Book Club Blah

So the consensus of my book club was a resounding Bronx cheer for Lorrie Moore’s critically acclaimed novel, A Gate at the Stairs (except from me, who had picked the book and had to do some face-saving). I liked it less than I had expected, but did enjoy Moore’s writing in all of its quirkiness. Some quotes which must have resonated with me because I underlined them and made notations in the margins, but which, three children and very little grey matter later, I cannot for the life of me remember why, were:

-“A baby destroyed a life and thereby became the very best thing in it. Though to sit gloriously and triumphantly in ruins may not be such a big trick.”

-On heated baby wipes (Is my blog hard-hitting or what? I mean, baby wipes are very, very much a part of global affairs): “I know my own mother would be appalled by such things. As a baby, I would have gotten the chilly wipes of winter or frozen dabs with unheated cotton balls, or a quick tepid washcloth, if I was lucky. My mother probably soothed my diaper rash with ice cubes from her soda glass.” (I think I was tucking away the used ice cube baby butt analgesic trick for future use)

-On caring for a young child: "I seemed to have little authority whatsoever but to be instead her happy maidservant. The tinier the child, the more you were the servant, I knew. Older children were more subservient, less queenly and demanding.”

Fortunately, my tough crowd seemed to like my libations better than the book selection. Here is the recipe for my cucumber lemonade (Better Homes and Gardens, June 2009):

-1 English cucumber, coarsely chopped

-2 12-oz cans frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

-10 cups water

-Cucumber slices (optional)

1. In blender, combine cucumber and 1 can lemonade concentrate; blend until almost smooth. Transfer to serving container. Stir in remaining lemonade concentrate and water. Cover; chill up to 24 hours.
2. Stir before serving. Serve over ice with cucumber slices. Makes 12 generous servings