With its brief length, seasonally appropriate setting, and its heated love shape, Cicadas makes for perfect summertime reading.
Anouk has been having an affair with Michael, a married man. Don't worry, he says, it's an open marriage. Things become more complicated when Anouk meets and befriends Michaels wife, Marina and she is invited to join them on a summer retreat with another couple where the pairings and affairs become more complex and convoluted.
The novella is short, 46 pages, so it doesn’t have a lot of time to dwell on anything more than the important plot points. When it does, it makes for a very emotional passion driven read. We get some background information about how Anouk and Michael’s affair started and how she was put into Marina’s confidence enough for her to confide a painful family secret to her husband’s mistress. There is also time to pull other people into the triangle to further complicate things as other lovers are revealed and one character’s infatuation for another becomes volatile and obsessive.
Even though we are given very little because of the brief length, what we are given makes the various parts of this love triangle plus other shapes interesting. Most of the hidden depths and motivations of the characters are suggested rather than outright stated. For example, learning about a loss within Michael’s family turns him from a devil may care philanderer to a pathetic sod drifting away from his wife and trying to hold onto anything to give him feeling. He inspires lust, understanding, empathy, and irritation all at once.
Anouk herself goes through a painful journey of self awareness. She begins the affair incredibly naive and lost in her emotions, believing that she needs to be in a relationship no matter how many red flags that she sees. She knows that having an affair with a married man could lead to trouble but she wants to believe Michael’s excuses and ignores Marina’s existence. That works until she meets and begins to like her. Suddenly that unspoken guilt has a face and a name. The turning point occurs during the vacation and Anouk sees Michael for who he really is. She loses the illusions that she once had of being in a romantic relationship and makes changes towards her own life. After her romantic illusions are shattered, Anouk is able to find the independence and self-awareness to leave the situation with the knowledge that she doesn’t need to be in a relationship to feel complete.
Besides the character’s journeys and brief length, what makes Cicadas ideal summer reading is the setting. For a story drenched in love affairs and hidden passions, the setting is rather apt. Anouk’s first look at Michael and Marina’s vacation home is as follows: “The summer house was everything that Anouk had imagined. Huge Spanish archways, walls covered in ivy, a balcony overlooking wild greenery that stretched all the way to the ocean. On one side of the house was a gazebo with four wooden posts and a tarnished picnic-style table beneath it. She thought of all the dinners that had taken place there, all the people Michael and Marina seduced and danced with under the moonlight.”
The book is filled with summertime imagery: sunshine, heat, cool water, outdoor picnics, dancing under the moonlight, beach houses, and longer days. Even the title, Cicadas, lends itself to that because cicadas are insects that mate every seven to fourteen years and make plenty of noise while doing so. 2024 is particularly notable for this because both the 7 and 14 year cicadas made their appearances.
Everything in the book calls to mind a time of fun and passion. Sometimes, like the weather, a romance becomes hot and uncomfortable and you have to get away from it into the cool breeze of a safe air conditioned home. However, there is a constant awareness that summer is a brief fleeting time of three months of the year. It is only temporary. The cicadas do their mating calls for a couple of weeks then go underground. Sometimes passion and romance is temporary. What was once exciting and sexual gets cooled off when faced with reality. Summer becomes autumn and one is left with the options of staying in a relationship that may not work or finding the courage to leave it.
The Republic of Plato Book 1: Views on Justice by G. McLaughlin
G. McLaughlin’s novella, The Republic of Plato, offers a condensed and simple way of remembering the Ancient Greek philosopher’s teachings: through verse.
The first volume, Views on Justice, interprets the teachings of Plato’s mentor, Socrates into rhyming couplets. In four chapters, the philosopher offers lessons on “Justice as Honesty in Word and Deed,” “Justice as Helping Friends and Harming Enemies,” “Justice as the Interest of the Stronger,” and “Justice is More Profitable than Injustice.”
The rhyme scheme is simple with couplets at the end of each line. (“Socrates was walking down the mountain from a festival of lights/A group of children came up smiling with laughter and delight.”) It reads almost like a kid’s guide to philosophy or a book by Dr. Seuss. Readers who are unfamiliar with philosophy may find this approach helpful as it condenses the philosophies in a way that is engaging and easily understood.
While the rhyme scheme is simple, the discussions are complex. Socrates talks to a friend or student about a specific question and gives his answer based on examples. This allows Readers to pay attention to the questions that are posed and the answers that are given. For example, Polemarchus, a belligerent student asks if telling the truth and paying debts are the right way.
Socrates expands the other man’s thinking by offering situational challenges like whether people from different occupations may not earn the same as others should be treated differently or whether there are different standards between friends and enemies. Just like many philosophical questions, there are no right or wrong answers. They are often designed to challenge superficial perspectives and think critically and deeply about what we have previously believed.
