a collection of tried and true
A Psychologist from the big city returns to his small dying ex-coal-mine-hometown to help his ailing grandfather. Typical O’Dell storytelling and characters but this time turns into a psychological thriller. A bit far fetched for me but an interesting read.
PJH rating: ***
I read fewer books this year than usual. I hit a couple of ruts and also started many books and never got into them. I did read some good novels though, especially towards the end of the year. Without further ado:
My third annual top five books that I have read this past year:
The Book of Unknown Americans,Christina Henriquez, -heartbreaking tale of immigrant family from South America trying to live the American Dream. On many top lists for year deservedly.
Everything I Never Told You, Esther Ng – tale of an Asian-American family living in an Ohio town. Suburban angst mixed with racism, marital woes and all other sorts of fun stuff.
The Goldfinch, Donna Tart – I have talked to so many people this past year who tried and tried but just couldn’t get through The Goldfinch. It indeed is quite a hefty one but I enjoyed it, especially the end. I appreciated the story, you really got into who the characters were and really got absorbed into it.
How You Lose Her, Junot Diaz – A novel of how to treat a woman I guess? I love Junot Diaz novels. I don’t understand a bunch of it as they’re always throwing Spanish in but its great.
The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion – An easy breezy book about a super nerdy College professor who goes about looking for a wife in “off the spectrum” ways in which he lives his whole life. A fun novel. I’m on the wait list for the sequel that just came out.
I love end of the year best book lists. It’s my go-to for finding something good to read. Some of the ones I look at:
Here’s to a prolific 2015!
A social worker in rural Montana interacts with a boy who lives in the woods with his escapist, political father. Many messed up characters with equally messed up lives. Definitely not an up beat novel, but an interesting story yet pretty depressing on many levels.
PJH rating: ****
I picked this book up at the CWRU used book store and have been reading it off and on over the past year and FINALLY finished it. An intriguing account of their adventures of buying a big old house in Cleveland Heights. Lots of interesting Cleveland history that I enjoyed reading also.
PJH rating: ****
I have made this several times over the past years from the always reliable The New Basics. It’s a nice main dish for a crowd that you can make ahead of time. Our Christmas Eve theme was “stuffed” so this was perfect.
11/2025 comments: PJH: I tweaked this a bit and it is much better: I used a big costco flank steak. I butterflied it and then marinated it in Garlic Expressions for most of the day. I spread pesto (costco), then lots and lots of fresh spinach, prosciutto and then sliced provolone. Make sure when you stuff it the finished rolls are cut against the grain – not like the pictures below. I let it sit for quite a long time – 30 minutes or so. It was perfecto – the marinating makes a big difference.
Italian Stuffed Flank Steak
The New Basics Cookbook, Julee Rosso & Sheila Lukins
8 ounces fresh spinach, trimmed and well rinsed
1/c cup dried bread crumbs
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic
3 red bell peppers, roasted
1 flank steak (about 1 ½ pounds), butterflied
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
1 fresh hot cherry pepper, cored, seeded, and minced
1. Preheat the over to 350°F.
2. Place the spinach in a saucepan with just the water that clings to the leaves. Cover, and cook over medium heat until wilted, 5 minutes. Drain in a colander, and press out the excess moisture with the back of a spoon.
3. Combine spinach, bread crumbs, Parmesan, olive oil, and garlic in a food processor and puree until thick and smooth. Transfer to a bowl.
4. Peel, core, and carefully seed the roasted peppers. Cut them in half.
5. Open the steak on a work surface, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the prosciutto in one layer on the steak. Top with a layer of the roasted peppers. Then spread the spinach mixture over them, and sprinkle with the minced cherry pepper.
6. Starting with a long side, roll the steak up jelly-roll style. Tie it with string at 2-inch intervals, and brush with a little olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Place steak in a shallow baking pan.
7. Bake 40 minutes for medium-rare. Cool slightly, or to room temperature, before slicing and serving.
4 to 6 portions
******
For Christmas Eve we also had stuffed shells, little twice baked potatoes, stuffed cabbage, roasted vegetables. Of course we had to have hanky pankies, made a nice smoked salmon spread, cheese and crackers and Sean made some nice bacon wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese. Kirsten made cream puffs for dessert and Sophia dazzled all with her spectacular macarons that no one can get enough of.
Interesting, quirky novel of two half-sisters in the 1940s and 50s told from both their view points. The old sister is a selfish romantic and a want-to-be actress with terrible luck. The younger sister is the more practical, bookish one that the intriguing stories revolve around. Nice read.
PJH Rating: ****
A collection of loosely related short stories set in a fictional coal mining town in Pennsylvania. Spanning the past 5 decades, all interesting, thought provoking tales of small town life, love and heartbreak. Book is reminiscent of Elizabeth Strout whose novels I enjoyed as well.
PJH Rating: ****1/2
Heartbreaking story of one modern family immigrating to America from Panama and the challenges they face – interwoven with chapters about other families doing the same. Wonderfully written. An excellent book from another first time novelist. Highly recommend.
PJH rating: ****1/2
A novelist returns to his mid west home after his father suffers a serious stroke. He hasn’t been home for over a decade during which he published a best seller based on many people in his town. A sad but funny story. The second Tripper novel that I have read and enjoyed.
PJH Rating: ****
Eat On Edgecliff 