Book #1
Being on the boat for almost three months gives you plenty of time in the evening to read and enjoy the stillness of the evening. I usually find English books along the way in the corner reading boxes many villages set up. During this trip, I was fortunate to have received a book from my Canadian friend, Julie, before I left this season. It is titled This Thing Of Darkness by Harry Tompson
I copied and pasted this description from Good Reads:
“1828 – Brilliant young naval officer Robert FitzRoy is given the captaincy of HMS Beagle, surveying the wilds of Tierra del Fuego, aged just twenty-three. He takes a passenger: a young trainee cleric and amateur geologist named Charles Darwin. This is the story of a deep friendship between two men, and the twin obsessions that tore it apart, leading one to triumph and the other to disaster…”
Seriously, if you are fascinated with exploration, true adventures, and exotic places, this is your book!
Book #2
When I got home, I started reading another book a friend recommended. When you live in Germany, it’s difficult to avoid reading the history of Hitler and the war. I’ve read several, but this one struck me with force. No, it’s not about Hitler; it is about Nancy Wake, who goes to crazy extremes to support the French resistance and her enemies with her red lipstick! I do not understand why she is not in our history books. It is titled Code Name Hèléne by Ariel Lawhon
I copied and pasted this description from Good Reads:
It is 1936 and Nancy Wake is an intrepid Australian expat living in Paris who has bluffed her way into a reporting job for Hearst newspaper when she meets the wealthy French industrialist Henri Fiocca. No sooner does Henri sweep Nancy off her feet and convince her to become Mrs. Fiocca than the Germans invade France and she takes yet another name: a code name.
If you think you’ve read every German spy story, please take one last look at this for me. You will wonder, I’m sure,” Why do we not know about this remarkable woman?” You will be amazed and impressed with this “wonder woman.” Courageous, brave, funny, witty, loving, fearless, generous, and a woman who earned the respect and leadership of thousands of French resistance troops, leading to WWII’s end.
Enjoy!
I'm Melinda Stevens and living the life of a beach bum was inevitable since my father was a lifeguard for the city of Los Angeles. My memories of growing up on John Street in Manhattan Beach, California were filled with joy, excitement and adventures; until my world, as I knew it, fell apart when we moved to Del Mar, California. My father was offered the position as Captain of the lifeguards and we started the slow migration to the small deserted stretch of beach in 1963. At twelve years old, this seemed like the end of my life. Remember, I’m writing with clear hindsight now, ok somewhat clearer… Little did I know this would be the beginning of a new journey and give a bit more clarity to many of the events that led me to this new cooking adventure.