Here are a few highlights. Coffee. My husband has mastered the espresso machine and it's like a chemistry set with the weighing of beans, getting the correct temperature of water and ordering beans roasted on specific dates. Too complicated for me but he loves it. And I am enjoying the flat whites and cortdas.
Lunch out at The Wharf for our anniversary. Grilled shrimp, hush puppies and Gouda cheese grits.
Just finished Whistler. One of my favorites for the year. I have enjoyed previous books by Ann Patchett but this one gets 5 stars.
Daphne Fuller and her husband Jonathan are enjoying a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when Jonathan notices a man who seems to be following them. When the man is confronted it turns out to be Daphne's stepfather, Eddie Triplett. It had been over 40 years since Daphne had seen Eddie and she loved him with all her heart. The last time she saw him she was 9 years old and they had been in a car accident, Daphne being the one to save them both.
The story weaves in and out of their present, the recollections of the car accident and Daphne and her sister Leda's relationship with their mother Abigail. There is quite a bit packed into this book.
When Daphne was nine her seven-year old sister Leda had appendicitis and was rushed to the hospital. Eddie took care of picking Daphne up and dropping off some essentials at the hospital for Abigail and Leda. Then on the way home he took Daphne up to a raspberry farm to go look at the stars. It was snowy and the car went off the side of the road. While they were trapped and freezing Eddie told Daphne a story about a woman named Mary Carter and how her horse Whistler had saved her life. It was an intense story and made an impression on Daphne.
How I grew to love Eddie and his life story, his demeanor and his love for Daphne and her family. There are other important characters in this story as well, such as Daphne and Leda's father Buddy and some of that back story. It's not too much information or too many characters. It all blends smoothly and you will hate putting this book down. The end chapter was perfect.
The themes of love, forgiveness and trust run through this narrative. This was a buddy read with Susan at The Cue Card. We were lucky enough to get the book at the same time. Please check out her excellent review :-)
I just read Susan's review of Whistler, and now with your review, I want to drop everything and rush out and get a copy. I absolutely love the premise, and the characters sound rich and nuanced and the story sounds layered. All ingredients for a wonderful story, and Patchett is such a great writer and storyteller. Thanks for a great review.
ReplyDeleteI loved Ted Lasso--is the Untold Story behind it worth reading?
When we first got our espresso maker, my husband grooved on being a barista. Now, 11 years later, we still use it but seem to go out for coffee more than make it at home. That said, I love having it. My daughter made a tiramasu for Father's Day and we were able to easily provide her with the 4 shots she needed for the recipe.
Happy Anniversary. That meal looks so yummy.
You had me with the title for this post. I love a good coffee. And those cheese grits look super yummy. I don't have them often but love them.
ReplyDeleteWhistler is on my list!