Wolf Hall

I’m one book closer to my goal of reading all (or most) of the Man Booker Prize winners, after reading Hilary Mantel’s novel, Wolf Hall, which was awarded the Booker Prize in 2009.

Man is wolf to man…

I was a bit hesitant to read Wolf Hall at first.  The hardbound edition is 523 pages long, and the story, set in the 1500’s is mainly about Henry VIII of England, and the English Reformation, seen from the perspective of Thomas Cromwell, so you can see why I wasn’t exactly jumping up and down with excitement.

To my surprise, the story was fast-paced, casual, witty, and oftentimes very funny.

The main protagonist of Wolf Hall is Thomas Cromwell, the runaway son of a Putney blacksmith, who travelled extensively throughout Europe, acquiring many useful skills in his youth.

By virtue of hard-work, shrewdness, and street smarts, Thomas Cromwell worked his way up the ranks, from a virtual nobody, to Cardinal Wolsey’s right-hand man, to one of Henry VIII’s closest friends and councilors.

After the fall of Cardinal Wolsey, Cromwell found himself a seat in Parliament, and eventually a place in the King’s council, at first as Master of Jewels, then Chancellor of the Exechequer, and later as the King’s Master Secretary.

To better serve his king, Cromwell brought about the English Reformation, making it possible for Henry VIII to divorce his 1^st wife, Katherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn, among other things.

Unlike the many negative portrayals of Thomas Cromwell throughout history, Hilary Mantel shows him as a man of immense intelligence, talents, and perseverance; a man loyal to his masters and friends almost to a fault; a man kind and considerate to his household servants and assistants; and as a loving father to his children – both real and adopted.

In Wolf Hall, Mantel succeeds in showing a different side to Thomas Cromwell – a side that is left out in history; a side which not many people think exist;  a human side.

Another point where Wolf Hall differs from history is in Mantel’s portrayal of the much-loved martyr, Thomas More, now also known as the patron saint of lawyers.  Mantel paints More, a “frenemy” of Thomas Cromwell, as a cold and indifferent husband who often enjoys humiliating his wife, and as a cruel torturer of known Lutherans.

Despite the interesting portrayals of well-known historical figures, Wolf Hall has nothing that anyone with a basic knowledge of English history, and the Tudors doesn’t already know.  With the influx of historical fiction in the media, there is no shortage of tales of Henry VIII and the events of his era (The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory,  the Showtime mini-series, The Tudors, etc.).

Despite the seriousness of topics tackled in the story, and the odd narrative style, which sometimes leads to confusion as to who is doing or saying what, I really can’t stress enough the entertainment factor of Wolf Hall.  Witty banter and humor in unexpected parts adds charm to what would otherwise be a tedious topic to read.

Being historical fiction, Wolf Hall, to me, didn’t seem to fit in with the usual Booker award-winning novels.  Then again, Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin which won back in 2000 had some elements of sci-fi in it, so what do I know?

Wolf Hall is the first book in a planned trilogy.  The second book in the series, Bringing up Bodies, which deals mostly with Anne Boleyn’s eventual downfall, was published just this month.

****

Wolf Hall (2009) – Hilary Mantel

Picador; 532 pages

Personal rating:  4/5

The Sweet Life in Paris

Sometime in the early 2000s, American pastry chef, and writer, David Lebovitz, decided to leave his life  in San Francisco behind, to  live in the city many of us (me, at least) dream of – Paris.

In his light, and funny book, The Sweet Life in Paris, David shares his misunderstandings and (mis)adventures as an American trying to live in The City of Light.

The book, a collection of his uniquely Parisian experiences, is interspersed with recipes of delicious dishes and desserts guaranteed to make even a Parisian swoon.

Though it has always been a dream of David’s to live in Paris, he discovers shortly upon arrival that his new life would not be as sweet as he’d hoped.

Visiting Paris for a week, with the objective of seeing all the glorious sites is one thing; but living there, trying to find a job, fixing up an  apartment, opening a bank account, or just going to the supermarket to buy groceries, is another thing entirely!

David soon learns that living in Paris, and indeed, dealing with Parisians can be quite frustrating.

Living in Paris, he’s had to deal with French bureaucracy, and seemingly nonsensical ways of doing things, run-ins (literally) with Parisians on the streets, and trying to understand what Parisians are saying, which, most of the time, is the exact opposite of what they actually mean.

