The Ides of April by Lindsey Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I recently started to re-listen to this series. I am constantly amazed at how much I discover when I go back to a previously read (listened to) book!
Having endured the angry teenager from the Falco series, the shift to focus on said no longer teenager has been quite enjoyable. That being said, in the first part of the book, we are dealing with a cynical, still angry adult who has become quite jaded in her opinions and behaviors. Yes, she’s been through a lot, but still.
It wasn’t until she actually met and started to work with “the Runner” that these behaviors started to temper. Much like his did. Knowing how this relationship evolves, it is an interesting experience to see how two people can affect each other so profoundly.
I’ve been listening to the entire series and am enjoying not only the new characters, but the occasional visits with those from the original series. This literally ties all the strings of a family together.
I still strongly recommend this series and am looking forward to the next installment. Can’t come soon enough!
View all my reviews
Month: December 2021
And Just Like That It Was Boxing Day!
Happy Boxing Day to those who celebrate even it if might just be a passing nod to the End Of the Christmas Festivities.
Not sure what Boxing Day is? Click HERE for an explanation.
In our house Boxing Day has become a day where we sit back, put our feet up, divvy up any leftovers and basically work to regain our sanity and composure after 4 to 6 weeks of Holiday Insanity. And we aren’t in that group who was up to their ears with shopping, wrapping, cooking, etc. They might need it more than we do. 🙂
Think of it as a type of recovery day, if you like.
Enjoy!
Are You A Cookbook Kind of Cook?
Or do you have a stash of books and recipes you fall back on?
Or, do you just keep a few tried and true recipes you depend on?
My mom enjoyed cooking but wasn’t the most adventurous cook. She did, however, have quite an interesting collection of both books and clipped recipes. I inherited her numerous recipe boxes that are stuffed to bursting with clipped recipes, recipe cards, and the hand written notes from family and friends.
Me? I have a carefully (yeah, right) curated collection of cookbooks that focus on particular products or chefs in addition to some general use books. That means I have an inordinately large collection of Bisquick books (I’m not sure but I think there are 8.) I have at least 2 versions of the Betty Crocker book. One Taste of Home. A couple of Jacques Pepin … make that 3 or 4. Several Julia Child books including the entire two-volume set of Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I have one copy of the Joy of Cooking that goes back several years and another, electronic version that is relatively new.
My collection of what I call the Aisle End Cap Mini Cookbook Extravaganza books is, to be honest, astonishing. These are the small books that focus on either a product, brand, or theme. Think holiday or chocolate or freezer meals.
Speaking of cooking magazines, I’ve managed to acquire quite a few Taste of Home editions with a few Better Homes and Garden publications.
Do I cook from these? Some more than others. Some not at all. Why do I have them? Quite simply I enjoy reading them and discovering new ideas. Pretty much the same reason I love cookery shows.
Food is not only an art form but a great way to spend time with folks. A good meal eaten with friends and family can be a wonderful experience. A bad meal can also be quite an experience – especially when you be sure to add in a touch of humor.
I’m focusing on cooking from what I already have in my library. While I occasionally waver and pick up a new book I’m finding a treasure trove of recipes and ideas that have been patiently waiting my attention.
One thing that caught me by surprise was discovering that reading cookbooks for the pleasure of reading them is actually quite fun. Mastering the Art of French Cooking is amazing on several levels – the very least of which is the way many of those techniques that were carefully documented and explained are very common today. Check them out – you might be surprised! On the other hand some books are very dated and don’t wear well. Decades ago I bought a copy of a popular magazine cookbook that relied mostly on prepackaged foods. Total waste of money.
Check out this latest entry from Voracious at the Washington Post. Maybe you’ll find a book or two that piques your interest:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/12/10/best-cookbooks-2021/
Craft Room Adventures
I’ve been playing a bit in the craft room lately. Some to make cards. Some to clear out items that are no longer usable or I simply don’t want anymore. Why? To make room for more craft supplies, of course!
