- I’m back from a solo trip to a family reunion that happened over the long weekend. First and foremost, it was great. There’s something so special about being around people who you have known your whole life. I loved seeing all my cousins, I loved meeting distant relatives I had never met before, and I loved spending a lot of time with my parents. However. It was a lot of travel to get there and back, and when I say “a lot” I mean a total of three flights – one of which was cancelled, rescheduled, rescheduled again, and then delayed two and a half hours – and fifteen hours in the car, with my dad driving. Fifteen. Hours. In the car. I first flew to Calgary where I was met by my parents for a two hour drive to their place, where we stayed for a couple of days until driving eleven hours over two days to the reunion in Saskatchewan. After the festive weekend, my dad drove me two hours to Regina where I flew home, first connecting in Calgary, whence the delay. The good news is that it wasn’t my first flight that was delayed, and also that I left Calgary before an enormous electrical storm with hail shut the whole airport down and caused massive plane damage. In other good news, I did not revert to sullen teenhood after spending so much time in the backseat of my parents’ car; I had worried that I would start angstily staring out the window listening to gloomy music on my Walkman. I did, however, pop my earbuds in a few times to drown out Helen and Morty Seinfeld in the front seat, but instead of listening to The End or Goodbye, Cruel World, I listened to podcasts; mostly about skincare, but also to my new obsession, Dear Prudence.
- I was reminded of the book I had recently read, entitled Wellness, in which one of the characters makes a lot of money by suggesting that air travel be made as miserable as possible, and so even a slight upgrade to the experience would lead to satisfied customers. Wow, did that resonate. After my flights home got cancelled, rescheduled to arrive at midnight, and then rescheduled for daytime but downgraded from a 737 to a prop plane, I paid a marginal fee for a seat upgrade and was unreasonably excited when I got unlimited vegan snacks.
- Do you have a special travel treat? Mine is a Subway sandwich, which I only ever get while travelling. For decades my Subway order has been the following: avocado, tomato, lettuce, green peppers and pickles on whole wheat, with house sauce and mustard. Once I discovered I’d be in the Calgary airport for several hours, I decided to seek out Subway for lunch; there was one in the international terminal, which I had just frequented in May. I walked across two terminals only to discover that it has GONE. After staring at the blank wall space in which it used to reside, I congratulated myself for getting my steps in before turning around. I found a little wine bar that served avocado toast, and even though it was 2:00 in the afternoon, and I famously have trouble with swelling during air travel, particularly when alcohol is involved, I enjoyed a couple of glasses of Malbec. No regrets.
- I read Come and Get It, and it was one of the best books I have read all year. I mean, this book could be a MasterClass on how to craft complex characters and compelling storylines. I could NOT put this down! This author is a master at creating flawed, yet deeply relatable characters that the reader becomes incredibly invested in, and the story – which deals with three college roommates, their RA, and a writer – is just so good. I kept thinking of the adage “it’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up,” because each character makes mistakes and end up in webs of lies of varying degrees, with varying consequences. I could relate so much to all of the interiority of all of the characters. I read this author’s first book and liked it fine, but this absolutely blew it out of the water for me. Oh, and fun fact: when I was a young teen I wrote a series of semi-autobiographical angsty short stories (possibly after long car rides to Saskatchewan?), and the main character (ME) was named Nichelle. I thought that was a clever, made-up name, but one of the mothers in this book is named Nichelle. I have NEVER seen that before! ARE WE ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH?
- I really expected to love Thrity Umrigar’s latest, The Museum of Failures, as I have really enjoyed most of her work, but, well, no. This book deals with families, secrets, and how things aren’t always as they seem. The theme of “hurt people hurt people” pervades the book and typically I find this very moving. I did not, though. For some reason I just could not connect with or become invested in the characters and story. Maybe it was the wrong timing for me, I don’t know. It just dragged and was flat for me.
- On the other hand, I did not think I would enjoy Yours Truly as much as I did! This was a very cute, easy reading romance and I was one hundred percent here for it. One of the characters has social anxiety, which is quite foreign to me, as I am not an overthinker about social situations at all. I felt it was a great insight into the minds of some of my anxious friends. It was just a lovely, funny, feel-good book and I think it a perfect summer read! Plus, it features a three-legged Bernese mountain dog named Lieutenant Dan, which probably bumped the whole reading experience up at least half a star.
