The light is on! Five months to the day after Hurricane Ian slammed into the island, our beloved lighthouse is shining once again. It was relit in a pre-dawn ceremony on February 28. Even with the buildings gone and a temporary leg supporting its weight, the light is an important symbol of hope and recovery for our community. Wish I could give credit for this wonderful photo, but it's been circulated so widely I can't find the original source.
Recent Reading//
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
audio edition narrated by Robin Miles
Running into a long-ago friend sets memories from the 1970s in motion for August, transporting her to a time and a place where friendship was everything—until it wasn’t. For August and her girls, sharing confidences as they ambled through neighborhood streets, Brooklyn was a place where they believed that they were beautiful, talented, brilliant—a part of a future that belonged to them.
Jacqueline Woodson's prose is so poetic that I always want the audio edition to be part of my reading experience and, once again, I was not disappointed. This short (200 pages/under 3 hours) book chronicles a powerful friendship between four black girls in 1970s Brooklyn, which eventually fades as they approach adulthood. The story is both tender and heartbreaking... and I loved it. I only wish it could have been even longer.
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Refreshing, unusual, and like a breath of fresh air, I really enjoyed this memoir of ordinary life. It's been on my "to read" list for years and after seeing a recent review from another blogger (thank you, Anne!) I finally picked up a copy from the library. Formatted like an encyclopedia, I think this book may be better enjoyed as a slower read. I raced through it in just a few sittings, but would love a copy for my shelves to be reread in smaller segments.
Current Reading//
The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz
I bought this novel last summer with a birthday gift card and am finally getting around to reading it. From the first couple of pages I knew I was going to enjoy this family story. Triplets, conceived in the early days of IVF, are born to the Oppenheimer family. Feeling no strong bond to the family or each other, they cannot wait to head off to college and go their separate ways. After eighteen years their mother makes a decision to have a fourth child - the remaining embryo, which has been frozen for nearly two decades. Isn't that wild? I'm about 30% now and can't wait to pick it up again.
In the kitchen//
There is still not an awful lot happening in my kitchen, but I did make this Grilled Red Snapper from Slender Kitchen with fresh seafood from the farmer's market. It's just a simple rub with blackening seasonings, then some time on the grill. You can add as much or a little of the rub as you like. Served with lemon wedges, it was delicious.
As recovery and rebuilding take center stage on the island, it's been a very quiet season as far as visitors and social events go. This week we have a city council election plus a program about 'emerging from the hurricane', but I'm especially looking forward to seeing some old friends who live in Naples. They had major damage from the hurricane and are currently in temporary housing as their condo is being repaired. It will be both fun and therapeutic to catch up!
How was your week? What have you been reading?
The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.
I love that lighthouse picture, JoAnn! Thanks for sharing it. I have The Latecomer on my Kindle, but I haven't read it yet. Kind of forgot I had it. Will try to get to it before long and look forward to what you think in the end. Glad you're getting to see friends. Hope your week goes well!
ReplyDeleteKay - I think one of city councilors took that photo, but can't find the credit. It's pretty special! The Latecomer is really good so far. Julia Whelan narrates the audio, so that adds to my enjoyment, too. Hope you have a good week.
DeleteSymbolic gestures in communities hit by tragedy really are important and bring a community together. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteHelen - So true. That lighthouse is huge for our community and an important symbol for all of SWFL... very happy to have it shining once again!
DeleteJoAnn, the relighting of the lighthouse is a beautiful symbol of progress. I hope all the repairs and restorations move smoothly and quickly.
ReplyDeleteThe Latecomer sounds fascinating. I'm imagining all the ways this story could bend.
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life is a favorite of mine, too. I loved the community-building events the author staged before her tragic early death.
Deb - Overall it's still pretty bleak around here. Friends that came over for the day Saturday and hadn't been here since the storm called it "post-apocalyptic." To us, it looks SO much better.
DeleteI think Anne mentioned that she heard about Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life from you. I've lost track of the number of bloggers who have mentioned her books over the years during Nonfiction November... just glad I finally read one!
So glad your lighthouse light shines again! I love lighthouses and used to collect them from furniture to dishes to light switch plates. I had to stop because my house was full of them.
ReplyDeleteI loved Another Brooklyn and the movie. I'm not far into Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life but I'm really enjoying it.
First time hearing about The Latecomer. I can't even imagine that happening! I'll wait for your review to decide if I want to read it or not.
My husband talked a lot about the red snapper his grandmother (who raised him) made. He said it was amazing! I've never tried it.
Vicki - I've always loved lighthouses, too, but never had a 'special' lighthouse until this one. The Latecomer has such an unusual storyline. I haven't gotten to the part where the 4th one is born and can't imagine how this book might turn out, but I'm definitely in for the ride!
DeleteI love the lighthouse! What a great symbol of hope for your community. Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life sounds interesting. It has been years since I have made red snapper. I remember really loving how light it was. Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteGretchen - Red snapper is one of my favorite types of fish... so glad when we can get it locally. Hope your week gets off to a good start.
DeleteWe were wondering what it would be like living in Florida, but it seems fraught with hurricane uncertainty. We like the Tampa Bay area.
ReplyDeleteHarvee - The Tampa Bay area is beautiful. I think people who grew up here deal with the whole hurricane thing much better than this transplant from the snow belt... I feel much more confident in the face of a blizzard!
DeleteAnother Brooklyn sounds really good. I'll have to look for that. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYvonne - I loved Another Brooklyn. Jacqueline Woodson is an author I really enjoy. Hope you get a chance to try this one.
