The first week of September almost behind us and I sometimes marvel we have been in our "city" home for almost three months. I love the quiet street we live on, talking to people who are walking or doing gardening, being close to the library, pizza, ammenities....and no more 25 mile trip to get to the grocery store. Bliss.
Books // This week I finished a Graham Norton book called Forever Home. The setting is Ireland, as are most of his books, and the subject matter of dementia and relationships are the main themes. I've read three of Graham Norton's books so far and can say I enjoyed the others more than this one. Most of the characters were believable and well described but there is a subplot about three quarters of the way in that's ridiculous, in my opinion. 3.5 stars
What's for dinner // Thank you to Jinjer for sending me a cookbook! First recipe that grabbed me was the rice dish with mushrooms, onions and peas. This rounded out the honeyed lemon chicken dish. Recipe for the chicken here if interested.
Yay! Thx for mentioning the buddy read with me. I will mention it too next post. I hope to start the book sometime later today. Too bad about the Graham Norton book ... I enjoyed his Holding novel. Perhaps that's the best one. Still I like the themes you mention on this latest one. It's crazy you've already been in your house 3 months! I'm glad it's on a nice street and so much easier. Seems like a breath of fresh air kind of change.
ReplyDeleteSusan, that book was ok and I finsihed it but there was just this weird little unbeleive event that made me wince. Otherwise it was interesting to read about an unmarried couple who faced a difficult situation once the man was diagnosed with dementia.
DeleteYes - 3 months! Wish we'd done this years ago.
Welcome to civilization!!!!! Ha ha. I can't believe it's been 3 months already! Seems like yesterday you were packing boxes!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like the cookbook. That whole meal you made looks delicious!
Thank you, Jinjer! We did unpack in a hurry. I was always pulling things out of boxes to get rid of the stacks. The cookbook is great and I am going to try a lentil soup next. Thanks :-)
DeleteI second Jinjer's welcome! I couldn't imagine not living in a city!
ReplyDeleteHow did I not know that Graham Norton was also a writer! I will be reading him soon.
As I was looking for Norton at the library, I came across Donal Ryan, (rabbit hole), a new to me Irish writer, do you know of him?
I added The Correspondent to my TBR list!
Thank you, Jackie. I am loving this. Once this awful heat is gone I can walk to the farmers market and also to a coffee shop. It's not big like where and Jinjer are but big enough! And streaming shows now is fantastic.
DeleteI had not heard of Donal Ryan so I went to Goodreads and, lo and behold, I have one of his books on my to-read list. Ha! It's called The Queen of Dirt Island so I will have to move that up on my list. For Norton I really liked Holding and just found out they made a mini series of it.
checking to see if i can comment on your blog
ReplyDeleteYay son fixed it! Your books look good. So does your food!
DeleteThank you, Vicki! I also went ahead and removed the moderation.
DeleteJust so you know, it was on my end not yours.
DeleteOne of my friends described the Correspondent to me just this week and I got the distinct impression it was nonfiction. But I see from the over it is a novel. Is it based on a real person?
ReplyDeleteAnne, I'm not sure if it's based on a real person and will check into that. Not yet though as I am afraid I will read a spoiler. I am enjoying it so far.
DeleteMy sister lived out in the country for thirty-five years while she raised her kids, but now that she is retired and older, they are greatly enjoying the convenience of living in town.
ReplyDeleteI liked The Correspondent very much. I hope you and Susan like your buddy read of this book. I see that its average rating on GR is 4.6.
Deb, loving the Correspondent so far. But I have always been a letter writer and many aspects of that format appeal to me.
DeleteI did enjoy the country living for a while and our son loved it growing up but as I am older, it's so nice to reduce that drive time. While I don't see deer or bobcats anymore we do see quite a variety of wildlife. Turns out we are are on an Audubon trail. I've already seen more Kites than we did rural. Beautiful birds of prey.
Your meal looks delicious!! And I am glad that you are enjoying our new home and neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Erin.
DeleteI enjoy epistolatory novels as well. Have a god week and happy reading!
ReplyDeleteCindy, you wuld probably like this one. There is another I read years back called Dear Stephanie that was very good as well.
DeleteOh, I hope you and Susan love The Correspondent as much as I did. It's till my favorite book of the year! Hard to believe it's been 3 months already since you moved.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, so far I am loving it. I like the epistolary style very much. And there are so many books mentioned in the letters that I am writing those down.
DeleteThe rice dish and the book look good!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sheila. Both are winners!
DeleteToo bad the Graham Norton book didn't work for you -- thanks for recommending the ones that you liked better.
ReplyDeleteJoy, I wasn't tempted to stop reading but I do like his other ones much better.
DeleteYum! Both meals look really good. The Correspondent looks good. I really love epistolary style books. I haven't read anything by Graham Norton but he's on my (very long) list of authors to read.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katherine. My to-read list is ridiculously long but I am making a reading plan so I stop negelecting some of the titles.
DeleteWow. Time flies, doesn't it? I can't believe you've been in your new place for almost three months. I really sounds like you are much happier where you are. I'm happy for you!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading The Correspondent in a month or so. I'm almost ready to wrap-up my Summer Reading Challenge (will stop on the Sept. 22nd - last day of summer) and am ready to move on. I hope to get some reading in once we get to our next campsites. The past few days have been busy with family time, and I'm too tired at the end of the day to read very many pages. I finished The Rose Code and need to post a review before I forget what I want to say!
Les, we are very happy. Everyone is so friendly, waving as they drivce by, chatting during our walks. We have spoken to more people in these three months than I have in 30 years before.
DeleteI'm enjoying your photos on IG and look forward to your summer list of books, what you liked best. I liked The Rose Code.
The Correspondent has a great cover!
ReplyDeleteLovely dish. Yesterday, I wanted to use some leftover pasta. I turned it into a swisschard-pasta gratin, with béchamelle. It was really good, I have to say.
For this dish, I only used the stems of the Swiss-chard, as we do in France for the gratin (I only added the pasta because it was a way to use the leftovers).
But doing a regular Swisschard dish tonight - we have A LOT in our garden right now
Thanks, Emma. I also use leftovers in casseroles, it's economical. Bechamelle is always good to bind the casserole. Yummy.
DeleteI'm really looking forward to The Correspondent myself. I still have many weeks to go on the library for the audio edition, but it does sound great.
ReplyDeleteJane, it was a good book. I love the style.
DeleteI enjoyed Nortons Home Stretch. I’m curious about The Correspondent.
ReplyDeleteI’m really glad to learn you’ve found a wonderful new place to live!
Wishing you a happy reading week
Thanks, Shelleyrae. It's great here and I live on that back porch! I've enjoyed all of Norton's books and was thinking about one of hs nonfction upcoming.
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