When they say, “Non,” they mean, “Convince me.”

When they say, “It does not exist,” they mean, “It does exist—just not for you.”

When they walk right into you on the street and say nothing, they mean, “I’m Parisian, and you’re not.”

When they say, “We don’t have change,” they mean, “I want a tip.”

When they say, “We don’t have any more,” they mean, “We have lots more, but they’re in the back and I don’t feel like getting them.”

When they say, “The cheeses in France are the best in the world,” they mean, “We are indeed a superior culture.”

Each chapter of The Sweet Life in Paris is a lesson in Parisian culture, which could be surprising or funny, depending on how much you already know about the French.

Over the years, the French, particularly, Parisians, have built a reputation for themselves as rude, chain-smoking, deep-thinking, smirking, complainers, prone to strikes.  All this David attests to, humorously, trying to explain the behavior of the globally misunderstood Parisians.

The Sweet Life in Paris is also a good book for those planning to visit Paris.  David gives useful tips on do’s and don’ts if you want to enjoy, or survive your next vacation. He gives tips on everything, from what clothes and shoes to wear (or not to wear) so as not to stick out like a sore thumb, to restaurant etiquette (don’t expect waiters to give you a glass of water automatically at restaurants, and never, ever ask for a doggy bag), to how to act properly so as not to be snubbed by locals (always greeting store owners and customers “bonjour!” upon entering a store, and giving a “merci, au revoir” upon exiting; and asking permission before touching their products).

David also good-naturedly shares secrets on how to fit in and act more like a Parisian, like cutting lines, pushing your way through crowded streets / spaces, crossing the streets anywhere except pedestrian crossings, driving while doing a million things at the same time, answering the call of nature by discreetly facing a wall of an ancient building (for men only, of course), complaining about everything, having an opinion about everything, and of course, by always looking your best.

Having lived in Paris for more than 5 years, David has by now learned  to be more Parisian.  His experiences have taught him that in order to survive in a new city / country, adaptability, understanding and optimism is the key – Of course, bribing with brownies, and learning the language doesn’t hurt either.

I do my best to act like a Parisian: I smile only when I actually have something to be happy about, and I cut in line whenever I can. I’ve stopped eating vegetables almost entirely, and wine is my sole source of hydration. I never yield to anyone else, physically or otherwise…

Being a pastry chef and writer, David also recommends excellent  restaurants, cafes, bistros, etc., for unforgettable food. Want to find the best hot chocolate in the city – go to Patisserie Viennoise.  Need baking goods – Try G. Detou.  Want superb chocolates- visit Patrick Roger. Want excellent coffee – Go to Italy!

Thanks to numerous travel websites listing do’s and don’ts for tourists looking to visit Paris (or any city), I was prepared to interact with Parisians, armed only with my basic understanding of French grammar and meager vocabulary – ready with my bonjours and au revoir, mercis.

When I got to Paris, I was surprised that all the Parisians I interacted with were very nice, friendly, helpful, and had no qualms about speaking English.

With all the build-up and warnings about the Parisian character, I was a bit disappointed when I did not come across a single rude Parisian in the 3 weeks that I was there. Even the waiters were nice!

***

The Sweet Life in Paris:  Delicious Adventures in the World’s Most Glorious – and Perplexing- City (2009) – David Lebovitz

Broadway Books (nonfiction)

Personal rating:  3/5

Urian Nominations: Surprises and Snubs

A couple days back, the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino has announced their nominees for best local films of 2011, with almost all nominations going to independent features. Which nods surprised me and which films do I think were intriguingly snubbed? Which do I believe are the leading contenders in each category and which do I predict to eventually emerge triumphant come June 14?

Best Film

Nominees: Amok, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa, Bisperas, Boundary, Busong, Ka Oryang, Niño, Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay, The Natural Phenomenon of Madness

Surprises: After getting the top Cinemalaya prize in July, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank has been collecting Best Film trophies from a couple of awards-giving bodies (Golden Screen and Gawad Tanglaw), but I thought the Manunuri would at most nominate it only for Best Actress and a few more technical categories but would consider the material too lightweight for a Best Film nod. They obviously appreciated the movie’s tongue-in-cheek parody of poverty porn, showering the film with 9 nominations.

The Madness recognition was also surprising. I thought the film was nicely photographed and was well-acted but ultimately felt too insular and alienating. Obviously, the Manunuri saw something in the film that I didn’t.

