Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2  (Read 776125 times)

mabel1015j

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1480 on: February 10, 2011, 12:22:52 PM »
 
         
This is the place to talk about the works of fiction you are reading, whether they are new or old, and share your own opinions and reviews with interested readers.

Every week the new bestseller lists come out brimming with enticing looking books and rave reviews. How to choose?


Discussion Leader:  Judy Laird


 Here's an interview w/ Bradley and a video of the estate.

http://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-Bottom-Pie-Flavia-Mystery/dp/0385343493/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

Jean

BarbStAubrey

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1481 on: February 10, 2011, 02:13:49 PM »
 Oh wow I can see now why Steph is enjoying this read - thanks Jean for including the link to Amazon - I was able to read some of the first chapter and it is a delight.
“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” ~ Goethe

Steph

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1482 on: February 11, 2011, 06:38:38 AM »
I hope you enjoy it Sheila, I really did. I am going to download at least one of the newer Alan Bradleys on my Kindle.. I have mostly downloaded free or .99 but I do love his stuff.
Stephanie and assorted corgi

MaryPage

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1483 on: February 11, 2011, 12:46:50 PM »
A great day in History!  A great day for Egypt!  People dancing in the streets all over that country and many other nations of the Middle East.  Reminds me of V-J Day!

A reminder of what I hope will go down in the History books, though I feel doubtful:  this was all begun by a YOUNG WOMAN with college degrees.  She has generaled the whole peaceful protest.  Hope she gets the credit, but, men being what they are, I doubt it.  One can but hope!

Babi

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1484 on: February 12, 2011, 08:24:11 AM »
 Now let's hope the military council doesn't decide to hang on to the
reins.  I hadn't heard about this woman who started the protest, MARYPAGE.  The news reports interviews I've seen were all with men.
Who is she?  I does look as though she was shuffled out of sight pretty
quickly.
"I go to books and to nature as a bee goes to the flower, for a nectar that I can make into my own honey."  John Burroughs

MaryPage

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1485 on: February 12, 2011, 09:41:25 AM »
I do not remember the name.  This is what I remember:  early newscasts from Cairo said flat out that the leader of the protest was this young woman, and they showed her in the headquarters of the group.  It looked like offices in some building and everyone was young and very busy.  She was slim and did not have her hair covered.  She looked very, very busy, but smiled at the newsfolk.  That is the extent of it, but I saw that more than once, and done by both NBC and CBS.  I am inclined to think the lack of mention now is for her protection.  Didn't ANYone besides me see this?  Some of my family members caught it, as well.

BarbStAubrey

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1486 on: February 12, 2011, 12:23:14 PM »
Since there are still jailed over a 1000 protesters who knows - she could be among them or they maybe protecting her from being taken. There is no word that the secret police have been disbanded.
“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” ~ Goethe

jane

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1487 on: February 12, 2011, 02:47:35 PM »
Yes, MaryPage, I saw the young woman on TV that I believe you're speaking of.  I don't recall any details of the interview now, (my memory isn't so good now) but I do recall her.


jane

MaryPage

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1488 on: February 12, 2011, 08:20:16 PM »
Thank you, Jane;  you have quite restored my own faith in my sanity, for the fact is, I find NO ONE who remembers the early broadcasts I remember!  Except one daughter and her husband.  The thing is, I think she is still there, behind the scenes, giving the orders.  I mean, what MAN would think of having that crowd actually CLEAN UP and sweep that square?

Babi

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1489 on: February 13, 2011, 08:17:39 AM »
I missed the earlier broadcasts, MARYPAGE. I'm not sure how long the
protest had been going on before it caught my attention. You may be
correct that her identity is being obscured for her own protection.
  I loved your observaton about the square being cleaned up and swept.
  :D  Actually, though, I thought the Army did that.
"I go to books and to nature as a bee goes to the flower, for a nectar that I can make into my own honey."  John Burroughs

Gumtree

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1490 on: February 13, 2011, 10:34:47 AM »
No, judging from TV shots it was the people.
Reading is an art and the reader an artist. Holbrook Jackson

MaryPage

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1491 on: February 13, 2011, 02:26:58 PM »
The Washington Post this morning (page A12) indicates it was definitely the people.  Many came to clean up who had not been part of the demonstrations.  Some wore vests with signs on the back proclaiming:  "Proudly Cleaning Egypt."  National songs blared out of speakers.  One 30 year old engineer had not protested, but said that cleaning up the streets was the least she could do to help those who saved Egypt.

