Do you watch eagerly any and all cooking competitions on the Food Network? Do you dream of entering the Pillsbury BakeOff? If so then Amy Sutherland's book Cookoff: Recipe Fever in America is for you. Sutherland captures the history, enthusiasm and a bit of the wackiness that is inherent in these contests that are promoted as being all American. But do these contests really reflect what America eats? Or is this a case of the contestants giving the big food conglomerates what they want? And are they really cooking anyway? Or just assembling ingredients?
Sutherland delves into all those questions and many more as she follows contestants to the Pillsbury, garlic fest and other cook offs and well as a couple chili competitions. Just who are these people who compete? Some are what they call "contesters" people who have been doing this for quite a while. (Pillsbury has limits now on how many years you can compete at the contest - three!) Some are fresh faced newcomers just thrilled to be at their first contest. Most of the branded contests have women as the majority of their contestants. Men on the other hand dominate the chili and BBQ contests.
Sutherland has a great way of making these folks come alive in her writing. And she shows them to be very human with all their foibles, humor and passion. Most of these people love food and love to be creative in the kitchen. And it shows. Check out the mania and maybe you too will compete. A very entertaining read.
Flowers and bee
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Murder in the Marais
Cara Black starts off her series with lead character Aimee Leduc in the book Murder in the Marais. What starts out as a simple and overpaid job of hunting down a encripted website, ends up becoming a case of murder. Aimee finds the body and sets in motion an investigation that goes all the way up to the top level of French politics.
The Marais is the traditionally Jewish section of Paris. And this is where the French Jews were rounded up during the occupation. Memories are long for injustices, and Aimee finds she is sifting through the history of the occupation in order to find out who would want an elderly Jewish woman murdered and who wants her to stop investigating.
This is a fast paced story but Black gives the reader enough time to get to know Aimee and her unusal background. Black hints at the fact that Aimee has secrets of her own that will be revealed in later books. Aimee is a tough character who has been trained by her recently deceased father in the art of detection. And it does not take the reader long to admire her tenacity and skill at going undercover to figure out the case. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series. A good mystery and a very good read.
The Marais is the traditionally Jewish section of Paris. And this is where the French Jews were rounded up during the occupation. Memories are long for injustices, and Aimee finds she is sifting through the history of the occupation in order to find out who would want an elderly Jewish woman murdered and who wants her to stop investigating.
This is a fast paced story but Black gives the reader enough time to get to know Aimee and her unusal background. Black hints at the fact that Aimee has secrets of her own that will be revealed in later books. Aimee is a tough character who has been trained by her recently deceased father in the art of detection. And it does not take the reader long to admire her tenacity and skill at going undercover to figure out the case. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series. A good mystery and a very good read.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Seven Ages of Paris
If you decide that you have forgotten anything you have learned about French history, or if you have decided that you are woefully ignorant of the French in general, you need to take a look at Alistair Horne's book Seven Ages of Paris.
In a fairly concise and enlivening book, Horne takes us on a whirlwind journey through the ages of Parisian life. This is definitely his view on things. But his view is a very good one - and it helps the ignorant like, yours truly, get a handle on the magnificent city that is Paris. From 358 AD to the rise of Mitterand, he gives us the politics, the people, architecture and artists that have given rise to the current "City of Lights." And he manages to interconnect them all as he goes along.
He has a bit of a "chatty" style for a historian, but he reminds you of the friend that is really going to tell you the highlights of what you need to know and nevermind the rest. I was amazed that his writing drew me in and kept me reading in the great saga that is PARIS! I was a bit disappointed by the lack of information about the French Revolution - a bit sketchy there - but the discussion of the aftermath, kept me from protesting. And besides he did tell you he was going to do the history - his way. An excellent book to look at the history of an exciting city. Viva la France!
In a fairly concise and enlivening book, Horne takes us on a whirlwind journey through the ages of Parisian life. This is definitely his view on things. But his view is a very good one - and it helps the ignorant like, yours truly, get a handle on the magnificent city that is Paris. From 358 AD to the rise of Mitterand, he gives us the politics, the people, architecture and artists that have given rise to the current "City of Lights." And he manages to interconnect them all as he goes along.
