Maybe it's due to your location? Sorry that you didn't get the deal.

If you like British charm, farm-life type books, you may like this. It's been on my to-read list for a little while and today the Kindle edition is on sale for $2.99.

I read A Grief Observed - 3 Stars - C.S. Lewis wrote this in the form of a journal after his dear wife’s passing to cancer. I was looking forward to reading it, and although there were many parts that I thought were thought-provoking and insightful, overall I didn’t appreciate it as much as I had hoped. However, I am glad that I read it. It may be eye-opening to many when one sees that the faith of even the strongest soul can be shaken when faced with such grief. He wrote: “Perhaps the bereaved ought to be isolated in special settlements like lepers.†Sadly, in much of modern society, people seem quite uncomfortable with talking about death and losing loved ones. As far as books on death and dying go, my favorite so far is In the Midst of Life by Jennifer Worth. She’s one of my favorite writers. Some other favorite quotes: “I loathe the slightest effort. Not only writing but even reading a letter is too much. Even shaving. What does it matter now whether my cheek is rough or smooth? They say an unhappy man wants distractions—something to take him out of himself. Only as a dog-tired man wants an extra blanket on a cold night; he’d rather lie there shivering than get up and find one. It’s easy to see why the lonely become untidy, finally, dirty and disgusting. Meanwhile, where is God?†“When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him, so happy that you are tempted to feel His claims upon you as an interruption, if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be—or so it feels—welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as well turn away. The longer you wait, the more emphatic the silence will become.†“It is hard to have patience with people who say, ‘There is no death’ or ‘Death doesn’t matter.’ There is death. And whatever is matters. And whatever happens has consequences, and it and they are irrevocable and irreversible. You might as well say that birth doesn’t matter. I look up at the night sky. Is anything more certain than that in all those vast times and spaces, if I were allowed to search them, I should nowhere find her face, her voice, her touch? She died. She is dead. Is the word so difficult to learn?†“Bereavement is a universal and integral part of our experience of love. It follows marriage as normally as marriage follows courtship or as autumn follows summer. It is not a truncation of the process but one of its phases; not the interruption of the dance, but the next figure. We are ‘taken out of bereavement is not the truncation of married love but one of its regular phases—like the honeymoon.†“The more joy there can be in the marriage between dead and living, the better. The better in every way. For, as I have discovered, passionate grief does not link us with the dead but cuts us off from them. This become clearer and clearer. It is just at those moments when I feel least sorrow—getting into my morning bath is usually one of them—that H. rushes upon my mind in her full reality, her otherness. Not, as in my worst moments, all foreshortened and patheticized and solemnized by my miseries, but as she is in her own right. This is good and tonic. I seem to remember—though though I couldn’t quote one at the moment—all sorts of ballads and folktales in which the dead tell us that our mourning does them some kind of wrong. They beg us to stop it. There may be far more depth in this than I thought. If so, our grandfathers’ generation went very far astray. All that (sometimes lifelong) ritual of sorrow—visiting graves, keeping anniversaries, leaving the empty bedroom exactly as ‘the departed’ used to keep it, mentioning the dead either not at all or always in a special voice, or even (like Queen Victoria) having the dead man’s clothes put out for dinner every evening—this was like mummification. It made the dead far more dead.†“I will turn to her as often as possible in gladness. I will even salute her with a laugh. The less I mourn her the nearer I seem to her.†MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

:grouphug: Sorry to hear that. Bill Bryson travelogues Susan Branch has some lovely books: James Herriot books The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt

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I read Eva Luna - 4 Stars - Isabel Allende is one of my favorite authors and I’m having fun re-reading some of her books. It took me a little longer to complete this one. I mean that in a good way. Her writing is so beautiful and so rich, that I often found myself re-reading paragraphs. I love the depth and richness of all the characters. A quote that I loved: “The house was a vast labyrinth of books. Volumes were stacked from floor to ceiling on every wall, dark, crackling, redolent of leather bindings, smooth to the touch, with their gold titles and translucent gilt-edged pages and delicate typography.†MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

