I actually went on a little grown-up book kick for a while, but I think I’m back off it – I blame The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. I tend to have a love-hate relationship with grown-up books. Sometimes I want something with real substance and oomph, and children’s books don’t feel like they have enough substance. Black Swan Green, So Brave, Young and Handsome, and City of Thieves suited me well in that mood.
Actually, never mind – I’m not off the kick. I just switched to fluffy grown-up books, with a smattering of children’s lit. I started rereading Elizabeth Peters’ Vicky Bliss books – art history mysteries which require very little thought for the amount of entertainment provided. They’re over-the-top and and make fun of themselves, and never ever claim to be anything other than quick, comfortable reads. I ate them up with a spoon in high school, and I’m getting a kick out of rereading the older ones while I wait for the brand-new installment to come in on hold. Right now I’m listening to #2, Street of the Five Moons, on my ipod. It’s a perfect distraction from work. What’s amazing is how much of detail I remember, despite not having picked them up in at least 10 years. I suppose they could be considered a guilty pleasure, but I refuse to feel guilty – they’re great for summer vacation. (And yes, I insist on calling it summer vacation until September 27, when I have to show up for class.)
I’ve a got a few more substantial grown-up books waiting for me – The Lazarus Project, which hasn’t quite hooked me yet, although I like it whenever I pick it up, and The Reserve, which sounds interesting. I’ve also got a bunch more on hold – things I’ve heard good things about here and there – but for the moment I’m happy to stay in fluff mode.
Enough chattering about books – I think it’s time to go bake something (and keep listening to Street of the Five Moons.
6 comments
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September 15, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Julia
I was wondering what you’d say about the Vicky Bliss! I’ve never read any of that series, are they as good as the best books in her Amelia line?
September 15, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Julia
Ooh, also, have you read any Boris Akunin? Just swallowed whole the first three of the Fandorin books and they were pretty delicious. And his Sister Pelagia books are even better.
September 15, 2008 at 3:39 pm
jessmonster
I haven’t read any Boris Akunin – I will keep an eye out!
I haven’t read any Amelia Peabody books in ages – I stopped keeping up because they all started to sound the same, and I couldn’t remember if I’d read them before or not. I always liked the Vicky books better, maybe because the romantic story line never quite resolves (maybe it will in the new one) or maybe because there’s more variety in the settings, not just Egypt. In terms of the quality of writing, I don’t know – I’d have to reread some Amelia books to have a Real Opinion! But if you like Amelia, I think Vicky is definitely worth a try.
October 10, 2008 at 2:09 pm
k
Hi
Being the consummate baker that you are , I was wondering if you had ever made the ubiquitous Tiramisu. The ”traditional” or with berries , of late I have seen gelato , coffee creamer, cheesecake and Dove dark chocolate of this flovor. Tiramisu even gets a mention in ”Sleepless in Seattle”.
October 10, 2008 at 2:18 pm
k
I recently made a Banoffee Pie, one of my pie guinea pig’s described it as ambrosia, orgasmic and ecstasy. My inspiration came from the move ”love actually”. There seems to be a cinematic undercurrent here.
October 11, 2008 at 10:26 am
jessmonster
I used to make tiramisu all the time – a traditional recipe that (this sounds so snobby) I got in Italy. Lady fingers, mascarpone, sugar, egg, espresso, and sweet Marsala. Yummers.