He has a bit of a "chatty" style for a historian, but he reminds you of the friend that is really going to tell you the highlights of what you need to know and nevermind the rest. I was amazed that his writing drew me in and kept me reading in the great saga that is PARIS! I was a bit disappointed by the lack of information about the French Revolution - a bit sketchy there - but the discussion of the aftermath, kept me from protesting. And besides he did tell you he was going to do the history - his way. An excellent book to look at the history of an exciting city. Viva la France!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
When the dead body of a stranger lies in the garden of an disheveled ancient family home, what's an eleven year old girl with a passion for chemistry (and a unnatural knowledge of poisons) supposed to do? Solve the mystery of course. Welcome to Flavia's world.
Flavia de Luce is 11 going on 4o. She's the neglected youngest daughter of an absent minded stamp collector in Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. With her trusty bicycle Gladys, Flavia is determined to solve this crime. When her father is charged with the murder, it becomes even more important. She doesn't realize that the investigation will lead her to finding out more about her father's past.
Bradley does an excellent job showing us an eccentric dysfunctional family and manages to make it seem "normal" to Flavia. And when her older sisters lock her up in a closet or tell her she was really brought home as a baby from a store, she does what any normal youngest child does. She takes revenge. She just does it a little differently, with poison ivy in a lipstick.
I'm excited that this is to be a series. There are too many de Luce family secrets that have been hinted at and need to be uncovered. As a reader, I am looking forward to seeing Flavia and her sisters growing up in this odd environment. A very fun read!
Flavia de Luce is 11 going on 4o. She's the neglected youngest daughter of an absent minded stamp collector in Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. With her trusty bicycle Gladys, Flavia is determined to solve this crime. When her father is charged with the murder, it becomes even more important. She doesn't realize that the investigation will lead her to finding out more about her father's past.
Bradley does an excellent job showing us an eccentric dysfunctional family and manages to make it seem "normal" to Flavia. And when her older sisters lock her up in a closet or tell her she was really brought home as a baby from a store, she does what any normal youngest child does. She takes revenge. She just does it a little differently, with poison ivy in a lipstick.
I'm excited that this is to be a series. There are too many de Luce family secrets that have been hinted at and need to be uncovered. As a reader, I am looking forward to seeing Flavia and her sisters growing up in this odd environment. A very fun read!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Monsieur Pamplemousse - A Gastronomic Sleuth
The world knows author Michael Bond for his creation of Paddington Bear. But have you heard of his other literary creation for adults - Monsieur Pamplemousse? Monsieur Pamplemousse is a man of many talents. He was on the National Police force - but there was that chorus girls scandal in Paris (but no specifics - hmmm). He is now working undercover for Le Guide - the premier French publication which rates restaurants and food establishments throughout France. He brings along his dog Pomme Frites, on his food excursions in French countryside. He is a bit annoyed when his much awaited special dinner, is served with a fake human head. Has this renowned restaurant gone down hill? Mon dieu!
This series of adult books are bawdy bits of fun. Is it the French? Or Mr. Bond's quirky sense of humor? These are characters to be savored and enjoyed. Even Pomme Frites' has something to say. The mysteries are solved in the end, but the wacky winding and funny road it took to get there - well, c'est la vie. Definitely fun and frothy.
So far I've read:
Monsieur Pamplemousse
Monsieur Pamplemousse and the Secret Mission
This series of adult books are bawdy bits of fun. Is it the French? Or Mr. Bond's quirky sense of humor? These are characters to be savored and enjoyed. Even Pomme Frites' has something to say. The mysteries are solved in the end, but the wacky winding and funny road it took to get there - well, c'est la vie. Definitely fun and frothy.
