New Year: Books and Reading

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BOOKS AS GIFTS

Happy New Year!  I hope that you had fun and relaxing holidays and made it to to your intended destination.  We survived two cold weeks in Manhattan and were fortunate not to have any snow.  We gladly welcomed in the new year in Florida with fog and the return of temperatures around 70!

I’m always delighted to receive books as gifts, and this year was no exception.  I vow every year that I will give priority to my Christmas books and read them all before mid-year. Sounds like a simple goal to accomplish, but I admit to getting sidetracked by other books that have been languishing in my stack or by new books that call out loudly to me.  Pictured are the books I received on paper, and here are the titles.

April in Spain by John Banville (crime novel by a noted Irish author)

The Grimkes:  The Legacy of Slavery an American Family by Kerri Greenidge (biography)

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (novel inspired by David Copperfield)

Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson (novel by a favorite author)

The Orphan of Salt Winds by Elizabeth Brooks (gothic tale set in a mysterious house)

Stack of books

In addition, I have four Kindle gift books.  I’m happy to report that I’ve already read three of them!

KINDLE READING

Works by Claire Keegan

Claire Keegan (The New Yorker)

Claire Keegan is an award-winning Irish writer known for her short stories and novellas.  She has received considerable publicity of late given her nomination for the 2022 Booker Prize.  Her writing is spare and exact and yet presents the quotidian details of life in an understated way.

I received two of her recent works and found them both quick reads, but powerful in the sense of the community she creates and the impressions they left on me as reader.  I highly recommend both!

Small Things Like These

It’s 1985, just before Christmas in a small Irish town.   Coal vendor Bill Furlong is making deliveries to the locals and to the convent.  When he stops at the convent, he sees something that gives him pause, but he continues with his rounds.  What he saw at the convent and his dealings with the sister in charge haunt him and present him with a complex dilemma.  This is a quiet story and a demonstration of one man’s provocative courage. It was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize.

Foster

In the summer, a father takes his little girl to the country to stay with relatives.  She is one of many children in her family, and no one tells her why or for how long she will be away from home.  She doesn’t know what to expect, but with the Kinsellas, she finds kind attention, respect, and even affection.  But there’s also a mystery in this house.  This is a story of love and loss as perceived by a young girl.  It’s poignant and sad. 

Domestic Suspense

Shari Lapena (The Toronto Star)

The End of Her by Shari Lapena

The End of Her was my first exposure to the works of Shari Lapena.  A Canadian novelist, she writes domestic suspense fiction.  Patrick and Stephanie have been married for several years.  He’s an architect and they have twins.  Stephanie knew that Patrick’s first wife had died in a car accident, but not much more.  Erica, a woman from his past, appears and has all sorts of damaging information to share with Stephanie about how his wife really died.  Patrick proclaims his innocence, but Stephanie, and the reader, are unsure what the truth is and who to believe.  

This was a real change of pace after Keegan’s works.  I found it gripping and I raced to the finish.  Some of the actions or lack of action by Stephanie aren’t quite convincing, but the book is a heart-pounding rollercoaster ride.  

Still awaiting me on my Kindle is:  The Night Singer by Johanna Mo.  It’s the first book in a Scandinavian crime trilogy.  

Christmas Notes

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THE MAGIC OF THIS SEASON

Outside Rockefeller Center

The Christmas holiday this year was especially magical and memorable.  It was our first in-person Christmas with Tim and Jen and our granddaughters in three years.  2020 was full blown Covid and we stayed home. Last year, 2021, we came to Manhattan, but Covid hit a family member and we retreated back to Florida.  We had been here a week, but weather and fear kept us from museums and even going to see the iconic Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.  This year, the weather has been challenging and cold, to say the least, but we have been soaking up time with our granddaughters, catching up with Tim and Jen, and did walk down to see that tree.

At 6 ¾ (the three-quarters is important) and 10 and a half, F and E are becoming their own persons in wonderful ways.  F is thriving in first grade, wiry and full of energy, with a well-developed sense of fun. She likes to build things (Magna-Tiles and Legos), invent scenes with Calico Critters, and is an avid reader and a budding writer.  We enjoyed reading several little booklets she wrote about a cat and a dog and were delighted to receive her book about a cat’s adventures in three chapters, illustrated by older sister E, and created just for us!  

