sewinglibrarian’s Neighborhood

I finally found my new blog password (couldn't get into the site for months!), and Singing Queen Defenestration has officially moved.  It will be entirely a Book and Cheese Blog (infrequently updated).  I hope you like it!

Singing Queen Defenestration has moved to Wordpress.

Twice.

In addition to the above, I must say: Happy mother's day to my wonderful mom.  Happy birthday to my dear friend who doesn't know about this page, and therefore will have no idea that I have said happy birthday.  (Hee.)

Sorry it has been so long since the last Book and Cheese Blog Entry.  I didn't have time to read for so long, and then good cheese was so expensive.  But, Renee Marie and comebacknikki will be pleased at my cheese choice.

Today's book is The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera, and today's cheese is artisanal Manchego cheese.  I'm afraid I don't know where it was crafted.  Probably Spain, probably.  The label was in Spanish.  Anyway, on with it!

The Whale Rider

Witi Ihimaera

I had seen parts of the movie-- those that know me might be shocked that I never saw the whole thing, but movies make me impatient.  Still-- the movie did not prepare me for the book.  Basic synopsis of the book, taking place in New Zealand and containing mostly or entirely Maori characters:  Kahu's great-grandfather is extremely disappointed when she is born-- she is not a boy, and therefore cannot lead her iwi (tribe) in the future.  Kahu, however, knows that she is destined to be chief, but not only will her great-grandfather not see that, he hardly acknowledges her, though she loves him unconditionally.  Though he continues to ignore her, she has a gift passed down from her ancestor Kahutia Te Rangi, Paikea, and the survival of her people may hinge on that gift.

My, how I loved this book.  I can't even sit back and be articulate, I loved it so much.  I was going to quote from other reviews, but the reviews I want seem to have disappeared from the internet.  Kahu is not exactly spunky, but she fights for what she loves-- the denizens of the water, her iwi, and her Koro Apirana (not in that order).  She is secure in herself and knows who she is and who she is to be.  A very strong character.  All of the main characters (the great-grandparents, the uncle who narrates the book)are strong and well written.  This one is definitely a novel for older readers-- middle school kids would understand it but I think they might be impatient with it-- but it is rewarding.

artisanal Manchego cheese

WHERE has this cheese been?  How did I not know about it?  It is sweet and flavorful and absolutely nothing like an emmentaler. Even better, it is nothing like that Dubliner cheese (ugh).  It goes well by itself or with things.  I ate it with apple slices.  This is a very gorgeous cheese.  The odor exists but is not too pungent, the taste not too bland or too strong (and as I said, sweet).  Though it doesn't come on strong, it does have a full flavor.  I got a 4 month-aged piece, but there were 8 month-aged pieces that apparently have a bolder taste.  I shall try that sometime.  Thank you, Renee and C-nikki, for suggesting it! 

The cheese and the book complemented each other somehow.  I didn't eat the book or anything (heh) but I was eating the cheese while I read and... they just seemed to fit each other.

Also, I managed to upload "The I Love You Song" to my audio, as I was talking about it with S.

LET US BLOG IN PEACE.

There was a song running through my head all morning today, but I wasn't clear on some of the lyrics.  It was a song from the stage version of Carole King's Really Rosie (I don't believe it was in the cartoon, but I hated the cartoon).  I grew up with, and still have, the cast recording with Angela Coin as Rosie and the wonderful April Lerman as Kathy.  I guess this was recorded after Tisha Campbell left the cast...  anyway, the song was a solo about playing the wife of Dracula in the movies.  When I looked online for the correct lyrics, I was in for a surprise.  Somewhere between the recording of the cast album I had (which I believe was from the 1970s) and now, Rosie was given this song, "The Awful Truth."

To me, this is an awful truth.  You see, Rosie had the songs "Really Rosie," "Simple Humble Neighborhood," "Screaming and Yelling," "Avenue P," and several others. Rosie didn't need any more. It's about fairness, the sort of fairness and justice I thought the world should have when I was a child. The other kids had their little solo songs. It was only fair that Kathy's big turn was "The Awful Truth," with which she tried to convince Rosie that she'd make a better Star than Secretary.  The way April Lerman sang it on the recording, it sounded to me like Kathy blew Rosie out of the water with talent, but she didn't have the creativity or bossiness that Rosie did-- Rosie was the leader.  Kathy had a gorgeous voice, but Rosie was unquestionably the leader. 

Rosie had enough fine songs of her own, though.  "The Awful Truth" was Kathy's song.  And the Kathy lyrics deserve to be on the internet, so I'm going to put them here now.

If I were my copy of " The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" cast album, where would I be?

If I were my bottle of wood glue, where would I be?

If I were my tube of Chapstick, where would I be?

If I were the brand-new package of printer paper, where would I be?

And IF I WERE MY [expletive] WORK I.D. CARD, WHERE THE [expletive] WOULD I BE?

(mutter mutter mutter mutter mutter

I've nothing to add to what has been said all over the internet, TV, within conversations, everywhere.  You are all in my thoughts.  I wish you all strength.

WaPo article for me to think about