Oh Summertime

Last I wrote I had gone to Chicago and heard about Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. I enjoyed it and I think high school kids would like it because it reads like a novel and it is full of sex, horror, and unusual people. There is some controversy among academics about this book but I never read what it is exactly.

I did a bit more traveling in August to Ottawa, Canada, my first time to visit that beautiful country. I brought a couple of books with me but I only remember The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It takes place in Australia, so it has that wry Aussie sensibility. Someone killed a vampire and the Reformed Vampire Support Group, composed of vampires who no longer consume human blood and have vowed to never create another vampire, fear for their lives. The support group is run by a Catholic priest and he takes over organizing them to search for the culprit. This funny book has strong characters, witty diaglogue, and fast-paced plot with many twists and turns.

The food in Canada was great. My favorite local delicacy was poutine consisting of well-done french fries with melted cheese curds and brown gravy. Just recalling it now is making my mouth water. I may have to go to Trader Joe's to get some cheese curds. Mmmmm!

Nonfiction and New Apartment

When I visited Chicago and took the architectural boat tour, the docent mentioned Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. I had heard of the book a few years ago and never got around to reading it. I am loving it. It reads like a novel and I think students would enjoy it as well. I will have to buy it for my library. It is also good for US History classes studying the Gilded Age.

I'm also reading The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks (Evil Genius). It is pretty good so far, funny, a bit scary and suspenseful.

I am buying an apartment in Manhattan. Yea! It is up in Inwood and I am in love with the neighborhood. I have to see what the neighborhood is really like from Susanna, my real estate agent. I've walked around with my sister one day and by myself yesterday and I just LOVE it.

Reading and dinner

Right now I'm reading Generation Dead by Waters. It is pretty good. It definitely brings up some interesting perspectives about what the world would be like if zombies or "differently biotic" people came to life for real. The character development is good and the evil boy is especially well-drawn and hateful.

I went to Carmine's in New York last night with some friends. It is an Italian restaurant that serves pasta family style in big bowls. It is way more food than 3 people can or should eat. We got the special which was manicotti, vegetable lasagna, gnochi in a vodka sauce, and cavatelli in a pesto sauce. We also got the mixed green salad. It was all very good and very filling. I was so stuffed! I have made a vodka sauce and I enjoyed it but somehow it does not taste like the one at Carmine's

Here I am again

I titled this post in this way because I began a blog at least 2 years ago but my school blocked blogs and still does for that matter. I figured what's the point if I can't blog from my workplace about books and have my students read it. So that old blog is lost in oblivion. Oh well.



Since that time I have kept up on several blogs like Joyce Valenza, Doug Johnson, Will Richardson and many others. In reading others' blogs, I realized my posts don't have to be literary masterpieces, so I could ease up on myself and not be such a harsh critic regarding typos, grammar, etc. I don't know if I'm looking for any "followers" or not but I would be interested in meeting people with common interests. I plan to write about the books I'm reading, the food I'm cooking, ruminations about food and reading, and whatnot.

Well, we'll see what happens. I'll play with putting pictures on my posts and see how often I can write.