I am missing my mom more than ever, and it's all because of a book.
I am currently reading The Laughter of Dead Kings by Elizabeth Peters. And oh, how I want to talk about it with Mom. You see, Mom and I devoured Peters' Amelia Peabody series together. We both swooned for Rameses Emerson and mourned when the series ended (after maybe 15 titles?) with the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1824.
Laughter returns to one of Peters' other series--Vickie Bliss, a contemporary archeologist. And how I long to share all the little references that any lovers of Amelia Peabody would recognize. A council of war. The description of the marital act as a "distraction." The former thief turned respectable man of business. I want to show Mom Peter's picture and discuss, "Is this how you imagined she would look?"
I don't know any other Peabody fans. I know Mom would have loved this book ... and she's not here.
I doubt my mother would have enjoyed The Bishop by Steven James, but I devoured it. Page turning suspense, thoughtful philosophical debates from both a scientific and a biblical point of view ... I love James's books and wonder what will happen when he runs out of chess pieces (so far: pawn, rook, knight, bishop. Next up: Queen.)
This was a good month for mysteries/suspense: The Lord is My Shepherd by Debbie Viguie (who is famous for the genre-shattering Wicked) and Deceit by Brandilyn Collins both held me captive to the end.
I read With Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel Sawyer, an author I have followed since her Heartsong title Dear John. She did not disappoint in this sequel to her best-seller, My Heart Remembers. Three orphans go off to college. . .and each faces the pain of their parentless status in a unique challenge. The story is set just prior to the first World War, one of my favorite time periods.
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4 comments:
I know what you mean. There were some books like 'Cheaper by the Dozen" that I read aloud to my mother and another time to my aunt. When something similar comes by, I want to them a hug but they have passed away many years ago.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I know what you mean Darlene...it does get easier. My Mom has been gone 12 years. Don't think there is a day that goes by that she isn't in my thoughts. Wish I could have one more day!
alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com
Darlene, yep. I feel the same way, so often. I inherited my love of books from my Mom. Whenever we moved her in later years, we would have to pack up 30 copypaper size boxes of books. There was a whole host of authors that she and I "shared" - and I recall the deep wrenching sadness I felt upon entering a bookstore right after her death, and encountering a display of a newly released Martha Grimes mystery title. I began to weep, because she was no longer there for me to share the joy of opening a crisp, exciting Inspector Richard Jury mystery. Sending hugs your way.
Thanks, Carol, Jenna, Maureen, for sharing your memories. I "caught" my love of story from Mom and was so glad when at last I found a way for to enjoy reading, through audio books. I get misty-eyed when I read "ratiocination" and "council of war."
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