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Book 47: The Good Earth, Pearl S Buck. 323pp

Having thoroughly enjoyed the movie some years ago, I always intended to read the book but never got around to it until now.

It is a different animal from the movie (what book isn't?). It is more gritty and realistic as far as the tension between the family members. Overall, very sad, yet at the same time inspiring because it makes you realise things you shouldn't do.

I was talking to Dan about it, because it's an almost perfect illustration of the opposite of what our goal in life is, two parts of which is to give our children a strong work ethic and live beneath our means, using our extra money for something that really matters, such as helping someone else who actually needs it.

Because, clearly, to be rich is not the ultimate goal.

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Well, it is now time for lunch and I'm taking a break before trying to think what I want. Once lunch is over, I can clean up the kitchen and I am DONE. With food, anyway.

Dan found a blackberry patch by the park on his walk this morning, so we both went there and picked a few cups' worth of berries. They were actually quite large ones. So I came home and made a crisp out of them (with some boysenberries and chopped apples in to fill it out). I finished up the bread, which sunk at the top again. But it tastes nice. Half of it became nine dinner rolls for the morrow.

Shepherd's pie is also finished; cooling a bit on the counter so I can stick it in the fridge. All I will have to do tomorrow is just bake it. Yay.

All I will have to do this afternoon is take a bath, clear off the table, and vacuum downstairs. And try not to eat all the crisp before tomorrow.