Hello, from Sanibel Island. It's a cloudy Sunday afternoon and I'm looking forward to a lazy day of reading, blogging, watching football, and maybe a little time at the beach if the rain holds off.
We seem to be at a standstill on our hurricane reconstruction project. Evidently the painter is weeks behind schedule, so I'll be pleasantly surprised if they get to us before March! That's been frustrating, but the good news is that our landscape and driveway work should begin soon.
Recent reading//
Coming Home by Roasmunde Pilcher
My first book of 2024, Rosamunde Pilcher's chunky WWII novel proved to be the perfect kickoff for the new year. Buddy reading with Tina added to the fun and our daily email exchange was the best! I've been a Pilcher fan for decades, but had never read this 1995 gem. As always, I loved her characters and descriptions but, for such a long novel, this was a real page-turner, too. After over 950 pages, I still wasn't ready to leave the world Pilcher created and couldn't bring myself to pick up another book for days. Coming Home has earned a spot on my favorites shelf and will certainly appear on my Best of 2024 list.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Currently reading//
by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
audio edition narrated by Robin Miles
My current read is the February selection for both the MMD book club and our library's book discussion group. In addition, Marie Benedict is the next speaker in Sanibel Public Library's Author Series and I was luck enough to get a ticket in the lottery! I'm at the halfway point now and enjoying this as a read/listen combination.
Up next//
In the kitchen//
Salmon regularly appears in our dinner rotation, mostly because it's so good for you. But, in all honesty, I don't like it all that much. Last week I tried this Baked Pineapple Salmon from Chef Jar and it's a game-changer. I prefer my salmon cooked more thoroughly than is often recommended, so set the temperature to 400 degrees rather than 375 and gave it a few extra minutes in the oven. I've already shared this recipe with my daughter and sister... it's now my favorite way to prepare salmon!
The week ahead//
Our oldest daughter and her fiancé will visit for a long weekend to celebrate her birthday. It's been a year since their last trip to FL, so I'll be curious to hear their assessment of the island's progress since Hurricane Ian. I think they'll be surprised at how far we've come. Can't wait to see them!
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.
Happy Sunday! Beautiful photo, as always. I"m hoping to get outside and walk today too, that is if the rain doesn't return. We've had SO much this month!
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly with you on your assessment of Coming Home. I thought it was exceptionally good. Probably my favorite of all of Pilcher's novels.
I love salmon, but my husband is like you. He says it's ok, but it's not a favorite. And he prefers his more well-done to my "just barely cooked in the middle." I'll definitely give this recipe a try! I'll bet it's delicious with rice. Mmmm.
Les - Coming Home is now my favorite Pilcher novel, too! I'm hoping to read September later this year. It's such a pleasure to read her stories.
DeleteMy husband and I are just the opposite of you and Rod, so your comment made me smile. I always grab the thinner, more well done end! It was delicious with Jasmine rice.
We had two solid weeks of clouds and rain earlier this month, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that doesn't happen again! Looks like it'll be a nice, cool week ahead. Hope you were able to get out for a walk!
That's too bad you have to wait on the painting, but being able to get a start on the landscaping and driveway will be good. Hopefully that will go smoothly. I am so glad you enjoyed Coming Home. That is quite a big book, but sounds worth it. The Personal Librarian does sound good. I look forward to reading it myself. Enjoy your week and your visit with your daughter and her fiancé!
ReplyDeleteWendy - Most of our landscaping was washed out or destroyed with the hurricane, but we were told a lot of it would grow back. Many of the trees did survive, but the weeds are what's really thriving, lol! We have to rebuild the beds close to the house, regrade the driveway, and bring in more crushed shell and stone. We're going to add some pavers, too. Coming Home was definitely worth all that reading time! Hope you have a great week.
DeletePersonal Librarian has been on my list, but this is the first time I've heard of Belle Greene. Interesting! It sounds like Coming Home should be on my list, too.
