What I read March 2014

[Daniel]

Madrano wrote: "Daniel wrote: "Plenty of good bbq in central Tx. Yes Lockart is a great place to start. Luling, Elgin, and Taylor are top stops for me. A cold Shiner beer and bbq. Dang, I will meet you there. :)"
..."

BBQ Pilgrimages are not unheard of!

[Bobbie]

Daniel wrote: "Something tells me with the migration across the country in the last 10 years, you could probably find good New York style pizza in Texas Justice you could find a good Mexican food or Texas barbecu..."

We even have a great Mexican restaurant here in Buffalo these days. The people who run it are really Mexican. Yum!!

[Nancy from NJ]

Madrano wrote: "Carol wrote: "I was 41 when I went on disability, and spent most of my time in multiple hospitals/surgeries (23) and doctors. Looking back, I missed out on all those precious years with my kids ......"

Carol - as we say "may you go from strength to strength." I am sure your children feel your love and that's what's really important.

[Nancy from NJ]

Carol wrote: "Daniel wrote: "Austin is popular for young adults, and aging hipsters."

How can you go wrong with music and great food? I don't think that I could live without NY style pizza. But I heard that a g..."

Great pizza in Conn is in New Haven near Yale at a very old shop. I wonder if this is the man that moved.

Me, I am the expert on pizza. I try just about every pizza parlor near and far. One of the best IMO is located diagonally from Penn Station on 8th avenue and is called Suprema. A man in NY wrote e blog about visiting every pizza parlor in Manhattan and voted this one the best. So, of course we had to try it. My husband loves it and I think it's really good but there are places in Brooklyn which are just a good. Like making bagels, making a good pizza depends on the water and New York City has the best water I've been to.

There is also a restaurant in Manhattan which serves a pizza pie with caviar and truffles for $1,000. And no, I haven't eaten there yet but it's on my bucket list. LOL

[Nancy from NJ]

Madrano wrote: "Lori wrote: "Does anyone else ever peak ahead in a book when things are going so dreadfully badly for the characters and you just have to see if they live through the bad moments that you are looki..."

regardless of what was going on, I would usually skip to the end but then realized I was really spoiling a book for myself. So I trained myself by putting a rubber band on the last 25 pages and now rarely if ever peek ahead. But I do sometimes read the last chapter of a book if I decide not to continue reading a book till the end. Sometimes it motivates me to continue reading and sometimes it doesn't.

[Nancy from NJ]

Shomeret wrote: "Madrano wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "As I generally read YA and Teen Fiction books (although I do occasionally branch out to classics and crime novels) I get through books quite quickly. Therefore, I ..."

I watched the first year of GOT and found many of the men looked the same so I couldn't differentiate between them. I'm not sure why but I never continued and now would have to go back to re-watch the first year to remember all of the details. Not sure I want to get involved with so much more TV at this time. Definitely think I need a break.

[Nancy from NJ]

Madrano - Our friends son lives in Austin and they rave about the bbq there but they are from the North and may not know good from bad.

As far as Mexican food, I rarely eat it at all and don't know of any places either but can ask friend who are real foodies in the city.

[Madrano]

I'm fine not having Mexican food outside of Texas & the southwest but was surprised that the places we tried we not good. Not bad, just bland. As we traveled the last few months, we rarely found good Mexican food. The exceptions being those run by families from Mexico. However, they generally made the entrees less spicy, if i can trust what we've had in Texas as a guide.

When we go to NYC with our son, pizza & restaurants which serve same are our most frequent stops. He likes it all, even the $1 a slice offerings. We were staying in the Garment District & he'd go out in the middle of the night for a slice or two of that stuff. Me? Pass. Not bad, just not worth the carbs.

Our favorite pizza joints, however, have, indeed, been in New Jersey. Is it in the air? Great pizza!

LOL, Daniel. BBQ Pilgrimage. I can well imagine it. Here in Dallas we've yet to find anything we really like. Maybe we need to hit the road for a BBQP.

[Alias Reader]

Nikki wrote: I listened to every one of the Harry Potter books with my kids and the guy who narrated them (Jim Dale) was fantastic. .."

