Sunday Synopsis - Tai Pan

Tai-Pan by James Clavell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book number 2 in the Asian Saga. After reading and loving Shogun, I was so looking forward to this one. This is not a sequel, however. There are 5 books in the series, but all except one are actually stand-alone books.

When I first started this one, I wanted to stop. I didn't like it, but my husband encouraged me to keep going, so I did, and I ended up liking it a lot.

This book is set in the 1840's at the founding of Hong Kong. The Tai Pan, Supreme Leader of all China's tai pans, is a Scott named Dirk Struan. The book is mainly about his struggles to keep his fleet as the leading established fleet in Hong Kong and to prevent his rival from sabotaging or taking over his role. These business dealings are accompanied by themes of love, family, politics, and strife between England and China. It's another long book, although not as long as Shogun, but it is well worth the time spent reading it.0

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Happy Random Tuesday

 Hi everyone.  Hope you're having a happy day.

I'm so ready for summer to be over!  I know Labor Day is technically the end of summer, but we're due for upper 90's and 100's for a while still.

Speaking of Labor Day, did you have any plans?  My husband grilled steak, but that was the extent of our plans.  Rain and heat (and a broken foot... still) prevent me from wanting to do too much.  It's been four months since I broke it, and it's still only partially healed.  Insurance denied the bone stimulator.  No idea where I go from here except to wait longer.

How about let's laugh a little?

Just kidding, honey!

Have a great week!

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Sunday Synopsis - Turtles All the Way Down

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

John Green wrote The Fault in Our Stars, which I liked, and Paper Towns, which I didn't. So I wasn't sure if I would like this one. Turns out, it's somewhere in the middle of like and not like.

Aza is a 16 year old who suffers from depression, anxiety, and OCD who is also grieving the loss of her father. Her best friend is Daisy. Aza and Daisy reconnect with Aza's childhood crush, who happens to be the son of a wealthy businessman who is wanted by police, yet successfully missing. Daisy, who is poor, really wants to find him to get the reward. Aza and Davis begin dating, but her OCD and other issues get in the way, and her relationship with Daisy is suffering as well for the same reasons. She knows she is difficult to get close to.

Green makes it easy to see how Aza's disorders can spiral out of control, but she is not a truly sympathetic character, nor are Daisy and Davis, either. I found it difficult to relate to any of the characters except perhaps Aza's mom. I have mixed feelings because it does so well with the teenage mental issues. It has also been made into a movie just as the other two Green books I mentioned, but I'm not sure I will watch it. And I won't include any spoilers in case you decide to read or watch it.

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Fun Photos

 Margaritaville Lake Resort in Montgomery, Texas on Lake Conroe

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Happy Random Tuesday

 

My husband and I had a great time at Margaritaville Lake Resort last week, then going to see our daughter. I feel so much better after having seen her.  Her scan won't be for another 6 weeks, so they must not be too concerned.

The view from our room.

Meanwhile, my foot is still broken.  It has had a Jones Fracture since April 25.  I remember the date vividly because it happened when we were visiting my mom at the hospital.  The top of the bone has begun to fuse, but not the bottom.  I'm trying to avoid surgery, but my insurance won't cover the cost of a bone stimulator, not that there's a guarantee it will help.

Let's move on to some more happy stuff:

I hope someone besides me "gets" this!  Bye Felicia!

This is sooo me!

Have a great week, and visit Comedy Plus and Stacy Uncorked for more happy randomness!