(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); if you haven’t heard about this book, you should! It’s a novel written from the voice of the black servants and some of the people they work for, all residents of Jackson, Mississippi. In the 1950’s. The maids generally are disrespected, still have to ride in the back of the bus, and some are prevented from using the bathroom in the houses where they work. The story is about a young woman (daughter of one of the society ladies) who decides to write a book about the stories of the maids. Anonymously. But not quite, of course. So it’s not only the stories themselves, but about the society-ladies’ relationships, and about the stealth required to interview the maids and write the book. And the repercussions when it’s published. A fantastic read.
by Jetta Carleton (Kindle edition); 
by Susan Richards (Kindle edition); 
by Sally Gunning (Kindle edition)
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(Mario Batali & Gweneth Paltrow); 
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t’s Fall weather here in Philadelphia and New Jersey shore environs. So different than the heat in Southern California that we left behind last week. Very pleasant. Cool nights. Even some rain. Cool and windy even. We stayed with friends in Newtown Square, a rural village outside Philadelphia for a couple of days and are now in a rural area near Ocean City (DH’s home town). He attended his high school reunion last night, catching up with people he hasn’t seen in awhile. I didn’t go – I don’t know anyone. I went out to dinner by myself. Had a mediocre meal at a local restaurant and tavern.
Today DH and our hosts went out boating. I just didn’t think I could manage boating with my broken foot and boot. I’m not very nimble with this boot on level ground, let alone a rocking boat. They had a good time and I enjoyed my solitude.
Here are some photos from our host’s home.
Anonymous
said on September 17th, 2007:
I think you made the right decision to stay away from the reunion and let your husband talk to his old friends for as long as he wished, reliving old stories you are really not interested in, going back to those old school days. I’ve gone to be husband’s reunions and I’ve stayed home during the reunions, and staying home is definitely more fun! Jancd