I’ve really been enjoying The Book of Salt, even though it’s not something I would normally pick up. I know I’d read about it when it came out – the fictionalized account of Gertrude Stein’s cook. Nuh-UH! Are you kidding me? That kind of thing normally leaves me cold. But a friend lent it to me, and I started reading it without reading the jacket. By the time it came to me that I knew what the book was about, it was too late. Now I have to keep reading for the language.
Yep, it’s over the top all right, but somehow Truong gets away with it. It might be because the book is ABOUT language that she can get away with being so purple, but I don’t hate its luridness. Actually, I’m digging it.
Just listen to this about jade:
Oh, you know what? Never mind. (This is still me, not Truong.) What was purple and moving in bed after a cocktail last night (see below) is now just annoying. I’ll just show you MY jade instead:
When I was little (you’ve heard this already? I’ve written it? You know I’ve forgotten if I have), I always had a plastic tiki. My mother had the real greenstone one. She told me on every trip to New Zealand that when I was a grown-up lady, I could buy myself one. Always the pragmatist, my mother. So last year, when the whole family went, I did. It’s one of my three most precious objects. (Not that I really have three, I just bet I could come up with three if pressed….)
And I do believe that it’s the most alive kind of stone. It does feel like it breathes next to me, and the way it warms up against my skin is comforting. When I was dating T, she had such respect for it (not that she doesn’t now, you know what I mean…..) She refused to touch it at all. While this felt a little silly, I really liked that she felt like she did – that she believed there was power in such a little item. The other day at Peppa, a couple of women closed their unknown fingers right around it: “Oh, how pretty! What is it?” Nooo!
Okay, just a few lines from the book.
On making love with someone with whom a common language is not shared: “We will attempt to tell stories to each other using just one word.” Too rich, but sweet. My teeth ache in a good way.
Also on sex: “There is no narrative in sex, in good sex that is.” And I like it that she doesn’t try to force such a narrative.
Tonight: Boy Meets Boy finale. I’m terrified that Franklin will be the straight one, and that will be too horrible. It has to be Trying-to-Have-Gay-Hair Pompous Ass Wes, it just HAS to be. I can hardly wait.
yeah, it’s me again, chiming in to agree with you. I know what you mean about jade. It really does seem to be alive in some way. Each piece has its own personality and you definitely tend to bond with them. I had a jade lion on a sandalwood mala that I received from my kung fu grandmaster when I was testing to become an instructor in the school. I wore it every day for years, and it became such a part of me I couldn’t imagine going without it. I never let anyone touch it. When my brother left for Iraq back in March I gave it to him and he wore it every day in a pocket in the back of his flak vest. He said he felt that way I literally had his back. 🙂 When he came home I told him to keep it. He earned it!
I had a silver pentacle I used to wear around my neck ona silver chain. I gave this, my single most prized possession, to my husband when he proposed to me. He has yet to take it off, and just like me, he NEVER lets anyone near it.
Wish I had something profound to say about the jade…but I don’t.
Just wanted to say that I am worrying about Franklin being the straight one too!
Argh…such suspense!
Okay I have to say I am totally DYING to know who’s straight… I thought for sure tonight was the last night. Now I have to wait an entire 7 days. Torture I tell ya, torture! I hate to tell you but my gut says that the producers wanted to make SURE a straight guy was in the final three so they rigged it. You know how they paired them up two by two? I think they purposely paired the straight guys up to make sure a straight guy would make it to the final three… which would mean it’s Franklin since he was partnered with Sean who IS straight.
This is what I kept telling myself as I watched the show but I so don’t want Franklin to be straight — I like him too much. Damn. I hope I’m wrong. Why isn’t it Tuesday already?!?!
Your Haku faces are awesome; thank you for telling the story about your jade tiki. I want to be able to make a Haku face too; I think I’ll practice. What an excellent skill to have!