The Cappuccino Diaries: A Taste of Paris Right Here in New York

When I think of last summer and my trip to Paris in July, there are three things I regret deeply:

1. I did not have the whirlwind French love affair that happens in nearly every novel on Pari. 
2. I did not climb the Eifel Tower. (Like most women who love heels, I avoid stairs like the plague.)
3. I did not order nearly enough cappuccinos. 

This last entry makes me the saddest. You see, drinking coffee is different in Europe. Here, in The States, the longest element in a coffee equation is waiting in line at Starbucks. Here, I stand for five minutes in a very chaotic line so I can drink my coffee while I walk to class. But for all of you who haven't been to Paris, I'll let you in on a secret: French cafes don't make to-go coffee. You actually have to sit down while you drink it.

Now, I wish I'd done more of that. There is no better way to start your morning than sitting down in a cafe with a book, sipping some of the world's finest espresso. But where in New York can you do that?

French Roast:
78 West 11th Street, New York, NY
Corner of 6th Ave. and 11th Street

A little taste of Paris, French Roast is one of my favorite spots. Why? Surprisingly, its not the good food, the great coffee, or the fun signs on the wall that keep me coming back. I love this place for one reason, and one reason alone: The staff don't mind if I spend all afternoon hunkered down with a cup of coffee and a good book.

At French Roast, reading with a cup of coffee couldn't be simpler. The one catch: The menu's a little pricy. Here, a cappuccino will cost about $5, and a sandwich about $10. But the atmosphere is warm, the music is catchy, and the food is rich and reminiscent of France. Even better, French Roast is open all night.

So if you're looking for a cozy cafe to escape to this weekend, French Roast is definitely worth the bill. Bring a book, bring a friend, and definitely bring a $20, and spend an hour getting lost between pages.

Live Uptown and don't want to make the trek all the way down to the West Village? No worries. Just bring your book to Broadway and West 85th Street and let the Uptown French Roast take it from there. Remember: Both cafes are open 24 hours, making both spots a great place to read day or night.


Photo courtesy of French Roast.

Timeless Like All Great Love Stories: Under Fishbone Clouds by Sam Meekings

Never judge a book by its cover. It's a hard and fast rule of anyone who consideres themselves a true bibliophile. Great content does not require stunning cover art. But I have a secret. A horribly guilty pleasure: Nine times out of ten, I'll buy a book without even reading the back of it if it has beautiful jacket art. A bad habit, I know. But what's even worse is that, nine times out of ten, the story will be, at best, mediocre, a real let down.

This time, however, I really hit the jackpot. Sam Meekings "Under Fishbone Clouds" was every bit as beautiful as the picture published on its front. It is the exception, the one-in-ten, if you will. How could I not recommend reading it?

The Specifics:

"Under Fishbone Clouds" by Sam Meekings
December 2010
416 Pages

My Review: A beautiful book with beautiful moments, it made me remember why I love to read.

Who'd Love It: Anyone who likes a subtle love story (Not a steamy love story. . . Don't pick it up expecting hot sex and action.)

What's It About: A cast of expertly crafted characters who struggle to understand love in a time when the world doesn't seem to have any.

When's It Set: China during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937 to 1945), and the following Cultural Revolution

What I Thought:
For some books, it's very hard to find a quote to sum up the story. As a whole, the book will be excellent, but I won't be able to find that one sentence or single phrase that captures the essence of the novel. This was not the case with Sam Meekings' "Under Fishbone Clouds." Not at all. Not in any way. Each sentence was more beautiful than the last one.

Simply speaking, "Under Fishbone Clouds" is a love story. Boy meets girl. Boy falls for girl. Boy loves girl even when the world falls apart. But speaking simply does not do Meekings or his story justice. Like all of the great novels, "Under Fishbone Clouds" is like (excuse the cliche) an onion. You have to peel it back one layer at a time and know that you might start crying.

Tissue Box Warning: Ladies and the more sensitive Gents, this is not the story to read after a break-up.

More than a love story, the plot and author take on a huge task: To unravel the human heart and find what's at its center. Hate, greet, heartbreak, loneliness. All these emotions play into this story about a couple trying to decipher love. The result is a story that is breathtaking.

Clearly, I thought this book was pretty perfect. And if I've convinced you to pick it up, great. But know this first: "Under Fishbone Clouds" is not an epic love story. The characters are not larger than life, and in my opinion, it's what makes the story beautiful. But if you're looking for passion like Romeo and Juliet or a romance so sultry that you're willing to read three bad books to get to the sex scene (yes, I am talking about "Twilight"), then "Under Fishbone Clouds" is not your story.

Subtle. That's what this story is. And that's why it's so touching. Love is not just the property of fictional giants, but a blessing that we all must learn to live with. And that's exactly what Meekings portrays in his stunning debut novel.

