February Wrap up and diversity in my reading

 Can't believe February is done!  I had another good reading month.  

6 books 

    2  Audio ,  4 book format , read 1785 pages.   

1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

1 ⭐⭐⭐

to be honest, I don't really finish a book that is less than 3 stars.  If it isn't going well, I close it down and start something else.  I just have too many books to keep reading.  2 of my 4 star books are probably more like 3.5 stars.  I really struggle with to round up or to round down!  I've only posted reviews for 2 of the 6 and will eventually get around the the rest. 

My favorite was House in the Cerulean Sea.  the weirdest was Convenience Store Woman!  I listened to that one on audio and the story is totally wacky but also the narrator was great and i really wanted to see where the store would lead.  Plus, now I'm super interested in going to Japan and seeing the Convenience stores ! 

I've been thinking a lot about diversity in my reading.  I think if you had asked me, I would have told you that my reading choices were super diverse.  But when I honestly dug in and looked at what books I've read over the past year that either the Author or the main character was BIPOC or the book was not based in North America or Western Europe, the list gets small. 

Over the past 5 years, I've read 145 books.   24 have been BIPOC or set in a non western setting.  That is only about 17% of my reading!   6 of the 24 have been this year!  So, my goal for the rest of the year is to be much more intentional about adding diverse titles to my list.  Not going to put a number on it now but will shoot for more than today!   

I currently have 3 books running which is tough.  I have over committed my self at work and signed up for 2 work book groups.  1 is a business book call Atomic Habits.   Really getting a lot out of that book and the other one is How to be an AntiRacist.  I've only done chapter 1 so I have a lot more to read.  

Also, reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.  The bookstagram community loves that book so I am excited to read it.  Of course half of my library books on hold have all come in at the same time so i will be very busy for the next couple of week. 

Keep reading and stay safe! 

 

American Spy and Pizza

I finished American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson a couple of weeks ago and really struggled with how to review it.   

It is a story of an African American Woman, Marie,  who is a spy for the FBI.  The book flips around the time period between her childhood in NY in the 60's to her work with the FBI and then CIA in the 80's to the 90's where she is writing this letter/journal to her children to tell them what happened.    The book starts with this big action scene and then it settles into this story telling.  I wouldn't call it a spy thriller as much as a political thriller.   

So, here's what I liked: 

    the main character Marie was great.  

    Loved the backstory on her sister and their relationship .  I also like her mom and dad. 

    I had NO idea about any of the West Africa stuff and I had to look it up to see if this was based on reality.  It is!  I learned who Thomas Sankara was and learned a bit about a part of the world that i am blind to.  I need to educate myself on this. 

    I really liked the struggles and talk about how the FBI treated her due to race and gender.  It was and probably still is an old white boys club.  

    I listened to this book on Audio and I really liked the narrator.  She was fantastic 

What I didn't like so much; 

    This book is a bit slow.  I think if I  had been actually reading it, I would have stopped.  There is a LOT of details.  It felt like too much detail on every single thing. 

    I wanted a bit more to happen.  I just kept waiting for it.  

Overall i'm giving it 4 stars mainly because the topic was so interesting and it was the first spy novel I read where the main character is a black woman.  We need more of that.   If you decide to read, I'd encourage you to listen instead .  

I had no idea what food to make.  Once again I am terribly uneducated on African food.  And lately I have been so busy and a bit overwhelmed with work that i decided this book called for a PIZZA.  Not a pizza I made but a good old take out pizza like you might get in NYC.  Of course it taste nothing like the NYC pizza but I can pretend.  Enjoy and keep reading   

 

The House in the Cerulean Sea and a lobster roll!

 I'm having a great reading month, again! I am also a bit overwhelmed with reading because I have 4 books going at once.   My book group is reading The Life She Was Given, I have a work book group reading Atomic Habits, another book group reading How To Be An Antiracist and finally I'm listening to Convenience Store Woman on Audibles.   That is a lot going on! 

Today I'm reviewing my first read of February, The House in the Cerulean Sea.   There has been so much buzz on this book and the Bookstagram community has already reviewed the heck out of it.  So, i'm late to the game but that never stops me.   This is a delightful book!  It is all the good feels you want in a story.  

