Page 18 - Boca Club News - December '24

Page 18, Boca Club News

The Arts
The Arts

Book Review: “’Twas the Bite Before Christmas”

By Nils A. Shapiro it is difficult to know where “It’s a Premier League game. Liverpool is playing
When I was trying to decide on an to begin. Most importantly, Chelsea.”
appropriate book to review for this his tongue-in-cheek humor “They’re five hours ahead there. Are they playing at
December column, several features will keep a grin on your face midnight?”
on the cover of this month’s selection from first page to last. I kept “I taped it”
attracted me: the obvious connection thinking that he would make “You taped an English soccer game? Voluntarily?”
to the Christmas holiday, the cute a great writer for the Saturday “Yup”…
twist of the “Bite” for “Night” in the Night Live TV show. “Does it bother you that they score about once every
title and the adorable Dalmatian with Here are just a couple couple of months?
the Gingerbread Man cookie in his mouth—an irresistible of examples early on “Nope.”
draw for the doggie lover I am. when Andy Carpenter is …“I watch along with him for a minute or so, pretending
What I did not realize until I arrived home, opened the describing how he feels to be interested, then I leave. I could watch until someone
book, noted the author’s credentials and began reading this about certain aspects of his scores, but by then Bobby’s trial might have started….
novel is that I had struck literary gold in my selection! Within family life. (I have omitted “I can’t sugarcoat this or enter a state of denial…The
the first few pages I understood why David Rosenfelt has large sections of the text for simple fact is that I have a son who prefers soccer to good
developed a massive fan base of readers for his more than lack of space here and substituted ellipses…) old American college football.
40 already published novels, over half of them about Andy “I don’t like eggnog, and I don’t think anybody does. It’s “I am raising a Communist.”
Carpenter, the same attorney who stars in “’Twas the Bite too thick and too sweet for my taste…like drinking melted As if David Rosenfelt’s delightful writing style weren’t
Before Christmas.” chewing gum. I just tried some again anyway and found enough to have me join his vast base of admiring readers,
In this novel, Carpenter is serving as defense attorney that sucking some of this batch through a straw requires how about the following: He and his wife live in Maine
for a friend and excellent neighbor who, shockingly, has either a serious pair of lungs or a hydraulic pump; it’s not with 25 of the 4,000 dogs they have rescued. Do I need to
been arrested and charged with the murder of a high-ranking nearly good enough to justify that amount of work. say more?
mobster. It turns out that his friend, to the surprise of “But the reason I doubt that anyone really likes it is *****
Carpenter and everyone else in town, has been living among that it’s only popular at Christmas. Good food or drink On a doggie note, my
them as part of the government’s witness protection program should not require a holiday to justify consumption…I wife Linda and I will be
after having earlier been a part of the mob but who “turned” feel the same way about fruitcakes and candied yams; if sharing our first holiday
and gave evidence at great personal risk. you like them, eat them all year. Otherwise, I don’t want season with Lacey, who
With his friend and client declaring himself to be to hear about them.” joined our family three
completely innocent of the new charges, Carpenter must get Or this passage about his son, Ricky. months ago. Lacey, a
to the truth about the “evidence” and find the real killer. (He “Ricky is watching a soccer game. “teacup” Maltese who
also takes on the responsibility of caring for his friend/client’s “He likes soccer. weighs just 3-1/2 pounds,
two dogs while he is in prison.) This won’t be an easy case: “I’ve known this for a while, but it’s still jarring. I’m will celebrate her first
The victim was found dead in the trunk of his client’s car, a good parent, so as much as I hate soccer and hate even birthday on December 20th,
and his bloodstains on the client’s clothing. It’s a well-told more that he likes it, I’m not about to say anything or and is already completely
tale with a surprising, satisfying and credible ending. be critical. He has to live his own life and make his own bonded with my wife Linda,
What makes this book special is Rosenfelt’s writing choices, even a ridiculous one like this. as you can see here.
style. But there are so many reasons to love this author “What are you watching, Rick?”
Essays on Life: The Peddler

By Sonia E. Ravech. Sonia is a When Nellie died, Mrs. Elfman took over. She sold With the advent of the credit card, came the demise of
native of Massachusetts and a more substantial merchandise… pots, pans, bakeware, the door to door peddler replaced today by the computer
resident of Broken Sound for cutlery, china and flatware. She carried a few samples and internet. Just type in what you need and a myriad of
more than 30 years. She is the in her satchels, but most items were selected from a choices will pop up on the screen. Make your selection,
mother of four, grandmother of catalogue. When I became engaged, I bought my first set provide your credit card number, and the next day your
seven and great-grandmother of of melamine dishes from her, one place setting at a time. purchase will arrive at your front door. This certainly is
four. She has been the facilitator My fiancé was actively serving in Korea, and I thought he fast and convenient, but lacking the nostalgia I recall when
of the Broken Sound Memoir would be proud when he returned home and saw the new I was a child and Nellie opened her satchel to reveal her
Writers’ Workshop for the past set of dishes I had purchased with my own money. wares.
seven years.
During the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s, door to door salesmen
were popular selling such items as Hoover vacuum
cleaners, Fuller Brush products, Avon cosmetics,
Tupperware, encyclopedias, life insurance, etc. Since these
products could be purchased on a payment plan, it was
a convenient way for many, especially in lower income ARCHIVE GALLERIES
families, to buy such luxury items.
Although my parents did buy us kids a set of
encyclopedias, they usually could not afford the expensive
items these salesmen offered. Instead, my mother depended PAYS HIGHER PRICES FOR FINE ART AND ANTIQUES
on the Jewish peddlers who sold small items and allowed
her to pay for them over time.
My first memory of such a peddler was Nellie • Oil Paintings • Sterling Silver • Collectibles
Greenfield. Her hair was salt and pepper, long and thinning • Oriental Rugs • Objects of Art • Fine Crystal
and wrapped into a tight bun secured with a tortoise shell • Tapestries • Sculptures • Orientalia
comb. Her face was fleshy and wrinkled; a flabby double
chin encased her neck. She wore wire rimmed glasses. • Fine Furniture • Bronzes • Tiffany Items
When she smiled, a gold front tooth glistened in the • Service Plates • Porcelain • Clocks
sunlight that streamed through the kitchen window.
She was plump, dressed simply in a cotton printed
house dress. Her stockings were rolled like bagels around We Also Purchase Men’s And Ladies’ Items Including:
her ankles, and her feet were encased in sturdy black
oxfords. She carried two large satchels; one filled with • Old Watches • Cufflinks • Smoking Items • Coins • Antique Jewelry
various household linens… dish towels, tablecloths, • Designer Handbags • Fine Modern Jewelry • Vintage Costume Jewelry
sheets, pillowcases and lace doilies. The other was stocked
with small pieces of kitchen hardware…potato masher,
paring knife, egg beater, measuring cups and spoons. One Piece Or Entire Contents Purchased
Nellie came to our house once a month when I was young.
She opened her satchels and proudly displayed her wares for CALL NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, NO OBLIGATION
Mama to peruse. “Feel the quality. One hundred percent cotton,
absorbent and only 50 cents each. If you buy three, I’ll charge
you only $1.25. You can pay me just fifty cents a week.”
For many years this is how Mama outfitted her kitchen. CASH 561-498-7536 COURTEOUS
As a child, I thought that was how everyone shopped for PAYMENTS IN HOME
such items. There were no credit cards in those days, and UPON REQUEST SERVICE
Mama couldn’t afford such luxuries unless she paid for
them a few cents a week.