They just had a program on the radio about memorable travel food and someone mentioned the absolutely magnificent vanilla slice they make at the hotel in Bled, Slovenia. I had forgotten about it but I concur, absolutely the best.
I really like short stories. I think you have to be a very disciplined writer and choose your words carefully. And you're right - not every story jells with you but there's always another to choose from in an anthology.
I have to admit avoiding short stories for a similar reason to the one you cite, but now I’m eager to give them another try, possibly with one of these two collections. I’ve been having great luck with other books you’ve suggested. A favorite, which I just finished, is “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus, which I simply adored on many levels. I really enjoyed the multigenerational novel “French Braid” by Anne Tyler (recommended by my mother-in-law) and am eager to read more of her books. Thanks for the mille-feuille shortcut. After a short break to digest all those Thanksgiving pies, I may give it a try!
You're an excellent cook so I doubt you need any short cuts, but my sister did tell me recently that someone she knows used instant pudding as a replacement for icing on a birthday cake for a one-year-old. They didn't want the baby to have too much sugar. I don't know how much sugar is in instant pudding, but it doesn't taste very sweet to me.
I'm so glad you enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry. I have a copy of French Braid on my nightstand but I haven't quite gotten around to reading it yet. I can recommend Redhead by the Side of the Road, (a very quiet book) and also The Accidental Tourist (a wonderful film if you've never seen it).
It's nice to know that other people struggle with short stories. It always makes me feel so dumb when I can't understand what the point of the story is.
Oh that's a lovely compliment, Marg! Wish I could share some of the madeleines I just made and had to freeze so I wouldn't gobble them up! I'm a reasonable cook and baker, but I certainly have my share of fails. I would have never thought of using a pudding as an icing, but I bet it would be good--I love pudding of any sort, instant or homemade!
Thanks for the recommendations--I'm sure I'll like them. Your blog and a few others are spurring me to read more fiction, and I'm glad as I sometimes get sucked into spending too much time reading the news, which invariably makes me depressed!
Perhaps if/when you start a book club, we can attempt to read some short stories together. That might be a spur to understand them better. Some are pretty clear, but there are others that seem purposefully obscure. You're not alone in struggling--and you're certainly not dumb!☺️
It's nice to know other people struggle with short stories. I always thought it was just me. It's funny how we always assume the worst about ourselves, that we are dumb or in some other way not up to scratch. The book club is definitely going ahead. I'm very excited about it.
Also, I would love a madeleine right now! It's morning tea time here.
I'd be curious to see what you think of it. It's very American in its settings, but also kind of universal in its view of relationships between generations.
This is so strange. I never heard of mille feuille in my life, but then came across a recipe for it, which I want to make.....then i see this. It sounds good!
All the Beloved Ghosts is now requested at my library. Sounds so good. I remember the night Diana died. We'd been to a carnival near Cleveland, Ohio where I'm from. The boys were little. I walked into my parents kitchen with everyone, I was holding little Matt, it was a warm, muggy night, and my mom had on the tv news, which showed the accident, the black wrecked vehicle, with everyone still waiting to hear what happened, Diana still in the vehicle. I remember Matt asking me, did the Princess die? Anyway, we all stayed up and watched, and I recall that our sons were just a bit younger than Diana's two boys. It was very sad. I was never much of a royal watcher, but I did think Diana was both gorgeous and very charismatic, so I always paid attention to her.
I think you will enjoy All the Beloved Ghosts and especially the Diana story. I'm not sure whether it's autobiographical but it reads very much like a personal essay and has the same ring of truth. I find it very interesting that you can remember the details of hearing the news, holding your son and being sad. I remember meeting a friend at the shopping centre and she told me that Diana and Dodi had been in a crash, but I didn't know who Dodi was! (I'm much of a royal watcher either).
Just yesterday colleagues just asked for some book recommendations, so I reflected on my year of reading so far. Top three this year: The Plot, Detransition Baby, and Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies. I adored them all in very different ways.
Thanks so much for the recommendations. I’m always interested to know what you are reading. I’ve heard of the first two, but the third one is completely new to me so I’ll be checking that out before the day is done.
I checked out all your recs and realised that I have actually read The Plot. It was fun, although I guessed the ending way before I got to the end. I felt quite smug about this until I read that you are supposed to guess the ending :)
I'm happy to receive all recommendations really. I mentioned thrillers because I often find this genre to be disappointing. I love a good thriller/mystery but they are hard to find.
They just had a program on the radio about memorable travel food and someone mentioned the absolutely magnificent vanilla slice they make at the hotel in Bled, Slovenia. I had forgotten about it but I concur, absolutely the best.
I remember you telling me about them. I always wanted to go there just to eat one.