I was also a little surprised, albeit delightfully, about the love for Amok. The film leads the field with 11 nominations. I loved the film myself, although I have a feeling it won’t get the top prize because as much as it is technically polished, it lacks gravitas compared to some of the nominees.

Another delightful surprise is Boundary, Benito Bautista’s noir thriller in the vein of Collateral. It is one of my runners-up for Best Films of 2011 and I’m glad that it is recognized here.

Snubs: The most notable omissions are two films by previous Urian winners: Mes de Guzman’s Sa Kanto ng Ulap at Lupa and Lav Diaz’s Siglo ng Pagluluwal. Urian chair Rolando Tolentino was vocal in his support for Kanto, but apparently was outvoted by the group.

I’m not really sure why Siglo was shut out in all categories. My hunch is the members could not find a common time to have a group screening of the six-hour film, and were too busy to view it individually. For me, that’s the most plausible explanation for the snub because the group has been a champion for Lav Diaz’s films since his Kriminal ng Baryo Concepcion, and Siglo is one of his better works.

Other films snubbed are the entrancing Lawas Kan Pinabli and Young Critics Circle favorites Haruo, Bahay Bata, and Señorita. Historically though, YCC and Urian have rarely agreed on their choices. Throughout YCC’s 22-year history, there have only been five Best Film winners that also won Best Picture in Urian: Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal (1992), Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa? (1998), Bayaning Third World (1999/2000), Dekada ’70 (2002), and Babae sa Breakwater (2003).

Leading contenders: Amok (11 noms), Ka Oryang (9 noms), Niño (9 noms)

Bet to win: Ka Oryang struck a nerve with the mostly progressive Manunuri and will bag the top prize.

*

Best Director

Nominees: Loy Arcenas (Niño), Benito Bautista (Boundary), Sari Lluch Dalena (Ka Oryang), Lawrence Fajardo (Amok), Antoinette Jadaone (Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay), Jeffrey Jeturian (Bisperas), Marlon Rivera (Ang Babae sa Septic Tank), Auraeus Solito (Busong), Alvin Yapan (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa)

Surprises: As I said, I loved Boundary (even if I admit that there were some directorial lapses towards the end of the film) so I was happy that Benito Bautista is recognized here.

Snubs: The most obvious are Mes de Guzman (Sa Kanto ng Ulap at Lupa) and Lav Diaz (Siglo ng Pagluluwal), both of whom have previously won in this category. Of the Best Picture nominees, only Charliebebs Gohetia was not nominated for Best Director. That only means that Madness has the least chances of garnering the top prize.

Leading contenders: Loy Arcenas, Sari Lluch Dalena, Lawrence Fajardo

Bet to win: Lawrence Fajardo’s deft handling of this multi-narrative actioner will be rewarded with a Best Director Urian.

*

Best Screenplay

Nominees: Amok (John Bedia), Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (Chris Martinez), Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (Alvin Yapan), Bisperas (Paul Sta. Ana), Deadline (Bonifacio P. Ilagan), Ka Oryang (Sari Lluch Dalena and Keith Sicat), Niño (Rody Vera), Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay (Antoinette Jadaone), The Natural Phenomenon of Madness (Charliebebs Gohetia)

Surprises: Deadline, The Natural Phenomenon of Madness

Snubs: Siglo ng Pagluluwal, Sa Kanto ng Ulap at Lupa, Señorita

Leading contenders: Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa, Niño

Bet to win: Niño contains the years most delicious lines (“Modern naman tayo, di ba?”, “Paabot nga ng patis.”, among others) and it will get the Best Screenplay trophy.

*

Best Actor

Nominees: Paulo Avelino (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa), Raymond Bagatsing (Boundary), Bong Cabrera (Sa Ilalim ng Tulay), Kean Cipriano (Ang Babae sa Septic Tank), Tirso Cruz III (Bisperas), JM de Guzman (Ang Babae sa Septic Tank), Martin Escudero (Zombadings), Ronnie Lazaro (Boundary), Jess Mendoza (The Natural Phenomenon of Madness), TJ Trinidad (Deadline), Alfred Vargas (Teoriya)

Surprises: Septic Tank guys, TJ Trinidad

Snubs: Edgar Allan Guzman (Ligo na U, Lapit na Me), Rocco Nacino (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa), Vincent Sandoval (Señorita), Sid Lucero (Paglipad ng Anghel)

Leading contenders: Raymond Bagatsing, Ronnie Lazaro, Tirso Cruz III

Bet to win: Urian favorite Raymond Bagatsing will bag his third Best Actor trophy for his terrific portrayal of a victim turned villain in Boundary.

