Friday’s Feast #134

Appetizer

What is your usual bedtime? Do you like that, or would you rather it be different?

Every night I swear I’m going to turn in before midnight, but I never seem to make it. It is more typically about 1:30 a.m. or so. Luckily, I have never needed much sleep in order to function.

Soup

When it comes to advice, do you give more or receive more?

In my profession, I give a lot of advice. I wish it were followed more often.

Salad

Describe a memorable meal you’ve had.

Last year, we went to our best friends’ house for dinner to celebrate the hubbies’ shared birthday. They bar-b-qued steak, and we had your basic all-American accompaniments: Baked potatoes, salad, garlic bread, some very lovely wine. Birthday cake and coffee followed the meal.

We are celebrating precisely the same way tomorrow evening and I am looking forward to being able to unwind and break bread with these long-time, very dear friends. We always have fun and, because we have known each other for so long, there is no need to get dressed up and be on our best behavior. We can just be ourselves and hang out.

Main Course

Name a work of fiction that affected the way you think about something.

“The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant is a compelling story. I couldn’t put it down because the characters came to life in a way I never would have imagined. I was mesmerized by the retelling of the story and heartily recommend it. From Ms. Diamant’s site:

The Red Tent retells the story of Dinah, which is found in the Biblical book of Genesis, Chapter 34. This episode, usually known as the “Rape of Dinah” has been a difficult passage for bible readers for centuries because of the murderous behavior of Jacob’s sons. In Genesis, Dinah does not say a single word; what happens to her is recounted and characterized as rape by her brothers. In my retelling of the story, Dinah finds her voice. The Red Tent is told entirely from her perspective and the point of view of the women around her.

The Red Tent is historical fiction, but because it is based on a story in the Bible, many readers feel an extraordinary connection to its cast of characters, whose names and tales are part of our culture, and our families, too. After all, many of us have parents named Jacob or Rachel, and many of us have children named Joseph or Leah.