Unfortunately I was expecting more from this book, given it’s reviews. But for me it fell a bit flat. Sorry to those of you who loved it, I just didn’t. Here is my book review The House of Eve by Sadequ Johnson.
In The House of Eve we follow to parallel stories set in the 1950’s. First we meet Ruby in Philadelphia, a fifteen- year old girl who is destine to become the first in her family to attend college. No thanks to her mother, who has essentially abandoned her and she is living with her aunt. Ruby is totally focused on the scholarship she must have to go to college. Until she Ruby, who is black, falls in love with a white Jewish boy named Shimmie. Her story and her life will take a definite right hand turn.
We also meet Eleanor. Arriving in Washington DC to attend Howard University after a rural up bringing in Ohio. Eleanor meets and falls head over heels with William. But William hails from one of the cities most affluent black families, and Williams mother will make Eleanor’s life miserable, as she and William marry and Eleanor becomes pregnant.
The plot can be intriguing at times, but I was very annoyed with some of the characters; William and his horrible mother, and Ruby’s horrible mother as well. I found the ending a bit too contrived for the convenience of the storyline and unrealistic. Perhaps the author is hoping for a sequel…?
***I can only give this book three stars…although I know many people will love this book.
Three stars for The House of Eve. Thank you for reading my book review The House of Eve by Sadequ Johnson.
Hiking is one of our most favorite activities and it is so good for you too. We love everything from walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain (almost 500 miles) to short day hikes close to home. Spending our summers in the Pacific Northwest where we grew up, we are spoiled by so many great day hikes close by. So I thought I would put together a list of my favorite day hikes in the Pacific Northwest.
Olympic Peninsula
Definitely one of the most beautiful places to hike anywhere in the world, the Olympic Peninsula is the closest to my home of the regions I’ve listed here. Located in Washington State’s upper Northwest region, it offers both day and overnight hiking options for the novice to the advanced. Listed here are a handful of my favorite day hikes on the Olympic Peninsula.
Beautiful and relatively easy with minimal incline (there is some but nothing too strenuous) this well-maintained trail skirts the South Fork of the Skokomish River in a region just Southwest of the lower Hood Canal. To walk the entire out and back it can be eleven miles or a bit more, or turn around at any point. Keep your eyes open for some beautiful and massive old cedar and Douglas fir trees. There are a handful of areas to access the river for your picnic or a place to rest and enjoy this peaceful location.
Parking is available
Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass Required
We hiked this for the first time this past July and it is a climb! If you don’t want incline this one is not for you. But boy do you get some beautiful views from the top. The trail is steep and in places rocky as you traverse the 2 miles to the top. It’s popular on weekends so consider off season or mid-week. The last part to the peak requires use of ropes to conquer the top. Or just sit on the rocks and eat your lunch and let the young kids do that last part.
Parking is available at the Crescent Lake parking area
I have hiked this trail all my life, since I was a little child and we used to hike overnight for our summer vacation. Some elevation to lower Lena, but it’s a perfect day hike at about 7 miles round trip. The incline is gentle and most anyone can do it. The trail does have some rocky areas and lots of roots but you will marvel at the beautiful old growth Douglas Firs. The turquoise blue lake is perfect for your lunch and then head back down. Overnight hikers can consider continuing on to upper Lena another xx miles.
Parking available
Northwest Forest pass or America the Beautiful Pass required
Visitors and locals in the Seattle area are lucky to have great day hikes a short drive or even a walk away. We often urban hike around Seattle and Ballard or head east of the city into the Cascade foothills for easy, accessible hikes.
A hidden gem in the City of Seattle, Discovery Park is just that – a surprising discovery! Suddenly you find yourself in a beautiful wooded park, on a bluff high above the Puget Sound or on the shore of a driftwood-littered beach. If you are in Seattle and are looking for the perfect day hike close to the city, this is it. Multiple hiking options through out this beautiful 534 acre city oasis. Who knew day hikes in the Pacific Northwest would include one in the heart of a city?
Less than an hour East of Seattle just off Interstate 90 is an easy little 2 mile hike to Franklin Falls on Denny Creek. This popular day trip from Seattle can get really crowded on a summer weekend. But check it out in the fall for a beautiful getaway with fall color, or in the spring when the falls are crashing from the winter melt. It’s a great multi-season destination and perfect for the whole family.