For a summary of "Under Fishbone Clouds," read my post, "Up Next: Under Fishbone Clouds."

Up Next: Under Fishbone Clouds

"Who can deny the fact that we are always in need of love stories?"

- "Under Fishbone Clouds" by Sam Meekings

"Under Fishbone Clouds is a universal love story, a family saga, and a journey through Chinese history, myth, and culture.  Following a young Chinese couple as their love grows, and is tested, during Mao's Cultural Revolution, this elegant debut novel provides a rare and personal glimpse into the birth modern China. 

When the Kitchen God is challenged by the Jade Emperor to fathom the workings of the human heart, he chooses to follow the life of Jinyi and his wife Yuying, from their blossoming love until their old age, in hope of finding an answer. The Kitchen God watches as the new government strictures split their family in two, living inside their hearts as they they endure the loss of two children, homesickness, and isolation, all while keeping alive a love that survives famine, forced labor, and even death. Weaving together the story of their life with China’s recent political history, as well as traditional folktales and myths, the Kitchen God illuminates the most impenetrable aspects the human condition. 

Sam Meekings's remarkable debut novel showcases his luminous, poetic writing, as well as insights that belong to a writer twice his age. Part love story and part historical narrative, Under Fishbone Clouds carries the weight and beauty of a lifetime's achievement."

- Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

"SAM MEEKINGS received his undergraduate degree in Modern History and English Literature from Oxford University, and his masters degree in Creative Writing from Edinburgh University. Originally from southern England, he now lives in China with his wife and two children. Under Fishbone Clouds is his first novel."

- Barnes and Noble

More by Sam Meekings:

The Book of Crows

See what The New York Times thought! Read "Dumplings With the Kitchen God" by Janet Maslin.

History, Mystery, and Buried Treasure: The Exodus Quest by Will Adams

I am a history nerd. An unashamed, unabashed history nerd. And so ever since I read Dan Brown's "The DaVinci Code," I've been searching for a book to live up to that thrill. For years now, I have been unsuccessful; but this week I finally found a book that hit my expectations dead on the mark. Will Adams' "The Exodus Quest." Read it. You won't be disappointed.

The second book in Adams' Daniel Knox mysteries, "The Exodus Quest" takes readers on a thrilling adventure through Ancient Egypt. Gunfights, ancient puzzles, a charming hero, and some very bad men. This book had it all and then some.

The Specifics:

"The Exodus Quest" by Will Adams
April 2010
326 Pages

My Review: Buy it. Read it. Don't put it down. Definitely worth the money.

Who'd Love It: History Nerds/Action Junkies (Spoiler Alert: This is not a romance novel.)

What's It About: Ancient Egyptian History and a Badass Archaeologist

When's It Set: Modern Alexandria


What I Thought:

Full disclosure: I did not know that this book was number two in the series when I first picked it up. Normally, you'd think this would be a problem: Like only watching season two of True Blood and wondering why I was confused. Clearly, there was some history between Adams' characters that I'd missed by skipping to book two. Will Adams, however, is an excellent writer. And while I wouldn't recommend skipping the first book intentionally, book one wasn't necessary to fall in love with "The Exodus Quest." Dan Brown step aside, I've found a new series.

That last sentence is written mostly in jest. (Mostly. Interjected cough. "The Lost Symbol" was disappointing). Yes, "The Exodus Quest" was every bit as good as "Angels and Demons," but Will Adams is not Dan Brown, and nor should he be. So if you're looking for a carbon copy of a Robert Langdon mystery, "The Exodus Quest" is not the book for you.

Spoiler Alert! Daniel Knox is sexier than an old Harvard professor.

Superficiality aside, unlike Dan Brown, Adams does not spend as much time on the puzzles used in "The Exodus Quest." And while, yes, this does mean that the reader doesn't get that puffed up ego boost for figuring out the answer, Adams more than makes up for it with historical context. Facts in "The Exodus Quest" are presented as if they are the most natural things in the world. By the end of the book, I was feeling like an Egyptologist.

My only critique is that Adams might have tried to fit too much story into this novel. While on the hunt to rescue Gaile, Knox discovers a mural that has explosive implications for Christianity. For a history nerd, plot lines like this are pretty close to crack. This story element is, however, dropped, leaving me to wonder at what the hell happened. With a suggestion this scandalous, you can't just leave me hanging.

But Adams' characters and his original plot line were strong enough to carry me to the very last word (perhaps even strong enough to do without the extra information). In the end, I still fell in love with the book. I give it five stars, two thumbs up, a blue ribbon, and a gold trophy. I will definitely be reading the whole series -- including book one.

"The Exodus Quest" by Will Adams. Read it.

For a summary of the exodus quest (plus a little gossip about the author) read my Up Next post: "Up Next: The Exodus Quest."

