The Sunday Salon: When It Rains...

You know that old saying... and lately it applies not only to the weather, but also my out-of-control library queue.

As to the weather,  the rain actually started in late June. After several days of torrential downpours, a couple of towns in the area experienced severe flooding. FEMA has recently stepped up with federal aid for the victims, but the rain keeps falling. Not constantly, but a storm seems to roll in every afternoon.

We are on relatively high ground, but a few streets in our village flooded and the lake's water level reached an unprecedented high last week. This prompted the town to declare a state of emergency for the lake on Wednesday and order a 'no wake' zone, prohibiting motorized watercraft. An eerie silence descended over the water on a beautiful summer evening ... no motors in the distance, no shrieks of laughter from kids water-skiing or tubing, no conversations between fishermen carried unknowingly over the water... just the sound of birds, waves, and the occasional kayak paddle. So peaceful!

The water has now receded to a high normal level, but we have yet to receive word that the state of emergency has been lifted, although there were a few boats on the lake yesterday evening.

Now, about that library queue...

As I have been glued to The Woman Upstairs all week, several of my library holds arrived at the same time. I thought I was picking up Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (finally, after months of waiting), but when I got to the circulation desk, they also had The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel and Life After Life by Jill McCorkle ready to go. {I don't think I've ever had two books with the same title by different authors before!}

When I got home, there was an email informing me that e-book holds of The Dinner by Herman Koch and Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo were available.

All those books... and I had been planning on starting Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner for Heavenali's Brookner Reading Month and The Whole Fromage by Kathe Lison for Paris in July.

So, what's a reader to do?

Someone mentioned in passing this week that it would be great if library hold lists worked like Netflix, and I heartily agree! I'm considering returning them all and starting over again.

Here's the plan for now...  I read the first chapter of Hotel du Lac last evening and want to continue. I'm intrigued by the story and really like the writing. Since it's on my kindle and I prefer e-reading at bedtime, I'm several chapters into The Dinner, too. They will be the books I concentrate on this week. Then, we'll see if I can carve out enough time for the others before they are overdue.

What will you be reading this week?

TSS: A Tale of Two Moving Days

Good morning and Happy Sunday. Lakeside Musing has been pretty quiet the past couple of weeks, but I'm happy to report that after much planning, shopping, and packing (and a few tears), The Big Move took place last weekend. Daughter #1, now an official resident of Manhattan, is happily settling into her new apartment, and I'm eagerly anticipating my next visit to the city.

But you know things rarely go exactly as planned around here. Just before heading to Manhattan, we received a call from Twin A - trouble in paradise. Remember the gorgeous dorm complete with private bath?

Well, a spot appeared on the ceiling over her desk. It appeared moldy-looking and grew quickly.

Plaster and paint chips began to  rain down.

Eventually the problem was deemed extensive enough to require re-housing Twin A and her roommate. First to a 'temporary' location and then, after many phone calls and two trips to campus, to a double room in a different dorm (alas, with no private bath this time).  Repairs could easily take the rest of the semester, but the question remains whether they will eventually return to the gorgeous dorm/private bath or stay put for the rest of the year. Let's just say I'm not moving anyone else until May!

With everyone finally settled, it's back to business as usual here at Lakeside Musing. Friday I finished reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce and loved it every bit as much as other bloggers. I've also started The Submission by Amy Waldman for book club and continue to enjoy Colin Firth's reading of The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. Could there be more audiobook narration in his future? I certainly hope so.

I still have quite a backlog of books to talk about. Yesterday I posted thoughts on The American Way of Eating by Tracie McMillan and will polish up a couple more reviews this week.

Yesterday was Read-a-Thon and, while I did not officially participate, I borrowed an idea from Staci and finally watched The Hedgehog. It wasn't nearly as good as the book (most of the philosophical ideas were lost), but I liked it. However, I recommend reading the book before viewing the film.

Do you have plans for today or is readathon recovery your top priority? It's dock removal day here - the task that officially ends summer and heralds the arrival of winter months (there was snow in the air Friday). My brother, brothers-in-law, and nephew will lend their muscles and I'll reward everyone with a lasagna dinner. Have a great week!

