that will enrich my travel experience. For me, an easy travel guide. 

I do have a Burma travel guide in my pile of books, but I'm avoiding it. It will be full of useful guidance, but I find guidebooks to be too much, because one can't see it all. I've come away from trips disappointed that I missed something that I wouldn't have known I missed if I hadn't read the guide. So did I miss it, really? Dance to the guide or dance to my inner spur of the moment? A combination of the two works best for me. 

I just found out that there is a recent movie based on Twilight over Burma. I hope I can track it down and watch it before my trip. We probably won't be visiting that part of the country, but I'd love to see the story come to life. 

SMILE AS THEY BOW

Smile as they Bow by Nu Nu Yi - Continuing on with my Burmese reading list, Smile as they Bow is an unusual novel about the yearly Taungbyon Festival near Mandalay. Hordes of people come to the festival to celebrate and pray to the nats, or spirits of the festival, as well as the two Taungbyon brothers, for whom the festival is named. The main character is Daisy Bond, a trans woman who presides over a portion of the festivities by entertaining celebrants and leading processions through the Grand Palace. She was born U Ba Si, but lives as Daisy. Her efficient servant Min Min takes care of her and runs the business of her life. If it sounds complicated, it's because it is. In real life I'd find the whole spirit party festival gambling worshiping thing disconcerting, so it's great to be able to experience it by reading about it, instead of going to it. The author tells the story from the outside as well as the inside of both the named characters' lives as well as the attendees. It's a short but wild ride through an entirely unique experience on the other side of the world.

It's less than two weeks until I travel to Burma. I've started to put aside some clothes to pack and to think about whether I'm checking a larger suitcase or carrying on my smaller one. Not thinking about the long flight at all and haven't thought about anything more than that I want to have reading material at night. It's tempting not to take my phone or ipad but they both provide such entertainment on flights, that I probably will. Each book I read gives me another insight into the country and people, but I know I'll still be surprised in so many ways. Wait, what? not take my phone? It's my camera, so of course I'll take it. That's how long it's been since I've travelled.

A WELL-TEMPERED HEART

A Well-Tempered Heart by Jan-Philipp Sendker - This sequel to The Art of Hearing Heartbeats was the perfect book to read in anticipation of my upcoming trip to Burma. 10 years after she first visited Burma, Julia goes back on a mission to discover the source of a troubling voice in her head that she is certain is not her own. The ensuing stories that are interwoven with her own are beautiful and moving. Her brother U Ba's wisdom coupled with the stories somehow inspire me to be more zen. One step at a time. Life might be all about attachment and what it means, and life is definitely about love. Read it.

A couple of weeks ago I made a reservation to go to Myanmar with my friend Nancy, then realized my passport wouldn't be valid because it was going to expire 4 months after I returned. Yes, you read right. Passports don't really expire on the date on the passport. They effectively are expired for most travel 6 months before the date on the passport. So I rush applied for a new passport, and it arrived in a week. Now I have to get my travel Visa, and I will be good to go. Somehow, ever since I made the plan to travel, I've been more at peace than I've been in ages. In preparation for the trip I have books to read about Myanmar, mostly fiction, one about food, and maybe a history or two. It's very exciting to be going to a completely new place. I don't want to know too much, same as before I read a book or watch a movie. I want to experience it with as much freshness and newness as possible. If there is a place that "must be seen" sometimes that isn't a place I really need to see. I have no idea whether it is still possible at this stage of my life to return from a trip changed and inspired; it happened all the time when I was young. We shall see. 

THE GIRL WITH THE LOWER BACK TATTOO * Extra Extra!

The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer - Trainwreck was sweet, but usually Amy puts me off with over-the-top "inappropriateness". I enjoy inappropriateness as much as the next person, but we all have our delivery preferences, and I'll take South Park over Amy. That said, I enjoyed her book! She's fresh, irreverent and honest. About everything. And then she's funny. About everything. She gives you chapters with titles then delivers. It's a very organized book and I appreciate that.

