that feeling of finishing the last page

Marimekko Spring 2008.

I can feel myself slipping into the summer mentality: drinking iced mochas in cafes beside strangers and oversized fans; wandering through unfamiliar neighborhoods, dodging the sun under shivering shadows; endlessly reading paperbacks and thumbing through spines at used bookstores; lighting candles and incense in the evening; drinking pinot grigio out of cheap wine glasses; shelving somber rock for warmer, slower variations; escaping to cool movie theaters in relief of the mid-afternoon scorch; meditatively potting flowers and herbs and replacing them with new ones when they die three weeks later from neglect.

I finished The Namesake about an hour ago (and can now put the film on our Netflix... I don't know why, but I kind of have a thing for Kal Penn, despite cringing at the history of roles he's had.) I still like Lahiri's other book more – the writing, the descriptions, felt more richly crafted – but this one has a more substantial plot and character development. It reminds me that I shouldn't feel the need to find something distant to write fiction about, that maybe the best thing is what's right in front of me, what I know best, with a bit of imagination injected, alterations made.

Am also relieved that she frequently writes about the food that the characters cook, eat, have conversations over. I'm well aware that I write about food repeatedly and was in need of validation.

In keeping with that, two quick things:

1. Stefan's gerbil (not mentioned until now, I think?) has developed a disliking for any kind of food except for plain, sliced almonds. I offered one to him today and he held it with both hands, gnawing on it appropriately, the piece as big as a pancake to him. He's in his senior citizen years now, with ruffled, gray tinged hair.

2. I cleaned out our snack cupboard this afternoon and to my dismay discovered an uncanny amount of empty, expired cracker boxes. There were six, maybe seven, empty boxes, just taking up much needed space, fake like those hallow televisions placed methodically in furniture stores.

Comments

[Lauren]

My favorite Lahari book so far is Interpreter of Melodies. Can't wait to read the most recent Lahari:)

[Robin G.]

I found myself accidentally drinking three coffee coolers yesterday. Summer is definitely arriving, but if I don't lay off the tasty iced coffee drinks, I won't fit into my shorts.

[Angella]

Thanks for saying hi!

I, too, always seem to amass a collection of empty cracker boxes. It's good to know I am not alone :)

[Rosalie]

My husband leaves empty boxes of things in the cupboard to "remind him to buy more." Hmmmmm...I'm not sure how that works?!

[Nadine]

I LOVE marimekko. Just wish I could afford all of it.

The namesake is on my 'to read' list.

[Fog and Thistle]

I just finished Jhumpa Lahiri's newest book a couple of weeks ago (collection of short stories) and it was excellent. I loved the Namesake, one of my favorite books, and I don't know why I have a little thing for Kal Penn too.

[Kate]

I just bought Lahari's newest book and can't wait to read it! The Namesake film is quite good, even though it was hard for me to separate that guy from his Harold and Kumar role at times:)