The Cephalopod Coffeehouse: February 2014

 

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Please join us for a bloggers' book club. Next "meeting" is Friday, February 28th. Check out the details here.

The Cephalopod Coffeehouse is, a cozy gathering of book lovers, meeting to discuss their thoughts regarding the tomes they enjoyed most over the previous month.  Pull up a chair, order your cappuccino and join in the fun. 

 Below is my review of the best book I've read this month.  

Title:  Silver Rain

Author: Jan Ruth

Read:  20^th February 2014

My rating:  5*

Approx 310 pages

A PROPER BOOK WITH REAL PEOPLE

The story is set in Wales and concerns two main characters, Al recently divorced, father and grandfather, is in a relationship with a younger woman and Kate, a recent widow with an elderly mother, a sister and a daughter.

These two characters meet due to family ties and we follow their story and the roller coaster of their relationship.  Things are further complicated by Al and his brother’s long running feud or vendetta and there is always more to things than meets the eye. 

There is judicial use of a swear word but always in context and exactly as would be said in those particular circumstances so this doesn’t detract from the book at all. 

Al is a loveable rogue and quite endearing.  He doesn't always get things right but his emotions are genuine and true and he feels he doesn't deserve happiness.  For example: ‘he’d fallen so very hard for her but then he’d needed, felt compelled almost, to give her a chance to walk away.  Like all the other women in his life.’

Jan writes in a way that enables you to see the settings she is describing, idyllic settings but then we get the very real down-to-earth, matter of fact, reality of life and what it is really like in the hard graft of today’s world: ‘Al went to the dirty window and looked across the greening paddocks to the outline of Snowdon’s foothills, disappearing to a distant haze beneath a sharp blue sky.  Closer to home, the broken concrete yard was full of weeds, but they were flowering and it managed to soften all the edges of neglect.  Elderflower was especially profuse, foaming over the walls and fences, highlighted with long tendrils of wild honeysuckle and old roses.’

I’m so glad I found Jan Ruth.  It was a pleasure to read this book.   This is what I call a real book with real people.

THE END OF THE DAY - SHORT STORY WWBH by Sally Stackhouse

Here’s a reminder of how the blog hop works… everyone is invited to participate, so don’t be shy!
1) Write a story using both photos.
2) Keep your word count to 500 words or less.
3) Submit your completed story to your blog hostess (Nicole, Carrie, Tena orLeanne)
4) You have the next week to post.
5) Have fun, don’t stress, let those creative juices flow!
 

THE END OF THE DAY

Mary heaved a large sigh of relief as she said goodnight to her co-workers and headed home in her car.  She parked her little car in the garage, got out wearily, opening the door to the utility room.  As she took off her coat, hat and gloves she noticed a huge pile of washing on the floor by the washing machine. 

A tinge of a smile curved her lips upwards.  I know what this means, she thought.  Her big baby was home from University bringing his laundry back with him.  She was sure he had said he wouldn’t be home until the end of term, a few more weeks away.  

Dirty washing wouldn’t usually lift a person’s spirits but she really had missed her eldest son, more than she would admit to his face.  His studies were going well as far as the weekly telephone call was concerned so doubt and worry started to fill her mind that all wasn’t right with his course. 

She opened the door to the main house stepping through into her kitchen; the smell of freshly ground coffee assailed her nostrils.  She hadn’t bought any fresh coffee for quite a while; it was a luxury she couldn’t afford on her limited budget.

Martin turned and smiled at his mum, stepped forward and gave her the biggest bear hug.  Oh she had really missed her great big six footer of a son.  Her heart swelled with pride at how much he looked like his father.  

Martin ushered his mother to a seat at the kitchen table while he fiddled some more with the coffee grinder and swept up the spilt beans from the canister that had toppled on to the kitchen counter.

 

             

He cleared his throat and explained that the coffee would take a few more minutes.  Mary looked at him waiting patiently for his explanation of his homecoming.  He was a big tease as Mary knew, again just like his dad and would keep her waiting, teasing dodging any questions quite deftly until he was ready to talk. 

The coffee was poured.  Mary sipped the liquid from her mug, cradling the cup in both hands, caressing the contours of the pottery, feeling the indentations of the grooves.  It was a tactile moment and helped to calm her nerves as she guessed Martin was going to tell her something very important. 

The doorbell rang and Martin rushed to answer it.  He came back in with a young woman in tow, holding her hand tightly.  

‘Mum, I’d like you to meet Naomi.  We’ve come home to tell you that we want to get married in a couple of weeks’ time.’  Martin paused, pulled Naomi closer to his mother.  Mary stood up and opened her arms.  As Naomi fell in to her embrace Mary could feel a slight bump in her stomach.  

Her hands flew to her lips.  ‘Oh.’

Smiling at them both she nodded her acceptance of becoming a grandmother.

Word Count: 498