Beth Fish Reads

Short Review: Sideways by Rex Pickett

2009-12-16T06:50:00.003-05:00

You may have seen the movie, but have you read the book? Sideways by Rex Pickett is much better in print than it was in film. It is the story of two friends who go on a week-long road trip to the Santa Ynez wine country in California.

The men are in opposite places in their lives. Miles, wine connoisseur and wannabe author is divorced and has a dark outlook on life. Jack, a minor Hollywood actor, is just about to get married and has a anything-goes attitude.

Sideways takes a look at wine, friendship, and relationships between men and women. Here's a look at my notes from 2006: "The characters are more fully developed in the book than in the movie, and I understand Miles and Jack much better. The story is funny and interesting, but also a bit depressing. In the end, however, there is hope."

The cover is from the 2005 Blackstone Audio edition read by Scott Brick. (Source: Bought; see review policy)

Sideways at an Indie

Sideways at Powell's
Sideways at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Reading at the Beach is the host for this meme: Each week she invites us to spotlight a book whose title begins with the featured letter. This week it's S.

Wordless Wednesday 57

2009-12-16T05:56:00.000-05:00

Reflections (Germany)

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

My So-Called Life

2009-12-15T04:30:00.005-05:00

As most of you know, Kailana from The Written World and Marg from Reading Adventure are again hosting their annual Virtual Advent Tour. I am one of the stops for today, but you won't see my post until Thursday.

I was unexpectedly slammed with work last week and have just one more day to go (today) before I can resume my regular life. You may have noticed that I haven't been commenting on your blog and I haven't been chatting much on Twitter. That's why.

I am hoping that my blogging friends haven't given up on me! Over the next few days and into the weekend, I plan to catch up on my blog reading. Soon I will be visiting your blog, reading your reviews, and catching up on your news. So brace yourself for my commenting marathon!

Coming Soon to This Blog

Here's what's planned for the rest of the month: I have five reviews just about ready to post, one final challenge announcement (yeah, well, I just can't resist), and of course my Weekend Cooking posts. I have three Wednesday mini reviews and three photos scheduled as well.

Naturally, I'll have a year-end summary, challenge status report, and list of favorite reads and listens for 2009.

I have been thinking of my blogging and reviewing goals for 2010, and I'll be sharing them with you near the end of the month.

Thanks to all of you for being understanding. I haven't suddenly deleted you from my reader or stopped caring about you or your posts. By Sunday night, I hope to be caught up with my blogging buddies and back to normal.

Review: An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

2009-12-14T04:54:00.001-05:00

Because An Echo in the Bone is the seventh entry in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander historical fiction series, it's near impossible to write a summary without giving spoilers to the earlier books. The review contains no spoilers for this novel but assumes you've read all the others. If you haven't read A Breath of Snow and Ashes yet and can't stand even a hint of a spoiler, then skip down to below the asterisks.

The bulk of An Echo in the Bone finds Claire and Jamie dealing with the realities of the U.S. Revolutionary War during 1776–1777. Although they, of course, have the advantage of knowing that the colonists will win, they are not able to use the knowledge to avoid becoming involved.

Once they make the painful decision to leave Fraser's Ridge, they see the revolution up close. And this leads us to some of the best scenes in the novel: when Claire meets, sees, or hears about historical figures. What would it be like to come face to face with one of our Founding Fathers or a war hero or even an infamous enemy?

At the end of the previous novel, Roger and Brianna discovered a trunk in twentieth-century Lollybroch that held letters and trinkets from Jamie and Claire. We thus learn some of the eighteenth-century story through those letters and from a more modern perspective.

The novel also contains continuing story lines concerning Fergus, wee Ian, and Lord John and his son in America and Jenny and Ian in Scotland.

* * * * * * *

At more than 800 pages and 45+ hours of audio, there's a lot of Claire and Jamie to enjoy in this novel. And their story and those of their loved ones do not disappoint. On the other hand, Lord John and his family take up a good bit of the book, and I found those sections to be less interesting than the scenes involving the Frasers.

An Echo seems to be the setup to what is supposedly the final entry in the Outlander series. It reminded me of The Fiery Cross in the sense that, although there is a lot of action, there is not a lot of moving forward. I was left with a little bit of an empty feeling and the dismal thought that I'm going to have to wait a long time to see how it will all work out.

I am a huge fan of this series, and so when I say this isn't the best one of the lot, I am not saying it is bad. It's a must-read novel for those of us who are addicted to the Frasers, and some of the plot lines have taken interesting and intertwined paths. I'm pouting because I want to know what happens next.

I listened to the unabridged audio of the novel. Davina Porter does her usual brilliant job as narrator, and I never tire of listening to her voice. She adds just the right amount of drama and emotion to the audio to make the book come alive.

Diana Gabaldon has a wesbite where you can keep up with all the news, including rumors of the Outlander movie.

An Echo in the Bone at an Indie

An Echo in the Bone at Powell's
An Echo in the Bone at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Published by Random House, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780385342452
Challenges: 100+
YTD: 93
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: B

Award!