The View From Monday

With a nod to E.L. Konigsburg for the post title, our view this Monday seems even more disturbing in light of last Monday's 90 degree warmth and sunshine. The view is gradually improving as power has been restored and snow has turned to rain. Schools even opened after a two hour delay.

The weekend, however, was perfect. A cold, drizzly Saturday with no pressing commitments provided the perfect opportunity to finish Below Stairs, several letters in Clarissa, and still spend time with my husband and daughter. Sunday we saw Syracuse Opera's spectacular production of Madama Butterfly and had dinner with friends. Butterfly's Child, which imagines the life of her child in America, is now on my wish list. What's in your view this Monday?

*photo credit

The Sunday Salon: Happy Fall

Fall is here! It's a bright, sunny morning in central New York, but the air has a definite chill. Leaves are changing, pumpkins and mums are everywhere, and apple-picking season is in full swing. I finally enjoyed my first pumpkin spice latte of the season, and my traditional raw apple cake was a hit at Friday's dinner party. This is definitely my favorite time of year.

It's been a slow week on the reading front though. In fact, that pumpkin spice latte break was the only time I spent with The Bluest Eye all week. Toni Morrison's writing is both beautiful and haunting, and I'm looking forward to reading more.

My progress on The House of the Seven Gables picked up midweek as I decided to try the audio version. The book requires more concentration that I am able to muster at the end of the day and I found myself reading each sentence two or three times, frustration growing by the page. The audio helped me get into the rhythm of the story, and now it's easier to read in the evening after I've been listening in the car.  If you're interested in reading along, there is still plenty of time. Frances and Audrey are co-hosting a group read of The House of the Seven Gables on October 14.

This afternoon, I'll read The Bluest Eye and watch some football. Later we'll have dinner at my sister's house and celebrate my nephew's 16th birthday. I'll close with a scary thought a friend posted on facebook this morning - three months from today is Christmas! Happy Sunday...

The Sunday Salon: Good-bye Winter

Good morning! After the gorgeous supermoon last night, it's sunny and cold in central New York. As the last few hours of winter tick away, signs of spring are finally beginning to appear. The snowbanks will be here for weeks to come, but I've heard birds singing, geese honking, and noted growing cracks in the ice on the lake. A new banner photo features this most welcome sight.

The week passed quickly as the first few days found me home and slightly under the weather. I read a couple of short stories and posted on "Eveline" by James Joyce for The Reading Life's Irish Short Story Week. The stories in Dubliners are unexpectedly accessible, but the feminist angle of "Eveline" provided an even greater surprise.

I also began reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Tudor England is an ongoing interest and our recent trip to Hampton Court Palace gave me the extra push to get started but, after 200 pages, I'm finding it a very slow read. The story will pull me through, but it may take the rest of the month to finish.

My current audiobook is The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner. I've listened to about a third of the nearly 26 hour download. Stegner is a favorite (have I mentioned Crossing to Safety lately?) and Mark Bramhall is an outstanding reader. This is definitely a winning combination.

The most exciting news of the week proved to be the announcement of next season's Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series speakers. Elizabeth Strout has been my sole lecture of the current season, but check out this line-up:

• Jonathan Franzen
• Dennis Lehane
• Alexandra Fuller
• Sherman Alexie
• Laurie R. King
• Abraham Verghese

I'm sure at least a couple members of my book club can be persuaded to purchase season tickets.

Finally, March Madness is here. Excitement, upsets, controversy, human drama... I love college basketball. Our Syracuse Orangemen play this evening. All reading and blog-hopping will happen this afternoon. Will the Madness interfere with your reading?

The View from my Window

... after yet another winter storm.

Look closely for the fence on the right.

A deer in search of food steps up from the frozen lake.

She spots me in the window.

An old cedar becomes a snack for two.

Spring seems so far away...

TSS: Crying Uncle!

It's Sunday and, I know I'm beginning to sound like a broken record (anybody remember those?), it's snowing. Yesterday we experienced white-out conditions and dozens of accidents caused roads to close. Today, with the annual snow total topping 140",  I'm raising the white flag and crying uncle. You win, Mother Nature!