So far I've read:
Monsieur Pamplemousse
Monsieur Pamplemousse and the Secret Mission
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Fortunes' Kiss
Lisa Manuel's book, Fortunes' Kiss, seems like it might be a standard historical romance, but it has enough quirks in it for a reader to sit up and take notice. Moira is trying to find out about her late stepfather's will. Having no male relative to step forward for her, she goes to London herself to see the new Baron and figure out what monies are left to her and her mother. She doesn't figure on the new heir being the slightly notorious Graham Foster, adventurer and Egyptian antiques expert.
Estranged from his family, Graham is not happy about returning to England. And he definitely is not happy when Moira accuses him of stealing her inheritance. But he starts to help her find out what happened and in the process she helps him and his family adjust to their new situation.
This book has some nicely done quirky characters (some great scenes with Graham's pet Sun Spider), and the leads are nicely normal. The author makes them very appealing and the reader wants them to succeed and solve their puzzle. A fun read.
Estranged from his family, Graham is not happy about returning to England. And he definitely is not happy when Moira accuses him of stealing her inheritance. But he starts to help her find out what happened and in the process she helps him and his family adjust to their new situation.
This book has some nicely done quirky characters (some great scenes with Graham's pet Sun Spider), and the leads are nicely normal. The author makes them very appealing and the reader wants them to succeed and solve their puzzle. A fun read.
Blow Me Down - a Virtual Romance!
What if you got trapped in a virtual reality game? Would you panic? Would you be able to support yourself as you went through the "game?" Just what are the rules in this new world? Kate MacAlister deals with those issues in her book, Blow Me Down.
Amy is just trying to relieve some tension by playing her daughter's virtual reality game. She just thinks she is playing the part of a wench in this pirate world called Buckling Swashes. And she doesn't realize she is trapped until she meets up with Black Corbin who recognizes her as a fellow real person and not a game character. He thinks she is great even when she bests him in a duel. She thinks he is arrogant but realizes he knows the rules since he was one of the games programmers. And he thinks he know how they got trapped in the game.
On a island filled with pirates, taverns, and houses of ill repute, Amy finds herself using a sword again, learning how to sail a sloop, and trying to organize a finance system for a local brothel. And teaming up with Corbin leads her to wonder - if he likes her in the VR world, will he like her in the real world? A fun and frothy good time.
Amy is just trying to relieve some tension by playing her daughter's virtual reality game. She just thinks she is playing the part of a wench in this pirate world called Buckling Swashes. And she doesn't realize she is trapped until she meets up with Black Corbin who recognizes her as a fellow real person and not a game character. He thinks she is great even when she bests him in a duel. She thinks he is arrogant but realizes he knows the rules since he was one of the games programmers. And he thinks he know how they got trapped in the game.
On a island filled with pirates, taverns, and houses of ill repute, Amy finds herself using a sword again, learning how to sail a sloop, and trying to organize a finance system for a local brothel. And teaming up with Corbin leads her to wonder - if he likes her in the VR world, will he like her in the real world? A fun and frothy good time.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Murder on the Eiffel Tower
Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Claude Izner is a wonderful book that combines history and mystery to produce a fun work of fiction. We are immersed from the beginning in the 1889 World Exposition in Paris. The entire city is focused on the new Eiffel Tower and the exposition. The joy and the excitement of going up to the viewing platforms has visitors in a frenzy. And when someone is murdered on the platform, the case makes front page news. But who would murder a maiden aunt taking her niece and nephews on an outing? Victor Legris, a young bookseller, is on the platform with newspaper friends when this happens and wants to find the culprit. And when more people start dying after visiting the viewing platforms and the exposition, he is determined to solve the case - even as his friends are turning into suspects.
The author (really a pen name for two lady booksellers in modern France) brings to life the Paris of the time, and Victor's occupations as bookseller and book critic. Victor is a compelling character who is trying to be modern but finds he is more conservative than he thinks he is. With a cast of interesting secondary characters, the story allows us a brief glimpse into their world. And we had a wonderful time. A very fun read.