My niece, who is a teacher, loves Jim Dale as the narrator of the Potter books. Whenever audio books come up in the conversation she always says how awesome he is.

I am going to see him in a play. I am a subscriber to the Roundabout Theater in NYC. I just got a notice that one of the plays we are seeing this year is Just Jim Dale.

"Tony Award® winner, two-time Grammy Award® winner and two-time Academy Award® nominee Jim Dale (Roundabout’s The Road to Mecca,The Threepenny Opera) returns to the Roundabout stage to star in his brand new solo show! Directed by Tony winner Richard Maltby, Jr. (Fosse, Ain’t Misbehavin’), Just Jim Dale is a hilarious and heartwarming tour-de-force performance from one of the most masterful entertainers of his generation."

[Madrano]

I hadn't heard of the man but this is the second time in two days his name has arisen. The first was in a newspaper article. I hope you like the show, Alias.

[Alias Reader]

Thanks, Deb.

Jim Dale was in the original cast for the Broadway production of Barnum.

I can't seem to post a photo of him. Here is his wiki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Dale

[Madrano]

Thanks. I recognize his face now from "Pushing Daisies". What a surprise that he was the lyricist for "Georgy Girl"!

[Nancy from NJ]

Alias Reader wrote: "Nikki wrote: I listened to every one of the Harry Potter books with my kids and the guy who narrated them (Jim Dale) was fantastic. .."

My niece, who is a teacher, loves Jim Dale as the narrator o..."

I also loved listening to Jim Dale narrating the harry Potter books. An Barnum was the first show our daughter saw on Broadway with her aunt.

[Madrano]

Broadway with someone special is a good memory. I treasure the few i have.

[Amy]

Nancy from NJ wrote: "Great pizza in Conn is in New Haven near Yale at a very old shop. I wonder if this is the man that moved. ..."

I think you are probably thinking of Frank Pepe's on Wooster Street ... still there, since 1925! I think it's third-generation now.

[Carol]

Amy… I think you are probably thinking of Frank Pepe's on Wooster Street ..."

Yes Frank Pepe opened another restaurant in West Hartford, CT (1148 New Britian Ave, "Elmwood section"). They make the best pizza!! I'm so happy that they opened another place closer to where I live. New Haven is great place to visit, eat, etc; but in the winter - especially in New Haven, trying to find good parking is a challenge!
http://pepespizzeria.com/pizza/wp-con...

[Amy]

There's also a Pepe's in the casino at Mohegan Sun, for those who travel to the east side of the state.

[Nancy from NJ]

Madrano wrote: "Broadway with someone special is a good memory. I treasure the few i have."

I am off later today to see Idina Menzel in If/Then. Hope I enjoy this show as the reviews have been mixed.

[Madrano]

We look forward to reading your assessment, Nancy. Enjoy!

[Nancy from NJ]

Will let you know later today or tomorrow.

[Portia]

We saw it in its preview run in D.C. I am looking forward to your review, Nancy, to see what has been done to polish it up. I won't spoil.

[Alias Reader]

Nancy from NJ wrote:I am off later today to see Idina Menzel in If/Then. Hope I enjoy this show as the reviews have been mixed.
."

CBS Sunday Morning just profiled her today.

Enjoy the show !

[Nancy from NJ]

Yes, I was sorry I missed this interview.

The show had many things to like - Idina Menzel was wonderful, the sets were unusual and the music was good although again not memorable. I don't want to say too much in case people want to see it but the story line was rather hard to follow. At one point I just decided to go with the flow. It has been interesting to watch Menzel's career since I first saw her in Rent and then moved on to her other performances.

[Portia]

Nancy, it sounds like they haven't fixed the problem we had of not being able to tell what was "If" and what was "Then." That was Spouse's main com ain't when we saw it in November.

[Madrano]

Thanks for sharing, Nancy & Portia. Going with the flow sounds as though it's the way to view the show. DH gets frustrated when he cannot figure out what is happening, so that's what i tell him as things get more confusing.