2009-12-13T06:22:00.000-05:00

Thanks goes to Melody form Melody's Reading Corner for giving me the very cool Over the Top award. I really love the button that goes with this one. If you haven't been to Melody's blog then you're missing out. She's a fellow challenge addict and eclectic reader who posts great reviews and photographs.

The award comes with a meme and one rule: Answer the following questions using single-word answers. Then pass the award to 5 other people and let them know.

Your cell phone? Blackberry
Your hair? thick
Your mother? smart
Your father? wonderful
Your favorite food? risotto
Your dream last night? none
Your favorite drink? espresso
Your dream/goal? acreage
What room are you in? office
Your hobby? lacemaking
Your fear? millipedes
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Europe
Where were you last night? home
Something that you aren’t? musical
Muffins? lemon
Wish list item? computer
Where did you grow up? Ohio
Last thing you did? drank [coffee!]
What are you wearing? turtleneck
Your TV? gift
Your Pets? none :(
Friends? super
Your life? filled
Your mood? happy
Missing someone? likely
Vehicle? Forester
Something you’re not wearing? gloves
Your favorite store? bookstore
Your favorite color? blue
When was the last time you laughed? yesterday
Last time you cried? forget
Your best friend? mom
One place that you go to over and over? grocery
Facebook? somewhat
Favorite place to eat? Denmark

I'm passing this one to my Secret Santa from the Holiday Swap: Melanie from Cyinical Optimism.

Weekend Cooking: Double Dose of Crescent Dragonwagon

2009-12-12T05:32:00.005-05:00

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

_______

Today I'm spotlighting two cookbooks by Crescent Dragonwagon. Both have been well used in my kitchen.

Dairy Hollow House Soup & Bread is the perfect cookbook for winter. It consists of a collection of recipes Crescent made for the guests at her inn, Dairy Hollow House, in the Ozarks. The book starts off with a chapter on making stocks, which is followed by a chapter on tips, garnishes, and ideas. Then comes the wonderful soup recipes, divided by main ingredient or style (such as dairy-based soups).

The recipes are clearly laid out with easy-to-follow numbered directions. All the recipes use ingredients you can get at a good grocery store, even the ethnic soups. I admit (sorry Crescent!) that I don't always make homemade stock and that I often use canned (no salt, organic) beans, but either way I've had great success with every soup I've made from the book. When I pulled my copy off the shelf, I found a shopping list marking the page for Harira, a Moroccan vegetarian soup. It's delicious.

Of course there is also a bread chapter, which includes yeasted breads and quick breads, biscuits, and muffins. I noticed that the back of my book falls open to the stained and gritty page that has the recipe for Whole-Wheat Butterhorns, which are made from a wonderful honey-sweetened yeast dough. These always get rave reviews from my dinner guests (and Mr. BFR).

Throughout the text you'll also find the stories behind the recipes, variations, tips, and menu ideas. I also love the literary quotations and black & white sketches that add to the book's charm.

The other Crescent Dragonwagon cookbook I have is called Passionate Vegetarian. Let me tell you that my book is almost falling apart. It's a hefty tome at 1100 pages! But it is filled with just about everything you could possibly want to know about cooking grains, cereals, vegetables, and beans.

The really wonderful thing about this book, is that you do not need to be a vegetarian to find it useful. The basic information and incredible variety of dishes make this an excellent kitchen reference for everyone. And the fabulous index makes finding what you want a breeze.

Each section focuses on a single ingredient and provides basic information, recipes, tips, alternative cooking methods, and many yummy variations. The difficulty of recipes runs the full range: from dead simple to multi-stepped, but they are all well thought out and very flavorful.

I particularly recommend this book for people who have joined a CSA (community sponsored agriculture) or who shop at a local farmers market. You'll never be too intimidated to try something new again.

Crescent Dragonwagon has a website and a blog where you can learn more about her and her books (including the origin of her name). I bet you'll subscribe to her blog after just one look! She has a new cookbook coming out; watch this space for a review and more information.

Crescent Dragonwagon at an Indie

Crescent Dragonwagon at Powell's
Crescent Dragonwagon at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Both books discussed in this post were bought (see review policy)

Review: The Brain Finds a Leg by Martin Chatterton

2009-12-11T07:45:00.003-05:00

Sheldon McGlone lived a pretty ordinary life in Farrago Bay, Australia, even if his dad had died after being attacked by humpback whales. Everything was to change the day Sheldon met Theopilus Nero Hercule Sherlock Wimsey Father Brown Marlowe Spade Christie Edgar Allen Brain -- better known as The Brain.

When Sheldon agreed to be the sidekick for the self-proclaimed World's Greatest Detective (even at thirteen years old), he had no idea that The Brain was serious. One headline ("Biff Manly Tragedy! Body Found!") and one arrest later, and the boys are on the case.

In The Brain Finds a Leg, Martin Chatterton introduces us to a new team in the line-up of literary detectives. The case The Brain and Sheldon set out to solve has enough gruesome bits and action to keep the story real and enough humor and far-fetched science to keep us wanting more.

