Beth Fish Reads

Thursday Tea: Emma on Film

2009-11-12T06:56:00.002-05:00

Today I want to take a look at three film versions of Jane Austen's Emma. I know of at least two other adaptations, but these are the three that I am most familiar with.

I know that the 1996 Hollywood version of Emma with Gwyeneth Paltrow was not everyone's favorite, but I really loved it. I thought it was nicely filmed and easy and fun to watch.

The PBS Masterpiece production had a different feeling altogether. It is definitely worth your time.

And finally there is Clueless. I've seen this modern-day takeoff on the Emma story many, many times. Think about spending an evening with Valley Girl Cher and her high school friends.

The Tea. I'm drinking Stash Tea's English Breakfast Tea, which apparently became popular in England during Queen Victoria's reign. Stash describes it as "a very distinctive, strong, rich tea.. . . This stimulating tea is the perfect morning wake-up drink." I've been drinking the decaf version in the afternoons, which means I've been drinking the opposite tea: the perfect relaxing snack tea?

The Assessment. I am sure that Emma would be drinking tea with breakfast, although I'm not sure she would have been drinking this particular tea. Cher would have gone for a latte.

Have you seen other versions of Austen's Emma? And for those of you getting tired of my Austen movie posts: Only two more, and I will have finished the Everything Austen Challenge.

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: Rented (see review policy).
FTC: I buy all teas myself, I am not a tea reviewer.
Challenges: Everything Austen

Wordless Wednesday (November 11)

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

Antique Thresher

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Short Review: Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo

2009-11-11T06:10:00.000-05:00

Nobody's Fool was the first Richard Russo book I read. Here is the publisher's summary:

In 1750, without warning or apparent reason, the mineral springs of the colonial resort town of Bath, New York, ran dry. A little more than 200 years later, after numerous warnings and for too many reasons, Sully, the unluckiest man in this unlucky town, isn't doing too hot either. He's broke, out of a job, and the owner of a dead pickup truck. The good news? Sully has the dumbest man in North Bath as his devoted friend, a long-suffering, long-married woman who loves him, a forgiving eighty-year-old landlady who converses with her late husband, a spastic doberman as a watchdog, and the finest one-legged drunken Jewish lawyer this side of Albany. Now, if Sully could only banish his father's slyly grinning ghost and earn his own son's respect, he might just turn the whole damn thing around. Nobody's Fool is a funny, roguish novel that captures the imagination and provides a rich journey into a special world peopled by characters so real, so vital, we feel we've known them all our lives.

My reading notes on the book are sparse, but I commented on the great character development. In fact, although I read the book in 2006, I still remember Sully, his landlady, and several other characters. The plot is complex with intertwined stories but is not so complicated that you lose your place. I found the book to be funny, sad, and very real. Highly recommended.

The cover shows the 1994 Knopf Doubleday edition. (Source: Bought; see review policy)

Nobody's Fool at an Indie

Nobody's Fool at Powell's
Nobody's Fool 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 N.

Beth and Nicole Talk about Books, Blogging, and More

2009-11-10T07:14:00.002-05:00

Tonight's the night that Nicole of Linus's Blanket, host of the Blog Talk Radio show called That's How I Blog?, will put me on the chopping block!

I hope you'll tune in at 8:30 EST/5:30 PST and listen to us gab. And then stick around to talk about The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

The two previous shows, when Nicole talked to Trish from Hey, Lady! Watcha Readin? and Kathy of Bermudaonion, are still available, so be sure to listen to them (Trish and Kathy) when you get a chance.

Michelle of GalleySmith will be on the air next week at 9:00 EST/6:00 PST. That should be another great show, and I plan on being there.

For the complete schedule and more information, check out the That's How I Blog page on Nicole's blog.

Today's Read: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

2009-11-10T06:54:00.001-05:00

I'm the only boy left in Prentisstown, and it stinks cuz men don't talk much to boys; I have the dam dog, but he's kinda stoopid and sorta thinks of poo and squirrels all day. In exactly one month I'll be a man and I'll do man stuff. We got 146 men and me, no women. I gotta listen to each of those men all day, all night cuz Noise is everywhere and all them thoughts are in my head all the dam time. Some guys just vanish cuz they just gotta get away. But there ain't nowhere to go.

