Sunday Synopsis

The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was amazing! Mitch Albom manages to write about a topic that many would consider "inspirational" that you almost forget the thematic implications of the topic.

Set in a small town in Michigan, this is the story of several townspeople who receive phone calls from their deceased friends and family. The town is suddenly thrust into the spotlight due to this divine miracle. But is it true? Is there a way to communicate with the other side of death? Or is it just an elaborate hoax? And will faith be completely destroyed if it is a hoax?

This is also the story of Sullivan Harding, a widower who returns to his hometown after being released from prison. His parents have been raising his son since the death of Sully's wife. Sully hasn't been contacted by his deceased wife... yet, and he is not convinced the phone calls are real. He wants to get to the bottom of this phenomenon.

This book is a page turner! You may forget that you're reading a novel about heaven and life after death. However, in the end, it will definitely make you think. Awesome book!

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Fun Friday

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Random Tuesday

I'm linking up with Stacy for some random fun!

I finally got to see my daughter this past weekend.  I hadn't seen her since Christmas.  She moved to another big metropolis here in Texas to be near her boyfriend, so she's searching for a job.

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Job hunting has sure changed since I was her age!  In some ways, I think it's easier because you can do most of it online, at home, in your pajamas.  In another way it's more difficult because there is so much competition due to the availability of qualified candidates.  We used to have to get out and pound the pavement in search of a job, and now it's all on the Internet!  Please pray she finds something soon.

Kirkland's

I had so much fun going to Kirkland's with her and choosing some wall decor for her apartment.  My son said (via text), "Mom, you know we have one here," meaning  a Kirkland's near home.  I just told him it was more fun when there is another girl to go with!  Wouldn't you agree?  And my daughter is frugal, so everything was on clearance except for one item.  Good deals!

So... new topic, but old topic... my foot still has a small, broken, bone, and the ligaments are injured, but most important, there is fluid in the joint.  I'm on an anti-inflammatory that has some uncomfortable side effects.  I have to eat when I take it, and still, I notice some not-so-nice gastric side effects, ringing in the ears, difficulty with my sleep pattern, and I have to check my blood pressure while I'm on it.  This could last 2 to 4 more weeks.

And now, to brighter, happier, or at least funnier things:

This brings out the English teacher in me.

Double funny!

Isn't she (or he?) so pretty!?

Comics Kingdom

Have a great week!

Sunday Synopsis

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book I have read by Ruta Sepetys, and it was wonderful! I loved this book! It was very different than the other one, Between Shades of Gray, which was also good. This one is so different. Between Shades seems to appeal to tweens and teens, but this one is definitely meant for adults.

One reason I was so interested is that I recently returned from a trip to New Orleans, and this book is set in 1950 New Orleans, mostly in the French Quarter. Clearly, Sepetys did her research so that she could weave historical details throughout the story. But New Orleans is only part of the attraction. Sepetys creates dynamic, intriguing characters that you feel like you know. You root for and against them, depending on who they are.

The heroine is 17-about-to-be-18 year old Josie Moraine. She has no father, and her mother is a woman of ill repute. Josie is caught between the literary world and the seedy underworld of NOLA. She longs to get away from New Orleans and attend college in the east. But then a murder occurs in the Quarter. Did her mother have anything to do with it? Next, a family friend passes away, which causes Josie's close friend to leave town for a while.  Below is an alternate book cover being used currently:

This book was hard to put down! It was suspenseful, intriguing, and unique.  It was a coming-of-age story with romance, mystery, and drama set against a fascinating historical background.  If you read it, I'd love to know your thoughts..

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Random Tuesday

I'm linking up with Stacy for some random fun!

How is the weather where you are?  Ours is bi-polar as usual down here in Texas.  High of 72 yesterday and high of 48 tomorrow.

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Don't you hate those annoying and unwanted sales and scam phone calls?  T-Mobile has a clever way of notifying you that the call is likely going to be a nuisance.  The caller ID shows up as 'Scam Likely," so unless you know someone with that name, you might want to reject the call!  AT&T offers its customers an app that blocks robocalls.  Sprint and Verizon both have apps, but they aren't free.  I'm thinking it might be worth 2.99 to stop the onslaught of calls!  According to YouMail, there was an average of 14.3 robocalls per person during the month of December, 2018.  That's over 4 billion calls in one month!

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Speaking of phones... a Swiss study of teenager and phone use found that teenagers who hold their phones up to their right ear for long periods of time suffer memory loss on figural and verbal tests.  They blame the radiation, or technically, radio frequency electromagnetic fields given off by cell phones.  These are the same type of energy used by radios, televisions, and microwaves.  I guess holding it so close to the brain was what made the difference.  And maybe a different study will debunk this study.  Who knows?  I do know that it's not going to cause any of us to give up our cell phones!

And now, some funnies.

I love puns!

Have a great week!

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