Hello from Sanibel. I hope you had wonderful Mother's Day weekend. Life here has been hectic the past couple of weeks... so much to do before we start our journey north next weekend. A couple of household projects are on the agenda and our AC needs service - again! Packing begins midweek.
Finished this week//
by Meg Wolitzer, narrated by Rebecca Lowman
Meg Wolitzer is officially one of my favorite authors. I borrowed this book from the library weeks ago, but only began reading a few days before it was due. The audiobook was available via overdrive, so I borrowed that immediately upon returning the hardcover (listen to a sample here)... and was quickly reminded how much I enjoy Rebecca Lowman's narrations. (Eleanor & Park, City on Fire, etc.) That loan expired, too, and I used an audible credit to continue listening. On Saturday, my library ebook hold came in and I finished the book in a matter of hours.
In broad terms, this is a novel about "female power, ambition, leadership, and mentorship." But more importantly, the characters Wolitzer creates to tell her story are genuine and believable. I was immediately drawn into their lives and, by the end of the novel, wasn't ready to let them go. Wolitzer's writing, as I have come to expect, is excellent.
This is a 450 page novel, but never felt that long. Look for it on my list of favorites at the end of the year.
Current reading//
by J. Ryan Stradal
I'm at the 80% mark and thoroughly enjoying this book. More after I've finished...
Up next//
I'm really not sure, but possibilities include...
Maybe I'll try to read one of the books I hauled down here from New York in the meantime. I'm certainly not packing them up again for the trip north!
Decisions, decision...
In the kitchen//
My kitchen has been a flurry of activity as I stock my FIL's freezer for the summer:
- New England clam chowder (CIA recipe via Epicurious)
- Sloppy Joe (recipe from Les)
- plum-glazed pork tenderloin, his new favorite (from Dawn, way back when)
- lasagna
- Baked Chicken Parmesan (from skinnytaste)
- Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Tuscan Farro Soup from New York Times ( I added sausage)
How was your week? What have you been reading?
You have some delicious items going in the freezer - I could tuck into so many of those dishes! Great book choices, I don't have any of them but there are so many books on my radar.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip north!
Tina - My FIL is approaching 91 and has never cooked. He comes over for dinner 2 or 3 times a week when we're here and always leaves with leftovers. I want to make sure he continues eating after we leave!
DeleteI am about 40% in with Female Persuasion. Loving it. I adored Kitchens of the Great Midwest. It's a book that grows on you.
ReplyDeleteTi - Kitchens is definitely growing on me... will be sorry to see it end. Hope you end up loving The Female Persuasion, too.
DeleteGorgeous photo. I love all the media you used to read FP. Safe travels north
ReplyDeleteBeth F - Thanks. I should have just read the hardcover when I got it, but the timing wasn't right. Definitely took a little persistence to keep a copy available.
DeleteI wish I could tempt you to stock up my freezer! Oh, well, I'll just let you stock up my TBR pile instead. :) I hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip home.
ReplyDeleteAudrey - LOL - very clever!! We're planning a stop in Asheville to see the Chihuly sculpture exhibit at Biltmore gardens. Wish I'd had a chance to read The Last Castle beforehand.
DeleteI've heard so much already about The Female Persuasion and how good it is. And when you are not ready to let the characters go - that speaks to a really good book. Will read when I have time and space for sure. I have never read her before.
ReplyDeleteKathryn - That's always a sign of a good book for me. Hope you get a chance to read The Female Persuasion soon.
DeleteI'm looking forward to reading the Meg Wolitzer book! And, really curious about the Kitchens of the Great Midwest. Hope you get a chance to spend some time with your books among all the stuff you have going on. I've already set aside some of the recipes to give them a go!
ReplyDeleteIliana - Reading time has been limited the last couple of weeks, but the books I have had time to read have been excellent!
DeleteI love that picture, JoAnn! Bet you guys are ready to head north or are you? Ha! The heat is coming though, right? And with that A/C having issues...good luck.
ReplyDeleteKay - I'm looking forward to spending time with the family - my parents, especially - but have mixed feelings about leaving. Evening walks on the beach have become my favorite time of day! Must get this A/C issue resolved before leaving though...
