(Dolen Perkins-Valdez, hardback). From the title you might think this is a book about the s-x word. It’s not. By a long shot. But the story, set in about 1852, is about a black slave woman, and her somewhat misguided “love” for her master. About the children she bore him, under the eagle eye of the master’s wife. But it’s all tied together with a yearly journey made to a place called Tawawa House, a rural inn of sorts in southern Ohio (a free State), that for some years allowed white slave owners to stay at the resort in rustic cottages with their black slaves, as couples. This place existed, according to the author’s afterword, and finally closed because some of the regulars (white couples who stayed in the main house) didn’t fancy this concubine business going on out in the woods. It’s about Lizzie’s relationships with the other slave women, about their desire to run to safety through the local underground, about them secretly meeting some free blacks, finding out more about abolition, and about the hardships all these black mistresses endured, and how little their lives were valued. A real stunning book. (I was sent this book as a perk from Harper Collins – because I had mentioned The Help. No strings attached – I could choose to mention this book, or not, here on my blog. I’m glad to because it’s a very good read.)
(Jamie Ford, on my Kindle). A poignant story about a Chinese-American, growing up in Seattle at the beginning of World War II. Henry falls in love with a young Japanese girl before her family is interned in a relocation camp. It a very secretive relationship because his parents would highly disapprove. The story goes back to the 40’s and forward to the 1980’s when Henry is in his 50’s and his wife (not the Japanese woman) has just died of cancer. The story pulls you in from the first page, especially when some artifacts are found in the basement of an old hotel which contain personal belongings from several Japanese families who were suddenly taken away back in 1942. You can see where it’s going, can’t you? I heard criticism of this book that it was just a little bit contrived. Halfway through I’m enjoying it very much.
(Kathryn Stockett on my Kindle, an excellent read); 
by Jetta Carleton (Kindle edition, eh); 
by Susan Richards (Kindle edition, good book); 
by Sally Gunning (Kindle edition, very good read)
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(Mario Batali & Gweneth Paltrow); 
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What makes my world rock? Having a fun dinner with friends, enjoying some nice, soft wine with classical music in the background, easy-going conversation, but enjoying it over a spectacular meal. Someone recently asked me why I’m willing to spend so much time cooking. Because when my hubby or a guest says “Oh, this is so wonderful.” It makes the work worthwhile.
I’m in my 60’s, and have lots of things yet to do in my life. My other half, Dave, my DH (Dear Husband) of 25+ years, enjoys all my food experimentation, and God bless him, he washes all the dishes. Usually when we entertain, he even sets the dinner table for me, and does much of the grocery shopping (because he LIKES to). His parents used to own a gourmet food and grocery market in Ocean City, New Jersey. Long ago.
I grew up in San Diego, went to college there, married the wrong man for way too many years, had a daughter, was divorced and a year later found Dave, the love of my life. Between us we have 3 children (and now 5 grandchildren). They all live in California. We, my DH and I, live in Orange County, California. In the land of sunshine.
Dave and I have done a lot of traveling in our married years, as world travel has always been important. I took him on a trip to England when we’d been together for about 6 months, as a “test run,” to make sure he’d travel well. (He passed the test, obviously!) Besides, you find out a lot of things about a mate by living with him 24/7. Places I still want to go, or to visit again include (and not in this order): Tasmania, Spain (again), Rome (again), Venice (again, but off season), Newfoundland, South Africa, Israel (to see all the Christian historical sites), Stockholm harbor (again), Norway (again), New Zealand, and Alaska (again). Places we’ve particularly loved: Italy, England (our two favorites), Spain, Turkey and Alaska.
When I draw on my travel memories, favorite places that come to mind: the villa in Provence that a group of us (friends) rented a few years ago; one of the lochs in Scotland where we were the only car in sight on a very narrow 2-lane track – we stopped the car – rolled the windows down and just listened – to the wind – to the leaves rattling – to the lapping water – it was magical; staying at a very posh hotel on the north shore of Lake Lucerne (Switzerland), and a particularly memorable meal we had in the hotel’s restaurant with a view of the lake, mostly occluded in fog that evening; standing at the Spanish Steps in Rome; the Blue Mosque in Istanbul; waking up in Giza (Egypt) to look out our hotel room window at the magnificent pyramid; seeing Michelangelo’s statue “David” in Florence (it’s huge); riding a Segway in Paris; the unbelievably green grass in Switzerland in the springtime; my first visit to Harrod’s in London, many, many years ago, when I bought a $200 (then) Burberry lined raincoat and thought I’d purchased the moon; and the week we spent in Hawaii with all our kids and grandkids some years back, at a rental home right on the sand.
Reading is also an important part of my life. I’ve been in a book review group (through AAUW, American Ass’n of University Women) for about 25 years. Mostly I read fiction, but the “better paperback” choices, not pulp fiction. Lots of my book reads will be on my blog. Maybe some cookbooks too since I read and buy way too many. I’m also in a 2nd book group now, where we have a very casual outlook – no structure – just fun reading and discussion.
I’m also in an investment club, which has been a real education. After 12 years, I’m still learning and like that part of it. I spend way too many hours on the computer every day. I like it. Enjoy playing a bunch of different solitaire games, and doing my daily jigsaw puzzle at www.jigzone.com.
So come along for the ride, and see where my writing , cooking, and reading take us.