June Riot Gram - day 2 Library Love

Book Riot has posted the June Riot Gram .  June 2nd is Library love!   My favorite library is the NY Public library.  i mean...   who doesn't love that place! Last time i was there was 5 years ago and it just always takes my breath away.   I swear if i lived in NY, i'd go there all the time just to sit.  Recently when we went to Boston, we stopped in the Boston Public Library.  I was super impressed because it was also beautiful,   Not only the library part but also the beautiful art work displayed and the murals  on the walls.   3 years ago my niece and nephew were visiting and we went to University of Washington's campus for a tour.  The library there reminded me of Harry Potter.    Finally we have the little neighborhood lending library.  This is approximately 2 blocks from my house and I love leaving books there for some lucky soul to discover.  It is a great way for me to purge my bookshelves

Boston Public Library

Boston Public Library

NY Public Library

University of Washington Library

University of Washington or Hogwarts 

Jane Austen Inspired books

There is something about books inspired by Jane Austen.  I just can't stop reading them.  I guess it's that hopeless romantic side of me that knows the strong woman will always find the man who is just as strong at the end.
In the past year I've read several Austen inspired books.  Last year I reviewed 2- Lizzy & Jane and Dear Mr. Knightley, both by Katherine Reay.   Today, we'll take a look at two new ones;

The Jane Austen Project 

 This is not the typical kind of book that I read.   2 researchers travel back in time to find a suspected unpublished novel of Jane Austen.   Usually time travel makes me crazy but i enjoyed this.  They must pretend to be brother and sister and not disturb anything in the past that might have an impact in the future.  Of course that can't happen. You know from the beginning that something isn't going to go right.   I really enjoyed the fictional Jane and the time traveler Rachel.   I thought her struggles to control her independence and her growing relationship with Liam (who is posing as her brother) was well thought out.  Overall the book kept me turning the pages to see what would happen.  I really wanted to know what would happen when they returned or if they would return.  Usually these books are a retelling of a Jane story but this one was a retelling of her life.  4 stars!    It appeals to the fantasy/sci fi fans of time travel and the Austen fans. 

By the Book  -    This one is a retelling of Persuasion.  I have to admit that I've never read Persuasion but have seen 2 different movie versions of it.   This one is fun and a bit mindless but perfect when you want something that doesn't hurt your brain and you can just enjoy.   Anne Corey is a professor trying to get tenure and struggling to stay afloat.  Her ex-fiance shows up as the new college president .  He has obviously done well for himself in spite of what was predicted meanwhile she is barely hanging on.  Of course there is a handsome writer who shows up and courts Anne.  I knew that in true Jane fashion, he would be a two timing no good rascal and that is exactly what happens.   Very predictable if you know anything about the story but fun. I read this on the bus to and from work.  The characters (especially her best friend) were fun.  This is probably a bit more of a 3.5 star rating but i rounded up to 4.  I would call this a good beach read.

Magic!

March was a good book month!   I finished a Gentleman in Moscow (see below) and I also read Rules of Magic.   Both were so good.  I had read Practical Magic years and years ago and honestly I barely remember it.  But, I love Alice Hoffman so I couldn't wait to pick this up.  This is the prequel to Practical Magic and we meet the Owen children  when they are kids and follow their lives starting in the late 50's/ early 60's and taking us on the journey to adulthood.  It is about love, losing love, finding love and figuring out who you are.  It is about accepting yourself and it is about family Yes, there is magic but there is so much more.   The 3 Owen siblings believe they must avoid love due to a family curse.  But they can't stop it because love finds each of them.   There were a few surprises in the book, especially with Vincent and there was heartbreak.  I just love how Alice Hoffman writes!  When her books come out I almost want to save them because I know I will read it so quickly and want more.   

