Ah, Summer 2019!
We picked up Joshua.
We learned the ropes of the Baby Brezza--a machine, like a Nespresso module, capable of spitting out drinks. The drinks just happen to be bottles of baby formula.
I persisted with a not-too-brutal diet: No beer unless it's the weekend, leave something on your plate, chocolate is for the weekend. Formerly unwearable tee shirts became wearable. A triumph!
I pitched a story to an actual magazine. A story about Howard Ashman. Rejection! But the whole affair reminded me of my love for Howard Ashman, and it reminded me that a little discomfort is not a terrible thing.
I made ground-lamb tacos. With lime, lager, and olive oil. This is something worth revisiting.
And now, some late-summer awards, for those in need of reading material:
Best Book I Read This Summer: "Ladies who Punch." It's about the women of "The View," and it's like a great thriller. It's also a serious approach to a phenomenon that others have foolishly neglected. (In other words, why has it taken so long for someone to write an exhaustive study of "The View"?)
Worst Book I Read This Summer: Maybe this isn't an "award," but the prize goes to "Cowboys Are My Weakness," by Pam Houston. The writing is often beautiful, and sometimes funny, but I think Houston is trying too hard. It's like a bad version of Lorrie Moore--Moore-if-she-weren't-having-fun. The final story--a trite cancer tale that seems to end with actual howling at the moon--has left me deeply disappointed.
A Nice Surprise: "Words and Worlds," by Alison Lurie. Who knew she was still publishing? Pure pleasure. Her insights on fashion and aging--just one brief essay--are, alone, worth the price of admission.
Best Thriller I Read: "The New Girl," by Daniel Silva. A bit too long, but the writing is smart. And it's a chance to travel to Saudi Arabia and Israel and France--and even a chance to read about Jamal Khashoggi, in a brisk, gossipy format. Entertaining.
Best True Crime: "American Predator." The perfect length, packed with strange real-world characters, and unbelievably twisty. Believe it. More people should be reading, and talking about, this book.
And your recommendations? Happy Reading!
We picked up Joshua.
We learned the ropes of the Baby Brezza--a machine, like a Nespresso module, capable of spitting out drinks. The drinks just happen to be bottles of baby formula.
I persisted with a not-too-brutal diet: No beer unless it's the weekend, leave something on your plate, chocolate is for the weekend. Formerly unwearable tee shirts became wearable. A triumph!
I pitched a story to an actual magazine. A story about Howard Ashman. Rejection! But the whole affair reminded me of my love for Howard Ashman, and it reminded me that a little discomfort is not a terrible thing.
I made ground-lamb tacos. With lime, lager, and olive oil. This is something worth revisiting.
And now, some late-summer awards, for those in need of reading material:
Best Book I Read This Summer: "Ladies who Punch." It's about the women of "The View," and it's like a great thriller. It's also a serious approach to a phenomenon that others have foolishly neglected. (In other words, why has it taken so long for someone to write an exhaustive study of "The View"?)
Worst Book I Read This Summer: Maybe this isn't an "award," but the prize goes to "Cowboys Are My Weakness," by Pam Houston. The writing is often beautiful, and sometimes funny, but I think Houston is trying too hard. It's like a bad version of Lorrie Moore--Moore-if-she-weren't-having-fun. The final story--a trite cancer tale that seems to end with actual howling at the moon--has left me deeply disappointed.
A Nice Surprise: "Words and Worlds," by Alison Lurie. Who knew she was still publishing? Pure pleasure. Her insights on fashion and aging--just one brief essay--are, alone, worth the price of admission.
Best Thriller I Read: "The New Girl," by Daniel Silva. A bit too long, but the writing is smart. And it's a chance to travel to Saudi Arabia and Israel and France--and even a chance to read about Jamal Khashoggi, in a brisk, gossipy format. Entertaining.
Best True Crime: "American Predator." The perfect length, packed with strange real-world characters, and unbelievably twisty. Believe it. More people should be reading, and talking about, this book.
And your recommendations? Happy Reading!
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