A perfect winters' afternoon and a book review

I wish this was the view today - warm temps have melted away the pretty snow - but more is on the way!

I am enjoying a relaxing moment - even if it is just a moment. It's 4 o'clock - dreary outside and I have my pajamas on - aint that great? Why do jammies make me feel so darn good? OMG, a little Barefoot Contessa, my children playing quietly, work is done for the day and I am hanging out with you, blogging friends! Nice.

I am not even thinking about knitting right now, now that's weird - I have my second Yarntini stockinette sock cranking away but for this moment, I hope to say "hello" and then sign out to learn how to make a plum tart before hanging out with Alex Trebec for a half an hour. simple pleasures. (very simple *giggle*)


What I really want to mention is my latest book - I just finished You're Not You by Michelle Wildgen. I started reading the book and realized that the story takes place in Madison, just 20 minutes away from me. I found myself recognizing some of the landmarks the main character spoke of.

Anyways, Bec is a somewhat directionless student at the university. Her studies seem like the wrong fit, she is dating a married man, holding jobs with little concern for the future, she's kind of a mess. But then she takes a summer job caring for Kate - a 30-something with impeccable style and a seemingly bottomless budget who is struggling in the last stages of ALS (Lou Gehrig's) - Bec is hired on to be her fumbling caregiver - and fumble she does for a bit - but ultimately Kate becomes her guide - helping her appreciate the finer things, to not "settle", to question her current path and she even eventually helps Bed find her way - as she inevitably grieves her death.

Bec gets way overinvolved in Kate, as part of her job eventually requires her to speak for her. She becomes part of her social life, personal habits, her own marriage. She becomes a caregiver as well as a self-declared protector for Kate. I could see where Bec was going with this vicariousness, I could see that Bec was going to learn something profound about herself - it was wonderful to see her figure it out - open her future like a gift. Though, truth be told, things got a tad bit tedious at the end. After the book climaxed it seemed as though there was either too much book left to wrap up loose ends or not enough to answer all of the questions I had. I think it went on a bit long - Bec wallowed a bit more than you would expect but then when considering the intensity of her relationship with Kate - it makes sense.

All and all, a good read. So what are you reading?