Jodi Picoult – Ruff Drafts

Review of Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

Posted on October 14, 2021October 14, 2021 by Debbie

*****5 stars

I’ve read a few of Jodi Picoult’s books, and I think this is one of her best. Diana an art dealer turning 30 who has the rest of her life planned, or at least she thinks so until the COVID-19 pandemic strikes, and her boyfriend Finn, a resident at a New York City hospital, is unable to accompany her on their long anticipated trip to the Galapagos islands. Diana believes he was about to pop the question on their vacation, but she agrees to go by herself when he convinces her it would be safer. That decision turns out to be unwise because, once on the island which is locked down, she has no way to return and can’t contact Finn because of weak and unstable WiFi. The hotel she booked is closed, and her bags were lost on her flight. Luckily, she’s befriended by a woman who allows her to stay in part of her house. She later learns the apartment belongs to a man with a teenage daughter in need of help.

After Diana meets the man, Gabriel, a previous tour guide, and his daughter, and spends time with them and the island residents, she attempts to contact Finn and her mother, who suffers from Alzheimers and is in a nursing home. She reaches them, but the connection is short and erratic.

With detailed descriptions of the wildlife and habitats of the Galapagos including an inactive volcano, this absorbing story comes to life. As Diana becomes emotionally attached to Gabriel and the island, her perspective about life begins to change.

About midway in the book, there’s a twist I didn’t see coming. Picoult realistically portrayed several serious themes including mental illness, Alzheimer’s Disease, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Her author notes at the back of the book also gave insight into how she was inspired to write it and her own experience during the pandemic. I highly recommend this read that Picoult’s fans will gobble up and new readers will find totally absorbing.

This review was from the NetGalley ARC. The book will be released on November 30, 2021.

Authors, blog challenge, Books

#LifeBooksWriting Blog Challenge: My Cat Collection

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Debbie

I’m very excited to participate in the blog challenge Sophia Valentine of Lifestyle and Literature created (see graphic for topics and dates if you have a blog and would like to participate. If you’re a reader, I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning about some of the great participating authors).

The topic of this week’s challenge is collections. I used to be an avid collector of all types of cat items — cat plates, cat music boxes, cat statues, cat knick knacks, cat jewelry, cat clothing, and, of course, cat books.

Not only did I collect cat objects, but I found creative ways to store and display them. Many of my delicate figurines are contained inside a tower of boxes featuring cats, while a bunch of round, cat-decorated boxes are home to my cat jewelry and scarves. Some of my Cat’s Meow Village pieces grace the window in my office while several figurines line my bedroom bookshelf.

I became so addicted to cat collecting that I even joined Cat Collectors, an international organization established by Marilyn Dipboye in 1982. It had its own newsletter, Cat Talk, published by Karen Shanks and even an annual conference. Although this organization is no longer active, I located a similar Facebook group that might be

I don’t collect as many cat items as I once did mainly because there isn’t room for them in my house. However, if I come across a unique cat item or one that I can’t resist, I allow myself to splurge on it. Cat collectibles are still very popular and can be found at craft fairs, street fairs, festivals, garage sales, souvenir shops, antique shops, gift shops, department stores, and, of course, on Ebay, Amazon.com, and other online sites.

Here is the 1985 article about Cat Collectors: http://trib.in/29RMPyf

This is the Ebay site for listings of cat collectibles: http://ebay.to/29BtVrm

You can find some cat figurines through this search on Amazon: http://amzn.to/29GLB6G

This is the link to the Cat’s Meow Village collectibles site: https://www.catsmeow.com/

A Few Cat Collectible gift sites:

http://bit.ly/29Givs2

http://bit.ly/29BtNrY

http://bit.ly/29Tu9zM

A Stone's Throw, Authors, blog challenge, Books

#LifeBooksWriting Blog Challenge: My Top 5 (10) Books and Why

Posted on June 10, 2016September 18, 2019 by Debbie

This week’s blog challenge is about my 5 Favorite books and what I like about them. I couldn’t limit it to 5, so I am featuring my top 10 (I could probably list a lot more and have actually cheated a bit by listing more than one by each author). Sophia Valentine of Lifestyle and Literature created this blog challenge (see graphic for topics and dates if you have a blog and would like to participate. If you’re a reader, I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning about some of the great participating authors).

My 10 Favorite Books

Authors (and librarians, too) are often asked what books they have read and enjoyed. Like movie reviews, their replies are very individual and not necessarily meant as recommendations. Below I have listed some of my favorite books and series along with why I liked them and what I would perhaps like to emulate about the writing style or plot. They are not listed in any particular order.

1. Second Glance and Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
While I have read a few of Picoult’s books, these two stand out for me. They both have a touch of paranormal that I like with the sense of past and strong characters that appeal to me. I also enjoyed Leaving Time for it’s unique information about elephants and a great twist featuring a touch of supernatural, as well. One of my books, Cloudy Rainbow, also features a touch of the paranormal.

2. The Eight by Katherine Neville

Not an easy book to read but one that is worth reading several times. Historical detail about the French Revolution is nicely researched. It brings to mind one of my classic favorites, A Tale of Two Cities. The characters are witty and colorful. The time switches between the past and the present merge well. Information about chess and its history and masters is a plus.

3. Chill Factor by Sandra Brown
This mystery novel is atmospheric and features well-depicted winter weather effects. It kept me guessing until nearly the end.

