The point was that we both understood how easy it is to let your life pass along, totally in book, unless you take a risk, disrupt the expected patterns, and try to make something human happen.
— CJ Hauser, The Crane Wife: A Memoir in Essays (Doubleday, July 12, 2022)
Notes:
- Highly recommended. And if you can, listen on Audible.
- A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME, THE GUARDIAN, GARDEN & GUN
- Guardian Book Review July 19, 2022: The Crane Wife by CJ Hauser review – frank and funny essays on doomed romances.

You have to make a choice…To take a chance…Or your life will never change. -author unknown-
Thanks for the recommendation David. Most appreciated! (I can’t sleep either!). Best Regards – Paul Kruse, Northern VT
Thanks Paul. Unfortunately yes. And this from a movie we watched yesterday:
“Tired? Sleep is elusive.”
— Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett), “Tár” (2022)
I want to see that movie!
Yes!
we need to live life, not just pass through it
And that’s the punch line!
Ohhh, sounds like a ‘must.’! And have been wanting to see ‘Tar’ since hearing Blanchett talk snout the film last fall…. https://www.npr.org/2022/10/22/1130725565/tar-starring-cate-blanchett-tracks-the-financial-unraveling-of-a-celebrated-orch
She, as usual, was excellent.
I so admire her.
Of course coz she is Australian 😉
She is not!!!!!!
Catherine Elise Blanchett was born on 14 May 1969 in the Ivanhoe suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Her Australian mother, June (née Gamble), was a property developer and teacher.
CJ Hauser. Reading, Connecticut. You’ve lost the thread!!!!
I came in on Lori and your conversation bout Blanchett. Settle down Mr D ha
Awwww. I missed that thread! My bad. My first ever mistake!
Phew 😅 and I thought you were perfect
Up to that error, I was. Leave it to you to topple the Jenga tower.
Ha 🥰
😂
Not everything great comes from down under!
Well? We Aussies think so ha 😂
No doubt. What’s the line.
“Never in doubt, always wrong!” 😄
Have you had your coffee this morning?
Laughing.
Are they all doomed, these romances?
Let’s hope not!
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Are they all doomed, these romances?
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“…try to make something human happen”…yes, that’s it…
yes…
Nothing like a week that starts with a MMWC by you!
I’m from that club. The club that takes the risks, disrupts patterns.
Right now I’m too happy and relaxed where things are. Looking for the next pattern to shake.
But one must stop and recognize the ones that keep things in place while they need to be. We honor our Sentinels too.
oh, those Sentinels!
Can’t live with them
Can’t live without them…
Intriguing. In my mind I think I oscillate between feeling the need to do something, disrupt the monotony of my life, and to learn to appreciate that monotony, relish the ordinariness of my existence.
Adding to my ever-growing TBR, thanks.
So well put Laila!!!!
Life, for me, should be a mix of the steady, follow the book with moments thrown in to shake things up and out of monotony – though, to be honest, it is more fun when we are in control of those things that throw us out of whack…
Added to my to be listened to pile…
“it is more fun when we are in control of those things that throw us out of whack…!” Ha! How I wish!
You and I both!