All life as we know it stopped over the past couple of days as I tore through Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I stand firmly in the camp of "JK Rowling can write", so I loved it. I was a bit blown away by the events at the end - I really didn't see it coming. So now I alternate between looking forward to the movie on this book and also wondering what in the hell Rowling is going to do with the next one.

And now I will return to WOTA and Paul West and Diane Ackerman and put Harry and crew out of my mind for awhile.

Over at Chin Music Press, the guys who I love, they have started a new web site, Cannedcoffee.com. I had no idea when I was reading their first book, Kuhaku, how much canned coffee is part of the Japanese culture. But then again I'm an American who does not like coffee, so it's not something that usually shows up on my radar. The new site is gorgeous though, like everything Chin Music does, and the bit on Truman Capote is fabulous. (We seem to be in a Capote renaissance lately, two movies and the best graphic novel ever, all appearing at the same time!)

There is just a small note on the site however for coffee in literature that highlights Pere Goriot, by Honore de Balzac. It made me think of Robert B. Parker's great detective, Spenser, who always has food and drink highlights in his books, and coffee is a major player. Spenser was my father's favorite detective and we read his books religiously. He is from Massachusetts and loves the Red Sox, so it was all home territory for my Daddy. Growing up in Florida (which basically has no culture or traditions at all), I was always surprised when we went up to RI and they bought coffee flavored milk in the stores and kep ice coffee in the refrigerator. Even my little cousins were drinking it which seemed to fall somewhere between bizarre and shocking at the time. My father kept ice coffee in his refrigerator too and started everyday with at least a mug or two of the hot stuff. I have his favorite coffee mug now, it dates back to before I was born I think - I can't remember a time when it wasn't around. (And clearly it wasn't a Kmart special - it's milk glass and gorgeous.)

Coffee is another way I remember him.

If someone was so inclined they could write an entire article for Cannedcoffee on coffee in detective novels, how it has evolved over the years, and also how it serves as a constant from Hammett to Parker (and all points in between). I can't recall my other favorite detective, Travis Magee, drinking coffee but he lived on a boat in Ft Lauderdale - I think that changes everything.

Laila Lalami has a fascinating article up at Powells on portraying poverty in American writing. I've written for her in the past over at Moorish Girl and I'm looking forward to reading her book. She's cool, and what she has to say on this subject is quite interesting.