Richard W. Brown

Stream of Consciousness!

My random thoughts on Jan, love, grief, life, and all things considered.

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Celebrating Trees on Tu Bishvat

Celebrating Trees on Tu Bishvat

The Jewish New Year of the Trees

Celebrating Trees on Tu Bishvat

Tu Bishvat is a significant occasion in the Jewish faith as it marks the New Year of the Trees. It is a time when we are all reminded of our collective responsibility to serve as stewards of the Earth, irrespective of our religious beliefs. As I took my morning walk in the gray drizzle today, the dramatic impact of climate change was evident all around. There were tell-tale signs of environmental degradation everywhere. It made me ponder the legacy we will leave behind for future generations. Unless we act together now to ensure that everyone has access to clean and healthy communities, the consequences could be grave. We must take urgent steps towards a greener, more sustainable planet, and that starts with each one of us assuming responsibility for our actions and making conscious choices that are in harmony with nature.

In my backyard, Lisa M. Collins, on July 24, 2020, wrote “Sultry Nights and Magnolia Trees: New York City Is Now Subtropical” in The New York Times. Ms. Collins noted, “New York City, after years of being considered a humid continental climate, now sits within the humid subtropical climate zone. The classification requires that summers average above 72 degrees Fahrenheit — which New York’s have had since 1927 — and for winter months to stay above 27 degrees Fahrenheit, on average. Despite the occasional cold snap, the city has met that requirement for five years (as of 2020). And the winters are only getting warmer.

Decades ago, when I first moved to Brooklyn, today would have been colder, and instead of rain, we might have had snow. As my feet slipped on mud, I thought about the urgent need to protect our environment. The future is at stake, and we must act before it’s too late. Today, I took one small but essential step by sending a letter to our elected officials, urging them to support The A. Donald McEachin, Environmental Justice Act, sponsored by Senator Cory Booker and others. Together, we can combat climate change and create a better world for all, where marginalized communities have the legal tools to reduce environmental inequities.

Support Environmental Justice!


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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2023 Was Very Hot – 1.48°C (2.66°F) Warmer!

An analysis by the Copernicus European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts recently concluded that 2023 recorded the highest global average temperature in the temperature data records from 1850.

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Remarkably Bright Creatures

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Today, I recommended reading "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt. It's a charming, witty, and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope. The novel traces the unlikely connection of a widow with a giant Pacific octopus, making it perfect for fans of "A Man Called Ove." Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes, looking at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

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Jan Believed in Herself and Worked to Empower Women

Seven Years After the Women’s March

Still Marching for Peace, Justice, and Freedom

Jan Believed in Herself and Worked to Empower Women

Jan at the Women’s March, January 21, 2017.

My wife, Jan, and I stood in the parking lot, shivering in the cold, waiting for the replacement bus to arrive. We had been up since before dawn, eager to participate in the Women’s March in Washington, DC. But our excitement had been dampened when we discovered the bus we were supposed to take had broken down.

As we stood outside in the cold, waiting for the replacement bus, my wife turned to me, her concern etched on her face. “Honey, you don’t have to come with us,” she said. It’s freezing out here, and we don’t even know if the replacement bus will be any better.”

But I wasn’t about to back down. I put my arms around Jan and pulled her close. “We’ve been in this fight together since we met,” I said, my voice firm. And I won’t let you go to DC alone.”

Jan smiled, relieved and grateful that I was still willing to journey with her. Together, we stood there, shivering in the icy wind, but determined to be a part of history and stand up for our beliefs.

Finally, a new bus arrived, and we climbed aboard. Sitting next to my wife, I couldn’t help but think of all the people who had fought before us for the self-evident freedoms we were still battling to achieve today. Would we ever have a day when we no longer had to march?

Jan, sensing my thoughts, took off her pink “Pussy Hat” and set it aside now that the sun was up and the heat was on. I couldn’t even knit a good hat,” she joked, and we laughed. I leaned over and kissed her, grateful for her strength and resilience in adversity.

