Category Archives: Am reading

A few book recommendations and …

I’ll start with some brief book recommendations, and end with a woeful tale that ends happily. Despite the disruption of home repairs, I’ve managed to finish several books since the end of April, and May is only half-done. A suggestion … Continue reading

Posted in #LoveHain, Adventure, Am reading, Fiction, Historical fiction, Libraries, Nonfiction, Science fiction | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Oh, yeah. I have this blog thingy.

On my refrigerator are three “apologies” I’ve collected over the years: Up top: from an old cartoon in The New Yorker. Middle: from Tina Fey’s series, Great News. Below: I can’t remember the source, so I’ll just say “author unknown … Continue reading

Posted in #LoveHain, Am reading, Science fiction | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Soup and Salad, December

The longest, although perhaps not coldest, night of the year has passed. And tonight, as my daughter and I prepare our fête de Noël, we’ll be supping on soup and salad. As Brother Victor-Antoine d’Avila points out (borrowing from Shakespeare’s … Continue reading

Posted in Am reading, Cooking, NOT a food blog, Reading the Year, Soup and salad | Tagged | 6 Comments

December brings the sleet

These days, “Blazing fire” might sometimes be the best “Christmas treat”. I have still one more post about the soups and salads made this month, but this is my final post for the books of history and memoir. Peter Mayle’s … Continue reading

Posted in Am reading, History, Memoir, Reading the Year | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Soup and Salad, November

I know people who say, “When I make a recipe for the first time, I follow it exactly.” Very admirable, I think to myself. I should try that. If a new recipe appeals to me, I should trust the chef … Continue reading

Posted in Am reading, NOT a food blog, Reading the Year, Soup and salad | Tagged | 1 Comment

November Brings the Blast

 “Dull November” is exactly right. It’s a long slog from Witch Week to Thanksgiving, with just a fleeting interlude of political excitement, here in the U.S., on Election Day. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I rarely … Continue reading

Posted in Am reading, History, Memoir, Reading the Year | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Soup & Salad, October

Quite busy lately, what with WITCHWEEK2022 starting in just a couple of days, so I’ll keep this one short. SOUP Hot soups are back on the menu! Ones with lots of vegetables and colors are best, with thick ones running … Continue reading

Posted in Am reading, NOT a food blog, Reading the Year, Soup and salad | Tagged | 2 Comments

October brings the pheasants

Nuts and game birds. Well, perhaps not here in the big city, except via my local grocery store. Before I continue my Reading the Year project, I’ll list again the books I’m reading slowly, trying to keep with the calendar … Continue reading

Posted in Am reading, History, Memoir, Reading the Year | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

ULYSSES+, 9-month report

You may recall that, this year being the 100th anniversary of the publication of James Joyce’s Ulysses, I’ve started a project of re-reading that book, along with 12 other literary works published the same year. Despite a good head start … Continue reading

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Another quick recommendation

Hernán Díaz, In the Distance (2017) and Trust (2022) Hernán Díaz’s latest novel, Trust, is the May selection for the NYPL/WNYC Virtual Book Club, which aims to get New Yorkers reading (and, obviously, discussing) new books. I heard an interview … Continue reading

Posted in Am reading, Fiction, Historical fiction | Tagged | 2 Comments