Limited Parking
Washington State Discover Pass or Day Pass required
The North side of Mount Rainier is easily accessed from central and south Puget Sound and is one of my most favorite places to hike. There are many choices but the ones listed below are some of my favorite.
I love this hike, even though the road getting to the trailhead can be rough. Start at the Mowich Lake campground and hike the 7 miles round trip to one of the best views in all of Washington State. Passing by Eunice Lake and continuing up to an abandoned fire look out where you will not only enjoy a stunning Mount Rainier view but on a clear day you will also see Mount Baker, Glacier Peak and Mount Saint Helens.
This trail also begins at Mowich Lake on the south end. The first quarter mile your are walking on the Wonderland trail before the Spray Park trail branches off. This trail (6 miles RT) takes you through a beautiful and delicate sub-alpine meadows and along to Spray Falls. In late summer an abundance of wildflowers make the trail popular especially on the weekend. Gentle incline and this is easy for most anyone.
On a clear day you can see forever. No joke. This hike is worth the elevation gain of about 1300 feet over about 3 miles. It’s just gorgeous. The road to get there is not so gorgeous though so be sure to have a all-wheel drive if possible. The road often has snow into June. The best time to hike here is June through October.
Parking Available
Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required.
The Mount Rainier gondola at Crystal Mountain ski resort is open in the summer and zips you up 2400 feet to the top of the ski area for a spectacular view. On a clear day you can see a succession of mountains including Rainier, Saint Helens, Adams and Baker through out the Cascade range. Hikers can hike down the mountain enjoying the wildlife and subalpine meadows, small lakes and creeks along the way or you can ride the gondola back down.
Parking Available
Gondola price ranges from $19-34. Online reservations are available.
More remote than the North side of Mount Rainier, the Southside, including the Sunrise Visitor Center, has fewer visitors so is a good choice during peak season. But it does take longer to get there. Overnight in the Ashford or Packwood area makes for a nice multi-day visit.
We just did this hike for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I loved it. The weather was not very cooperative however, so we did only about five miles. This trail, part of the Pacific Coast Trail, goes on and on, and I really would like to return and see more of it next summer. The first part up to Sheep Lake is very easy as the trail wanders along the ridge and then inland to the lake. Continuing on you have several options to Sourdough Gap as well as Crystal Lake. This hike skirts Mount Rainier National Park and falls within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
We had the place to ourselves on a fairly stormy fall day, but this hike can be very busy on a nice summer weekend. Consider midweek or fall. The fall colors were excellent.
Parking Available
America the Beautiful or Northwest Forest Pass Required
On this five mile hike that leaves from the Sunrise Visitor Center in Mount Rainier National Park you will get as close as possible to Mount Rainier without actually climbing the mountain. There are three Burroughs peaks on this hike, and snow is often on or near the trail well into the summer months so come prepared. It feels like a moonscape, and yet a few flowers and plants flourish as do several small mammals.
This very easy 3 mile round trip hike starts at the Ohanapekosh campground and leads you to one of the prettiest waterfalls in Mount Rainier National Park. Easy meandering trail through beautiful forest, offers a great option for families or those looking for less incline with a big impact. Spectacular hike.
One of the most magical hikes in Mount Rainier, Grove of the Patriarchs is a wonderland of old growth trees, some as old as 1000 years. This easy 1.5 mile round trip hike can be done by anyone, including children. It’s a remarkable oasis of nature’s beauty and a reminder of the importance of preservation and care of our natural wonders.
This beautiful alpine trail is 8.5 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 2100 feet as you traverse from wildflower meadows up into subalpine tundra admiring views of Mount Rainier along the way. Steady incline and occasional rough trail make this better for more experienced hikers. Snow can be present into early summer. Very popular on weekends and parking is limited so come midweek, fall or early in the day.
There are many more hiking options both for day and overnight that I have not listed here including trails North and farther South. Two great websites to learn more about day hikes in the Pacific Northwest are Alltrails.com and Washington Trails Association wta.org.
Be sure to check the weather before setting off on any hike in the Pacific Northwest, as even in the summer it can be unpredictable. Be prepared to encounter wildlife, bring bug spray and sunscreen and plenty of water. And always make sure someone knows where you are going.
