Sunday Synopsis

 

A Time for Mercy by John Grisham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really like Grisham's legal thrillers. This one was better than Sycamore Row, and almost as good as A Time to Kill, which I still consider his best. Another Grisham book that really affected me was The Chamber, but that's a post for another day.

I enjoyed being back in Clanton with the Brigance family, Jake, Carla, and daughter Hanna. I feel like I know them. I would like to revisit them again in another book down the road. This one was left open to that because, darn you, John Grisham! I didn't get the resolution I wanted! The case is not completely over at the end of the novel, although it appears that it possibly could be. I don't want to give anything away.

In this book, it is 1990, five years after the Hailey case, and Jake is once again defending an unpopular defendant, this time not by his choice. He is assigned the case. The accused is Drew Gamble, a sixteen year old boy who has murdered a county deputy in whose home he has been living with his mother and sister for a few months. Most of the town wants the death penalty, and they do not hesitate to say and do what they feel they must to get their own brand of justice. With Jake defending the boy who killed a law enforcement officer with strong ties to the community, Jake also is subjected to the wrath of many of his fellow Clantonites.

Like A Time to Kill, you get a sense of life in a small town where most people know everyone and gossip runs faster than a Bugatti. We come face-to-face with Harry Rex and Lucien Wilbanks, and Judges Omar Noose and Rueben Atlee as well as Carl Lee Hailey. With several plot twists - one I saw coming and a few I didn't - this book was difficult to put down. And I heard that Grisham wants Matthew McConaughey to again play Jake Brigance. That sounds dandy to me!

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Thursday Thirteen

 I learned a thing or two about weddings in the last few months, particularly now that it is over.

1. No matter how much time you spend planning or how many lists you make, you will forget something.  I forgot a lighter for the unity candle and an ice chest for the leftover alcohol, but luckily, my husband hadn't left and was able to bring them.

2.  Speaking of alcohol... some people are happy with none.  Some people are happy with whatever you provide, and some people will never think you provided the right things.  Please yourself!

3.  You don't want anyone getting drunk and driving home.  Have a plan.

4.  Something else about alcohol... unopened packages or bottles are returnable in most states like mine as long as the alcohol was not already chilled.

5.  Your food may not turn out exactly as it did at your tasting, which is what happened to us.  It was okay, though.

6.  Make sure the photographer has a list of all the "special" photos you want including the rings, the gifts, the cake, any special decorations, any particular poses you want.

7.   Many young people don't like the "older" traditions such as the bouquet toss, or at least they say they don't, but we did it anyway.  We did not, however, have the groom take of the bride's garter.  That's just trashy!  Or it can be.  He threw an extra garter I had waiting in my purse.

8.  About ten to twenty percent of your guests won't RSVP.  Call them.  You need an accurate number.

9.  Assign tables even if your guests decide to move and sit with someone else.  Due to Covid, we did tables according to households except when there were only 2 or 3 per household, but they were able to sit 6 feet across from another couple that had a small household, so it worked out.

10. Most guests love wedding cake, so make sure you taste it and get a good one!

11.  Guests also love other desserts such as donuts, cookies, cake pops, and candy.  We did a candy table with bags they could fill to take home in lieu of favors they would just throw away.  But I overordered the candy, so I should have done more research on that.

12. If you are providing a lot of your own decorations and supplies, cleaning up is a hassle.  Either have a plan that includes specific people who will help or pay someone to do it.

13.  The most important thing I learned?  Dance like no one is watching!!  

Link up and play or read with Thursday Thirteen.

Random Tuesday

 I'm linking up with Stacy for Random Tuesday and Sandee for Happy Tuesday.

Whew!  I did it!  I survived the wedding!  Everything was beautiful.  The couple, of course, the ceremony, the decorations, the food and bar, the dancing, the photo booth, and DJ.  There are things I would do a little differently if there were a next time, but it truly was close to perfect.  We had beautiful weather, too.

The whole day was kind of a blur until the actual ceremony started: Getting her hair and makeup done, getting to the venue, setting up decor, trying to get myself ready, and all the emotions.  I held it together until she walked down the aisle, then I cried some, but I didn't make a spectacle of myself!  

The reception was awesome!  Our photo booth attendant was the best!  And the DJ played some great music.  I danced and danced with my sister, my daughters, other guests, and even got my husband to do ONE dance with me (he's not a dancer).  My sister and I kept up with all the youngsters, but we felt the pain the next day.  In fact, Sunday was just a washout.  Hangover headache (I drink very rarely) and sore muscles!  I organized My daughter's gifts and the decorations she wanted Sunday night since they were coming by to collect everything Monday, but mostly, I rested.  Then, I forgot Monday was Monday.  I feel like I lost a whole day.

What a weekend!

And I didn't have to think about politics, current events, or bills, nor did I even care! I didn't once think about the tornado that is my scrapbook room!  It was a refreshing break from daily life, and probably the happiest day of my daughter's whole life.  And that's all I have to say about that.

So here we go...

So true! And about all I can handle right now, craftily speaking.

This makes me laugh!

This WAS me.  Now, it's my sister planning an April wedding for her son.

And last, but not least, I'll leave you with something warm and fuzzy.

Probably not what you had in mind!  Haha!

Have a great week!

Always a Day Late... at Least!

 

Late, but I'm linking up with  Stacy.  

So... I have been doing so many last-minute things to prepare for the wedding that I totally forgot a Random Tuesday post last week, and this week, well, I'm over a day late.  But it's WEDDING WEEK!  And I still have things to do!  Remember that list I created about ten days ago?  I'm getting things crossed off, but there are still a few left. (4, 6, 9, 10, 11)  So, I must keep this short, I have stuff to do!

And last, but not least, this cutie!

Have a great week!

Sunday Synopsis

 

The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Philippa Gregory does it again! Her historical fiction comes to life. She does her research so well that the dialogue feels so realistic as though these were the actual conversations of Henry, Kateryn Parr, Thomas Seymour, or any of the other characters. None of her characters are one-sided caricatures, not even the Fool, who is likely wiser than most. If Gregory wants her audience to love a character, she can make that happen, and if she wants the audience to despise a character, well, she can make that happen, too. What a talented author!

Only a few months have passed since Henry's fifth wife was sentenced to death, and Henry has his eye on Kateryn Parr, a 30-year-old widow who has her sights on Thomas Seymour. But you can't say "No," to the King, particularly not to Henry VIII. Kateryn will be his sixth wife and she will turn out to be a friend to Henry, a step-mother to his children who are reunited at court, and regent of England in Henry's absence. However, he all but exiled two of his wives, had two of his wives killed, and had one wife, Jane Seymour, who died in childbirth, and whose ghost Kateryn must compete with, among many other treacherous situations she may find herself in.

Kateryn Parr is a scholarly woman who is in favor of reform of the church. Some still at court would like to see England return to the Pope's church. Kateryn forms a study group for women at court, translates Biblical passages, and writes her own scripture-driven literature. This may put her in danger, not only with the traditionalists but with her own husband who wants to believe he is better and more scholarly than everyone else, especially his wife.

I enjoyed this book so much! The descriptions are so vivid, it is easy to imagine the culture in 1543 when the book begins - clothing, traditions, culture, foods, buildings, and the history of England are all so well-described and interesting. She brings intrigue and tension to this story about Henry VIII's sixth and last wife and their court. I loved it!

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