Category: Second Chapters
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2026 Winter Quarter Books in Review

Reading in Winter Winter seems to be the time I read the most. I’m sure that’s a natural “nesting”, “hibernation” thing to do. I didn’t expect, as I unexpectedly became a full time special ed teacher for the first time, that I’d find so much time to read! The high paced job lends itself to…
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2025 Year End Books in Review

FOURTH QUARTER FALL 2025 I “only” read nine books this final three months of fall/autumn 2025. This makes a grand total of 58 in 2025 (see the earlier book reviews of 2025, links below). My love of reading and books is only growing as time goes on. I geek out over autographed copies (Malala!), of…
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My Favorite Books to Heal From Divorce and Heartbreak

If you want to find books on divorce for yourself, or for a loved one, here are my top picks to heal from heartbreak, betrayal, loss, and to rediscover yourself. Some of these are simply full of great advice. Others feel like commiserating with a close friend. Whatever you’re needing, dive on in, and find…
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Summer Book Review 2025

In the Summer Book Review for 2025, this group of books (which takes me to 49 of my goal of 50 for the year!) kept me company from California to London, Guatemala to El Salvador, and poolside in Cancun, Mexico. From glorious tangible books, to audiobooks. BOOKS 1. The School for Good Mothers, Jessamine Chan …
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Who I Used to Be

Before Second Chapter Nomad May 2025 – I listed this as a chapter summary for my book proposal, but it is still unwritten. I’ve focused so heavily in the past five years as “Second Chapter Nomad”, “divorcee”, “empty nester”, that I almost have forgotten that person I was before all of that. I’m back in…
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Selling My Wedding Ring

September 3, 2025 Spontaneous day of selling my wedding ring. Over five years a nomad. Nearly five years since divorce finalized. Many more years since I stopped wearing my ring after the separation. But oh how I loved its sparkly glory. It was a part of me for 23 years. For years I had a…
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Spring 2025 Books in Review

Spring 2025 Books in Review – I read 21 books from April thru June, 2025. From London to California, Texas to Guatemala! Kindle, Audible, hardcover, paperbacks. Attended book festivals in both London and Los Angeles. Read lots of fiction, literary and good ol’ airport chick lit, nonfiction (love memoirs), and more. What have you read?…
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Books in Review – First Quarter 2025

Books – The Winter Edition Books in Review – I’m well on my way to my goal of fifty books for 2025. As mentioned, I “lost” the ability to focus on reading books during the pandemic and divorce, so this is pure joy to be able to get so lost in a book. I carry…
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Five Years a Nomad

FIVE YEARS. Five years as a nomad from a creature of habit and familiarity. Five Years a Nomad. Divorce, Empty Nest, Pandemic, Mid-Life, 50s. The Perfect Storm! This is extraordinary to me. I was the ultimate creature of habit, routines, and familiarity. I chose to live at home and go to UC Santa Barbara so…
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2024 Year End Book Review

Books – Fourth Quarter Review 2024 – the Autumn Edition I managed to read a total of 46 books this year – on Audible, my Kindle, and many many “real” books! On Tubes, in pubs, on trains, planes, curled up on sofas, laying in bed, poolside, at the beach… oh to read a book! What…
