Hello, friends. We've been in 'birthday mode' around here lately and today we're finally getting back to the regular routine. My birthday was Tuesday, but we got a head start last weekend when our daughter and SIL drove down from West Hartford. We all took a cruise up the Connecticut River on a historic boat, ate hot lobster rolls at my favorite lobster shack, and watched a gorgeous sunset on the cove. Our NYC daughter arrived on Monday evening and was here for the big day. We took a short drive up the coast to walk the boardwalk around Niantic Bay, browsed books at the most unusual used book store ever, and did a little shopping. We finished up with a delicious dinner outside at Saybrook Point that night. It was one of the nicest birthdays ever!
Recent reading//
Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins
This is a new novel from the author of American Dirt. Marriage, family, identity, race, and belonging are explored as four generations of Puerto Rican mothers and daughters grapple with who they are and where they belong. It was a treat to discover both a map and a family tree at the beginning of the book. And yes, there are family secrets. This was a great summer read for me!
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(I forgot to mention that I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. Thanks for reminding me, Kay!)
The Jane Austen Insult Guide for Well-Bred Women by Emily Reed
This small book was a birthday present from my daughter and we laughed our way through it together! Insults are divided into chapters such as Insults for Annoying People, Insults for Family, Insults for Workdays, etc. Each page features a modern-day situation followed by an appropriate Austen-esque insult, all of which are quotes from Jane's novels. One of our favorites:
When they ask for it by EOD:
"Oh! do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch."
-Mansfield Park
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Current reading//
The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison
I'm flying through this quick, light novel and will finish soon. It's the MMD August selection.
by Jane Austen, David M. Shapard
I'm reading Mansfield Park for Austen in August this year and, since this annotated edition is 800+ pages, I've decided to get a head start!
Dracula Daily by Bram Stoker
The real-time readalong of Dracula continues. July was a slow month, but I think it will pick up again in August,
On the blog//
In the kitchen//
It was hot again yesterday and Cold Noodles with Zucchini from the NYTimes was the perfect lunch! In a very hot skillet, brown zucchini in avocado oil, then quickly toss it in a sauce of maple syrup, soy sauce, fish sauce, and garlic powder. Ice is then added to chill the zucchini and dilute the sauce. The whole mixture is then combined with cooked, rinsed, ramen noodles. The recipe is behind a paywall, but if you'd like me to email it to you, let me know. I'll be making this for the rest of the summer!
How was your week? What have you been reading?
