I've got two new titles in the stack this week, beginning with Gin: The Manual by Dave Broom. My brother Noah sent me this book for my birthday because he knows that my favorite spring and summer cocktail is the good 'ole gin and tonic. Before I scanned this tome, I had no idea I was using the wrong gin. My "favorite," Bombay Sapphire, has a "very spicy, green, and immediate" flavor profile, so much so that "by the time you take your second sip, the aromatic burst has gone." Time to switch to Beefeater, which earns 5 of 5 for quality of G&T. Now we know.
The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Kim Barker. My co-teacher handed me Barker's memoir, the stories of her stint as a foreign correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. My colleague purchased it on impulse (it's prominently displayed in Barnes and Noble these days as Tina Fey stars in a movie - Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - loosely based on it), but turned out to be a great complement to Serial, the podcast she's been listening to about Bowe Bergdahl and his captivity in Afghanistan. Between the two texts, she felt immersed in the region and its conflicts. I've barely begun Barker's book, but I'm enjoying the swashbuckling style, and I'm also slowly catching up on Serial. This bodes well.
Finally, the Shonda Rhimes. The Year of Yes. I finished it last night. I've written about it. I do understand Shonda'a point. (Her point, FYI, is to embrace the opportunities you're afforded without fear.) But, I just keep feeling slightly cheated by this obviously talented writer. I feel, at points, like she's phoning it in with an easy breezy style that skims the surface. What do you think? Have you read this bestseller? Can you help me clarify my opinion? Let me know!
