The Japanese Lover

From Goodreads:

In 1939, as Poland falls under the shadow of the Nazis, young Alma Belasco's parents send her away to live in safety with an aunt and uncle in their opulent mansion in San Francisco. There, as the rest of the world goes to war, she encounters Ichimei Fukuda, the quiet and gentle son of the family's Japanese gardener. Unnoticed by those around them, a tender love affair begins to blossom. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the two are cruelly pulled apart as Ichimei and his family, like thousands of other Japanese Americans are declared enemies and forcibly relocated to internment camps run by the United States government. Throughout their lifetimes, Alma and Ichimei reunite again and again, but theirs is a love that they are forever forced to hide from the world.

Decades later, Alma is nearing the end of her long and eventful life. Irina Bazili, a care worker struggling to come to terms with her own troubled past, meets the elderly woman and her grandson, Seth, at San Francisco's charmingly eccentric Lark House nursing home. As Irina and Seth forge a friendship, they become intrigued by a series of mysterious gifts and letters sent to Alma, eventually learning about Ichimei and this extraordinary secret passion that has endured for nearly seventy years. 

From Me:

Wow! What a cast of characters!  And themes!

This is the first Allende novel I've read, and while I liked it--I did!-- there was some issue with me in the transitions from past to present.  Those took place often and sometimes in one paragraph it went from present to past to present again.  I had to really pay attention and think.

The characters were great and while I liked them, I never felt that I got to know them really well.

Deep themes, but some of them just touched on lightly.

Those all sound like criticisms, but I really liked the story. The main story as well as the side stories.

It's worth a read.

Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop is hosted each week by

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

This week's question is:

How many years have you been blogging? Anything special you want to tell everyone about your experiences?

I have been blogging since  2007.  9 years.

I started out blogging questions and answers to my friends, but they didn't really 'get' what a blog was at the time, so I switched over to food blogging.

It's a wonderful world of food bloggers out there---but I was not original, I just like to cook.  Then I had a book blog, then a big backyard blog, etc.

It was a lot of work, so I decided to just have my own blog and talk about whatever I wanted to, which is mostly books.  Then food.  Then random stuff.

I've met two blogging friends in person, become pen-pals with a couple others.

Those would be special experiences for me.

The blogging community is a very nice and supportive group of people.

At least the book nerds, foodies are.

It's special.

Friday Friend Recipe #102--Tacos in Pasta Shells

Recipe number 102

Come with me as I continue to countdown my Friday Friend Cookbook
What is it, you may ask?

In a nutshell...
About 15 years ago, 50 of my closest friends and family, who had been on an e-mail forum with me, sent in recipes in different categories and we compiled a cookbook.
I decided to count those down!
Why?

Because  one night I was looking thru the cookbook and I said, "I should make every recipe in here for my blog"
The Handyman--who thinks he knows me better than I know myself, said,  "you'll never EVER do that."
Well,  maybe I will!  Maybe I'll show him!

Which brings me to recipe #102  My Tacos in Pasta Shells

These are yummy, yummy, Yummy!!

They have all the good stuff in them.  Cheese and pasta and hamburger in a sauce!

I think I make a bit more sauce than it calls for because I like a bit more to lay on top of the shells.

Tacos in Pasta Shells

by me/Debbie Stone

Winnemucca, NV

1 1/2 lb ground beef

1 cup favorite salsa

3 oz cream cheese with chives

1 cup tomato sauce

1 T chili powder

1/4 t salt

18 jumbo pasta shells

1 cup shredded cheddar

1 cup shredded jack cheese

1 1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips

sliced green onions

sliced black olives

Brown meat; drain. Add salsa, tomato sauce, cream cheese, chili powder, and salt.   Simmer 5 min.  Cook pasta shells till almost done.  Fill  shells with beef mixture and arrange in baking dish.  Spoon any sauce left over shells.

Cover and bake at 350 for 15 min. 

Uncover; top with cheeses and crushed chips. Bake another 15 mins.  

Remove and sprinkle with olives and onions.

Me oh My!

This is my recipe and I hate writing about myself.

Wait!