Lately I've really slowed down on the blog - in part because my computer has really slowed down. It's 9 years old, and Firefox no longer works on it. It takes a minute to fire up (I remember the days when a minute to fire up would have been excellent!) and I haven't configured it to the cloud, to photo stream or even my phone. And now bringing a picture onto the blog is a crapshoot. 
I'm still subbing, and still enjoying it. It's a close to home job, students are great, teachers and staff are dedicated to excellence, and most days I feel like I might have made a small difference for being there. And because it's teaching, it's not really a job, it's a calling, so the days that I actually impart information are the best. My favorite sub jobs are the specials: library, tech, music, gym, english, social studies and instructional aid positions where you work with small numbers of students to help them do well in their classes. 
I've also started a new job as Background Talent (that's what we call Extras in the business) on TV shows and movies that are made in Chicago. It takes me all over the city at all hours, and sometimes I work and sometimes I wait to work. It's not glamorous but it appeals to my flexible schedule. Two jobs isn't easy though. Especially if you want to do anything else. I've been on Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, worked Chicago Med but didn't appear as far as I know, worked Chiraq but my scene was cut even though I eventually saw it on Facebook, worked on Patriot, waiting to see if I'll be seen, worked on Exorcist, waiting to see if I'll be seen, worked on a little post pilot comedy, waiting to see if it will even be on let alone whether I'll be seen (I think I would be seen if it ever hits a screen). Worked on Empire, waiting to see if I'll be seen. Working on the new show, Chicago Justice tomorrow, as a lawyer. It's cut into the beach walks, the shopping, the organizing, the creativity that I claim to crave, and even the TV watching. The DVR was up to 98% at one point. I've watched it down to 71 as of last night, but tonight is Sunday, so here we go again!  One night I was really tired, and made a reservation to go to Myanmar with my friend Nancy and her family. It's going to be an amazing trip, and I hope it jump starts my old love of travel. So that's the latest - now let's see if I can get the right size picture of Amy Schumer's book to upload in the right place. Why does simply continuing to write my blog have to be stressful? Why? Oh, I forgot to mention that she's got a fabulous title and book jacket, and I like the Tiffany blue inside cover pages, too. Thanks, Amy. I liked your book a lot.

MOLOKA'I * SISTERS

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert - This is the story of Rachel, who started her life as a carefree child in Old Honolulu in the late 1800s. When she was 7 years old her life took a drastic turn; she was forced to start an entirely different life on her own and apart from those she loved. She's one of the most resourceful characters you'll ever meet, and her story and adventures, told against the background of true events in Hawai'i in the early 20th century are remarkable. I loved this book, its characters, and its history.

Sisters - Amy Poehler and Tina Fey rarely disappoint, and while this movie wasn't a box office smash, it's one to catch on HBO - Sisters is sassy and sweet and quirky and dumb and funny. Think Stepbrothers meet Project X. 

A HOUSE FOR HAPPY MOTHERS

A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi - This was a fine book to read on vacation when I didn't need an excellent story holding me back from getting up and out to breakfast. It's the story of a couple who use a surrogate mother to carry their baby, only the surrogate is in India, at the House for Happy Mothers. I'm happy to know what I learned here, but the best readers for this book are people who are considering using an Indian surrogate. It's modern and sweet.

Said vacation consisted of Steve and I driving a car to SLO, and then helping Peter to make a few changes to his new room for Junior Year. It turned into a sweet transformation - new paint, carpet that we laid right over the old, new desk that I scored on Craigslist, took off the closet doors and recessed the dresser, etc. It was like a Design on a Dime episode, and I hope Peter now knows how to do it for himself in the future. That's a vacation for us. I also played a lot of Pokemon Go after Steve left, and it was great company, not to mention fruitful, since there are different common Pokemon out west. I'm up to 94/150 on my Pokedex!

THE ROAD

The Road by Cormac McCarthy - For some reason, I thought this would be a novel of southern families and disfunction. Instead I found myself reading a novel about love and goodness in a time unimaginable. Is it possible to survive in a post apocalyptic world? How would it be done? What would the dangers be? This novel, another of Peter's high school english reads, attempts to answer those questions. It's written with a richness and thoughtfulness that lends itself to many themes and discussions. Couldn't put it down. 

