Book Review: Splinters of Light

Since this book was already reviewed over at Chick Lit Central, I'm sharing my thoughts about it here.

Ten years ago, Nora Glass started writing essays about being a single mother of a six-year-old daughter. Her weekly column made her a household name, and over the years, her fans have watched Ellie grow from a toddler to a teenager.

But now Nora is facing a problem that can’t be overcome. Diagnosed with a devastating disease that will eventually take away who she is, she is scared for herself, but even more frightened about what this will mean for her sixteen-year-old daughter.

Now Nora has no choice but to let go of her hard-won image as a competent, self-assured woman, and turn to the one person who has always relied on her: her twin sister, Mariana. Nora and Mariana couldn’t be more different from one another, and they’ve always had a complicated relationship. But now the two sisters will have to summon the strength to help them all get through a future none of them could have ever imagined, while uncovering the joy and beauty that was always underneath. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I received Splinters of Light as a prize from a book giveaway over at The Book Sage. I was told by Lloyd that I could choose one of his favorite books to be sent to me. He had been recommending Splinters for quite some time, so I was curious to check it out. As soon as it arrived, it went into my five-book pile. I recently had the chance to devour it over my holiday break, and devour it I did! I have recommended several authors to Lloyd and he adds all their books to his TBR once he likes one. I feel like doing this with Rachael Herron now, as well.

While the reviewer at my book blog didn’t like the interludes where excerpts from Nora’s book were featured, I happened to really enjoy those parts. I liked how Nora and Ellie had certain holiday traditions and rituals and then seeing how they changed in the present, whether it was due to age or Nora’s diagnosis (or a mix of both), or even some other factors. What also worked well for me was the genuine and honest dialogue. The characters didn’t hold back in what they needed to say. I felt like I was right in the middle of an argument sometimes.

I really liked Ellie best from all the characters, but I tend to flock to teenagers in books. Even if the novels are intended for adults, if there is a strong teen protagonist, it totally enhances the story. Ellie had a strong voice and a compelling narrative.

What drew me in the most was imagining the unimaginable (pardon the Hamilton reference). I know I forget things a lot of the time, especially if I don’t write it down right away. However, I still remember where I live, how to read, what day it is, etc. Seeing Nora’s memory gradually deteriorate just over the span of a year was unsettling in a “watching a train wreck” sort of way. I didn’t like that it was happening to her, but I couldn’t abandon her either. I had to know what was going to happen. However, the story ended at the end of that tumultuous year, and now I need to know what happens after the end of the story. I’m hoping Rachael will someday give us another year with the characters. Maybe five years down the road, when Ellie is on the cusp of finishing college and becoming an adult herself. Is she going to ever find out if she’s a carrier of the gene that causes Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease? What is Mariana up to now? Has Nora completely succumbed to her memory loss, or was she able to hold on a few years longer? The book needs a sequel!

However, what I wouldn’t want to see in a sequel (should there ever be one) is all the sentimentality and symbolism. I felt like the sea glass and even the computer game analogies were used way too much. And while I love my children (and sister), I don’t wrap my affections into a pretty package every time I tell them so. I felt like I was reading a Hallmark card at times. Also, I would ask that Rachael stays consistent within the narratives of each character. There were many times, especially during Ellie’s narrations, that Nora would go from “her mother” to “Mom” or Mariana would go from “her aunt” to “Auntie.” (Ex. “She was mad at her mother” and then “she wanted to give Mom a hug”.)

Overall, I was very impressed with this novel and still can’t stop thinking about it!

This would make for an incredible movie, and here's who I would cast.
Nora: Rosemarie DeWitt
Mariana: Carla Gugino
Ellie: Hana Hayes
Luke: Michael Trucco
Harrison: Brian d'Arcy James

More by Rachael Herron:



Disclosure of Material Connection:
Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Tale as Old as Time...My thoughts on Beauty and the Beast (with SPOILERS)

Beauty and the Beast came to theaters when I was 15 and I instantly fell in love with it. I felt a kinship with Belle because of her love for reading. The music was memorable and I listened to the soundtrack countless times. I lost track of how many times I've seen the movie, but definitely three when it first came out. And, of course, a couple times on stage! I also felt it was cheated out of the Best Picture Oscar in 1992 and didn't see what was so great about Silence of the Lambs in comparison. So I was definitely looking forward to the live action version, as soon as I heard it was in the works!

I finally got to see that version of Beauty and the Beast today. It was everything I was expecting, and more!