DeleteWhat a moment that must have been when they re-lit the light in the lighthouse! It truly is a sign of hope for the community. Another Brooklyn sounds wonderful. I have only read one of Jacqueline Woodson's books so far. I hope you have a good week and enjoy your reading!
ReplyDeleteWendy - It brought tears to my eyes when I saw the light back one... a real sign of hope and encouragement! Jacqueline Woodson is such a talented author... I wish Another Brooklyn had been twice as long!
DeleteHow wonderful that the lighthouse is lit once again! I think I would have teared up seeing that in person. Here's to recovery!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to double-check, but I think I have Another Brooklyn in my audiobook queue somewhere (I have books in both Audible and Libro.fm, so it gets a bit confusing...). And I definitely need to get a copy of Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. You and Deb both loved it, and it sounds right up my alley.
Yummm. It's been ages since I've had red snapper. I rarely ever see it around here. We have a lot of salmon, lingcod, halibut, and crab, but not red snapper.
Hope you have a good week and a good visit with your friends.
Les - There were a lot of tears when that light came back on... such a special moment!
DeleteI think Jacqueline Woodson's books, and especially Brown Girl Dreaming, are even better on audio. Somehow hearing the words emphasis the lyrical quality of her prose. Another Brooklyn was excellent.
We don't get as much halibut here as we do in NY and CT, and I've never even heard of lingcod! I've been a little uneasy about local fish since the hurricane. The water is still a mess with debris in some areas and now there is red tide, too. Sigh.
Hope you have a good week, too!
I'm glad your community is recovering. You read an interesting assortment of books too. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy! This was really huge for the community.
DeleteLighthouses are always natural symbols of hope and good journeying, and I wish you good luck following this key event in your town’s recovery.
ReplyDeletebest… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thanks, Mae.
DeleteA relit lighthouse is an amazing symbol of recovery. Thanks for sharing it with us. Your books all sound good!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Joy.
DeleteHow exciting that your lighthouse is shining again! It sounds like the island is starting to recover, however slowly. At least you have breathing room to take care of things while tourists stay away. We visited my in-laws in Naples a few weeks ago. They have a Naples address but they're south of Marco. There wasn't any damage I'm aware of in their area but they were very lucky. They didn't evacuate and they said the water came up within inches of the first floor lanais (They're on the second floor). They say they'll evacuate for sure in the future and we hope they really do. We flew in and out on the east coast (so much cheaper) and only went into Naples proper for a walk on the beach one day. All we really noticed was the damage to the pier, but I know we just weren't in the areas that were hardest hit. I hope your recovery efforts go as smoothly as those sorts of things can. Have fun with your friends!
ReplyDeleteJen - It sounds like your in-laws are far enough south to escape the worst of it. Our friends are north of the Naples pier on the inland side of Gulfshore Blvd... their first floor condo was sustained major damage. Unfortunately, it's always cheaper to fly to the east coast. Have a great week.
DeleteWonderful that the Light is back Up. Very hopeful. I finally just read Mary Lawson's A Town Called Solace and loved it. You were right as usual. It's for my book club discussion tonight. I actually liked it better than Crow Lake which I thought was sad & grim. This one wasn't as dark and just a good story. I have 2 more of Lawson's other novels to read sometime. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteSusan - I'm so glad you loved A Town Called Solace, too, and will be curious to hear what your book club thinks of it. Planning to read her other two, at least one of them this year. Road Ends is on my kindle and I hope it's not as depressing as Crow Lake.
DeleteAll your books always sound good to me! I listened to Another Brooklyn on audio also, a few years ago, and loved it. I listened to The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz and definitely have been wanting to read more by her.
ReplyDeleteLaurie - My sister enjoyed The Plot, too, and I'd like to read it later this year. I've also enjoyed The Sabbathday River (with my book club, years ago) and, to a lesser extent, You Should Have Known.
DeleteI have The Latecomer from the library now, but haven't started it yet!
DeleteLaurie - Hope you like it as much as I did!
DeleteWonderful about the lighthouse! They give such a feeling of safety. I remember after Katrina the lighthouse in Biloxi made everyone feel that things would be rebuilt. Have a great week and enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - That lighthouse is such an iconic symbol of the island throughout southwest FL. Turning the light back on gave us all such a boost!
DeleteYea for the light going back on. That is a hopeful thing indeed! I had been in a reading slump but recently found one to read by Maggie O'Farrell. I alwasy note the books people post about and add them to my list for the future.
ReplyDeleteThe snapper looks good. We have started eating fish again recently and we are enjoying it. Have a great week!
Tina - I see you're reading This Must Be the Place and am glad it has grabbed your attention. It's on my kindle and will be my next Maggie O'Farrell.
DeleteWe're trying to eat fish at least a couple times a week, but I'm still a little worried about local fish after the hurricane. The water here isn't very good :(
I'll be interested in knowing what you think of the book, JoAnn. It's no linear and I know that doesn't appeal to many people. I liked getting the insight to the family dynamics. She's such a good author.
DeleteUnderstand about the fish but if I may make a suggestion. Publix has frozen fish, near the seafood department in a huge freezer. The snapper we had wasn't great, a bit rubbery, but the grouper has never let us down. It also goes on sale frequently so when it's $8.99 we pick up two bags. Each has two filets and we thaw two packs at a time. One for dinner and one for a lunch sandwich.
We have a good seafood market here with fresh fish but occasionally keep the Publix packs in our freezer.
Tina - Thanks for the fish suggestion! I've never had frozen grouper, but we used to keep Wegmans prepackaged frozen fish on hand. It was so convenient, so I'll try it with grouper here!
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