The author (really a pen name for two lady booksellers in modern France) brings to life the Paris of the time, and Victor's occupations as bookseller and book critic. Victor is a compelling character who is trying to be modern but finds he is more conservative than he thinks he is. With a cast of interesting secondary characters, the story allows us a brief glimpse into their world. And we had a wonderful time. A very fun read.
The Perfect Poison
The Arcane Society continues in Amanda Quick's The Perfect Poison. Quick (who is Jayne Ann Krentz) has written her sixth book in the series - the third historical one. And much to this reader's joy - she keeps the excitement in the series. (Can I tell you how many times books within a long series, have clunkers through out because the author can not keep up the quality?)
Finally Quick brings us Colin's story. Colin Jones' talent is a difficult one - he has a talent for strategy and making connections. He sees the patterns in his head and connects the dots so that the Society and his new project, Jones and Company can figure out what is going on in the battle for the founder's formula. He doesn't have Miss Lucinda Bromley in his pattern however.
Lucinda has a talent for botany - more specifically figuring out what botanic ingredients have been combined to create potions for good or for evil. She's been helping a member of Scotland Yard, with various cases that involve poisons and she discovers that one of the ingredients she has figured out was stolen from her greenhouse. She decides to enlist Jones and Company to find out who the thief is and where is her plant. She also has a bit of a reputation - she is rumored to have poisoned her fiance, and wants things handled as quickly as possible. When they meet - they end up surprising each other - with their talents and intelligence. And when Colin figures out her thief is connected to his quest - the hunt is on.
Quick once again gives us great characters, with pithy dialogue and a roller coaster ride of a plot. And she brings us an excellent subplot of an Arcane Society matchmaker in action. (It would be fun to have her again in another book!) Along the way she manages to deftly fill in more details about the Jones family, the Arcane Society, their history, and their members' talents. I can hardly wait for the next installment! A very good read!
Finally Quick brings us Colin's story. Colin Jones' talent is a difficult one - he has a talent for strategy and making connections. He sees the patterns in his head and connects the dots so that the Society and his new project, Jones and Company can figure out what is going on in the battle for the founder's formula. He doesn't have Miss Lucinda Bromley in his pattern however.
Lucinda has a talent for botany - more specifically figuring out what botanic ingredients have been combined to create potions for good or for evil. She's been helping a member of Scotland Yard, with various cases that involve poisons and she discovers that one of the ingredients she has figured out was stolen from her greenhouse. She decides to enlist Jones and Company to find out who the thief is and where is her plant. She also has a bit of a reputation - she is rumored to have poisoned her fiance, and wants things handled as quickly as possible. When they meet - they end up surprising each other - with their talents and intelligence. And when Colin figures out her thief is connected to his quest - the hunt is on.
Quick once again gives us great characters, with pithy dialogue and a roller coaster ride of a plot. And she brings us an excellent subplot of an Arcane Society matchmaker in action. (It would be fun to have her again in another book!) Along the way she manages to deftly fill in more details about the Jones family, the Arcane Society, their history, and their members' talents. I can hardly wait for the next installment! A very good read!
Fool's Puzzle
When you are reading the first book in a series, you hope for the best. The best would be that you are interested enough in the character, her surroundings and situations to continue reading the rest of the books in the series. The worst would be that nothing touched the reader enough to bother looking up the next book in the series. I'm here to say that Earlene Fowler's Fool's Puzzle has brought out the best.
Benni Harper is a widow who has taken up the job of a director of a small town folk-art museum. The museum also rents out studio space to various artists. Benni happens to stumble upon one - a dead one - when she is supposed to be setting up for her first quilt exhibition. Was it a former boyfriend? A stranger? Blackmail? Benni keeps getting hints from the local police chief to leave it alone. But as she asks more questions, she keeps finding more clues about what happened the night her husband died.
Fowler sets up a series filled with an interesting location - a farming/cattle area in small town California, quirky characters - her best friend Elvia is a stitch, and a question of romance between the Hispanic police chief and Benni. She leaves the reader wanting to know what happens next to these folks. A good read.