ReplyDeleteJoy - Belle Greene was originally published in France in 2021. Tina Kover (translator of The Postcard) did the English translation which was released by Europa last year. I had already purchased it when I learned The Personal Librarian was a MMD and local book selection. Really looking forward to comparing the two! If you're a Rosamunde Pilcher fan, Coming Home definitely belongs on your list.
DeleteSorry to hear that you have to wait so long for the painters. I hope this isn't too much of a downer, but I've always wondered this since I don't live in hurricane paths. Do you worry that all the work you're putting into your house after hurricane Ian will just be undone (possibly) by another hurricane this year or next or next? How do you keep affording and fighting natural disasters like that? Thanks for indulging me... Also, thanks for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteJenni Elyse - I've lived in the northeast all my life (NY and CT) and began vacationing in SWFL in 1990 when my in-laws moved here. We got a "vacation" condo in 2013, then a house in 2019 after my husband retired. Now we have a condo in CT to escape summers/hurricane season and be close to our daughters. I always worry about hurricanes and have observed hotter, longer summers and more intense storms just since we've been here. We are fixing our lower level this time, but I will not do it again. There is SO much coastline here and just a quarter mile can mean the difference between total destruction and minor damage... so people say what are the odds? I'm not a risk taker... sigh.
DeleteWow congrats on the Coming Home finish. Sounds like a winner. It's a family story set in WWII? Thx for the recipe - we eat a lot of salmon too and it looks great. So glad you're into the Personal Librarian. I really was awed by the story last year. And so glad you get to hear the author's talk. I had sent her a question about the book to her on her website last year but received no response, which was a bit of a bummer but it was still a good read. And the Carnegie museum/ library will be having an exhibit on Belle's life in fall 2024 which I'm tempted by to go to. Hmm. We'll see, a bit far to go. Hope you enjoy.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - Yes. Coming Home is basically a family story set mostly in England from the late 1930s until just after the war ends. I loved it. Now I'm really enjoying The Personal Librarian and interetsed in learning more about Belle Greene. I've never been to Pittsburgh, but will be there next summer when my daughter's future mother-in-law hosts a bridal shower for her... would love to get to the Carnegie museum and library while we are there. I will check the exhibit schedule. Thanks for mentioning it!
DeleteSalmon cooked as you described looks quite nice. Any salmon is a favorite here, but I like it done all the way through, no rare bits. Unless it’s sushi, which I don’t prepare at home— then raw is ok. For a while there was a fad for “seared” fish that was raw inside and I found it gross.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Mae - I remember the seared fish fad...had a delicious recipe for halibut, but I cooked that more than raw inside, too! This salmon recipe is a keeper.
DeleteI’m always on the lookout for a good salmon recipe so thank you for sharing this! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteJodie - That salmon recipe is so easy, yet tastes so good! You can adjust the cooking time/temp to suit your desired degree of 'doneness'.
DeleteHave a wonderful visit with your daughter! I look forward to seeing what you think of the Personal Librarian as I have it on my TBR shelf.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Helen, I'm sure we will! Belle Greene is such an interesting character... think I will need to seek out some nonfiction, too.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous photo! How fortunate you are to be able to live in such a beautiful place. I do hope your repairs get finished promptly, but I know how these things often go.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear about your wonderful experience with Coming Home. A buddy read is always such a fun thing.
Deb - Buddy reading with Tina made Coming Home even more fun!
DeleteI very much enjoyed reading this with you, that was fun! Looking forward to the next one. The Personal Librarian is still inching it's way up on my holds through the library and the Kindle version. Looking forward to that one as well.
ReplyDeleteNice salmon dinner - we haven't had any for a while. Enjoy your family visit!
Tina - I'm finding Belle Greene to be such a fascinating person... need to figure out how much is fictionalized and how much is true though!
