SUMMER READING
Last One Out by Jane Harper
Last One Out is Australian novelist Jane Harper’s sixth book. It’s a mystery, but one with a slow burn. For the fifth anniversary of her son Sam’s disappearance, Ro Crowley returns from Sydney to the small town of Carralon Ridge for the annual memorial event. She and her husband Griff are separated, and he stayed in the town.
Carralon Ridge is as much of a character here as Ro, Griff, their daughter Della, and assorted family and friends. A big coal mining company’s operation runs constantly, and over the years, the company has bought up many of the residents’ homes. Ill feeling often reigns between those who sold out and those who held on. And the town has shrunk as businesses and organizations died out and people moved on.
Every year, Ro traces Sam’s last actions looking for answers to what happened to him. Griff has cousins locally, and an uncle of his committed suicide. For a student project at the university, Sam interviewed many residents and relatives about their lives there, what they did, and what they thought about the town’s future. The notebook containing the interview transcriptions is a document Ro reads over and over again.
The town and its environs are painstakingly described, the nuances and intonations of conversations are caught, and slowly, one sees a picture of the past unfolding as truths are finally revealed. I found the initial chapters slow going, but as I got further into, I very much appreciated Harper’s skill in weaving and then untangling complex relationships in a dying place. Recommended especially for fans of her work! (~JWFarrington)
CASUAL DINING OUT AND ABOUT
Doc B’s Restaurant (Fenton in Cary)
The Fenton residential and commercial complex is only a short drive away, so the Chief Penguin and I have been trying some of the restaurants there. We love Brewery Bhavana there even though it’s small and its menu more limited than the original in downtown Raleigh. Doc B’s Restaurant began in Chicago, named for the owner’s father, and now is also located in Florida, Texas, and Indiana.
Doc B’s here is a large, expansive space with a prominent bar, loud music upon entry, and plenty of tables and booths spread around. Wisely, the hostess seated us near the back of the restaurant away from much of the noise.
Rather than ordering entrees, we concentrated on starters and first off ordered the grilled California artichokes. Split in half and definitely grilled, three halves were on the plate with some remoulade sauce. As anyone who has ordered artichokes this way knows, there is a certain amount of work involved to eat them and the return in terms of quantity is limited. But we enjoyed them.
We also sampled the Buffalo shrimp poppers which came with the requisite ranch dressing, cucumber spears, and carrot sticks. They packed a nice punch! Lastly, we shared the oven roasted chicken wings. I expected maybe 4 or 5 wings but instead received a generous platter; later we learned that it was a full pound of wings. They were delicious and easily enough for three or more people.
The menu has a full roster of meat dishes from steak to fried chicken and a variety of pastas, salads, burgers, and sandwiches. Some friends raved about the homemade Oreo ice cream, but we never got that far. We liked everything we tasted enough to plan to return.
Doherty’s Irish Pub (Pittsboro)
Doherty’s is a local pub chain with restaurants in Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, and Pittsboro. My sisters and I had lunch in Pittsboro before spending time and money in some of the charming shops along the main street. As you would expect, Irish favorites such as shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, corned beef and cabbage, and beef and Guinness stew are on the menu along with a full range of soups, salads, and sandwiches such as Reubens and Rachels. And of course, fish and chips!
Two of us ordered the half fish and chips entree with cole slaw (other option being crispy green beans), while the other sister had a healthy salad with arugula, berries, and goat cheese. All tasty fare! The venue is cozy and feels like an Irish pub including very nice service from our waitress. Some nights, there is live music.
