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Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

Posted on by D. Parker

1age44Dear readers, I admit to being in a bit of a pickle.
In youth, life seemed limitless, infinite.
Writing was the same, I just wrote, not a lot of stopping to think.
Such is the power and joy of youth.

And as we age limitations don’t just come from the outside, but from your own body:

  • Sagging (oh no, those should still be much higher).

  • Weird spots randomly attach themselves to your skin (“Out, Damned Spot!” doesn’t work, believe me, I’ve tried).

  • Eating cake may seem more exciting and less work than other, er, strenuous activities…

  • But if you’re not aging, you’ve discovered the Fountain of Youth (good for you, care to share?), or you’re dead and you just don’t know it yet.

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Sigh, so many things I wish I’d done or not done.
Sweet dreams lost, given up, given away, or stolen…
Sweet dreams fulfilled, waiting in the wings, and yet to come…

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There’s also a certain grace, a wisdom, a knowing that comes with age, even for books. Remember how those new and shiny ebooks were going to destroy the book industry? Make books into relics only viewed in museums? Those dire predictions may have been premature. The texture and weight of a book in your hands tells you so much about the content; ebooks all feel the same.

Deep in our DNA, we’re storytellers, not just those who write, but those who read. We don’t just want to experience the stories, we want to share the stories. It’s about connection.

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Many of those stories are by independent authors, not backed by a marketing budget larger than most of us will earn in a lifetime. Does that make them somehow less? Personally, I never cease to be amazed at the talent, the passion, the wonder never appreciated, just because it isn’t a bestseller.

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1teagan1I’ve reviewed books on and off for 30 years, yet ironically, I’m not always a fan of book reviews. I don’t enjoy a book report disguised as a review (we got it, you read the book, now, why should I?) and being told I should like or dislike a book. That’s silly, no one can tell you if you’ll like or dislike something, just why they liked or disliked it.

I love a story that transports me, takes me with the characters on their journey. I want to be there, a part of the story, which happened when I called upon Atonement, Tennessee…and never wanted to leave.

Teagan Riordain Geneviene kindly and brilliantly invites us to visit a small Southern town where things are not as they seem, but instead, is full of mystery, intrigue, murder, dashes of magic, romance…even a cat naturally more attuned and intelligent than her human counterparts (guess that goes without saying).

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I admit being a tad miffed Atonement, Tennessee didn’t come with a warning label, something like: Don’t start reading if you have anything else you need to do for the next couple of days. Of course, obsessively reading this book also helped me cast the movie and/or TV series, let’s see, how about Ian Somerhalder, Richard Armitage, and David Tennant? Look how cute and cuddly they are…oh, and there’s cats too!

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This is fantasy at its finest, but still left me wanting more…more…more…

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And thanks to technology, we can have more on Teagan’s wonderful blog, including her online serial, and even hints of a sequel, Atonement in Bloom (waiting with bated breath): https://teagansbooks.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TeagansBooks
https://www.pinterest.com/teagangeneviene/
https://twitter.com/teagangeneviene

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 Maybe I could 100% honest review your books too, just contact me, see, over there to your right – ‘Sending Me Stuff’.

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Age can sure make you restless, even more so than in the bloom of youth, for we have the knowledge of what has been, what never was, and what could be. I guess what I’m trying to say is, no matter what your age, and the only real limits are those of your courage and your convictions.

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Author:

Very me

230 thoughts on “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)”

      1. Mmh
        Adam n eve had potent immortality
        The tree of life would have done them in
        4000 years later the tree of life was offered
        Remember the fruit is Jesus
        I tell u the truth not many christians are aware

        Like

  7. Donna… You should see me jumping up and down. I wouldn’t have needed coffee this morning if I’d realized! OMG, I’m blown away by this wonderful review.
    I didn’t realize where you were heading when I opened the post. I was just enjoying your words, as I always do, especially “we’re storytellers, not just those who write, but those who read.”
    I sincerely didn’t expect to see my novel here today. If it’s ever magically a movie, you are hired as casting director! Yummy to your choices for leading men.
    Probably I should hush now — it looks like i’m writing my own post here. But I’m that thrilled. Mega hugs!
    (Oh, and I’ll reblog this mid-week, so I don’t confuse people looking for the serial. More mega hugs!) 😀

