The Villa: A Novel by Rachel Hawkins

I just finished The Villa: A Novel, by New York Times best selling author Rachael Hawkins. This mystery is really two stories wound into one. And if you know anything about Mary and Percy Shelley and the summer they spent at Lake Geneva with Lord Byron (yes, the summer that she wrote Frankenstein), you will see that this story is inspired by them - as well as some of the famous murders of the 1970s. 

Amazon has this listed as a best selling mystery, and I can see their point. I got my copy at the library - knew nothing and was pleasantly surprised. I might say that it is not the best mystery that I have ever read, but it’s a good story. Fast read.  Yes I recommend!

U.S. Marine Band - Students of Color

Thank you 60 Minutes for covering this.  And thank you to all of the people that made this happen for these young and very talented people. 

Dear Readers,

I stand for democracy. I live in Michigan and we have always been a close neighbor to Canada. I love Canada. I was married in Toronto. And what is happening right with our friends just breaks my heart.  ❤️😢 

Night

Night is book one of a three part series written by Elie Wiesel of his survival (as a teenager) in a Nazi death camp. Yes I recommend.

There is nothing more beautiful than Earth.

The Guilded Age - Full Documentary - American Experience - PBS

They say that current events can rhyme with the past. The Guilded Age - Full Documentary- American Experience by PBS is definitely worth watching, especially if you take a look at what is happening on our national stage today.

(You can watch the full documentary on YouTube.)

Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) - Jonathan Butler

I heard this on my way home today. It’s sad but beautiful. Calming. The power of music. 

(Written by Stevie Wonder). Jonathan Butler - Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)

From Stager Lake

 From Stager Lake last night! 

(Michigan’s Upper Peninsula)

Eugene Jansson - (Swedish, 1862 -1915) A painter known for his night-time land - and cityscapes.

 

Dear Readers,

I'm writing to let you know that my book project, The Disappearance of Jackie Blue is on hold. Hopefully, I will get back to it at some time in the future. 

I've started a collection of poetry instead with a working title, House at Dusk: summer poems. I'll post links to the poems if they're published elsewhere, and will let you know when the book is complete.

Happy January. I hope you're staying warm!

Jan ❤️

Original pastel artwork by Eugene Jansson (1862 - 1915)

Dusk, 1895

Public Domain

“Hope is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson

 

Hope lives inside all of us.  She reminds me once again why we need poetry.