Marg, your reading and travel series was fabulous to read and very revealing. It took courage in some instances perhaps, feeling doubtful about what or how to write it. It is a story I will one day revisit. Thank you!
I’m late to the party but absolutely loving your Substack. Lots to digest and absorb but just love the honesty and frankness. Great inspiration - a true influencer 🙌
I think 'The Mountains Sing would be good one- it's a family saga over many decades, including the American War (as the Vietnamese refer to it). Gives a good insight into the life of rich and poor, north and south, and the impact of the war on everyone.
BTW- nothing wrong with old movies- they are some of the best!
Hey, Marg, I hadn’t written down the date for the book club, and am so sad I missed it. I also listened to the book and really enjoyed the mix of characters and mystery. I wasn’t really bothered by the author jumping back and forth in time, though sometimes I lost the thread. I liked the evocation of summer camp, which brought back a few camp memories of my own.
The pork meatballs sound delicious. I make something similar with turkey, but your additions of toasted pine nuts and lemon might perk them up a bit!
Thanks again for sharing your life in chapters, Marg. It was an inspiring read.
We missed you! I’m sorry you didn’t make it. I’ll have to sort out a more reliable method of reminding people.
We had a good chat about summer camps. We don’t really have anything like that here, although we do have Scouts and Guide camps and I imagine they are similar, (campfires + bushcraft etc) but they don’t go on for weeks and weeks. We also don’t have preserves (only jam) 🤭
Yes you could definitely make the meatballs with turkey mince or chicken! They’d be great.
I’m sorry I missed the discussion of summer camps. I’ve got so many memories from that part of my childhood. Perhaps I’ll write about them sometime. And hopefully I’ll make the next book club!
a great insight that your own life can seem very ordinary, but extraordinary and adventurous to someone on the outside! I've enjoyed your reading life series. It's been great to get to know you in this way!
I'm wrapping up "Care & Feeding" by Laurie Woolever right now; it's a memoir of Anthony Bourdain's assistant. Lots of tough moments in it but rewarding on the whole.
Thanks Emily. I always love finding out about other people’s lives, so memoirs often have great appeal for me. The one you are reading sounds very interesting.
Are you listening or reading? I listened to the audiobook and I’m a sucker for Irish narrators, so it was easy to keep going. I hope you finish it, but no pressure! I understand you getting distracted. I do it all the time.
I loved your looking back series Marg, always good to find out more about the friends we have.
My current reading - I’ve been exploring Vietnamese authors as I recently had a holiday there. Reread Grahame Green The Quiet American which I loved, The Mountains Sing, by Que MaiPhan Nguyen is a family saga set over a long period, including The American War. The Sympathiser by Viet Thanh Nguyen is set post war but also explores the impact of the war and life for those who left at the fall of Saigon. Much more scathing and harsh,albeit with some real humour. Started reading the follow up book, The Committed, but it’s very serious and full of very damaged characters, now set in Paris. Picked up Charlotte McConagheys new book WildDark Shores at the writers festival, and am enthralled by this.
I love that you are mostly reading books I’ve not read and often not heard of! So much to be read, I love it.
Thanks Deb. We feel a tiny bit ashamed that my reading tastes are so narrow and Anglo-centric but there’s always time to remedy that and I appreciate your suggestions. Which Vietnamese writer would you recommend as a starting point? Perhaps I should finally get around to reading The Boat?
I’v also never read The Quiet American but was just talking to my husband about watching some old classic films. Is that a sign of aging, do you think?
Thanks for reading and commenting. I do appreciate your support.
Marg, your reading and travel series was fabulous to read and very revealing. It took courage in some instances perhaps, feeling doubtful about what or how to write it. It is a story I will one day revisit. Thank you!
Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it.
I’m late to the party but absolutely loving your Substack. Lots to digest and absorb but just love the honesty and frankness. Great inspiration - a true influencer 🙌
That means a lot to me Ruth. I would love to know what you are reading sometime. You seem to have eclectic tastes.
I think 'The Mountains Sing would be good one- it's a family saga over many decades, including the American War (as the Vietnamese refer to it). Gives a good insight into the life of rich and poor, north and south, and the impact of the war on everyone.
BTW- nothing wrong with old movies- they are some of the best!
xx
Hey, Marg, I hadn’t written down the date for the book club, and am so sad I missed it. I also listened to the book and really enjoyed the mix of characters and mystery. I wasn’t really bothered by the author jumping back and forth in time, though sometimes I lost the thread. I liked the evocation of summer camp, which brought back a few camp memories of my own.
The pork meatballs sound delicious. I make something similar with turkey, but your additions of toasted pine nuts and lemon might perk them up a bit!
Thanks again for sharing your life in chapters, Marg. It was an inspiring read.
We missed you! I’m sorry you didn’t make it. I’ll have to sort out a more reliable method of reminding people.
We had a good chat about summer camps. We don’t really have anything like that here, although we do have Scouts and Guide camps and I imagine they are similar, (campfires + bushcraft etc) but they don’t go on for weeks and weeks. We also don’t have preserves (only jam) 🤭
Yes you could definitely make the meatballs with turkey mince or chicken! They’d be great.
I’m sorry I missed the discussion of summer camps. I’ve got so many memories from that part of my childhood. Perhaps I’ll write about them sometime. And hopefully I’ll make the next book club!
I hope so. 💕
a great insight that your own life can seem very ordinary, but extraordinary and adventurous to someone on the outside! I've enjoyed your reading life series. It's been great to get to know you in this way!
I'm wrapping up "Care & Feeding" by Laurie Woolever right now; it's a memoir of Anthony Bourdain's assistant. Lots of tough moments in it but rewarding on the whole.
Thanks Emily. I always love finding out about other people’s lives, so memoirs often have great appeal for me. The one you are reading sounds very interesting.
I’m going through The Rachel Incident right now! Except I keep getting distracted and started other books but I’m going to finish one, I promise ☺️
Are you listening or reading? I listened to the audiobook and I’m a sucker for Irish narrators, so it was easy to keep going. I hope you finish it, but no pressure! I understand you getting distracted. I do it all the time.
I'm doing the e-book version. it's so popular at my local library though, so I've had to wait a little bit...
I loved your looking back series Marg, always good to find out more about the friends we have.
My current reading - I’ve been exploring Vietnamese authors as I recently had a holiday there. Reread Grahame Green The Quiet American which I loved, The Mountains Sing, by Que MaiPhan Nguyen is a family saga set over a long period, including The American War. The Sympathiser by Viet Thanh Nguyen is set post war but also explores the impact of the war and life for those who left at the fall of Saigon. Much more scathing and harsh,albeit with some real humour. Started reading the follow up book, The Committed, but it’s very serious and full of very damaged characters, now set in Paris. Picked up Charlotte McConagheys new book WildDark Shores at the writers festival, and am enthralled by this.
I love that you are mostly reading books I’ve not read and often not heard of! So much to be read, I love it.
Thanks Deb. We feel a tiny bit ashamed that my reading tastes are so narrow and Anglo-centric but there’s always time to remedy that and I appreciate your suggestions. Which Vietnamese writer would you recommend as a starting point? Perhaps I should finally get around to reading The Boat?
I’v also never read The Quiet American but was just talking to my husband about watching some old classic films. Is that a sign of aging, do you think?
Thanks for reading and commenting. I do appreciate your support.