Ordinary Time sounds right up my alley! Thanks for the recommendation. Will put it in my library queue!
I like a salty chopped salad situation with goat cheese, as you're describing - especially with some chopped olives, jarred artichoke hearts, and some shelled pistachios. I don't think I've seen marinated chickpeas before at our grocery (they sound delicious) - but I'm such a big fan of little conveniences like that for lunch!
Oooh I like your suggestions. I have a jar of artichoke hearts languishing at the back of my pantry- must give them a whirl. I thought them in a whim one day because my friend and I were discussing how much we liked them but rarely bought them because our partners weren’t fans.
(Just realised this makes me sound like the main character in the book who frequently ignores her own needs and desires until one day she doesn’t).
Your description of Ordinary Time reminds me a lot of the first Joanna Trollope book I read, The Rector's Wife, which led to my reading two more of her books before wandering off in other directions. A person probably wouldn't want to read both Ordinary Time and The Rector's Wife, but I might, since I'm curious to compare them. Maybe certain doppelganging books pop up from generation to generation to pose the same enduring questions in a different epoch.
It’s funny you should mention The Rector’s Wife because it deals with many of the same themes and is set in a village as I recall. Are all her books set in small villages? I can’t remember. Anyway, I agree there are a lot of similarities although some of the language in Ordinary Time is a bit fruitier!
I couldn’t find Ordinary Time on Libby, so I downloaded The Rector’s Wife (thanks, Moira!). I hope to read it after finishing Wild Dark Shore, which I’m enjoying while at the same time finding it quite disturbing in terms of the environmental and human imperilment. So sorry I wasn’t able to hear the Book Club discussion! But thanks, Marg (and group!) for expanding my reading list beyond the obsessive news doomscrolling I’m prone to do.
As for salads, I do love the tang of goat cheese, but I tend to use feta, partly because it keeps longer. Still goat cheese would be lovely with spring berries (blueberries or strawberries), walnuts, mixed greens and a light dressing of olive oil and a fruity vinegar or citrus (lemon or orange). I might throw in a few slices of avocado or some sliced green olives for a salty punch. Yum!
Hello! Newish since I just started a Substack. I read mostly fantasy and fantasy-adjacent things, but with a sprinkle of lit fic. Mostly I read ARCs, that takes up most of my time 😅
Ordinary Time sounds right up my alley! Thanks for the recommendation. Will put it in my library queue!
I like a salty chopped salad situation with goat cheese, as you're describing - especially with some chopped olives, jarred artichoke hearts, and some shelled pistachios. I don't think I've seen marinated chickpeas before at our grocery (they sound delicious) - but I'm such a big fan of little conveniences like that for lunch!
Oooh I like your suggestions. I have a jar of artichoke hearts languishing at the back of my pantry- must give them a whirl. I thought them in a whim one day because my friend and I were discussing how much we liked them but rarely bought them because our partners weren’t fans.
(Just realised this makes me sound like the main character in the book who frequently ignores her own needs and desires until one day she doesn’t).
I'm definitely going to look out for those goat's cheese crumbles.
I felt a bit bad about not posting an actual recipe in this issue, but it’s easy to get into a rut with our lunches so I thought a suggestion was ok!
I loved Ordinary Time. I would also put Maria Semple and Nina Stibbe as adjacent authors. Has anyone read any of Cathy’s other books?
Also Margaret what are the brand of marinated chickpeas you used?
Thank you!
I am very excited to report that Maria Semple’s new book is waiting for me at the library. Can’t wait to read it. I also love Nina Stibbe.
I’ve read Cathy’s nonfiction book on writing, but not her memoir.
The chickpeas are Edgell brand and come in tiny tins (snack size). They are great for lunches.
Your description of Ordinary Time reminds me a lot of the first Joanna Trollope book I read, The Rector's Wife, which led to my reading two more of her books before wandering off in other directions. A person probably wouldn't want to read both Ordinary Time and The Rector's Wife, but I might, since I'm curious to compare them. Maybe certain doppelganging books pop up from generation to generation to pose the same enduring questions in a different epoch.
It’s funny you should mention The Rector’s Wife because it deals with many of the same themes and is set in a village as I recall. Are all her books set in small villages? I can’t remember. Anyway, I agree there are a lot of similarities although some of the language in Ordinary Time is a bit fruitier!
Funny - it was the first book I thought of when I read this post. I also went through a Joanna Trollope phase.
I couldn’t find Ordinary Time on Libby, so I downloaded The Rector’s Wife (thanks, Moira!). I hope to read it after finishing Wild Dark Shore, which I’m enjoying while at the same time finding it quite disturbing in terms of the environmental and human imperilment. So sorry I wasn’t able to hear the Book Club discussion! But thanks, Marg (and group!) for expanding my reading list beyond the obsessive news doomscrolling I’m prone to do.
As for salads, I do love the tang of goat cheese, but I tend to use feta, partly because it keeps longer. Still goat cheese would be lovely with spring berries (blueberries or strawberries), walnuts, mixed greens and a light dressing of olive oil and a fruity vinegar or citrus (lemon or orange). I might throw in a few slices of avocado or some sliced green olives for a salty punch. Yum!
Hello! Newish since I just started a Substack. I read mostly fantasy and fantasy-adjacent things, but with a sprinkle of lit fic. Mostly I read ARCs, that takes up most of my time 😅