Eleanor is a thinker, a lover of books and words, and is becoming more independent as she engages with the outside world and her circle of friends.  A voracious reader and aspiring writer, she signed up for the middle school newspaper, fencing, and creative writing as her after school activities.

We got to hear the girls play the pieces they are preparing for their upcoming piano recital.  Another evening, we stayed with them while their folks went out.  We didn’t need to do much except be present.  They are very self-sufficient. 

I brought a children’s novel about a Mars rover named Resilience (A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga)  that we’ve been discovering together.  This robot rover is unusual in that it seems to have some human feelings.  Sophia, daughter of one of the scientists working on the rover’s mission, writes to Res (rover’s nickname). These letters are counterpoint to Res’s ”thoughts” and provide some context for Sophie’s concerns and her mother Rania’s job.  I’ve been reading the book aloud with the girls flanking me, one on either side.  It’s a good story and has made for some very special time together. We didn’t get to the end, but I’m sure they will complete it one their own.

We had planned to take the girls out to lunch this past week to a nearby restaurant.  E was sick so it was just F with Grandpa and me.  We missed having E there, but we had a fine time with pizza for F and pasta for us. 

And then there’s the magic of Christmas Day itself. This year we and the extended family celebrated on Christmas Eve. It was a reunion with the other grandparents and Jen’s sister and family including baby H, the newest girl born in April. E and F are reveling in having a cousin nearby.

Bonding over Calvin & Hobbes

I always love watching our granddaughters open their gifts.  There are smiles of delight and an occasional whoop, along with big hugs and enthusiastic thanks.  Nothing beats seeing their joy over more books, personalized note cards and stationery, craft items, Legos and the like!  Tim and Jen are great hosts, and later we all dove into a delicious Middle Eastern/Mexican dinner.

This year, their tree came down early, they packed their bags, and now they are away.  The Chief Penguin and I had such a memorable time.  We are storing up the many hugs and looking forward to our next visit, but first, we anticipate a full recounting of their travel adventures!

RECENT VIEWING

Harry and Meghan (Netflix)

Despite the negative and mixed reviews, we watched all six episodes of Harry and Meghan.  I expected to feel that they, especially Meghan, were overdramatizing their situation.  So, it was a surprise to sympathize and empathize with the treatment they received in the tabloid press.  And to learn that the palace never pushed back nor did anything to defend Meghan publicly.  

Overall, the series is somewhat uneven, and I was a bit uncomfortable with the candor and intimate sharing in some of the early episodes.  It is indeed their love story.  Harry and Meghan come across as loving and also as involved parents with their two kids.  They are articulate about their experiences and readily share their feelings. And I was impressed by their intelligence. 

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It being the season, it seems appropriate to end with yet another tree photo. I hope that whatever holidays you celebrate, you’ve had a happy, healthy time!

Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

Memo from Manhattan

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DECEMBER IN NEW YORK

Braving the cold in Central Park

I confess that I’ve become something of a Florida wimp when it comes to weather, and the cold here in New York makes me want to hibernate.  The Chief Penguin and I trek 20 minutes each way for our daily visit with our granddaughters and also walk to dinner at one of several neighborhood restaurants.  We have not been to any museum exhibits yet—that’s on the docket for this coming week. On a recent raw rainy day, we took a day trip to Philadelphia to spend time with some good friends.  The weather was cold, but the reception warm.  We’ve also been enjoying the lighted trees and decorations around town, something we see less of at home.

One of many lighted trees on Park Ave.
Elaborate Christmas decorations
Bells on the Mongolian consulate
Santa at The Mark Hotel

VIEWING 

Astrid (PBS Masterpiece)

Autistic characters are highlighted in several recent TV drama series.  A few years ago, I watched the American series, The Good Doctor, featuring a talented surgeon with autism, played by Freddie Highmore.  And as I mentioned in my last post, I’m now into the South Korean series, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, about an autistic young lawyer.  

My friend Cathie recommended Astrid, a French series set in Paris about a woman who works in the criminal records archives and, with an unusual memory for small details, sees connections between seemingly unrelated cases.  Detective Raphaelle Coste enlists Astrid’s aid in solving a case, and although Astrid is reluctant to step outside of her well ordered routines, she provides insights that no one else can.  It’s another realistic and engaging portrayal of autistic skills and challenges.  

