Women at work and their tips, challenges, advice, complaints, and experiences

Read anything good lately? 

It's been a while since I was able to sit down and read a book, most especially a nice thick novel, so I was super excited that during my time off for the holidays I found a copy of a book at the local library that I wanted to read: The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber.  AND I got to read it!  *chuckle*

The reason I initially found out about this book was because I purchased a different title from another of Macomber's series as a gift for my grandmother recently.  When I mentioned it to my mother, she excitedly told me how much both of them had enjoyed this title - needless to say I had to find out what the hubbub was about.    I'm not a knitter just yet, though it's on the lengthy "to-do" list for 2008.  I did, however, live in Washington state for almost 10 years, so I'm fairly familiar with the areas Macomber discusses in the book.  A quick flip through told me that this would be interesting, to say the least.

I was proven right!  The Shop on Blossom Street was a welcome reprieve from the nonfiction articles I've been limited to reading the past few months.  While some of the plot was a bit shallow, this isn't exactly the sort of thing you expect lots of action or twists and turns in.  It also wasn't twaddle or "brain fluff", thankfully. 

Personally I think Macomber struck a good balance between some of the drama of physical issues (IVF and fertility/conception issues, cancer, rough upbringings, drugs) while still keeping most of the characters likeable.  I have to admit I really disliked one of the characters, Jacqueline Donovan - a sign that the character was well developed.  After all, if the author hasn't made the reader love or hate a character, they haven't really given you much depth, have they?

It's been a long time since I was able to sit down and devour a book in a day - and this was a great title for just that sort of day.  What a treat to read!  By the time I was done I had snorted with laughter (quietly, so as not to wake my son, of course) and shed more than a few tears as well.  While the issue with Alix's roommate, Laurel, was pretty obvious, the ending of Laurel's situation included a bit of a twist I hadn't expected.  (Hence more tears.)

This is definitely something to look for if you're a knitter but want something other than pattern books to read - or if you love a good ol' down home romantic, dramatic piece of work to get you removed from life for a little bit.  You can bet I'll be looking for the next book, A Good Yarn, when I head into the library tomorrow to return The Shop on Blossom Street.  I'll let you Workerettes know what I think of it!

(FYI: the links to the titles will take you to the Barnes & Noble website, but they are search results only.  They are NOT affiliate links, so if you purchase the book through those links, neither I nor Know More Media are receiving any profit from your purchase.  If you would like to help support Workerette.com or Know More Media's business blogging network, there are several options available - just leave me a comment and I'll help you narrow down what works best for you/your company!)