Beautiful Salem 

It just so happened that I took a trip to Salem in March to visit friends.  Sandy, Kimberly and I boarded a flight on a Thursday to Boston.  We spent the night in Boston and then head to Salem for the weekend.  Totally fun!  Love this little town.  The shops are cute, restaurants yummy and just a fun get away!  It was great  to read a book set in this part of the country while I was in that part of the country.   The town is full of magic and the weekend was pretty magical.   
I was thinking about my favorite Alice Hoffman books.  It is so hard to try to rate them.   Museum of Extraordinary Things stayed with me for a long time.  Dovekeepers was so rich and full of history, passion, and strength.  Faithful was emotional and gut wrenching but in the end sweet.  I just a huge fan!    Next I might need to re-read Practical Magic. 

Posing in front of the Elizabeth Montgomery Statue.  Bewitched! 

Mother Goose Grave 

Boston Commons 

A Gentleman in Moscow

I started reading this book back in October.  It was recommended by a friend on Facebook.   This review is mixed.  Overall, i really enjoyed this novel.  The writing is lovely, the main character is super interesting and the side characters also people you want to know.   But...   I had a hard time getting through it.  I didn't move fast.   Let's look at what happens...   a man, an  aristocrat,  is sentenced to house arrest for a poem he wrote in 1922.  He will spend the rest of his life at the Metropol grand hotel.  The next 30 years cover his life in the hotel and the people he meets there.   I really liked it but i would put it down for weeks at a time and then pick it up and read another 50-60 pages.  I read at least 5 books during the time I read this book.  Finally 6 months in, I finished.  I still gave it 4 stars.  The missing star is only because it should have moved faster.


http://www.amortowles.com/

https://vimeo.com/183310610

the links above are to his website and a great video about the book.

I would still recommend this book to folks but tell them to enjoy the language, the character, the setting but know that is moves slowly.

On the really positive side, this book has a ton of food references.  He ends up working in the hotel restaurant , the place he always enjoyed the best dinners.   Lots and lots of food and drink references.  I googled "Food from A Gentleman in Moscow" and found this cool book page

http://bookclubcookbook.com/gentleman-moscow-latvian-stew-recipe-author-amor-towles/


Tonight I plan to make some food inspired by the book.  The author has published a recipe for Latvian Stew .  It sound delicious but I'm trying to cut back on all meat and the main ingredient is Pork Shoulder.   Instead I'm going to do something that is a bit Irish (it is St Patricks Day) and Russian.   Stay tuned.

Book Riot Bookstagram Challenge!   

I've been reading 3 books at a time which isn't my usual style. 
I started A Gentleman in Moscow months ago and for some reason I've had trouble finishing it.  i pick it up every
 couple of weeks and read a bit.  I really like it but just haven't finished it.  Also reading rereading the Alienist.  Just found out there is a TV show and i wanted to read the book again before watching it.   Finally , just started The Name of the Star (shades of London #1).  

the challenge! 














Challenge #2 - my current read.  It was my current read but now I've finished it.   I gave it 3  stars but it was probably more like 3.5 stars.  Good story but so sad.  I felt like the darkness in the asylum was a bit too much.  Almost too much for me to read.  I would still recommend it but not if you are already feeling a bit sad.  it might just tip you over the edge! 

Challenge #10- a Book and a Beverage.  This was a Saturday morning and i was finishing up the Bookshop on the Corner.  SOOOOO good.  I love a book about books.  this was everything i like in a story.  Books, a love story, a great setting, fun people, reinventing your life!  I gave it  5 stars.  This is one i'll reread. 

I have a few more coming up this month! 

Sunday morning

Starting a new book today- A Gentleman in Moscow.  Perfect Sunday for pumpkin bread, a French press of Tribute Blend and a good read!

where has the summer gone!

How can it possibly be the end of August?

I've had a pretty good reading summer .  I kicked it off with my trip to Hawaii at the beginning of June.  I  read 3 books on the beach and started a 4th.

House at the Edge of Night- great family sage set in Italy.  I really liked it but it was divided into 4 parts each told of a different generation of the family.  I liked some of the stories better than others.  But overall I'd give it a strong 4 stars out of 5.  Maybe even 4.5.  Interesting stories, great characters, lovely setting but just a bit long.