The first episode introduces the characters and is an hour and a half; subsequent episodes run just under an hour.  There are 10 episodes in the first season; season 2 is out, but I am not sure whether it’s going to be available on PBS.

NEW DINING OPTIONS

Mediterraneo

This Upper East Side eatery on 2nd Avenue is a welcome addition to our roster of Italian restaurants.  We had walked by it many times, but never stopped.  This time, we had lunch with our son and family.  Our two granddaughters each ordered pizza, Margherita and an arrabiata and pretty much devoured them.  They were baked in a wood-fired oven with a very thin crust.

The adults ordered pasta from homemade gnocchi bolognese to spinach ravioli to pappardelle with duck ragu.  Everything was very good, but the standout was the almost silky duck ragu.  It deserved the two exclamation points by its description on the menu.  

The menu also includes several enticing veal entrees as well as salads so I see a return visit soon.  Service was pleasant and the restaurant only slightly busy on this Saturday.

Pil Pil

We mourned the loss of our favorite tapas restaurant El Porron which went out of business due to Covid.  Since then, we’ve been scouting around for a suitable replacement. While studying the menu outside the other day, the Chief Penguin met a young man from the Pil Pil staff.  He encouraged the CP to dine here and CP told him we soon would.  Pil Pil is a small place on E. 78th Street off Third Avenue featuring Spanish dishes including some tapas.  Our first foray here was good, but not outstanding.  

We sampled the tomato bread (excellent and more like a bruschetta than pan con tomate), fried calamari (thicker rings heavily breaded with a tasty lemon mayonnaise), ham croquettes, and the shrimp in olive oil and garlic.  

To close the loop, the Chief Penguin stopped the young man greeter from the other day, and then donned his fuzzy wool hat so the man could really remember him!  He’s from Serbia and all of 22. He was very personable and comped us cake for dessert.  We will definitely go back and try some of the ham and cheese selections.   

Note: Photos by JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

Tidy Tidbits

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MUSICAL TREAT

Chanticleer (Singers.com)

When we lived in San Francisco, we were fans of and Chanticleer subscribers.  We heard them perform in large and small venues and felt as if we got to know some of the singers a bit.  This men’s acapella choir tours around the U.S. and has even sung abroad.  It was delightful to hear them locally in their Christmas concert at the Sarasota Opera House.  None of the guys were familiar to us, but it was a wonderful evening of medieval songs, traditional English carols, and even a few popular tunes.  For a taste of their exquisite harmonies, here’s a link to a 2021 rendition of “I Wonder as I Wander.”

VIEWING

The Chief Penguin and I finished watching The Crown last week which, despite the opinion of critics, we thought was well presented.  And yes, we know it isn’t a documentary and the filmmaker has taken creative liberties with some scenes.  In the later episodes Charles, now king, is portrayed quite positively, while Imelda Staunton is a convincing Queen Elizabeth.  

Extraordinary Attorney Woo  (Netflix)

Attorney Woo in court (Study Breaks Magazine)

Thanks to my sister Sal, I am enjoying this legal series.  It’s a South Korean series about a high-functioning autistic young woman who is a newly hired lawyer at a prestigious firm.   Although she struggles with everyday tasks like walking through a revolving door, she has a superb memory and is a creative thinker.  Her portrayal is sensitively done, and one sees her colleagues gradually accepting her oddities and her abilities.   The cases and clients are challenging ones for the firm, and Woo’s insights are often key to a successful resolution.  

There are 16 episodes, each an hour long, and I’ve now watched three of them.  As a side note, I read that several years ago, the state of Florida hired its first autistic lawyer, also a woman.   

BOOK NOTE–MARGOT

I subscribe to BookBrowse, an online newsletter highlighting new publications.  There are reviews, author interviews, and suggested titles for book groups. Some content is free to anyone. As a subscriber, I have the occasional opportunity to request an ARC (Advance Reading Copy) with the understanding that I will either share my impression of the book in a short review or participate in an online discussion of the book by formulating and posting a series of questions.  I much prefer to do a brief review.  

I just finished reading and posting a review of a novel to be published in Jan. 2023. It’s entitled Margot by Wendell Steavenson.  I had mixed feelings about it as you will see if you read my First Impressions on the BookBrowse website at:  https://www.bookbrowse.com/reader_reviews/details/index.cfm/ref/rr50935

Holiday cheer in Winter Park, FL

Note: Header poinsettia photo and snowman ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)