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    1. Oh Teagan, I’m so glad and relieved and happy, I so wanted to do your astonishing book justice, but I didn’t know if I could find the words to truly instill how amazing it was. I put reviews in with other stuff because I found, in the past a single review didn’t get as many views, so this way, more people are exposed to your wonderful book and blog and stuff. 😉
      You’re a wonderful storyteller and writer, Teagan (the two don’t always go together) and thank you. 🙂
      I’ll await your call for my casting director job…I’ll work on the rest of the cast now. 😉
      Your serial was terribly clever and delightful, although I was a little sad to see it end, it was a brilliant conclusion and I happily await more delicious writing from you, dear one. 🙂
      All the best today and every day.
      Megahugs!!!

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  9. I love what you said about books and reading. I barely read books because I couldn’t set aside the necessarey space to do so. I too want to have time for reading and totally diving into it. Also reading is a challenge for me. Because when I start reading the inspiration flow gets highly activated and mostly after some paragraphs I put that book aside ……….. and write… lol

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    1. I know exactly what you mean, Erika, reading a a good book makes me want to share that story then I start thinking about all the other stories I want to share and I’m inspired to write myself. 🙂

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  10. I have always believed that we were limited by our imaginations, money, and time. Unfortunately I have now had to add another factor – our energy level. As I’m getting older, I’ve discovered that the mind may be willing, but the body is now saying ‘I don’t think so’ with greater frequency :/

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  11. A great book review, for what it’s worth. Those are so difficult to write; plus, I think I’m probably more than guilty of my share of the ‘book report’ aspect. Probably the reporter/perfectionist/editor in me wanting to give maximum details rather than holding back something, one of the most effective and under-rated parts of storytelling. So many pleasant echoes in this piece, Donna . . . about aging, storytelling, and the ebook/real book discussion, in particular!

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    1. Thank you kindly, Leigh. Book reviews are difficult to write, but when they’re so many wonderful stories, so many amazing storytellers, it makes however we do it, worth it. 🙂
      Hope this weekend is treating you well so far. 🙂

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    1. Oh no, is your reading list as long as mine, I don’t think I’ll ever get through mine, but I’ll have a fantastic time trying! 🙂
      Thank you kindly and hope this weekend is treating you well, Lesley. 🙂

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      2. If ‘Atonement, Tennessee’ and all the stuff on your blog is any indication, you could never disappoint…ever! 🙂
        Take care and hope you’re having a lovely weekend, so far. 🙂
        Megahugs!

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      1. You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth! OK, I’m sure you can handle the truth…and if from your mind, I’m sure it’s…umm, funny. 😉

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      10. you know these kinds of word games are the kinds of things that got me 40,000 + comments on that post where we are trying to break the record for most comments… hint hint…

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      12. well, wordpress claims that, even though they keep every other kind of stat, that they don’t know what the record is. People smarter than me tried to find out. We found a post with 20,000 something comments… an evil post where a girl said that women who have kids are throwing their lives away… and the comments were mostly negative. Ours is all about love. We have reunions. We had writing contests. Trent got drunk and tried to seduce himself in there. We might make it into a book someday, if I can figure out how to edit it. We also contacted the Guinness book of world records, but they say that they only have a record for most comments on a whole blog… a Japanese guy… 3 million plus… but that if they ever do one for a single post, we will be considered.
        If you haven’t left at least one comment there, click the link at the top of the sidebar. I answer every comment in there, so half the 40,000 are mine… HA!
        Seriously, leave one comment, I will answer, and it can go on for as long as you want… this is an actual challenge.