*

Best Actress

Nominees: Lilia Cuntapay (Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay), Fides Cuyugan (Niño), Alessandra de Rossi (Ka Oryang), Eugene Domingo (Ang Babae sa Septic Tank), Ma. Isabel Lopez (Cuchera), Cherry Pie Picache (Isda), Maja Salvador (Thelma), Opaline Santos (The Natural Phenomenon of Madness), Raquel Villavicencio (Bisperas), Diana Zubiri (Bahay Bata)

Surprises: None

Snubs: Shamaine Buencamino (Maskara), Maricar Reyes (Anatomiya ng Korupsiyon), Glaiza de Castro (I-Libings), Sarah Geronimo (Won’t Last a Day without You), Angel Locsin (In the Name of Love), KC Concepcion (Forever and a Day)

Leading contenders: Fides Cuyugan, Raquel Villavicencio, Eugene Domingo

Bet to win: Eugene Domingo’s performance will be too hard to resist and she will finally get her first Urian.

*

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees: Art Acuña (Niño), Marvin Agustin (Patikul), Joem Bascon (Ka Oryang), Jake Cuenca (In The Name of Love), Dido dela Paz (Amok), Mark Gil (Amok), Ronnie Lazaro (Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story), Garry Lim (Amok), Jojit Lorenzo (Anatomiya ng Korupsyon), John Regala (Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story), Bembol Roco (Isda)

Surprises: Marvin Agustin, Jake Cuenca

Snubs: Joel Torre and Soliman Cruz (Siglo ng Pagluluwal), Earl Ignacio (I-Libings), JM de Guzman (Pintakasi)

Leading contenders: Dido dela Paz, Art Acuña, John Regala

Bet to win: Dido dela Paz is at turns funny, scary, and most importantly, believable, as an ex-cop who runs amok. The Manunuri has a history of not thinking twice in rewarding lesser known character actors in the supporting acting categories, so there’s no reason why they won’t hesitate giving him the award.

*

Best Supporting Actress

Nominees: Angeli Bayani (Ka Oryang), Shamaine Buencamino (Niño), Julia Clarete (Bisperas), Jean Garcia (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa), Solenn Heussaff (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow)

Surprises: Angeli Bayani (I didn’t think she was a standout in Ka Oryang, but I guess the Manunuri decided to reward her boldness in shedding everything for the brutal torture scenes), Solenn Heusaff (She’s always been a natural in the roles she has portrayed so far, but YTT was such a giant mess of a movie for me that I could not bring myself to remember a morsel of gem in a big pile of dreck.)

Snubs: Lovi Poe (Temptation Island), Geraldine Villamil (Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay), Raquel Villavicencio (Niño), Ina Feleo (Maskara), Mercedes Cabral (Ligo na U, Lapit na Me)

Leading contenders: Shamaine Buencamino, Jean Garcia

Bet to win: Jean Garcia is grace personified in Sayaw, but Shamaine Buencamino’s performance as the silently suffering daughter in Niño is exceptional, and she will earn her first Urian.

*

Best Editing

Nominees: Amok (Lawrence Fajardo), Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (Ike Veneracion), Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (Mai Dionisio), Busong (Chuck Gutierrez), Ka Oryang (Keith Sicat), Niño (Danny Añonuevo), Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay (Leo Valencia and Glenn Ituriaga)

Surprises: None

Snubs: Bisperas, In the Name of Love, Won’t Last a Day without You, Señorita

Top contenders: Amok, Ka Oryang, Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay

Bet to win: Amok

*

Best Cinematography

Nominees: Amok (Louie Quirino), Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (Arvin Viola), Bisperas (Roberto Yniquez), Busong (Louie Quirino), Ka Oryang (Neil Daza and Kiri Dalena), Liberacion (Albert Banzon), Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story (Carlo Mendoza), Sakay sa Hangin (Regiben Romana)