- I love reading a book that takes place in a location where I have been! Hotline is the story of a single mother in 1986-87, who escapes the terror in Lebanon to come to Montreal. It is a touching story about the immigrant experience; although qualified as a French teacher she takes a job as a hotline operator for a diet food company, and ends up becoming involved in her clients’ lives. Living in Calgary, I always marvelled at the people who came from warm climates to live in such a harshly cold one, and wondered what that would be like. The author paints the picture very well, of finding appropriate clothing, of figuring out Canadian culture, of navigating French/ English ideas, and of coming to terms with the fact that her education and experience don’t count for much in this new place of ice storms and strange food.
It’s been a somewhat bumpy reentry in the homefront, but I am feeling more organized and that I have gotten my feet back under me after some unexpected complications and situations. More on that later, but for now, I’m going to enjoy my Friday. It’s a little hot for Malbec, but I see margaritas in my future. I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone! How are you all? What did I miss? Tell me everything. xo
Yay!!! Welcome back, Nicole!!!
Nothing like being back in childhood spaces and situations! I mean it was the best of times, it was the (relatively) worst of times. Can’t wait to hear about all the fun interactions and food you had on your solo adventure!
I’ve been wondering how your garden must have grown over your travels. What new stuff has Rex been up to?
Thanks for the book recs!That Kiley Reid is going on my list.
Hahahah I see what you did there, and I LIKE it!
The garden is wild, Rex is good, and I think you will love that book!
And some afterthoughts: I’m sorry the Umrigar didn’t hit the spot. I feel she’s very prolific though, so it makes sense that some are hit or miss?
Ans also I feel you on the Subway love! I think when the school year starts, Thursdays may become Subway days at our place because it will be a very long day for me. I think Jenny is a Subway fan too 🙂
Maya, YES. She is very prolific so of course some books aren’t going to hit quite right. After all, even my beloved Margaret Atwood has written some books that I have not enjoyed! You win some, you lose some.
Welcome back, Nicole! What a trip?! Car rides and plane delays and family – it sounds like an epic. I, too, was taken in by Lt. Dan in Yours Truly; a well written and snappily named dog really influences how I experience a book, haha!
Wasn’t that a brilliant name? I was so charmed by it all.
Welcome back! We are at a reunion, too. Must be the season. I’m glad it was fun, even if the travel was trying.
Enjoy your reunion, Steph!
Yay! You are back! I missed you and almost texted you when I finished “Leaving” yesterday but figured I would not bug you (wow, the last 25% of that book was a ride! I could not put it down). I only gave Museum of Failures 3 stars which is kind of a “meh” rating for me so it must not have worked for me either. I usually love her books.
That is a lot of travel! And such long car rides! I don’t know if I could do a long car ride, even with my lovely parents (who also have Seinfeld parent energy). I have found that I now the car sick if I am in the back seat which really sucks since I take a lot of ubers when traveling for work and you have to sit in the back of an uber… I do better if I am not reading anything on my phone so I try to listen to podcasts but it’s hard to not check email especially on a busy workday.
It is downright chilly here today! Both boys needed to wear sweatshirts this morning. It will be great for my 8 miler tomorrow but this is just too cold for August!
Oh yes you should have texted me! I may or may not have had cell service though. I felt the exact same about Umrigar – usually I love her books!
I found I could read my Kobo in the backseat but I have trouble looking at my phone in the car, front or back seat.
It’s a little hot for Malbec, but I see margaritas in my future.
May I join you? Happy Weekend.
Of course! *pats chair beside me on deck*
Oof you deserve a medal for the plane drama and 15 hours with your parents in the car. Back when I was a young ‘un I was only allowed ONE SET OF BATTERIES PER DAY for my little tape player for long car ride days. That Malbec was well earned.
While you were gone I started listening to the Glamorous Trash podcast (your rec) and it has turned out to be The Podcast That I Didn’t Know That I Needed. For folks who don’t know what we’re talking about, they review celebrity memoirs. And we went on a short family vacay to DC but it doesn’t really count since it’s only a 5 hour drive.
From your recent reads, Hotline is standing out to me. Putting it on my [entirely mental, subject to be forgotten] TBR!
I knew you would love it! I knew it! You have to go back and find the Elvis and Me episode because it might be my favourite podcast episode IN PODCAST HISTORY.
One set of batteries per day! Argh! I can’t remember if I had similar restrictions, I just remember spending hours making mix tapes for car rides.
I love that you traveled with your parents; how fun. Actually, how fun to have parents! (says me, now the orphan)
Nichelle, that is actually a pretty name—if you’d had a girl. 🙂
Sorry about the unexpected complications and situations—doesn’t sound positive or fun.
I haven’t had a subway sandwich in a long time (I used to get the veggie, on wheat) and I suddenly can smell the restaurant myself; always smells like their fresh baked bread!
Suz, it was really great to spend time with my parents as I don’t see them frequently anymore because of distance.