Benni Harper is a widow who has taken up the job of a director of a small town folk-art museum. The museum also rents out studio space to various artists. Benni happens to stumble upon one - a dead one - when she is supposed to be setting up for her first quilt exhibition. Was it a former boyfriend? A stranger? Blackmail? Benni keeps getting hints from the local police chief to leave it alone. But as she asks more questions, she keeps finding more clues about what happened the night her husband died.
Fowler sets up a series filled with an interesting location - a farming/cattle area in small town California, quirky characters - her best friend Elvia is a stitch, and a question of romance between the Hispanic police chief and Benni. She leaves the reader wanting to know what happens next to these folks. A good read.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Traveling with Carolyn Blue
Sometimes when you find a "new" mystery series you get the urge to run out and read all the books in order, right away, because you are obsessed with the characters, theme or the setting. And because you are reading a series, you might shortly discover that the author might have a "formula" or "pattern" in their books. And the books might all seem similar. This is what is known as a genre, folks! (Some people may say there are only 6 stories - just told over and over and over again!) And in crime/mystery fiction somebody usually solves a murder/puzzle/crime. The art is in creating scenarios and characters that the reader wants to come back to.
I have been whipping through Nancy Fairbanks' books with the food writer/academics wife/mom Carolyn Blue. I had read the first one for it's New Orleans connection a while ago (see early posting). But now I needed to read her books about traveling to France - Death a L'Orange and French Fried. (And now I've been sucked into reading them all!) And travel we did. One book is set in the city of Lyons, the other in Paris and the surrounding countryside on a tour with a bunch of not so nice academics.
We can identify with Carolyn because she is an underestimated sleuth. She's the nondescript over 40+ lady who is supposed to stay in the background. But she doesn't and that is when she gets in to trouble or when the humor begins. In Chocolate Quake, she ends up on the back of a motorcycle to go interview a guy in a pool hall nicknamed Spider. Holy Guacamole has Mrs. Blue crossing the Mexican border by her hometown of El Paso with a female ex-vice cop and ends up being her partner in bounty hunting. (Pretty darn funny scene.)
I like reading travel narratives and this is really what these mysteries are about. (And it is a cheap way to travel!) Carolyn talks about and notices the food, but then that is her specialty and profession. She is my kind of traveler - looking at the cultural aspects of the area while having studied the history of the town etc. That is how I travel - which may be why I enjoy these so much. Are these realistic? Well - the travel part is pretty real - and she exposes the reader to sights that they may not have know about. It is a travel guide? No - but it is a heck of a good read. I'm up to the Mozzarella title and having a fun frothy time. A fun read with some quirky characters. Enjoy.
Crime Brulee
Truffled Feathers
Death a L’Orange
Chocolate Quake
The Perils of Paella
Holy Guacamole
Mozzarella Most Murderous
Three-Course Murder
Bon Bon Voyage
French Fried
Turkey Flambe
I have been whipping through Nancy Fairbanks' books with the food writer/academics wife/mom Carolyn Blue. I had read the first one for it's New Orleans connection a while ago (see early posting). But now I needed to read her books about traveling to France - Death a L'Orange and French Fried. (And now I've been sucked into reading them all!) And travel we did. One book is set in the city of Lyons, the other in Paris and the surrounding countryside on a tour with a bunch of not so nice academics.
We can identify with Carolyn because she is an underestimated sleuth. She's the nondescript over 40+ lady who is supposed to stay in the background. But she doesn't and that is when she gets in to trouble or when the humor begins. In Chocolate Quake, she ends up on the back of a motorcycle to go interview a guy in a pool hall nicknamed Spider. Holy Guacamole has Mrs. Blue crossing the Mexican border by her hometown of El Paso with a female ex-vice cop and ends up being her partner in bounty hunting. (Pretty darn funny scene.)
