Thursday, October 13, 2011

Review -- Best Staged Plans

Teaching seven English composition courses in college sucks up my time like a giant vacuum. I'm either preparing for class or grading essays. So the minutes when I can read for pleasure are stolen gems. Yesterday, I picked up Claire Cook's Best Staged Plans and never looked back, gulping it down like an ice-cold Coke on a sweltering summer day. Afterwards, I felt happy and satisfied, ready to return to my laboriously written English compositions.
The main character, Sandy, wants to get her house ready to put on the market, so she and her husband can pay off the bills of kids in college and a daughter's wedding. Sandy's a home stager, so she's meticulous about preparing the house. She's a little bit like me in that she's frenetic and demanding, glaring at each tree rather than enjoying the walk in the forest. Her husband and adult son aren't helping out the way they should and she's had enough. A trip to Atlanta to stage a boutique hotel helps give her some perspective on life.
A lot happens in this 238-page book as Sandy attempts to corral her life into order when no one seems to be following her directions, not her daughter, her new southern son-in-law who calls her "Mo'am," her best friend or even the guy at the post office. Sandy's time in Atlanta helps her look at the big picture and realize the value of family.
The author also has a link on her website that encourages her readers to donate reading glasses because "Not having reading glasses is the biggest obstacle to disadvantaged people over forty re-entering the workplace."
Pick up this book for the story and it will give you plenty to think about when you're finished.

6 comments:

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

This sounds like a great book to relax with with life gets to stressful. Loved your take on it.

bermudaonion said...

7 composition classes? That's got to be classified as cruel and unusual punishment.

I thought Best Staged Plans was great too!

judi said...

frenetic-- demanding? ---you? hmm. who knew.

the book sounds great. it's on m list.

Lucia said...

oh it will have to wait...I have 4 books in line!

Stephanie said...

Great review - thanks! I could use a book like this to read right now.

Currently, I am working my way through 4 new Appalachian Trail memoirs (to help me cope with my unfulfilled desire to go backpacking this month).

Linda said...

That looks like a good book. Glad you got to relax a little.

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