Upon our return home seven years ago from the Women’s March, I had high hopes for real change. We must continue to march until everyone is entitled to the same inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Even though we may face challenges, I draw inspiration from my wife, who was diagnosed with lymphoma three years and seven months after that warm day in January. Although she can’t physically march with me, I carry her in my heart and will keep marching until we live in a beloved community.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. For gifts made this month, I will match dollar for dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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Peace, Love, and Tranquility for All

Liza Donnelly's simple but elegant Peace Animation that she created for Cartooning for Peace defines the dreams that inspire us to be the best we can be, not only for ourselves but for our friends, neighbors, and loved ones.

However, there are days when the world crumbles before our eyes.

Yet because of our collective astigmatism, our vision is blurred, and we cannot connect, work together and create a world where we can all find peace, love, and happiness.

My astigmatism blinded me when Jan died and kept me from understanding the magnitude of the gift that Jan's love provided me.

With the clarity of reaching the bottom of my life's journey, I can now see more clearly but have the motivation to change.

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Return of Five O'Clock Shadows

Return of Five O’Clock Shadows

It is Icy Cold, But the Sunshine Lasts Longer!

Return of Five O'Clock Shadows

The cold weather has penetrated my bones as I walk towards an uncleared part of my daily route. The snow beneath my boots is crystalized and makes a crunching sound as I turn left from North Avenue onto the trail alongside the Rahway River. A year before my marriage, Jan and I had walked in Ft. Greene Park, which felt like a moment reminiscent of the novel Dr. Zhivago. However, as much as I wish this moment was more like the novel, the only sound is the crunching echo of my boots. As I stroll through the icy terrain, I keep my balance and move forward. Some path sections have cleared halfway to North Union, but the shadows make it difficult for me to navigate.

The long winter month of January has plunged me into the depths of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) once again. The pervasive cold lingers despite the sun’s valiant attempts to brighten the day. As I go about my daily routine, I must tread carefully along the icy paths, determined to fulfill my fitness goals by closing the exercise and calorie rings.

As I climb the stairs towards the third floor, I unwrap The New York Times from its blue plastic cover. It’s January 20, 2024, a year from the next presidential inauguration. The uncertain future of who will be sworn in makes me feel anxious. However, a piece of information suddenly pops up in my mind, giving me a glimmer of hope. Today is the day when the sun will set below the horizon at 5 pm in my backyard. It may not instantly become warmer, but it’s a positive sign that encourages me to believe in a future of warmer weather and longer, dancing shadows in the evening.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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Frozen Steps on a Windy Day

"You earned a double ribbon today," my friend Cindy said as she slowed down to walk with her dog Henry next to me.

"Why, two ribbons," I asked as the brutal winds chopped my words into tiny ice pellets.

"One for walking daily and the second for walking in frigid weather."

I nodded and reminded myself I was walking for physical and mental health, not ribbons.

"The lake isn't frozen."

"Climate change," she responded.

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Ten Alternate Words for Widow

Ten Alternate Words for Widow

ChatGPT Created a Thesaurus of Options

Ten Alternate Words for Widow

On January 3rd, I wrote an article titled “Why Am I Still Defined as a Widow?“. In the article, I expressed my confusion and frustration over being referred to as a widow despite having moved on from the loss of my spouse. I explained how I have chosen to live life to the fullest with meaning and purpose and have discovered the transformative power of loving and being loved. I also mentioned that I play many roles in life, including that of a father, grandfather, community activist, advocate, and observant Jew. I am a complex and multifaceted individual. Therefore, I requested the reader to consider me as such.

