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The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban DiasporaThe Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora by Elena Sheppard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Living under a dictatorship and miserable conditions, the author’s family must leave their beloved home in Cuba, many friends, and relatives. Elena Sheppard takes us through her family history, and we see how difficult it is for her to separate herself from her genealogy.

The story takes us back and forth in time, inner feelings and memories pitted against global occurrences. A little poetic while trying to be accurate.

I found reading or listening to this on Kindle’s text-to-speech feature less than ideal, even though I felt I followed the author’s tale well. I would have loved it more with a narrator, preferably the author. One thing TTS does horribly is other languages. Even though Ms. Sheppard translates her few statements and poems gracefully, I would rather hear the language of Elena’s life. Then again, I am not fluent in Spanish. I’d still need the translation.

I was lucky to get this copy from NetGalley.

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One-Liner Wednesday


One-Liner Wednesday is a fun Linda G. Hill prompt.
Thanks, Cher.

The White LadyThe White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was no Maisie Dobbs. However, it did seem like a lot of plot ideas wanted to be included in the series, but these were leftovers. So, by thinking of the story bits in ziplock bags, I had fun reading (listening) to this non-Maisie.

This probably stands on its own, but I almost wish I had read it before the series rather than after. Still, once again, we inhabit an England during wartime. As only Jacqueline Winspear can, you are transported to layers of the populace amid crimes and courageous efforts by ordinary people. And women get their due in history, even if this is fiction, I’m sure situations like this existed.

Orlagh Cassidy’s great narrating talent makes the reader feel a part of the story.

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Escaping the TwilightEscaping the Twilight by Sigrid Weidenweber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kindle ASIN B0080XHDC2

I am not sure where I learned about this book, but it has been on my TBR shelf for a long time. Although it appears to be an autobiography, it is actually well-researched fiction.

Here, read the blurb from GoodReads:

In this coming-of-age story, Amina, a Sudanese girl experiences a traumatic event at age nine. Intensifying her struggle for identity in the silent world of women, she cannot erase the pain and humiliation of that experience. With steely determination, she vows to do whatever is necessary to prevent her daughter from suffering the same demoralizing fate–even if it means going against the wishes of her husband and the rules of her family. Will she succeed in helping her daughter rise above her own personal tragedy and humiliation? The detailed descriptions of customs and lifestyle give a deep, fascinating insight into the Sudanese culture, as well as entry into the cloaked world of Muslim women in a story about survival, tradition and triumph.

This was an intense story. I hope it is read a lot. I would have loved it in audio form, but text-to-speech on Kindle helped a lot.

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UncharmedUncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This makes a nice bedtime book. And in the fantasy world of witches, it was refreshingly from the older witch’s point of view rather than a Young Adult and flimsy story.

I picked this up from NetGalley and am grateful for that. However, I now realize that there are two books in this series, and this is the second one. And I wish I had read it in Audiobook form. So I may reread the book after listening to Book 1. I think it will be more fun in audio form rather than text-to-speech.

Audio, Kindle, or paper, I think this is a fun read that will keep you enchanted for hours.

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Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is โ€œplug.โ€ Use it as a noun, use it as a verb, use it any way youโ€™d like. Have fun!

It’s funny. As I looked for a picture of a plug, I got mostly like the above. Our tech lives don’t seem to leave time for the leisure.

I did think of the plugs of hair on my dolls when I was little. And suddenly a picture of a toilet came up. Ugh!

I did have a nice stream of many ideas flooding through earlier, but I think that stream got plugged. ๐Ÿซฃ


Should be Finishing Friday, but hey, ADHD.

Found on Facebook. Hehe.

Okay, progress has been slow, but for the record:

About 2/3s finished. Lots of black and dark colors make this a tough one.
Two more inches until the heel.
Scrappy Socks. About an inch until the heel. I have more scraps below.
Should I use this for the heel and ankle?
Two more inches until arch ribbing.

Piano is harder to show progress. Has anyone noticed that once the usual mistakes are eliminated almost regularly, that brand new mistakes pop up? Even still, I think I’m ready to tape another Warts and All. While polishing up old challenges, I have new ones I’m learning bit by bit. I’ll list them later. I’m running out of energy and words.

Yeah.

Thus Thursday


I couldn’t think of what to write here so I found this on Facebook (Thanks Cuz!<3)

That says it all, don’t you think?


A part of Linda’s One-Liner Wednesday.

Found on Facebook.

Toosday Toon


I can relate:

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