The Tenth Island: Finding Joy, Beauty and Unexpected Love in the Azores by Diana Marcum

"The Tenth Island is what you carry inside you. It's what's left when everything else falls away. Those of us who live between worlds just know the Tenth Island better. No matter where I have lived---I have never left my island."
             -Alberto to Diana, from the book


This book was free---an Amazon First Reads selection for my Kindle. I was intrigued that much of the story took place in the Azores, a port-of-call on our last cruise. Because of that and other factors, I really enjoyed the book. In fact, I gave it a 5 rating.

Author Diana Marcum, a Los Angeles Times journalist, follows up a Pulitzer Prize-winning story on Central California agriculture with a trip to the Azores. You may have guessed from the quote that her interest was piqued by the Azorean diaspora in California, many of whom owned or worked on farms and ranches and some of whom she had interviewed for her article. Diana had discovered so many Azorean immigrants in the United States that she called it the Tenth Island. She also learned that many of these folks returned to their native islands regularly.

My husband and I had visited Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel, one of 9 islands in the archipelago. (I actually had to look up the name of the island. The port had been named but I'm not sure the island ever was.) Although the author spent most of her time on Sao Jorge and Terceira, I could relate to some of her descriptions of the breathtaking scenery, including cliffs, volcanic peaks, beautiful waters and hydrangeas growing wild and profuse even along highways. I also learned a lot from the book about Azorean culture---foods, celebrations, language and a popular sport which sounded much like their version of "running with the bulls."

I really liked the author's style---so down-to-earth, witty and quite personal. I felt like she'd be someone I'd like to know. The format of the book---I would call it travel memoir--was similar to Eat, Pray, Love but the vibes were so different. While Elizabeth Gilbert came across as very self-absorbed, Diana Marcum showed humility and seemed genuinely interested in other people. More likeable, for sure. Marcum has a delightful sense of humor, as well. I found her "theories" quite clever, e.g. "The Paper Cut Theory" or the "Willy Wonka Candy Bar Theory."

Overall, a delightful read!

True Places by Sonja Yoerg

"Sometimes it takes a stranger to show you what should be obvious, how far you've drifted from who you want to be, from what's right for you, your true place."
                           -Suzanne, from the novel

Suzanne Blakemore is conflicted about her identity and purpose in life. While driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway she spots a young girl, seemingly lost and weak from hunger and dehydration. Suzanne immediately feels drawn to the girl and eventually brings her into the Blakemore home. Husband Whit goes along but the two teenagers are not so welcoming, particularly 15-year-old Brynn.

The girl turns out to be a very under-developed 16-year-old named Iris who admits she is an orphan. She has lived all her life in a cabin in the woods with no modern conveniences so you can imagine she has some serious problems adjusting to the Blakemore's upper middle class world. And of course, the family home is thrown into some turmoil as Suzanne tries to "fix her" while Whit wants to search for any of her relatives.

Early on there is the mystery of "who is Ash?" a name mentioned frequently by Iris. This reader guessed it was her brother but had no idea why he did not appear. Also the reader is kept guessing as to the existence of Iris's father who she believes is dead.

I thought the book was well-written and the story was intriguing. True Places gets a rating of 4 from me.

Teacher Man by Frank McCourt

"If I could travel to my twenty-seventh year, my first teaching year, I'd take me out for a steak, a baked potato, a pint of stout. I'd give myself a good talking to. For Christ's sake, kid, straighten up. Throw back those miserable bony shoulders. Stop mumbling. Speak up. Stop putting yourself down. In that department the world will be happy to oblige. You're starting your teaching career, and it isn't an easy life. I know. I did it. You'd be better off as a cop. At least you'd have a gun or a stick to defend yourself. A teacher has nothing but his mouth. If you don't learn to love it, you'll wriggle in a corner of hell."                   -Frank McCourt, from the memoir

I fell in love with Frank McCourt's writing after I read Angela's Ashes a few months ago. I was lucky enough to listen to a good portion of it narrated by the author, his Irish brogue greatly enhancing the story of his youth in Limerick. It didn't take long for me to find his second memoir, 'Tis in which McCourt describes his return to the U.S. where he was born. I was delighted to find Teacher Man in  both the audio and print versions. Though I enjoyed the first 2 books immensely, this one may be my favorite. Could it be because I taught school 37 years?

As the quote indicates, Frank McCourt began his teaching career at age 27 and for 30 years taught in several New York high schools. Even though I taught elementary school I could totally relate to many of his experiences. Some were laugh-out-loud funny like the sandwich-throwing incident. Many others were quite touching like Kevin's and Serena's stories.

I was impressed by McCourt's teaching strategies---unorthodox, very creative, motivating and relevant to his students' lives. The lesson in which he had students writing excuses for historical figures is a great example. He was the kind of teacher I aspired to be (and hopefully was, at least at times).

On a scale of 1-5, I want to give Teacher Man a 6! I don't often reread books but I can see myself picking any of McCourt's memoirs up again in the future. Since he began his writing career late in life, his body of work is limited. I read Angela and the Baby Jesus, a very short illustrated children's book about his mother as a child "rescuing" the baby Jesus figure from a church nativity. The only other McCourt books are co-written with his brother Malachy like A Couple of Blaguards. I'll find it soon!