My friend and reader of my blog, Mark Annett, read my blog post. He wrote, “Your quest for a new term for the widow was noble. So, I shared your post with ChatGPT for some help. Here is what it came up with…

[From ChatGPT] Certainly! Here are some alternative words to replace widow that emphasize a positive and forward-moving perspective:

  1. Continuer: Suggests someone who carries on, embodying the spirit of moving forward.
  2. New Chapterist: Implies someone starting a new chapter following a significant change.
  3. Life Adventurer: Connotes a person who embraces life’s journey with enthusiasm and courage despite challenges.
  4. legacy Keeper: Emphasizes maintaining and cherishing the legacy of the loved one.
  5. Love Forwarder: Suggests a person who continues to spread the love they shared with their departed spouse.
  6. journeyer: Indicates someone on a continuous journey, highlighting progress and personal growth.
  7. Hope Bearer: Implies a person who carries hope and optimism into their future.
  8. Resilience Beacon: Suggests a guiding light of resilience and strength in adversity.
  9. Memory Guardian: Focuses on guarding and honoring the memories of the loved one.
  10. Renewal Seeker: Conveys seeking new beginnings and rejuvenation.

Each of these terms brings a unique perspective that aligns with Richard’s message of strength, resilience, and positive progression in life.”

Consider me a complex and multifaceted individual, and let’s not be defined by our worst days. Instead, let’s focus on the strength and resilience we display in the face of adversity. I am determined to find a new word that better represents my identity as a widow. Until then, let’s embrace our complexity and live with purpose.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Regarding gifts made this month, I will match the dollar for dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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I receive a commission when you buy a book or product using a link on this page. Thank you for supporting Sharing Jan’s Love blog.



Why Am I Still Defined as a Widow?

I don't understand why I am still referred to as a widow. Despite the loss of my spouse, I have chosen to live life to the fullest with meaning and purpose. I have discovered the transformative power of loving and being loved. I play many roles in life, including that of a father, grandfather, community activist, advocate, and observant Jew. I am a complex and multifaceted individual, and I ask the reader to consider me as such. Let's not be defined by our worst days but rather by the strength and resilience we display in the face of adversity. I am working towards coining a new word to replace 'widow' that better represents my identity. Until then, let's embrace our complexity and live with purpose.

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Parable of the Talents

Parable of the Talents

This morning, I completed reading Octavia E. Butler's acclaimed post-apocalyptic novel, "Parable of the Sower." I immediately started reading its sequel, "Parable of the Talents," initially published in 1998. This second book is even more relevant today than it was back then. The novel's timely message of hope and resistance in the face of fanaticism is shockingly prescient.

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Journey Through Snow and Ice

Snow Does Not Halt My Daily Walks

I Walk Into the Future, One Step at a Time!

Snow Does Not Halt My Daily Walks

As I got out of bed today, I heard the sound of a snow plow scraping outside. If my wife were here, she would encourage me to stay in bed, and I would have, as her pleas were impossible to deny. However, I have been alone for 986 days, so I decided to get dressed for my morning walk. As I stepped onto the sidewalk, the snow seemed more like a dusting than the 1.8 inches reported by my weather app. If I used their ruler to measure my height, I could claim I was six feet tall.

I planned to stick to downtown Cranford, where the snow shovelers had already started sliding the snow into the curb. But the light dusting of snow, the first in seven hundred and one days, motivated me to follow my usual route. I only avoided the three long stairs leading up to the train platform since they had yet to be salted or cleared of snow. I only walked six miles, less than needed, but I met the minimum required to count it as one more daily walk.

After burying my wife, I began taking daily walks to help me cope with the overwhelming sadness. Although I no longer cry, I continue to walk every day. Today, I am only two weeks away from completing one thousand consecutive days of walking.

Grief has been a great teacher; I have learned to listen better, even when my hearing might be less than optimal. I have embraced others, though only a few have been as welcoming as my beloved wife. Now, I open my arms to adapt to a new and unfamiliar world. Each step I take into the unknown future is one I must never cease to take. Although I would do anything to bring my wife back, I know that is impossible. The future, with all of its mysteries and possibilities, is the only path I can take.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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Walking and Reading Daily!

I follow a set of routines. Since my wife passed away, two habits that have been particularly important for me are walking and reading. They have become an essential part of my daily life and have helped me maintain a sense of balance and structure amidst the chaos of everyday life.

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The Jan Lilien Education Fund!

