“You may delay, but time will not.” Benjamin Franklin
Recently, I connected with an old friend, and I commented on how exciting her travel plans were; she was off to the UK and then on a safari in Kenya, having just come back from that beautiful Canadian rail trip a few months back. Her response: having cancer, then surgery, and then Covid made her want to get to her bucket list. It was food for thought. I also put off decisions from time to time, but I try to be aware of that, knowing we always think we have more time than we do.
This is the time of year when we begin to plan our vacations, especially if the weather is gloomy. We sit with our calendars in front of us, perhaps alongside our checkbook, planning where we might like to go and who we might like to visit. Sometimes it's just too overwhelming, and we put off those decisions. Then time gets away from us, and we do nothing, because we always think we have more time.
If you're seeking a different kind of escape, I can recommend a few recent reads by authors new to me. Looking through the lists of available books on Libby, these were ones I had seen listed but never thought they were something I'd care for; I was wrong.
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton (2014). Historical fiction. A wonderful book set in the 1600s. It's the story of a woman who marries a man she barely knows and is confused, disappointed, and then protective of her husband the more she learns. She is as challenged by her new sister-in-law and her new household servants as she is by the unexpected gifts she receives. It makes one thankful not to be living in a time where the suspicion of one's guilt is enough to condemn. A good read!
Devil House by John Darnielle (2022) This novel is full of twists and turns, so it takes time to figure out where it's going. From an interest in old homes south of San Francisco, some known for having been the site of some tragedy, or the possibility of ghosts, the main character carries the reader to an exploration into the lives of the people who had lived in those places. It's original and a page-turner.
The Expats by Chris Pavone (2012) Set in Luxembourg, the principal characters are Americans who appear to be leading glamorous lives. The intrigue sets in as the main character realizes that no one is apparently quite who they have made themselves out to be; this includes her husband. It kept me guessing.
Happy Planning!