Dear Mr. Knightly - this is definitely a retelling of Daddy Long legs.  I really liked it because it was hopelessly romantic.  Not very realistic but fun and a fast read.  perfect for the beach.  4 stars as a beach read.  probably 3 stars if you are looking for a solid read.

Lizzy and Jane-  I love almost anything remotely related to Pride and Prejudice.  So of course this fits the bill.  It is the story of 2 sisters who have been separated physically and emotionally.  Elizabeth goes to Seattle to take care of Jane while she goes through chemotherapy and they heal their relationship and themselves.   I really enjoyed the relationship, the little touch of romance and the Seattle setting.  4 stars.

The last 2 were both written by Kathrine Reay.  I have now got to read the Bronte Plot and A Portrait of Emily Price.  They are on my list for this year!  plus she has a new one coming out in November called The Austen Escape.  Also on my list.

I enjoyed these 2 so much that i re watched the PBS Pride & Prejudice series.  All 6 hours.  Love me some Mr. Darcy!

Also in Hawaii, i started the Netflix series call Anne with an E.  It is a retelling on Anne of Green Gables.  SO GOOD!  i watched the first 4 eposides on the flights to and from Hawaii.  I watched the remaining 3 at home.  Can't wait for season 2.  Those books were never my favorite but i did love the disney series that ran in the 90's.   They did an exceptional job of updating it and yet sticking to the heart of the novels.  

Also, started watching the Handmaids Tale on Hulu.  Watched the first 3 with Francesca.  it kind of freaked me out!!  To close to where we are headed as a country.  I still need to watch the remaining 7 eposides.  Yikes.  Maybe i should re-read the book too.

Okay.  that is the start of summer update.  Not much cooking happening but I do have a few things to post next time related to books AND food.
Below are the photos of my scenery while reading!  #luckygirl

Book of Speculation and Crab Cakes

Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

This is a debut novel by the author and I think she did a great job!
The story goes back and forth between the current day in Long Island Sound and a traveling circus in the 1700's.  Simon, in the current day, is about to lose his house, literally.  It is falling into the ocean and he can't afford to repair it.  He is dealing with some dramatic family history where the women in the family seem to all drown themselves.  He receives a book in the mail which turns out to be a circus log.  From there we are introduced to the circus and his ancestors.  The women can hold their breath for long periods of time and do a mermaid act.
The stories each have drama and take you along for the ride.  I actually liked both stories which is unusual because typically I love one or the other.  Simon's sister comes into the scene and he is worried that she will follow in her mothers footsteps of drowning.  But Simon can also hold his breath for up to 10 minutes.   Without giving too much away, I'd say that I enjoyed the circus scenes and also kept wondering what was going to happen to Simon.  In the book, horseshoe crabs play a major role.  They are absolutely weird fascinating animals.  They also kind of freak me out.   We use to find the empty shells on the beach when i was a kid.  I read that they date back  450 million years ago.  They are considered to be living fossils.


The author has a food blog :)
ieatbutter.tumblr.com.


I finished the book and decided to make crab cakes.  I love crab cakes and kind of just made up a recipe.
I went to Trader Joe's and found a can of Lump Crab meat.
I drained the crab
added an egg
2 Tbsp Mayo
3 green onions chopped up
1/2 cup of Italian seasoned bread crumbs
 Parsley flakes
Garlic salt

I fried them in a skillet with just a little bit of vegetable oil.

I took some Mayonnaise and added lemon juice (1 full lemon)
and a tiny shake of Cayenne pepper.

They taste delicious!  I added a spinach salad with some orange peppers and mushrooms and feta cheese.  YUM!

2017! A new beginning

Wow!  I started this blog a few years ago and then ditched it.  At the time it didn't seem so important because i had only some family members following me and i figured i could just talk to them by phone.
But, it is 2017 and I'm feeling the urge to tell some stories and share some love.  I figure even if i just post once a month, it will be a chance to talk about the books I've been reading and the food I've made.

I've set a goal of 2 books a month.  PLUS i am in 2 book clubs which means I'm reading a couple of books just to keep in the club.   Let's see if i can stick with it.  If you decide to follow- Thank you and welcome.  You'll keep me inspired.
Here we go.....