Situation Code Red with cherries on top: check. Butterflies in the stomach: check. About a klick out from the target perimeter. Sheldon didn't know how far a klick was, but he reckoned this looked about right. He didn't even know why he was using words like "perimeter," or "klick," or "check," but it seemed to help. (p. 158)

They say your life flashes in front of you when you know you are going to die. In Sheldon's case, all that flashed in front of him was the single thought: I don't want to die. (p. 189)

In a world of animals gone crazy and bad guys lurking in the shadows, can two young teens figure out who donnit? Both you and your middle reader will want to know.

The Brain Finds a Leg at an Indie

The Brain Finds a Leg at Powell's
The Brain Finds a Leg at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Published by Peachtree Publishers, 2009
ISBN-13: 9781561455034
Challenges: 100+
YTD: 92
Source: Review copy (see review policy)
Rating: B+

Holiday Swap: I Was Nice, Not Naughty

2009-12-11T06:10:00.002-05:00

Oh boy oh boy oh boy! I must have been very nice to have deserved Melanie from Cyinical Optimism for my Secret Santa from the 2009 Holiday Swap. I couldn't believe my eyes as I unpacked my box.

First, I know Melanie's been on my blog on a Thursday because I got all sorts of fabulous teas and even a packet of hot cocoa. And I know she paid attention to the "favorite flavors" part of the entry form because I got lemon, ginger, and dark chocolate goodies (and some whiskey pralines!).

When I'm done snacking and it's time to get reading, I have some heavenly spicy scented handmade goat's milk soap for washing up. Next, I can pull out my new pen and cool notepad, get my bookmark ready and decide between two (yes, two!) books to read.

I also got a super Nashville magnet and some yummy lip gloss. I am so thrilled -- I could get used to being treated so well!

Thanks soooooo much, Melanie. You're the greatest. And thanks also to Nymeth, who was the coordinator for the holiday swap this year. I know she had a lot of helpers, and I want to thank them, too.

Spotlight on . . . Kristin Bair O'Keeffe

2009-12-10T07:13:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Literary Road Trip and my Spotlight on . . . Kristin Bair O'Keeffe. Kristin's debut novel, Thirsty, begins in the 1880s in Croatia with Klara's teenage dreams of getting out of her father's house to find a better life. When the teenager meets Drago, a traveler looking for a night's lodging, she decides to take a chance. Klara, however, is ill-prepared for the reality of married life in Thirsty, Pennsylvania, on the hillsides outside of Pittsburgh.

This historical novel may start off sounding liking like a romance, but Thirsty is a story about self-preservation, family violence, and the hope that's found in friendships and motherhood. I have only just begun the book, but I am already drawn into the story.

You might wonder why Kristin set her immigration story in a small town in western Pennsylvania instead of, say, New York City. Let's find out.

Writing and Creating the Geography of a Novel

As a writer, I’m deeply inspired by place. Certain towns, geographic nooks and crannies, countries . . . places where as soon as I step a single toe for the very first time, I feel something. A kind of magical, mystical roaring in my soul. A roaring so insistent that once it starts, the only way for me to quiet it is to write about the place that triggered it.

Are there other things in the world that inspire me?

Of course, but not in the big, knock-you-silly, bowl-you-over kind of way that a place does.

China—where I’ve been living for the last four years—gets my soul roaring.

New Mexico—especially the Sangre de Cristo Mountains where the bears ramble around the woods like great huffing boxes of muscle—gets my soul roaring.

And Pittsburgh—my hometown and the setting of my debut novel Thirsty—well, heck yeah, that city and its steel-making history gets my soul roaring, too. So much so that in 1987 when I was an undergraduate at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, I wrote a poem called “Crumbling Steeples” about the crash of the steel industry, Pittsburgh, and my grandfather. Once the poem got published, I figured I was done telling stories about steel in Pittsburgh.

Well, obviously I was not.

Because when Klara Bozic—the main character in Thirsty—started floating around in my head in the early 1990s, I quickly discovered that she lived in a small steel community in Pittsburgh.

Go figure.

The good thing was that I was already familiar with the geography of Pittsburgh. After all, I’d grown up there. My maternal grandparents lived in Clairton, one of Pittsburgh’s most dynamic steel towns, and my grandfather worked in a steel mill. As a kid in the late 1960s and early 1970s, I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ house, and from their back porch, I could see the smokestacks of the mills puffing away, shooting steam and flames into the polluted, marbled sky. The air was gritty and stunk like rotten eggs, and when my sisters and I walked to the end of the road, we could watch the barges pulling steel up the Monongahela River.

So I set to work, and as I wrote Thirsty, I used the geography of Pittsburgh to mirror the emotional challenges Klara faces in her marriage to Drago: the wending Monongahela River, the rocky outcrops, the sheer hillsides. If you’ve ever visited the Pittsburgh area, you know that it has many very steep, very long hills. (And I mean, very steep, very long.) Klara spends a good bit of time ascending and descending these hills; she spends a good bit of time doing the same in her marriage.

