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[sissyandsusu]

I had a vested interest in this book for many reasons, but mostly because I love books about family, I love Asian authors, and my oldest and her husband and children have now been firmly entrenched in the Cupertino culture for almost ten years. The book is lovely on many levels, but she truly understands the daily complexities of the female psyche and the challenges we strive for, but then want to commit suicide about. Your boss is a dick? No worries. Your husband acts like a two year old? Don’t they all? Your father is mildly abusive and definitely dismissive? OK, I just don’t remember it. You try to be perfect, and nice, but it gets you no where so you just admire all the bitchy women you know. WTF? Your mother was right. My mother was right? And then the men...spoiled, bratty, self-involved, indulged, and not that smart! But they get everything they want and need. All because they were always told this by the women in their lives...moms, sisters, wives, waitresses, teachers, executive assistants, etc. The circle of life. Right? Anyway, it’s very good, very witty, and very timely. I highly recommend! (at Tybee Island, Georgia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqXgFvoAgdc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ck4zh04li8ho

[sissyandsusu]

Happy Day to me from Kelly, Justin and kids. #farmgirlflowers #natureisart #thankyou #happybirthday (at Tybee Island, Georgia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp-B43mguiJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1442oek35gtyu

[sissyandsusu]

...Caroline decided then that everything she knew about parenting was misconceived. That she and Nathan would start fresh. The past didn’t matter, it didn’t, as long as you were aware of its reach. If you possessed that same self-knowledge you would not fall down the same holes. That day in the hospital, alone with her newborn son, Caroline promised him that she would be a better mother than the one she’d had. And it would be this imperative, flawed and guilt-ridden and imbued with Caroline’s own sense of personal history, that would propel my sister through the next fifteen years of her life. Only after Joe’s accident would she realize the futility of her mission. Better was largely irrelevant when it came to mothering because the entire enterprise relied on the presumption that one day, sooner than you thought, your child would become an entirely self reliant, independent person, who made her own decisions. That child wouldn’t necessarily remember the Halloween costumes you made from hand six years running. Or maybe she did, but she just resented you for it because she’d wanted store-bought costumes just like all her friends. It didn’t matter how great a mother you tried to be; eventually every child walked off into the world alone...from The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin Everything you need to know about this book is imbued in this passage. Whatever feelings you get when you read this, whatever stage of life you are in at present, however you were raised, if you are or aren’t a parent, you will in some way identify with Ms. Conklin’s new insight into turn-of-the-century Americana familial. Three sisters and one brother (who are incredibly and blessedly intelligent) are left to raise themselves for a time, and the consequences of this to their adult lives is what this book is about. The characters and their relationships are heartfelt and entirely plausible. Her writing pulls you in, wanting to know more. I read it through in a day, as I’m sure most of you will, but herein lies the problem. I was so left wanting. This could have truly been THE BOOK. A BIG award winner. It has all the bones: the family; the distant mother; four self-reliant children. Then t (at Tallahassee, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpcVd5jn31C/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zygxudf6dn7w

[sissyandsusu]

#bookthief #myfamily #reading (at Tybee Island, Georgia)

[sissyandsusu]

#applepencil #cantpaintinbed #coloringhelpsmesleep (at Tybee Island, Georgia)

[sissyandsusu]

#HowToRaiseAHuman I wish someone had told me that grandchildren are AMAZING!My granddaughter just finished kindergarten and talks all the time about wanting to be a teacher. This was me encouraging her play, not caring about her “naked dress code”or the “drive thru” learning. I’m only hoping she’ll eventually set her sites much higher because teaching will frustrate her fabulous brain as much as it did my simple one! (at Tybee Island, Georgia)

[sissyandsusu]

Have a merry happy day! #kindness #christmas #peace (at Saint Simons Island, Georgia)

[sissyandsusu]

#beenthatkindayear #happythanksgiving #eatturkey #family #family (at Saint Simons Island, Georgia)

[sissyandsusu]

Two goodies on Netflix. If I were in college and needed a thesis idea, I would consider a compare and contrast on these two. Can’t wait for season 2 of Atypical and MANHUNT: Unabomber is not what you expect. Both are well written! #netflix #needabreak #goodwriting (at Saint Simons Island, Georgia)

[sissyandsusu]

I was slow to read this, but it's excellent! #reading #murder #school #mommytime #lovebooks

[sissyandsusu]

Pakistan vs Pakistan vs the world. So many links to be made with America vs America vs the world. Will we learn before we implode doing our own "good deeds"? Heart-rending, poetic, and historically prophetic, this author weaves his tale with the grace and precision of an arrow through your heart. 💔 (at Saint Simons, Georgia)

[sissyandsusu]

Another goodie! A female cop mystery, with true working woman angst included. #love #mystery #bookstagram #reading #read

[sissyandsusu]

I just re-read this. Still good and very thought provoking... #relevant #bookstagram #future #politics #family #keepgoing #love

[sissyandsusu]

Have you ever felt uncomfortable in your own skin? Like you didn't belong, not even in your own family? That no matter how true you were to yourself, nobody ever understood a single thing about you? Then read this book! ❤️❤️#relevant #thoughtful #bookstagram #read

[sissyandsusu]

Another good one! #reading #read #read100books2017 #historical #historicalfiction #relevant

[sissyandsusu]

I'm only halfway through 700+ pages, but the writing is killer. I am scared at every turn of a page what might happen, and I'm not sure what will, but I still want to recommend you read it. I have a feeling this story will be captured somewhere... Hopefully HBO, Netflix, or Showtime because it cannot be done in 2.5 hrs. #bookstagram #reading #recomended

[sissyandsusu]

Inspired by my granddaughter's cute Boho sandals that she picked out for herself for her 5th birthday, I found a more grownup version for myself! She really is a little mini me (for now)! #girlsjustwannahavefun #agedoesntmatter #samedelman