I really like short stories. I think you have to be a very disciplined writer and choose your words carefully. And you're right - not every story jells with you but there's always another to choose from in an anthology.
I'm becoming quite the evangelist for short stories - like one of those people who have recently given up smoking and think everyone should quit.
I have to admit avoiding short stories for a similar reason to the one you cite, but now I’m eager to give them another try, possibly with one of these two collections. I’ve been having great luck with other books you’ve suggested. A favorite, which I just finished, is “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus, which I simply adored on many levels. I really enjoyed the multigenerational novel “French Braid” by Anne Tyler (recommended by my mother-in-law) and am eager to read more of her books. Thanks for the mille-feuille shortcut. After a short break to digest all those Thanksgiving pies, I may give it a try!
You're an excellent cook so I doubt you need any short cuts, but my sister did tell me recently that someone she knows used instant pudding as a replacement for icing on a birthday cake for a one-year-old. They didn't want the baby to have too much sugar. I don't know how much sugar is in instant pudding, but it doesn't taste very sweet to me.
I'm so glad you enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry. I have a copy of French Braid on my nightstand but I haven't quite gotten around to reading it yet. I can recommend Redhead by the Side of the Road, (a very quiet book) and also The Accidental Tourist (a wonderful film if you've never seen it).
It's nice to know that other people struggle with short stories. It always makes me feel so dumb when I can't understand what the point of the story is.
Oh that's a lovely compliment, Marg! Wish I could share some of the madeleines I just made and had to freeze so I wouldn't gobble them up! I'm a reasonable cook and baker, but I certainly have my share of fails. I would have never thought of using a pudding as an icing, but I bet it would be good--I love pudding of any sort, instant or homemade!
Thanks for the recommendations--I'm sure I'll like them. Your blog and a few others are spurring me to read more fiction, and I'm glad as I sometimes get sucked into spending too much time reading the news, which invariably makes me depressed!
Perhaps if/when you start a book club, we can attempt to read some short stories together. That might be a spur to understand them better. Some are pretty clear, but there are others that seem purposefully obscure. You're not alone in struggling--and you're certainly not dumb!☺️
It's nice to know other people struggle with short stories. I always thought it was just me. It's funny how we always assume the worst about ourselves, that we are dumb or in some other way not up to scratch. The book club is definitely going ahead. I'm very excited about it.
Also, I would love a madeleine right now! It's morning tea time here.
I love Anne Tyler's writing and have read almost all her books except French Braid which I will definitely seek out now.
I'm wondering if it should be the book club pick? I'd better read it first though.
I'd be curious to see what you think of it. It's very American in its settings, but also kind of universal in its view of relationships between generations.
I'll let you know :)
This is so strange. I never heard of mille feuille in my life, but then came across a recipe for it, which I want to make.....then i see this. It sounds good!
It's super easy, give it a whirl.
All the Beloved Ghosts is now requested at my library. Sounds so good. I remember the night Diana died. We'd been to a carnival near Cleveland, Ohio where I'm from. The boys were little. I walked into my parents kitchen with everyone, I was holding little Matt, it was a warm, muggy night, and my mom had on the tv news, which showed the accident, the black wrecked vehicle, with everyone still waiting to hear what happened, Diana still in the vehicle. I remember Matt asking me, did the Princess die? Anyway, we all stayed up and watched, and I recall that our sons were just a bit younger than Diana's two boys. It was very sad. I was never much of a royal watcher, but I did think Diana was both gorgeous and very charismatic, so I always paid attention to her.
I think you will enjoy All the Beloved Ghosts and especially the Diana story. I'm not sure whether it's autobiographical but it reads very much like a personal essay and has the same ring of truth. I find it very interesting that you can remember the details of hearing the news, holding your son and being sad. I remember meeting a friend at the shopping centre and she told me that Diana and Dodi had been in a crash, but I didn't know who Dodi was! (I'm much of a royal watcher either).
Just yesterday colleagues just asked for some book recommendations, so I reflected on my year of reading so far. Top three this year: The Plot, Detransition Baby, and Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies. I adored them all in very different ways.
Thanks so much for the recommendations. I’m always interested to know what you are reading. I’ve heard of the first two, but the third one is completely new to me so I’ll be checking that out before the day is done.
Exciting! No thrillers in there though, sorry! :D
I checked out all your recs and realised that I have actually read The Plot. It was fun, although I guessed the ending way before I got to the end. I felt quite smug about this until I read that you are supposed to guess the ending :)
I'm happy to receive all recommendations really. I mentioned thrillers because I often find this genre to be disappointing. I love a good thriller/mystery but they are hard to find.
Recommendations always are superb! Puff pastry--a fav for quick and yummy!
Thanks so much Sally!