The article went on to quote two communiques issued overnight by a core group of protest organizers.  I think they mean the group I have referred to, and I'm betting they are keeping the name and location of this group out of their reporting as a safeguard measure.

Babi

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1492 on: February 14, 2011, 09:11:30 AM »
BRAVO!  Good for the Egyptian people!  Now that is how a protest
should be conducted, and too few are. And how many governments
under attack respond with the restraint shown these past weeks.  I
must consider the Egypt a most civilized country.
"I go to books and to nature as a bee goes to the flower, for a nectar that I can make into my own honey."  John Burroughs

ursamajor

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1493 on: February 14, 2011, 09:53:06 AM »
Don't rejoice too soon.  The military still has to turn the government over to a newly elected government.  We all hope that will happen, but it would be out of character for most military establishments.

Babi

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1494 on: February 14, 2011, 10:03:14 AM »
Very true, URSA.  But since the Army has made their support of the
people evident from the beginning, I have hopes.  Someone at the top
is sure to be tempted; we can only pray they resist the temptation.
"I go to books and to nature as a bee goes to the flower, for a nectar that I can make into my own honey."  John Burroughs

BarbStAubrey

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1495 on: February 14, 2011, 11:22:51 AM »
I get the impression unless the news media are completely buffaloed that the army in Egypt is not typical of the armies in many nations filled with thugs - the thugs are in the police and secret police where as the Army appears to be a stabling force. We know that the senior officers were trained in Russia however all the Junior officers were trained in the US and so I would think if there was a wide difference in ideology the Senior officers could not get very far without the support of the Junior officers or a coup within the army would be the next headline out of Egypt.
“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” ~ Goethe

Babi

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1496 on: February 15, 2011, 08:06:12 AM »
 I didn't know that, BARB.  Thanks for the information. That's encouraging.
"I go to books and to nature as a bee goes to the flower, for a nectar that I can make into my own honey."  John Burroughs

MaryPage

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1497 on: February 15, 2011, 09:40:17 AM »
Last night on Brian Williams on NBC they showed the gal I was talking about again briefly.  She is not one of those black eyed, black haired exotic beauties, but could have been American for her looks.  Looked like thick brown hair in a pony tail and who knows what color eyes, though not the black.  Plain face, but interesting and intelligent.  Again, I lacked paper & pen to write down her name, and my short term memory stinks; but the last name begins with an S.  This is the young woman who is supposedly the chief leader of the protest.

The plan is for Friday demonstrations indefinitely, to make sure the army keeps moving on its promises.

With a leader who is diligent and thinks of everything and does not give up, slack off, or let down side for so much as a nanosecond, I really think this thing is going to be a good thing.

The police marched in parade last night through the area, begging forgiveness for following orders to fight the protest and declaring their solidarity with the people.  They also complained about being underpaid.

ALF43

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1498 on: February 15, 2011, 11:18:34 AM »
Today I am returning two books to the library that I had reserved sometime before
santa brought me my Nook for Christmas.  One was What is Left, the Daughter, by Howard Norman, which I wasn't crazy about and can not remember for the life of me why in the world I had reserved it. :P  
The other book, I really enjoyed- Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghase.  It is a well written (IMO) story of a family saga of Africa and America, doctors, patients exile and home.  It's a story of life and love in Ethiopia and a pair of brothers- TWINS born of a secret union.  There is a lot of medical jargon (rudimentary)in it but filled with love, refuge and an unforgetable journey.
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind.  ~James Russell Lowell

mabel1015j

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1499 on: February 15, 2011, 11:47:52 AM »
I'm almost finished w/ Miss Julia Paints the Town, it's the first MJ i've read for awhile and was thoroughly enjoyable. While i read i "see" Miss Julia as the woman who plays the mother in "The Closer". She even has the NC/mid South accent that i've heard as the voice of MJ. Altho i think she's supposed to be from Georgia. Some of you southerners can correct me if i've not got the ear for the differences in the Southern accents correct......  :) ......i love the way Ross has the MJ character speaking what the "proper"action would be and how she rationalizes why she's not doing that  ;) :) ...... Jean

pedln

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1500 on: February 15, 2011, 01:00:41 PM »
Andy, I've had Cutting for Stone on my Kindle for a long time, but haven't had a chance to get to it yet.  The link below is about the author who is a practicing/teaching physician at Stanford, and works hard to teach his students about the "art of the physical exam."

