This Must Be the Place.

This Must Be The Place is a story about a marriage and the families surrounding it. 

Daniel Sullivan is a linguistics professor from Brooklyn who had returned to his ancestral Ireland to scatter his grandfather's ashes. Whilst doing so, in a remote part of the country, he has a chance meeting with Claudette and her son Ari. Claudette was a highly successful film actress until she staged her own disappearance, now she lives in seclusion with Ari in rural Ireland. 

Following their chance meeting Daniel and Claudette marry and it is their marriage that is central to the story. As the book progresses it looks back in time (and also into the future) and this is how we learn about the characters and the situations that they are currently in.

This book is cleverly plotted and the prose is beautifully written but I felt that the constant switching of characters and time frames made the book feel disjointed. At times it was almost as if I were reading a series of interlocking short stories rather than a novel. There were also a lot of characters involved here and I found myself having to flick back and forth to remember who they all were.

 Maggie O'Farrell has a loyal readership and although I can appreciate the quality of her writing - she is certainly an accomplished wordsmith - I have never been a big fan of hers. 

This Must Be the Place has had wonderful reviews (which was partly why I picked it up) but I honestly didn't enjoy it all that much. I thought that the storyline of Claudette, her disappearance and seclusion were too far fetched and this made the whole book seem somewhat hollow. 

It took me a long, long time to finish this story and when I did I set it aside with a sense of relief.

If you enjoy Maggie O'Farrell I'm sure you will love this but I didn't find it to be a satisfying or truly enjoyable read.

Empties: February 2017.

February's pile of empties is a bit of an unusual one as I only managed to use six full sized products. However, just like last month, I concentrated on using up hair care and body care samples so I also finished twenty nine samples.

Skincare.

Caudalie Cleansing Oil is a relatively new product that I was very impressed with. It smelt like almonds and had a great consistency for facial massage. Just one drop did a great job of dissolving make up and it was equally nice to use as a skin cleanser. This one is going on my shopping list!

I used five moisturising/face cream samples.
Muji Organic Moisturising Milk was a light lotion that smelt fresh and felt hydrating, good to use under make up or at night, it is my favourite out of the different Muji skincare ranges. Perhaps not the best if your skin needs a serious dose of moisture but a very nice basic everyday product in a travel friendly sized bottle.

111 Skin Space Anti Age Day Cream is far too rich to use as a day cream in my opinion and even when I used it as a night cream I could still feel it on my skin's surface in the morning.

Lancer Intensive Night Treatment is another cream that I found to be too heavy which also just seemed to sit on the surface of my skin.

Natura Bisse Oxygen Cream was light, hydrating and comfortable to wear but it had an odd plastic like scent. I used it as a day cream and liked it well enough although I'm not sure about how it supplies skin with oxygen...

Kat Burki Bio Correcting Face Cream isn't cheap but a little goes a long way here. I found that I needed to leave this a while to sink in as it doesn't contain silicons but once it did it left my skin felling silky and smooth, very hydrating this also did a good job of plumping fine lines.
Mila Moursi Neck Contouring Fluid is a light textured cream with a fern fragrance (that I thought was an odd scent for a skincare item). It was fine but I'm not convinced that you need to invest in a separate product for your neck.

Emma Hardie Amazing Facial Oil is the first product that I have ever tried from the Emma Hardie range. It smelt nice and absorbed well but there was nothing that made it stand out from a lot of other oils.
M61 SuperSmoothe E Microdermabrasion Scrub was a little too harsh and scrubby for me, I didn't enjoy this.

Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask was a floral scented gel that had a little tingle when first applied. My skin felt lovely and soft when I rinsed this off and looked brighter and even toned, it's a very effective mask that is delightful to use.
I also used a sachet of Roloxin Lift which left my skin looking perkier for an evening out and have started using Dr Dennis Gross Medi Spa Peel which leaves my skin plump and glowing the following day.

Haircare.

Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner for Beautiful Colour left my hair beautifully soft and shiny, if I could justify the expense I would use them every day!
Philip B Nordic Wood Hair + Body Shampoo also left my hair feeling lovely but I didn't like the very strong pine fragrance that it had.

I always want to like Sachajuan products and always feel somewhat disappointed by them so the fact that the Colour Save Shampoo was nothing special in my book didn't come as a surprise. It smelt rather chemically and felt like a drugstore product to me but I do love the stylish minimal packaging of this range.

I liked Davines Oi Absolute Beautifying Potion, a leave in serum smelt wonderful and left my hair smooth and sleek.
Rene Furterer Lissea was another leave in product, this time a cream that also left me with smooth hair that wasn't weighed down.

Body care.

Nivea Original Moisture Daily Body Lotion is a classic that I love which finds itself in my empties pile time and time again. It's great value for money, does everything that a body lotion should and smells like the original Nivea cream that you get in a tin.

Malin + Goetz Vitamin B5 Body Moisturizer is another good body lotion, easily absorbed and lightly scented with grapefruit it leaves skin feeling refreshed as well as soft.

