Sunday Salon: Lemon Pie and Murder

This week's winner of a $10 Gift Card to Mystery Lovers Bookshop is Ricki from Reading Challenged. There's still time to enter next week's drawing. MLB offers free shipping too with $10 minimum orders.

Update from last week: I told you about the lemon meringue pie Jeff was making for me and my new bed and breakfast. Well, I took my first reservation today for the beginning of March. And that pie was fantastic. The crust perfection. He served it on a plate that belonged to my mom. I think the plate even predates me.

Book News: I'm finishing up Paige Shelton's sequel to Farm Fresh Murder. She was kind enough to send an ARC of Fruit of All Evil to me. It's scheduled for release on March 1. I'm loving it. Can't wait to post the review. But first I have a long overdue review of One Man's Paradise by Douglas Corleone to publish.

Borders Leaving Kauai: This is bad when you live on an island. My closest bookstore will be Honolulu which requires an airline flight. I'm saddened by the news of lost jobs and a community gathering place. People have started a "Save Borders Kauai" Facebook page but I doubt it will have much impact. Did any of you get hit with a Borders closure?

Lots of writing this week: Mostly for business. I have some good client prospects and need to submit four proposals by Tuesday. Look for book reviews later in the week.

Triumph of the City: Book Review

Triumph of the City
by Edward Glaeser

Penguin Press, Copyright 2011
338 pages, ISBN 9781594202773

Rob's Rating: 4/5

Quote from Book: "Great cities are not static, they constantly change and take the world along with them."

This is the first time I've been asked to review a book written by a Harvard professor. And when you consider where I live, I may seem like an odd choice for a book about cities.

According to author Edward Glaeser "...Americans should live in denser, more urban environments."

I'm the opposite by choosing to live on an island considered to be one of the world's most isolated. I feel like a rebel after reading this book. And if I agree with Glaeser, I should feel guilty at the same time. 

Even though Glaeser makes a strong case for cities, I'm not moving. And yet, I've always been attracted to them. In truth, I love New York.

Glaeser's writing provokes thought and controversy depending on your beliefs. He excels at analyzing the great cities of the world including their history and challenges. Glaser provides research and insight on how to make our cities better and stronger. His work serves as a blueprint for the future. Skyscrapers are not an endangered species in Glaeser's world.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Triumph of the City:

"An open city can't exist in a closed nation." (page 251)

"There is no such thing as a successful city without human capital." (page 223)

"Information technology is changing the world, making it more idea intensive, better connected and ultimately more urban." (page 37) 

"Poverty often shows that a city is functioning well." (page 257)

Environmentalists may cringe a few times while reading Glaeser's work. Actually, the author suggests that they "...toss copies of this book into the recycling bin."

I won't even mention his take on Thoreau. Okay, I will because it's just too good: " a somewhat underemployed Harvard graduate," and "Thoreau's walk in the woods did much more for his soul than for the woods themselves."

Glaeser is biased towards cities. And I'm biased towards small towns. But I like to be challenged and Glaeser succeeded.

My thanks to Trish at TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to host. Visit the TLC website for a list of blogs participating. For more information on Dr. Edward Glaeser, read his bio on Wikipedia.

Sunday Salon: Valentine's Weekend

This week's winner of a $10 gift card to Mystery Lovers Bookshop is Michelle at The True Book Addict. If you're feeling lucky, enter by Saturday for next week's drawing.

Cooking. We're picking fresh lemons today from our yard. Jeff's making a lemon meringue pie for my Valentine's gift. This was my grandpa's favorite and ended up being mine too. I'm not sure yet what recipe he's using. Maybe he'll try the one from Paige Shelton's mystery, Farm Fresh Murder.

New Business. Do any of you stay in bed and breakfasts when you travel? I became a fan of them long ago. Last month we decided to turn our home here on Kauai into one. I'm picking books for the room. Maybe the bed and breakfast murder mysteries by Mary Daheim would be good? You can view our listing on Airbnb. And if you come to Kauai, be sure to consider a stay with us.

