The End

I finally finished reading Barefoot last night...

I cried a second time when Vicki makes her list of all of the things that she wants Brenda to do for her kids.  It was so sad!  Overall I was disappointed with the ending, although I would say that Vicki's character had the most closure.

The things about the ending that irritated me:

- I can't believe Melanie went back to Peter - what is wrong with her?!

- The Brenda / Walsh thing was too Cinderella-ish and quite frankly I don't think Brenda deserved a super hot sensitive smart amazing man

- Josh totally got screwed and everyone forgot about him in a way

- The thing with Didi was so random and quite frankly kind of unnecessary to the story

I think the book would have been a lot better if the author had focused more on Vicki's story (or I guess Josh's story).  The entire book could have been about Vicki and Ted, their relationship, the kids, Vicki's illness, etc and Melanie and Brenda could have been side characters rather then main ones.  The problem with focusing on all three women was that I didn't feel like I connected with any of the characters because we never learned enough about any of them to really care.

Overall I would give this book a C+...

My First Tears

I am still reading the book so I won't weigh in on favorite characters yet but I cried my first tears while reading the book last night.  I think it was pages 214 - 215 where Vicki goes for a walk and Ted follows her out and she breaks down about being sick and they have a conversation and then afterwards Vicki admits that she is too weak to walk home.  Then Ted says he knows, and that's why he came, and he carries her home and Vicki thinks about how it is the most intimate moment they have had in months.  I was totally teary eyed.

So far the book is really interesting because honestly I don't really like any of the characters but the book itself is fairly enjoyable.  All of the characters have some serious flaws - and not really flaws that make me relate to them...more flaws that irritate me.  Of course except for Josh - he is adorable.

Peter's character is just gross.  Unfortunately I  think there are a lot of men like that who have terrible affairs and then expect their wives to forgive them when they are done and are ready to get back together.  What kind of wife would just sit around and wait for her husband to finish up an affair and then go back to him?!?!

I still have a bit of the book left and from some of the other posts I am guessing I am going to be disappointed with the ending but we'll see...

All done

I got through the rest of the book laying on the couch in my malaise, how very fitting. What revelations were made by the end. For Vicki, she can't have enough faith to know she's okay. And who can blame her? I surprised she even went back to the support group, but I'm glad she did. She literally came full circle. Although it was a hard road, and probably one she wished she didn't have to have taken, it's amazing how much experience—the bad more than the good—teaches us. Even in her sickness, she recognized she was taking those moments with her children for granted. I love how great her husband was, and how much he needed her. I was very sure he was going to be some rich a-hole, and even Vicki didn't expect the pure devastation from him when she was sick.

As for Melanie, I don't think this character really grew much. Sure, she learned she could be in control for once, but honestly, Peter needed a reason to come back and be her husband—not just the fact that he took a vow to be her husband. Such a prick. And poor Josh. Melanie inadvertently used him, and she knew that she would most likely go back to her husband if the opportunity was there. But that's the reason Josh falls "in love" with her. That very sweetness that he falls for is ultimately the demise of the relationship. It was a good experience for Josh though. It cut him loose from psychotic Didi.

I'm still not sure what to think of Brenda. I feel like we get the most of her background or fall from grace, but then not much a resolution. But maybe that's the point, that life doesn't always work itself out neatly. We know her screen play isn't sold yet, but her life hasn't come to an end. I love that Walsh shows up and shows us what there really is to love about him instead of just the sex and the Australian accent—even if it is a little too perfect.

Girls, who was your favorite of the women characters and why?

Kansas is just like sand in your toes

I love that Brenda brings back sand to put in Vicki's shoes. For some reason, it made me think of Mom's attachment to Kansas. I wonder if I had ever brought back a little Kansas dirt for Mom's shoes if that would have helped.

As for things I fear:

1. That something will happen to Jonathan. He travels a lot, and a lot of his work happens on bridges. I always fear someone will hit him. He wears bright orange T-shirts for a reason. I don't know what I would do without him. We've been together going on 10 years. We've shaped each other in the best way possible.

2. That something would happen to any one of my brothers and sisters. I've lived through it once, but I don't know if I could do it again, especially considering that all of them have kids.

3. Losing my hearing. One of my greatest joys is talking to people, listening to music, and hearing rain. Before my last ear surgery, I was scared to death that I wouldn't come out hearing. I was already one ear down.

4. Being in a bad accident. I didn't drive until college because I was so afraid to drive.

5. That a spider will bite me. Laugh all you want. I HATE spiders.

I can't no point of view of parenting. Give me a couple years and then ask me.

The Fears All Moms Have

In this book one of the characters "loses" her son for awhile, which is probably one of every mother's fear.  So I got to thinking about what sorts of thing I fear about parenting.  So ladies - what out there scares you (I stuck to parenting fears but feel free to expand on the topic)?

1.  My current biggest parenting fear is that when we have another child I won't love them as much as I love Chase.  I can't possibly imagine that I could love this much twice over but every mom I know says that it always works out.  Granted I hate to say it but I never really did comprehend how it would feel to be a mom until I was one so maybe I just can't comprehend how it would feel to be the mother of two yet.  I think feelings that strong are just hard to explain...

2.  I hate to say it because it is not very politically correct but I am terrified of having a chronically ill or special needs child.  I guess having a kid seems challenging enough without added difficulties.  I'm sure when you are faced with something like that you step up to the plate but the idea is scary.

3.  Twins...I'm sure that is all I need to say...

4.  Oddly the idea of being a single mother or raising a kid alone is also terrifying to me.  I rely on my husband, friends, and family to help out with my kiddo so much that I don't know if I could handle trying to do it all alone.

I guess this isn't the cheeriest of topics (neither was the other topic) but maybe it just isn't the cheeriest of books...

Jessaca's Things that Wouldn't Matter

Chapter in book: Haven't even bought it yet; I've been that busy!

1. Job status (no way in hell I'd work this hard!)
2. Where I lived (don't need a house, just the people you love around you when you're sick)
3. Forget clothes; I'd wear my fuzzy and my favorite white T-shirt all the time
4. Spending time blogging (just spending time with the ones here and now)

I think that's it; I'd definitely bring more chocolate into my diet and splurge on a trip to Europe with Jonathan.

Things That Don't Matter

Blog Entry Made by: Kate

Book Name: Barefoot
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Chapter: Not quite sure but a very early one!

So I finally started reading our first "virtual book club" book and the first thing that jumped out at me was that in the book one of the characters is diagnosed with cancer. Since the diagnosis was made she has started a mental list of "Things that don't matter anymore". So I started thinking, if something terrible happened to me what would end up on my "Things that don't matter anymore" list. So maybe everyone else can add what would be on their lists!

My initial list of things that I currently care about that wouldn't matter anymore would be:
- Climbing the Career Ladder
- My Weight
- Acquaintances (and being nice to people that I don't like)
Hmmm that is a short list but it is all I can think of right now - I'll continue to add more as I think of them.