favorite restaurants in Boston

Here is my list, along with my reasons why:

  • Full Moon (Huron Village, Cambridge) – This place is run by parents, and you’ll know why if you ever go there. Tasty foods that grown-ups like to eat, as well as a total kid-friendly atmosphere, including a huge play area with a train track, doll house etc. Good food for kids old enough to eat people-food too!
  • The Neighborhood (Inman Square, Somerville) – This Portuguese joint has the best breakfast anywhere. Huge, huge portions (pay the fee and split unless you are a linebacker) of delicious grub, especially the out-of-this-world cream of wheat. Sounds crazy? Try it! You won’t be sorry …
  • Sandrine’s (Harvard Square, Cambridge) – Flammenkueche and Alsatian Choucroute Garnie au Riesling, yum-yum!
  • Taberna de Haro (Brookline) – This is the only authentic Spanish place in Boston, seriously. Forget the entrees and order tapas. Go for my favorites: matrimonio, croquetas de jamon, espinacas a la catalana, and of course, aceitunas.

book review: A Drowned Maiden’s Hair (Laura Amy Schlitz)

One of my favorite things about this tantalizing read is that the subtitle is “A Melodrama.” How cool is that?

The novel follows likeable heroine Maud (an orphan, what could be better?) as she is “rescued” from the orphanage by a trio of scam-artist-old-ladies (no joke), who take her down to their house by the shore, where she is kept captive up in the attic with contact only to the deaf-mute servant (again, no joke).

Maud is the epitome of plucky, and her story strings the reader along until the fairy-tale ending she deserves. And yes, there’s a reason that it’s a melodrama. šŸ™‚

PS The author also wrote the Newberry-award-winning Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!

book review: A Curse Dark as Gold (Elizabeth Bunce)

After reading the buzz on Verla’s board, I had to read this book.

As the type of kid who read the author’s note first to find out the real story behind the story, I was thrilled to see a potential explanation for the Rumplestiltskin fairy tale (and yes, I read Bunce’s author’s note first, heh).

Charlotte is a strong and likeable heroine, who also infuriates the reader at times, which made her more realistic to me. I almost wondered if I was missing something when her relationship with Randall fizzled, but it fit perfectly with her character, so I bought it.

As a young mother, I was much more terrified by Charlotte’s situation than in the original fairy tale. I was completely drawn in by her emotion and by her predicament. What would the reader do in her place?

The only part that was too drawn-out for me was the side story with the uncle and his (and thus Charlotte’s) family history. It wasn’t dramatic enough for so much attention to me.

Overall, I love these modern retellings which offer us explanations – everything from Gregory Maguire’s books to the 2005 movie “The Brothers Grimm,” and Bunce’s CURSE takes its place right beside those as an excellent work of fiction.

kip’s cars

Since my brother just got a new car, ooooh, I thought I’d make a list of all the cars I’ve had the pleasure (cough) of owning since I learned how to drive. Here they are in reverse chronological order, although I have a feeling I am missing some …

CURRENT:

2003 Honda Odyssey minivan, dark green, (no name as of yet)

2004 Toyota Scion xA, dark blue, (name: Arwen)

PAST:

1999 Honda Civic hatchback, teal, (name: Frodo)

1991 Honda Civic wagon, silver (name: Silver Civic Stephanie)

1992 Toyota Tercel, red (name: Mr. Peppy Car)

1988 Mercury Tracer, blue (name: Blue Betty)

1988 Ford Festiva, red (name: Mr. Happy Car)

1983 Volkswagen Rabbit, maroon (no name)

1982 Buick Skyhawk, blue (no name)

1986 Honda Civic sedan, maroon (no name)

1982 Volkswagen GTI, black (no name)

1980 Toyota truck, orange with wood (name: hick truck)

1976 Chevy Malibu, tan (shark car)

book review: The Zookeeper’s Wife (Diane Ackerman)

Wow, what a great read! This is a McCullough-style biography outlining the life of the wife of the zookeeper of Warsaw, Poland during World War II. Ackerman uses meticulously researched details to bring Antonia’s story to life: how she and her family sheltered Jews from the Warsaw ghetto in their zoo. Her descriptions are vivid. She used photographs, diaries, and letters, along with newspapers from the time, to draw pictures on the pages with her words. And what a likable and brave heroine!

Another great role-model author for wanna-be biographers. šŸ™‚

book review: Jacob Have I Loved (Katherine Paterson)

That’s another list I have to make – a list of all Newbery award winners to read … which was one of the reasons I read this book (1981 winner). The other was that it’s about twin sisters. Sounds applicable and interesting! Except …

Right, I just found the main character sooo bitter and depressed (and depressing). I just didn’t want to hear another complaint out of her, about how wonderful her sister was, and how awful she was. Ever think it’s your attitude, honey? What a downer. Anyway, hope neither of my twins ends up feeling bitter or that she is anything less than her sister. Well, that would be hard, because both of mine are just totally perfect, heh heh.

book review: The Zookeeper’s Wife (Diane Ackerman)

Wow, what a great read!

McCullough-style biography: details, details, details. Like when reading McCullough’s work, I learned a lot while reading Ackerman’s book about how to bring in additional information about weather, people’s appearances etc. from external sources rather than trying to depend on scant details from the individual. She really brought Antonia’s story to life, while providing a fresh perspective on what it was like to live in Warsaw in WWII, on the other side (outside) of the ghetto walls. So besides being a great learning tool for a non-fiction writer, it was just such an interesting read in itself. Bravo!