If you haven't seen the movie yet, watch the trailer and then go see it in the theater and come back afterward, so that I don't spoil things for you. (There are some differences from the animated version.) :) If you have seen the movie, scroll down and then let me know what you thought too!



There is so much to say about this version. At first, I wasn't sure if Emma "Hermione Granger" Watson could pull it off. Then I saw the pictures of her, along with the various trailers. After that, I was sold. She did a wonderful job portraying Belle and even brought me to tears several times. She has this natural look where she doesn't have to try so hard to be beautiful. Similar to the animated version.

I liked that there was more to the story than what we get from the animated version. We learn some of the Beast's back story, as well as what happened to Belle's mother. It was also interesting that they showed what happened to the objects when the last petal fell, before the spell was reversed. That was remarkably haunting and sad.

The costumes, make-up, scenery, and computer animation were incredible. That really added so much to the movie. I especially loved seeing all the objects in action. The combination of these items brought the story to life in ways I never thought would be possible in a live action re-telling.

I've always been a fan of the songs that were originally written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, which were now given some new lyrics and a bit of a different feel. They left out the "Gaston" reprise though. I wish they would have fit in some of the songs from the Broadway version (I kept expecting to hear "Home," which is one of my favorites, because the tune played a few times.) However, the new songs felt less memorable to me. Maybe if I hear the soundtrack a few times, that will change, but I am not sure. I felt the movie could have been fine even if they hadn't been included. (Honestly, that's the only thing that I have a criticism about.)

To address the elephant in the room...I did not feel there was much to worry about in terms of a gay story line. People were making this huge deal out of it, and really LeFou was just being himself. I was expecting him to have some monologue where he talks about his love for Gaston. All he did was subtly (or maybe obviously) flirt with Gaston by touching him. Even in the animated version, LeFou is Gaston's number one fan. He fawns over him just as much as in this version. The only part that even felt remotely gay was when he danced with a guy at the end. And that was fine by me too. I really liked Josh Gad as LeFou. That part was meant for him as soon as I heard he was cast. He played it so perfectly. What I didn't like was Gaston taking advantage of LeFou's unconditional adoration for him to manipulate him whenever it suited his needs (or ego). I was glad when LeFou wised up at the end and said that they were in a bad place. It was nice to see him become a good guy after taking whatever "love kernels" Gaston gave him in the past. (Despite Gaston being a bad guy, Luke Evans was much more attractive than the animated version. Definitely more subtle, even though still egotistical.)

There was just so much to love about this new version. I need to see it again when my daughter isn't talking the entire time. I got distracted quite a bit because of that. However, I shed my share of tears and felt my breath catch quite a few times. I also laughed a lot. I loved the objects attacking the villagers. And Cogsworth's line toward the end is hilarious. I loved the addition of Maestro Cadenza (the harpsichord) as one of the objects (as well as his relationship with Madame Garderobe). I also liked how the timing issue was fixed (by not addressing any age or amount of years). Really, all the casting was perfect for this film. One of my other favorites was Ewan McGregor as Lumiere. He paid homage to the late Jerry Orbach in his portrayal.

Definitely one of the best movies I've seen in 2017 so far!

If you saw it, what did you think? Here's a fun video about Easter Eggs in the film.

Thoughts on This is Us--including spoilers

If you know me, you probably know how I spent my Tuesday evenings during the past six months. If you don't, I was watching a show targeted towards fans of Parenthood...about four people who share a birthday. However, there's much more to it than that!

If you haven't seen This is Us yet, all the episodes are now available on NBC.com and on the NBC app. If you've heard that you'll cry and you don't want to cry, all I can say is that you're missing out on a great series. What happens in the series premiere will blow your mind and leave you reeling! And they're just getting started!

Check out the trailer (it doesn't spoil the most important part):


Side note: Watching the trailer again made me all emotional.

Now is the part where I include SPOILERS, so bookmark this post and come back when you've binge-watched all 19 episodes (get a box of tissues...or four).

I'm going to share some of my favorite episodes and my thoughts on each of the characters.

