The Relentless Reader Went on Vacation!

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 28 Comments

You may have heard that I was recently on vacation in Florida. 
I thought I’d share a few pics and details from my fantastic family trip:
We went to the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum. 
(If you haven’t seen Michael Jackson painted onto a cockroach you haven’t lived, my friend.)
We were all quite awed by this section of the Berlin Wall

I picked up this copy of A Curious Man by Neal Thompson. The cup came with it for free, yahoo!
We spent most of our time in Florida at Universal Studios
Most of our Universal time was spent at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
There’s no way to overstate the awesomeness of that place.
Awesomeness!!
 Avery, Carter, Dad, & Mom
Can we talk about food for a minute? OMG. THE FOOD! 
We ate (and drank) like kings at The Three Broomsticks, The Hard Rock Cafe, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Mimi’s Cafe, and more. 
Butterbeer tastes sorta like cream soda with a topping of 
melted marshmallowy ice cream that was brewed by angels. 
Yes, it’s that good.
Like true tourists we bought way too many souvenirs and goodies. 
(Avery wins the prize for the most money spent, but she’d been saving for the last year!)
We had a magical time. I’m so glad we went!
I miss the sunshine.
I miss the family time.
I miss the food.
I want to go back!

A Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 22 Comments
A Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White
Publisher: Touchstone
Publication Date: Paperback released on March 4, 2014
Source: Touchstone/Alison Law
Description:

A rich, beautiful novel about three unlikely, complex characters who meet in a chic Manhattan café and realize they must sacrifice everything they ever knew or cared about to find authenticity, fulfillment, and love.

A Place at the Table tells the story of three richly nuanced characters whose paths converge in a chic Manhattan café: Bobby, a gay Southern boy who has been ostracized by his family; Amelia, a wealthy Connecticut woman whose life is upended when a family secret finally comes to light; and Alice, an African-American chef whose heritage is the basis of a famous cookbook but whose past is a mystery to those who know her.

As it sweeps from a freed-slave settlement in 1920s North Carolina to the Manhattan of the deadly AIDs epidemic of the 1980s to today’s wealthy suburbs, A Place at the Table celebrates the healing power of food and the magic of New York as three seekers come together in the understanding that when you embrace the thing that makes you different, you become whole.

My Thoughts:

This book contains some of my favorite topics: social justice, family drama, and FOOD. (The author even shared a recipe at the end that I’m dying to try. I just know it’s going to be mouthwatering.) 
I was especially struck by the character of Bobby. His story is compelling and heartbreaking. There’s a wonderful lesson to be taken away from his tale but the author doesn’t hit you over the head with it. It’s clear and true but not at all preachy.
Susan Rebecca White

This book is rich, moving, and lovely. Even if it wrapped up a bit too neatly for my taste I still highly recommend it. If you’re looking for a timely novel about loving acceptance (and scrumptious eats!) you can’t go wrong with A Place at the Table.

What is one of your favorite family recipes? I’d love to hear about them!