I’m not sure I was conscious of all this while writing the first or second draft of the book, but I sure was by the time I reached the serious rewriting stage. In fact, when I was working on the scene in which Klara goes into town to get her hair cut, I made sure she took the steepest, longest route . . . because this was a significant decision for her. She couldn’t get there easily either emotionally or physically.

By the time I finished writing Thirsty, I was satisfied that the physical geography and the emotional geography were well matched. I was also exhausted . . . all those hills are tiring.

_______

Because I can be drawn to a book based purely on the setting, I was fascinated to learn some of the ways a particular place can influence and inform the writing process. Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Kristin.

I was unable to find a really great (free) photo of just how steep the hills around Pittsburgh can be, but if you're interested, check out this link from Pittsburgh Skyline. Scroll down a bit and you'll start to see just how exhausting it could be to walk the streets of Thirsty, Pennsylvania.

Thirsty at an Indie

Thirsty at Powell's
Thirsty at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Kristin Bair O’Keeffe is the author of Thirsty, an American living in China, and a native Pittsburgher. Her debut novel tells the story of a Croatian immigrant woman’s journey through an abusive marriage, set against the backdrop of a Pittsburgh steel community at the turn of the twentieth century. To find out more, visit the novel's website or Kristin’s blog. Be sure to follow her on Twitter (@kbairokeeffe).

For more posts in the Literary Road Trip project, visit the LRT link page. Thanks to Michelle of GalleySmith for hosting this fabulous project.

Progressive Dinner: Double Chocolate Layer Cake

2009-12-10T06:11:00.001-05:00

Welcome to day four of the Progressive Dinner Party, hosted by the Book Blog Social Club. Are you ready for dessert? I sure hope so.

Here is a wonderful cake that I've made a few times for New Year's Eve. It is rich and heavenly. I usually make it the day before and take it out of the refrigerator about four hours before I plan to serve it.

Double Chocolate Layer Cake

From Gourmet magazine, March 1999
Serves 12-14

For cake layers

3 ounces fine-quality semisweet chocolate such as Callebaut
1½ cups hot brewed coffee
3 cups sugar
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
2 teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoon baking powder
1¼ teaspoons salt
3 large eggs
¾ cup vegetable oil
1½ cups well-shaken buttermilk
¾ teaspoon vanilla

For ganache frosting

1 pound fine-quality semisweet chocolate such as Callebaut
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
½ stick (¼ cup) unsalted butter

Special equipment

Two 10- by 2-inch round cake pans

Make the cake layers: Preheat oven to 300°F and grease pans. Line bottoms with rounds of wax paper and grease paper.

Finely chop chocolate and in a bowl combine with hot coffee. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

Into a large bowl sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat eggs until thickened slightly and lemon colored (about 3 minutes with a standing mixer or 5 minutes with a hand-held mixer). Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined well. Add sugar mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined well. Divide batter between pans and bake in middle of oven until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Cool layers completely in pans on racks. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove wax paper and cool layers completely. Cake layers may be made 1 day ahead and kept, wrapped well in plastic wrap, at room temperature.

Make frosting: Finely chop chocolate. In a 1½- to 2-quart saucepan bring cream, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil over moderately low heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate, whisking until chocolate is melted. Cut butter into pieces and add to frosting, whisking until smooth.

Transfer frosting to a bowl and cool, stirring occasionally, until spreadable (depending on chocolate used, it may be necessary to chill frosting to spreadable consistency).

Assemble: Spread frosting between cake layers and over top and sides. Cake keeps, covered and chilled, 3 days. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.

Notes from Beth Fish Reads

Make sure your cake tins are 2 inches deep (as called for in the recipe). If you have shorter tins, don't use all the batter.
Variations: I once filled the layers with homemade blueberry filling. Yummy. Raspberry would work too.

Be sure to check out the other recipes from today, like Colored Sugar Cookies from Meghan at Medieval Bookworm and White Chocolate Cheesecake from Marg at Reading Adventures. For more recipes see the Book Blog Social Club.

Wordless Wednesday 56

2009-12-09T06:12:00.001-05:00

Winter Garden at Dusk

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Short Review: The Russian Hill Murders by Shirley Tallman

2009-12-09T06:10:00.001-05:00

The Russian Hill Murders is the second Sarah Woolson Mystery by Shirley Tallman. The novels take place in San Francisco in the late nineteenth century and touch on a number of topics besides the current murders. For example, Sarah is one of the few female lawyers in the country, placing the changing opportunities for women at the core of the books.

By time the second novel opens, Sarah has managed to find a place in a law firm. Of course, her colleagues give her the worst, most meaningless tasks, and even her own mother thinks Sarah should find a man and get married. Here's a bit more from the publisher's summary:

When a woman whose husband has died in a sweatshop fire asks for Sarah's help in finding the culprit, she insists on taking the case against her boss's wishes. Even more scandalously, when several people affiliated with a charity hospital die within a few days of each other, Sarah puts herself in the middle of the puzzle, racing against time to find the killer and defend a Chinese man accused of murder. Imagine, a woman lawyer in court!