Favorite episodes:
1. Series Premiere (Episode 1): Obviously! This is the one that started it all and has the ultimate twist!
2. The Pool (Episode 4): Mainly because I love what Jack did for teen Kate. I also love Toby's speech to Kate, as well.
3. Pilgrim Rick (Episode 8): I love the Thanksgiving flashbacks and there is so much revealed in the present.
4. Last Christmas (Episode 10): Nothing bad happens on Christmas Eve, right?!? Well, one bad thing did and that put me in a tailspin for a month! Also, I loved the Hanukkah part.
5. Three Sentences. (Episode 13): Princess Bride birthday party! I hope one of my kids will want that someday. I'd actually plan a party if that were the case! Some great emotional moments in this episode and a surprise from Kevin.
6. Jack Pearson's Son. (Episode 15): It's those final moments of the episode that just leave you torn, but also a little more in love with Kevin. And the speech from Miguel was amazing too.
7. What Now? (Episode 17): So many emotional moments in this episode. And we learn an interesting new truth from Kate.

Thoughts on the main characters:
Jack (Milo Ventimiglia): He seems like the perfect father who always knows the right thing to say or do. However, I sometimes worry about him as a husband. I mean, he can be really sweet and romantic, but he also acts impulsively and has a mean side.

Rebecca (Mandy Moore): I think she is still growing on me. I have a hard time associating her as a mother. It seems like she's just playing a role that was chosen for her. Hopefully I can warm to her more in the next season.

Kate (Chrissy Metz): She really makes the show what it is. Kate is so genuine and goes through a huge range of emotions throughout the season. I've loved seeing her character grow and change, ebbing and flowing with the rest of the story. I think she usually makes me cry the most.

Kevin (Justin Hartley): At first I thought he was this ladie's man or a diva actor, but there is so much more to him. I really love what he did for Randall, even though I hated what he did to Sloane as a result. I also love how he is in his current relationship. And yes, he is hot!

Randall (Sterling K. Brown): I feel like I can relate to Randall a lot. I didn't know what to make of him at first either, as he seemed kind of uptight. However, he's really kindhearted and works so hard to provide for his family. He also has a lot of integrity. And it's nice to see his playful side come out from time to time.

Top 5 favorite supporting characters:
1. Toby (Chris Sullivan). I just love him. He's so good to Kate and definitely romantic.
2. William (Ron Cephas Jones). And not just because the actor is the father of an actress from Hamilton. He's really trying to be a good father to Randall to make up for lost time. I love his words of wisdom. He's had a rough life, but he's remained a good person.
3. Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson). What's not to love about Randall's wife? She has a strong role in their family and as a character on the show.
4. Sloane (Milana Vayntrub). And not because it's the right thing to do. She's a good person who keeps getting hurt by Kevin, even if it is done unwittingly.
5. Sophie (Alexandra Breckenridge). I really like her with Kevin. More than I even thought I would when we first got to meet her.
Honorable mention: Randall's daughters. Especially Annie.

Character I love to hate: Olivia (Janet Montgomery). Is it bad that I yell certain curse words at the screen when she is around?
Character I hate to love: Miguel (Jon Huertas). More out of loyalty to Jack than anything else. Miguel is great.

As for the season finale....while it was interesting, I was waiting for an answer that didn't come. I only know what didn't happen now. I also wish they could have just focused on the 90s and the present instead of also going to the 70s. I guessed what Randall's big life change would be before he even said it. And I was happy when he did.

What are YOUR thoughts on This is Us?

Listen to the songs on Spotify.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 2--with SPOILERS

I wrote about Season One of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend a while back. Thankfully, I had binge-watched it a month before Season Two, so I didn't have to wait an entire summer to be reunited with Rebecca, Paula, Greg, Heather, etc. (Can you tell that I just don't like Josh?)

Season Two started out with a new theme song. Beware...it's catchy. In fact, it's playing in my head as I write this. At the end of the song, Rebecca yells "Blam!" and sticks her head through a group of hearts on paper. Then they zoom in on her grin for what feels like forever.

c/o Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Wikia

This season took a lot of new twists and turns, including a few game changers. (One I'm still upset about even now.) There were some fun guest appearances, such as Patti LuPone, Yael Grobglas (from Jane the Virgin), Jamie Kaler (from My Boys), and Brittany Snow (from Pitch Perfect).

If you haven't had a chance to experience the greatness of this show, both seasons are on Netflix now!

Since it was pretty short, I'm going to share my top five favorite episodes and top ten favorite songs. (Here's where the spoilers come in.)


Favorite Episodes:
1. When will Josh see how cool I am? 
Rebecca and Greg finally have some closure, but there's also some promise in it. I also like how Paula handles Rebecca's laziness with her recommendation letter. I would have done the same thing.

