April reading roundup #1

April has come in like a lion (is that a thing?) with rain, wind, sleet and general turbulence. Plus an eclipse – no big deal. Meanwhile, here’s what I have been reading:

The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal, ed. James Crews
I’ve been slowly reading this anthology (arranged roughly by season) of brief, lovely poems about small everyday joys. Crews has now edited three of these anthologies, and they are a pleasure.

Anne of Manhattan, Brina Starler
In this thoroughly modern adaptation, Anne Shirley and Gil Blythe are former high school nemeses who are now grad students in NYC. Sparks fly, especially when they’re paired on a thesis project. Mostly smart and funny, with entertaining twists (as Anne B. said) – but too steamy for me. Found at Meet Cute in San Diego.

Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit That Is Transforming America, Luis A. Miranda Jr.
Luis Miranda is Lin-Manuel’s dad, yes. But he has his own story, and it’s a tremendous one. This book – part memoir, part political analysis/handbook – shares his journey from Puerto Rico to the U.S., his varied career, and his perspective on connecting with Latino voters. Sharp, thoughtful and so interesting. To review for Shelf Awareness (out May 7).

A Grave Robbery, Deanna Raybourn
Veronica Speedwell and her partner, Stoker, acquire what they think is a waxwork – until they discover it’s the body of a young woman, perfectly preserved. As they hunt for her killer (and whoever preserved her), they encounter a web of secrets and (as always) find themselves on some wild adventures. A highly entertaining entry in a fun series.

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County, Claire Swinarski
Esther Larson has spent decades feeding the mourners for every funeral in her small Wisconsin town. When she falls prey to an Internet scammer, her friends publish a community cookbook to help out. At the same time, a celebrity chef and his ill-assorted family come to town. I loved most of this sweet Midwestern novel about baking and community – but heads up for an intense plotline about PTSD.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, Elle Cosimano
These books just get zanier, but they’re so much fun that I’m here for it. Finlay and her nanny/accountant/partner in crime, Vero, head to Atlantic City to find a stolen car and Vero’s kidnapped love interest, Javi. But (of course) they end up towing along Finlay’s mother, her young kids, her ex-husband and a few interested cops, including Finlay’s boyfriend. Craziness – of multiple kinds – ensues. I laughed out loud several times. So much fun.

The Hurricane Girls, Kimberly Willis Holt
Kiki, Greer and Joya Mia were all born in 2005, the same year Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Now, as middle schoolers, they’re all struggling with different issues – body image, money troubles, grades, Greer’s guilt over a family tragedy – and sign up for a triathlon together. I loved this sweet, funny, moving middle-grade novel with plenty of heart.

Scandalous Women, Gill Paul
I’ve never read Jackie Collins or Jacqueline Susann, though I knew both of them faced big-time (sexist) criticism for writing sexy books where women triumph. Gill’s novel weaves their stories together via Nancy White, a fictional editor who ends up working with both women. Smart, entertaining and a little racy. To review for Shelf Awareness (out Aug. 13).

Most links (not affiliate links) are to my local faves Trident and Brookline Booksmith. Shop indie!

What are you reading?

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Belatedly grateful

For an invitation over lunch, when I told a friend we weren’t sure of our plans: Come have Thanksgiving with us. 

For a heater that got repaired before the freak Nov. 15 snow and the Thanksgiving cold snap.

For a long run on Wednesday morning with a friend down the trail I love so much, legs pumping and breath puffing, wind and sea and sky.

For the sweet potato recipe I’ve been making for nearly 15 years, in Oxford and Abilene and Boston, which tastes like Thanksgiving to me.

For a walk with the hubs on Wednesday afternoon, down the trail (in the other direction) to the local ice cream shop before it closed for the season.

For sunshine on Thanksgiving morning and a warm welcome in East Boston.

For eggs baked in tortilla cups and mimosas at Steve and Chrissy’s, the kids toasting with sparkling apple juice and Christian stalking around in his Grim Reaper costume.

For a moment alone in Lauryn’s kitchen, stirring the gravy and taking a deep breath.