Subway is something I never think about eating – or any takeout really – until I’m travelling, and then I am dying for it.
I very much enjoy Subway, and recently had a good airport experience with it: my brother and I were flying to visit our parents, and we were starving but had barely 10 minutes more time than we needed to catch our next flight, and we walked right past a Subway with no line, and we were in and out in a flash, and carried our sandwich treasure onto the plane.
SANDWICH TREASURE. That is how I feel! It’s just always good.
Good book reviews. I guess you never watched the original Star Trek series. One of the characters, Lt. Uhura, was played by a beautiful woman named Nichelle Nichols.
Hi Sally! No, I have never watched an episode of Star Trek in my life. Well, here I thought I was so clever making up a name! Fourteen year old me is very disappointed!
So happy you are back! I LOVE family reunions. But oh man the travel. At most when we have one it’s a couple of hours of driving. That flight situation is so frustrating. And lol you in the back seat of your parents car for hours on end. The pictures look so welcoming though – especially that lake. Thanks for more book recommendations – I LOVED leaving and yes I thought about it a lot after I finished it. Enjoy your margaritas!
I’d take a couple of hours of driving over the couple of DAYS of travel for sure! The lake is actually at my parents’ house in AB – all the photos of the reunion had people in it so I didn’t post those on my blog.
Leaving was so good!
Welcome back! A margarita sounds so refreshing right about now. Enjoy!
Thanks Gigi!
I only know of Nichelle Nichols – I thought I made up a name in one of my extremely overwrought stories, but it turned out to be a Welsh name, which took the wind out of my sails somewhat.
I read Hotline the year I read all the Canada Reads books (or maybe Giller prize shortlist books, I keep confusing them) and really liked it. I love Abby Jimenez on Facebook but I haven’t read any of her books yet.
I think driving that much with my parents would be… not good (just not going to say how I really think it might end, because it’s a little dark). Our family is far-flung and we haven’t all been together since my kids were very small – there was a reunion in the offing, but thanks Covid, *sob*.
See, and I had never heard of Nichelle Nichols, because I’ve never watched Star Trek.
I read all the Giller shortlist books one year but obviously not the Hotline year. I liked it!
I think the last time the family was together was 2016 for a cousin’s wedding, and we have lost quite a few people since then, sadly.
Now I want to read come and get it! your book recommendations are on point for me!
Your subway combo sounds lovely! I’ve never tried that one, maybe next time I get a chance I’ll replicate. Maybe Coke Zero would be my travel treat? not all trips, but sometimes I feel like having one with tons of ice and lime.
Your remained calm despite all these flight changes. Impressive.
Come and Get It is so good, I think you’ll like it! I was so invested in all the characters, and that’s how I know it’s a good book for me!
I did remain calm because what else is there to do? I had some nice seatmates to talk to anyway.
I’m glad you’re back and that you had a good time! I feel your pain of the Subway being gone! Don’t they realize that people NEED Subway when they’re stressed out in the airport? But you made the best of the situation, which is one reason you’re so awesome!
WHO CLOSES AN AIRPORT SUBWAY, WHO??? I even googled “is there a Subway at Calgary airport” because I was feeling a bit bereft. The Malbec and avocado toast did help though.
THAT IS TOO MANY HOURS IN THE CAR WITH YOUR PARENTS. Got a good giggle out of the Seinfeld thing though. At least they are not the Costanzas!
I used to adore Subway, but now my go-to fast food sandwich place is Jersey Mike’s. I could eat there every day. As far as traveling treats goes, I used to love going to the airport Chili’s and ordering nachos. YUM.
Come and Get It is high on my list!!! It sounds amazing and your review makes me want to read it even more!
A couple of times they veered into Costanza territory, to be honest!
You know, I’ve never even heard of Jersey Mike’s! Probably this is something that is not available in Canada. Maybe when I do my US Midwest blog tour (just in my dreams for now…but who knows!)
AIRPORT CHILI’S NACHOS. Why did I not think of that??
Welcome back!!!!! I’m sorry things have been a bit chaotic and/or hard since you got home. Hope everyone is okay <3
Coming back from vacation is one of my least favourite things in the world. Every time I go away I know I'll have a lull after getting home and every time I forget how overwhelmed/blue I will feel for a few days. But by the time I'm ready to travel again, I'm just optimistic about the trips and forget about all that laundry and remembering that I'm no longer in (insert cool place) any more.
I do love Subway. I don't go often, but when I do I enjoy every single bite.
THINGS HAVE BEEN CHAOTIC. Spoiler alert: I came home to a house that was 31 degrees. It’s been fixed but ahhhhhhh. Also, ants? ANTS. So, um, things have been busy and did I mention R’s out of town for 3 1/2 weeks???
