ARTFUL READERS CLUB

September 25, 2014

"THE BOOK OF LIFE" by Deborah Harkness  

Happy Fall, dear readers. The leaves are slowly starting to change colors here in Central New York, as they journey towards their most brilliant hues of the Autumn season. It won't be long before we have a most amazing palette on which to feast our eyes. Truly, this is the most beautiful season of all (in my humble opinion!) 

It's the end of the month, time for a book review and a piece of art to represent that book. This month, it's the final book of the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. First there was "A Discovery of Witches," then "Shadow of Night..." and finally, the culmination in "THE BOOK OF LIFE." These books offer a mix of everything...that's what makes them such good reads. I picked it up for the paranormal and magic, but appreciate the amount of research that went into the historical aspects of the books, the strong writing, the humor, the horror, the drama and of course, the romance. What's it about? A witch and a vampire, forbidden love, family, loyalty, alchemy, genetics, history, passion, pain, tenderness, time travel, cruelty, Christianity, politics, magic, places, childbirth, betrayal, evil, goodness...all beautifully spun into the golden web of a novel.

Witch Diana Bishop, also a professor and an historian... and vampire Matthew Clairmont... Diana's husband and a scientist...return from the past (time travels) to the present day to continue their all-important search for the crucial, long-lost pages of Ashmole 782, an enchanted alchemical manuscript (better known as the Book of Life.) It's no ordinary book, but rather a book that holds the key to the origin of all supernatural beings. Thus, many creatures are searching for this book to use for good and evil. In addition, dark forces are at work seeking to destroy or separate Diana and Matthew because a relationship between a witch and a vampire is considered unacceptable and against the covenant. They must handle their delicate, yet volatile situation with wisdom, cunning and logic and meet troubles head-on to survive. There are unexpected  surprises along the way to keep you turning each of those 500+pages as the novel hurtles towards its conclusion. This last book is about Diana and Matthew's race to find the Book of Life, save those they love, and above all, save themselves. It's about love and family...and the magic we hide within. 

This trilogy has been likened to the teen TWILIGHT series...TWILIGHT series in adult format. Having enjoyed reading both series, I can see a similarity... but if you're into reading about the supernatural world, I highly recommend Deborah Harkness's trilogy. It puts supernatural characters in very real, believable, adult settings and encourages you to suspend your sense of reality and just indulge!!

Thanks for checking in.

Hugs,

abbyj 

50th ANNIVERSARY FLING 
September 2014  

This was more than a fling...it was a celebration that I waited YEARS for! I've been traveling to Africa (without my dear husband, Michael) for 20+/- years and he always promised that he'd join me for our 50th anniversary. Well...he did and he LOVED it!! We visited with his families (who moved to South Africa from Glasgow, Scotland 30 years ago) in Johannesburg and Capetown, and nvisited the country of BOTSWANA, known for its wealth of animals, large and small.  

I'll give you the diary form of our trip since we were gone for 3 weeks...it'll be more concise this way. We found a wonderful app that helps keep track of your days with photos...called DAY ONE. That's what I used...I highly recommend it for any travel diary.

Packed and ready to go...this is our luggage: one smallish bag and a backpack each!

On the plane, ready for our 17 hour flight to Johannesburg DIRECT from NY.

l to r...Jacqui, David, me and Michael

Flew from Johannesburg to Capetown, our first visit with cousins David & Jacqui. We were at the southernmost point of the African continent! The African penguins are always fun to see...as are our cuzzies!

There was a March for Muslims to support the Palestinian cause...it was peaceful, thankfully, as there were thousands who marched, chanted and sang in support.

Capetown is by the water and the waterfront area is always busy and ever beautiful!

After several days in Capetown, we were off to Botswana. THAT's where Michael got his first look at all the wildlife roaming free. We traveled in a jeep and were able to get up close and personal with most of the creatures we saw...within a few feet! But, they're used to the jeeps so they hardly noticed us (other than to pose for our photographs!!)

Incidentally, the camps where were stayed were spectacular. First JAO, a water-based camp situated in the Okavango Delta, where we did water and land safaris...and the next was LITTLE MOMBO, not too far away.

A little explaining for this one...I'm all covered up in the first picture on the left top because we took an early morning boat trip and the bugs in the water reeds were plentiful...and the bottom right picture of a shower...that's the outside shower in our cabin. We had an inside one as well, but the outside one was spectacular...showering as we looked out at the ellies and hippos wallowing in the delta. By the way, our toilet area looked out at the same view!! Wonderful!!

Two photos that bear explanation here...the big bellied animal you see is a male lion with a belly full of zebra from a kill the night before...and me, sitting in the middle of the bush, on a makeshift toilet...we had lunch in the bush and the camp manager set this area up for the women...funny!!

The top left photo is of wild dogs...rarely seen... and we were fortunate to see them with pups; next to them, a very pregnant zebra; below is an elephant in the sun trying to shake down the fruit at the top of  the tree; bottom left is our guide, Ndebo, trying to get us out of a mud hole we got stuck in as we tried to cross a small lake to get to some buffalo. Always an adventure!!

A surprise celebration for our anniversary in our room when we came back one evening after dinner...so sweet and thoughtful!

 

Our last stop was in Johannesburg, where we visited with our cousins, Viv, Graham, Catriona and Ally... Lyndsay was away having a good time of her own! :(

While we were in Johannesburg, we found out that our dear friend, who's been waiting to adopt a baby, had his dream fulfilled. Congratulations to Russ and Edye... and welcome to their son, Lucas Victor!!

Johannesburg was all about Nelson Mandela...it was a good history lesson for all of us to visit and read about Mandela and the history of Apartheid, that started in a township of Jo'burg called SOWETO. Soweto is now a thriving community that continues to grow in a positive way!! 

Quick explanation here...the top left picture is of the enormous stadium that houses the World Cup Soccer matches...in Soweto. The rest have to do with the home of Nelson Mandela and memorials to him.

I also had the opportunity to visit with a dear one, Zena,  from Pretoria, whom I met at a mall with her daughter, Shaskia...we had about 4 years to catch up on as it was 4 years ago that we met and have been in touch since then. What a wonderful, heart-warming few hours we spent together!! They're like family now!! :)
Part of our hotel complex in Jo'burg held a spectacular bird park that we were all eager to visit...the birds were from all over and were spectacular (as was the hotel complex... reminiscent of Las Vegas!)

Our African Adventure was certainly a trip of a lifetime...it seems like I waited a lifetime for my dear husband to join me!! Definitely worth the wait! Now, perhaps, he'll go again...his experience was very positive and we had a marvelous time together. Thanks to the cousins and to all whom we met...our guides and new friends at the safari camps...and of course, our friends at the Africa Adventure Company... you made our trip an overwhelming success!!

Hugs,
abbyj