Dr Verghese at Standord

Now I've got to look up that other book you mention -- have heard the name, know nothing.

Added later: What is left the daughter -- ordinarily I enjoy epistolary novels (like Potato Peel Pie, Dear Enemy). I won't pick up this one any time soon.

FlaJean

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1501 on: February 15, 2011, 01:10:04 PM »
Jean, About a year ago I read all the Miss Julia books that my library had, and I thoroughly enjoyed them.

ALF43

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1502 on: February 15, 2011, 06:42:06 PM »
Pedln- I'm sure you will enjoy Cutting for Stone and it is wise that you don't worry about the other one. :D
Thanks for the link on Dr. Verghese, I quite agree with himj that the physical done by a physician isn this country is going by the wayside.  I know that you don't want me to get on my soapbox about that error in judgement and teaching.
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind.  ~James Russell Lowell

Babi

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1503 on: February 16, 2011, 08:11:02 AM »
 Thanks for keeping us up-to-date on the situation in Egypt, MARYPAGE.
I was especially surprised to read about the police march proclaiming
their solidarity with the people's protest. Most promising. (It would
be nice if they could get a raise. I don't doubt that complaint at all.

 I agree, ALF. I found "Cutting for Stone" one of the best books I'd
read in a long time. I raved about it here, I'm sure.
 JEAN, I've only watched a couple of "Closer" shows, so I'm not familiar
with the mother. I can say with authority, however, that the Georgia
lot have one of the strongest Southern accents in the country. An ex-BIL from Georgia, after being transplanted to New York for most of his life, still had the unmistakable accent.
"I go to books and to nature as a bee goes to the flower, for a nectar that I can make into my own honey."  John Burroughs

ursamajor

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1504 on: February 16, 2011, 08:24:00 AM »
There are more than one Georgia accents.  People in the north Georgia mountains speak more like the mountain people in Tennessee; Atlanta and its environs have a very distinctive drawl.  My parents grew up in Georgia and spoke in a Georgia  accent all their lives.  My mother taught English at Brenau in Gainesville.  A good Georgia accent always gives me a warm feeling.

ALF43

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1505 on: February 16, 2011, 04:40:00 PM »
Babi- my apologies to you.  You were probably the one who had remarked of how great the book was and I jotted down the title for later perusal.  Many times (depending on the content) I will take the view of a fellow reader such as yourself.  I just neglected to give you the thanks for sending it my way.  when I was in B & N yesterday I saw it on the shelf in Paperback.  I was astonished as I had been carting that big book around for days.  Thanks again.
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind.  ~James Russell Lowell

Babi

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1506 on: February 17, 2011, 08:07:25 AM »
 Oh, no apologies necessary, ALF. I just wanted to chime in with a
'me, too' on how much I enjoyed the book.  I recommended it to my
son, too, and he said it sounded interesting and would take a look at
it. I don't know if he has read it or not.
"I go to books and to nature as a bee goes to the flower, for a nectar that I can make into my own honey."  John Burroughs

salan

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1507 on: February 17, 2011, 06:05:59 PM »
Cutting for Stone is my ftf book club selection for April.  I down loaded it on my Kindle since it is a long book and our library has limited copies.  My ftf club met today with a most interesting discussion on Sarah's Key.  There were 16 members and guests present and all but one really liked the book, and one other didn't finish.  I thought it was an interesting book, but somewhat depressing.  Our selection for March is Ahab's Wife.  I bought a used copy, but haven't started reading it yet.  Have any of you read Ahab's Wife?
Sally

joyous

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1508 on: February 17, 2011, 06:44:05 PM »

Has anybody in here read Isabel Allende's new novel(I think it is her newest) - Island Beneath the Sea?  Review says it is about a mulatto slave
in New Orleans.  That said enough for me to pick it up-----I live in Louisiana.  The print is very small so I don't know if I will be able to keep
up with it. Her books are always winners. ::)
Joy

Steph

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1509 on: February 18, 2011, 09:06:20 AM »
I took my IPAD with me on the trip. Worked perfectly to read books on the train, but is somewhat awkward to hold for long.. At home, Ihave a chair with arms and that works better. I loved the fact that in the train station and the hotel, I got free wifi and kept up with facebook and my email.. Played games.. Oh me, the IPAD is a perfect companion for me..
Stephanie and assorted corgi

maryz

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1510 on: February 18, 2011, 11:07:10 AM »
Sounds like you had a great time!   ;D
"When someone you love dies, you never quite get over it.  You just learn how to go on without them. But always keep them safely tucked in your heart."