Surprises: Liberacion (I thought Banzon’s work in Haruo was better), Bisperas

Snubs: Lawas Kan Pinabli, The Road, Sa Kanto ng Ulap at Lupa, Teoriya, Haruo, Thelma, Siglo ng Pagluluwal, Big Boy, The Natural Phenomenon of Madness, Bahay Bata, Di Ingon Nato

Top contenders: Busong, Ka Oryang, Manila Kingpin

Bet to win: Ka Oryang

*

Best Production Design

Nominees: Amok (Lawrence Fajardo), Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (Reji Regalado), Bisperas (Rodrigo Ricio), Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story (Fritz Silorio), Niño (Laida Lim), Sakay sa Hangin (Regiben Romana), Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay (Rodrigo Ricio), The Natural Phenomenon of Madness (Maulen Fadul)

Surprises: Madness, Sakay sa Hangin, Six Degrees

Snubs: Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa, Anatomiya ng Korupsiyon, Parola, Ang Panday 2, Enteng ng Ina Mo, Pintakasi, Aswang, Zombadings, Big Boy, My Paranormal Romance, Haruo

Top contenders: Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, Manila Kingpin, Niño

Bet to win: Manila Kingpin

*

Best Music

Nominees: Amok (Von de Guzman), Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (Christine Muyco and Jema Pamintuan), Busong (Diwa de Leon), Ka Oryang (Teresa Barrozo), Niño (Jerrold Tarog), Sakay sa Hangin (Waway Linsahay Saway)

Surprises: None

Snubs: Boundary, Zombadings, Señorita, Aswang, Pahinga, Rakenrol, Bahay Bata

Top contenders: Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa, Busong, Sakay sa Hangin

Bet to win: Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa

*

Best Sound

Nominees: Amok (Albert Michael Idioma and Addiss Tabong), Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (Albert Michael Idioma and Addiss Tabong), Bisperas (Albert Michael Idioma and Alex Tomboc), Boundary (Raffy Magsaysay), Liberacion (Aguila, Junel Valencia and Mark Locsin), Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story (Albert Michael Idioma)

Surprises: Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, Bisperas, Liberacion

Snubs: Rain, Rain, Go Away; Aswang; The Road; Buenas Noches, España; Parola; Ang Panday 2; Busong; Segunda Mano; Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa

Top contenders: Amok, Boundary, Manila Kingpin

Bet to win: Amok

Gotta Love the Corn @ Café Habana

The rather cramp spaced Café Habana at 17 Prince St. in New York City serves the best grilled corn topped with cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime (optional). I believe I detected a little bit of mayonnaise on it as well (or was I dreaming?). Whenever I crave for grilled corn with all the great toppings, I would always head to Café Habana. Absolutely orgasmically delicious. This grilled corn just hits the spot.

Delicious grilled corn at Café Habana. It is topped with chili powder, cotija cheese, and you can opt to drench it with lime. The slices of lime are hidden underneath one of the corn cobs. (Picture by The Lost Daisy in the City)

I have tasted other items listed in Café Habana’s menu, ranging from the pressed Cuban sandwich which consists of moist and juicy roast pork, ham, swiss cheese, and pickles–all stuffed in Parisi’s bread–to soft tacos. I have drank their frozen strawberry margarita and ice cold hibiscus tea. But none of these can ever compare my extreme liking  to their grilled corn.  (I am obsessed!) I would even be just satisfied to have it as my entrée.

Tacos al Pastor with Roast Pork Meat. I did not find this tasty. I realized that I was not fond of roast pork mixed with cooked pineapples. I will not order this dish again. (Picture by The Lost Daisy in the City)

If you are craving for grilled corn, my dear reader, and you are currently in New York City, head straight away to Café Habana. If you have a large party, the wait for a table can be awhile; however, if you are alone, the wait will not be too bad. I waited for about 5 minutes to get a seat at the bar. But believe me, a 5-30 minute wait is worth it for that delicious Café Habana grilled corn!

Check out the brief article about Café Habana in NYMAG:

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/cafe-habana/

Craving for Pina Colada or Bahamian Mussels? Negril Village is the place to go!

The delicious Negril Village Piña Colada. (Photo by The Lost Daisy in the City)

Whenever I crave for a piña colada, I would think about the Jamaican restaurant at 70 W 3rd St. called Negril Village.  I have only been there four times. But each time that I have been there was worth every bit of my money! And if only I had more money in my bank, I would go there nearly every time I feel like I need to ease my daily stresses by getting all  ”piña coladafied”.