We did manage to get the roof issues under control last week. Three guys with shovels and sledgehammers made a LOT of noise, but the ice dams were broken and removed. Hopefully the water woes are over, but we must deal with interior repairs in the spring.  On Wednesday, we were surprised to see a very large backhoe in the driveway. Evidently the snowplow guy is out of places to put the snow and needed to move back the snowbanks. They are so tall, I won't be surprised if they are still here in April!

On to reading...

After 100 pages, Waiting for Columbus still hasn't grabbed me... and I can't figure out why the women keep tripping in their high-heeled shoes. Anyway, I asked what you all thought about giving up on book club selections. I tend to tough them out, but was shocked when the author dropped in and gave me permission to put his book aside. I decided to take a break and return to it next week.

My current book is The Easter Parade by Richard Yates. I love this one! It is so real and well-written, although I know things can't end well for the characters. With any luck, I'll finish this afternoon and have time to read a short story for tomorrow's post.

On the blog...

• Emile Zola's "Rentafoil" on Short Story Monday
• my book club's reaction to Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
• Weekend Cooking featuring Table of Contents by Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp

How was your week? Are you reading something good today?

The Sunday Salon: Winter Woes

It's been one of those weeks...

• snowstorm
• ice buildup on roof
• leaking roof
• pots and pans catch leaks
• roofers remove snow/ice
• repeat 

Snow totals have topped 130" this season and, to no one's surprise, Syracuse has been declared the snowiest city on the continent.  Enough already!

Last week's reading amounted to a grand total of 50 pages.  I started our next book club selection, Waiting for Columbus by Thomas Trofimuk, and am not quite sure what to make of it yet. Book bloggers are nearly unanimous in their love for this novel, so I'm willing to give it more time. Especially since I've been more than a little distracted...

After another cup of coffee, I'm heading out with the roof rake to remove more snow. Later there will be a Super Bowl Party at my sister's. I like football, but am not a huge fan of either team, so this year the commercials are the main draw!

Hope you stay warm and dry this Super Bowl Sunday.

A Dubious Distinction

Although we seem to have dodged the big one, it's another snow day in central New York. The storm tracked slightly to the north and we ended up with sleet instead of the predicted 18" snowfall. This seemed like a lucky break, but then I opened this morning's Post-Standard.

According to David Phillips, senior climatologist for Environment Canada, it appears that Syracuse, New York has earned the distinction of being the snowiest large city on the continent (yes, continent!) this winter. We've already received 118.9" of our 120" average annual snowfall, and two more months of winter weather looms ahead!

We can only hope Punxsutawney Phil got it right this morning. Here's to an early spring... Happy Groundhog Day!

The Sunday Salon: Still snowing...

Another Sunday morning, and it's still snowing! We usually average 120" per winter, but the 100" mark is already a memory and expectations of a record-breaking season continue to mount.  The weather cancelled quite a few activities this week (but not school), so there were a couple of unexpected evenings at home.

As a result, the TBR Dare is going well. I finished Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, and have been reading from two short story collections. However, that's just three books from my shelves, and fifteen have been added to my wish list in the meantime.

On the blog last week:
- my thoughts on "Afterwards" by Edith Wharton
- a review of The Doctor's Wife by Sawako Ariyoshi

Today, I'll be choosing a new novel from my shelves. The top contenders are The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty and Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. The other option is to continue with Pevear and Volokhonsky's new translation of Tolstoy's short stories ... which seems to fit best with the view from my window.

We are supposed to attend a birthday dinner for my sister later this afternoon, so hopefully the snow will let up. The driveway was plowed at 8:30 AM and now, just two hours later, it needs to be done again.

How many days until spring?

Let the holidays begin...

We are five again. Daughter #1 came home on Friday and our holiday preparations began in earnest. Saturday we baked...

...and began decorating the tree.

More baking and decorating is on tap today.  Yes, there are still reviews to finish and year-end lists to compile, but Lakeside Musing will be quiet this week.  My days will be less hectic after Christmas and there should be plenty of time for reading and blogging then.

Reading notes:

I finished Pavilion of Women on audio and am in awe of Pearl S. Buck's understanding and portrayal of life, especially for women, in China.  Now I want to reread The Good Earth and continue with Sons, the second book in the trilogy.

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is still my current read.  It's taking a long time, but is well worth it.  I love Franzen's writing and shared a quote earlier this week.