Tomereader1

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1511 on: February 18, 2011, 12:33:49 PM »
salan, I have read Ahab's Wife.  We read it for our f2f book group about two years ago.  As I remember, almost everyone enjoyed the book.  It is a big honking book!  I enjoyed it tremendously.  We read the author's other "big" book - about Marie Antoinette (can't think of the title) I think I liked that one better.  The author does a fabulous job of scene setting, period setting.  I just felt like I was "there" in both books.
The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.


André Maurois

Tomereader1

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1512 on: February 18, 2011, 12:34:29 PM »
Now I remember the author - Sena Jeter Naslund.  The other title "Abundance".
The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.


André Maurois

Steph

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1513 on: February 19, 2011, 09:37:34 AM »
I truly loved  Ahabs wife,, but not so much the Marie Antoinette one. I am still getting caught up. Somehow when I left town, the friends of library decided I should be in charge of this years Literary Adventure..Sob...
Stephanie and assorted corgi

CubFan

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1514 on: February 19, 2011, 10:22:53 AM »
Greetings -

Just finished Louise Penny's new title Bury Your Dead.  I liked it very much as I have all of her books. I definitely recommend that they be read in order as the characters develop as they progress and the story lines are related. This new one has three story lines, one of which is tied to the last book, The Brutal Telling., and changes the ending. This one is set in Quebec and makes me want to visit the city.

Now back to The inner Circle by Brad Meltzer. I don't care for conspiracy novels but now that I'm into it,  I have to find out what is really going on.. I picked it up because of the setting, the National Archives.

Spring is coming. My daffodils are starting to poke through and the cardinal is singing his spring song. Not bad for Wisconsin in February with more snow forecast for Monday. It won't last long.

Mary

Mary
"No two persons ever read the same book" Edmund Wilson

rosemarykaye

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1515 on: February 19, 2011, 11:47:32 AM »
Steph, what is the Literary Adventure?  It sounds like it would be fun - but maybe not if you have to organise it!

Rosemary

roshanarose

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1516 on: February 19, 2011, 10:17:15 PM »
cubfan - I can easily imagine the daffodils peeping out even though the temperature here today is approximately 35 degrees Celsius and rising.  I am sitting at my PC wearing just a batik sarong.  Anything else is much much too hot.  When it is hot in Brisbane, it is usually even hotter in Perth.  I wonder how Gum is?
How can you prove whether at this moment we are sleeping, and all our thoughts are a dream; or whether we are awake, and talking to one another in the waking state?  - Plato

Steph

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1517 on: February 20, 2011, 06:23:16 AM »
Friends of the Library have a literary adventure once a year. It is two day. The first is at the library. We have panels or guest speakers and if we can find one, a movie on the author or one of their books. Then the second day, we go somewhere associated with the author.
I am planning a trip to St. Petersburgh( two hours away). We will go to the brand new Dali museum and have lunch in the town.
The first day will be some sort of panel and hopefully I can find a movie or slides of him and /or his work. That day we also have a box lunch, so people will stay all day. The second day, you buy your own lunch and we try to set up a deal where we provide a dessert from some local restauant.. The thing that is hardest is I must find a bus..That is tricky for us and the biggest expenditure by far.. The cost last year was 40.00 for the whole thing, but the tickets to the museum are expensive and that will raise this years price.. Oh, we did Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings last year. Her home is a state park in Florida.
Stephanie and assorted corgi

rosemarykaye

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1518 on: February 20, 2011, 06:35:08 AM »
Steph, that sounds so interesting - but good luck with all the organisation!  I have been to the Dali museum in northern Spain, it was something else.  Our children were quite young at the time, so we thought they would find that more fun than a more traditional gallery.  Sadly, however, they do not appear to remember a thing about it!

Rosemary

maryz

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Re: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2
« Reply #1519 on: February 20, 2011, 12:29:30 PM »
Steph, we'd seen the old Dali Museum, and it was geat.  I'd love to see the new one.  Dali's never been one of my favorite artists, but I was quite impressed with his talent and technique after seeing lots of his work.  The title of the exhibit was "Madman or Genius" - to which my answer would have been "Both!"  Enjoy your trip.
"When someone you love dies, you never quite get over it.  You just learn how to go on without them. But always keep them safely tucked in your heart."