confessions of an ugly stepsister

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Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel by Gregory Maguire


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an interesting take on the Cinderella story. Here we learn about the step-sisters and although they are "ugly" they aren't the mean things we see in Disney's version. They are victims of circumstance trying to survive. Though we do see that their mother is not as kind as one is led to believe in the beginning of the tale.

Maguire sets his version in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 17th century. The country has gone through reformation and has turned away Catholicism in favor of Calvinism. Dutch painters are many and vying for commissions. Also, the tulip is king until the collapse of the market.

Though this was written several years ago, I can't help but draw parallels to our current financial crisis. What will people do in order to survive?

I really enjoyed Maguire's spin on the story. There is enough of the original kept to make us think that maybe this is really the way the story went. In the eBook, the original fairy tale is included for comparison.

I like how the author cane weave a fairy tale with political commentary and make it all enjoyable.


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iPod cases

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Let's see, I have had 5 iPods. I have had many more cases. I have tried the flip cases, the pouch cases, the silicone cases, the plastic cases, the metal cases and the leather cases.

The flip cases are annoying. That extra step of flipping seems like too much work. The pouch cases are even worse, I don't want to take it out of the pocket, then take it out of the pouch to see. The silicone cases are nice and grippy but then they tend to be too grippy in my pocket. And they let dirt in as well. The plastic cases seem cheap but usually aren't and then add too much bulk. They also don't seem to substantial enough to protect.

The metal cases seem less bulky but they can have their own problems. The iFrogz case I have will not accommodate the CallPod, the iMonster iCarPlay, nor the Sosche PassPort. The opening is too small. And the case fits so snugly that taking it off is a major pain.

My favorite case is the Vaja Case. They aren't cheap and do take quite a while to get.

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I've tried going without a case. I find that I hit the power button too easily as well as the volume controls. Also, I have dropped it and need some protection from this.

Now that I have already spent $50 on 2 cases for my iPod Touch that I don't like, I realize that I should have spent the money for the one I know I would like.

the body artist

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The Body Artist: A Novel The Body Artist: A Novel by Don DeLillo


My review


rating: 3 of 5 stars
I can't remember reading this so I started again. The first chapter seems familiar but that is all.

I am through Chapter 6 and am finding this very different from what I am used to reading. What IS a body artist?

It was interesting to say the least. It starts rather innocently with a husband, Rey, and wife, Lauren, during their breakfast routines. Next we see the husband's obit from his suicide. The rest of the book deals with the Lauren's grief and life afterwards.

Lauren goes back to the house they were renting and in a few days finds a man in one of the bedrooms. The man is odd. I think he is autistic. He speaks but mostly in echolalia. He repeats things that he heard Rey and Lauren say before the Rey died.

Lauren does not contact the authorities but tapes the man saying these things. Is it because she want to pretend Rey is still alive? Or is it because she plans to use them in her act? Eventually, the man she named Mr Tuttle leaves and is found and in another mental hospital.

Lauren does her act in the city then goes back to the house even after the lease is up.

The woman needs some therapy!


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hello, larry

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I was starting off on my walk the other morning and I spotted Larry. Larry works as a bagger at Publix. As a rule, I try to avoid him because he insists on taking my groceries out to my car. I prefer to do it myself but Larry will not relent.

Hello Larry. Hello. What are you do? Looking for work. What?! What about Publix? I still work for them. I do yard work as a second job. I have all my tools with me.

I hadn't noticed the backpack he was carrying. We got to talking and I finally walked back to my house with Larry. For $10 an hour he will weed and prune. OK. Can I call my sister to let her know where I am? She worries about me. Larry is 57 and lives with his sister. He doesn't have a car nor a cell phone.

I returned from my walk and Larry was on his hands and knees pulling weeds by hand.

I took Andy to lunch and got him a new bike helmet and got a few things from Publix. When we came home, Larry was still working. Both beds in front were done and he was starting on the side. But I had to tell him to stop because he had been working for 5 hours and I only had $50. He quit and said he would go try to look for more work.

Andy wanted to ride his bike so I sat down outside. Larry did too and we talked. He is a nice guy if not a little strange. He stayed past 4 pm. He is coming back next Tuesday.