REVIEW: TRACY FLICK CAN’T WIN, BY TOM PERROTTA

Tracy Flick is a hardworking assistant principal at a public high school in suburban New Jersey. Still ambitious but feeling a little stuck and underappreciated in midlife, Tracy gets a jolt of good news when the longtime principal, Jack Weede, abruptly announces his retirement, creating a rare opportunity for Tracy to ascend to the top job.

Energized by the prospect of her long-overdue promotion, Tracy throws herself into her work with renewed zeal, determined to prove her worth to the students, faculty, and School Board, while also managing her personal life—a ten-year-old daughter, a needy doctor boyfriend, and a burgeoning meditation practice. But nothing ever comes easily to Tracy Flick, no matter how diligent or qualified she happens to be.

Among her many other responsibilities, Tracy is enlisted to serve on the Selection Committee for the brand-new Green Meadow High School Hall of Fame. Her male colleagues’ determination to honor Vito Falcone—a star quarterback of dubious character who had a brief, undistinguished career in the NFL—triggers bad memories for Tracy, and leads her to troubling reflections about the trajectory of her own life and the forces that have left her feeling thwarted and disappointed, unable to fulfill her true potential.

As she broods on the past, Tracy becomes aware of storm clouds brewing in the present. Is she really a shoo-in for the Principal job? Is the Superintendent plotting against her? Why is the School Board President’s wife trying so hard to be her friend? And why can’t she ever get what she deserves?

 

 

As we watch Tracy Flick try to finally get what she deserves through hard work and staying true to her beliefs, we know already that Tracy Flick Can’t Win. Others seem to get the kudos, while she seems stuck in the past with the failures she can’t forget.

Alternating stories offer a look at the other characters, some of whom are competitors for Tracy…and some are friends.

As we near the big night when the Hall of Fame contenders are announced, we sense that there will be a big moment for Tracy. Something that will get her noticed. I enjoyed this character and rooted for her all along. 4.5 stars.

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REVIEW: ENOUGH ALREADY, BY VALERIE BERTINELLI

Behind the curtain of her happy on-screen persona, Valerie Bertinelli’s life has been no easy ride, especially when it comes to her own self-image and self-worth. She waged a war against herself for years, learning to equate her value to her appearance as a child star on One Day at a Time and punishing herself in order to fit into the unachievable Hollywood mold. She struggled to make her marriage to Eddie Van Halen— the true love of her life—work, despite all the rifts the rock-star lifestyle created between them. She then watched her son follow in his father’s footsteps, right up onto the stage of Van Halen concerts, and begin his own music career. And like so many women, she cared for her parents as their health declined and saw the roles of parent and child reverse. Through mourning the loss of her parents, discovering more about her family’s past, and realizing how short life really is when she and her son lost Eddie, Valerie finally said, “Enough already!” to a lifelong battle with the scale and found a new path forward to joy and connection. Despite hardships and the pressures of the media industry to be something she’s not, Valerie is, at last, accepting herself: she knows who she is, has discovered her self-worth, and has learned how to prioritize her health and happiness over her weight. With an intimate look into her insecurities, heartbreaks, losses, triumphs, and revelations, Enough Already is the story of Valerie’s sometimes humorous, sometimes raw, but always honest journey to love herself and find joy in the everyday, in family, and in the food and memories we share.

 

 

 

I am a fan of Valerie Bertinelli, and have been ever since I watched her every week on One Day at a Time. I also followed her weight loss journey and admired her for her efforts.

In Enough Already, she reveals how she has moved on from the past and the voices she has always seemed to hear in her head, reminding her that she is not enough, that she needs to lose weight, and that she is not a person of worth.

Her path to change those voices makes up much of this book, and we also learn about the sadness of her first husband’s illness and death; her life during the Pandemic; and how she is moving on from the past and changing her voices to those that fill her with joy.

Along the way, we journeyed with her to Italy to meet family and learn how to cook truly Italian dishes. Her descriptions of the food and places kept me turning pages. A great read that earned 5 stars.

 

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WEEKLY UPDATES: A GREAT WEEK…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

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What a great week!  There was New Year’s, of course, although mine was quiet at home with books and movies.  Then there were outings, like shoe shopping and lunch out; and a brunch with a friend.  Plus..I actually read and reviewed three books, including My First Book of the Year, finished on Tuesday.

I watched another episode of the HBO MAX series And Just Like That. And I enjoyed a movie based on the book The Tender Bar, written by J. R. Moehringer.  I read the book in 2012 and really enjoyed it.  The film was also good, and Ben Affleck portrayed a major character.

After such a great week, I am ready for another one.  But first, let’s take a close-up of the past one.