That's not true-- I do it all the time. BUT usually I write about myself THRU a friend's story--now I have to write a story all about me--and I find it a bit intimidating today.

Also a picture---I have to find a picture of myself that is halfway decent.

Halfway decent....  ???

Why do we do this to ourselves?

We are who we are.

 We need to like ourselves.

I certainly hope that when I die, no one comes to my funeral and says:

"she was always chubby...she had such a round face... nice person, but fat."

Let's face it--they are not!

They are going to miss me and be sad and nobody will care about my little round face. 

 Except to miss it, I mean.

So speaking of that, let me descend backwards and say  "one would THINK I would be in better shape after doing all these runs/walks throughout the years"

I have joined in with the Alzheimer's Walks, the heart walks, the cancer walks, March of Dimes-March for babies walks, the fun runs, and yet---still have that round face!

A few pics of a couple of my walks thru the years:

I don't like to get involved in the political-ness of things (like where all the money goes, etc)  but just want to say that the Susan G. Komen 3-day/60-mile walk the one of the most moving things I have ever done.

Thanksgiving morning--- 2015.  I signed up for 5 adults and 4 kids.  A family team.

Since it was 10 degrees at 7am, only these 2 hardy grandchildren braved the cold and joined in THE TURKEY TROT!  (and the Handyman)

The Handyman DOES look like a Popsicle.  and I have many layers on and the camera adds 10lbs. 

What was I saying above?  Oh---we need to like ourselves.

I do like myself---just not pictures of me. 

The Bay to Breakers in San Francisco--

I've done it 3 times.

I love it---it's so much fun.

My friend Stella and I waiting for the race to begin.

So many sights to see!

Like transvestites or drag queens  or people just dressed up in costume for the race.  (I should know the difference, my apologies to the people)

This was the first time I saw a naked runner too.

I don't have a photo, but he was a true redhead-- I could tell--- just saying.

(there was red hair everywhere)

and for every race/walk/run I have done--always a great support system in place!

Stella's husband, Ken, also waiting for the race to begin.

I can't remember why he has underwear on his head.

And for the 3-day/60-mile walk?

My brother-in-law and his friends  were our support crew.

We were the Random Racks of Kindness and they were the Bras.

So that's my story!  And I'm sticking to it!

Told with a straight face--a little round straight face!

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros

Today is Tuesday--- which means I'll be joining up with Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea and her First Chapter, First Paragraph

Tuesday Intros.

Where,  bloggers post the first paragraph of a book they are thinking of reading --- and get everyone's opinion to see if it grabbed them from the beginning or not.

Click here to join the fun!

My paragraph:

It is dark, dark seven A.M. on Christmas Eve Eve.

Snow flurries fall in the city.  Actors walking home from a cast party on Broad  Street try to catch them on their tongues.  The ingenue lands a  flake on her hot cheek and erupts into a fit of laughter.  In Fishtown, a nightmare trembles through the nose and paws of a dog snoozing under the construction flats.  The Ritten-house Square fountain switches to life with a pronouncement of water while Curtis Hall musicians, late for final rehearsal, arpeggiate through the park.

Should I keep reading?

What do you think?

My book?

I have chosen this for our December read in one of my bookclubs.

What do you think?

When Women Were Birds

From Goodreads:

"Brilliant, meditative, and full of surprises, wisdom, and wonder."—Ann Lamott, author of Imperfect Birds
"I am leaving you all my journals, but you must promise me you won't look at them until after I'm gone." This is what Terry Tempest Williams's mother, the matriarch of a large Mormon clan in northern Utah, told her a week before she died. It was a shock to Williams to discover that her mother had kept journals. But not as much of a shock as it was to discover that the three shelves of journals were all blank. In fifty-four short chapters, Williams recounts memories of her mother, ponders her own faith, and contemplates the notion of absence and presence art and in our world. When Women Were Birds is a carefully crafted kaleidoscope that keeps turning around the question: What does it mean to have a voice?

From Me:

May I borrow from Ann Lamott and say "Brilliant?  Meditative?  Full of surprises? Wisdom and Wonder?"

Because, it's all that.