With a little preparation, day hikes in the Pacific Northwest are rewarding, invigorating and always stunningly beautiful. Go outside!
A couple years ago I read The Enchantress of Florence, the only other Salman Rushdie novel I have read. I loved that book. So I decided to read Rushdie’s newest work, after my husband read it and raved about it. So here is my book review Victory City by Salman Rushdie.
In true Rushdie fashion, Victory City transports the ready completely to another realm. In this story it is fourteenth century India where we meet a nine year old girl named Pampa Kampana. The young girl has witnessed her mothers death and during her grieving a goddess takes over her little body. The goddess tells Pampa Kampana that she will be a great Queen and create a wonder of the world from the barren sand. This wonder will become the great city of Bisnaga (Victory City).
Pampa Kampana become immortal and never ages and as 250 years pass she will sow magic seeds as the instrument to Bisnaga’s greatness. She will have several husbands and lovers and bear several children, all of which she will outlive.
As Bisnaga grows and the world grows more intricate, the complex tapestry of Bisnaga, its leaders, triumphs and tragedies will be guided by the hand of the great goddess.
It’s an epic tale, beautifully told in Rushdie’s imaginative prose. Sure to win numerous awards, Victory City is on it’s way to greatness.
*****Five Stars for Victory City by Salman Rushdie
Thank you for reading my book review Victory City by Salman Rushdie.
We recently spent a quick four days in New York City, one of my favorite cities in the world. There is such a plethora of things to do in this city. It’s not the New York of old. It is clean, efficient, colorful. In fact the trees and flowers were all in bloom and my allergies where in full spring mode. But I loved it nonetheless. New York City – The Hidden Gems Tour.
Grand Central Terminal
Last May, we spent twelve days in New York and really did the city thoroughly. Check out last year’s post My Favorite Things in New York City. Surprisingly though, we missed a few things of interest to us. So on this much shorter visit, we set out to explore some lesser visited places. We dubbed our visit New York City – The Hidden Gems Tour.
Empire State Building
Lower East Side
Last year we really enjoyed visiting the historically working class Lower East Side area. We spent a good portion of our visit last year Exploring the Neighborhoods of New York City. Since I am such a history buff, the Lower East Side has such a variety of interesting things related to the founding of New Amsterdam! We returned for our second visit to the Tenement Museum, one of my favorite things to do in NYC. The Tenement Museum is one of the most unique museums I have ever enjoyed, giving visitors a window into the past of the working class, immigrant neighborhoods of the Lower East Side. I highly recommend this hidden gem when in New York City. One visit is not enough.
Historic Loewes Theater
Historic Jarmulowsky Bank, now a boutique hotel
Libraries
On this fabulous New York City – The Hidden Gems Tour we took time to visit two libraries; the historic and iconic New York Public Library and the incomparable Morgan Library.
A few years ago I read the book The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis. The fictional story is based in and around the New York Public Library. I really enjoyed our short walk around this iconic structure.
The Morgan Library and Museum is not as crowded as some of the larger museums of New York and we really enjoyed the art here. But most of all we enjoyed the spectacular library and office rooms open to the public. JP Morgan (April 17, 1837 – March 31, 1913) was an American financier and investment banker who dominated corporate finance on Wall Street. The former home and offices are well worth a visit when in New York City.
New York Public Library
Morgan Library
Roosevelt Island
Taking the tram over to Roosevelt Island is truly one of the most underrated things to do in New York City. The tram (gondola) costs $3 and during your ride it gives you a wonderful view of the East River and the city. Roosevelt Island is a lovely place to stroll, cycle or run with shops and restaurants, as well as a state park. Definitely check out Roosevelt Island on your next visit to New York.
View From the Tram over the East River
Roosevelt Island Monument
The New York Mets
Grab the subway to the neighborhood of Flushing in Queens for a New York Mets game at the beautiful Citi Field. The 1986 World Champion Mets play in this beautiful stadium opened in 2009. The subway drops you right at the stadium, but we recommend going a little early and heading into Flushing. We ate at the Michelin-recommended dumpling house in Flushing called Nan Xiang Xian Long Bao. The dumpling and the noodles are perfection…and it was the least expensive meal we had during our visit to New York. Don’t miss it.