Tallman's novels are not only well-constructed cozy mysteries but are filled with interesting details about San Francisco in the 1880s. The series would appeal to anyone who likes historical novels; cozy mysteries; and headstrong, independent women.

I've been listening to the series, read by Anna Fields, who is on my list top narrators. The third book is also out in audio, and I'm looking forward to listening to it in 2010.

The cover is from the 2005 St. Martin's edition. (Source: Bought; see review policy)

The Russian Hill Murders at an Indie

The Russian Hill Murders at Powell's
The Russian Hill Murders at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Reading at the Beach is the host for this meme: Each week she invites us to spotlight a book whose title begins with the featured letter. This week it's R.

Today's Read: The Brain Finds a Leg by Martin Chatterton

2009-12-08T07:35:00.002-05:00

Hi, I'm Sheldon McGlone, and you don't want to be me. Not only am I thirteen but my dad was lost at sea while conducting a whale-watching tour, my mom is starting to date a beer-guzzling police sergeant, and my older brother is a jerk. You might think I'd be able to find a few hours of peace at school, but my homeroom teacher is the Wicked Witch of the West, and she never seems to notice that Fergus Feebly thinks it's funny to shoot spitballs at the back of my head. How was I to know that from the moment Theophilus (The) Brain walked through the door of classroom 8C my life was going to change?

For more Where Are You? answers, visit Raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading.

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Teaser Tuesdays. Here's how it works: Grab your current read; let the book fall open to a random page; and share 2 “teaser” sentences from that page. For more teasers, click on through to MizB's blog.

"I observe you are speechless," said The Brain, pointing his pipe at Sheldon. "And who can blame you, old top? After all, it isn't every day that you get asked to be the confidant, the chronicler, the aide-de-camp of The Greatest Living Detective on Earth!"

"And that would be . . . ?"

"Myself, of course." (p. 32)

—From The Brain Finds a Leg by Martin Chatterton (Source: Review, see review policy)

_____

The Brain Finds a Leg is the first in a new series by Martin Chatterton featuring teenagers Sheldon McGlone and The Brain. I have only just begun the book, but I can tell already that middle reader boys will like the way Chatterton writes; even the coolest kid will find something in Sheldon to relate to. I'm not surprised that the novel is a Junior Library Guild Premier Selection.

My full review will be up on Friday, but here are a couple of visual teasers (click to enlarge). The first is a little look at the novel in progress. Yes, the first draft of The Brain was handwritten in a spiral-bound journal! Who says you need a computer to become a published author? The other image is an illustration that Chatterton did of The Brain. If you head off to Chatterton's Facebook page, you'll see an uncanny resemblance between the young detective and his creator.

The Brain Finds a Leg at an Indie

The Brain Finds a Leg at Powell's
The Brain Finds a Leg at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Review: Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle

2009-12-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

Vicky Austin is at the awful, awkward age of twelve: no longer a kid but certainly not an adult. She is a happy child with a lovely nuturing mother, caring doctor father, smart older brother, pretty younger sister, and sweet younger brother. Although the siblings sometimes fight and get into trouble, they truly love and respect each other.

The day a close family friend dies in a plane crash, along with his copilot, the Austins' world is turned upside down, and not just from sorrow. Ten-year-old Maggy Hamilton, the orphaned daughter of the copilot, has nowhere to live, so Vicky's parents take her in. Vicky knows that she should feel sorry for Maggy, but Maggy doesn't make it easy. She is, quite frankly, a spoiled brat who demands attention and special favors. Vicky isn't sure her family or their house will survive.

Meet the Austins is the first in the Austin Family Chronicles by Madeleine L'Engle. The story is told through the eyes of Vicky, and L'Engle nicely captures the mood and voice of a preteen girl. The Austins are easy to envision, and Maggy is delightfully horrid.

Unfortunately, the book didn't really click with me. Perhaps this middle reader book was just too young for my tastes or perhaps I found the unflappable Austin parents a little too easygoing. It was as if the novel were just out of reach—I almost loved Vicky, I almost wanted to be an Austin, but not really.

If had read Meet the Austins in the 1960s, when I was young, I might have had a different reaction. I think I would have liked Vicky and her family more. But from my grownup, twenty-first-century perspective, the book was a bit too sappy. On the other hand, this story might appeal to youngsters and parents who like a feel-good look into family life.

Madeleine L'Engle died in 2007, but there is website devoted to her work.

Meet the Austins at an Indie

Meet the Austins at Powell's
Meet the Austins at Amazon
These 3 links lead to an affiliate program.

Published by Square Fish, 2008 (originally 1960)
ISBN-13: 9780312379315
Challenges: Shelf Discovery, 100+
YTD: 91
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: B−

Challenges: Last Batch for 2010

2009-12-06T06:53:00.003-05:00

Alaine over at Royal Reviews is hosting the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. I'm in for the Addicted level, which means 12 books in 2010. I'm looking forward to this challenge because I feel that I've gotten away from historical fiction, which is one of my favorite genres.