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      13. I don’t think mine will ever get that high…I’m pretty sure I’ve left at least one comment, but I will pop back around and add some more. 🙂

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      21. Yes, thank you kindly. I can read it on email, but I can’t seem to download it on my old dearie, the doc is probably too new. I’ll try another later. 🙂 Thanks again. I started reading the intro – you should be honoured, I rarely ever read them or at the end or whatever, yeah, cause that’s how I roll… 😉

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      32. Well, you can email it to me, or contact me via email and we can arrange for you to send me books, or I can download it as I do with some ebooks like from Netgalley, Edelweiss, etc. Those are the usual ways authors and publishers have sent me books. 🙂

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  17. I still haven’t quite figured out where this aging process will take me… or if I’ve even figured it out or gotten used to it yet. The only thing I figured out is why the eyes start to go, so you can’t count your own wrinkles in the mirror.

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      1. Elena knows how to throw a party over at #MidLifeLuv but I have one complaint, it’s getting to be as bad as Pinterest for time loss, I started clicking on the links and I was gone for I don’t know how long. 😉

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  18. I’m with you Donna, I don’t need someone to tell me whether I’ll like a book or not. They don’t know my likes or dislikes, and I sure don’t know there’s. So I’m just wondering (having not read a book they’ve read yet) how either of us could relate one way or the other on a story. Loved your point of view throughout, very knowing.

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    1. It is tricky, I try to infuse my review with what I felt when reading the books and give a few clues as to why they might like or dislike it…without spoilers. 🙂

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    1. Thank you kindly. 🙂
      So glad you found me so I could find you (that sounds more complicated than it probably was), really enjoyed your posts, my son and I suffer from allergies to, well, lots of stuff and your writing is so interesting and informative. Thank you. 🙂

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      1. Thank you for stopping by and your encouraging comment. Glad you find the site interesting and informative. I wish both of you the best with your allergies and other stuff. =)

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  22. I love the first part of your post where you remind us that many of the constraints of age are in the mind. I find being older is liberating in many ways. And the wisdom gained is priceless. My goodness, 30 years reviewing. That’s a great deal of expertise! I’ve been an avid reader all my life but only started reviewing recently. By the way, you’re one of the winners of my giveaway. I’ll be in touch again soon:)

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    1. Thank you kindly, Luccia, I also find it liberating in many ways.
      30 years (on and off), I love reviewing, goodness I read so much I figured I’d better do something with all the info. 😉
      Wow, thank you, I started reading ‘All Hallows at Eyre Hall’, Book One in the ‘Eyre Hall Trilogy’ just in case I won the second book, ‘Twelfth Night At Eyre Hall’…kidding, I rarely win giveaways (although this is the 2nd I’ve won this week), but I love Jane Eyre and was intrigued for your books. I can’t wait to read and review both. Thank you so much. Hope this week treats you well. 🙂

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  27. A fabulous review, Donna. Well deserved by Teagan. She weaves a marvelous, whimsical tale I couldn’t put down. ❤
    I will read any book format but tend to shy away from electronic versions and hit the paper books first.
    By the way, the photos of the hunks with feline friends almost sidetracked me from the real post.

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    1. Thank you Tess, I visited Teagan’s magical ‘Atonement, Tennessee’ and never wanted to leave…a small perk of age, we can try to be patient while she finishes a sequel (note the try part). 😉
      Yes, sorry about the distraction…wait, what was I saying (made the mistake of looking at the post as I was writing this…). 😉
      Hope this week is good to you. 🙂

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      8. I try to read at appointments, but I get distracted people-watching, but I still pretend to read so as not to be dreadfully obvious that I’m people-watching. 😉
        Thank you kindly, Tess, and to you as well. 🙂

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  28. Reblogged this on Teagan's Books and commented:
    I always enjoy the inimitable Donna Parker’s posts at “Yadadarcyyada” – her style and presence is sparklingly apparent, but her heart shines through, brightest of all. So I was happily reading along, when I discovered she could be sneaky! 😀 I didn’t expect to find a review of my novel, “Atonement, Tennessee” within this wonderful post!
    It can be very hard for me to disengage from stress and work on my novels. Donna has just given me a world of encouragement. I hope to be working on book-2 this weekend. Thank you, thank you Donna! Mega hugs!
    ❤ ⭐ 😀

