Saturday Morning Walkers - January 7, 2007

Hi everyone,

I'm still feeling a bit under the weather from a cold and didn't make it yesterday to join other other stoic friends, Barb, Andrea, Laila and Mary, for coffee and good conversation at Caffe Sole. Walking wasn't an option in the aftermath of our 3rd snowstorm in 3 weeks!

Book Report:
Although I haven't finished any books recently to tell you about, I did hear a podcast interview this week with Alice McDermott about her new book, After This. If you're interested in listening to this interview on-line , go to http://www.wamu.org/programs/dr/07/01/01.php. The interviewer is Diane Rehm from Washington, D.C.'s local NPR station - she was one of my favorite hosts when I lived in Maryland.

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. A master at capturing Irish-Catholic American suburban life, particularly in That Night (1987) and the National Book Award–winning Charming Billy (1998), McDermott returns for this sixth novel with the Keane family of Long Island, who get swept up in the wake of the Vietnam War. When John and Mary Keane marry shortly after WWII, she's on the verge of spinsterhood, and he's a vet haunted by the death of a young private in his platoon. Jacob, their first-born, is given the dead soldier's name, an omen that will haunt the family when Jacob is killed in Vietnam (hauntingly underplayed by McDermott). In vignette-like chapters, some of which are stunning set pieces, McDermott probes the remaining family's inner lives. Catholic faith and Irish heritage anchor John and Mary's feelings, but their children experience their generation's doubt, rebellion and loss of innocence: next eldest Michael, who had always dominated Jacob, drowns his guilt and regret in sex and drugs; Anne quits college and moves to London with a lover; Clare, a high school senior, gets pregnant. The story of '60s and '70s suburbia has been told before, and McDermott has little to say about the Vietnam War itself. But she flawlessly encapsulates an era in the private moments of one family's life.

A reminder: Tomorrow AM at 9 - lines open at Tattered Cover to make reservations for Writers Respond to Readers - they finally have posted the info on their website:
http://www.tatteredcover.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp?s=localinterest. I'll assume that everyone who is interested in going has worked out pairing up for calling - if not, let me know if you need someone to help with that.

I saw something in the Daily Camera yesterday that I'd like to share with all of you:
Make a difference this week:

Donate books
Donate books to the Global Education Fund book drive

Here's an opportunity to clean out your home a little, and help out a great cause.
The Global Education Fund book drive is being held throughout the month at the IZZE Beverage Company, 2990 Center Green Court, Boulder.

You know you have extra books on hand — maybe your shelves are a bit crowded now, after the holiday season? You don't even need to edit your collection: Books not suitable for India will be sold on the Internet to pay for shipping.

All types of books in good condition may be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Books collected will go to one of five orphanages in India. Please visit www.globaleducationfund.org, or call (303) 415-9935.


Food and Cooking Report:

I did manage to prepare one decent meal this week - its a wonderful winter recipe for a Roast Loin of Pork with Fennel from on of my favorites, Ina Garten:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_25757,00.html - don't be afraid of the fennel - eaten raw, it does have a strong licorice flavor, but it really mellows out during the roasting process.

Oh - I almost forgot I made an Italian style meatloaf with crushed potatoes and pesto from Michael Chiarello (Easy Entertaining on the Food Network). I really liked it and I'm not a big meatloaf fan - the potatoes were yummy with store-bought pesto and pine nuts

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_35425,00.html?rsrc=search

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_35426,00.html

Let's all hope that our snow starts to disappear soon - next Saturday is the Lafayette Oatmeal 5k and Festival - they need some time to clear those streets!

Have a great week!

Love,

Susan