Swapna from S. Krishna's Books and Jen from Devourer of Books are hosting the Debutante Ball Reading Challenge. There are two parts to the challenge, and I'm joining both. Jen is hosting the Current Debs Challenge, for which I'm committing to 1 book. Swapna is hosting the Previous Debs Challenge, for which I'm committing to 2 books. I'm excited about discovering and supporting these new authors.

Swapna from S. Krishna's Books is hosting the South Asian Authors Challenge. I'm committing to 3 books for this challenge. I absolutely love a South Asian setting, and some of my favorite books when I was a child had ties to India. This challenge will bring me back to a great setting and will give me a chance to read some new-to-me authors.

Other Challenges

I know of 2 other challenges that I plan to sign up for, but they haven't yet been announced (hint, hint, Amy). Unless something totally irresistible comes along, I think I'm done with my 2010 challenges. I'm in 6 challenges that were started in 2009 but don't end until at least spring 2010. I also plan on finishing up two challenges (the A-Z Authors and A-Z Titles) in my own time, even though they officially end on December 31, 2009. I'm so close to finishing them, that I'm just going to stick with the challenges for my own fun.

Mini Break: Read.Read.Read-a-Thon

2009-12-05T12:55:00.003-05:00

Attention readers: This post is for the participants of the Read.Read.Read-a-Thon. Click the link to learn more.

Welcome to your mini exercise break!

You've been reading for a few hours, and now it's time to move. You won't make it through the Read.Read.Read-a-Thon if you don't take a break. What do you mean you don't know what to do? Here are four ideas. Pick one (or come up with your own) and take a 3-minute break!

Leave a comment to tell me how you spent your mini-break (think of it as finger exercises!). If you need a longer break, write a blog post!

3 minutes of blindness

Yep, you read that right. Take off your glasses, shut your eyes, and take a deep breath. Open your eyes and try to focus on something in the distance. Close your eyes again. Repeat. Don't wear glasses? Do the exercise anyway!

3 minutes of fresh air

No matter the weather or season or time of day or night, walk out your door and visit your porch. Breath in some fresh air and remember that there is a world beyond your book. If you haven't showered yet, be sure to hide from the neighbors.

3 minutes of stretching

Raise your arms over head, arch your back, do side bends, rotate your shoulders, move your head from side to side -- or try to do the stretch shown here. If we haven't heard from you in a few hours, we'll know you're permanently stuck in a pretzel shape.

3 minutes of walking

Get up from the computer and walk! If the weather is nasty: walk around the house, go up and down the stairs, or hop on the treadmill. If possible, walk outside: circle your house or walk to the street and back. Hey, I didn't say walk to the kitchen and get a snack! That's a different break.

Good luck to all who are reading today! Hope you have a ton of fun.

Weekend Cooking: Review: Dough by Richard Bertinet

2009-12-05T06:36:00.004-05:00

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Whether you are an experienced bread baker or a novice, Dough by Richard Bertinet will have something for you, from basic techniques to specific recipes.

The book begins with a section titled "Bread Talk." Here, Bertinet defines terms, lists basic equipment, and describes the basic method for making dough. Everything is well illustrated with clear and detailed photos. For example, there are a full dozen photos accompanying the section on how to work dough.

The remaining chapters are organized by type of dough: white, olive oil, brown (whole wheat), rye, and sweet. Each chapter opens with the instructions for how to make the base dough. Next we are treated to two pages of photographs of the beautiful breads that can be made from that single dough: flavored breads, shaped breads, free-form breads, and flat breads.

Then, of course are the recipes themselves. Each one is given in clear step-by-step detail with gorgeous photographs showing the completed loaf and/or specific baking methods. Bertinet has even enclosed a DVD so you can see him working the dough and forming loaves.

The Layered Rolls, made from the white dough, will probably end up on my table for my annual New Year's Eve dinner, and I plan to bake the Pecan & Cranberry Bread, made from the brown dough, this coming week. The soup bowls, made from the olive oil dough, look like a lot of fun; I hope I'm brave enough to ladle soup into them.

Here is a short video, from the Gourmet magazine website, showing Bertinet working sweet dough.

Dough at an Indie

Dough at Powell's
Dough at Amazon
These 3 links lead to an affiliate program.

Published by Kyle Books, 2005
ISBN-13: 9780061704161
YTD: 90
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: A

Review: The Magykal Papers by Angie Sage

2009-12-04T06:15:00.002-05:00

The Magykal Papers by Angie Sage is a fun supplement to the Septimus Heap middle-reader fantasy series. The book is divided into four sections, and each section consists of short pieces filled with information about the world of Septimus Heap.

A lot of the fun of this book is that each piece is illustrated and designed to look as if it were the real thing: Septimus's homework has ink splotches and is set in a handwriting font, an official letter looks as if it were typed and you can see the places where the paper was folded, and a few pages from the "Egg-on-Toast Restaurant Guide" look like they have been well thumbed.