The first time I went to Negril Village was with my now boyfriend. He took me there on one of our first dates (the sixth date, I believe). The drinks and dishes that we ordered did not disappoint us at all! My boyfriend had ordered the Negril Sampler Platter consisting of jerk shrimp, jerk chicken ribettes (spicy grilled chicken thighs), codfish fritters, collard greens wontons, chips, and two types of dips. For those who don’t like spicy food, then beware of the jerk chicken ribettes! The “spicyness” is tongue burning! I, on the other hand, had ordered the mango barbecue chicken wings appetizer. The tangy taste of the tropical fruit sauce was absolutely heavenly! I had hungrily devoured all the wings! Everything was so delicious that we both declared that this was a restaurant worth coming back to.

The second time I went to Negril Village was to get a glass of that delicious piña colada. (Yep, you guessed it right!)  And of course, a Negril Sampler Platter. (I won’t lie!) This was another worth-every-penny experience.

 The third time I went was with a co-worker friend. I had told her about Negril Village‘s most delicious piña colada–the best one in comparison to the one I had tasted at The Shrine in Harlem. 

We started the meal with one of Negril Village‘s delicious appetizer’s, steamed Bahamian mussels  in a pool of orgasmically delicious “mild scotch bonnet-coconut broth”.  My co-worker friend and I thought that this plate was worth the $10 dollars–the serving size was pretty damn good for the price!

Negril Village's Bahamian mussels in scotch-bonnet-coconut broth--just $10 US dollars! (Photo by The Lost Daisy in the City)

Wanting to be able to taste as much of the dishes in the menu, we opted to order the Chef’s Tasting Plate for our entrée. It was a good choice! We were able to have a taste of Negril Village‘s goat curry, oxtail stew, and jerk chicken. For the sides, we chose bean rice, collard greens, and fried sweet plantains.

Chef Tasting Platter at Negril Village (Photo by: The Lost Daisy)

My co-worker and I loved our meal so much that we invited our other co-workers to have a post-work dinner at Negril Village.

And so not too long after our Negril Village eating trip, we went back with three other co-workers. This became my fourth visit to Negril Village.

We ordered the House Red Snapper which was pan-fried and topped with stewed okra.

The House Red Snapper - pan-fried, simmered in spices and fresh spices and topped with stewed okra. (Photo by The Lost Daisy in the City)

 We also ordered mango barbecue wings topped with bits of sweet corn kernels.

Mango BBQ Wings. (Photo by The Lost Daisy in the City)

I wanted to try the Jamaican Salt-Fish Cook-Up, so I told the group that this was the entrée that I wanted to order. The dish was served with boiled green bananas, dumpling and fried sweet plantains. However, I honestly did not like the dumpling–it was a rather bland lump.

The Jamaican Salt-Fish Cook-Up. (Photo by The Lost Daisy in the City)

We ordered the Chef’s Tasting Platter again so that everyone who has never been to Negril Village would be able to taste four different types of dishes for a pretty good price.

Well, dear reader, if you are ever in New York City, stop by at Negril Village. It’s worth your time and money!

A Dance with Dragons

Having recently finished George R.R. Martin’s A Dance with Dragons, I can’t help but feel strangely relieved, because now, I can finally move on with my life…

An apt title created and redesigned by Lauren Dee. Original source: betterbooktitles.com

I was lucky enough to have started the series, A Song of Ice and Fire with all 4, then later, all 5 books published, and didn’t have to wait every 3 to 5 years for a new book.  But now that I’ve finished reading the most recently published installation, I’m left thinking, “ok, now what…?”

It takes Martin an average of about 3 years to publish a new book in the series, so I think it’s a safe to say that the 6^th book, The Winds of Winter, won’t be making its debut anytime before 2014.

The 5^th book, A Dance with Dragons, published ‘mid 2011, unfortunately, isn’t a continuation of the 4^th book, A Feast For Crows.  Rather, it is a novel concurrent with A Feast For Crows, up to a certain point, told from the perspectives of characters not in the 4th book.

So yes, technically, A Dance with Dragons is a continuation of the 3^rd book, A Storm of Swords, and I think daring readers can even go ahead and read A Dance with Dragons right after A Storm of Swords, and skip A Feast for Crowsfor later, if they don’t care much for Dornishmen, Crows, and other slightly uninteresting characters; but only up to a certain point in the book.

