The question of the day: Is American cheese really cheese? Hamburger loves the stuff. I prefer straight up cheddar, the sharper the better. However, Hamburger is currently doubting the cheesiness of his beloved cheese (product). What do you think? Cheese? Or cheese-product?
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On to the books…
Yesterday I finished two books, neither of which rocked my world. So instead of full-on posts, I’m going to subject you to two quick summaries.
11 year old Clara is searching for answers. Unfortunately, her mom won’t talk…about her twin sister who died at birth, her unnamed father, or her absent grandfather. So Clara makes up stories. And she befriends Georg, an elderly immigrant who slowly reveals bits of his past.
The thing that bugs me about this book is one whopping inconsistency that I just can’t get past. In the second half of the book, Clara makes a big deal about Tamar (her mother) not eating sugar, with the exception of a teaspoon on her Cheerios. It comes up often, to the point where it becomes annoying. Yet, early in the book, Tamar is seen eating an ice cream sandwich. I still can’t get over this discrepancy. I found myself obsessing over it, and it ruined any (slight) enjoyment I had in the book.
Vanora Bennett was always fascinated with Russia. She read Russian literature, studied Russian, and grew up to be a journalist stationed in Moscow. This book tells of her years in Russia and her obsession with caviar…acquiring it, finding out more about it, and becoming appalled at the lengths people will go to poach it. However, the book is boring. By the end, I could’ve cared less about the author and caviar. Although, to be honest, I never cared much for caviar to begin with. Not that I’ve tried it…just the thought grosses me out.
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Last night, I started Dead Until Dark, the first of the Sookie Stackhouse books. I signed up for the Sookie Challenge a few months ago. And after 40 pages, I’m bowing out. Not that I have anything against vampires. I’m just not feeling the Sookie love…sorry Sookie.
Today I need to get caught up on Moby Dick, for Ti’s read-along. Evidently, that 4 pages/day is harder than it looks. My copy of Moby Dick managed to hide itself (you’d think a book that’s as big as a whale couldn’t hide, but it can) at the bottom of a pile of books, so I need to dig it out and read 4 pages times 6 days plus the 1 page I didn’t get to from Monday…ummm, 25 pages, if I did my math correctly.
And OMG…I just did a word problem! Our high school math teachers were right! Crap.
If you don’t like Sookie, I guess we’re stuck in role reversal for a while longer, although I did actually post a NON-vampire book review today!
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Review of Children of Dust: A Memoir of Pakistan by Ali Eteraz =-.
I say cheese product and I’m with you – cheddar and the sharper the better. I read Dead Until Dark and didn’t love it like everyone else seems to, so I’m with you on that.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..The Twelve Days of Cookies – Day 8 =-.
Definitely cheese product. It makes a good grilled cheese sandwich, but I’m with (and Kathy). Cheddar is better.
.-= Rebecca @ The Book Lady’s Blog´s last blog ..Book Review: Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman =-.
You made it further than me in those Sookie books. I think I made it through the first 5 pages before I bailed.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Personal Challenges in 2010 =-.
Cheese product all the way – I much prefer sharp cheddar! Good luck with Moby Dick.
.-= JoAnn´s last blog ..Eat This, Not That! =-.
I say cheese product also. I can’t believe I grew up eating that stuff. I also am a big fan of sharp sharp cheddar cheese. Have you tried Black Diamond vintage reserve sharp cheddar cheese? YUM!!
.-= girasoli´s last blog .."bird(s)"~ PhotoHunt =-.
I can recall reading Shadow Baby several years ago. I was not impressed(
.-= diane´s last blog ..Thankfully Reading Weekend and Stuff =-.
Hmmm…good question on the cheese, but as I love cheese, including the American sliced variety, it’s best if I don’t think too hard about the actual composition.
Now, I wasn’t sure if I could handle the Sookie challenge after the first book, but I did start liking the stories more as the books went on.
.-= Trisha´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: I Will Conquer =-.
American Cheese is not real cheese but it melts well whereas cheddar gets greasy when it melts. So it’s a toss-up. Cheese product that melts well, or the real deal that is greasy.
You forgot your Moby reading after just one day? I skipped a day or two but read double the day before so I didn’t feel so bad about doing it.
.-= Ti´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: Prepping, Cooking, Eating Edition =-.
That’s too bad about Sookie! I love her.
The word problem thing made me laff.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Random Friday, only 35 days til Christmas! =-.
P.S. speaking of cheese products, ask My Friend Amy for her recipe for velveeta fudge!
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Review of Children of Dust: A Memoir of Pakistan by Ali Eteraz =-.
On the cheese problem,
I will always go for CHEESE the real stuff– love me some havarti.
This does not extend to grilled cheese though. Product just has that extra melty-ness that is so delicious on those crispy pieces of bread.
.-= She´s last blog ..Library Loot! =-.
Tell Hamburger cheese product is not cheese. I’m with you on the chedder, we have a fabulous cheese company called Beecher’s that makes a chedder called Flagship. It is fabulous.
I’m joining in on reading Moby Dick as soon as I finish Kristin..
.-= Gavin´s last blog ..Sunday Salon =-.
By American cheese, do you mean Velveta? That’s definitely a cheese product. I think American is real cheese, but I would rather have super-sharp Hoffman’s cheddar. YUM. Or aged Vermont cheddar.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? =-.
American cheese = not cheese = cheese product = still a good grilled cheese sandwich
That’s my take. And I’m totally with you on cheddar!! The sharper the better!
I tried Sookie a while ago too and sadly gave up on it halfway through the first chapter :/ The books are just totally not my thing, but have you seen True Blood? The TV series ROCKS!
.-= Chris´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon – Howdy Folks =-.
You are so funny! My first experience with caviar was so much more about the “WOW! I’m eating caviar” than every really tasting it. class-snobbery and all that nonsense…
I haven’t even looked at the pile of books I *think* Moby the Dick is hiding in.
.-= Care´s last blog ..Off to Wrap Holiday Gifts and Unplug =-.