You'll find a bit of everything in The Magykal Papers: short biographies, recipes, tour brochures, maps, excerpts from Jenna's diary, Septimus's report cards, and Alther's "Guide to Being Dead: Ten Handy Rules for New Ghosts." Any fan of the series would love this book, but a child in fifth or sixth grade would have hours of pleasure, looking at the pictures and reading the entries.

Because some of the histories and biographies contain minor spoilers to the books, I suggest reading The Magykal Papers only after you've read at least the first three books in the Septimus Heap series.

Here are some scans of sample pages. I've picked them so they won't include spoilers to the novels, but they give you an idea of some of the variety of material (click to enlarge).

Septimus Heap has his own website, where you can find out more about Angie Sage and the books in the series.

The Magykal Papers at an Indie

The Magykal Papers at Powell's
The Magykal Papers at Amazon
These 3 links lead to an affiliate program.

Published by HarperCollins, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780061704161
Challenges: 100+, Clear Off Your Shelves
YTD: 84
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: B+

Everything Austen: Wrap Up

2009-12-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Last week I finished the Everything Austen Challenge, hosted by Stephanie from Stephanie's Written Word. I had every intention of reading some of the Austen spin-off novels, but I ended up doing the entire challenge in film reviews.

I had a blast watching new movies and revisiting some favorite films and mini-series, including the BBC's Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth in BlueRay on a big(ish) TV. Ahhhhh.

Um, well, yes, where was I? I reviewed quite a number of Austen productions but by no means all the available versions and adaptations. Here's a list of my posts:

Thanks, Stephanie, for a great challenge. I really had fun with it.

Clear Off Your Shelves: Wrap Up

2009-12-03T08:14:00.001-05:00

On November 30, the two-month-long Clear Off Your Shelves Challenge hosted by Swapna over at S. Krishna's Books ended. My commitment was 25%, which meant that a quarter of the books I read in October and November should have counted for this challenge.

Qualifying books were (1) review books that have been in the house for more than six months and (2) non-review books.

I passed this one with flying colors! Of the 16 books I read, 9 qualified for the challenge. Thus I came in at 56%, easily finishing the challenge.

Thanks, Swapna, for hosting this challenge. You should consider making it a fall staple.

Thursday Tea: Sweeping up Glass by Carolyn Wall

2009-12-03T07:30:00.001-05:00

This week I'm listening to Sweeping up Glass by Carolyn Wall. I'm not quite halfway through, but I'm captivated by this novel. The characters have invaded my thoughts.

Olivia Harker Cross has not had an easy life, but not many have in her small Kentucky town. As the Depression hits, she finds herself with little money and much responsibility: a mentally ill mother to take care of, a grandson to raise, and a failing grocery store to run. And now she is hearing gunshots up on Big Foley Mountain, where her grandfather's prized, but wild, Alaska silver wolves live.

The Tea. I'm drinking Adagio's decaf apricot green tea. I often drink decaf tea in the afternoon when I've had just a bit too much coffee in morning. This week's tea is green tea subtly flavored with apricot. I was disappointed to find that I can't really detect a fruity flavor, but perhaps I'm not steeping it long enough. On the other hand, the green tea itself is good. As always, I drink it without milk or sugar.

The Assessment. Olivia does drink tea, but I'm sure that she is drinking a basic black tea from a common manufacturer, like Lipton. I wonder if anyone in Olivia's town has even heard of decaf apricot green tea. I'm sure they'd be shaking their heads at the thought.

What's on your reading list this week? And what's in that mug or glass?

Sweeping up Glass at an Indie

Sweeping up Glass at Powell's
Sweeping up Glass at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Thursday Tea is hosted by Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog. Here's how it works: Tell us what tea you are drinking (and if you like it). And then tell us what book are you reading (and if you like it). Finally, tell us if they go together.

Source: Bought (see review policy).
FTC: I buy all teas myself, I am not a tea reviewer.

Wordless Wednesday (December 2)

2009-12-02T06:10:00.000-05:00

'The Fairy' Roses, December 2009

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

On the TBR: Queste by Angie Sage

2009-12-02T06:00:00.001-05:00

Queste by Angie Sage is the fourth in the Septimus Heap books, which is a middle-reader fantasy series. I haven't yet read Queste, but it's in line for the next several weeks. I spotlighted Magykal Papers, another Septimus Heap book, last month and will review it in the next few days.

Here is the publisher's summary, which will probably not make much sense if you haven't read the earlier books:

There's trouble at the Castle, and it's all because Merrin Meredith has returned with Darke plans for Septimus. More trouble awaits Septimus and Jenna in the form of Tertius Fume, the ghost of the very first Chief Hermetic Scribe, who is determined to send Septimus on a deadly Queste. But Septimus and Jenna have other plans--they are headed for the mysterious House of Foryx, a place where all Time meets and the place where they fervently hope they will be able to find Nicko and Snorri, who were trapped back in time in Physik. But how will Septimus escape the Queste?

Queste, like all the books in the Septimus Heap series, is filled with nonstop action, humor, and fantastical adventure as Septimus continues his journey of Magykal self-discovery.