I read Hunting Eichmann - 4 Stars - I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Israel and love that country dearly. When my husband and I were newlyweds almost 20 years ago, we were channel surfing one night and saw a fabulous documentary on how Eichmann was found and brought to justice. I think it was the first time I really paid any attention to the story. It was only recently that I heard about this book and I’m so glad that I did. It’s truly well-written and thoroughly researched. Even though I knew how it would all end, I was thinking about the book pretty much during most of my non-reading time, always a sign of a good book for me! This account of General Eisenhower and General Patton seeing the German atrocities for the first time is one that I will always remember. I’d read it another book also. “Despite the intelligence reports General Eisenhower had read on the German atrocities, he found himself completely unprepared for Ohrdurf. Guided by former inmates, he and his staff saw men in the hospital who had been brutally tortured and were starving, lying shoulder to shoulder, expecting nothing more than death to arrive. In a basement, he saw a gallows where prisoners had been hung by piano wire long enough that their toes touched the floor, delaying death but prolonging the agony that preceded it. In one of the yards, he saw some 40 corpses, riddled with lice, stacked in rows. In an adjoining field, he saw 3,200 more corpses, many with gunshot wounds to the back of the head, next to a pyre of wood clearly intended to destroy all traces of their existence. General Omar Bradley, who accompanied Eisenhower, could not even speak; the hard-nosed General George Patton vomited against a wall. As he left Ohrdurf, Eisenhower told his officers, ‘I want every American unit not actually in the front lines to see this place. We are told that the American soldier does not know what he is fighting for. Now, at least, he will know what he is fighting against.’ Once back at headquarters, the shaken supreme commander sent messages to Washington and London demanding that legislators and newspaper reporters come to Ohrdurf. He wanted these crimes documented.†One of my favorite quotes: “We will bring Adolf Eichmann to Jerusalem,†Harel said, striking the table, “and perhaps the world will be reminded of its responsibilities. It will be recognized that, as a people, we never forgot. Our memory reaches back through recorded history. The memory book lies open, and the hand still writes.†MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

:cursing:

I read Dietland - 2 Stars - As someone who has struggled and will forever struggle in the weight department, I was excited to start this book. It started off well and I felt that I could relate to some of what the protagonist was going through. I appreciated the humor and felt sure that I would be giving this at least 4 stars. But then the story took a bizarre turn and the message became an angry and violent one. I may have appreciated this slightly had I read this when I was younger and considered myself to be a bit of a feminist. That stage didn’t last long for me at all. Now that I’m older, I’m far too skeptical to align myself with pretty much any movement. I may have also appreciated it if I was feeling anger towards those who have hurt me greatly with nasty weight comments. I’m pretty much done with that also. I won’t lie. Their rudeness still hurts and I’m usually unprepared to give witty comebacks right on the spot. While on I’m that topic, I remembered someone that I once met who told me that when she was a newlywed, her now ex-husband wrote down the measurements and weight that she “needed†to be. Not surprisingly, that marriage did not last. That sort of shallowness infuriates me to no end! Looks are nice and good, but they’re not everything. I loved the author’s honesty with regards to weight and body image. Yet overall, the book never really came together for me and I ended up feeling disappointed. MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

Thank you all so much. This is a huge help!

that can be worn for hours and hours, but that also look good with a dress - I would appreciate any links or suggestions. We'll be traveling soon and I may want to wear a dress on some days. Thank you so much! :)

Mine is apparently very low dose. I had a long answer ready, but it disappeared. :(

Congratulations on the weight loss! Yes, I have had my hair relaxed and do so about once a year. My hairdresser uses a very weak relaxer, just like yours suggested. A week later, I have a keratin treatment. Neither make my normally frizzy hair dead straight, but help to control the frizz. I could do it all about every 6-9 months, but I tend to wait a bit longer. I use sulfate-free hair products.

I read The Story of the Lost Child - I feel so relieved to be done with this series. I really liked it initially, but by the time I was about a quarter of the way through this final book, I knew that I had had enough. I no longer cared for the characters and the endless drama. Quite honestly, I thought that most of them were stupid and continued to make dumb choices and decisions. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t regret reading this series, but I am delighted to now move on. An interesting quote: “As for infidelities, he said, if you don’t find out about them at the right moment they’re of no use: when you’re in love you forgive everything. For infidelities to have their real impact some lovelessness has to develop first. And he went on like that, piling up painful remarks about the blindness of people in love.†MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

I read Of Love and Shadows - 4 Stars - This was a re-read. I read it several years ago shortly after reading my favorite Allende book, “The House of Spiritsâ€. I love most of her books and this was one was no exception. She truly is a superb storyteller. When I first read it, I know that I would have given it 5 stars, but since this was a re-read, I didn’t think it was as compelling as before. One of my favorite quotes was advice for expatriates (and pretty much anyone really): “All you will have is the present. Waste no energy crying over yesterday or dreaming of tomorrow. Nostalgia is fatiguing and destructive, it is the vice of the expatriate. You must put down roots as if they were forever, you must have a sense of permanence.†MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

I very much agree with that character on the Sopranos and think that it's so accurate. I tend to agree about your thoughts on the Neapolitan novels. The more I read them, the less I care for anyone. Since I've completed three, I will definitely read the fourth, but, like you, I can't fully enjoy a book (or movie) if there's not a single character to like.