AMERICAN MYSTERIES

American Mysteries Great American Mystery Stories of the 20th Century - The Franklin Library - This book has been on my shelves for years! It's a beautiful leather bound volume with gold trim, but it's really the words on the pages that make it so good. These short stories are from my favorite era before technology but after cars and telephones - the 1920s - 50s. The stories are simply but richly told and each one is unique and truly ends. If you read it, make sure to read the bio about the author right away either before or after you read his or her story. I didn't know that the bios were there until I finished the book and found them, but they would have enriched the experience even more. I savored this one. I'm trying to choose a favorite story or two, but cannot - they all stand the test of time and great storytelling. 

The Basic Eight

The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler - Another and I hope my last for awhile, teen read. Not sure who mentioned it - Laura? - but since I read it you don't have to. Unless you like a San Francisco sophisticated-and-think-themselves-witty high school clique who push the envelope at every turn. Flannery Culp is the narrator and protagonist along with her friend Natasha and the remaining six: Jennifer Rose Something, Lily, Gabriel, Douglas, Kate, V._______ and interlopers Flora and Adam. It's way too long considering the story, so have at it if you still would. 

Doubt  A Parable by John Patrick Shanley - The small cast is composed of two nuns, a priest, and a mother of a catholic school middle school student. This is a disturbing play on many many levels. It's about mistrust and intuition and lying and suspicions. And then on top of that it's about race and religion. I think it's good and it goes fast. At the end, you think you might not be in doubt, but then you think about it and wonder about the shadow of a doubt.  I wish I had read it closer to the time that Peter read it for high school english class. The discussion on this one had to have been impassioned. 

We Were Liars * Dare to Disappoint * The Story of a New Name

We Were Liars by e. lockhart - This is what teens are reading and I might have loved it myself back in the day. In the nowaday, not so much! The premise of a family island and the map and family tree helped launch me into the story, but I didn't love the narrator. One thing I will say though, is that if you hang in there to the end, you will get a big surprise.

Dare to Disappoint Growing Up in Turkey by Ozge Samanci - My second graphic memoir and I hope to discover more. Ozge is delightful and thoughtful and observant of her family as she grows up in a society that is sometimes a double edged sword. She persevered and I love where she ended up. This is as special as Persepolis. 

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante - Book Two of the Neopolitan Novels. I'm reading these in order because supposedly Book Four is wonderful. We'll see. Our narrator is growing up, but still annoying to me. Will she break out of her provincial way of thinking? What will become of her old friend from the neighborhood? Will I care? These are the questions.

I'm writing today through the Blogger app on my iPad. If I can successfully get pictures if the books onto this post, it may mean the end of desktop computers for me. Which will mean that desk upstairs away, and I could operate with one desk rather than two. Why can't I just do that now? I don't know.

It's a beautiful summer Sunday with the house to myself, kitchen cleaned up and windows open. Desk full of work, lists like you wouldn't believe and all I want to do is play Pokemon Go.  

STATION ELEVEN * LOVING AMY

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel - Station Eleven is really good. It's the story of a group of characters connected by the most unusual and distressing of circumstances. One of the main characters is only featured for a minute at the beginning of the story, so it's fascinating to me that connections to his life might have been what the story was about were it not set in such an unusual time. I was thinking it's science fiction, but on second thought there is no science fiction here at all. Read it and decide for yourself. 

Loving Amy A Mother's Story by Janis Winehouse - Amy Winehouse was like this flash of music and voice and style - here and gone. But to her family, she was a daughter, granddaughter, sister and cousin. Wayward and wary of authority on the outside, so that she wouldn't have to reveal whatever she was feeling on the inside. What did come out in her music was beautiful and powerful. This biographical memoir fills in some of the blanks about her life. I know my book reviews aren't particularly inspired today, especially since I liked both books. I'm still preoccupied with getting things in order, though. I participated in a neighborhood yard sale on Saturday and moved a lot of stuff out of here. What didn't sell isn't going back in the cupboards, either. Half of it is packed for Goodwill in the car. The other half is annoyingly gracing the dining room table while it waits for me to list it on Craigslist or one of the Facebook virtual yard sales. I also started playing Pokemon Go which is fun and a huge escape from the concerns of life on any given day. It's fun to be outside walking around with a goal, and when I find a particularly darling Pokemon, it's even more fun. I like searching for things to collect, and the Pokemon don't take up any room! (Just time.) Today I'm going to clear off the dining room table if it's the last thing I do. And it might be.