I like reading travel narratives and this is really what these mysteries are about. (And it is a cheap way to travel!) Carolyn talks about and notices the food, but then that is her specialty and profession. She is my kind of traveler - looking at the cultural aspects of the area while having studied the history of the town etc. That is how I travel - which may be why I enjoy these so much. Are these realistic? Well - the travel part is pretty real - and she exposes the reader to sights that they may not have know about. It is a travel guide? No - but it is a heck of a good read. I'm up to the Mozzarella title and having a fun frothy time. A fun read with some quirky characters. Enjoy.
Crime Brulee
Truffled Feathers
Death a L’Orange
Chocolate Quake
The Perils of Paella
Holy Guacamole
Mozzarella Most Murderous
Three-Course Murder
Bon Bon Voyage
French Fried
Turkey Flambe
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Dream a Little Dream
Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a story about redemption and healing. Gabe Bonner just wants to be left alone after the death of his wife and son. Rachel Stone is a widow, trying to stand on her own and survive with her son. She is trying to create a new life for herself that has nothing to do with the life she lead as the younger wife of a "take the money and run" preacher. Gabe doesn't want her son near him. It reminds him too much of his dead son.
Phillips is a writer who has a way with snappy dialogue and humor, but she has chosen topics that are not easy. Recovering from religious betrayal is not a popular topic in romance books. But she tackles it with grace and sensitivity. Rachel can be seen as just trying to grab her share of the pie, but Phillips shows us that beneath the tough shell, she is a person who has doubts and fears. She also tackles the topic of trying to have a relationship while having a child. That is never an easy process, and she makes the relationship between Gabe and Edward a cantankerous one. It does test the love Rachel has for Gabe.
She also has some excellent secondary characters in Ethan and Kristy. Ethan, Gabe's brother, is a preacher who seems attracted to the bad girls and doesn't notice the good girl - Kristy - who is in front of his nose, until she quits working for him. A fun couple to watch.
This book is part of an overall series (Chicago Stars) that Phillips has, but it can be read as a stand alone. It really is a nice example of well developed romance fiction. Some people may have trouble with the religion topic - there are good preachers and bad ones - but I think she is brave enough to take it on. A very good read.
Phillips is a writer who has a way with snappy dialogue and humor, but she has chosen topics that are not easy. Recovering from religious betrayal is not a popular topic in romance books. But she tackles it with grace and sensitivity. Rachel can be seen as just trying to grab her share of the pie, but Phillips shows us that beneath the tough shell, she is a person who has doubts and fears. She also tackles the topic of trying to have a relationship while having a child. That is never an easy process, and she makes the relationship between Gabe and Edward a cantankerous one. It does test the love Rachel has for Gabe.
She also has some excellent secondary characters in Ethan and Kristy. Ethan, Gabe's brother, is a preacher who seems attracted to the bad girls and doesn't notice the good girl - Kristy - who is in front of his nose, until she quits working for him. A fun couple to watch.
This book is part of an overall series (Chicago Stars) that Phillips has, but it can be read as a stand alone. It really is a nice example of well developed romance fiction. Some people may have trouble with the religion topic - there are good preachers and bad ones - but I think she is brave enough to take it on. A very good read.
Going Overboard
Some publishers have a sneaky way of having a story blurb on the back of a book that is supposed to be a mini peak at what the storyline is. Some have a paragraph that turns out to be nothing like the book inside. Talk about snarky! When you like the book - it is fine - but when you don't the consumer/reader might get a tad irritated. They are lucky this one was a good book.
I chose Going Overboard by Christina Skye as part of a book discussion on contemporary romance. I was interested in the setting a Caribbean cruise ship. I have always have wanted to go on one so this seemed like a way to enjoy one with out leaving my living room. (And that made it a bit cheaper on expenses, too.) Well, I think we are on the cruise for about the first third of the book and then it is on to all over the islands. This is no placid ride. This is a romance adventure.
It starts out simply enough. Photographer/Video Director Carly Sullivan needs a buff looking guy for her shoot that needs to take place during the cruise. It is an ad for the cruise line. The model they got was a bit flabby and she needs a last minute replacement. She starts scouting on board and finds Ford McKay who says he is a rancher from Wyoming. A very buff rancher. They start working together. And when the bullets start flying on a location shot on an island, Ford is definitely not just a rancher. (Hint - he's a Navy SEAL.)
