Tulip Time

For our anniversary trip this year Alex and I went to Pella to see the tulips, but we went the Tuesday and Wednesday after the actual Tulip Festival so we wouldn't have to fight the crowds. We enjoyed the flowers a lot--they were all at their peak, which was neat. Our supper at Strawtown Inn was disappointing--we had heard great things, but perhaps their regular staff was all on vacation after the busy weekend, because neither food nor service was good. We did find a great little cafe/coffee house/soda fountain just off the square for dessert, a Moose Tracks waffle cone that was superb. The next day we had Double Dutch sandwiches--pella bologna and gouda cheese on hard rolls--and some almond apricot streudal that was amazing. We ate it while watching buffalo at Neal Smith Prairie Refuge. For more pix, see link below.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=26327&l=29919&id=722927283

Book review--Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen

I joined a new book club last month (my old one kind of disintegrated), and this was the first book I read with them. I already had it checked out to read for myself, so that was kind of cool.

It's #1 on the NYT Paperback list right now and has been a popular book club pick for a while, with justification, I think.

It takes place during the Depression and is mostly set against a circus backdrop, although all those scenes are flashbacks of the main character who is currently in a nursing home. I'm not going to tell you much more--if you like to know the plots of books before you read it, just google the title; personally I want to know as little as possible when I start reading!

It is a fast, enjoyable read with well-developed characters and an interestingly-painted background, which is also well researched. The first third contains some very explicit scenes. They could be justified--one of the author's points seems to be to point out how people's animal desires run their lives, especially in this setting.

A bigger literary issue is the ending (small spoiler alert)--it seems unrealistic in that it is too neat and happy. However, it is interestingly done.

Other than this book, I've been reading kids' and teens' books. If anyone's interested in hearing about those, let me know!