Gotham Gal

The Great Fire, by Shirley Hazzard

Last month, for our book club, we read "The Great Fire" by Shirley Hazzard. This is her 2nd book in 20 some odd years. She won the National Book award in 1981 so the world has waited quite a long time for her second book.

I happen to be a speed reader. I admit that I do not read every word but I have found that when I do, my apptitude or pleasure is not much more on a scale of 1 to 10. So, I began this book one night and read about 20 pages. The next night, the following and the next night, the following again. I got to about page 50 and decided that I wasn't thrilled so I put the book down for later and picked up something else.

I was in one of my favorite book stores and asked their thoughts on this book. Both women working their told me, you must sit down and read the whole book or a huge portion of it to truly appreciate the entire story. Well then. I took the book along on vacation but never cracked a page. I got back on a Sunday morning and my book club was on Monday. So, I took their advice (started the book all over again - something I don't think that I have ever done before) and I sat down on Sunday afternoon and basically read the entire book.

I'm glad that I read the book. It is not only a love story but a tale of post WWII and the destruction felt around the world. The writing captures the despair, chaos and death of war. Considering we are at war ourselves and we are reading about despair daily on the front page of our newspapers, it is an interesting time to read this book. She writes about the disconnection of war yet at the same time the connection between the US, Australia, Japan and Europe post-war.

I would recommend this book because it stays with you. The writing is beautiful. She has written a book that could be enjoyed and discussed a 100 years from now, just as easily as it is today. I do recommend that you curl up on a couch for a few hours and plow through the book instead of reading it on and off. There are too many interweavings of characters and places that take time to connect and unless you make serious headway on the book, I find, you have a hard time making the connections.

Hue on Charles

Checking out the list of new restaurants takes time and energy. This past Friday night, we had only kid home and I figured we'd check out one of the new hot spots in our neighborhood. I had gotten good reviews from 2 people, so off we went.

Hue is located in the heart of the West Village on Charles and Bleeker Street. I decided on Hue after going to my new favorite site, Menupages.com to check out menus of the various new spots. Hue had an interesting menu and I really like Vietnamese food. Hue not only has an eclectic menu of asian food, but they also serve sushi which is interesting.

We walked in early, around 6:30 so getting a table was no problem, even without reservations. They saw our 8 year old and proceeded to give us the worst table in the house even though the place was empty. Reluctantly, they took our coats too. Our seats were situated right where the music was blasting in our ears but we're still game. My husband attempted to order a bottle of cold sake. Out of the 5 bottles available, 4 were not in stock and they were all over $50 - absolutely ridiculous. But, we stuck with the sake and got the one bottle available. It wasn't very good either.

We ordered. We started with a dozen oysters (a special) that had interesting spicy asian sauces on them. Not that interesting and the sauces overpowered the oysters. We also had the spring roll to start which was really tasty. Crisp on the outside, filled with shrimp and chicken and served with a dipping sauce on the side. I really liked them. My son had sushi for a main course which he really liked. The presentation was really beautiful. My husband and I split the seared spinach with ginger and soy which was not that interesting. We also had the whole fish which was beautifully prepared. They had already deboned it and prepared the pieces in chunks next to the whole fried fish. Unfortunately, it was laden with garlic and spices. After dinner, we decided that dessert would be picked up on the way home.

As we left, we went to the main desk and asked for our coats. They told us to go downstairs and get them. Then, we went to the other desk downstairs. We did not even realize their was a downstairs and would have preferred to sit down there but c'est la. They did not want to get us our coats there either but just pointed to us the coat check in the back area near the bathroom. Nice service. Not.

Needless to say, we will not be returning to Hue. The attitude is not one that defines the easy going atmosphere of the West Village. On a side note, we went home and a few hours later I was having the horrible taste in your mouth that you get after having an over powered spicey meal. I ran downstairs and got a lemon and parsley. I brought up the other half for my husband so he could also rinse out before he went to bed. The next morning, which is the real true test if the restaurant was any good based on how you feel when you wake. All I kept saying was how I was so happy that I ate the lemon before we went to bed.

Over priced with an attitude doesn't work for me. I can't imagine it would work for anyone.

Security

The past few weeks, I have been off the blogging trail but am glad to be back. We have been traveling. Spent some time in Colorado and California. Now, we happen to be in the DC area. Security has been an issue everywhere.

Since security has been tightened everywhere, we now get to the airport way in advance. Personally, I don't like the stress of seeing tons of people in line going through security when you know that you have to be to the gate sooner than later. Now, we come early, play cards, read magazines and take our time. On one hand, it is ridiculous but on the other hand, it is not that stressful.

My biggest frustration with the security issues is that there must be technology available so that we do not have to spend time going through our bags, taking off our shoes, setting off the bells and whistles and trying to figure out why you are setting off the alarms.

I understand the reasoning behind the tight security but on the other hand, it has made our lives less easy going. Is it all truly necessary?

We were coming into DC on the Delta shuttle. On the Delta shuttle, into DC, you are not allowed to get up at all during the flight. If you need to "use the facilities", you must go before the plane takes off. This FAA rule only applies to flights coming into the DC area due to the close proximity to the White House. No where else matters? I am sure this directive came directly from Dick Cheney. Do they really think that is going to make a difference?

We went down to the Holocaust Museum in DC yesterday. An unbelievable museum. It is a bit overwhelming and so disturbing that it is hard to take everything in. The museum is an incredible memorial of a horrible time in history that no one should forget. The curators have done an amazing job. Absolutely one of the best museums, although you hate to say that about a museum that represents human atrocities, but it was incredible.

Security there was horrendous. We already had tickets. BTW, that is a new thing at the museums, must get tickets in advance and they only let in so many people per day. I assume, another security thing. We spent literally over 1/2 an hour getting through security just to get in the door. Also, then other security functions once you got in the place. It was like the gestapo.

We are all made to feel that you can not say anything against security because the Bush Government has made everyone crazy with the "threat of terrorism". But, if security must be so tight, why doesn't the Government issue a directive to purchase better technology so that we could make all our lives less stressful? I feel like my Grandmother who used to leave all her jewelry in a safe deposit across town so she never got to enjoy it. What is the point of that? Life is too short as it is, shouldn't be all be allowed to enjoy it? I am not sure having security at every entrance and taking 1/2 an hour to enter works out. I am all for safety but why can't we have safety that allows us as to enjoy our lives?

I wish I knew the answer but I am sure someone could build a better security mousetrap.