Books
All 3 Friday Fives were boring this week. Or maybe I'm just bored with it; won't post this time. The day was spent with my favorite Californian & Southern Girl and included a stop at the beach. Meal of the day: Seafood -- red snapper -- it was delicious. Just made an entry in ethnic_cuisines if anyone's interested in the recipe. I like Cuban food for being fresh, uncomplicated and down-to-earth. As anywhere else, the cuisine is a reflection of the people. It's interesting when you think about it. Added component in Cuba seems to be melancholy and a sense of nostalgia which I feel is reflected in the music. It's an interesting combination that really appeals to me. I turned down a date, or should I say, procrastinated to next week. I'm thinking yacht harbor, love watching the cruise ships leave. Maybe I should be on one? To Hawaii? Who would come with? Must think about this. I've been reading again after a trip to the library. Finished:
The Mermaid Chair - a Novel by Sue Monk Kidd
http://www.amazon.com/Mermaid-Chair-Sue-Monk-Kidd/dp/0670033944
Light beach reading, it was entertaining if not earth-shattering. Involves Carolina Island, mystery, philosophy, midlife crisis, alchemy, love and forgiveness, I haven't read her other novel "The Secret Life Of Bees" - which was a huge success. 6/10
Insight Guide: Provence & The Cote D'Azur
http://www.amazon.com/Insight-Guide-Provence-DAzur-Guides/dp/158573151X
Travel guide from my favorite US guide series. Gorgeous images and articles on history & present, mentality, customs, tourism, countrylife, food... 8/10
La Bella Figura - A Field guide to the Italian Mind
http://www.amazon.com/Bella-Figura-Field-Guide-Italian/dp/0767914392
Italian newspaper columnist and author of pesce-out-of-water memoir "Ciao, America!" {which I haven't read yet but definitely will now!} takes a close look at his countrymen and what makes Italy Italy and the Italians Italians. Highly amusing, especially when you know people who were born there, or have spent some time in the country yourself. 8.5/10
Coming up:
Paper Daughter - a Memoir by M. Elaine Mar
http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Daughter-M-Elaine-Mar/dp/0060930527
Chinese immigrant family from Hong Kong arrives in America. Biography.
User ID - a Novel by Jenefer Shute
http://www.amazon.com/User-I-D-Jenefer-Shute/dp/0618539069
A novel on identity theft, current theme. Involves 2 women on opposite coasts, an unhappy ESL professor in NYC and a happy-go-lucky sales girl in the West.
Spooning - a Novel by Darri Stephens & Megan DeSales
http://www.amazon.com/Spooning-Novel-Darri-Stephens/dp/0767921399
A novel about firsts: first job, first apartment, first attempts at cooking and being all grown up in the big city. Set in NYC.
Lady Sings The Blues - Billie Holiday by William Dufty
http://www.amazon.com/Sings-Blues-Anniversary-Harlem-Classics/dp/0767923863
All about Billie Holiday - an autobiography.
Stones For Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
http://www.amazon.com/Stones-Ibarra-Contemporary-American-Fiction/dp/0140075623
American WASP couple moves to Mexico in a bout of idealism in order to restore a house in a tiny village.
Clementine in the Kitchen by Samuel Chamberlain
http://www.amazon.com/Clementine-Kitchen-Modern-Library-Food/dp/0375756647
French female cook who worked for American family, first in France itself, then in Massachusetts. Culture clash and recipes with a 1930's - 1980's vibe.
... and 6 more but more about that later.
The Mermaid Chair - a Novel by Sue Monk Kidd
http://www.amazon.com/Mermaid-Chair-Sue-Monk-Kidd/dp/0670033944
Light beach reading, it was entertaining if not earth-shattering. Involves Carolina Island, mystery, philosophy, midlife crisis, alchemy, love and forgiveness, I haven't read her other novel "The Secret Life Of Bees" - which was a huge success. 6/10
Insight Guide: Provence & The Cote D'Azur
http://www.amazon.com/Insight-Guide-Provence-DAzur-Guides/dp/158573151X
Travel guide from my favorite US guide series. Gorgeous images and articles on history & present, mentality, customs, tourism, countrylife, food... 8/10
La Bella Figura - A Field guide to the Italian Mind
http://www.amazon.com/Bella-Figura-Field-Guide-Italian/dp/0767914392
Italian newspaper columnist and author of pesce-out-of-water memoir "Ciao, America!" {which I haven't read yet but definitely will now!} takes a close look at his countrymen and what makes Italy Italy and the Italians Italians. Highly amusing, especially when you know people who were born there, or have spent some time in the country yourself. 8.5/10
Coming up:
Paper Daughter - a Memoir by M. Elaine Mar
http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Daughter-M-Elaine-Mar/dp/0060930527
Chinese immigrant family from Hong Kong arrives in America. Biography.
User ID - a Novel by Jenefer Shute
http://www.amazon.com/User-I-D-Jenefer-Shute/dp/0618539069
A novel on identity theft, current theme. Involves 2 women on opposite coasts, an unhappy ESL professor in NYC and a happy-go-lucky sales girl in the West.
Spooning - a Novel by Darri Stephens & Megan DeSales
http://www.amazon.com/Spooning-Novel-Darri-Stephens/dp/0767921399
A novel about firsts: first job, first apartment, first attempts at cooking and being all grown up in the big city. Set in NYC.
Lady Sings The Blues - Billie Holiday by William Dufty
http://www.amazon.com/Sings-Blues-Anniversary-Harlem-Classics/dp/0767923863
All about Billie Holiday - an autobiography.
Stones For Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
http://www.amazon.com/Stones-Ibarra-Contemporary-American-Fiction/dp/0140075623
American WASP couple moves to Mexico in a bout of idealism in order to restore a house in a tiny village.
Clementine in the Kitchen by Samuel Chamberlain
http://www.amazon.com/Clementine-Kitchen-Modern-Library-Food/dp/0375756647
French female cook who worked for American family, first in France itself, then in Massachusetts. Culture clash and recipes with a 1930's - 1980's vibe.
... and 6 more but more about that later.