Celebrating Trees on Tu Bishvat
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Remarkably Bright Creatures

Read: January 2024

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Remarkably Bright Creatures

by Shelby Van Pelt

Today, I recommended reading “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt. It’s a charming, witty, and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope. The novel traces the unlikely connection of a widow with a giant Pacific octopus, making it perfect for fans of “A Man Called Ove.” Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes, looking at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

The story follows Tova Sullivan, who works the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium after her husband dies. Tova has been coping with loss since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

While at the aquarium, Tova becomes acquainted with Marcellus, a grumpy giant Pacific octopus who refuses to cooperate with his human captors. However, Marcellus forms a remarkable friendship with Tova and helps her uncover the truth about her son’s disappearance.

As a detective, Marcellus uses his invertebrate body to deduce what happened when Tova’s son disappeared. Together, they embark on a journey to unearth the truth before it’s too late.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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I receive a commission when you buy a book or product using a link on this page. Thank you for supporting Sharing Jan’s Love blog.



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Jan Believed in Herself and Worked to Empower Women
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Return of Five O'Clock Shadows
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Ten Alternate Words for Widow
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Parable of the Talents

Read: January 2024

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Parable of the Talents

by Octavia E. Butler

This morning, I completed reading Octavia E. Butler‘s acclaimed post-apocalyptic novel Parable of the Sower and immediately started reading its sequel, Parable of the Talents, initially published in 1998. This second book is even more relevant today than it was back then. The novel’s timely message of hope and resistance in the face of fanaticism is shockingly prescient.

In 2032, Lauren Olamina survived the destruction of her home and family. She envisioned a peaceful community in Northern California, which she established based on her newly founded faith, Earthseed. This new settlement provides a haven for outcasts who face persecution following the election of an ultra-conservative president. The new president pledges to “make America great again,” but the country becomes increasingly divided and dangerous. Lauren’s subversive colony, a minority religious faction led by a young black woman, becomes a target for President Jarret’s oppressive regime characterized by terror and discrimination.

In the future, Asha Vere discovers the journals of her mother, Lauren Olamina, whom she never met. As she delves into her mother’s writings, she grapples with the conflict between Lauren’s responsibilities to her chosen family and her mission to guide humanity toward a brighter tomorrow.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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I receive a commission when you buy a book or product using a link on this page. Thank you for supporting Sharing Jan’s Love blog.



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Journey Through Snow and Ice
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Can You Feel This?

Read: January 2023

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Can You Feel This?

by Julie Orringer

Today I read Can You Feel This? by Julie Orringer. This short story rekindled so many memories. In the chaos of a maternity ward, memories of tragedy and grief come flooding back for an anxious mother-to-be as she struggles to balance her child’s needs with her healing. Although Jan and I did not have the shadows of tragedy and grief when our sons were born, this short story was more than a page-turner. Can You Feel This? reminded me of the power of the love Jan and I shared.

When our second son was born, we almost had him at home or in the as we waited too long. In Can, You Feel This? , that was not the case. Both children had two loving parents but also grandparents.

When Jan had the first of several hospitalizations, she was in the hospital where her mother died. Jan told me her feelings, and I comforted her, but I could not fully comprehend her angst.

Can You Feel This? is part of Inheritance, a collection of five stories about secrets, unspoken desires, and dangerous revelations between loved ones. Each Inheritance piece can be read or listened to in a single setting. By yourself, behind closed doors, or shared with someone you trust. This is the second one in the series I have read. The previous one was Everything That my Mother Taught Me.

The Goodreads summary provides an overview,

Rushed into an emergency cesarean section, a woman finds herself in the same hospital where her suicidal mother died. She’s buried the trauma of her mother’s last hours—and also the dread that she might be just as vulnerable to breaking. As the new mother relives one crisis in the midst of another, prize-winning author Julie Orringer turns the joyous event of birth into a harrowing, poignant short story.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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I receive a commission when you buy a book or product using a link on this page. Thank you for supporting Sharing Jan’s Love blog.