I read Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay - 4 Stars - These Neapolitan books keep getting better. I hated to have to put the book down and to get on with my day, never mind the fact that I spent most of my non-reading time thinking about the characters. I didn't always care for the choices that they made, but that’s not what my high rating is based on anyway. This is the penultimate one in the series and I’m looking forward to reading the last one very soon, although I’m slightly worried that it’s going to have a devastating ending. It is Italian after all. I know that Italian movies (most French ones also, never mind Russian as well as Persian literature), tend to end dreadfully. I once mentioned this to an Italian friend of ours and his response, “Well, of course. Life ends badly. There are never any good endings.†I cannot stand bad endings. I’m not asking for a Disney-style ending where it’s all perfect and everyone rides off into the sunset, but at least some closure, and nothing crazy please! It seems to me that most of the endings that I love are in British and American literature. These books are written under a pseudonym. It’s my hunch, and I could be dead wrong, that they may be partly autobiographical. I thought of P.D. James’s quote: “All fiction is largely autobiographical and much autobiography is, of course, fiction.†MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

I read Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life - 3 Stars - I recommend this book mainly for aspiring writers. As for me, I’m not a writer by any means (although I often dream that I was a good one), so much of the book wasn’t particularly relevant to me. Yet she does have lots of sweet stories and lovely pieces of advice throughout. There’s depth and humor and I appreciated her open style. I’m glad that I read it. Here’s the beautiful story behind the title: “Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report written on birds that he'd had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books about birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said, "Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.†MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

Robin, have a wonderful time in Arizona! :) I read The Story of a New Name - 4 Stars - This is the second book in the Neapolitan series by Elena Ferrante and I found it to be so much better than the first one. I’ve now become familiar with and care more for the characters. Also, the names are no longer confusing to me! I’m really enjoying the story of these two friends and look forward to continuing with the series. MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

I read The Caged Virgin - 4 Stars - As you may already know, I love Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She’s courageous and oh, so clever. I believe that this collection of essays was her first book. Although it was eye-opening and is definitely worth a read, it’s not as incredible as her other three books, which are far more powerful and absolute must-reads. Those books are: “Infidelâ€, “Nomadâ€, and “Heretic†– and they should be read in that specific order. In order to prevent author and subject overload, it's best to not read them back-to-back! MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

I read My Brilliant Friend - 3 Stars - This is the first in a series about two girls growing up in Naples, Italy in the 1950s. It’s a story about their friendship as well as their painful rivalries. I don’t usually go for books like this, at least not anymore, but the setting and time period fascinate me and have kept me wanting more, so I do plan on reading more in the series, plus I’ve heard that the books improve. The main negative was trying to keep up with all of the characters. There are so many of them. After finishing this book, I made a delicious batch of lentil and sausage soup. It was a perfect rainy day for soup. Interestingly, Italians or at least those in Naples where this story is set, make this soup for New Year’s Day. The lentils and sausage are said to be bring prosperity and good luck for the coming year. The soup was so good that I might make it a tradition also! MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

Ali, me too! :grouphug:

First of all, I don't think your question is embarrassing at all. :) Some things that I can think of: * Dry body brushing before showering or exercise, whichever comes first. Use a body brush or loofah and brush upwards towards the heart. * If your skin is super-sensitive, shave at night, when the skin tends to be less sensitive. * Apply lotion after showering in an upwards movement. * Treat yourself to a pedicure when you can or give one to yourself. I'm sure there are some good You Tube tutorials. If you do go for a pedicure, make sure that the place is hygienic.

I read Made in America - 2 Stars - This was thoroughly researched and full of trivia-type facts of U.S. history and the evolution of words in American English. Much of these facts were fascinating, but then the book got boring. Maybe it was the layout and the way that all the facts were organized. I can’t really tell. This being Bill Bryson, well, I guess that I wanted to like it much more than I did. I definitely prefer his travelogues, which are among my favorite books ever. MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars Fantastic, couldn't put it down 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.