WATCHING
My Brilliant Career (Netflix)
My Brilliant Career is a 6-part series based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Australian writer, Miles Franklin. Sybylla leaves her dirt-poor family and goes to stay with her grandmother, ostensibly to find a husband, but in her mind to experience more of the world and to become a writer or an actor. Unsophisticated and untutored in the ways of society, she is exuberant, unruly, audacious, and initially, a trial to all her relatives. Except perhaps her flaming red-haired Aunt Augusta, or Gussie, a feminist and somewhat kindred spirit.
Her grandmother’s steward, Frank, is okay and becomes a friend, but when Sybylla is attracted to neighbor Harry Beecham, she’s warned off. Rounding out the local folk are the maid Betty and her sister Nell who is a horse trainer and a very good one! Nell too is unconventional, but she catches the interest of drover Charlie.
I vaguely recall seeing the 1979 movie version of this novel, but looking at its trailer, this new version goes above and beyond in its rollicking approach. Like the Bridgerton series and others, it employs contemporary songs as a backdrop for the 1901 historical setting. Some may find these songs intrusive, but I think they add to the flavor in a positive way. The Chief Penguin and I have now watched half the series and are totally into it. Fun and highly recommended!
Author Miles Franklin held a series of jobs throughout her life, but she also wrote and published other novels and short stories, was encouraging to beginning writers, and had a great impact on Australian literature. She lived in the United States for a time but then returned to her native country. Franklin died in 1954 at the age of 74. (~JWFarrington)
READING
Heather by Caitlin Mullen
I saw the crime novel, Heather, on several lists of promising new fiction, and when a friend also recommended it, I decided to give it a try. It’s multi-layered with two different time periods and two set of characters, one in the present, the other in 1991 or thereabouts. Callie Hauser is the new chief of police in a small town in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. She grew up there with an unknown father and a mother with addiction issues who occasionally disappeared. The job, a promotion, is completely different from her undercover work in narcotics in the big city.
In her early days on the job, Callie arrests Jenna, her estranged mother. This triggers reflections on her own past, lingering questions about the long-ago death of an abandoned baby, and the re-opening of a cold case. The case leads back to twin sisters in a dysfunctional family and the unknown man or men who used them and abused them. Callie’s closest friend is Jane, and she adores Jane’s little daughter Opal, but she has doubts about Jane’s husband and also wonders why her predecessor keeps hanging around her office and staff. How does all this connect to the past, or does it?
One almost needs a chart to keep track of the cast of characters, but I found the book compelling and disturbing simultaneously. Recommended!
DINING TIDBITS: SOPHISTICATED ITALIAN FARE
Ports of Italy (Boothbay Harbor)
Ports of Italy has two Maine locations, the seasonal one here in Boothbay Harbor and a year-round venue in Rockport. The menus are the same. Ports offers excellent Italian fare, many levels above a red gravy dive, and is one of our favorite local restaurants. Dishes we particularly enjoy are veal scallopini with wild mushrooms and the chicken cutlets with shitake mushrooms, tomatoes, and olives in a white wine butter sauce. Also of note are agnolotti in a parmesan cream sauce, spaghetti a la vongole, caprese salad, and asparagus with butter and parmesan.
Upon special request in advance, they can also provide veal saltimbocca, veal cutlets with prosciutto and sage leaves; their rendition is the best we have ever had anywhere (including in Manhattan!) There are usually a few specials such as swordfish or salmon or an appetite-worthy veal chop.
Ports is open for dinner only and very popular. Seating is on their inside porch, in the bar, or in the adjacent dining room. Wines are available by the glass or bottle as well as a standard array of cocktails. We will enjoy eating here a few more times before we leave Maine!