This Week in Manhattan: Mohammed Naseehu Ali

Highlight of the Week:

This week in Manhattan, Mohammad Naseehu Ali, author of "The Prophet of Zongo Street," will make an appearance Friday, October 14th, at 7 pm at the KGB Bar. This reading is part of NYU's Emerging Writer's Reading Series.

Ali and "The Prophet of Zongo Street" won over the hearts of critics, including The New York Times, with his colorful but honest narrative of the collection of 10 short stories. A native of Ghana, but now a resident of Brooklyn, Ali wove the best of both of his worlds into his stories, mixing traditional elements of African folklore with the unparalleled modernity that is New York City. The result, "The Prophet of Zongo Street," is truly breathtaking.

Compared by Barnes and Noble to Chinua Achebe, Ali is sure to make this Friday's reading a memorable experience and a must-see for anyone in town that night.

Read more about Ali and "The Prophet of Zongo Street" in Elizabeth Schmidt's New York Times article "'The Prophet of Zongo Street': Coming to America."



Reading Manhattan:
Louffa Press Hosts a Night with Steve Katz

7 pm, Wednesday, October 12th

KGB Bar

85 East 4th Street

Robert Kirkman: "The Walking Dead"

7 pm, Wednesday, October 12th

Union Square Barnes and Noble

33 East 17th Street

Teju Cole, Anna Solomon, Rebecca Wolff

NYU's Debut Fiction Reading

7 pm, Thursday, October 13th

Lillian Vernon Creative Writer's House

58 West 10th Street, between 5th and 6th

Behind the Book: Leah Hager Cohen, Helen Schulman, Amy Waldman, and Carmela Ciuraru

7 pm, Thursday, October 13th

KGB Bar

85 East 4th Street

Upstairs at the Square: Anne Beattie and Marketa Irglova

7 pm, Thursday, October 13th

Union Square Barnes and Noble

33 East 17th Street

Derrick Weston Brown, Aracelis Girmay, Kevin Simmonds

NYU's Happy Hour Poetry Reading

5 pm, Friday, October 14th

Lillian Vernon Creative Writer's House

58 West 10th Street, between 5th and 6th

Frank Miller: "Holy Terror"
7 pm, Friday, October 14th

Union Square Barnes and Noble

33 East 17th Street

Photo courtesy of BarnesandNolble.com

Up Next: The Exodus Quest

"Knox knew how rare it was to find valuable artifacts in a street market. The hawkers were too shred to sell high-quality pieces that way, the antiques police too observant. And there were artisans in the back streets of Alexandria and Cairo who could knock out convincing replicas in a heartbeat, if they thought they could fool a gullible tourist into parting with their cash. But this particular bowl seemed too dowdy to be worth the effort. 'How much?' he asked finally."

- "The Exodus Quest" by Will Adams

"On a dusty Alexandrian street, Egyptologist Daniel Knox comes across a Dead Sea Scroll jar that puts him on the trail of an ancient Jewish sect. But blood-and-thunder preacher Ernest Peterson has a sacred mission to complete, and he’s not about to let Knox or anyone else get in his way. 

"Then Knox’s partner Gaille Bonnard is abducted, and a hostage tape threatens her with execution. Knox is certain she’s hidden a message in the broadcast, but he can't convince the authorities, not least because they now suspect him of murder. With time running out for Gaille, Knox flees custody and races across Egypt to the mysterious ancient city of Amarna and the tomb of a heretic pharaoh that may just provide the answer to the great riddle of the Exodus itself."

 - The Official Website of Will Adams

About the Author:

"Will Adams worked as a shop salesman, painter & decorator, warehouse porter and microfiche technician, before joining a Washington DC-based firm of business history consultants. He wrote a series of corporate histories and biographies for them, taking time off between projects to travel in search of exotic settings for his stories. More recently, he worked for a London communications agency, but he now concentrates on writing fiction full-time. He lives in Essex, England."

- Barnes and Noble

More Books by Will Adams:

The Alexander Cipher 

The Lost Labyrinth 

The Eden Legacy 

Reading in New York City

"We read to know we are not alone."

C.S. Lewis

A blog on anything and everything worth reading in New York City. It sounds like a big idea. But this is a big city, and there are a lot books to read in the world. And so this humble author takes on this big task. The possibilities are endless here.

Ever wonder which coffee shop has the best corner to read in? We've got the answer. Ever wonder where to find the best deal on a page turner? We've got the answer to that too. Book recommendations, author interviews, schedules for book signings, and more. All though the lens of the great city of New York.

And now for a little on this author. As a student of journalism, I've always loved reading. And there is no better place to take advantage of this than New York. Washington Irving, Herman Melville, J.D. Salinger, Upton Sinclair, Walt Whitman, and Edith Warton all graced these streets. The buildings are humming with literary history, and this writer and this blog are going to be at the center. So tune in for the latest, we'll have it all here.


Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Creative Commons, taken by Jnn13.