2. Who is Josh's soup fairy?
I love that Rebecca and Paula finally make up after they had a friendship fallout.

3. When do I get to spend time with Josh?
This is when we meet the "new guy" (Nathaniel) and also see how dedicated Rebecca is to her job.

4. Will Scarsdale like Josh's shayna punim?
There's a Bar Mitzvah. Patti LuPone is a Rabbi. Need I say more? Oh...and Tovah Feldshuh! We also see another side of the new guy.

5. Josh is the man of my dreams right?
Those devil winds...they make things we-e-e-ird. That's all I need to say, really. Well, the sexual tension in the elevator is pretty hot.

Favorite Songs:

1. "Love Kernels" because it is so true when we want something to cling to for validation of someone else's interest and affection. Also, Darryl being played by a broom!

2. "Greg's Drinking Song." So funny! "I pee my pants, my pants. I pee my pants!"

3. "The Math of Love Triangles." Such a cute song and you might even learn some geometry. I love the part about all the men being gay and getting nothing out of Rebecca singing and being cute.

4. "We Tapped that A$$." Another hilarious song. Had a feel similar to songs from "Singin' in the Rain."

5. "You Go First." In the style of a Heart song with powerful vocals from Rebecca and Paula. And it also speaks volumes about friend fights. Hard to get over our pride and just apologize!

6. "Who's the New Guy?" According to some friends, it's a meta song. It breaks the fourth wall of the show, but works those parts into the story anyway.

7. "We'll Never Have Problems Again." Great disco song, especially with Heather doing a Soul Train dance. And it makes sense too. People think that being in love erases all other problems in life.

8. "Remember that We Suffered." This song needs to be played at all Bar Mitzvah parties going forward. Only if Patti LuPone is singing it though! "I say we. You say suffered!"

9. "Santa Ana Winds." Set up like a Jersey Boys tune with this guy singing each of the five parts to the song. I love how he tries to tell bits of the story at the same time.

10. "You're My Best Friend." A cute little song about friendships that aren't so reciprocal. I love the little chair dance too. It was just very sweet and vulnerable, coming from Darryl.

Looks like I choose three out of five from this list.

There you have it. I don't know how I'll be able to wait until season three. The season finale ended on such a foreboding note.

Reasons to watch The OA

My husband and I recently watched The OA on Netflix. It was marketed as perfect for fans of Stranger Things. There definitely were some elements that reminded me of ST, such as the nosebleeds and a scene involving a waffle. It ended on a bizarre and confusing note, so I'm glad there will be a second season. And it can't get here soon enough!

Here's a trailer, in case you want to see what it's all about:


And here are some reasons to watch this fascinating series (at least in my opinion). I don't think there are any spoilers here, as I am keeping it vague:

1. One of the creators is named Zal Batmanglij. Is that not the most bad-ass name ever?!?
2. Brit Marling (Prairie) is girlcrush-worthy. She's beautiful and ethereal. I just love watching her.
3. One word: Homer. Emory Cohen brings this character to life in such incredible ways. He's my second favorite after Prairie.
4. It features Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy from the Harry Potter films) and Phyllis Smith (Sadness from Inside Out; also on The Office)
5. There is a transgender character. I wish they shared more of his story. Hoping that will happen in season two. He has a great singing voice.
6. The story is just so compelling. I found myself getting totally drawn in.
7. "Product placement" of Costco. (I don't know what to call it if it's a store instead of a product.)
8. The violin piece that is absolutely haunting.
9. There is some really cool cinematography in various parts of the show.

I hope you get a chance to watch The OA (or are as into it as I am) because I would love to discuss it more!

(Side note: Lately, I want to sing "We Know the Way" from Moana so I can say "O-A, O-A...")

Gilmore Girls--Season One (possible SPOILERS)

I know I am totally late to the game, but I finally started watching Gilmore Girls from the very beginning....and now I'm hooked. I think I didn't watch it originally because it conflicted with Friends when it first premiered in 2000. And then I was also exactly eight years between Lorelai and Rory's ages at the time, so I was worried I wouldn't be able to relate. Funny thing is that I'm now eight years older than Lorelai started out on the series, but it's different now. I'm just so glad I decided to give the show a chance. The banter is witty and makes me laugh out loud.

I love the small town feel of Stars Hollow with all their traditions and town hall meetings. Everyone seems to know each other's business. Everyone in the town is such a character in their own right. I especially love Miss Patty, the former stage star who teaches dance class and constantly gives her opinion. And how often do you visit a town where there's a troubadour?!?

