Slightly Peckish Christmas!
26 December, 2012
Merry Christmas everybody! Although I’m not a Christian or particularly religious for that matter, we’ve always celebrated Christmas since we were small due to the international hotpot that was our expat life. Even in tropical Bangkok, we had a real fir tree in a pot even though it was small, and my sister would sit, pen in hand, brow furrowed in concentration, waiting to jot down Santa’s address each year. Ah, the joys of childhood.
In the spirit of Christmas, here’s this week’s Umami Mart: Slightly Peckish where I went to sample the delightful Roganic which was a real Christmas treat. Enjoy.
In bookish news, I’ve finished Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey which wasn’t what I expected (but more on that later in January). I’ve now started The Making of a Marchioness by Frances Hodgson Burnett and want to finish it before catching up on the tv adaptation which aired last week. Apparently they’ve mutilated the story but that’s tv for you. Burnett’s Little Lord Fauntleroy was a childhood favourite of mine but I’m beginning to fear that my tolerance for saccharine prose is being stretched here although Burnett is proving something of a surprise. My next book group read is Dickens’ A Christmas Carol so maybe that’ll provide just the right dose of cynicism.
Before I turn into a grinch, can I also remind you that Tony‘s January in Japan will be starting soon and will coincide with the final month of Bellezza‘s Japanese Literature Challenge 6. I plan on finally reading Shusaku Endo’s Silence which I’m really looking forward to. He’s one of my favourite Japanese authors. And maybe I can fit in something by Yukio Mishima or Yasunari Kawabata.
So what are you reading this Christmas?
chasing bawa 
26 December, 2012 at 7:57 pm
I gave my wife The Making of a Marchioness a few years ago for Christmas after seeing it on several blogs and she enjoyed it. Not surprising that they butchered it for television. Happens more often than not, sometimes for reasons that make sense in the media world and other times do not at all.
I’m finishing up some sf novels and short story collections that I started at various times during the year, cleaning my plate as it were to get ready to start all new reads in January.
2 January, 2013 at 10:57 am
I’m pretty impressed with Frances Hodgson Burnett although her writing is very much a product of its age. Am planning to try The Shuttle next. Has your wife read that?
26 December, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Oh no! I haven’t had the chance to see The Making of a Lady yet – sad to hear they butchered it
2 January, 2013 at 10:56 am
I recommend reading the book first, Ana! It’s way better than the tv adaptation.
1 January, 2013 at 10:49 pm
I’m looking forward to your thoughts on Cheerful Weather!