There's intrigue, kidnapping, terrorists threats, assignation attempts and murders. (And you thought this just was a nice boat trip.) And through it all Carly and Ford learn about each other's strengths, desires and fears. They want each other but can their jobs and current situation keep their love alive?
A fast paced adventure from island to island with some great characters. A good read.
I chose Going Overboard by Christina Skye as part of a book discussion on contemporary romance. I was interested in the setting a Caribbean cruise ship. I have always have wanted to go on one so this seemed like a way to enjoy one with out leaving my living room. (And that made it a bit cheaper on expenses, too.) Well, I think we are on the cruise for about the first third of the book and then it is on to all over the islands. This is no placid ride. This is a romance adventure.
It starts out simply enough. Photographer/Video Director Carly Sullivan needs a buff looking guy for her shoot that needs to take place during the cruise. It is an ad for the cruise line. The model they got was a bit flabby and she needs a last minute replacement. She starts scouting on board and finds Ford McKay who says he is a rancher from Wyoming. A very buff rancher. They start working together. And when the bullets start flying on a location shot on an island, Ford is definitely not just a rancher. (Hint - he's a Navy SEAL.)
There's intrigue, kidnapping, terrorists threats, assignation attempts and murders. (And you thought this just was a nice boat trip.) And through it all Carly and Ford learn about each other's strengths, desires and fears. They want each other but can their jobs and current situation keep their love alive?
A fast paced adventure from island to island with some great characters. A good read.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Belle Weather
Columnist, Celia Rivenbark makes us laugh again with Belle Weather: Mostly Sunny With a Chance of Scattered Hissy Fits. I'm not quite sure what makes me laugh so hard at her work. Is it the southern flavor? I don't live in the south so is it "really" southern. Is her gentle but snarky (hard to combo but I think it works) jabs to one and all of her favorite topics? Or is it the ride of the absurd as she gives us a rambling tale that ends with us saying "Huh? Didn't we start back over there? " Or is just her funny turn of phrase?
Some examples:
On online dating-
"Her friend complained 'There ain't nothing out there for the rednecks.' ...but "listing one of her 'unique attributes' as the 'ability to pee off the side of my daddy's bass boat while standing' wasn't the sort of thing most on-line dating services could really appreciate."
On how she is disappointed in the 'new' TV Guide magazine-
"...I always felt that the Holy Grail would be to write the program synopses for TV Guide. It wasn't my fallback, it was my dream job and now, verily, it will never be. ...I pictured being paid a big pile of money to watch hundreds of hours of TV before reducing a complicated plot line to few powerful nouns and verbs."
And her open letter to Britney Spears is something to read...
"Through all the wild partying and head shaving and fornicating and tattooing and what not I've got your back. Even though, when you shaved your head , you looked like the world's only redneck Tibetan monk. ...I didn't lose faith in you."
A little essay here, a little essay there - fun for all abounds. A fun read for a crummy time.
Some examples:
On online dating-
"Her friend complained 'There ain't nothing out there for the rednecks.' ...but "listing one of her 'unique attributes' as the 'ability to pee off the side of my daddy's bass boat while standing' wasn't the sort of thing most on-line dating services could really appreciate."
On how she is disappointed in the 'new' TV Guide magazine-
"...I always felt that the Holy Grail would be to write the program synopses for TV Guide. It wasn't my fallback, it was my dream job and now, verily, it will never be. ...I pictured being paid a big pile of money to watch hundreds of hours of TV before reducing a complicated plot line to few powerful nouns and verbs."
And her open letter to Britney Spears is something to read...
"Through all the wild partying and head shaving and fornicating and tattooing and what not I've got your back. Even though, when you shaved your head , you looked like the world's only redneck Tibetan monk. ...I didn't lose faith in you."
A little essay here, a little essay there - fun for all abounds. A fun read for a crummy time.
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