Reviews: Anna Karenina & Grave Mercy

One of my UK book group peeps saw the Tom Stoppard Anna Karenina when it came out over the summer, and suggested that we read it for book group. Thankfully, we all have kindles, so didn't have to drag hardback copies around with us.

Overall, I liked it. However, there was Way Too Much Rambling About Farming. And Russian Peasants.

Thankfully, the movie avoided the rambling, and pretty much just cut to the chase.

I'm glad I've now read it, but won't be seeking out any other Tolstoy any time soon.

I think it also may hold the record for "longest time for Kate to read a novel" - it took me nearly 6 months. Phew.

To follow, and because I felt like I needed a guilty pleasure after all that Russian angst, I read Robin LaFevers' Grave Mercy. It's set in medieval Brittany, and is about a girl who goes to a convent dedicated to Mortain, or Death. She trains as an assassin (along with the others in the convent) and is then sent out on a mission. Entertainment and drama ensue. I zipped right through it and really enjoyed it. AND I have excellent timing because the sequel is coming out in three weeks!

Oh, and this is what's wrong with America. French toast, with a side of bacon. It was delicious, but still.

New York Vol. 2 (aka I Ate New York)

Like Rrufus before him, Snoopy enjoys his morning walk with my dad to pick up breakfast from the Starlite Diner. I went with them a few of the days I was home (not every day...although it was tempting!)

Oooh...the anticipation!

Sigh. In order to replicate this in the UK, I need: streaky bacon, American cheese, and a soft kaiser roll. Not going to happen. Definitely worth the trip, though!

This was the inaugural self-portrait on my new S95 (thank you David Pogue...seriously, he wrote a love letter on his blog). I need to sort out the winking feature (so cool!) and this one would have been improved by a fill-in flash. Oh well. Emily and I look fab anyway. In case you can't see, her dress is a vintage-bicycle print (white on navy). I *nearly* stole it from her. I only restrained myself because she would have had a hard time finishing out the work day in only her underwear. Apparently it's Anthropologie from last year and cannot be purchased anymore for love nor money.

She works close to to the Time Warner Center, so we went up to Landmarc for lunch. At her suggestion I had the nicoise salad. HOLY MOLY it was awesome.

After lunch, I strolled across town to meet up with The International Book Group That Doesn't Read. I can't believe we've been not-reading together for almost 10 years. WHAT?! (Another self-portrait, hence the slightly-off-center poses.)

The day after, I had a meeting on Long Island for work, so we made plans to meet up with my mom's high school friend and her husband for lunch. (Bonus: she's Gnomemade's mom and the recipient of this amazing quilt, which I can attest is even more amazing in person.)

Yes, that's another self-portrait, but we all needed to be in the picture!

Jane made the most fab lunch - I think the best way to describe it was Emphatically American. The pasta salad was, I think, an amalgamation of a back-of-the-pasta-box recipe with some other additions. It was delish: chicken, broccoli, oranges (!?), flaked almonds, bowtie pasta, and honey mustard dressing. Honestly, not a combination I would have ever thought of, but we'll definitely be making it. Future visitors, be warned.

She also made devilled eggs, which I hadn't had in years. My grandma used to make them all the time and I should make them more - they're one of my favorite foods. My grandma always used dry mustard powder, but Jane used grainy mustard, and it really gave them a good zing. These where the only two left. Ahem. Not that I ate 4 (or 5) or anything. Nope. Nothing like that.

See? I really did eat New York (and it was delicious).

Vacation Roundup: Wedding, NYC

I'm back in the UK...I didn't intend to take such a long blogging break but it was tricky to find time and sort out pictures without my Mac.

Anywho, still on my camera from before the trip to NY, a picture of the stepson and my niece rowing a boat. They managed to coordinate enough so that we didn't go in circles, although we were definitely wobbling...


Then, Friday night, our 'drinking club with a reading problem' got together in Andrea's fab new apartment. We hadn't all gotten together in ages, and it was very entertaining. My mom has a tshirt: "What happens with the girlfriends, stays with the girlfriends." Haha.


Then on Sunday I went to the wedding - it was the first one I'd been to for 2 years that I wasn't in (including ours), and I have to say it was SO relaxing. The wedding was great, with lots of fun people and fabulous music and I didn't have to wear anything specific or talk to anyone or be in any pictures or ANYTHING. Not to say that I haven't loved being in weddings, but they're a lot of work! So here was the setting (gorgeous):

And the bride & groom (gorgeous, again!):


Then, on Labor Day, I zipped up to RI to my parents' house, where I had the most relaxing 3 days I can remember. We went to a carousel on the first afternoon, via the bike path behind my parents' house. It's one of the last in the country where you can try and catch the rings as you ride around and then throw them into a target - I had the best time! My dad made a video - I'm not sure if it'll make it on to youtube but if it does, I'll post it.


To be continued...