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.

My Noise churns and bubbles like a stew on the boil till finally I have to stop for a minute to calm myself down a little.

There's just no such thing as silence. Not here, not nowhere. Not when yer asleep, not when yer by yerself, never. (p. 17)

—From The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Source: Borrowed, see review policy)

The Knife of Never Letting Go at an Indie

The Knife of Never Letting Go at Powell's
The Knife of Never Letting Go at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

What's in a Name 2: Wrap Up

2009-11-09T06:50:00.001-05:00

I finished the fun What's in a Name 2? challenge last month or so but kept forgetting to write up a wrap-up post. The first What's in a Name? challenge is one of the ones that got me into blogging and so I thank Annie for that.

To see how everyone else completed this challenge, be sure to check out the What's in a Name? blog. Here is my list (click on link for review, rating in parentheses).

A book with a profession in the title: The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly (B+)
A book with a time of day in the title: The Dead of the Night by John Marsden (B)
A book with a relative in the title:Not Becoming My Mother by Ruth Reichl (B+)
A book with a body part in the title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (A)
A book with a building in the title: The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer (B+)
A book with a medical condition in the title: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (A)

This was a great challenge, and I lucked out in the books I picked. They were all winners, and I ended up with a nice mix of mystery, nonfiction, and YA. As for my favorite? It would probably be The Hunger Games.

Thanks again to Annie.

Book Blogger Holiday Swap

2009-11-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

In case you missed the announcements on other blogs and on Twitter, The Book Blogger Holiday Swap is on again this year. I was a bit too new to participate last year, but I'm already signed up for this year!

The swap is open to everyone. Just sign up and you're in. Don't be shy, here's a chance to make a friend. The swap blog has detailed information, but basically you agree to send a small bookish (or otherwise) gift to another blogger. There is no need to back off if you're worried about costs, we're talking small, fun items.

Don't wait, though, the cut-off date is November 12! That way bloggers can be matched up, and everyone has time to put a package in the mail before the holiday rush.

Weekend Cooking: What's on My TBR?

2009-11-07T05:30:00.001-05:00

_______

This week I want to spotlight four food books I have on my TBR. I am hoping to get to all of them in the next several months. The first two are biographies, the second is a novel, and the third is a cookbook of sorts. Let me know if you have read any of these and what you thought.

Joan Reardon, a cookbook author herself, wrote M. F. K. Fisher, Julia Child & Alice Waters: Celebrating the Pleasures of the Table. Reardon interviewed all three women and had access to personal papers and archives. When the book was published, Fisher had already died. Reardon explores the lives of these women and how they interconnected and traveled on parallel paths as they woke up the American palate. Fisher is one of my all-time favorite authors. Julia Child needs little introduction. Alice Waters was one of the first chefs to emphasize fresh and seasonal. I apologize for the poor quality of the cover shot, but I had a difficult time finding a photo on the Internet. I've owned this book for a number of years and for some reason never got to it.

Published by Harmony Books, 1994
ISBN-10: 0517577488
Source: Bought in the 1990st (see review policy)

Writing at the Kitchen Table by Artemis Cooper is the authorized biography of Elizabeth David. If you don't know, David was one of the major food writers from about 1950 into the mid-1980s. According to the book flap, she was well traveled in Europe, the Mediterranean, and even India. Apparently a couple of scandals were associated with her during her ex-pat years. When she finally returned to England after the war, she was horrified by the drab and uninspiring food of her native country, which led her to write her first food book. She almost single-handedly changed the nature of British cuisine. I hope to read this biography as part of the Women Unbound reading challenge.

Published by Ecco Press, 1999
ISBN-13: 9780060198282
Source: Bought when it came out (see review policy)

The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel is an epistolary novel, which is a style I usually enjoy. According to the press release from FSB Associates, the book includes about 80 recipes, and I noticed that there is a recipe index. Some of the dishes look pretty appealing. Flipping through the book, I saw that it has some fun graphics and fonts. I hope to read this one sooner than later.