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    1. Teagan, who knew I could be so stealthy? I was about to pop over to your post to read the conclusion of your brilliant serial, ‘Copper, the Alchemist, and the Woman in Trousers’ and was going to let you know, but you beat me to it. The best part is, you liked it. 🙂
      Thank you for your kind words, support, and for letting me visit, ‘Atonement, Tennessee’, I can’t wait to return although I will and just revisit until the sequel. 😉
      I’m so pleased I could help in any small way, Teagan and get going on ‘Atonement in Bloom’, as you can see by the comments, many of us are trying to be patient (difficult to say the least) waiting. 😉
      All the best, dear one and megahugs…thanks for reblogging this. 🙂

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  29. Fabulous stealth review of Atonement, Tennessee, one of my recent favorites too. (Hint, hint Teagan… sequel please!)

    And about that aging thing? Here’s my hero:

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    1. Thank you kindly and apparently, Teagan is working on ‘Atonement in Bloom’ (hint hint, get working, girl). 😉
      Yes, I just want to hug Jonathan, the 180-year-old tortoise, isn’t he gorgeous? Imagine what he’s seen in his lifetime. 🙂
      Hope this day treats you well. 🙂

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    1. lol Sally, I guess we don’t need to be reminded of our saggy bits, but it never hurts to remember youth or Teagan’s magical ‘Atonement, Tennessee’. 🙂
      Yes, I’ve definitely added gravity to my ‘Not In Good Favour’ list… 😉
      Thank you kindly for the reblog, Sally…we need to get more people reading Teagan’s works so she’ll give us more to read. 😉
      Best wishes and hope this day treats you well. 🙂

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  31. I love your spotlight of Teagan´s book… Not to mention your keen and witty insights on aging …and the power and joy of youth, as you call it… Regardless, some things only comes as experience do … Cheers to that… Love and best wishes. Aquileana ✨☺️✨

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    1. Thank you, Aquileana…I was lucky to have wandered into ‘Atonement, Tennessee’ and now I want to visit again. Teagan assures us she’s writing the sequel, so now we wait, another perk of aging, patience. 😉
      Hope this week is treating you well and best wishes and hugs. 🙂

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  32. You know Donna I almost left off at ‘sagging’ Sort of too close to home. But you make a great point about wrapping the review in another post to make sure a book you like gets the airing it deserves. I’ve noticed reviews receive less traffic too.
    I also have a request. It’s a touch galling, reading your posts, to find I’m slapping my forehead again and going ‘of course’. You dig out and expose the bleeding obvious from where it lays hidden in my mental forest. So, do you lend out your brain occassionally? At least the analytical part. I’d only need it maybe twice a year for a couple of days. When your on holiday maybe?

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    1. Maybe I shouldn’t lead with the sagging even though it’s leading me? lol 😉
      Yes, I like to sneak in book, TV, movie reviews, all stealthy. 😉
      Sure, my brain can be lent out, depending on how the poor dear is going to be utilized. 😉
      Hope this day is treating you well. 🙂

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  35. Reblogged this on ' Ace Social & Media News ' and commented:
    Well it’s that really important time again as another truly #Donnamazing post has been written and published . It’s just like waiting for 🎁 when Santa comes and all that crispy paper and under the 🎄there it is and you open it with all the expectation and wow its wonderful just like this post l am truly lost for …. Begins with W and ends with S

    Now here was l oh yes a reviewer of books and people and she just gets better over to you #Donnamazing nearly forgot here’s your gold ✨

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    1. Oh wow, Ian, there’s no way to live up to that, but thank you so very much, it inspires me!!! Thank you not only for the reblog, but for the wondrous words. 🙂
      You made my day, I hope yours is being awesome to you so far! 🙂

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  37. Ebooks are convenient BUT there is nothing like a ‘real’ book that has some weight to it but I know I’m in the minority these days. Age? Well, now there’s a topic that you have to learn to embrace. One thing that I appreciate at this age is feeling comfortable in saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ based solely on how I truly feel. 🙂

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  39. I’m not a big fan of book reviews that are like book reports either. Some of the best new books I’ve read are those I picked up off a table on a whim!

