Final Friday of June Reading

[Vespasia]

It's that time again! What have you been reading this week?

QOTW: Do you have a go to summer picnic or potluck recipe? If so, please share!

[dearprudence]

Finished Pineapple Street which was disappointing. They switched characters too often to connect with any of.

Still reading Crazy to Leave You.


QOTW: Do you have a go to summer picnic or potluck recipe? If so, please share! I don't think I really do - maybe sage margaritas? I love margaritas in the summer and it's fun to bring - basically you muddle sage before adding your favorite margarita ingredients.

[estrellita]

Recently finished The Collected Regrets of Clover. I liked the concept of the book because it was unique (and honestly, timely with H's aunt currently in hospice care) and there was an attempt at a wonderful message. But it just fell flat for me.

Currently reading The Assassin's Blade, the prequel/first book in the Throne of Glass series (depending on the order you read it!). I've heard a lot of good things about the series. So far the main character is annoying and the writing is meh, but it supposedly gets better. We'll find out!

QOTW: I'm not much of a cook, so I'm usually the one bringing chips or buns or something 😂 But for potlucks, one thing I like to bring is pickle roll up dip. Super easy. Chop up dill pickles and ham (or pastrami as my family prefers), mix into plain whipped cream cheese and add a little pickle juice for the extra flavor. Served with crackers usually but tortilla chips work too!

[tacokick]

Really trying to barrel through books, they are all coming in at the library at once

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (bad)

Penance Kanae Minato with Philip Gabriel (Translator) (ok)

Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam by Thien Pham (interesting)

America the Beautiful?: One Woman in a Borrowed Prius on the Road Most Traveled by Blythe Roberson (pretty good)

Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda (fine)

You Can't Stay Here Forever by Katherine Lin

We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America by Roxanna Asgarian (sad)

The Favor by Adele Griffin (weird)

The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel (poorly written)

QOTW: I’ve been bringing homemade ice cream! Requires a cooler but easy to customize to whoever we are meeting up with’s taste

[Vespasia]

I started Wilder Girls by Rory Power. The last book I read by her was weird but good and this one appears to be similar so far.

QOTW: I tend to mix it up so I have the opportunity to try different appetizers. Two dips that are always popular are Loaded Baked Potato with chips and Cheddar Ale with pretzels. I think both are from Brown Eyed Baker.

estrellita I make regular pickle dip a lot but that sounds amazing!

[charlatti]

I’m reading The Law of Innocence — a quick Michael Connelly before I get to my fun stack of library holds that came in all at once, as they do.

QOTW: I often do a corn and black bean salad/salsa thing (I think it’s similar to recipes for cowboy caviar?) — rinsed can of black beans, equivalent amount of corn (frozen, thawed, or fresh if I happen to have it), chopped tomatoes, cilantro, a finely chopped jalapeño, lime juice, and some cumin, salt and pepper. Serve with tortilla chips.

[travella]

I finished Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, 4*

I'm currently reading Zero Days by Ruth Ware.

Qotw: homemade salsa with tortilla chips- my whole family loves it so it gives them something at summer gatherings if nothing else enthuses them. My kids can be very picky at times.

[minzy]

I’m reading two right now - You Have a Friend in 10A, a collection of short stories by Maggie Shipstead, and Endemic: A Post-Pandemic Playbook by Monica Gandhi, MD.

If I can get him to make them, I have my husband make chocolate chip cookies. His are so good and people rave about them. Otherwise I really like an arugula orzo salad similar to this: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/tri-colore-orzo-recipe-1948079

[Gato]

Im reading Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton and it’s very good!

QOTW: my summer picnic involves going to the corner market to pick up bruschetta, a pasta salad, some fresh fruit, chips, lemonade, and alcohol. No recipes needed!