For the hilarity that ensued later when we could barely get the cranberry sauce out of the can. (We had homemade, too, but someone requested the traditional log.)

For turkey and ham, both carved by my husband; for homemade stuffing and green beans wrapped in bacon; for hot rolls and mashed potatoes and Waldorf salad.

For two long tables in Joe and Lauryn’s living room, football on in the background and the kids running up and down the stairs. For Joe’s invitation to share a bit about the people we love, who bolster us up every day.

For my friend Kelsey’s baby boy, Bennett, born in Texas the night before, healthy and perfect and right on time.

For the breathtaking view over Eastie’s rooftops from Kem and Fabricio’s kitchen window.

For laughter and stories as we all stood around sipping coffee and tea.

For Kem’s delicious dessert spread – seven kinds of pie! – and a bowl of freshly made whipped cream.

For the chance to be welcomed and to welcome others.

If you celebrated, I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving.

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PEI: the food

I’m nearly done recapping our wonderful PEI vacation, I promise. But I couldn’t not tell you about the delectable meals we had during our time on the Island. I’m fairly certain I have never eaten so much seafood in my life. (We ate all sorts of other delicious things, too.)

On our first morning, our hosts left a plate of treats from the Olde Village Bakery outside our door:

Lemon bread and chocolate-chip muffins. Yes, please.

After touring Green Gables and hiking through the Haunted Wood that first day, we were starving, so we headed to the PEI Preserve Company for chicken wraps, served with tortilla chips and house-made peach and cherry salsas. We are salsa connoisseurs, so we were eager to try these variations. They were delicious.

We topped off our lunch with the house specialty – raspberry cream cheese pie. No words necessary.

On Saturday, we explored Charlottetown, the Island’s capital – browsing a few bookshops and wandering around the harbour area. We stopped at Leonhard’s for cups of sweet potato soup and delicious ham sandwiches on foccaccia bread, and finished with some sort of German pastry – unpronounceable but yummy.

Later that afternoon, we visited Young Folk & the Kettle Black for some much-needed chai – which coordinated nicely with my outfit.

That night, we walked (shivering) down to the village harbour for a lobster supper at Fisherman’s Wharf. You choose your entree – lobster or otherwise – pay a fixed price, then enjoy seafood chowder, mussels, fresh bread and the other delights of a (no kidding) 60-foot salad bar.

I’ve never tackled so much lobster at once – and I might never again. It was tasty, but overwhelming. (The chowder, however, was excellent, as were the mussels, and the strawberry shortcake at the end.)

Sunday saw us heading across the river for an early lunch at the Olde Glasgow Mill. (We’d been told they had brunch, but it turns out they don’t since the management has changed.) Never mind – I loved my lobster quiche (more lobster!), and J savored his vegetable curry.

Before the Wailin’ Jennys concert that night, we ate dinner at the Home Place in Kensington, just down the road from Indian River (where the concert was held). Simple, tasty food, but the best part (again) was the strawberry shortcake.

Since we didn’t have brunch on Sunday, we tried again on Monday, returning to the PEI Preserve Company for some delectable blueberry pancakes, bacon and eggs. They do brunch just as well as they do lunch (and pie).

I was determined to sample PEI’s famous Malpeque oysters, so after an unsuccessful trip to Malpeque itself (everything was still closed for the season), we ended up at Carr’s in Stanley Bridge, and I savored these beauties for lunch.

My seafood-loving dad would be so proud.

Twice during our trip, we stopped at Cows Creamery in Cavendish – it’s stuck in the middle of a terribly kitschy “boardwalk,” but the ice cream is scrumptious. The apple crisp ice cream (with a caramel swirl) remains my favorite.

Our last meal in PEI was also the best: dinner at the Blue Mussel Cafe.

A sunset view over the harbour, a kind and genial owner, and the best (lightly spiced) haddock I’ve ever had.

The blueberry pie was so delicious that J actually sang to it.

Needless to say, we came back completely sated (and even stopped in Portsmouth for some tacos at Vida on the way home).

If you visit PEI, one thing’s for sure: you won’t starve. (Though you might gain a few pounds.)

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