Published by Polhemus Press, October 2009
ISBN-13: 9780982349205
Source: Review copy (see review policy)

The Foodie Handbook by Pim Techamuanvivit is subtitled The (Almost) Definitive Guide to Gastronomy. According to the press release from Chronicle Books, Techamuanvivit writes the food blog Chez Pim and has also contributed to Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, and the New York Times. The book contains recipes, ingredient tips, and food advice. There is a section on how to judge a restaurant, information about food and wine pairings, and a list of 50 things all foodies should do before they die. I'm looking forward to a closer inspection of this book.

Published by Chronicle Books, October 2009
ISBN-13: 9780811868532
Source: Review copy (see review policy)

Review: Fables 1--Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham

2009-11-06T06:05:00.000-05:00

I had heard a lot of great things about the Fables series of graphic novels by Bill Willingham. So I bought the first few books and read the first volume, Legends in Exile, for the fall Read-a-thon.

This first book in the series includes some background material so we understand how all the different characters from fairy tales, legends, and fables ended up together and in the world of the mundanes (as we normal beings are called), but really the novel is a murder mystery.

As with all mystery books, it's difficult to write a summary without giving away too much. It starts out when Jack (of beanstalk fame) discovers that his girlfriend (Rose Red) is missing and her apartment is splattered with blood. He races to the head of security, Bigby Wolf (as in Big Bad), and reports the crime. Wolf then confers with Snow White, director of operations, and an investigation is started.

That's the bare-bones version. The fun of this book comes from the sarcastic humor, quick one-liners, and (for lack of a better word) art jokes. For example, in one panel, Bigby, who is drawn as a human, has a wolf shadow. In another of King Cole's home, you see three fiddles in the background. I enjoyed studying the art as much as I did reading the story.

I couldn't find any samples of the pages to post here, but Amazon has a "look inside" feature, so you can get an idea.

I had enough fun with volume 1 that I'm looking forward to more Fables. My understanding is that there are quite a few of them, so I have a lot of good reading ahead.

Legends in Exile at an Indie

Legends in Exile at Powell's
Legends in Exile at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Published by DC Comics, 2003
ISBN-13: 9781563899423
Challenges: 100+, 999, Clear Off Your Shelves
YTD: 81
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: B+

Women Unbound: Start-Off Meme

2009-11-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Women Unbound Reading Challenge is starting off with a meme. (By the way: there are a bunch of great buttons and I plan to try to use them all!)

1. What does feminism mean to you? Does it have to do with the work sphere? The social sphere? How you dress? How you act?

To me feminism has always been about equality: equality everywhere (socially, at home, in the workplace) and of all kinds (respect, opportunity, pay).

2. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?

Yes because I believe in women's rights and equality.

3. What do you consider the biggest obstacle women face in the world today? Has that obstacle changed over time, or does it basically remain the same?

Hummm. Perhaps respect: respect for women's abilities, intelligence, strength, and choices. Although there have been many changes in my lifetime, men and women are not yet treated as equals. Women still do not get equal pay for equal jobs, women still do not have the same opportunities as men, women still do most of the housework and childcare tasks, and women are still damned if they do and damned if they don't in so many areas.

I also sense a feeling of complacency among younger women. It's almost as if they were living in a bubble in which women had everything they could hope for. Just because they don't remember a time when women could not have gone to an Ivy League school or when women had almost no career opportunities, doesn't mean that the sexes are now treated equally. Furthermore, just because women in the United States or in the UK or in New Zealand have made great strides, doesn't mean that women the world over have manged to keep up.

That's all I'm going to say about this. Opinions anyone?

Challenge: Women Unbound

2009-11-05T06:30:00.004-05:00

Yes, indeed, I'm joining another challenge. This one is just too good and perhaps too important not to support. This challenge is hosted by Aarti, Care, and Eva, but it was born on Twitter! See the Women Unbound Challenge blog for all the details and credits.

Here's the idea in a nutshell: pick a level of commitment (which includes both fiction and nonfiction) and read books related to women's issues. The definition is broad enough that everyone should be able to participate.

