Carol's Notebook – Page 357

Saturday Snapshot – At the Aviary

January 17, 2015January 16, 2015 by Carol12 Comments

Last weekend, we went to the Pittsburgh Aviary for Amber's birthday. We saw all kinds of birds and got to get up close and personal with two falcons. The one in the photo is a European peregrine. Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads....

1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton

January 16, 2015January 19, 2015 by Carol9 Comments

I like lists. I don't make too many myself, just a few here and there, but I love reading other peoples'. 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die is a list of fabulous, or odd, foods and a tour of the world all in one. I really enjoyed looking through it. I may have to pick up a traditional copy, instead of the digital version, so I can cross things off. Some of the foods in it I've actually already had, believe it or not. I expected a list of outrageous foods that you can only get in restaurants on the other side of the world but that are delicious. It is that, but there are also foods that we consider fairly common, but only because we live here. For a lot of the foods, she lists restaurants where you can have the best. Yes some are in Greece or Japan, but some are also here in the US. Many of the entries...

Thursday’s Tale: Unpopular Gals

January 15, 2015 by Carol5 Comments

When I was thinking of what tale to feature today and staring at my bookshelf, I saw Good Bone and Simple Murders by Margaret Atwood, one of my favorite books. One of the selections in it is "Unpopular Gals," a look at some of the bad women in fairy tales from their own point of view. First up is the ugly step-sister, the one who never gets a name. She knows she isn't pretty, that no matter what she did, she would never be the beautiful one who was always adored. She tells us she loved the prince too, so much that she cut off her foot, or disguised herself, or commit murder. "But all [her] love ever came to was a bad end. Red-hot shoes, barrels studded with nails. That's what it feels like, unrequited love." Next is the witch, who is accused of all sort of things, just because she is old and alone, and maybe ate a child or two. She...

A Colder War by Charles Cumming

January 14, 2015January 13, 2015 by Carol6 Comments

Maybe it was a mistake to listen to this one so soon after The Cairo Affair since they are both spy thrillers, but I found A Colder War more annoying than anything. You have Kell, a train agent in his 40s who knows the game, knows the people, knows how it all works. You have Amelia, his boss, who has called him back to look into Wollinger's death and then do some searching for the mole. She's obviously intelligent, and also, we're told, his actual friend. So far, so good. Amelia's keeping info from Kell, but he's doing the same things. They can't trust the Americans, but have to pretend to cooperate with them. Standard spy stuff and it could have been a good thriller. Until The Girl enters the picture and Kell apparently loses his mind. He becomes obsessed, or "in love," and stops thinking clearly. And I just wanted to smack him. It's obviously not going to be in his...

Readers’ Workouts – 1/13/2015

January 13, 2015January 13, 2015 by Carol6 Comments

I'm still not doing very well on my daily step count. I really need it to thaw out a little outside. This weather sucks the energy out of me. You can tell the only day I made it to the gym was Thursday. I spent about a half-hour on the elliptical. Apparently walking around the aviary on Saturday wasn't actually as much walking as it seemed. Wednesday's are almost impossible to get my steps in, let alone any additional exercise. I work til 5, then I'm at the church from 5:45-8ish. After that, I'm usually done for the day. I'm thinking this week I can maybe get the gym or a walk in today. I can definitely hit the gym on Thursday and maybe Saturday. I can do some weights/yoga at home on the other days. Readers' Workouts is hosted by Joy at Joy's Book Blog. Thanks!...

Light Thickens by Ngaio Marsh

January 12, 2015January 12, 2015 by Carol9 Comments

This was Marsh's last book and it seems appropriate that she returns to the theater as her backdrop. We know her as a mystery writer, but probably her great passion was the theater, and it shows. The real strength in this story is the play production. The murder actually doesn't take place until may two-thirds through the book with Alleyn only entering the story then. The play is Macbeth and the director is making it a memorable performance. The characters are wonderful, some maybe stereotypical, gabby and egotistical and "actory." But they all manage to work together. Apparently there are a lot of superstitions revolving aroung Macbeth and the story plays off them well, with some believers and some clearly not. I enjoyed seeing how they did scenes and practiced fights, witnessing the bickering and wooing. Alleyn is not a detective who lets us in on every little clue he sees, but he does pay attention to everyone, even children. He's a gentleman...