Thursday Tea

 

 

The Book: I just finished The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and I am a bit sad that I have read the last page as I could have read this novel for an eternity. It has to be one of the best books that I have ever read and automatically conjures to mind the writings of the Bronte’s.

After becoming absorbed in the gothic tones and family secrets of The Thirteenth Tale I knew that I would need to read something by an author that allows the reader to become invested in the story as well as the characters. So today I will be reading Mariana by Susanna Kearsley. Having read two of Susanna’s novels, The Winter Sea and The Rose Garden, I know that Mariana will be a blend of the past and present. I am highly eager to start this novel and judging by the fact that it isn’t as thick as her previous books I imagine that I will read most of it in one setting.

The Tea: I am drinking French Vanilla Black Tea. I am not really enjoying this tea. I am not sure if it’s because the taste is a bit off or if it’s the Styrofoam cup that I am drinking it out of. Normally I would not have selected a vanilla-flavored tea but seeing as I am out doing research for the magazine I work for I had little choice (it was either this tea or coffee and seeing as I cannot stand the taste/smell of coffee I was only left with this tea) plus I forgot to pack my take along tin of Earl Grey. If I get too desperate for a nice cuppa Earl Grey I could always stop off at Barnes & Noble and purchase a tin of Harney’s…and a few good books.

Do they go together? Not really. While The Thirteenth Tale and Mariana both mention having a pot of tea, they never mention the type that they are having although I seriously doubt that they are sipping what I am drinking. They are probably sitting there with their china cups filled to the brim with my beloved Earl Grey laughing at the bitter stale French vanilla tea that is growing cold in its flimsy Styrofoam cup. I think that the Harney’s Earl Grey Supreme at Barnes & Noble is calling my name…I could always use the excuse that I was looking up a reference book!