I'm going for the suffragette level, which requires that I read eight books, including at least three nonfiction, between November 1, 2009, and November 30, 2010. I'm going to try to stick with books I already own, but I may deviate.

Fortunately, we are not required to produce a reading list. I know that my nonfiction will likely be biographies and much of the fiction will be historical fiction. I read my fair share of feminist books in the 1970s and 1980s, and I'm looking forward to seeing the reviews by participants who are reading those books for the first time.

Don't be shy, think about joining in.

Thursday Tea: Bride & Prejudice

2009-11-05T06:30:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Violet from Violet Crush for recommending the movie Bride & Prejudice. I had omitted it from my Pride & Prejudice Goes to the Movies post, and that's because I had never seen it.

This musical, yep it's basically a musical, is simply delightful. Bollywood director Gurinder Chadhadid and writer Paul Mayeda Berges did a fabulous job modernizing Austen's classic story and moving it to India and Los Angeles. The characters and dialogue are familiar, but the fun factor has been set to high. If you are a fan of Pride & Prejudice, you really shouldn't miss this movie. Oh, and in case you're wondering, the movie, except for few songs, is in English. Here's a peek:

The Tea. I'm drinking Adagio Tea's Decaf Vanilla. This is a Ceylon tea with natural vanilla in it. Simple but it has a nice flavor and aroma. It went well will leftover Halloween candy.

The Assessment. I sincerely doubt the Bakshi family is drinking decaf vanilla tea, but if they tried it, they might not be totally turned off. It's possible that Darcy's family might indulge, but it's probably not quite high class enough.

Seen any good movies lately? And what's in that mug or glass?

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: Rented (see review policy).
FTC: I buy all teas myself, I am not a tea reviewer.
Challenges: Everything Austen

Wordless Wednesday (November 4)

2009-11-04T06:30:00.000-05:00

October Sky

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Short Review: March by Geraldine Brooks

2009-11-04T06:15:00.001-05:00

March, by Geraldine Brooks, takes us behind the scenes of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. In it we learn the fate of Mr. March and his life during the first year of the U.S. Civil War. Brooks based the character on Bronson Alcott, a friend of Emerson, Thoreau, and other Concord transcendentalists.

March joined the Yankee forces not as a soldier but as a chaplain. His intellectual and idealistic personal philosophy is brought into question as he sees just how poorly humans can treat each other and discovers his own inability to live up to lofty standards.

The book also explores his relationship with his wife, his life as a family man, and his difficulties returning home after the horrors of war.

I listened to this novel in February 2007. Here's a look at my notes:

I thought the novel was wonderful. The descriptions of the hospitals and medical conditions of the Civil War were vivid. Interesting perspective on slaves, slavery, and the not-yet-free slave. March provides a bit of insight into the transcendentalists and fills out the all-too-perfect Marmee of the Little Women books. Perhaps worth another listen someday.

I gave the novel an A. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Civil War period, transcendentalism, historical fiction, and Louisa May Alcott.

The cover shows the 2006 Penguin paperback edition. (Source: bought; see review policy)

March at an Indie

March at Powell's
March 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 M.

Today's Read: Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle

2009-11-03T06:30:00.004-05:00

My name is Vicky, and I'm twelve years old. This year, a ten-year-old named Maggy has come to live with us. Before that day, I was pretty happy; sure I fought with my brothers and sister, but we were a family and we loved each other. Maggy is an orphan, and I know I should feel sorry for her, but it's really hard to be nice to a spoiled brat. Mother and Daddy say she's never really known love and that's why she acts so mean and bossy. I sure hope I can find a way to live with her, because it looks like she might be here to stay.

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.

Usually, just before dinner is the nicest time of day, but this evening I suddenly wanted to be alone for a few minutes. Was it just because Maggy had reminded me that I am plain? Mother says that I'm getting very broody, and part of it is my age, and most of it is just me. (p. 28)

—From Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle (Source: bought, see review policy)

Meet the Austins at an Indie

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

Blog Talk Radio: That's How I Blog!