I listened to this on audio, narrated by the author.  That's always a gamble; sometimes it's a winner, sometimes not---this time it was a WINNER!

Loved her narration.

I forget how much I love Terry Tempest Williams -- I live in the west, she writes about and understands the western landscape like no other.

I like birds--she LOVES and knows birds like no other.

I like contemplation-- this book is all about that.

I liked my mother -- she talks about a bond with our mothers that is so special and magical and unbreakable. (makes me shiver just thinking about it)

She does talk about her religion quite a bit in her writings, this book included,  and while I don't share the same views, she writes in such a way that  helps me to understand and appreciate her beliefs and traditions.  Likewise her activism and ecological viewpoints. 

Loved it.

It's Monday--What are you Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile!

It's Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.

I have not shared what I am reading (at least on this weekly meme) since April--I better get back with it.

I read this book  yesterday:

in the car,  and I drank that good coffee! (which I only get when I'm on vacation)

and I ate this candy bar.....which is a great memory from my childhood...

but in reality?  eh--it was only okay.

It's a regional thing I'm sure, manufactured by the Owyhee Candy Company? Chocolate marshmallow inside covered with chocolate and coconut, shaped like a potato.

So, during my 8 hour car ride home, I read a book, drank good coffee and felt nostalgic about a candy bar.

It was a great 8 hours!

Next up on the TBR list?

and

and

That's what's up for me this week in books.

What about you?

***************************************

Before I go, I wanted to share with you where we ate lunch yesterday...

The Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City, Oregon.

From Wikipedia:

The Geiser Grand Hotel is a historic hotel in Baker City, Oregon, that opened in 1889. It received a restoration and reopened in 1993 after closing in 1968. Decorations include mahogany columns up to a high ceiling, Victorian-style chandeliers, and a stained glass ceiling. It was known as "the Queen of the Mines" during Gold Rush times and described as being the finest hotel between Portland, Oregon and Salt Lake City with the third elevator built west of the Mississippi River

It is so beautiful!  I love old buildings and architecture. 

The formal dining room ---  we didn't eat there of course, we ate in the diner and grill part of the hotel--but I did purchase a book mark which had a photo of the Gentlemen's Dinner in this dining room.

The ceiling in the dining room!

 The entrance

And what you see when you come in...

We ate here and it was very good, but I would love to eat in the dining room some day.

These two below are not my photos, but I didn't get a good one of  inside the little cafe.  We sat right there by the door and had a wonderful breakfast.

And the outside without the sun shining into my eyes.

It's amazing.

Stop your cars, get off the freeways, check out The small towns of the west!

That's what I have to say.

OH...and read books!

The Beekeepers Apprentice

From Goodreads:

Long retired, Sherlock Holmes quietly pursues his study of honeybee behavior on the Sussex Downs. He never imagines he would encounter anyone whose intellect matched his own, much less an audacious teenage girl with a penchant for detection. Miss Mary Russell becomes Holmes' pupil and quickly hones her talent for deduction, disguises and danger. But when an elusive villain enters the picture, their partnership is put to a real test.

From Me:

Very good at the beginning and at the end. The middle was a little slow for me, but I really enjoyed the story.   Even tho I know all about Sherlock Holmes, I haven't actually read anything by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

I have watched the BBC series  with Benedict Cumberbatch a bit, and I've read other books that allude to Sherlock Holmes AND I have this old board game called  "221 B Baker Street",  so I feel I know Sherlock,  and yet---do I?

I feel that Laurie King has helped me know him better.  But really, I should probably read something original about Holmes.

The book is about a retired Sherlock Holmes living in the country, attending to his bees,  meeting a  young girl, Mary Russell,  and becoming her mentor.  Of course a mystery ensues and danger abounds and they have to solve the case together.

I looked on my bookshelf and I do have the "Treasury of Sherlock Holmes" in the 'classic' shelf---I knew enough to want the book on my shelf (where it has sat for years) but now I'm intrigued and have pulled it off the shelf and put it in a more accessible TBR pile.

As I mentioned above--I really enjoyed the story and will pick up the next in the series soon. 

I love the idea of Sherlock Holmes and this reimagining is quite good.