This is a somewhat disappointing book compared to Secret Life of Bees, yet I hate to say it wasn’t worth consuming. It felt more like a sort of romance novel with quirkiness thrown in, rather than a quirky book with some romantic diversions, as Bees was. And really, the worst parts of Bees were the parts about romance.

I’m not sure it’s a good sign that I would like to smack the narrator, but perhaps in the end that will prove to be the author’s intention. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and finish.

In fact, it was so amusing that my daughter revisited her decision not to finish the book and ran upstairs to start it all over again!

these unfortunate events were very amusingly portrayed on screen.

I can think of times I might have benefited from their services…

Finally I had the time and the focus to finish reading this book, which is odd and funny and sad and beautiful all at once.

A great recommendation from my friend, reverendmother!

I never finished reading this, but it is still on my summer pile!

Madeleine Peyroux is a 30-ish jazz singer whose voice has the wisdom of Peggy Lee’s elder sister. I highly recommend this CD. She was interviewed recently on WBUR’s “The Connection.”

This is a truly beautiful book, filled with reflections on life and death, faith and love, the meaning of the sacraments, and the beauty of engaging scripture, as well as unlikely and unexpected happiness.