2009-11-03T06:15:00.002-05:00

Did you know that every Tuesday, Nicole of Linus's Blanket hosts a Blog Talk Radio show called That's How I Blog?

Well, now you do! And tonight Nicole will be talking with Kathy of Bermudaonion fame. Please be sure to listen in to the show, join the chat room, or call in with a question. Kathy's show starts at 7:00 PM EST/4:00 PM PST.

Last week Nicole talked to Trish from Hey, Lady! Watcha Readin? And we had so much fun listening to Trish answer Nicole's questions. The show is still available, so if you missed it, take some time to tune in.

Nicole is a natural host, and you won't want to miss her Blog Talk Radio show. Here is the specific link to Kathy's episode of That's How I Blog!

I'll be Nicole's guest on November 10, so I hope you'll turn on the radio to see what tricky questions she'll ask me. I'm set for 8:30 PM EST / 5:30 PM PST.

For the complete schedule and more information, check out the That's How I Blog page on Nicole's blog.

Giveaway Winner: Only Milo by Barry Smith

2009-11-02T06:32:00.003-05:00

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to

Robin of My Two Blessings

She won a signed copy of Only Milo by Barry Smth

Enjoy the book and good luck in all your writing endeavors.

Review: A Friend of the Family by Lauren Grodstein

2009-11-02T06:30:00.001-05:00

Pete and Elaine Dizinoff had the perfect life: a big house in an upscale New Jersey suburb, money, and a group of long-time similar-minded friends. Pete was a successful and respected internist, he and Elaine, after years of heart-breaking miscarriages, were blessed with a beautiful, healthy son. They felt their lives were complete.

The Dizinoffs' best friends from college, the Sterns, lived nearby, and the couples vacationed together and raised their children together. The two families gathered for celebrations and to help each other through hardships. Nothing, it seemed, could tear them apart.

The semester Alec Dizinoff dropped out of Hampshire College to live above his parents' garage, that perfect life and perfect friendship began to crumble. When Pete thought his only child needed his protection, he could concentrate on nothing else. In his desperation, he made two life-altering decisions: one perhaps an honest mistake, but what about the other?

The overriding theme in A Friend of the Family is trust within relationships. The story of the Dizinoffs and Sterns centers on how much parents can and should trust their children to find their own lives, to choose their own friends and lovers, to tell the truth, and to do what's right. If one parent puts too much faith in a child who could use more guidance, is he really any different from the parent who meddles in the life of a kid who will probably be just fine?

On other levels, Lauren Grodstein examines the dynamics of lifelong friendship and of trust within a marriage. Such relationships are built on shared thoughts, revealed insecurities, and whispered secrets. When you trust others with such information, you give them great power over you. Pete Dizinoff learns just how far the bonds of trust between friends, spouses, children, and patients can be stretched before they begin to snap.

A Friend of the Family is not a happy novel with easy answers and a clean ending. The characters are multidimensional, and the reader's sympathies change as the book progresses. Grodstein pushes you to question the limits of the trust and faith you have put in your family, your friends, and even your doctors. It's a novel that will make you think.

A Friend of the Family at an Indie

A Friend of the Family at Powell's
A Friend of the Family at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Published by Algonquin, November 2009
ISBN-13: 9781565129160
Challenges: 100+
YTD: 80
Source: Review copy (see review policy)
Rating: B+

Review: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

2009-11-01T12:41:00.004-05:00

One chilly fall day, Quentin Coldwater, smart and nerdy—but not in a cool way—was headed to his college interview for Princeton. He was thinking about the future and the chance to escape his Brooklyn life with his neglectful parents. As he was knocking on the door of his scheduled meeting place, Quentin had no inkling that life as he knew it had just ended.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman is the story of Quentin's discovery of his magical skills, his four years in magicians college, and what happens after he graduates. I had heard the book described as Harry Potter for grownups. A more accurate description would be Harry Potter plus Narnia with a pinch of Lord of the Rings and the Arthur legends.

If you are worried about spoilers, stop reading now and skip to below the asterisks.

