Necessary Lies

After reading The Midwife's Confessions, I knew I had Chamberlain on my reading A-List.
I personally have a preference to reading stories that take place in a time era I've never witnessed. And to read a story with social crises such as that of America's 60s (which I only saw in movies or TV) was quite the reward!

A story about a poor family overwhelmed by health issues and social instability, with the intrusion of a newbie social worker whose professional mishaps inevitably saves the day.

Jane, the new social worker can be annoying for a great part of the novel; she seems to slip one too many and tries to make it up for the people around her even though it's against her principles. But later on we see her as the one who sincerely makes a difference.

It was honestly a good read, even though the state of Ivy's life is quite depressing, but there was a satisfying ending to it.

That being said, I gave it a five star rating on Goodreads.

Once Upon A Million Times ...

Once upon a time we fell in love with something.

That something became our wild aspiration at one point in time. We either maintained it, making it a fundamental part of our lives, or had to cast it to the wind.

And the wind does change.

I guess we already have a plot there!

So, what is your "Once upon a time.."?

We all seem to have a story to tell, and I believe it's evident whenever we sense a longing for someone to listen, right? We're not sure what it is we want to share with this 'good listener', for maybe our stories are too many to choose from. Yet, the fact that whatever you're transmitting is being received is kind of relieving.

Ever since I was young .. Wait, allow me to throw in some drama here..

"Once upon a time, some time ago (Ok, yeeeaaars ago..) I gave up on the fact that things last forever. Perhaps this is due to my globetrotting. My house wasn't the same, as we seemed to be moving places exactly every three years. Like it was some kind of divine milestone we had to step! Faces were not the same for the longest period; names forgotten. When you're young, you absorb all this with a tinge of juvenile excitement. But as you come of age, it wears you out and what's been absorbed overflows.

As the setting keeps on changing, you find the desire to  hang on to things. Though it can be hard to keep what is tangible, there are always those everlasting memories. And what better way to preserve them than through writing?

A paper can be your friend, you know. It will listen silently as you scribble on it; stay put wherever you put it, awaiting your return for some more words to be written.

A Once Upon A Million Times."


Hana S.