I've not used Caudalie Divine Oil for a long time and had forgotten how lovely it is! This easily absorbed oil has a warm enveloping fragrance and it reminds me very much of Nuxe oils.

I've already spoken about my dislike of Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisurizer so I won't repeat myself. I managed to use up two fair sized tubes of this and you know what? I am so glad they are gone!

Zest Fruit Boost Shower Gel was zingy and uplifting. It's concentrated formula produced a heap of rich lather but the packaging was far from the best. I found that this had to be stored upside down or else it leaked, so for that reason I wouldn't buy it again.

I used a couple more mini Dove Nourishing Body Washes. Their creamy formula isn't my favourite but it is the powdery chemical smell of these that I dislike the most about them, the original one is the best of the range fragrance wise but still not to my taste.

Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash is something that I haven't used for a long time but I will certainly buy this next time I need a drugstore shower gel. It produces a rich and creamy lather with a toasty nutty smell and it feels a lot more expensive than it is.

I used a handbag sized tube of Crabtree & Evelyn Lily Hand Lotion. I love these little tubes of cream, they aren't greasy and while Lily isn't my favourite of the fragrances it is still a very nice floral scent that isn't overpowering.

Finally body care wise I finished a tube of Burt's Bees Foot Cream. It's very coconutty, rich and oily but I find that if you merely apply it it doesn't do all that much -  you need to scrub and pumice your feet first for it to have any real effect.

Make Up.

I can't believe that I finished two eye liners this month! I have had the Sue Devitt Defining Eye Liner in Laki for quite some time. It is a twist up eyeliner that is an intriguing not quite black shade (it's a bit green, a bit brown and a bit grey all at the same time). Sadly this is a discontinued range but when it was around I used to love all of their eye products.

Charlotte Tilbury Rock n Kohl in Bright Eyes is the best cream/flesh coloured eyeliner I have used, it's creamy texture means it's easy to apply yet it lasts. This really does make my eyes look brighter when I apply it on the waterline. I have had good use out of this but it has dried out a little and the 'lead' part has detached from the wood so I can no longer use it.

Almay Smart Shade Skintone Make Up is a BB/CC type product that adapts it's shade to your skin tone. I found that it gave a very sheer coverage and was slightly more matte in finish than I like. As the day went on it seemed to disappear from my face even when I used a primer. I don't think I would ever purchase this but I was happy enough to use this sample on 'no make up' days around the house!

Fragrance.

I liked both of the vials I finished this month. Diptyque Geranium Odorata EDT was a peppery green floral that lasted well - I was surprised that I liked this as I dislike the smell of real geraniums!

Aerin Amber Musk was a very feminine musk, it was warm and sweet with vanilla accents but it did fade quite quickly on me.

And breath!

Next month I'm expecting to use less minis and samples and hope to finish off a few full sized things. Let's see if I do or not!

Sandwiches of New York #8.

Once again it's time to share another New York sandwich!

What is it? The Scuttlebutt.

Where's it from? SALTIE, 378 Metropolitan Avenue (at Havermeyer), Williamsburg, Brooklyn. saltieny.com

How much does it cost? $12.00 (inc tax)

What's in it? Feta cheese, hard boiled egg, pickled vegetables, olives, capers, pimenton aioli on foccacia.

I've been meaning to stop by Saltie for some time - finally I did and it was so worth it!

Saltie is a small cafe with a skinny storefront a couple of minutes walk off the main drag in ever popular Williamsburg. Inside it's not fancy and somewhat small but it's an airy space - bright and light. In front of the window and along one wall there's a high counter with some wobbly stools and a counter at the back where you place your order. Sandwiches are made to order and staff call you when they are ready.

There are seven sandwiches that are fixtures on the menu along with a couple of special sandwiches, and a few ever changing soups and salad. There's also a range of cookies and baked goods, tea, French Press coffee and a selection of home made iced drinks along with a help yourself water cooler.

The counter staff were nice and friendly and my order arrived swiftly (I was there at one o'clock on a weekday and it was quiet.)

My sandwich, The Scuttlebutt, was fresh and delicious. The briny, tangy filling was crisp and crunchy and perfectly complimented by the focaccia which was soft yet chewy, The vinegar in the pickles, the oil in the focaccia and the slick of aioli were all perfectly balanced.

There was plenty inside this sandwich, generously sized and satisfying it was easily enough by itself for a breakfast or lunch, and although it was a little messy to eat there were plenty of napkins and hand wipes available so it wasn't a problem.

I thought the Scuttlebutt was amazing, it was a highly enjoyable sandwich.
I will certainly be back and while I would like to try the other sandwiches here this one was so enjoyable that I can see myself reordering it!

Amazon Prime Luxury Beauty Box.

I recently signed myself up for Amazon Prime after finding out that it offers so much more than merely free shipping. (There are various levels of Prime membership available. Visit amazon.com for details of plans and how to sign up).

One of the things available to Prime members are sample boxes of various sorts - toiletries, cleaning products, health supplements, confectionery and (ta-da!) beauty boxes. 