[Nancy from NJ]

Portia wrote: "Nancy, it sounds like they haven't fixed the problem we had of not being able to tell what was "If" and what was "Then." That was Spouse's main com ain't when we saw it in November."

I have to agree although the idea of the road taken and not taken certainly is something we all can identify with at different times in our lives.

[Meredith]

Madrano wrote: "Meredith wrote: "I read two books in March
Fruitful Bodiesby Morag Joss
Rating 3/5
This was a mystery set in Bath England. It was a good story...."

Yes, I read the first two in the series. I am a read in order person when it comes to mystery series. I have also read Morag Joss' book Half Broken Things

Mysteries with mu..."

[Julia]

I just finished reading .
I loved this book. It was a little slow starting off, but picked up rather quickly.

(view spoiler)[There was a little bit of everything in this book - romance, suspense, humor, paranormal, and to my surprise time-travel, which I usually hate.
I liked how the creatures can identify each other by their smells and what it feels like when they look at each other. I also liked that they were all suspicious of each other, and that the author had to work around that and didn't take the easy way out when they realized they had to come together to work as a team.
One of my favorite characters in the book was the house. I like how it had it's own personality and let the people who were living there know how it felt.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series and will def be purchasing these to own. (hide spoiler)]

[Alias Reader]

JuliaO. wrote: "I just finished reading .
I loved this book. It was a little slow starting off, but picked up rather quickly.

There was a little bit of everything in thi..."

Glad you had a Good Read, Julia. :)

[Madrano]

Thanks for the reply, Meredith. I'm like you, i like to read my mystery series in order. Otherwise, some of the plot points are "solved" when i back track. Most especially the characters & whether they did it. If they are best friends in the 3rd installment, they probably weren't the killers in the first, eh?

[Portia]

I finished The Beautiful Mystery yesterday. I am a fan of Louise Penny and am happily participating in a group re-read of all of her books from now until her latest is released in August. She writes the type of cozy mystery I like -- not funny -- although we all need a funny book from time to time. I started Frog Music. I have only read one chapter and so far, so good. The only other book of hers I've read is Astray, which is one of her short story collections. I really enjoyed it. I keep telling myself to read Room, but I still have trouble with the premise.

[Alias Reader]

Thanks for the titles, Portia.

I read Room with a f2f book group and didn't care for it.

[Debbie]

Portia wrote: "I finished The Beautiful Mystery yesterday. I am a fan of Louise Penny and am happily participating in a group re-read of all of her books from now until her latest is released in ..."

Portia, if you havent already you need to check out this Web Site.http://cozy-mystery.com/ Not sure that will come thru, but google cozy-mysteries and it is a wonderful site for those kinds. It lists series and order they were written. I have gone to that page to see what is coming out that I might like.

[Portia]

Thanks for the link, Richiesheff.

[Julia]

Thanks for the link Richiesheff....

[Alias Reader]

Thanks for the link, Richiesheff !

I've added to our folder --New Book Releases & Book Lists -- so it will be easy to find in the future.

[Madrano]

Portia, you nailed Louise Penny copies for me. Not funny, as many are, but still comfy. Thanks.

[Portia]

For new and old Louise Penny fans, there is a discussion of all her books going on at

http://gamacheseries.com/

We are only into the second half of the first book, Still Life, so there is plenty of time and lots of room for new participants.

[[deleted user]]

Three books this month.

Lady of Hay was a wonderful novel. I really enjoy Barbara Erskine. Her past-life plots are so exciting and thrilling. The books are usually heftier ones, but totally worth reading if you like ghosts and reincarnations.
Rating: 4/5

Mary Magdalene I found to be a different book. I have read a number of novels based on religious figures, but this was the first one I have read about her. It was a nice change.
Rating: 2/5

The Bafut Beagles I adored. I love Gerald Durrell's stories!
Rating: 5/5

[Alias Reader]

Maggie wrote: Mary Magdalene I found to be a different book. I have read a number of novels based on religious figures, but this was the first one I have read about her. It was a nice change.
Rating: 2/5.."

Only a 2 rating ? For me that is a sub par rating. From your comments I thought it would rate higher. What is your rating scale?