Author Archives: wendywelch

The Monday Book: PROPERTY by Valerie Martin

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This book is beautifully written and brutal. Told first person from the point of view of Manon, a wealthy-enough woman married to a man she doesn’t like all that much, it’s set in slavery-era New Orleans.

I am a sucker for character-driven books and this entire plot revolves around the observations of Manon, who cannot see that she treats others as property while being angry at being considered in the same way.

First, there is the guy she wishes she had married, Joel. He needs to marry a rich woman. It’s very clear that they are well suited, but her comfortable existence isn’t enough; he has debts. So she doesn’t have enough property for him.

Her husband is wealthy, but he needs a lot of conjugal satisfaction. So he has her slave, Sarah, quite a bit. Enough to make a boy who is seven years old, and mentally handicapped, who runs through the book (literally) causing havoc.

Then there are the other slaves, and it’s close enough to the coming Civil War that unrest and violence black-on-white is rising. Escaped men and sometimes families live in the woods, and when it’s plausible, they come out to kill white people. Because, slavery. The results of such an encounter are pretty intense for both Manon and Sarah.

Sarah is the near-silent character who slides through the book having the list word by almost never opening her mouth. (Although she does get the last spoken sentence in the novel, and it is brilliant. No spoilers :] )

This book is almost a character study, except the through-line of the violence and the marriage make actual activities move. Otherwise, you just watch Sarah silently win most of the arguments, and Manon never quite figure out what the center of the argument should be. Enthusiastically recommended. But be warned: it is a harsh book in description and attitude.

A Shot in the Dark – – –

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Jack hits the spot a day early for the first time ever – – –

I’m scheduled for my first Covid 19 vaccine shot next Wednesday and the second twenty eight days later. I feel pretty euphoric about it! I should be safe to be around folks a week after the second shot.

It will have been about a year after going into strict hibernation when I emerge and it’s interesting to look back on how I’ve survived, how life changed and what kept me (relatively) sane during that time.

Wendy and I live in a rural area that, for various reasons, didn’t sign on to the advice and rules regarding controlling the spread of the virus; very patchy mask wearing or social distancing. So she kept me in the house throughout except to take the trash for re-cycling and filling the cars with gas – these were my luxury outings, but wearing a mask and gloves. And once we went to view Christmas lights! She did all the shopping, chose her times of day carefully and was meticulous about changing clothes, sanitizing bought stuff and getting even the floors in the house mopped with a bleach solution where she had walked in the house. 

That might seem like some kind of jail term but it wasn’t. Because she has been able to work from home I’ve been busy with lots of domestic chores – a house husband. So I mowed our yard, did most of the meal planning and cooking, did various long delayed house repairs etc. We have five recalcitrant cats and I’m the cleaner up of their litter trays and accidents (because I’ve no sense of smell), and a very lazy dog and they provide lots of diversion. I’ve also continued to record my radio programs and to interact on-line with friends and old colleagues, so I haven’t felt trapped or depressed at all. I also, like many musical friends, videoed many songs and stuck them up on YouTube for posterior (SP?).

I wonder what the world will look like post Covid 19? I suspect it will be very different, but sometimes, the more things change….

A famous British Prime Minister once described the uncertainty of political life as having far less to do with planning and policy than “events, dear friends, events” (Harold MacMillan). The same has been true for everyday life, this year. Wendy has to wait in line until she can get the vaccine shots – we may have to separate – –

Although several times during this year we looked at each other and said what is now our tag line: “We’ve been locked in here xx days/weeks/months now and I still love you.” Twenty three years and one quarantine later, that counts for something.