DeleteNow I have to figure out how to get Belle Green on my tbr list. I didn't know about this book, but I loved Personal Librarian and find the whole concept of passing intriguing, not to mention Belle's story itself. And now, I want to reread Coming Home! Pilcher creates such marvelous, real worlds that are so hard to leave even after 900+ pages. I love salmon and don't have it as much as I should since the rest of the family don't share my love, but it is almost always what I order when eating out. Enjoy your daughter's visit, and good luck with the ongoing recovery. Happy reading in Feb!
ReplyDeleteJaneGS - Belle Greene is published by Europa and I have been paying closer attention to their offerings the past year or so. (The Postcard was a favorite last year.) I'm curious to learn how much of The Personal Librarian is fictionalized. There's a historical note and an author's note at the end, but I'll wait until I've finished to avoid spoilers. This book is making me think of Passing by Nella Larsen - what an ending! I'll probably need to slip in another Pilcher later this year. I'm thinking about September (the book) around that time period, too.
DeleteI've never read anything by Pilcher. I'll have to try something by her. Your salmon looks great. We eat a lot of it too. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteKathy - Not all of Pilcher's novels are this long (this may be the longest) but they have all been really good!
DeleteBeautiful photo. Coming Home looks good. I never read that author. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Yvonne. Reading Pilcher is always a treat!
DeleteHope you have a good week and enjoy visiting with your daughter and fiance'. Good luck with your renovations. Don't they take forever? Not much point in being constantly upset though. They will happen when they happen. I read COMING HOME many years ago, but I still remember it very fondly. Maybe one day I'll reread it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay. Contractors have always been on "island time" around here, but it's even worse now that demand is so high... it will get done when it gets done is the rule now, lol! Coming Home is now my favorite Pilcher novel.
DeleteI'll have to look at that salmon recipe. I try to eat salmon for the health benefits, but it's yucky. I love pineapple, though. That might make it better.
ReplyDeleteAj - I love pineapple, too, plus the Asian flavors. It definitely makes the salmon better!
DeleteI know we're supposed to love and eat salmon but I know a few people who dislike it. I eat it out of duty to having a good diet, but I guess there must be many ways to liven up the bland taste! Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteHarvee - Guess I'm basically trying to mask the salmon flavor at this point, and this recipe was delicious!
DeleteBeautiful beach photo!
ReplyDeleteSalmon is pretty much my favorite of the fishies. That recipe sounds delicious!
Thanks, Jinjer. Hope you like the salmon!
DeleteI wrote a comment of this post about a week ago ... but perhaps it got lost or didn't make it on. I'm curious how you are liking the Marie Benedict novel and I'm excited that you will hear the author speak. I had sent her a question on her website after I finished it but she didn't write back. Too bad. But I still liked the novel about Belle. Thanks for the salmon recipe ... I will try it as it we eat salmon pretty regularly and it looks good. Wishing you a peaceful weekend.
ReplyDeleteSusan - I'm not sure why, but your previous comment is up above and it came through as anonymous. Anyway, I finished The Personal Librarian and enjoyed it quite a bit. Now it's sent me down a rabbit hole of wanting to learn more about Belle Greene! I've started the French novel and think it is excellent. It's delving a bit more deeply into the family dynamics with her father, grandmother, etc. and includes more about the family decision to "pass." The author talk is coming up this week and I can't wait. The exhibit on Belle Greene opens in October at the Morgan Library and Museum in NYC. I'll definitely be visiting while it's there!
DeleteSorry for the comment snafu. And great news that you will see the exhibit (!) and are really getting into Belle's life. I think the bio would be good at digging deeper into things. I have so many questions about Belle ... and I hope you grille the author, Lol. Enjoy the talk!
DeleteSusan - If I hadn't already purchased Belle Greene, the biography would have been next. I'm finding Belle Greene to be more literary than The Personal Librarian, but may get burned out on the topic by the end. It would be good to read the bio before seeing the exhibit though...
DeleteGoing to have to try that salmon recipe. We don't eat a lot of it, also because I'm not a big fan. Would love to find some ways to make it something I'd like.
ReplyDeleteLisa - Hope you have a reaction similar to mine if you try it... still not a huge fan of salmon, but this was the best recipe so far.
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