divorce

Johnson County Library and The Writers Place are pleased to announce that Sarah Donohue has won the open category of our writing contest on the theme of TIME with "Grounded".

Donohue has been writing a weekly column in the Estes Park News in Estes Park, CO for 12 years. In 2017, she published "Slices of Life, Estes Park; Best of The Thunker Columns," a collection of favorite columns from the first 10 years. She currently lives in Lenexa and does seasonal work in Estes Park, supervising the hiking program for YMCA of the Rockies.

Grounded

Gone hiking. Back about 2:00.

She put the note on

If you love dogs (and I sincerely hope you do), you'll love this heart warming story of a woman finding her place in the world and a dog finding a home. Gina Bellamy suddenly finds herself trying to figure it all out on her own after her recent divorce. As she struggles to find herself in all the clutter of life she decides to keep only one hundred essential things. Little does she know, she will find that Buzz, a neglected and anxious greyhound, fits perfectly in her new life and happy moments.

More on Lucy Dillon:

I have read all three books by Lucy Dillon that Johnson County Library

Leanne and Nichole are unlikely friends and confidants. When Leanne learns that her son Jake is cheating on his wife Nichole, she is sorely disappointed to find her son following in his father's footsteps. Sean, Leanne's husband has been cheating on her for years and up to this point she has just accepted and ignored his infidelity. After telling Nichole of Jake's indiscretion she admires the way Nichole instantly refuses to accept Jake's behavior and immediately moves to dissolve their marriage. Leanne draws courage from Nichole and leaves her cheating husband of thirty years. The two women

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, read by Caroline Lee, is an extraordinary book deserving of its place on many 2014 must-read lists. Set in an Australian suburb, it’s a story about three women that meet at their children’s kindergarten orientation and become friends. Clues and innuendo lead the reader to believe a tragic event has occurred during a school parent get-together. All who attended the event are interrogated by the police in short interviews and the timeline alternates between past and present. Big Little Lies touches on divorce, single parenting, domestic violence, and even the

A Hundred Pieces of Me is a bittersweet and inspiring story of loss, love, forgiveness, and finding what is important in life. Gina Bellamy has been through many struggles, and newly single, finds herself on her own. A divorcee and cancer survivor, Gina just wants to rebuild her life after her marriage falls apart. Starting from scratch in a tiny apartment, she decides to keep only one hundred things; one hundred pieces of herself. Dog-lovers will love the part that Buzz, Gina’s adopted rescue greyhound, plays in her path to healing. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to reading

Edie and Richard Middlestein have been married for over 30 years, enjoying their family life in Chicago. But as their relationship stops growing and Richard decides to leave, all Edie can seem to do is grow.  She is obsessed with food and eating.  Will the family save her from herself?  Will Richard come back and continue loving every ounce of her?  One particular scene in The Middlesteins made me realize just how much this woman is eating:  Edie's daughter-in-law follows her from the house to McDonald's, then to Burger King, and on to the Chinese restaurant, watching Edie order, eat and throw

Jonathan Miles crafts three separate stories in this novel of loss and desire. Micah and Talmadge are freegan lovers who invite an old friend into their New York City squat and their dumpster diving lifestyle.  Dr. Elwin Cross wants his wife back, wants his father to be whole again and swims through his grief with 100 extra pounds and a compassionate heart.  And Dave Masoli gathers debt and repels the love of his trophy wife Sarah and her wounded daughter.       Along the way Miles masterfully weaves in minor characters and memories with such ease the reader desires both the beaten path and

Veronica Von Holten’s life is falling apart.  A pre-med student at KU, she normally leans on her mother Natalie for support.  Only problem is, Natalie’s life is spiraling out of control even worse than Veronica’s.  During her marriage to Veronica’s father, Natalie devoted her life to the family as a stay-at-home mom.  Despite their fairly affluent married life, now that they are getting divorced, Natalie struggles to find meaningful, well-paid work and even a roof to put over her head.  Toward the end of the novel, Veronica is talking about a band major in her dorm, but this passage could be

This Is Where I Leave You is about death, divorce and dysfunction and it is hilarious. Shorty after Judd's wife leaves him for his boss, Judd’s father dies and his mother announces that his father’s last wish was for the family to observe shiva, a seven day mourning period during which friends and family visit the home of the bereaved. Seven days is a long time to be cooped up in your childhood home. Judd and his three grown siblings revert to their familial roles and no one is safe from rehashing the humiliations and pain of adolescence. Jonathan Tropper reminds me a lot of author Pete Dexter

Seventeen year old Evan, his mother and little sister Libby move in to a historic home following his parents’ divorce. The stately old home had been vacant for many years and the new occupants and their activity awakens the spirit of a young girl who lived and died in the house nearly a century ago. She confuses Evan with the boy she loved and left behind when she died.

Evan begins having strange dreams about a blond haired girl. When a box of old photos, letters and newspapers is discovered inside a wall during remodeling, Evan is able to put a name to the face of the girl in his dreams

Rhoda Janzen has it all. She has her Ph.D, her Prada and her lake house. She also has a very handsome husband, Nick, who has just left her for a man named Bob that he met on gay.com. If that isn't enough, Rhoda is involved in a serious car accident one short week after learning about Bob. How can this possibly be one of the funniest memoirs I've read to date? Well, Rhoda is also a Mennonite and although she long ago departed the faith, she wisely returns to her childhood home to heal. Her mother's unwavering love and the Mennonites devotion to serving others leaves Rhoda no time to sit on her

While I'm Falling by Laura Moriarty is an easy read with a local Kansas flavor, specifically featuring Lawrence. In this coming of age story, Moriarty in her typical fashion explores relationships and how a major event such as divorce in this case, affects the parents, the children and their future decisions about life. Told from daughter Veronica's point of view through most of the story, this book draws you in quickly and keeps you turning the page. Veronica and her family deal with many issues including, divorce, homelessness, and abduction, not to mention personal value systems, self