50 Book Challenge 2017 Part Four

stillloving good review.

After that essay,sadik, I'm going to extend my apprehension of the term "Orwellian" to include pouring the tea before the milk. Dystopian indeed. I wonder if he ever would have come around to pyramid bags?

Skimming all the drink chat as I am still recovering from a two day hangover! Out with much younger colleagues - bad, bad idea!
Book 36 - another Shardlake Revelation. For some reason this was a slower read, probably due to everything crazy that's going on in my life rather than the book itself. Still lapping these books up, but reading them on a Kindle means I am getting that familiar urge for a real book.

The Orwell essays sounds great! As does the aperol spritz (never tried it).

On to my list. Doing much more reading these days which is great, thanks to this thread.

Number 12 is Nigerian author's Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's We should all be feminists. Now this is a bit of a cheat as it's a tiny book--50 pages or so I gather; I read it on kindle. It's a down to earth, simple & clear defence of why we should all (men and women) not just be feminists but call ourselves feminists. The book is based on a TED talk that Adichie (author of Half of a yellow sun and Americanah) gave. It describes some of her experiences growing up / living as a girl and then women in Nigeria, and the subtle, everyday sexism that goes unnoticed & unchallenged not just there but everywhere. It's not militant, obscure feminism (not that I necessarily have a problem with that) but just makes a clear, honest and persuasive argument about how the term 'feminist' is still very much needed.

I actually think this would make a nice gift for a teenage boy or girl-an easy quick read and one that's worthwhile--, and Adichie makes some really good points about raising a son (in particular) in a way that promotes gender equality. All in all, recommended, and you can just buy from kindle and (added bonus) you can return for refund very quickly after reading in a couple of hours.

I have now read the essay and I am comforted that Orwell still remains Right About Everything (though I think stainless steel teapots do have their virtues).

Orwell on the perfect cup of tea . . . why have I never read this essay??? (Evidently not in my very, very well thumbed Penguin Collected Essays :( )

Yes I would vanderley. I'm not a massive fan of Hemingway - have you read any? - find him dull in large doses, but I do quite like that one as it is very evocative of the time and place he is writing about - 1920s Paris and Pamplona - and so though I don't love the story or characters, I was left with a vivid impression of it all after that has remained with me. And the desire to drink, copiously and frequently, whenever the opportunity almost presents itself. Semi-Autobiographical, so all quite interesting in that regard, short, and with a memorable last line. I think if you want to read some H then a good place to start and finish

Cheers 🍻

I'm currently reading a book about a teetotal Welsh Baptist minister so it would have to be water. On second thoughts make mine a large G&T.

Hehe that would be easy in my case - I'm reading Orwell's Narrative Essays and he literally has entire essays on the perfect cup of tea and the perfect beer mug. Finding a cocktail bar that does draft stout in ceramic tankards might be problematic, however. (And disgusting - I'm an IPA girl myself, though always happy to try new prosecco cocktails.)

I don't know Fiesta. Would you recommend it, Satsuki?

The book is Heather O'Neill's The Lonely Hearts Hotel, which is set in 1920-30s Montreal, where there was booze galore!

Love Southern Comfort - the third best drink!

Yes! We could recognise each other by carrying a book - now if only we could all agree on which one...

I'm on antibiotics this week, but I am going to make it my mission toot sweet remus. My top two are PG Tips and Southern Comfort, so I'm coming from a less refined place.

vanderley like the idea of matching a drink to a book. As long as it's not Fiesta; it would turn you into an alcoholic.

That aperol spritz does look very nice! Supposed to be a very warm day in my neck of the woods tomorrow. May have to see if I can find some to accompany my planned lounging in the garden.

It seems that I've started (along with a friend) a new book club at a coffee shop/bar. Our first meeting will feature a brief talk from the bourbon guy on staff. It goes well with our first book.

We should do a 50-Book meet-up at a cocktail bar

Satsuki - Margaritas are the second best drink in the world, after Earl Grey. You must address your failings and get thee to a cocktail bar pdq.

I'm going to get right on this too I've also never had a margarita

Here here to Aperol Spritz, I only discovered it this year, have just bought a bottle back from Italy and plan on having it all summer. I've just joined a second book group (!!!!) so will also need to read a bit more.

Am currently struggling through The Improbability of Love and really not enjoying it at all, surprised at all the positive reviews on Amazon.

It definitely exists around here; I've just never had it. I will rectify this.

That's s very good description, Vanderly.

Actually, just now I saw the photo of 2 friends in the UK holding Aperol Spritzes so it does exist somewhere around you no doubt

Remus, it's an aperitif that's citrusy, somewhat herbal, and nicely bittersweet. Refreshing in the warmer months.

And I'll have you know that we've had proper sunshine today, so there!

Yes but what IS it and what does it taste like? It looks like Lucozade.

Cote, I live in a cold(er) place, and I'm well acquainted with the glories of the Aperol Spritz. And now you know something about me...