RECENT READING: DAILY LIFE LIVED WELL
The Irish Goodbye: Micro-Memoirs by Beth Ann Fennelly
The term, “Irish goodbye,” means leaving a party or a gathering quietly without saying goodbye to anyone.
The Irish Goodbye is a collection of short to extremely brief writings by the former poet laureate of Mississippi. It ranges from her quick thoughts on married life (a cracked knee when presenting a 25th anniversary ring to folded oven mitts in a drawer), to contemplating friendships old and new, to mourning the sudden death of a sister, to facing the deaths of other family and friends. Much space is devoted to Fennelly’s recollections of her sister and the deep hole she left in Fennelly’s life. Mixed with the sadness and the wondering, there is also humor and wit.
I found this book a delight. As it progresses, Fennelly removes a few more layers and candidly exposes more of herself. Her prose is succinct and precise and often sparkles. She makes you smile as you admire her adept turn of phrase. Recommended for book clubs looking for a short powerful punch! (A version of this review appeared in BookBrowse online.)
Another recently published book, getting quite a bit of attention, is also entitled The Irish Goodbye. It is a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick and Heather Aimee O’Neill’s first novel. I have not yet read it.
EATING OUT: A FOCUS ON BEEF
Tribeca Tavern (Cary)
A group of 12 of us went to dinner at the expansive Tribeca Tavern. The interior features warm dark wood tables and floors and is both rustic and comfortable with a fireplace in one section. The restaurant’s mission is “pasture to plate,” and they partner with local farmers and ranchers to provide fresh ingredients. On the menu are more than ten burgers, a host of sandwiches, small plates ranging from beet hummus to wings to brussels sprouts, and a number of salads and entrees. If you’re not a carnivore, choose from jambalaya, fish tacos, shrimp, or salmon.
Many in our group ordered burgers with fries or chips; the Chief Penguin and I took a different approach. I like fried green tomatoes and was eager to try their rendition. Finished with bourbon bacon jam and pimento cheese, they were delicious. I also sampled the French dip which was a generous and tasty sandwich on focaccia, while the C.P. went for shrimp and grits, another good-sized portion.
He had an Old Fashioned, while I sipped a local lager from Clayton. The drinks list is long, and if you’re so inclined—it is a tavern after all— there is also a separate multi-page whiskey list. Whiskeys from the Carolinas, bourbons and ryes from Kentucky, Tennessee, and everywhere. Most impressive. Our young waitress did an admirable job serving our table and, liking the food, we’d happily return.