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Monthly Wrap-Up…End of Year

Tuesday Excerpts:  “State of Terror”

Tuesday Potpourri…Book Love

WWW Reading…

Digging Into My TBR

Coffee Chat:  To Begin Anew…

Bookish Friday:  “My Darling Husband”

Review:  State of Terror, by Hillary Rodham Clinton & Louise Penny – First Book of the Year

Review:  My Darling Husband, by Kimberly Belle

Review:  The Summer Deal, by Jill Shalvis

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Reckless Girls, by Rachel Hawkins

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NetGalley ARC:

The Summer Place, by Jennifer Weiner – Release Date: 5/10/22

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CURRENTLY READING:

Lucy, by Ellen Feldman

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That was my week!  What did yours look like?  Below, brunch with a friend this week.

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WEEKLY UPDATES…READING, BLOGGING, AND OUTINGS…

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Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

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Another week flew by, and while I only read and reviewed two books, I did get out and had lunch, went shopping, and enjoyed time with a friend.  Back at home, I started a third book, but I was distracted by shows and rearranging my rooms.  As for blogging, I only wrote five posts…but that seems to happen when I’m caught up in other things.

This morning I woke up early, which is another regular event, even though I plan to sleep in on the weekends. But by 6:00 a.m., I’m out of bed and engaged in the morning routines.

So let’s take a closer look at my week.  Below, I rearranged the sitting room.

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Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Widow”

Tuesday Potpourri:  A Bookish Day…

WWW Reading…

Digging for Backlog Books…

Bookish Friday:  “Christmas Dessert Murder”

Review:  Wish You Were Here, by Jodi Picoult

Review:  Do I Know You, by Sarah Strohmeyer

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INCOMING BOOKS: 

Oh William!, by Elizabeth Strout

Christmas Dessert Murder, by Joanne Fluke (and currently reading)

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That was my week!  What did yours look like?  I love this Country Farmhouse from one of my magazines.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: MY JOURNEY…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

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Another week has sped by, with good books, good movies and shows, and plotting the weeks ahead.

Three books were read and reviewed, and along the way I relaxed with old favorite movies (The Way We Were, Barefoot in the Park) and new shows I’m loving (Dopesick and Big Sky).

I did write seven blog posts, too.  I do enjoy connecting with other bloggers and sharing my obsessive activities.

So…as I ponder what to do with the rest of the weekend, let’s take a closer look at my past week.

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Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Wonder Test”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Bookish Day…

WWW Reading…

Rediscoveries…

Chasing Away the Blues…

Bookish Friday:  “The Way We Weren’t”

Weekend Thoughts

Review:  Forgive Me, by Susan Lewis

Review:  What To Do When Someone Dies, by Nicci French

Review:  The Wonder Test, by Michelle Richmond

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I downloaded two new books…and added a NetGalley ARC to my shelves:

NetGalley ARC:

The Bodyguard, by Katherine Center

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The Way We Weren’t, by Phoebe Fox

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What To Do When Someone Dies, by Nicci French

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CURRENTLY READING:

A Million Little Lies, by Bette Lee Crosby

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That was my week. What did yours look like? This upcoming week, I am looking forward to my first Thanksgiving gathering with friends and family in two years! Perhaps it will look like this:

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WEEKLY UPDATES: A GREAT WEEK…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

It has been a good week.  I read and reviewed three books, which I enjoyed, and wrote only five blog posts. I viewed more of American Rust, Dopesick, and Passing.

I had no outings.  But I went online, read a lot, and did a little cleaning; then I spent time on Skype today with my son who lives in Prague.  We were online for almost three hours!  I love when that happens.

Thanksgiving is just ahead of us, and I hope to spend the day with friends who have been vaccinated.

Meanwhile, let’s take a closer look at my blog posts.

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Tuesday Excerpts:  “Her Perfect Family”

Tuesday Potpourri: A Bookish Day…

WWW Reading…

Probing the TBR Shelves…

Bookish Friday:  “What To Do When Someone Dies”

Review:  I Know You, by Claire McGowan

Review:  Her Perfect Family, by Teresa Driscoll

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl, by Catherine Ryan Hyde

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INCOMING BOOKS: 

The Wonder Test, by Michelle Richmond

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“A gripping blend of danger and sharp social commentary on high-stakes education, the 1%, and suburban tropes: imagine a coffee date with Lisa Lutz’s Spellmans and Tom Perotta’s suburbanites in a sun-drenched Twin Peaks.” Booklist, starred review

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CURRENTLY READING:

Forgive Me, by Susan Lewis

From the internationally bestselling author of over 40 novels comes a gripping story of love, family, and the price of forgiveness, for readers of Diane Chamberlain and Lisa Scottoline.

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That was my week.  I hope to read even more this week…and in the meantime, I will enjoy some new things in my space.  New bright-colored dishes.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: A HAPPY MONTH…

 

 

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

This week I read and reviewed three books…and I wrote six blog posts.  I watched a few movies that were not that memorable.

It was my birthday last Monday, and I celebrated at lunch with three of my kids and two grandsons. 

On the day after my celebration, my doll arrived!  Yes, the one I have been obsessing over and searching for. 

In the upcoming week, I have a dental appointment and my COVID booster shot has been scheduled.