Worth the trip to Flushing
Citi Field, home of the NY Mets
Staten Island Ferry
We have been to the Statue of Liberty and to Ellis Island in the past, so this time we decided to hop the colorful and free Staten Island Ferry. The ferry that runs from lower Manhattan to Staten Island every thirty minutes offers a spectacular view of the Statue of Liberty, at no cost. It’s also a fun ride especially on a sunny day with views back to the Manhattan skyline. You can hop off and spend some time on Staten Island, or re-board and head right back. I highly recommend it.
Staten Island Ferry Terminal
Manhattan Skyline
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
As you know, I am always up for a garden and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens did not disappoint. We were lucky enough to visit on a beautiful sunny day when the Cherry Blossoms were just past peak but still fluffy and pink. We spent more than two hours enjoying the 52 acre site and the variety of gardens and exhibits both indoors and out. Don’t miss the fascinating Bonsai collection. Subway from Manhattan drops you right at the gardens. Consider also visiting the Brooklyn Museum next door. We did not because the museum is closed on Mondays but I understand it is also worth a visit.
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
New York City – The Hidden Gems Tour
Thanks for reading this week’s post New York City – The Hidden Gems Tour. I am not done with NYC! I absolutely love it and I will definitely be back. Whether you are planning your first visit or going for the tenth time, you will always discover something new, fun, interesting and amazing in this fascinating city.
Bustling
Beautiful
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I’m a big fan of the work of Alice Hoffman, especially The Dovekeepers and more recently I read The Museum of Extraordinary Things. I love her writing style, magical but not over the top, and this week I share a book review The Probable Future: A Novel by Alice Hoffman.
Meet the Sparrow women. A family with magical gifts. Each women realizes her gift on her 13th birthday. An intriguing cast of characters pulls you into the story…both historical and present day…a haunting past and a violent present. Where does it lead?
Meet Stella, turning 13, and discovering a power that is a window on the future, and not a pleasant one. Always at odds with her mother Jenny – Jenny can read people’s dreams. Jenny does not speak to her own mother Elinor. Elinor can tell when people are liars.
Speaking of liars, Stella’s father is a chronic liar, causing heartache, divorce and most recently, being accused of a murder. Untrustworthy, his life begins to unravel as all the Sparrow women try to find their way in a family of secrets and mystery, intrigue and supernatural history in the town of Unity Massachusetts.
****Four stars for The Probable Future: A Novel by Alice Hoffman. Not my favorite Alice Hoffman, but I recommend it nonetheless. Great characters and intriguing storyline.
Time to rest. Time for family. Time to take a breath. I’m happily home for the summer. We absolutely love our travel life, but we also love our summer’s back in Washington State in our tiny Villa de Verano.
We have just completed our seventh year of nearly full-time travel – a life we began as we retired. When we started we didn’t know if we would be traveling for six months or six years. Well apparently we have made it work and other than a year at home during Covid, we have been on the move.
Three years into our travels we purchased a small villa back in our home state of Washington. A place to call home when we needed or wanted to be there. We were grateful for it during Covid, and continue to be grateful for it each summer.
We arrived Washington April 30th and plan to launch year eight on September 10th. Those plans are still in the works. But meanwhile it’s just about home. A word that feels so satisfying to say. Home. I’ll still be blogging but also will be taking a bit of a break, so don’t worry if I am absent. Thanks for all your wonderful love for this blog. I am grateful to you all.
My second Abbi Waxman book, I really loved The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman which I read a couple of summers ago. This new book, was also fun with some recurring characters from the last book. Here is my book review Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman.
Laura Costello arrives in Los Angeles looking to get away from her overbearing mother and to start anew. After surviving a terrible car accident, she is longing for a new beginning.
But her first week in LA her apartment catches on fire and she is forced into a living situation with a new group in a communal house. And thus her adventures begins. Her new friends include a rogue bookseller and trivia lover, a friendly land lady carrying a sad weight, an energetic women hiding a secret and a gorgeous man with a love of gardening and baseball. Laura finds friendship and healing among this eccentric group.
Laura will make peace with her tragedy, her family, her past and build a new future in this sweet story of friendship, love and breaking free.
****Four stars for Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman. Thanks for reading my Book Review Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman.
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