The Republic of Plato is a fun and engaging way to learn about Socrates and Plato and their philosophies. These questions on justice are ones that are still thought about today and this book presents interesting perspectives on them.
Super Easy Keto Diet Book for Beginners Over 60: 2000+ Days Low Carb, Low Sugar & Delicious Keto Recipes Cookbook-Assist in Trimming Excess Fat/Includes 30 Day Meal Plans by Branimira Ivanec
Branimira Ivanec’s Super Easy Keto Diet Book for Beginners is a book of delicious healthy recipes but it is also a book that reminds its Readers of the importance and benefits that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can bring.
The book first describes the principles and benefits of a ketogenic lifestyle. Principles include “Low carbohydrate intake,” “Nutrient-dense whole foods,” “Hydration and electrolyte balance,” “Meal timing and intermittent fasting,” “Whole body wellness,” and “Continuous learning and adaptation.”
Benefits include “Blood sugar control,” “Increased energy and mental clarity,” “Enhanced physical endurance,” “Positive metabolic changes,” “Hormonal regulation,” “Disease prevention,” and “Improved skin health.”
The recipes are varied for Breakfast, Fish, Seafood, Poultry, Beef, Pork, Lamb, Soups, Stews, Vegetarian Mains, Appetizers, Snacks, Desserts. They include “No-Nuts Granola with Clusters,” “Aromatic Monkfish Stew,” “Crackling Creole Crispy Chicken Thighs,” “Pan-Seared Steak with Mushroom Sauce,” “Broc Obama Cheese Soup,” “Cheesy Cauliflower Pizza Crust,” “Everything Bagel Cream Cheese Dip,” and “Salted Chocolate-Macademia Nut Fat Bombs.”
The Super Easy Keto Diet Book is an interesting guide to create healthy meals and understanding how it helps the body, mind, and soul.
2024 Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners: 1900 Days Easy, Tasty & Nutritious Recipes Book for Balanced and Better Eating A No-Stress 30-Day Meal Plan by Asuman Veer
Readers of the Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners is a delectable way for Readers to engage in Mediterranean culture and in particular its food.
The introduction to the book offers information on the benefits of Mediterranean cooking like hearty health, weight management, Diabetes prevention and management, anti-inflammatory effects, cognitive health, and longevity. It also describes the essence of Mediterranean cooking including healthy fats, plant-based foods, whole grains, lean proteins, herbs, spices, moderate wine consumption, mindful eating, and social connections. It also stresses community by promoting celebrating food, local markets, and culinary heritage.
There is a variety of meals including breakfast, beans, grains, poultry, fish, seafood, beef, pork, lamb, snacks, appetizers, vegetable sides, vegetarian mains, sides, salads, pasta, pizza, wraps, sandwiches, desserts, sauces, staples, dips, and dressings.
Recipes include “Flax, Date, and Walnut Steel-Cut Oats,” “Falafel,” “Chicken Souvlaki,” “Mussels with Fennel and Leeks,” “Steak Gyro Platter,” “Halloumi, Watermelon, Tomato Kebabs with Basil Oil Drizzle,” “Mediterranean Cauliflower Tabbouleh,” “Turkish Red Lentil and Bulgur Kofte,” “Arugula Salad with Grapes, Goat Cheese, and Za’atar Croutons,” “Toasted Couscous with Feta, Cucumber, and Tomato,” “Za’atar Pizza,” “Olive Oil Greek Yogurt Brownies,” and “Piri Piri Sauce.” They reflect the variety, health, and delicious food around the Mediterranean Sea.
The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners is a great book that opens a rich tradition and culture of food, family, and togetherness.
2024 Time-Saving Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners: 2000+ Days Easy, Delicious & Budget-Friendly Recipes Book for Busy Beginners and Family Favorites Inc. Everyday Fry, Bake, Grill, & Roast by Mette A. Mogensen
The Time-Saving Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners is a great book for experimenting with simple cooking. It helps people prepare simple meals and take advantage of their air-fryer which is described in the book as a “kitchen superhero” for making crisp versatile meals.
As with many cookbooks, this book provides plenty of varied recipes for "Breakfast, Family Favorite, Fast and Easy Everyday Favorites, Vegetables, Sides, Vegetarian Mains, Poultry, Beef, Pork, Lamb, Fish, Seafood, Snacks, Appetizers, and Desserts."
The recipes offer some ideas for various healthy and delicious meals. They include “Jalapeno and Bacon Breakfast Pizza,” “Phyllo Vegetable Tacos,” “Sweet Corn and Carrot Fritters,” “Indian Eggplant Bharta,” “Cayenne Tahini Kale,” “Cornish Hens with Honey-Lime Glaze,” “Bo Luc Lac”, “Dukkah Crusted Halibut,” “Garlic Edamame,” and “New York Cheesecake.”
An air fryer is a useful cooking appliance and this book is a great companion for it.
