Yesterday I read Approaches to the Novel, a series of classic essays on the topic published in the 1960s. Today I read Beyond Culture, another '60s set of essays, but these were all by the same author, Lionel Trilling. (He was a professor of lit at Columbia and visiting prof at Oxford.)

During reading breaks I've puttered a bit in the kitchen for a change of pace, and consequently my family has been enjoying frozen strawberry pie.

Get yourself a low-fat graham cracker crust. Take three egg whites and beat them for a minute or two. Add 3/4 c. of sugar and a T. of lemon juice. Then keep the beaters going, and add some half-thawed strawberries. Here's the biggie: Let the beaters whirl for ten minutes. During the last minute, add a cup or so of low-fat Dream Whip. Let it whirl until it's all mixed, and then pour your pink concoction into the pie shell. Stick it in the freezer and Voila! Serve when it's frozen, and your light dessert leaves your family feeling un-neglected. :)

BTW, I had a blast speaking at Concord on Sunday. I love how people in African-American churches talk back to ya. Very energizing, affirming. And they set the bar high on hospitality in how they treated my family and me. Meaningful work--gotta love it!

Now back to reading...I'm starting Fiction and the Reading Public.