Teaser Tuesdays, May 11, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read. Open to a random page.
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



PAGE 25...
"There was heaven, there were the shelters underground, and then here on the street-between the gunners and the gunned-was Middle Earth. In Middle Earth at night, everything was turned upside down in a brilliant kaleidoscope of dizzy bright death set against the black silhouette of London.

Review: The Map of True Places, by Brunonia Barry

The Map of True Places
Brunonia Barry
978-0-06-162478-0
William Morrow
$25.99, 416 pages
May 4, 2010

Highly Recommended!

Zee Finch never knew her real middle name, although as the book opens Zee has a penchant for stealing boats for fun, taking them for a joy ride and then returning them always to a different dock. So she accepted that the T in her name stood for Trouble.
Years later, Zee begins training with the famous psychiatrist. Dr. Mattei with stellar credentials; a published journal article, best seller, and avid public speaker. As her practice expands and Zee shows promise, Dr. Mattei is impressed and confident in Zees ability and therefore assigns patients of her own to counsel. One day concern mounts when her patient Lilly Braedon misses her scheduled appointment, later learning Lilly has committed suicide by jumping off a bridge.

She relives the suicide that ended her own mother Maureen’s life. Coupled with self-doubt and a lack of confidence this presents an overwhelming state of confusion. After deciding to take some time off from work, goes home to visit her father and Melville in Salem, Massachusetts. Finch and Melville, years a couple, together raised Zee after her mother died. Upon her arrival she discovers that her father has advanced Parkinson’s, and that the two have conspired to hide his current failing condition from Zee.

Her fiance Michael keeps pressuring her for decisions. Her mind is a fog lacking any ability to focus, especially on her wedding plans. Not surprisingly, the frustrated Michael leaves her. Their marital future is on hold, or quite possibly kaput. In her eyes, he just doesn’t understand the extent of her father’s illness, or her devotion to his care.

This is the story of how Zee must remap her life. The author intricately weaves a seafaring story of legend as the complicated course of Zee’s intended life leads her astray. The parallels are mysterious as the story rocks back and forth between the past and present. The drama unfolds in serial like fashion until the map of her future shows its destiny. Engaging storytelling, characters who breath as if they were family. Barry has written a beautiful transcendental tale worth high praise.

Disclosure: This ARC release was sent to me by the publisher.

Please help the greyhounds!!!

Sunday Salon-Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms today. My mom lives vividly in my memories and I think about her every day. Here is a poem that we found in her wallet after she died. It was so like her to be concerned about others, even those she ultimately left behind.

I have been fighting advanced Lyme Disease although I didn't know it. Unfortunately, the symptoms are so varied and tend to mimic other illnesses. Finally, it all makes sense, but it hasn't been easy. As many of you know, Mystery has been sick. The good news is she is doing really well now. Yeah, Mystery!! However, Webster is now having his troubles. His birthday was yesterday, and he is now 11. After two weeks, he seems to be doing much better.

I have missed the blogging and sharing and hope I'll be able to get back all of you soon.

Happy Mother's Day!!!