Weather:

It has been another snowy week. Schools were delayed (or closed), Christmas concerts and games were cancelled. Over 70 inches of snow has made this the snowiest December in history. Another seven inches earns the title of snowiest month ever and, with 12 days left, this seems highly probable. Good Morning America was even filming weather segments in the area.  It's hard to believe the official start of winter is still a few days away!

Best wishes to all for a very Merry Christmas...

TSS: A Snowy Week

Good morning, and welcome to my Sunday Salon week in review.  The SNOW took center stage as a four day "lake effect" event left us with 49" on the ground! Schools were closed Monday and Wednesday, and weather records of all kinds were broken. I posted a few pictures for Wordless Wednesday and also updated my header photo. Today it's raining, but we're being told to brace ourselves for more lake effect this week.

Since there was not much time in the car, I'm still around the half-way point of Pavilion of Women, but enjoying it very much. I listened to Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton indoors on my ipod instead. Although I've read the book a couple of times before, the audio experience added a new dimension.  It was also interesting to listen just a few months after reading Summer, a book Wharton referred to as 'hot Ethan'.

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is my current book. At page 300, I can heartily agree with what many bloggers are saying - if you loved The Corrections, you'll love this, too. I need to finish soon... look for it on my year-end list!

My book club met Friday to discuss The Group by Mary McCarthy.  Most members really liked it, primarily for the social history. I'm working on the review, and will be sure to include more about our discussion.

Finally, although 2011 will be a challenge-free year, I've decided to accept the TBR Dare at Ready When You Are, C.B.  In the sign-up post I mentioned an exception for book club selections, but I won't need to make use of that in January.  Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, a book already on my shelf,  was chosen.  The TBR Dare is off to a good start!

Today we have decorating and wrapping planned, then a birthday party for my brother-in-law. The baking will have to wait until next weekend when Daughter #1 is home. Later this evening, I'll have time to spend with Freedom. Are you busy with holiday activities today? Will you carve out some time to read, too?

TSS: Winter Break!

It's winter break! School is out, the twins are home, my husband has a couple of days off... there may not be much blogging this week. Our main activities will include college visits with Twin A (Twin B gets her turn in April), reading, catching up on movies, shopping, trying a few new recipes, and walking in the snow.

I finished a couple of books last week - Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork and Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. So now, in addition to Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann, I'm three reviews behind. One morning must be devoted to reviews!

Today I'm reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick - a novel in words and pictures. The size of the book shocked me when I picked it up at the library (over 500 pages, hardcover), but it looks like it can easily be read in a day. Not sure where I'll turn after that...

And finally, a winter weather tidbit. Baltimore edged out Syracuse, NY last week for first place in the snowiest city in the US competition! Syracuse has received about 76" so far and we're on track to receive out usual 120 inches. Baltimore was at 79.9" on February 10. I'm sure this is a competition they would rather not win! Read all about it here.

I hope you're enjoying this Valentine's Day. Are you reading, having a romantic dinner, or maybe digging out from the latest round of snow?

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

by Shirley Jackson

copyright 1962

Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition, 2006

146 pages

"My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all I could have ben born a werewolf, because the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I had. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cup mushroom. Everyone else in my family is dead."

So begins this creepy classics that's recently attracted much attention from book bloggers. My reaction mirrored the other favorable (and beautifully written) reviews, but it was a unique reading experience that really stood out.

I began on October 29 or 30, anticipating an ideal holiday-themed read. On Halloween Day, the wind howled and whipped leaves everywhere as rain pelted the windows. Power flickered on and off all afternoon and finally, around sunset, went out for good. Surrounded by candles, with a book light clipped to the cover, I curled up to finish We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Creepy, indeed... perfect reading for a dark and stormy night!

The Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition shown above is gorgeously disquieting too, but have you seen the back cover and flaps?

For an actual review, please visit:

Fleur Fisher Reads

Paperback Reader

Book-A-Rama

Savidge Reads

Fizzy Thoughts

(may I add yours?)

TSS: It was a dark and stormy night ....really!

Last night was Halloween. The wind howled all day, the power flickered all afternoon, and finally just went out. How fitting! The girls liked the eerily atmospheric candlelight, but the feeling faded quickly with the realization that no electricity means no heat and no water. To make matters worse, the cable was out - no internet connection even if your laptop does have battery remaining.