Linus Baker works at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth.  He checks in on orphanages to make sure the children are well cared for and he's been doing this for years!  One day he is given a secret assignment by the Extremely Upper Management group to visit an island and check on an a group of children and their caretaker.   He is given very little information and is told to report back every detail.   He arrives and is stunned by the children but also quickly enamored by them.   Their caregiver is a strange man named Arthur Parnassus who is very protective of the children.   It is really a wonderful story about the magic of love, overcoming bias, and learning to standup for what you believe it.   It is the second book I've read recently where you see clear discrimination and hate for someone so different then themself.   

Now, that doesn't mean there aren't a few problems.  For my friends who want a little more realism or grit in their stories, this isn't for you.   It is maybe too happy for those folks and I could see how some say it didn't go deep enough.  But, it was just what I needed.  Beautiful and full of such love.   PLUS it was such an easy read.  Once i picked it up, I finished it in 3 days.   Didn't want to put it down! 

SO what to eat with it?  I was struck by the Sea and when Linus sees it for the first time.  We are in the middle of winter and rain and snow and I long for a hot day at the sea.  That made me think of Lobster roll in the summer and sitting outside with the sun on your back, a cold beverage in your hand .  OHHH, I am so ready for that.   So, this is paired with a yummy lobster roll. 

This is pretty simple because I really believe Lobster roll should be with butter and not mayonnaise.  I melted butter and brushed it over the bun and then put the bun the the oven to toast it up.  From there i let the butter get a bit brown and added a touch of salt and pepper.  I also added a few scallions just to see how it would taste!  I dropped my chopped up lobster in the pan for a few minutes and it was ready to go.  So delicous.   Of course i paired it with chips and a couple of pickles.  And for folks who have read the book, you know i had to scatter a few buttons around.  (One of my favorite little things from the book <3 )   Enjoy and I hope you love this! 

A Jane Austen Valentines Day! with a side of Chocolate pudding

 This weekend is all about SNOW in Seattle and a little bit of love tossed in for Valentines day.  I spent the weekend doing a lot on zoom.  I had tickets for a Animated French Film festival,  A Jane Austen Tea Party and a play ticket i bought last month that was going to expire shortly.   But let's talk Jane Austen.  

Since I've been pushing my book stagram account, I've gotten sucked into the book world on social media.  Lot's of cool stuff happening.  It is fun to see all of the recommendations, contest and super creative post on Instagram.   I joined a book club called "the Enchanted Book Club" and on Saturday there was a tea Party with the Authors and illustrator for Jane Was Here.    They discussed their trip and what inspired them and it was lovely.  Totally fun book and i am going to take a trip whenever we get to travel again!   

I also discovered a great new Podcast called Nhttp://enchantedbookclub.com/ovel Pairings .  I listened to the first episode from last year on Emma and the following episode on the movie.  Such a fun discussion.   That had me going back and watching the movie again.  I saw it 4 or 5 months ago and it was fun to rewatch it.  I have a secret...  I haven't read Emma.  The only Austen i've read is P&P.   I have seen every movie version of Emma and this is probably my favorite.  I watched it while working a puzzle.  Perfect snowy day activity.    Love the costumes, the set and the actors.   Emma always bugs me a bit because she is very selfish but I also enjoy the story.  I LOVED Bill Nighy as Mr Woodhouse.   He is perfect in the role.  I wasn't familiar with the Anya Taylor-Joy before this but then i saw her in Queens Gambit.   Big Fan!   

And, finally with the snow and valentines day and all the JA, i made a big pot of homemade chocolate pudding.  Because it just felt like the right thing to do!     With all of this watching and listening, i didn't do any reading!   I have read 3 books this month and took a couple of days off.  I'll post those reviews shortly.  

Sending lot's of love to each of you. 

Chocolate pudding 

1 cup of sugar 

1/2 cup of cocoa powder 

1/4 cup of cornstarch 

1/2 tsp salt 

4 cups of milk. 

Whisk together susar, cocoa, cornstarch, salt.  whisk in milk.  I used 2%.  Heat to boiling stirring constantly.  Once it starts to boil heat for another 1-2 minutes  and then remove from heat. 

Stir in 2 tsp of vanilla and 2 tbsp butter.  Transfer serving bowls and chill.  ( I actually like to eat one bowl still warm :)