A little after the halfway point in A Dance of Dragons, the story and timeline merges with the events at the end of A Feast for Crows, and readers will learn a little bit more about the fate of Cersei and Jaime, who were featured prominently in the 4th book.

In A Dance with Dragons, readers will hear again from; Tyrion, Danaerys, Jon Snow, Bran, Arya, and other chapter characters absent from A Feast for Crows.  Surprising new chapters characters are introduced, and some long absent ones, are brought back.

Deep secrets are revealed in A Dance with Dragons, which again shifts the focus of the story, and prepares readers for the next book, and the eventual finale of the series.

The cliffhanger ending of A Dance with Dragons leaves readers wondering about the fate of certain major characters, Westeros, and the true plot of the series.

I must admit that I did not expect the series to go in the direction it is currently heading.  Many times during the series, I had expected it to go one way, but it always ends up going in the complete opposite direction.

With all the characters introduced and killed along the way; events, and secrets told, from the 1^st to the 5^th book, I sometimes wonder if the current plot is really part of Martin’s original concept for the series, and if so, why did he wait so long to introduce it?

The series has been engrossing thus far, make no mistake, but writing 5 books just to set the stage to develop the real story, which will cover only the last 2 books in the series, seems a bit of a waste.

So, now what?  Now, we wait…

My Year in Reading

2011 was a good reading year for me, even though I didn’t reach my goal of reading more than 28 books (my record in 2010).  I read a few books belonging to a series, and also discovered the works of some interesting writers.

I read a total of 20 books in 2011; most were pretty good, except for a couple that I had trouble finishing, and did not like, despite being highly acclaimed novels.

Of the 20 novels I read, these were my favorites:

1.  Skippy Dies (2010) –  Described as a “tragicomedy,” about the lives of the students, and teachers of a private, Catholic, all-boys school in Ireland.  This novel takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of emotions through the trials adolescence and adulthood. Though Skippy Dies was recognized by three major award-giving bodies, it fell short of the #1 spot for all three awards.

2.  Room (2010) – The second-placer on my list is also by an Irish writer, Emma Donoghue. This book, about 5-year-old Jack, who lives in a tiny room he cannot leave, haunted me for weeks after I’d read it.  It is a bittersweet story, told by Jack, who gives a unique, innocent perspective of an otherwise terrible situation.

3.  A Song of Ice and Fire Series (1996-2005) – This epic series by George R.R. Martin is set to have 7 books, 5 of which have been released, and 4 of which I read in 2011:  A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and A Feast for Crows.  With each book over 800 pages long, most of my year was devoted to reading these books.  George R.R. Martine helped me overcome my phobia for long novels; now reading 800+ page novels are a piece of cake!

4.  The Geography of Bliss ( 2008) – One of the non-fiction books I read this year.  In this funny, but cynical book, author, Eric Weiss goes on a quest to find happiness by visiting the (allegedly) happiest countries/people in the world.  Weiss’ adventure takes readers to meet the happiest people on Earth – in the most unlikely places.

5.  Our Ancestors Trilogy (1952-1959) –  Three novellas compose this uniquely imaginative trilogy, by Italo Calvino:  The Cloven Viscount, The Baron in the Trees, and The Nonexistent Knight.  Though I’ve only read Italo Calvino’s works in 2011, his novels have captured my imagination, and he has since become one of my favorite authors.

All the books I read in 2011 with my ratings (from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest):

1. Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett (3)
2. Rashomon – Ryunosuke Akutagawa (3.5)
3. The Geography of Bliss – Eric Weiss (4.5)
4. The Gathering – Anne Enright (2)
5. Room – Emma Donoghue (4.5)
6. The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway (3)
7. Un Lun Dun – China Mieville (3)
8. Disgrace – J.M. Coetzee (2)
9. Waiter Rant - Steve Dublanica (3)
10. The Blind Assassin – Margaret Atwood (3)
11. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin (4)
12. A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin (4)
13. The Psychopath Test:  A Story of Madness – Jon Ronson (4)
14. A Storm of Swords - George R.R. Martin (4)
15. The Interpretation of Murder - Jed Rubenfeld (2.5)
16. A Feast For Crows - George R.R. Martin (3)
17. The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky (2)
18. The Cloven Viscount – Italo Calvino (4)
19. Skippy Dies - Paul Murray (4.5)
20. Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie (2.5)