— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC
“Long Island” by Colm Tóibín
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Long ago, in the year 2009, we tore through Colm Tóibín’s bestseller “Brooklyn,” then watched it on the big screen with Saoirse Ronan as its Irish protagonist, Eilis Lacey. Now, 15 years after the book’s release,Tóibín has published a sequel — “Long Island” — that reintroduces us to Eilis, who is now in her 40s,married with two teenage children, and living on Long Island with her husband, Tony.This time, we watch Eilis’s life splinter when an Irishman shows up to her home and announces that his wife is pregnant with Tony’s child —and that when the baby is born, he’ll be dropping it on their doorstep for them to raise.We asked Tóibín a couple questions.Here’s what he had to say…
Q: Had you always planned on writing a sequel to “Brooklyn”?
Tóibín: I never planned to do a sequel.It simply never occurred to me. I have written 11 novels, and if I began to write sequels to each one,I would never have a moment to myself. Also, it would be terrible if novels of the past had had sequels — think of “Moby Dick” or “Ulysses.” Or, “War and Peace and War Again.” What happened was I got an idea for a novel, and it had the same characters as “Brooklyn” but in a different kind of configuration. The scene at the very beginning of the book was what occurred to me. In a way, “Long Island” is a sequel to that scene.
Q: You’re hosting your dream book club: Who’s invited, what are you reading, and what are you eating?
Tóibín: I really don’t know how to cook, so I suppose we would have to order the food in — [which would be] lots of duck. We’d have a choice between James Baldwin’s “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man” or we might do both. I’d like to have Baldwin and Ellison in the club and maybe Alice Munro. Failing them, it’s hard to know who to ask. Can you check if Henry James is free that evening? But best not have him and Edith Wharton together. Or, maybe we should [take] a risk and invite them both. Let them decide.
An Easy French Toast Casserole You Can Make Half-Asleep
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The only thing better than enjoying a restaurant-worthy brunch in PJs? When all that’s required is rolling out of bed and turning the oven on. That’s exactly why we’re recommendingBaker by Nature’s Overnight Raspberry French Toast Casserole. All the prep (and there isn’t much) can and should be done the night before, so the bread has time to soak up the sweet, eggy batter — key for that gooey, custardy texture. Add in chunks of cream cheese and swirls of raspberry, and you’ve got a dish that’s impressive enough for a holiday (like, say, Mother’s Day) and easy enough for an ordinary Sunday.
The Time Commitment: Thirty minutes the night before to prep and assemble the casserole. Plus, an hour the next morning for it to bake — during which you can enjoy a cup of coffee, scroll through Instagram, or do whatever else you want to do.
Key Tips: The recipe calls for sourdough or French bread, but you can also use challah or brioche — just make sure it’s dried out or toasted, so it’ll absorb the batter without falling apart. Another swap to keep in mind? Subbing the fresh raspberries and raspberry preserves for blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries.
Forget Barcelona — This Underrated Spanish City Has It All
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Cross Madrid’s history with Barcelona’s beauty and Seville’s citrus trees, and you’d get Valencia. Criminally overlooked in favor of its famous neighbors, Valencia, which is actually Spain’s third-largest city,offers a bit of everything: miles of picture-perfect beaches (do not skip Playa de la Malvarrosa),historic and cultural treasures, and some of the best paella you’ll ever eat — all with a refreshing lack of tourists. Plus, the laid-back coastal city experiences 300 days of sunshine annually, so there isn’t a bad time to visit.
🛏 Located in Valencia’s Old Town, Hotel Palacio Vallier is a 19th-century mansion turned luxury hotel with 31 rooms and suites, featuring soft color schemes, Art Deco details, and gorgeous marble bathrooms. At night, stop by the hotel’s cozy, wood-paneled bar for a superb rendition of the city’s cocktail, Agua de Valencia, made with gin, vodka, cava, and fresh orange juice.
🌴 In March, Valencia was named the 2024 European Green Capital, thanks in part to its expansive green spaces. That includes the popular Parque Central, lively Plaza de la Reina (excellent for people watching), and Turia Gardens, a 6-mile, palm tree-filled park that curves around the city — where you can walk, run, bike, or simply enjoy the view. Outdoorsy types should also visit Albufera Natural Park, known for its freshwater lagoon, rice fields, 250 species of birds, and astounding sunsets.
🏛One of Valencia’s most striking aspects? The beaches, obviously. But also, the stunning combo of historic and contemporary architecture. To see this in action, stroll through Old Town, stopping at La Lonja (the UNESCO-listed, Gothic-style silk exchange) and Valencia Cathedral, which includes the El Miguelete bell tower (climb to the top for 360-degree views). Then, head to the City of Arts and Sciences, a futuristic masterpiece that contains an opera house, interactive science museum, and aquarium.
🍴Valencia’s claim to fame is it’s the birthplace of paella, so don’t leave without trying the real deal — ideally from 100-year-old Casa Carmela. Also not to be missed? A trip to Mercado Central, a spectacular food market with over 1,200 stalls selling seafood, produce, pastries, and more. (After browsing, snack on cod fritters and chicken croquettes at the market’s Central Bar.) And for dinner, try traditional tapas at Casa Montaña.
The old saying goes: “When you marry someone, you marry their family.” We’d make one addition: “and their money habits.” Because you’re also saying “I do” to making most major financial decisions — from what to do with cash gifts to how you’ll handle taxes — together.
To avoid some uncomfortable conversations down the line, newlyweds or soon-to-be-weds may want to ask “(How) will we combine finances?” PS: There are no wrong answers. Some people merge it all, some prefer to keep things separate, and others take a “yours, mine, ours” approach.
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
Q: I recently attended a friend’s dinner party, and a few days later, I received a Venmo request for my portion of the meal. I don’t want to start an argument, but I’m pretty annoyed. How should I respond?
“It depends on your relationship with the person. If you don’t really care about them or they’re an acquaintance,then I would pay and just write them off. But if you actually care about them and [your] relationship, then you should help your friend become a better person.
I would definitely agree to pay, but then I would [ask] to chat over the phone or face to face,and I’d say: ‘It’s perfectly okay to [host] a dinner and have everybody pay their share. But if you don’t say that upfront, and you bill people afterwards, that’s very bad form.’And then you should say: ‘I’m telling you this because I’m a friend, and I care about you. And I want to make sure as friends, we’re looking out for each other … If the situation were reversed, I’d hope you’d tell me if I was out of line.’ [You] can even say, ‘A lot of people who went to that dinner were really surprised.’ You don’t have to [give] names, but that lets them know it’s not just you who is upset.”
I was invited to a colleague’s baby shower, and before I RSVP, I want to find out if I’ll know anyone else there. Is there a subtle way to ask who else is invited?
Jade Leaf Tea is non-GMO, organic, and sourced from family-owned farms in Japan. We've been making matcha lattes in lieu of an afternoon coffee for a gentler caffeine fix, plus a dose of antioxidants and L-theanine. PS: Use code NMDVIP20 to get 20% off through May 15.
PS: Want more product recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram.
Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.
Have a book, recipe, or travel rec? Or, a dicey etiquette question you want answered by an expert? Submit them here.
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Skimm’d by: Alex Carr, Melissa Goldberg, and Margaret Wheeler Johnson
Photos by Scribner, Joanie Simon, VitalyEdush via iStock, pawel.gaul via iStock, Delmaine Donson via Getty Images, courtesy of Sara Jane Ho, Brand Partners
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