Cover to Cover

Since I'd gotten out of bed at 6 am today, I'd already lived a full day before lunch. So I did something I haven't done in awhile: I read a novel start to finish.

I've been a huge fan of Lisa Jewell since I read her first novel, "Ralph's Party", back in 2001, and have picked up each new one as it was published. Today I couldn't put down "Roommates Wanted" (published originally in the UK under "31 Dream Street"). I won't bore you with a synopsis or details, but it was an engrossing read about a group of people living in the various rooms of a big house in London, and how they all finally grew up. A new book, my cat snoozing on my lap, a pot of good coffee, and few interruptions made for a fantastic Saturday.

And FYI, if you are a fan of Nick Hornby's style, then you just might love Lisa Jewell too. That was how I came across her work. Oh, and check out Jennifer Egan too ("The Invisible Circus", et al).

Back-Issue Bin

Now that the legendary Paul Levitz is back as the writer on DC Comics' "Legion of Superheroes", it's time to go back and reread over 30 years of back-issues.

The original incarnation of the team began in Adventure Comics #247 back in 1958, and for all intents & purposes ("5 Years Later" was interesting, but is not considered canon now) ended in 1989. To me, this is the iconic version of the team, as it was "my" team when I was growing up. I will always remember the sheer joy at getting the latest comic off the stands at The Westminster Pharmacy right up the street from my childhood home, or the time I found a few missing issues of the "Reflecto Saga" at the now-defunct Hildreth's Variety Store on a bicycle ride with my cousin Jebb to our family's place on Wyman's Pond. Add in the many occasions my grandfather would drag out boxes of comics he picked up at flea markets or yard sales, and it was a great time to be a comics-loving kid.

A couple of long 'reboot' runs later (wherein I mostly enjoyed the "Archie Legion", and mostly hated the recent "Threeboot" version), and the original team, under it's most successful writer, is back once again, this time in two books: current adventures in Legion of Superheroes (issue #2 out tomorrow) and new tales from the team's past in Adventure Comics (issue #12 on the stands now). Paul Levitz is at the helm of both books, where he belongs, with Turkish illustrator Yildiray Cinar doing the art duties on the main title, and with various artists doing the drawing on the old-time tales. Here's to 30 more years of great stories and no more reboots!

Nantucket: Day 2

We slept 'til 9:30 or so after last night's excesses, and then got ready to go out for breakfast. A quick walk to the Even Keel Cafe on Main Street found us in one of the best breakfast places on the island (find two other great places at the bottom of the post).

Nearly the entire waitstaff was comprised of attractive young women, made up of both natives and European summer imports. Our server, Claire, was a willowy blonde Irish lass, who while competent and attentive (my coffee cup was never empty), was all business, thus putting the only damper on the meal. Can a friendly guy please get a smile?

Anyway, having forgotten how big the plates are, I ordered 2 eggs scrambled with sausage, grits and wheat toast, plus a short stack of their homemade buttermilk pancakes. The eggs & sausage were good, the grits a nostalgic surprise, and the pancakes fantastic. I couldn't finish the pancakes, and I didn't eat but a slice and a half of the toast, but it was a meal fit for a king. And because Brian & I had our $9 breakfast vouchers from The Chestnut House, the meal came to a grand total of $6.96 (the tip was more)!

Brian spent the rest of the morning walking around town (checkout was at 11 am, but they allow people to store their luggage for the day if they aren't leaving right away); and after a stop for a large Sumatran coffee at The Bean, I hung out on the house's garden bench (and then on the back outside staircase) reading more of "Tale of the Fox", and talking to the staff and various passers-by, while waiting for the bicycle I rented to get picked up. A great way to spend a lazy morning. Plus, I love it when I reread a book several years later, and memories of the place I read it last come flooding back.

Because we hadn't wanted to rush for the noon slow ferry, we paid double for the fast one at 3:15. I spent the trip with my nose in my book, Brian wandered around the boat, and then all that was left was for us to each go our separate ways when the ferry docked in Hyannis. A carefree 2-hour drive back to my new place, and I was home. Yet another terrific (if too short) trip to Nantucket is on the books!

Other amazing breakfast spots on Nantucket:

• The Hen House, 1 Chin's Way - Back when I was spending a week on-island at the end of every summer ('98-'03), we would eat here at least once each year. The lilts of the mostly Irish staff's accents are a pleasing musical backdrop to the delicious food, which comes in generous portions for the price. The only reason I haven't eaten there in recent years is the nine dollar vouchers for the convenient downtown places. Otherwise, it's a nice bike ride for a great meal, and closer to most rental properties than downtown would be.
  
• Arno's at 41 Main St. - Chestnut House vouchers are good here too! The food is great (try their Portuguese sweet bread French toast), and the staff is always friendly.