DeleteI read and enjoyed Pachinko last year. I hope you do too. My weekly update
ReplyDeletePussreboots - I'm so glad to hear that!
DeleteWow, that soup looks so delicious!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed The Female Persuasion...it will definitely be one of my favorites this year.
Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.
Laurel-Rain Snow - I've been making that soup for a few years and it's definitely a winner. Clam Chowder is my FIL's favorite soup. I'm going to read more of Wolitzer's back list.
DeleteOh, dear! Maybe the AC just doesn't want you to leave. ;) Hope your FIL enjoys the sloppy joes. I didn't have any frozen for this camping trip we're on, but I plan to make more to freeze for our next trip. It seems like the perfect meal (easy and minimal clean-up) after a day on the beach or hiking or biking.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!
Les - I made the sloppy joes early this winter and he loved them. He doesn't cook at all, but he can thaw the packets and reheat in the microwave. We ant to make sure he keeps eating after we leave! Thanks again for sharing your recipe :)
DeleteVicki - I'd written Kitchens off after reading some negative reviews, but Care convinced me to give it a chance. At this point I'm very glad she did!
ReplyDeleteYAY!!
ReplyDeleteCare - Finished last night... so good! Thank you :)
DeleteHope all goes smoothly before you have to head home. The Baked Chicken Parm is a family favorite. I had to return The Female Persuasion before I could finish, re-requested it right away and hope the person before me reads quick! Maybe I will see if I can get the audio sooner as I do like Rebecca Lowman too.
ReplyDeleteNise' - If I'd realized Rebecca Lowman was the narrator, I might have just started with the audio. She is excellent!
DeleteWow! I'm impressed with your dedication to reading/listening to The Female Persuasion. It was great, but I didn't have to keep changing up formats to get through it. I agree about Meg Wolitzer. She's one of my very favorites, too.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your last week and safe travels.
Susie - The format changes ended up being a good thing for me. Rebecca Lowman is so talented and I always enjoy listening to her! I'd like to read some of Wolitzer's back list now.
DeleteSounds as though you will be very busy! For quite a while! Why do you fill the freezer when you are leaving soon?
ReplyDeletePatty - All the freezer food is for my almost 91-year-old FIL. My winter goal is always to have him gain some weight and then prevent him from losing it over the summer!
DeleteSaying goodbye to Sanibel is always hard to do, but the lake in central NY is not too shabby either! thx for the report on Female Persuasion; it sounds like it's easy to fall into the story which is good. I just got Pachinko from the library's long wait list but I have about 2 other books before it. What to do?! Good luck on your road trip home.
ReplyDeleteSusan - It's really hard to leave Sanibel, but I miss my parents and siblings and look forward to seeing them. We'll be back here again in July for my FIL's birthday, so I'm focusing on that as we prepare to head north.
DeleteI started Meg Wolitzer's The Ten-Year Nap on a whim this afternoon and hope to finish before the hold for Pachinko is available. Always a tough decision when library don't come in as you plan :)
You have some really good books on your list! I loved Pachinko, and have been reading Stegner from time to time for years.
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Mae - I've been reading Stegner for some time, too. Crossing to Safety is one of my favorite novels... long overdue for a reread. Loved the audio version of The Big Rock Candy Mountain, too. Glad to know you loved Pachinko. I'm looking forward to it!
DeleteSounds like there are going to be some delicious choices in that freezer! I've had Pachinko on my TBR as well as Kitchens of the Midwest. Both look like great reads. I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately and have been struggling to settle on any one book.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I hope that freezer keeps my FIL well fed all summer long! Ended up finishing Kitchens the other night night... so good. I've started another novel by Meg Wolitzer while I wait for Pachinko. Hope your reading slump ends soon!
DeleteBy now you might be back in NY but, safe travels anyways. I'm listening to the Wolitzer book now and enjoying it. I notice she references places in Western MA a lot so I keep meaning to check if she is from the area I spent most of my life.
ReplyDeleteDiane - Sorry for the delay in publishing/responding to your comment. Blogger, for whatever reason, has stopped sending me notifications... grr! We are back in NY, but I haven't been reading much the past couple of weeks. Wolitzer gets her NYC references right, so I was wondering about the western MA locations. Will let you fill me in on that one!
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