Next Review. I have a book review for TLC due tomorrow. It's a work of nonfiction which I seldom write about. Come back tomorrow and hear my thoughts about Triumph of the City by Edward Glaeser.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Movie Review: Bedrooms and Hallways

This British comedy from 1998 has the wonderful Jennifer Ehle in a supporting role. I loved her in Pride and Prejudice and more recently in The King's Speech. Other familiar faces are a trimmer Simon Callow from Four Weddings and a Funeral and Kevin McKidd from Grey's Anatomy.

Bedrooms and Hallways grossed just under $17,000 in its opening weekend here in the United States. It played one screen. Maybe that's why it escaped my radar.

While watching the movie I had several bursts of laughter that felt good. As one Netflix reviewer said, "it's a cross between Friends and Absolutely Fabulous." I think that's a good comparison. It's also a wonderful spoof on group therapy. I also liked how the gay and straight friends supported each other.

The movie centers around Leo played by Kevin McKidd. The opening shows his friends gathered for a surprise birthday party. We have no idea how everyone is connected and why Leo is unhappy. At the end I didn't feel like a stranger to the group. The movie takes us back in time to understand each relationship better.

Synopsis from Netflix: "At the suggestion of a friend, gay Leo (Kevin McKidd) enters therapy after many failed relationships make him fear for his social life. In a group session (led by Simon Callow), Leo comes clean about his feelings for a straight member of the group (James Purefoy), which leads to an affair between the two. The situation becomes further complicated by the appearance of Leo's high school sweetheart (Jennifer Ehle), who still has feelings for him."

With wit and sophistication, Bedrooms and Hallways delights. This will appeal to all audiences both gay and straight. The movie offers up strong performances and engaging dialogue from the heart.

Rob's Rating: 4/5

What do you think about this question: Can gay and straight men be friends?

Winner: The Girl In The Green Raincoat

A winner was chosen Super Bowl Sunday by random number. I'm just a day late in posting. The Girl In The Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman goes to:

Congrats, Elly. And for those who didn't win, I hope you'll have a chance to read the book soon.

Win $10 Gift Card to Mystery Lovers Bookshop: I'm Giving Away Three

For Valentine's month I'm offering three $10 gift certificates at Mystery Lovers Bookshop. With their free shipping* on $10 minimum orders this makes for an extra sweet deal. I'll choose a winner every Sunday starting February 13 and ending February 27.

When you leave a comment on this post you'll have one chance to win each week. Share this on Facebook or Twitter and get a second chance each time I draw a name (be sure to leave a comment that you've do so).

Week One Winner (February 13): Michelle at The True Book Addict
Week Two Winner (February 20): Ricki at Reading Challenged
Week Three Winner (February 27): TBA

"Lonely bookseller seeks transactional fulfillment with interested mystery reader. I cannot offer either Pina Coladas or walks on the beach but we do have a wonderful assortment of brand-new mysteries....with all this snowy weather, why not let us deliver your books to your door with free shipping and outstanding service." Mystery Lovers Bookshop Facebook Fan Page

After reporting one of their slowest months ever in January, I hope you'll help them out and order a book. They offer a wide range to choose from. Toss in superior customer service and you're in for a treat.

Mystery Lovers Bookshop, winner of the 2010 Raven Award from Mystery Writer's of America, is located in the Pittsburgh metro area. When I worked at PITT, I used to shop there often. Now that I'm in Hawaii their on-line store has continued our association.

If you have a mystery you'd like to order should your name be chosen, please leave the title in your comment. This is optional. I'm always interested in new books to try.

Join Mystery Lovers Bookshop on Facebook, shop on-line or in person at 514 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont, Pennsylvania.

*Free Shipping on $10 minimum purchase valid only to U.S. addresses.