The Harry Potter similarities are fairly obvious: There is a magical school that is magically hidden from sight from the rest of the world. At some point, the students get sorted into groups, and each group has its own reputation. There is a special game/sport. The main female student is a know-it-all. There is a device that can reverse time.

The Narnia similarities are equally obvious: There is magical world that can be reached either by having a magical object, by walking through a magical piece of furniture, or by being summoned. The children of one family have visited that world, and there is a series of books written about their adventures. If you use the magical object (a button), you end up in an in-between world of pools that lead to other worlds.

If you are familiar with Lord of the Rings and the King Arthur tales, you will sometimes have a sense of déjà vu. I'm not sure if there was much original material in The Magicians. Perhaps it was meant to be an obvious take off on the other books, but if so, the intentionality went over my head. Instead, I was left waiting for something new and different.

* * * * * *

Perhaps the novel could have worked if it didn't suffer from a couple of other flaws. Quentin is described as being unhappy and not wanting to return home or to see his parents, but I had trouble understanding why this was so. His father was a book editor, and his mother was an artist. Apparently they had a somewhat cavalier attitude about their roles as parents, but they weren't abusive. Quentin is not forced to do odious chores, and he seems to have a fairly normal existence. The cause of his general misery was undeveloped.

I also had trouble believing that the characters in the book were college students. They mostly seemed to act like sixteen-year-olds with the key to the liquor cabinet. I know that college students everywhere can get into the partying mode, but I felt that there was no real explanation for why Quentin's gang spent their evenings drinking. My general impression was that alcohol and sex were used solely to differentiate Brakebills students from Hogwarts students.

Although I found little to thrill me in The Magicians, doesn't mean you won't really like it. Readers at several commercial bookstore sites have given the novel an average of 3½ stars, as did readers at the social book-cataloging sites. Here's a look at three blog reviews: A Novel Menagerie gave the book 7.5 out of 10; Stephanie's Written Word had this to say: "[it] is pure literary magic." And Beyond Books gave it 4½ stars.

The Magicians at an Indie

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

Published by Penguin USA, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780670020553
Challenges: 100+
YTD: 79
Source: Review copy (see review policy)
Rating C−

Monthly Wrap Up: October 2009

2009-11-01T07:12:00.002-05:00

Total Books and Current Status

Since January 1, I've read 81 books and left 5 books unfinished. I have posted 79 full reviews and 23 mini-reviews and I have 2 reviews left to write. I am currently finishing up a number of print books and am listening to An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon.

What Did I Read and Review?

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

31 Hours by Masha Hamilton (B-)
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (B-)
Mind Scrambler by Chris Grabenstein (B-)
The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl (B)
Only Milo by Barry Smith (B-)
To Darkness and to Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming (B-)
Darkness Be My Friend by John Marsden (B+)

Also read in October but not yet reviewed:

A Friend of the Family by Karen Grodstein
Fables (Vol. 1) by Bill Willingham
The Magicians by Lev Grossman (review later today)

I had an average reading month and didn't read as much as I wanted to during the October Read-a-Thon. Darkness Be My Friend was my favorite for the month, though An Echo in the Bone (a 46-hour audiobook) is wonderful and will be near the top for November. I've been a bit disappointed in my reading lately; I need a WOW book.

Mini Reviews

I posted four mini reviews of books I read before I started blogging:

I, Claudius by Robert Graves
The Judas Pair by Jonathon Gash
The Kingdoms of the Elves of the Reaches by Robert Stanek
The Love Wife by Gish Jen

And I had one mini review of a book I couldn't finish:

Sword of Fire and Ice by John Matthews

Movie Reviews

Pride & Prejudice Goes to the Movies

Literary Road Trip, Author Interviews, Guest Posts

Literary Road Trip project: Susan DiPlacido, author of 24/7
Literary Road Trip project: Mindy Withrow, author of the History Lives series
Guest post: Matthew Pearl, author of The Last Dickens

Did I Complete Any Challenges? Join Any New Ones?

I completed the R.I.P. Challenge and the What's in a Name Challenge (wrap-up post to come).