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Borscht Belt Boy: Recollections of a Hotel Brat

Read: January 2024

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Borscht Belt Boy

by Mark Kramer

I started reading Borscht Belt Boy: Recollections of a Hotel Brat by Mark Kramer today. The book is the story of a young man who grew up in the heyday of the Borscht Belt. The author sent me a copy when I shared my 2023 reading accomplishments. I found joy in reading his memoir as the author, and I are almost the same age.

The author, the son of a Catskills Mountain resort hotel owner, describes his experiences growing up when hotels, bungalow colonies, and sleep-away camps were booming. Learn about the characters that populated this world, from the kids who worked in the dining rooms, the handymen recruited from the Bowery, to the chefs and maitre d’s.

Enjoy the author’s humorous description of the different kinds of people who summered in the mountains. Read fascinating tales of entertainers, including Buddy Hackett and Lenny Bruce’s experiences at the family hotel. There is a brief history of Catskills’ institutions, how the influx of Jews changed the landscape, and how the resort trade influenced race, religion, and class.

This lighthearted memoir will return fond memories to those who visited the Borscht Belt in their youth and enlighten those not lucky enough to have shared this particular time and place in history.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Regarding gifts made this month, I will match dollar for dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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I receive a commission when you buy a book or product using a link on this page. Thank you for supporting Sharing Jan’s Love blog.



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Happiness Falls: A Novel

Read: September 2023

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Happiness Falls: A Novel

by Angie Kim

I highly recommend reading Happiness Falls, a book authored by Angie Kim. The story is about a family’s search for their missing father, which leads them to question their beliefs and relationships. The award-winning author of Miracle Creek writes this thrilling and emotionally profound book.

“We didn’t call the police right away.” These are the first words of an extraordinary novel about a biracial Korean-American family in Virginia whose lives are upended when their beloved father and husband go missing.

Mia, the irreverent, hyper-analytical twenty-year-old daughter, has an explanation for everything—which is why she isn’t initially concerned when her father and younger brother Eugene don’t return from a walk in a nearby park. They must have lost their phone and or stopped for an errand somewhere. But by the time Mia’s brother runs through the front door bloody and alone, it becomes clear that the father in this tight-knit family is missing, and the only witness is Eugene, who has the rare genetic condition Angelman syndrome and cannot speak.

Happiness Falls is a gripping investigation that centers around a father’s disappearance and the intricate dynamics of his family. As the clock ticks, the family’s deepest secrets come to light, raising questions about love, communication, and the human experience. This novel is a thrilling blend of mystery, drama, and philosophical exploration, showcasing Angie Kim’s remarkable storytelling skills that garnered her numerous accolades for her debut novel, Miracle Creek. Through the family’s journey, Kim offers a fresh perspective on the missing person story, creating a memorable tale of a family that goes to great lengths to understand each other.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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I receive a commission when you buy a book or product using a link on this page. Thank you for supporting Sharing Jan’s Love blog.


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At the Villa Rose

Read: August 2022

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At the Villa Rose

by Major Alfred Edward Woodley Mason

At the Villa Rose by Major Alfred Edward Woodley Mason, initially published in 1910, is a mystery novel in which Major Mason introduced his French detective, Inspector Hanaud, who was an early template for Agatha Christie’s famous Hercule Poirot. Missing jewels, high adventure some one hundred and fifty kilometers from Geneva, a casino, and blind love are all factors in a complex case for Hanaud, which ultimately involves a gang of frightened murderers. If you enjoy deductive mysteries like me, I highly recommend At the Villa Rose.

The Goodreads summary,

In Aix les Bains during the early 20th century, Celia Harland, a beautiful (of course) young English girl down on her luck, is befriended by a wealthy widow, Madame Dauvray, an addict of “spiritualism,” and stages seances for her benefactrix, while knowing full well that the supposed manifestations from the spirit world are entirely bogus. This set-up supplies the opportunity for a criminal gang master-minded by Madame Dauvray’s maid, with their eyes on the widow’s jewelry collection, to engineer an introduction for one of their numbers, Adele Tacé (“Rossignol”), whose taunts of disbelief goad the old lady into allowing a seance to be held which, unsuspected by either Celia or her patron, will be the cover for murder and robbery.