I even like Lorelai's parents, Emily and Richard. I didn't like Emily in the beginning, but now I'm seeing her good side, even when she makes me so angry sometimes. Then there's Paris, whom my friend said is her favorite. I'm starting to see why and I get so frustrated when Rory ends up on her bad side. They have such good friendship potential. Paris' friends are too shallow for her! I adore Lane too (her mom is a piece of work though). And Sookie! Melissa McCarthy plays that role to perfection. Michel has even grown on me. It seems like the angry harp player (played by Alex Borstein, who does the voice of Lois on Family Guy) has disappeared though.

And, of course, there's Luke. I'm totally shipping him and Lorelai! The show was written that way, right? Kind of like how Ross and Rachel started out on Friends? Or how Mindy and Danny started out on The Mindy Project? Some characters are just meant to be shipped!

Since I don't have the time or patience to analyze and discuss every episode, I'm just going to share my favorites from the season. I did get some spoilers from Lauren Graham's new book, but it didn't ruin the surprise feel of certain moments. And I'll probably forget the others down the road and be totally shocked.

What I didn't know is that Rory's name is also Lorelai. Fun fact!

If you haven't watched this series (a newbie like me), look no further as you will either see spoilers or won't understand what I'm talking about. In the meantime, here's a trailer for season one (apologies for the quality):

Favorite episodes:
1. Pilot: It really establishes the plot and characters, which made me know why I couldn't stop at just one episode!

4. The Deer Hunters: I love the whole scene with Lorelai telling off the principal of Chilton.

7. Kiss and Tell: I love how everyone is making a big deal over Luke not having an autumn motif in his diner. And Rory's reaction to her first kiss from Dean is cute. I also love that Lorelai invites Dean to movie night at their house and gives him the "don't hurt my daughter" talk.

12. Double Date: Rune was so weird and rude, but I love how this kicked things off for Sookie and Jackson. I even love when Jackson told Rune to go bowling by himself. And there was definite chemistry between Lorelai and Luke when they were hanging out at the diner after the fancy restaurant idea went bust.

13. Concert Interruptus: I loved seeing a new side of Paris in this episode.

17: The Breakup, Part 2: I think the best part was when Rory finally "wallowed." My heart just went out to her. I loved most aspects of this episode from Lane meeting a new guy at the party and not wanting to admit she was having fun, to seeing Summer break up with Tristan, to Sookie being a control freak when Jackson was trying to cook for her, etc.

20. P.S. I Love You: There were a lot of funny and really good moments. I wouldn't mind having someone cook a fancy breakfast for me in the morning, so I envied Rory a bit when she ended up at her grandparents' place.

21. Love, Daisies, and Troubadours: I love the pissing match between Max and Luke (you know I wanted Luke to win that one), and Dean and Rory's kiss at the end is so perfect. There were just some really great moments overall and I can't wait to see where this goes!

On to season two! (Stay tuned...)

All over that Rainbow

The way things are going in our country right now, some comic relief is definitely needed. My go-to humorist is the clever, talented, and wickedly funny...Randy Rainbow! He's like Broadway's answer to Weird Al. Perhaps snarkier. When he puts out a new video, my day is complete. And yes, he makes fun of the Cheeto all the time and doesn't apologize for it. The Cheeto is too worried about Alec Baldwin or his imagined popularity and grandeur to attack Randy, which is just fine by me. I even let my kids listen to some of the videos that aren't offensive and they think he is funny too.

I'm sharing some of his videos that I like best. I recently discovered that he does more than just ridicule the Cheeto. He has some stuff out there from a few years ago that just has me in tears (the good kind).

Here's a video he did prior to the Tony's. Probably one of the better "Alexander Hamilton" parodies out there!


This is one of my favorites. Done after the Hamilton "incident" in November.


If you've never seen Into the Woods or don't know all the songs that well, you won't appreciate this as much as I did.


This was my introduction to Randy. He had me at "Super..."


I just found it recently. While I love that he used a song from Thoroughly Modern Millie, it also is bittersweet.



I also just found this recently...a RENT parody!!! So perfectly funny.


He also does great interviews that rival the ones Weird Al has done in the past. His interviews remind me of a friend I grew up with who would make tapes where he was interviewing our Rabbi and fitting in all the Hebrew words to match his questions (or vice versa). Most of them are political, but I'll keep it neutral for now. He did a funny interview with Barbra Streisand last year.



This is just a taste of his awesomeness. If you like these, visit him at his YouTube channel, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.