This year has been devoted to updating core supplies. I replaced all my Stampin Up stamp pads and added a full array of colors using the sampler pack collections. I’ve added a few stamp sets and dies while discovering that I needed new ones for certain times of the year. That was a surprise!
Having spent a lot of time watching Call Me Crafty Al over on YouTube, I’ve collected a lot of sheetload card templates. Some I’ve tried, some not yet. They are printed and put into my Idea Book.
Speaking of my Idea Book, I’ve added card recipes and ideas from Jackie Bolhuis, Lisa Curcio, and Connie Stewart. All of these Stampin Up demonstrators have some great ideas that I want to try. Connie is great for tips and tricks, too.
I’ve also spent a lot of time with Cathy Zielske over on YouTube and have learned a lot, chuckled a bit, and gained the courage to try some new techniques. Which sort of explains why I needed to clear out part of my craft room. 🙂
To up the ante, so to speak, I managed to pick up a few items from Missouri Star Quilt Company, too. In addition to a mini iron that I can use with my piecing, I’ve collected some beautiful batik prints that will eventually become a wall sampler for my bedroom and a June Taylor kit to make a sewing machine cover.
I’m planning on devoting time to these projects and to bring you along with me, or at least share the end results.
Wish me luck!
Taking A Breather
Or, It’s Been A Long, Long Year
I started thinking about this month’s posts in November. Not unusual except that I was up to my ears with catalogs, online browsing, holiday card making, and the not so comfortable feeling that things were getting out of hand. Sound familiar?
Well, the shopping and the cards are done and out in the mail. The catalogs have been browsed so often there are fingerprints in places that are … odd. I’ve managed to corral them, shred the parts that need to be and toss the rest.
Enough already!
It almost feels as if the holidays have already been celebrated and we are at that point where clean up makes us wonder if we missed anything important. Like, maybe, the celebration?
When you look at the December calendar it is astounding how many different holidays there are. The mind boggles.
Like many folks I know, we started the actual shopping early. Why? Well, considering backlogs, out of orders, delays, and such, it just seemed like a good idea. An added bonus was the ability-come-requirement to think outside the box. That little extra that advised us to look beyond the normal, or usual, gift items and find things that were still a good fit but a bit more on target with the recipient in mind.
I do admit that at least one recipient on my list received a gift card because I found a literal plethora of items that would fit the bill. So many, in fact, I simply could not make up my mind. Part of me feels a touch guilty but part is curious to find out what the recipient chooses.
At this point, however, December is becoming a time when I want to put my feet up, have something tasty cooking in the kitchen, and something interesting and fun to watch or listen to.
Sort of a combination of sticker shock and jet lag, right?
Here’s to an interesting December!
Movie Night: The Hunt For Red October
Back in 1990 I stepped into one of my local movie theaters to check out a new movie starring Sean Connery and a host of other favorite performers. It was an experience I didn’t expect and has been repeated frequently over the years. The viewing of the film, that is.
The Hunt For Red October came from the Tom Clancy book of the same name, published in 1984. The story is about a high level Russian submarine that may, or may not, be defecting and the high octane multi level chess game (my description) of the efforts to find her before the Russians can sink her.
The film clocks in at 2 hours 15 minutes. It is worth every second.
There’s a funny thing about me and this film. I enjoyed the first viewing so much I went back a few times to try and spot the technical details I enjoy in films. (I’m one of those geeks who love the extras on the DVDs – I love the behind the scenes stuff.) I finally gave up because inevitably I’d find myself walking out 2 hours later having totally gotten lost in the plot. It is that good.
The book, in case you are interested, is as good. If you are not experienced reading Tom Clancy consider this fair warning. He didn’t write small books, nor did he write simple plot lines. Brace yourself with an estimated page count of 387, I don’t recall how many characters or subplot lines. Consider the movie the condensed version. 🙂
Even after all these years, I have no idea how many viewings, I love this film. I must, I own two copies and I have both the paperback and the audio version of the book.
The cast is the cream of the crop. The production values are stellar. The story is compelling, and if you like edge of your seat adventure, this is the film you should see.
Have you seen, or read, The Hunt For Red October?