u/stormbutton

They’ve been together for almost 3 years and we all know each other quite well, but as her parents are divorced we’ve never all had a meal together before.

The 6 of us are getting together to discuss tentative plans for their wedding. I hope to serve the meal at the dining table by our pool, weather permitting.

Notes:

Has to be kosher. I do not keep kosher but have access to a full kosher kitchen and know the rules. But so I can’t make like…a meat lasagna or shrimp kebabs.

Girlfriend doesn’t have an adventurous palate so I need at least some simple sides for her.

Would prefer not to do red meat

Mom doesn’t like cilantro

Other than that no allergies or aversions. Will probably be hot as balls.

Spoilers below!

***

So this is one of my favorite books ever and I reread it or listen to the audiobook once a year or so.

***

The past few times have had me thinking - does anyone else get the sense that one or both of the girls were sexually abused by their father? I feel like it explains a lot of their stunted behavior, Merricat’s dislike of washing and her rituals, Constance’s insulated Betty Crocker Fantasy World, and why Merricat murdered the family. Dad for doing it, mom and Uncle Julian for turning a blind eye, brother for not being a victim.

Not necessarily your favorites, but books that you think would transfer beautifully to the screen.

Here my Top 8:

Ascension - Binge

Between Two Fires - Buehlman

The Burial Tide - Sharpson

The Elementals- McDowell

The Honeys - LaSala

Lost In The Garden - Leslie

The September House - Orlando

Withered Hill - Barnett

What are some of your favorite books to have on in the background while you’re doing mindless tasks? Or maybe while falling asleep?

I love to relisten to ones I practically know by heart but get a little something new each time even when I’m only partially tuned in. Lately those have been:

Lost In The Garden - Leslie

American Gods - Gaiman (I know, I bought it years ago)

Root Rot - Nislow

This Is How You Lose The Time War

The Gone World - Sweterlitsch

The Shining - King

What subgenre would you love to see more of? Personally I wish there were more mermaid/selkie/etc. books.

My husband and I made this for our weekly cooking date last night and it was out of this world. We used the Kecap Manis recipe from Daring Gourmet, which I am considering consuming as a beverage.

One of the most delicious meals I have had in ages. I’m already fantasizing about the leftovers.

Serious Eats Chicken Set

Kecap Manis

That’s it. That’s the post.

I have two Audible credits. Using one on Klein’s The Ceremonies and can’t decide between these two for the other. :(

I almost never read YA but couldn’t devour this fast enough. Our main character is Mars (short for Marshall) a genderfluid teen processing the sudden death of their twin sister. Their mother is a US Senator and Mars struggles with the formal structures and expectations of the high-profile family.

Mars decides to return to Aspen, the sleepaway camp where the twins went as younger children, and where their sister Caroline was happiest, in hopes of getting some closure. Mars becomes close with Caroline’s cabin of elite female friends, and begins to get a sense that things aren’t quite what they seem at the idyllic world of Aspen.

As an East Coast girl for whom sleepaway camp has been an integral part of life, this book FELT like a Catskills summer. Scorching sun, steamy mists, cabins, forests, weird traditions, slogans, fire circles, Cool Girls, asshole boys in cargo shorts…

It had vibes of Midsommar, Bunny, and God of The Woods. Absolutely delicious.