4. The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux
As a time travel fan, this hit a chord with me. I loved the characters and plot.

5. Find Me by Carol O’Connell
All of the Mallory mysteries are good, but this one was especially well written. The Mallory series is tough to read but worth the effort. I like books that make you think and feel. This psychological thriller does both, as do all the books in this series.

6. Lightning by Dean Koontz
Koontz is another of my favorite horror authors. This was an oldie but greatie featuring time travel with great characters and plot.

7. Time and Again by Jack Finney
This wonderful time travel classic tells a beautiful love story set in atmospheric turn-of-the-century New York. The black and white photos were an interesting plus. I loved this book.

8. Carolina Moon, Midnight Bayou, and Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts (counting these as 1)
I thoroughly enjoy most of this prolific author’s novels, but these are my favorites, so far, for atmosphere, suspense, and romance. I also love her futuristic In Death mystery series Roberts writes as J.D. Robb.

9 Me Before You by Jojo Moyes– This is a different type of book about a woman who falls in love with a paraplegic. The characters were portrayed realistically, and it made me cry at the end. I can’t wait to see the movie that just came out.

10. I’ve Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins – a suspenseful read that keeps you guessing who-dun-it. I love Mary Higgins Clark.

Of course, my own book, A Stone’s Throw, is one of my favorites, as well, and I hope it will become one of yours, too. It features mystery, romance, and what most reviewers are saying is a great twist.

Connect with me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deblibrarian

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Debbie-De-Louise/e/B0144ZGXPW/

Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.wordpress.com

Authors, blog challenge, Books

#LifeBooksWriting Blog Challenge: My Bookshelf/Latest Reads

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Debbie

This week’s blog challenge is on the topic of My Bookshelf/Latest Reads. Sophia Valentine of Lifestyle and Literature created this challenge (see graphic for topics and dates if you have a blog and would like to participate. If you’re a reader, I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning about some of the great participating authors).

I actually have several bookshelves in my home. What do you expect from a librarian who is also an author? Even though I borrow many books from the library, I have a large collection of my own. My bed’s headboard actually holds some paperbacks, and there’s room in my bureau’s shelves. I also decorate my bookcases with knick knacks and curios, most of them cat-related.

Of course, my own books, Cloudy Rainbow and a Stone’s Throw, have prominent spots on my bedroom bookshelf as well as the Cat Crimes in Time anthology in which my short mystery, Stitches in Time, appears.

My bookshelves are not limited to the space in my house. I also have a virtual bookshelf on my Kindle Fire with many books waiting to be read including ebooks by fellow Limitless Publishing authors.

Since I write for and edit my library’s Staff Picks newsletter, I need to review at least one book a month, and I usually try to review two. I used to be a much more voracious reader, but my reading time is limited by the hours I spend writing and promoting my own books. Occasionally, I ask my cat, Oliver, for help choosing what to read next from my huge TBR pile. My latest choices are pictured below. I just began “House of Dreams” by Kate Lord Brown, one of my newest favorite authors. Her previous book, The Perfume Garden, was a page-turner.

If you’re interested in learning more about me and my books, I’d love to connect with you on the following sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deblibrarian

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Debbie-De-Louise/e/B0144ZGXPW/

Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.wordpress.com

Authors, blog challenge, Books

#LifeBooksWriting Blog Challenge: My Writing Room

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Debbie

My Writing Room is the first subject of this new blog challenge, and I find it challenging indeed because I don’t have a writing room at this point or beautiful photos to share with you of to-die-for offices or dens that some other authors do. I get up at 5 a.m. each morning to write (a little later on weekends or when I’m off from work). My computer is set up on my kitchen table which is good access so I can have my coffee and eat breakfast as I write (although I do get crumbs in the keyboard sometimes that frustrates my husband to no end).

The other place I do a lot of writing, if only mental writing, is in my bed at night curled up around my Siamese cat Oliver (which also irritates my husband). I mull over the next scene of my book in my sleep and, when I wake up, I am ready to write. Occasionally, my other cat, Stripey, lends me a paw typing on his laptop.

One day I may have an official office with windows all around overlooking a beautiful garden or the seashore.

For now, until my book “A Stone’s Throw” or one of my forthcoming ones becomes a bestseller, I am typing at the table like a starving artist literally because while food is within my reach, I’m still trying to stay on my diet. On the other hand, when I get a touch of writer’s block, a handy piece of dark chocolate always seems to do the trick to help get the words flowing again.

If I did have a writing room, it would be a cross between a library and a peaceful retreat. I’d move the Kittendales calendar featuring hunky men holding kittens from my bedroom to feature on one of the walls, and my books (the current two I’ve published and the next 100 I have in my mind and plan to write when I have time) will fill several bookcases along with my favorite authors, Nora Roberts, Mary Higgins Clark, Jodi Picoult, and Sandra Brown. The only problem is with all the bookcases and the calendar, I wouldn’t have much room for windows, and I’d have to have at least one with a window seat where my cats could sit while I composed my masterpieces and looked out at the flowers or the sea.

Instead of filling this blog post with photos of my writing room, I’ve filled it with photos of my dream writing rooms. If you’d like to support this starving writer so she can afford a writing room of her own, please order my book through any of the following links. I’d also love you to connect with me on the social media sites listed after.