I joined the 100-Mile Challenge, the YA Dystopian Challenge, and the Shelf Discovery Challenge.

What's New and What's Coming in November

I started a new weekend meme in October: Weekend Cooking. This is an open-ended, make of it what you will meme that everyone is welcome to join. If you have a post that is even remotely related to a food or drink topic, please feel free to hook up to Mr. Linky on my Saturday morning post. I am very happy with the first day: Margot of Joyfully Retired posted a great essay of her first dinner party, Michelle of GalleySmith posted a review of a YA novel, Sherrie of Just Books posted a mini review of a novel including a recipe, Wendy of Caribousmom wrote about her dinner on Friday night (including a recipe), and Diane of Bibliophile By the Sea shared two book reviews.

I have two Literary Road Trip posts planned for November and one blog tour.

I'm am particularly excited about Nicole's (of Linus's Blanket) That's How I Blog! series on Blog Talk Radio. Trish of Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? was the guest last week, and Kathy of Bermudaonion's Blog will be the guest on Tuesday, November 3. I will be the guest on November 10 (more on this in a couple of days). Please tune in, check out the chat room, and support this radio show. It is a lot of fun and Nicole is a natural host.

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

Weekend Cooking: Review: What to Cook . . . by Arthur Schwartz

2009-10-31T06:30:00.002-04:00

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.

What to Cook When You Think There's Nothing in the House to Eat by Arthur Schwartz is one of the cookbooks that I turn to a lot. I confess that I probably haven't made but one of the recipes exactly as written in the book, but that is not what this book is all about.

The chapters are arranged alphabetically by main ingredient, from anchovies to yogurt. Each one starts by introducing the ingredient, including storage and preparation tips, and concludes with three to four recipes. The first chapter has information on how to use the book and how to stock your pantry.

I usually turn to the book for ideas. It's late, and I think I have nothing for dinner in the house. I rummage around the cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer, and then I look through the cookbook. Oh, I happen to have pasta, olive oil. garlic, and hot pepper flakes. Yay! I can make aglio e olio (found in the oil chapter). Generally, however, I use the book for inspiration, adapting the recipes for what I have on hand.

The book covers all meals plus desserts. The absolute godsend recipe in the book is this:

Microwave Polenta (serves 2)

Combine 1 cup cornmeal and 4 cups cold water in a 3-quart casserole. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Stir well to smooth out the mixture. Return to the microwave on high for 10 minutes, stir, and repeat two more times or until desired consistency. Stir in salt and pepper to taste. (adapted from p. 111)

My well-used cookbook is from 1992 and has a different cover. I haven't seen the newer edition, but I bet it is just as good or even better.

What to Cook at an Indie

What to Cook at Powell's
What to Cook at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs; if you buy, you support this blog.

Published by Harper Perennial, 2000
ISBN-13: 9780060955595
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: B

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge: Prize Winner

2009-10-31T06:15:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween! I have the perfect way to celebrate: Today I'm announcing the winner of the first Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge giveaway drawing.

I used time the time stamp on the comments and on the Mr. Linky site to incorporate the people who left comments but not links into the drawing. Then I eliminated duplicates, because each person got only one chance in the drawing. Then I went to random.org and picked a number. I truly think I did this fairly. It was quite complicated to figure out!

As you may recall, the prize was Charlaine Harris's new Sookie Stackhouse short story collection: A Touch of Dead. Okay, okay already, I won't keep you in suspense any longer! The winner is

Julie from Booking Mama!

Congratulations! I'll be in touch with you shortly and get your book out to you immediately.

Review: Darkness Be My Friend by John Mardsen

2009-10-30T06:30:00.002-04:00

Darkness, Be My Friend is the fourth in the Tomorrow series by John Marsden. It's a particularly interesting entry because Marsden originally planned to write a trilogy. This novel, however, does not feel as if it were tacked on as an afterthought. The story flows smoothly and believably.

I reviewed the second and third books in the series on Beth Fish Reads; however, I read the first book before I started blogging. Major spoilers for the series (not this novel) lie ahead (can't be helped). This review assumes you've read the first three books. Those who are new to the series, can read the earlier reviews and/or skip to below the asterisks to read my opinion.