The crux of the plot is that as a medium, Celia will be made their innocent victim, on whom suspicion is to be planted.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. All donations are tax-deductible.

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Ripe: A Novel

Read: July 2023

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Ripe: A Novel by Sarah Rose Etter

by Sarah Rose Etter

I started reading “Ripe: A Novel” by Sarah Rose Etter today. This book has won awards and is highly praised by Roxane Gay for its uniqueness and brilliance. It tells the story of a woman in Silicon Valley who must choose how much she will sacrifice for success. Fans of “My Year of Rest and Relaxation” and “Her Body and Other Parties” will enjoy this surreal tale.

Cassie has worked at a Silicon Valley start-up for a year but feels stuck in a corporate nightmare. The long hours, toxic bosses, and unethical projects are taking a toll on her. She has a hard time reconciling the stark contrast between the abundance of wealth and the poverty and suffering that exist side by side in the city. Cassie observes Ivy League graduates complaining about snack options in a conference room overlooking unhoused people bathing in the bay. She’s witnessed start-up burnouts who throw themselves in front of commuter trains and men who light themselves on fire in the streets.

Even though Cassie is often by herself, she never feels entirely alone. Since she can remember, she has had a tiny black hole that is always with her. This black hole feeds off her feelings of sadness and worry, getting bigger or smaller depending on how much she struggles. While it watches her, it also waits patiently. Its powerful force keeps pulling Cassie closer as everything in her life seems to fall apart.

Cassie finds herself pregnant unexpectedly while dealing with her CEO’s illegal demands. She must weigh the benefits of Silicon Valley against the risks. Ripe follows the journey of one millennial woman through the absurdities of modern life, offering a sharp yet vulnerable, unsettling yet darkly comic commentary on our late-capitalist hellscape.


The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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I receive a commission when you buy a book or product using a link on this page. Thank you for supporting Sharing Jan’s Love blog.



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The Sellout: A Novel

Read: August 2024

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The Sellout: A Novel

by Paul Beatty

Today, I embarked on the unique narrative journey of The Sellout: A Novel by Paul Beatty. This biting satire, which revolves around a young man’s isolated upbringing and the race trial that takes him to the Supreme Court, is a testament to Paul Beattys comic genius. The Sellout, a part of The New York Times’ 100 Best Books of the Century, is a must-read for those who appreciate a distinct narrative style.

The Sellout is a bold and thought-provoking work that challenges the sacred tenets of the United States Constitution, urban life, and the civil rights movement. It also explores the father-son relationship and the pursuit of racial equality, symbolized by the black Chinese restaurant. This social commentary is a vital aspect of The Sellout, making it a relevant and engaging read for those interested in contemporary issues.

Born in the “agrarian ghetto” of Dickens—on the southern outskirts of Los Angeles—the narrator of The Sellout resigns himself to the fate of lower-middle-class Californians: “I’d die in the same bedroom I’d grown up in, looking up at the cracks in the stucco ceiling that’s been there since ’68 quake.”

Raised by a single father, a controversial sociologist, he spent his childhood as the subject of racially charged psychological studies. Despite these challenges, he believes his father’s pioneering work will result in a memoir that will solve his family’s financial woes. But when his father is killed in a police shoot-out, he realizes there never was a memoir. All that’s left is the bill for a drive-thru funeral.

Fuelled by this deceit and the general disrepair of his hometown, the narrator sets out to right another wrong: Dickens has been removed from the map to save California from further embarrassment. Enlisting the help of the town’s most famous resident—the last surviving Little Rascal, Hominy Jenkins—he initiates the most outrageous action conceivable: reinstating slavery and segregating the local high school, which lands him in the Supreme Court. His determination to fight injustice is a powerful force that drives the narrative forward.

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