Different boxes cost different amounts and some come as a GWP while others are a one time purchase, the cost of which will be reimbursed to you as a credit to use on a wide range of items within a specific category. Tax is included in the price and as the boxes are only available to Prime members shipping is free.

The first box that I have purchased is The Amazon Luxury Beauty Box which initially costs $19.99. This amount will then be applied to my account as a credit, seven days after shipping, so the box is essentially free! The box shipped promptly and I received it four days after ordering. 

I was pleased to find it jam packed with a variety of useful samples - twenty items in all. 

There is a full sized Julep Nail Varnish in the shade 'Lee' which is a bright coral toned red along with a handbag sized Ahava Mineral Hand Cream. The other items are mostly regular sample sizes with just two foil sachets. 

There are six samples of skincare along with a primer, a CC cream and a sunscreen, three haircare items and a mini Marvis toothpaste. There are also three perfume vials, and for Mr C+C an aftershave sample and a sample of shaving cream.

There's a good selection of products from a good variety of brands here and whilst they aren't SpaceNK style luxury brands they are all ones that you would find in Sephora, department stores or a fancy independent drug store. 

I think that this box is a great introduction to Amazon's beauty department and as it is free after credit I honestly don't think that you can go wrong. 

Now which sample box should I try next I wonder...

Remember Me This Way.

A year after his death in a car accident, Zach's widow Lizzie, still can't believe that her husband is dead. Still consumed by grief, she is also relieved, as Zach had a dark and disturbing side to his character that only she saw. 

When she finally visits the spot where he died she finds a floral tribute from an unknown woman called Xenia. With her friends urging her to move on with her life Lizzie is adamant that she cannot until she discovers the truth about her late husband and the circumstances surrounding his sudden death.

Who is Zenia? Is Zach really dead? Or is he still alive and behind the increasingly strange things that keep happening to Lizzie?

Remember Me This Way got off to a great start. The first half of this book was menacing and creepy and I really enjoyed it, but as the book progressed I found that the story and the characters became less and less convincing. A lot of the disturbing incidents were easily explained and I found myself becoming frustrated with Lizzie and her paranoid behaviour. 

I enjoyed the last book I read by Sabine Durrant (Under Your Skin) very much and had been keen to read more by this author but this one failed to hit the spot. 

It was well written but I didn't find the characters and their lifestyles to be very believable and while the plot had potential there was a lot about it that didn't ring true. I didn't like the way that the book ended either, everything was easily explained and it felt that the loose ends had been tied up a little too tidily...

I didn't dislike Remember Me This Way and it's far from being one of the worst thrillers I have read, but I found it to be lacking in so many areas that it was something of a disappointment.  

Christadora.

Christodora is a sweeping novel set mainly in New York City's East Village. Opening in the early 1980's, the chapters in it jump back and forth in time (until 2021) telling the stories of the main characters. It centers on two young artists, Milly and Jared, who make a home for themselves in the Christodora apartment building but Christodora is not only Milly and Jared's story. It also tells the stories of their adopted son, Matteo, and of Milly's family as well as recounting the stories of their friends and neighbours.
That's not all though, this powerful, sprawling story is also the story of the Aids Movement and it's activists, of the politics and policies of the 80's, of drug addiction and homelessness, as well as being a tale of the Downtown art scene, the East Village, and gentrification.

I know it's early days but Christodora may well be my Book of the Year! 

I loved this engaging narrative and the characters in it. There are so many themes explored in this book which are dealt with expertly and the stories and topics are woven together brilliantly. 

Altogether it's beautifully written and recounted.

I loved this book and am somewhat surprised that it hasn't received more publicity and plaudits.

. 

Highly recommended 

Product Love: Caudalie Grape Water.

I think that, along with cleansers, my favourite category of skincare may well be facial spritzes and sprays. I tend to vary my sprays and toners and most of the time have a few of them on the go but Caudalie Grape Water is the one that is a constant presence in my bathroom.

I know deep down that this is simply water in an aerosol, but it's fancy French water that has been extracted from grapes. Primarily it is meant for hydrating and soothing skin but you can use it in a whole range of ways. 

You can take it to the beach or the gym for a refreshing spritz or, in fact, just keep it to hand to refresh and moisturise your skin at any time. It feels wonderfully calming after shaving and comforts sunburn. It can be sprayed on top of make up to help it set and avoid it looking powdery. When used as a toner or layered between products it helps with slip and absorption. Recently I have been spraying it on my face before putting on masks as it makes their application so much easier. 

I think it is one of the most versatile beauty products around and as it is100% organic and free of all fragrances and preservatives it can be used on even the most troubled skin.

I have had a few issues with the packaging of some Caudalie products but the Grape Water packaging is perfect as the aerosol produces a very light continuous mist. It also comes in two sizes, the economical 200ml (6.7 fl oz - $22.00) tin lasts forever and is the one I buy most often but there is also a 75ml (2.5 fl oz $13.00) one which is great for travel and use on the go.

Grape water is available in pharmacies and at Sephora and of course at us.caudalie.com