Hello, dear ones. The thing is, every book I read is my favorite–and I mean that with
all my heart. And this year I’ve had the best assortment of good books: actually, I
purchased too many books and this slow-poke can’t read anymore.
(as late as today I added one more that I spotted on Instagram
–A Homemade Christmas by Carol Ann Taylor–
I’ll be putting this #1 NEW RELEASE in Appetizer Cooking
to good use this weekend. Will review it next year).
…But the good news is I have my pile ready to dig in whenever I need that kind of fix.
FOR YOUR EARS ONLY:
The book I’m reviewing today is dear to me. I interacted with the story author and
saw it in its first drafts. I’m so pleased to read it in its polished form. Yay!
My Review:
(Live at Goodreads/Pending at Amazon)
Splendorous
A MERCY of WIDOWS by Marcy Lane—I didn’t just read it, I inhaled it.
Let me tell you more:
This novel (debut novel—wow!) is brilliantly conceived and profound in its
exploration of love, living, and what it means to be in a loving relationship.
It’s achingly honest in its exploration of life with a terminally ill “other”
—to marry to obtain a piece of paper or not and the conundrum one faces if not.
This book is also a heart-healing love story, wide awake as love is the higher
light—and the better law to follow.
And just when the protagonist is unsure of “a place” for her and her grief to
belong, there’s wickedness and scheming.
It explores loss and grief and spotlights the human capacity for kindness even
through the dark times.
It’s a heartfelt novel about loss, compassion, unconditional love, grieving and
uncertainty, wickedness and scheming, and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
—the difficult subject of medically assisted suicide and planned deaths (new to me).
And the protagonist’s views on the subject. It’s set in Canada, where assisted dying
is legal.
We follow along in the backdrop of Canada’s legal system where two widows and
twelve jurors grapple to bring us, the readers, some clarity on life’s tough choices
and then leave us to consider how we feel about the same.
A MERCY of WIDOWS is an emotionally charged novel, keenly on a quest for
justice where hurt collides with forgiveness and in the end, redemption!
And it’s funny too—the word nerd in me laughed hard. It includes all the qualities
that make a story a good story. I could go on, but I’ll end my review here—
a five-star rating from a satisfied reader in Japan.
Congratulations to the Author, and I cannot wait to read more books like this
from this gifted human.
Thanks for reading my last review for this year.
And with this, I will hibernate for a couple of weeks.
Thank you all for being here and for making my entire year
one I will always cherish. You’re the best!
Merry Christmas.
+
“”God bless us every one!” said Tiny Tim, the
last of all.” ~ Charles Dickens.
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Awesome Selma. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
It’s awesome—the novel is, Sadje. Thanks for reading, dear one. Happy Yuletide. 🎄
Thanks ❤️💚❤️
sounds wonderful!
I stand by my review, Beth. The novel is every bit lovely. Xoxo 🌲
Wonderful review.
Thanks, Raj. Yet another great book. This one a long wonderful novel
Merry Christmas, Raj.🎄
What a great review and Selma.. you’re no slow poke. My TBR BOOKS ARE ALL SITTING!❤️
great review and love this line;
A MERCY of WIDOWS by Marcy Lane—I didn’t just read it, I inhaled it.
So pleased to know you liked that first line
It’s a stellar book and I always try to “show” how I read the book and how it moved me. It’s a book to be inhaled like one does when in the presence of greatness—like the Sistine Chapel, you know?!. (Not that I know first hand about such a Chapel—books are all I got 😂).
I still wish I could read faster —thanks for the encouragement, dear Cindy.
Merry Christmas 🎄
I sure did!!
Absolutely and merry Christmas to you sweet Selma! ❤️
Same to you, Cindy. 🤗 💗 🎄
Wonderful Selma🌻
So happy you enjoyed the review. It’s a spectacular novel indeed. 🤗
Merry Christmas 🎄 Kajal dearest.
A difficult subject but an important one to broach! Thank you for the recommendation, Selma 🙏
This one is everything I like in a story. It’s long but well worth the read. Thanks for reading my review, Ingrid.
And please remember what we decided to “NOT DO” in January.
(I trust you understand, my sweet 🤫)
Blessings
Beautiful review.
Thanks dearly.
Heather, dearest. Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. 🎄
Thank you for this lovely review, Selma! My late husband was an advocate for the right to die, speaking and writing on the subject, presenting briefs in the Us Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme court. When he was dying, I honored his wishes that his suffering not be needlessly prolonged. I was holding his hand when he died. It sounds like the author of this book dealt with similar issues and has a helpful perspective to share.
Wishing you Christmas joy and a beautiful 2024! <3 <3 <3
Seems such a good read.
😉 👍🏽 Splendorous. 👏🏽
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My husband opted for assisted death and it was difficult but he passed away before the doctors’ decision. An acquaintance went through it with both parents and they tried to make it happy for them but the pain is still there. We need to understand death in a different way.
I see. Thanks for sharing that with me. Were you in Canada then? Just wondering. Blessings to you for the entire year. Xo
Yes.