Braised Pork with Pappardelle

I was inspired to make this after having a similar dish at Anteprima in Chicago.  The braising liquid is red wine, tomatoes, vegetables, and herbs.  I substituted cut up lasagna noodles since I couldn't find pappardelle.  I got the recipe here.  I'll definitely be making this again.

Another American Family Saga by Jonathan Franzen

Freedom follows the Berglund family from St. Paul to Washington, D.C. and New York City.  Walter is frenquently described as "perfect."  He works for conservation organizations and is devoted to his wife Patty, despite her sometimes crippling depression.  Patty abandoned her wealthy but neglectful family years ago to go to college in Minnesota where she met Walter and his musician friend, Richard Katz.  Walter and Patty's son, Joey, is alienated from Patty when she cannot accept his relationship with a lower class girl.  Joey becomes attracted to conservative politics and is seduced into working for a sleazy military contractor.  However, Walter also succumbs to similar temptations while Patty succumbs to romantic temptations.



This book is on the same tier as The Corrections, which I loved.  I have only minor quibbles with it.

My rating:  ***** (out of 5)

"Summertime," a Post-Modern Biography

This book purports to be a biography of John Coetzee written after his death and composed of interviews with 5 people who knew him.

My rating:  **** (out of 5)

Waves Socks

Pattern:  Pyroclastic

Yarn:  ONline Linie 5 Corafino

Needles:  Size 1

These lace socks give the impression of cables.

"Solar"

Ian McEwan's Solar is a satire about academia, business, and self centeredness.  Michael Beard, a scientist who made a brilliant discovery early in his career, for which he won a Nobel, is incapable of faithfulness to either of his five wives and numerous mistresses.  He can't control his eating and drinking.  He steals another scientist's work, and he arranges to have his wife's lover convicted for a murder which was actually an accidental death.  He's a thoroughly unlikeable character, but in the end, of course, his crimes catch up with him.

My rating:  *** (out of 5)

"The Kids Are Alright" - The Parents? Not So Much

Marriage is difficult.  That's the message of this movie.  Both the movie and the performances are outstanding.  Annette Bening, in particular, gives a great performance as a lesbian mom disturbed by the changes in her household after the sperm donor for their 2 children meets the family and her wife (played by Julianne Moore) finds herself inexplicably attracted to him.

My rating:  **** (out of 5)

My Sophisticated Hoodie

Pattern:  Sophisticated Hoodie from Sally Melville's Mother Daughter Knits

Yarn:  Rowan Calmer