13 Comments

I love your mix of books and food, Marg! And what a great way to put together a salad! Sounds like you hit all the food groups, plus some!

I look forward to reading more of your pieces. I often listen to audiobooks while cooking. Right now I'm listening to "The Master Bedroom" by Tessa Hadley, an author I read about because she has a new book called "Free Love" that just came out. She seems to write a lot about family relationships that go awry--a bottomless source of material! I'm also reading a biography of Sylvia Plath called "Red Comet" by Heather Clark. I guess I'm drawn to dark material!

Expand full comment

Hi Ruth and thanks for taking the time to respond! I've been meaning to read Tessa Hadley for a while so I appreciate the recommendation. I am terrible at listening to audiobooks. They send me to sleep instantly. Funnily enough, I can listen to podcasts with no problems. I'm not sure why.

Expand full comment

That's interesting. It's reading a book, often in a reclining position, that sends me to sleep. Listening perks me up, but I do think it's a different experience, perhaps a deeper one, to turn the pages of a book. I'm enjoying the Hadley book, although some of the situations make me uncomfortable. Perhaps I'll read my next one of hers in hard copy and compare!

Expand full comment

I love the 'plot' you use for making salads. I might just pinch that from you.

Expand full comment

Please do! I pinched the blueberry idea from our friend Callista.

Expand full comment

I'm reading To Paradise at the moment by Hanya Yanagihara who wrote A Little Life. I'm totally engrossed in it!

Expand full comment

I love the way you are able to tackle these literary masterpieces. I don’t have the ability to apply myself, but I admire you.

Expand full comment

I'm reading another Louise Penny since you put me onto her. This time The Beautiful Mystery. Perfect holiday reading, undemanding but interesting enough.

Expand full comment

I agree. Her research is meticulous. You always know you’re going to get good value even though it might not knock your socks off.

Expand full comment

I read The Plot but didn't like it all that much. The author came to our library to speak, which is why I was aware of the book. It's not the kind of book I usually read, but there was so much hype here because she was coming. I do really like a good murder mystery, especially on PBS....

Expand full comment

Yes there was a lot of hype. I was expecting to be blown away and although I enjoyed it, I wanted to get my red pencil out and cut out a few sections here and there. On the other hand, I’m conscious that I’m a very critical reader. It takes a lot to get me raving about a book and sometimes I feel bad because every book represents a whole lot of work and I respect that.

Expand full comment

That's one of the pitfalls of being a book editor - you're bound to be a critical reader.

Expand full comment

I come from a whole family of discerning readers (aka critics). It can be tricky at book group meetings as you are often the only person who dares to pick holes in a book. Thankfully I don’t have this problem because my book group is awesome and we celebrate differences of opinion.

Expand full comment