Certain authors have a certain heft about them; so much so, that at times, reading their work seems daunting. When you read a quote such as, "Pirandello turned psychological analysis into good theatre" (through his plays) or discover that he was good friends with the likes of Albert Einstein or find out that he won …
Category: sharing book titles
Sharing books and recipies
"yum" is international Whilst in Italy I picked up the above cookbook, by Jaimie Oliver, in the translated Italian version. It is one of my go-to favorites because it covers recipes from France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Morocco and Sweden all in one volume. During the pandemic and on many uninspired days of standing in the …
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
Ever notice that when there is less information provided, you automatically look harder, try harder, think harder in order to fill in the missing data. If you are told a girl is very young and nothing else, you will provide the supposed age, if a topic is deemed difficult, you will suggest which areas you …
Elizabeth Gilbert’s City of Girls
What a read! A confession of sorts within an answer to a question..."What were you to my father?" A declaration of having existed on this earth and left a mark. The highs are dizzyingly so and the lows are lower than pond scum. Somewhere in between is the exercise of living. Living to do, to …
Chineasy by SHAOLAN
Back to basics Characters representing words placed on an associated pictorial (see cover page drawing where feet and a head were added to the two black strokes representing person). That is how SHAOLAN proposes to teach us the basics of the Chinese language. Intriguing. The author/artist/businesswoman came up with the concept while teaching her own …
Tea at Fortnum & Mason
Richly Historied It is no secret that I adore books. So, for friends and family, it is a no brainer to shop for me at Christmas or Birthdays. Gift me a book and you will never go wrong. After Christmas Eve midnight unwrapping, I will certainly be sharing with you some of my newly acquired …
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
This book was recommended to me by a friend. Do your friend(s) a kindness and do the same because it is worth it. Written in a genteel manner, this elegant read is part history lesson and love story, part etiquette manual and cuisinay guide, part class study and artistic/literary essay. You will find yourself in …
In the Woods by Tana French
Tana French's novel, In the Woods, (the first of her Dublin Murder Squad Series) is for those who aren't put out by the unexpected. You won't find the neatly wrapped up finish wherein, as per usual, the boy gets the girl and justice is had by all, where all problems are resolved and all enigmas …
Virginia Woolf and doughnuts
A Room of One's Own Consider this...The doughnut hole is an integral part of the doughnut. It has a designation (doughnut hole) and a function (it allows the dough to cook evenly inside and out). Many, though, perceive the doughnut hole as meaningless empty space. Consider now the doughnut hole as a representation of women …
Wine, War and more
For history buffs, wine lovers and those who just like a good old fashioned mystery, I need to share the following reads. Wine and War by Don and Petie Kladstrup. This book was gifted to me years ago and although I initially thought it would be somewhat dry, I couldn't have been more wrong. It …
Manu writes 