Oh, I’ve read three of your books: Wellness, Come and Get It, and Yours, Truly. I really liked all of them.
Avocado toast and Malbec sounds a lot better than subway to me. As fast food goes, subway is fine, but I just don’t love it.
When it feels too warm for red wine, I just put ice in it. I know, I’m a heathen. I like what I like.
My husband’s family (pre him) emigrated from tropical South America (Guyana) to Ontario (Belleville) and the weather difference was HARD. His sister (1st grade?) used to tell her teacher she was just visiting and going home soon. News to the rest of the family.
Welcome home! Time alone with your parents is special. I love visiting family with my husband and daughter, but it’s also really special to visit without them.
I didn’t know your husband is Canadian!!! I have always wondered, particularly in Ontario in the winter, so much snow and cold. Well, most places in Canada would be like that, I don’t know why I singled out Ontario!
The car rides! We just did a 14 hour ride trip over two days to my cousin’s lakehouse in Manitoba. It was beautiful but that drive was endless. I was not however, with my parents, I would have needed more than Malbec. 😃
Wooooooo that is a long drive. We used to regularly drive 10 hours to SK when I was a kid, and wow, that is a long and boring drive.
The fear of returning to a former time as a sulky, angst-filled kid made me chuckling. Plus the reference of wearing a walkman, I was the back seat angst-filled kid who was the only backseat kid who did NOT yet own a walkman on a drive. See: middle child syndrome.
I remember those days so well. One time stand out – my dad had a, very mild in today’s terms, road rage moment when we were on an expressway. A guy was riding his break or refusing to move over or something, so my dad honked. As we passed the guy, he held his hands up as if they were mock glasses because Dad and so many of his backstreet offspring were wearing glasses. Bah. So funny.
Welcome back. I hear you on the re-entry issues. I’m back from two days away with the older girls. Time to get into the back to school groove.
No walkman on a long drive, nooooo!
Welcome back! Terrible air travel experience aside, I’m glad it was a lovely time with family. Fifteen hours in the car, though, is miserable! When I drove to Tennessee with my mom, stepdad, and their dogs, I think it was around 12 hours? And that felt like a LIFETIME.
We had VERY different experiences reading Come and Get It, lol. I honestly hate-read that book and was very disappointed. Maybe I’m just not smart enough to understand what the author was trying to do, but I just found it to be a slog. Glad it worked for you! And hooray to Yours Truly – I felt so seen by the character with social anxiety.
I knew you liked Yours Truly and I thought of you while reading! I’ll have to go find your review of Come and Get It – we definitely had a different experience!
My road trip snack is popcorn. I go to this place where they pop it fresh every day and I get a mix of butter, sweet butter, jalapeno, and caramel. And then I stuff my face with it as fast as I can and get popcorn all over my hands and the car. #noregrets
Yours Truly! Abby Jimenez is on my permanent watchlist because of The Friend Zone (maybe the angriest I’ve ever been at a book), but I really adored that book. Lieutenant Dan! Cooter! Letter writing! It was basically guaranteed to make me like it.
And the pig named Kevin Bacon!!! I am pretty sure I haven’t read the Friend Zone, so I will take that as a cautionary tale.
I LOVE popcorn!
I’m glad my vacation did not involve a camper, airplanes, or 15 hour car rides! But yeah to family reunions! And meeting distant relatives! I’m sure it was all worth it. LOL at getting in your steps at the airport. That’s looking at the positive!
I also loved Come and Get It. I have a different Jimenez book on hold at the library right now. High hopes!
It was all worth it but whew, it was a LOT of travel!
Oh wow, what a trip… but I also love being in around family and people who have known you your whole life. It’s a bit like time travel, so I am not surprised you had some “deja vu” in the back of your parents’ car 😉
I am sorry about the airport debacles (NO SUBWAY!) and plane delays but glad you made it home back safely. And as always, you managed to read so much. I am so impressed.
Seeing all my family was really worth the trip! Well, you know what that’s like!
I have spent hours in the car over multiple days with my parents as an adult. It’s…challenging. I usually read (I don’t get carsick, thank goodness) and try desperately to ignore the (constant, omg, they never. stop. talking.) chatter from the front seat. That said, I’m so grateful I still get to be annoyed by them. I’m sure you are, too.
And, holy cats, Nicole. No Subway? PROP PLANE? ANTS????????????? I hope Rexie + being home + restoring said home to Nicole-level standards has helped. <3
Yes, Anne, you have hit it exactly!
Also – WTF WHERE IS THE SUBWAY???