Heart to Heart

So, the last few months have been intense with all the election drama. I have never seen such offensive divisiveness during an election in my lifetime. It has been disturbing on so many levels. Not only some of my friends, but also some of my family members have been on opposite sides of the great divide. It has caused such friction that at times my heart literally has felt broken.

I can’t remember a time when I have felt so passionately about issues. Because of this, the realization that people I care about felt completely the opposite was incomprehensible to me. I found that we could not even discuss the differences without getting angry. This in itself is disturbing. We have always been able to talk. It seems the whole country is having the same problem. No one is listening and everyone is angry.

So here’s the deal. The election is just now over but I came to this conclusion more than a week ago. I’m going to let it go. I’m not letting go of what I believe in. I will continue to fight against hate and injustice. But I am going to remember why I love my friends and my family. Because the truth is I love them no matter who they voted for. My love was not contingent upon them agreeing with everything I say. No matter how heinous I may have found the opposing candidate, no matter how shocking, they have the right to believe exactly what they choose.

It is my deepest wish that the country will do the same. That families, states, communities and our country will not be divided by ideology. We are America, these are the rights we fought and died for. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion and equal rights for all. Freedom to be whomever you choose to be. United we stand. We are all in this together. And guess what. We already are great. 

NOVEMBER 2016 BOOK SELECTIONS- REMNANT CHRONICLES & LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY

I’m still leaning toward lighter fare these days. When I stop to read, I want to escape with a capital E. My first choice was Book 1 of the Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson. I think this would be classified as a YA Fantasy series. I learned about it from a blog post in Miss Snark’s First Victim. Love this blog. It’s for aspiring MG and YA writers and has fostered a great community.

Book 1 is well-written and is an adventure story with a runaway princess an assassin who is also a love interest (!) and an errant prince. It’s not as fluffy as I make it sound. There are enough daggers,death, secrets and mystery to satisfy most any reader. I will probably read Book 2 which is a good sign.

My next escape was in Jenny Colgan’s Little Beach Street Bakery. This was recommended to me as good, light, escapist literature and it did not disappoint. Colgan’s work is described as romantic comedy fiction although I believe she is dipping a toe into Sci-Fi in her next book. This definitely falls into the former category and does so very well. The characters are interesting and well-drawn and the setting on an island off the Cornish coast is lovely. Colgan has a funny, dry sense of humor which is refreshing. One problem is the occasional, random change of point of view. I’m not sure this is a problem in her later works since I have only read the one. I can’t be the first person to notice it. Still, this is not War and Peace and it’s not meant to be. I liked it. Great vacation read.