Trump lovers will hate Carl Hiaasen‘s new novel Squeeze Me and call it offensive to the President. Trump haters will laugh their asses off as they recognize the ridiculousness of it all. Hiaasen is the popular native Floridian and author of humorous crime fiction that usually features a cast of eccentric characters engaged in hapless crimes and other adventures for which Florida has become famous….
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What this boomer learned from the September 2020 issue of Vogue magazine
The September issue of Vogue magazine is traditionally a really big deal. It’s so prized, so anticipated, so revered that in 2009 an entire documentary film was created specifically in its honour called, what else, The September Issue. And, for the past seven years that I’ve been blogging, I’ve penned an annual bitchy critique of Vogue’s September Issue. The 2020 edition arrived discreetly in my mailbox recently…
Take a trip to rural France without leaving home
With all the restrictions on travel these days, some of us may be feeling the pinch of not being able to take vacations we’d saved and planned for before COVID-19 hit. My friends Debbie and Terry had to cancel a gourmet cooking expedition to Tuscany. I had to cancel a writing retreat in Paris. We can get a bit of relief watching Rick Steeves on…
Linda Grant gives us permission to love fashion and helps us understand its value
Ten years ago Linda Grant wrote a book called The Thoughtful Dresser, The Art of Adornment, the Pleasures of Shopping, and Why Clothes Matter, which gives us permission to enjoy being fashionable without being burdened by the guilt and sin of vanity. Grant’s book was recommended by Sue Burpee in her High Heels in the Wilderness fashion blog which is an excellent resource for baby boomer…
Caroline Adderson’s A Russian Sister is entertaining, engaging and well-written
You don’t have to be a fan of Russian literature (which I am) to enjoy A Russian Sister by Caroline Adderson. It’s a novel of historical fiction written with Anton Chekov’s sister as the main character. Actually, there are three main characters: Masha aka Maria Chekov, and her friend Lika Mizinova, with Anton Chekov providing plot complications. Adderson thought a look at the famous Russian author’s…
A case of identity theft unlocks multiple mysteries
Identity theft is a particularly devastating kind of fraud and deception. It can take years to sort out one’s affairs after someone taps into your personal data and takes over your life. You Can’t Catch Me by Catherine McKenzie is the fictional account of such a crime. It hit home with me because a couple of years ago I had my wallet stolen from my purse…