Reading and Eating
It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these! There are reasons for that, as we will soon see. I’ve read a bunch of books lately that were good, but I just didn’t have anything interesting to say about them. I’ve read three of the Lincoln Rhyme books by Jeffery Deaver, about a quadriplegic detective. These are good! Interesting plots, and fun to read. I also read The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen. It was okay. Is a book considered “fantasy” just because it takes place in a made-up country? I mean, there were no magical elements or interesting creatures in this book. It was an adventure-romance story, and is part of a series. I didn’t like it enough to continue with the next book. I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes was a really interesting political thriller. The thing is, and I keep forgetting this, I don’t really like political thrillers. I heard Louise Penny is writing another one. DO NOT LET ME READ IT. Okay! FINALLY, I read a truly great book- Lake Effect by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. In 1977, a man and woman decide to leave their spouses and marry each other. Considering the two families are neighbors and friends, this is scandalous enough, but in the 1970s these things just weren’t happening. The story follows the family members- especially the children- as they navigate this life-altering event through the years. I loved it. I know I said recently that I’m not a nostalgic person, but I do have a deep nostalgia for the 1970s. Reading this book, I even felt a nostalgia for Rochester, which is odd because I’ve never been there. I think it’s similar in some ways to where I grew up- a town on a lake with long, gloomy winters- and it gave me strong feelings of my own childhood. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the ending, and this is definitely a “me” issue. It was too sad for me, but that’s based on my own personal life experiences. I wish it had ended a different way, but I can also see how the ending is beautiful and perfect as it is. Okay, let’s talk about, in the words of Kelsey and Erica, “damn dinner.” The dinner situation around here reached a crisis point, and I’m officially no longer in charge of anyone else’s meal. Asking me “what’s for dinner?” is now akin to referring to Native Americans as “Indians” or men calling their secretaries “honey.” We used to think that was okay, but now we know better. Instead, everyone understands they are on their own. Every once in a while when I’m in the mood- maybe once a week- I’ll make something for everyone, or, that is, my husband and me, and my daughter if she decides it’s “edible.” On other nights, I’m happy to throw some tofu in the air fryer for my daughter, my husband cooks his own frozen veggie burger, and I’ll usually roast a pan of vegetables. My own favorite dinner lately is one of these tortillas… with tofu and different veggies inside. There were certain compromises involved. I now keep a carton of eggs for my daughter. It’s so strange to see them in the fridge, because I’ve been vegan for 35 years. But it’s something she can make for herself, and I can live with it (as opposed to, say, opening the fridge and seeing chicken). No one is starving, we’re all much less stressed (especially me), and it’s all good. I’m linking up with Jenn for Tuesday Topics. This week is a free topic (yay- I do well with those!) Next week’s topic: What’s one goal you’re proud of this spring? Link Up With Tuesday Topics Welcome back to Tuesday Topics, as Jenny, from Runners Fly joins Jenn at Runs With Pugs to co-host this link-up! Please join us every week for a new topic! Write on our weekly prompt or choose your own topic! Make sure to add your post to the link up, link back to your hosts, and comment on the other shared posts! You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter Have you solved the dinner problem? Read any of these books? Top photo by Ed Robertson on Unsplash