I discovered Septimus Heap with my niece, who was in sixth grade when Magyk, the first in the series, came out. She really loved the characters and the story and went on the read the next two novels: Flyte and Physik, as did I. Although the series focuses on a young boy, the plot is fresh and the characters are unique. The novels are definitely for middle readers, but they are fun for adults nonetheless.

Look for a spotlight and/or review later in the month or early next year.

The cover is from the 2009 HarperCollins edition. (Source: Bought; see review policy)

Queste at an Indie

Queste at Powell's
Queste at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Reading at the Beach is the host for this meme: Each week she invites us to spotlight a book whose title begins with the featured letter. This week it's Q.

Monthly Wrap Up: November 2009

2009-12-01T07:40:00.002-05:00

Total Books and Current Status

Since January 1, I've read 93 books, and of those, I left 5 books unfinished. I have posted 83 full reviews and 28 mini-reviews and I have 5 reviews left to write. I am currently finishing up The House on Tradd Street by Karen White and am listening to Sweeping up Glass by Carolyn Wall.

What Did I Read and Review?

Here's what I reviewed in November. Click on the link to see my review; the letter in parentheses is my rating.

Full Reviews

The Magicians by Lev Grossman (C-)
A Friend of the Family by Lauren Grodstein (B+)
Fables 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham (B+)
After the Moment by Garret Freymann-Weyer (C+)
The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan (B+)

Short Reviews (read before I started blogging)

March by Geraldine Brooks
Nobody's Fool by Ricard Russo
Cookie cookbooks (various)
Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm
Peony in Love by Lisa See

Movie Reviews (Austen)

Also finished in November but not yet reviewed:

Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle
The Magykal Papers by Angie Sage
Fables 2 by Bill Willingham
The Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
The Arrival by Shaun Tan

I had a bad reading month and didn't read as much as I wanted to, and I'm still looking for that WOW book. At Thanksgiving dinner, two other people had the same feeling: We need a book we can't stop talking about.

Literary Road Trip, Author Interviews, Guest Posts

Literary Road Trip project: Mitch Sommers, short story author

Did I Complete Any Challenges? Join Any New Ones?

I completed the Everything Austen Challenge and the Clear Off Your Shelves Challenge.

I joined a ton of new challenges: Women Unbound, Young Adult, 100+, Support Your Library, New Authors, Read & Review, Twenty Ten, and Lord of the Rings Readalong.

I am hosting another challenge: What's in a Name 3. I hope you think about singing up for it!

A Few More Activities

I co-hosted the first ever Thankfully Reading Weekend, which had almost 70 participants from around the world. Jenn, Jen, and I are thinking of doing it again next year.

I am co-conspirator for the Bloggers Unbound challenge. I took up my own challenge and stayed fairly unplugged for most of the Thanksgiving weekend.

I was guest on Nicole's (of Linus's Blanket) That's How I Blog! series on Blog Talk Radio. For the schedule and links to past shows, visit That's How I Blog.

I was also a judge for the Cooks the Books Club. A daunting but fun adventure.

What's New and What's Coming in December

My new weekend meme, Weekend Cooking, seems to be taking off, and I'm pleased to have a few people join me every week to share their food-related posts. It is an open-ended, make of it what you will meme that everyone is welcome to join.

I have one Literary Road Trip post planned for December and one blog tour.

I am taking part in the 2009 Virtual Advent Tour (my post will be up on December 15).

I have a few more challenges to join yet (yes, well . . .). And I have 12 books to read before the end of year to meet my goal of 100 non-work-related books. I am determined to do it!

How was your November? Did you meet your reading goals? Are you caught up on your reviews? Are you making changes?

Thankfully Reading Weekend: Wrap-Up

2009-11-30T06:45:00.001-05:00

Yesterday marked the end of the first Thankfully Reading Weekend. I was thankful to have the days off, but I didn't get quite the amount of reading in that I had hoped to. On the other hand, I had a relaxed and stress-free weekend, and that counts for a lot!

Audiobooks: I finished the remaining 7 hours of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon and started Sweeping up Glass by Carolyn Wall. Wow, Glass has swept me up (okay, lame, I admit), and I'll be highlighting it on Thursday if I haven't finished by then.

Print books: I finished Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle and The Magykal Papers by Angie Sage. I almost finished The House on Tradd Street by Karen White.

The good news is that I can put three half-read books to rest and get the reviews written this week. The bad news is that I didn't spend the hours I thought I would in reading. More good news is that I took a long walk outside on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I've enjoyed reading the Thankfully Reading Weekend posts that were linked up at the Book Blog Social Club. I also want to thank co-hosts Jenn of Jenn's Bookshelves and Jen of Devourer of Books for coming up with the idea and for their help.

I'd like to make a small plug for the Book Blog Social Club. If you have a community event in mind and need a place to host it, check with the owners to see if the blog is available. According to the first post on the blog:

The Book Blog Social Club is quite simply what it states! It's a place for book bloggers to socialize and celebrate major life events. If you'd like to host an event at the Book Blog Social Club please email bookblogsocialclubATgmailDOTcom

Hoping everyone has a fabulous, safe, and healthy holiday season.