Random Connect Points:
Reba's Stories

 Our June Iceland adventure didn’t disappoint. ... and yes, I definitely look like a tourist coming off an overnight flight ... It delighted. It surprised. It rained. It exploded (geysers did anyway). It charmed. It never saw a sunset. It far exceeded expectations. We explored Iceland with four friends - Neil and Deb McLean and Jim and Frankie McLean -   on a Viking Cruise that left out of Reykjavik and circumnavigated the small island nation of 400,000 inhabitants. We made stops in six diverse ports where we saw gushing geysers, still volcanoes, exquisite natural beauty, magnificent waterfalls, engaging local guides, changing weather and delightful stories. This post includes a few rambling thoughts and fun facts from what I learned and enjoyed between the lines of the history, geography, food, scenery, weather, culture and geological wonders. 1. It’s true what they say… if you don’t like the weather wait 10 minutes. Most days were low 50s with mist/light rain. We did hav...

Each summer during my personal reading challenge, I try to include at least one book of poetry. This isn’t my usual reading genre, but I like to shake things up a bit. My favorite poet is the beloved Mary Oliver, a steadfast writer of words that uplift and enlighten. So, when I stumbled across an NPR interview with a young poet whose Instagram handle is “ MaryOliversDrunkCousin ,” I had to check her out. “A Bit Much” by Lyndsay Rush is described on the back cover as “a book of poetry for people who didn’t even know they liked poetry.” It’s a home run. During a bike ride back in September, I listened to NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly interview Lyndsay Rush. They had me laughing out loud in the first minute, and I pedaled on over to All Good Books to buy it immediately. For several months, I kept it in the car with me as a book I could grab on the fly when I had a few minutes while waiting for a meeting to start or the meter to run out. When it came time to make my summer reading list, I...

When traveling light, I still indulge in the luxury of carrying a hard copy book with me. For a recent vacation trip, I chose Cathy Rigg’s just-released “That Which Binds Us.” Cathy is a Columbia-based, first-time author with roots in the Virginia mountains. The book weaves a story around five beautifully written characters living through the horrors of the Civil War in southwest Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains. I will admit that historical fiction isn’t usually my top reading genre choice. But between the fact I know Cathy and her talent, plus I’d just gotten my signed copy at her book launch party, I couldn’t wait to get started. From the first chapter (which Cathy read aloud at the book launch event), the writing kept me engaged with the characters’ individual narratives that she skillfully connects through their intersecting stories. What really brought this book alive for me is the dialects, the spoken cadence and the language that Cathy hones to perfection. Each chapter is...

(Writer's note: I wrote this review in 2019 shortly after the book came out. The podcast mentioned below is still online and is as relevant today as it was when the interview was done in 2019. This book is a must-read for anyone who thinks they might have an understanding of this complex story). Rarely does a book appeal to all my “reading” senses – well written, important message, compelling story and human connections. “Grace Will Lead Us Home” about the shootings at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church is one of them. J ennifer Berry Hawes  wrote the book while a reporter for the Post and Courier and witnessed first-hand many of the details surrounding this tragedy. Currently she writes for ProPublica. When I read writing by an author whose work really grabs me, I like to mark up the pages and go back and read those favorite lines over and over. This book is dog-eared with turned-down pages, numerous bookmarks and notes scribbled in the margins. For anyone who thinks they...