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  40. Wonderful post! I laughed at your suggestion of adding a warning to some books – read only if you have nothing to do for the next few days. I’ve been trapped by such books a few times…and what a treat they are!

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  41. What a great read! I loved the interesting content and your humorous and witty writing style is excellent. Being a bit of an old fossil myself, I really enjoyed your summary on growing old, with all its undesirable effects – other than the wisdom that comes with age. I can’t deny that’s true. 😀 Perhaps we’re restless when we get older because we recognise there’s so much less time now to dothe things we want to get done.
    Atonement Tennessee sounds like a great read. Another one to add to my TBR list.

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    1. Thank you kindly. 🙂
      Yes, age certainly has it’s drawbacks, but many benefits as well. You may be right, perhaps we’re restless because we can hear the clock ticking more relentlessly. 🙂
      Teagan’s book, ‘Atonement, Tennessee’ is a magical read…is your list like mine, endless? lol 😉
      Hope this weekend treats you well. 🙂

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      1. I love reading and yes, my reading list is very long – getting longer by the day. I just keep reading and see how many I can get through. Thanks for the recommendation. It sounds like a good one. 🙂

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  42. I am going to have to check this out but I am just like you. I must have a block of time available because if I like a book, no one will see me for days. Oh, and there is always effort available for cake. Thank you for linking to #BlogShareLearn.

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    1. Once Teagan leads us to magical ‘Atonement, Tennessee’ we need some time to stay and play. 😉
      Oh definitely, cake asks so little of us and gives so much. 😉
      Love the new name, Elena, you always come up with such clever ideas. Thanks for being the hostess with the mostess on http://www.livingwithbatman.com/2015/10/08/blogsharelearn-linky-party-october-915/ You’re parties are always divine!!! Can we still use #MidLifeLuv as well as #BlogShareLearn 🙂
      Hope this weekend treats you well. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  46. Hi Donna,
    Sweet dreams are made of this– I love that song.
    I think that age is a mindset. Frank Sinatra’s song Young at Heart rings true. Then, the aches and pains start, and as you said the age spots, and it’s hard to ignore the number, or the word, as your post pointed out. I thought the Freaky Friday quote was funny.
    Thanks for bringing your post to Blogger’s Pit last week.
    Janice, Pit Stop Crew

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    1. I do too, Janice. 🙂
      But they are just numbers, aren’t they and we have to keep remembering that. 🙂
      I always love your Blogger’s Pit Stop, it’s such a wonderful opportunity and you all (you, Kathleen, Julie, and Debbie) do such an amazing job of helping bloggers find each other in this giant virtual haystack. 🙂
      Hope everything is going well, all the best. 🙂

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  47. Pingback: Smorgasbord Open House – Author and Motivational writer Teagan Riordain Geneviene | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life

    1. Sally, I just love this, had to come back again now that I have time to comment!
      Teagan is simply amazing, my copy of her astonishing book, ‘Atonement, Tennessee’ (which should be riding the top of the bestseller list with no signs of leaving) is so dog-eared from rereading so often. Luckily her fans, like me, have her wonderful blog to visit.
      Enjoyed this so much and will share again.
      As usual, Sally, you are a generous supporter of bookers and bloggers alike!🙂
      Hope this week ahead treats you kindly.🙂

      “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” ~Arundhati Roy

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    1. Ha! Well, since I’ve been remiss in my blogging duties…but I really do know what you mean, there just never seems to be enough time is there, too many books (gasp, did I really say that, I’m sorry, books, I didn’t mean it, I love you). Hope this week treats you well. 🙂

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      1. My dermatologist says “It’s part of aging. Deal with it!” Bleh…. as she stands there with her 20-something year old self. 🙂

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