Drinks

"We love you, man," the postman said, and held out a glass like you'd hold out a bag of something made by the sea. We all want what's in the bag. You'd have to be crazy not to take some. Have you ever had a mango lassi? Thick down the throat, crazy orange, delicious and happy if you like that sort of thing? What else can a fellow do, in the grip of mango and yogurt and fruit, spun up into a substance just like love? It is love. It's a part of it.

-Adverbs by Daniel Handler

I feel as if I am giving you this post a week in advance. I also feel that since I am giving you a recipe inspired by love that I should probably give you another one next week on (or near) the 14th.

I'm spoiled by novels. They are easy, seamless, and satisfying. You start it knowing that the characters you have come to know and love (ah love) are going to have their issues resolved. But this book was completely different. I started off by learning about Andrea and "I" and Peter, then I went to chapter two, and I was learning about someone else. It was as if the book was both a collection of short stories about completely unrelated people and a book about the same people. So I am not sure what to tell you. It was completely illogical as a novel, but that may have been part of the point. It was a book about love, and love is not always considered to be logical.

"This is the way in Iran," he says, placing a cube between Stella's own teeth for her. His finger brushes against her bottom lip. She puts the cup to her lips and drinks. Then she holds the cube between her thumb and forefinger.
"It's good," she says, "but what about conversation?"
Ushman smiles, displaying his own sugar cube.
"Yeth, ith ith juth thumthing you learn to do. A wight of passagth."

-The Rug Merchant by Meg Mullins

I usually don't mind reading sad books, but I'll admit that I was relieved when I closed The Rug Merchant and switched my focus to what I would prepare. It reminded me of when I was dating, when cultural differences and lack of authenticity were part of whatever relationship I was in at the time. Thankfully I'm no longer dating, and thankfully there were a few happy moments in the book, including a moment with tea.