Our area is also being hit hard by H1N1 flu. Friday's Halloween dance was cancelled, the party Twin B was scheduled to attend last night was postponed (the host's sister has the flu), and yesterday morning Twin A fell ill with 'the swine'.

No power, no internet, no parties, no trick-or -treaters, a sick daughter...what's left to do? I turned to Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle. The combination of that book under those conditions produced a reading experience I will remember for years to come! Look for a review later this week.. maybe by then I'll come up with the words to describe it.

Luckily, the efforts of National Grid (combined with a rain delay in Philly) had power restored before the opening pitch of Game 3 of the World Series. Go Yankees!

Today, Twin A is feeling slightly better and I'll be starting a book for the Japanese Literature 3 Challenge. My choices at hand are Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto and After Dark by Haruki Murakami. What will you be reading?

Spring at last...and two awards!

Returning home from a vacation, no matter how short, is never an easy task. This time, however, a few very welcome surprises made the transition back to reality a little less difficult. We flew home from Puerto Rico Wednesday night to find the ice had gone off the lake...a sure sign that spring has finally arrived in central New York. It's so nice to see the sun sparkling on the water and to hear the ripple of the waves again!

The next surprise came Thursday morning when I turned on the computer and found Molly, from My Cozy Book Nook, had given me the very special Blog Friends Award.

“These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."


This award just made my day! I knew I liked Molly from the first time I read her blog, and have since come to consider her a friend. We seem to be at similar stages in life and I admire her for embarking on a new career as her children have grown. In addition to a love of books and reading, we also share a love of dogs and a tendency to get singularly focused on our interests (cooking, crafting, etc.). It brings a smile to my face to know that she considers me a blog friend, too.

Later Thursday evening, in an effort to catch up with my favorite blogs, I visited Dolce Bellezza and discovered I had been given the Sisterhood Award! Bellezza's was one of the first blogs I
stumbled upon and was instantly drawn to the inviting trattoria photo on her header (which, incidentally, has made a reappearance during my absence). When I took the plunge and started my own blog five months ago, Bellezza became my first follower. In addition to books, we share a love of being near the water, the trials of parenting teenagers, and an inability to walk normally in high heels! The Sisterhood Award allows me to nominate up to ten bloggers I consider sisters in the blogging community.


The fact that both of these awards focus on friendship and community make them all the more special to me. I am not a writer, a reviewer, or even an English major (my background is in clinical pharmacy), but I do love to read and talk about books (and life) with new friends I've made through blogging. So, thank you again Molly and Bellezza. I will bundle these two awards together and pass them on to:

• Darlene at Roses Over A Cottage Door
• Lisa at Booknotes by Lisa
• BookPsmith
• Lezlie at Books 'N Border Collies
• Nan at Letters from a Hill Farm

These are bloggers I visit often and now consider friends.

Spring is in the air...

It's nearly 50 degrees and the sun is shining! Snowbanks still stand in shady areas, but I can see brown grass along the shoreline. Ice is beginning to melt, and the ice fishermen have been gone for a week. I know better than to think this is spring, but it sure feels like it today!

Seeking Sunshine

We're leaving cold, snowy upstate New York and heading south to Sanibel Island, Florida. I'm looking forward to walks on the beach, biking, and reading. See you in a week....

Muffins for a Winter Day

This is comfort food weather. Bone-chilling cold, wind...and snow. We're closing in on 100 inches so far this season, and should surpass our 120 inch average well before the end of the month.


The girls had a late practice yesterday and I was thinking about making them a snack, when Nan posted a recipe for Maple-Oatmeal Muffins. We all love this combination, so I knew these would be a hit. There was a batch in the oven within half an hour.

Oh, they were delicious! Perfect with a cup of tea on a cold winter's day. This is a recipe I'll make over and over again. Thanks, Nan! Now I'm thinking about a hearty soup, or possibly macaroni and cheese...

An Early Icing

Sunday's arctic wind blowing off Lake Ontario and Monday's single digit temperatures with subzero wind chill left our small lake covered with ice. The sun was so brilliant yesterday afternoon that I just had to take a picture. The ice will be gone later today as the temperature climbs to near forty.