Sampling a peach at Kroger’s Supermarket in Bristol, VA (July 2009).
Do I dare to eat a peach?
Thanks to this man, I can proudly say, “Yes!”
Exactly one year ago today, the very first African American was elected President of the United States. On that day, the universe, and our consciousness, shifted (and my heart soared to the stars and beyond). A President born in Hawai’i? Surely now anything is possible.
Now here’s a book that’s got my name written all over it.
Regular readers of this blog may have noticed my subtle tendency total obsession with baking and sweets. Like most writers, I am especially mad for chocolate. Dessert First by Hallie Durand features some particularly decadent chocolate and more than satisfied my present craving.
Eight-year-old Dessert Schneider (whose family owns the Fondue Paris restaurant), is just the kind of spunky, quirky little minx I love to read about. She follows in the tradition of Eloise, Ramona, Junie B., and Clementine — the type of character who gets into the kind of mischief we’d secretly like to, if only we had the nerve.
photo by Zerberus.
Good morning!
Time to wake up and smell the coffee! I’ve poured a steamy cup just for you. Mmmmmm. Breathe in that rich, divine aroma of freshly brewed Arabica beans. Would you like it black, or with a little sugar and milk?
photo by lepiaf.geo.
Sip, sip, sip and join me in a jazzy java jive, because today, Kristina Springer’s very first YA novel, The Espressologist (FSG, 2009), is officially out! Yay!!
Whether or not you worship at the altar of caffeine, The Espressologist is sure to tickle your fancy and lift your spirits. I’ve always believed the old adage, "you are what you eat." In this fun, breezy story, which School Library Journal has called "compulsively readable," the main character, Jane Turner (a 17-year-old barista), believes people are what they drink — at least when it comes to a cup of Joe.
Happy Poetry Friday!
It’s nice to be back in Virginia after a wonderful visit with family and friends in Hawai’i. I think I chatted and chewed enough to last me at least a year – quite a change from my usual quiet, solitary life. I admit to suffering from a little Poetry Friday withdrawal, so I’m anxious to remedy that today.
In line with my current Fall for Restaurants theme, I’m sharing this radiant gem by Amy Lowell. A proponent of the Imagist movement, she hailed from upper crust New England society and cut quite the figure in her time (a woman of substantial girth who enjoyed puffing on a good cigar). In addition to her choice of subject matter, I am quite taken with this particular poem because:
1) It nicely exemplifies the primary criteria for imagist poetry: use of common, everyday language, presentation of a specific image, use of unrhymed cadence (also known as polyphonic prose). It is indeed “poetry that is hard and clear, never blurred nor indefinite.”
2) Rice pudding ☺.
from Uncle Wiggily and the Apple Dumpling (1939),
written by Howard Garis, pictures by George Carlson
(from calloohcallay’s photostream).
Starting tomorrow, alphabet soup will be on blog vacation for about 2 weeks.
It’s time to step away from the computer and enjoy some of the many magical things autumn has to offer. I hope to do some research for a new WIP, try some new restaurants, read, relax, and catch up with family and friends. While most of you were out and about this summer, I continued to blog blog blog, so I’m more than ready for a little break.
I did want to remind you that it’s Cybils time again! Between October 1-15, you can submit your nominations (one per category) for the best children’s and young adult books published during the past year. The goal is to recognize books with literary merit and kid appeal. The Cybils elves have been very busy setting everything up. I’m happy to report that once again I’ll be helping out in the Poetry Category, coordinated by the lovely Kelly R. Fineman. Check the official website for important information about how to nominate books, and to get the scoop about all the different categories and panels.
photo by -Snug-.
The alphabet soup kitchen helpers will be in charge while I’m gone. Please do not let them go beserk and eat all the chocolate in the house. I don’t want you to go hungry, so nosh on these pumpkin muffins till I return:
photo by stickygooeychef (recipe is here).
We’ll resume our Fall for Restaurants celebration right after Columbus Day. Click here in case you missed yesterday’s doggone delicious chat with Leslie McGuirk and Alex von Bidder, creators of Wiggens Learns His Manners at the Four Seasons Restaurant.
Hope the beautiful autumn weather inspires some great writing! Take care and see you soon!
Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan’s alphabet soup. All rights reserved.
Jama's Alphabet Soup 