Darkness opens several months after The Killing Frost (book 3) ends. Ellie and her friends have been in New Zealand, recuperating from the war. With the help of therapists, the kids have started to come to terms with their experiences in guerrilla warfare. But they are all having trouble adapting to their new life in a new country.

When the New Zealand armed forces ask Ellie and her friends to be their guides for a planned attack on the Wirrawee air base, the teens feel as if they really had no choice. They are clearly caught between the need to be active (as is often typical in post-traumatic stress syndrome), feeling lucky that they escaped alive first time, and being pressured into helping their country and families.

After they return to Australia, they immediately notice that the enemy has made changes, most them disheartening. But the truly startling thing for Ellie and her friends is that they've lost their edge: They are more frightened now and find themselves second-guessing their instincts.

The raid on Wirrawee goes awry, and by the second third of the book, we are once again immersed in the uncertain world of war and survival.

* * * * * * *

As I said in my earlier reviews, it is very difficult to discuss the power of the Tomorrow series without giving away the story. Marsden's characters are extremely realistic; there are no stereotypes or predictable behavior. Just like real people, the teens and adults are not always strong and selfless; they make errors in judgment, get angry, and pout. You may not love every character, but they always behave in a believable and consistent manner.

The books are dark, intense, and action packed. The series is rated for readers aged twelve and up, but the themes are universal, and adults will find themselves fully engaged in Ellie's world. I have been trying to draw out the series so that it isn't over too quickly, but I may have to treat myself to a mini-marathon late in the year.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Suzi Doughtery. As I've said before, she is perfect as Ellie and brilliantly captures the tension, uncertainty, and fear as well as the few sparks of happiness.

John Marsden has a website and blog.

Darkness, Be My Friend at an Indie

Darkness, Be My Friend at Powell's
Darkness, Be My Friend at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs; if you buy, you support this blog.

Published by Scholastic, 2006 [originally published 1996]
ISBN-13: 9780439858021
Challenges: YA Dystopian, 100+, 999, Clear Off Shelves
YTD: 78
Source: Borrowed (see review policy)
Rating: B+

R.I.P. IV Challenge: Wrap Up

2009-10-30T06:15:00.001-04:00

Thanks so much to Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings for hosting the fourth edition of the RI.P. challenge.

I read my two books and even have the reviews written and posted. Both books were mysteries:

Mind Scrambler by Chris Grabenstein
To Darkness and to Death by Julia Spence-Fleming

This is a super challenge! I didn't join last year because I thought participants had to read horror, which I don't do. Once I realized that mysteries counted, I was in. I'm already looking forward to next fall.

To see what everyone else read, see the R.I.P. IV Review Site there are an astounding 650+ reviews posted. Now how's that for a 2-month challenge?

Thursday Tea: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

2009-10-29T06:30:00.002-04:00

I usually spotlight my audiobook on Thursdays, but I'm still listening to An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. I'm not sick of Clare and Jamie, but you might be.

I started reading The Magicians by Lev Grossman. I've heard it described as Harry Potter for grownups, and so far I think that's fairly accurate. Since I'm only on page 10, I really can't say too much about the plot. My review will be up on Sunday, though, because I plan to be done in time for my book club meeting that afternoon.

The Tea. I'm drinking Adagio Tea's Pu Erh Dante. I cannot pronounce it at all, but I've discovered I really like it. "Black tea from the Yunnan region of China. Pu Erh tea, perhaps the most esoteric of Chinese varieties, has a pronounced earthy aroma and taste. It is very popular in China due to its notoriety as a slimming diet tea." I don't know about the diet part, but I've had two cups each afternoon this week.

The Assessment. Because Quentin Coldwater lives in modern times in the United States, he could at least get this tea. Maybe brilliant, nerdy types are attracted to it. (Hey! No wise cracks!) I'd like to think that he and his friends might sip a cup while doing their homework.

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

The Magicians at an Indie

The Magicians at Powell's
The Magicians at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs; if you buy, I get a small percent.

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