For now let’s take a closer look at my week.   Below, meet the Replacement Madeline.

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Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Unremembered Girl”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Happy Book Day!

WWW Reading…

Digging Through the Backlog…

Bookish Friday:  “The Unheard”

Coffee Chat:  A Great Birthday Month…

Review:  Mrs. Saint & the Defectives, by Julie Lawson Timmer

Review:  The Beach Club, by Elin Hilderbrand

Review:  The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett

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INCOMING BOOKS:

The Unheard, by Nicci French

CURRENTLY READING:

Crossroads, by Jonathan Franzen

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That was my week! What did yours look like? I enjoyed the whole birthday month…and now I’m looking forward to more good books in the week ahead. Below is another view of the newest Madeline doll and other figurines on my bookshelf.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: HAPPY DAYS…

 

 

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

This week I read and reviewed two books…and I’m halfway through my current read.  I did write seven blog posts.  I watched a few more old movies and started viewing Dopesick on Hulu.  I recorded an episode of Stephen Colbert (I have a DVR now!), and he interviewed Andie MacDowell.  She talked about the Netflix production Maid, in which she stars with her daughter, among others.

I spent time searching Amazon for things I need…and something I’ve been obsessing over!  A doll that I “lost” in the move two years ago…and is now, hopefully, headed my way.

Now, looking back, I wonder what else I did that I forgot about, as the week slid by so quickly!

For now let’s take a closer look at my week.  My birthday is Monday, and my daughter has arranged a get-together of family and friends.

Tuesday Excerpts:  “All the Colors of Night”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Adding Books to the Shelves…

WWW Reading…

Hump Day Potpourri:  Doll Quest…

Another Backlog Book…

Chasing Away the Blues…

Bookish Friday:  “The Dutch House”

Review:  Last Girl Ghosted, by Lisa Unger

Review:  All the Colors of Night, by Jayne Ann Krentz

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Crossroads, by Jonathan Franzen

I Know You, by Claire McGowan

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CURRENTLY READING:

I pulled this book off my unread TBR shelf…and I’m halfway finished: Mrs. Saint and the Defectives, by Julie Lawson Timmer.

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That was my week. Buying myself birthday presents and waiting for packages in the mail, LOL. What did yours look like? I’m sharing my special October tidbits from the apartment where I lived two years ago. Centerpiece: the doll that is headed my way again!

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WEEKLY UPDATES: CHANGES…

 

 

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

I only read and reviewed one book this week!  But I loved it, and my six blog posts showed a little bit of my blogging life.  I got my flu shot this week; on Friday, I got my hair styled by Heather…and we had lunch afterwards!

I viewed some old movies:  I found an old favorite, When a Man Loves a Woman, with Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia.  I also continued watching Big Sky, on Hulu.

Now, looking back, I wonder what else I did that I forgot about, as the week slid by so quickly!

For now let’s take a closer look at my week.  Below, my new hair with a glimmer of purple that I haven’t had since before the Pandemic!

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Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Last Night in London”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Bookish Treasures…

WWW Reading…

From the Backlog…

Coffee Chat:  Loving My Routines…

Bookish Friday:  “Last Girl Ghosted”

Review:  The Last Night in London, by Karen White

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INCOMING BOOKS:  State of Terror, by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny

From the #1 bestselling authors Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny comes a novel of unsurpassed thrills and incomparable insider expertise—State of Terror.

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CURRENTLY READING:

Last Girl Ghosted, by Lisa Unger

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That was my week. What did yours look like? Below, a coffee morning.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: MORE GOOD THINGS…

 

 

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon and The Sunday Post for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

Another week with only two books read and reviewed.  But again, they were great!  How long can I keep reading 5 star books?  My blogging suffered, though, with only five posts. 

I viewed some old movies this week, and also started watching Maid, on Netflix.

No outings this week, but my youngest son and his wife are in town, and I’ve been having great visits.  I also hope to enjoy some birthday events, since October is my month.  LOL.

Another great thing:  I bought another Kindle, a Paperwhite, and I’ve just set it up.  I’m still trying to adjust to how different it is from my Oasis.

For now let’s take a closer look at my week.

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Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Night She Disappeared”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Filling the Shelves…

Searching the Backlog…

Monthly Wrap-Up:  Hello, October!

Bookish Friday:  “Brave Girl, Quiet Girl”

Review:  Apples Never Fall, by Liane Moriarty

Review:  The Night She Disappeared, by Lisa Jewell

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INCOMING BOOKS:The Stranger Behind You, by Carol Goodman

A chilling story set in a former Magdalen Laundry in Manhattan that explores today’s #MeToo complexities.

“In a twisting, mesmerizing story that is as beautifully written as it is utterly propulsive,

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CURRENTLY READING:

Peril, by Bob Woodward/Robert Costa

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That was my week.  I hope to have another great one.  What did yours look like?  Here is last night’s dinner at my Coca Cola table.

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