Dunbar by Edward St. Aubyn

Henry Dunbar is wealthy and powerful. And he turns all over to his two older daughters. In exchange, they have him committed and put out of the way. Only his youngest daughter seems to care about him and not his power and money. After a dramatic escape from the hospital where he is incarcerated, Henry and Florence, his youngest, find each other. But for how long remains to be seen.  

In a modern retelling of King Lear, St. Aubyn has written a wonderful story. A short read, only 244 pages, it is worth an afternoon in the recliner with a cup of hot coffee while it's cold outside.

While this isn't my favorite Shakespeare story, I will be passing it along to my oldest daughter who loves King Lear.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

You are the Beloved - Henri J. M. Houwen

Although raised in the Methodist Church and a constant church-goer until my junior year in high school, I do not consider myself Christian. So this book might come as a bit of a surprise as one I requested to review.

Set up as daily meditations on various aspects of life, I found them quite enjoyable. It was easy to replace some of the terminologies with a more generic meaning, or a meaning more suited to my personal beliefs. I also feel one shouldn't hold another's beliefs against them. They are valid to that person and as long as they aren't forcing them on me - blessed be.

Another reason I wanted the book is to forward on to a good friend of mine who is very interested in religion and is strong in her Christian faith. I think it will make a nice gift to pass along.

I enjoyed the quick read on a daily basis and they give you something to think about, regardless of your leanings.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Mandala Monday

Not a mandala, but I loved the tone this picture made when I put it through a filter with the Portra app. Despite some of the negative reviews, I didn't have an issue at all with it. The only problem I had was to stop playing with it on the pictures on my phone!

Personally, I think this picture conjures up a great book idea.

Week In Review - November 5 - 11

This morning I finally 'played' with the Portra app on my phone.  Don't pay any attention to the negative reviews, as I had zero issues with it. Other than wanting to go through all my pictures and play with it. 

I am behind on my NaNoWriMo writing. Don't understand it, as I was so jazzed to get started. But when it came time to actually put words on paper, wasn't happening. Part of it I feel is I need 'alone' time to write. I can't write at home if others are running around. But I can go to a coffee shop or the library and write. Go figure. Anyway, will attempt to play catch up this coming week.

I'm blaming this face for the problem with being behind in my writing. She was home for two days last week (and several the week before) with pneumonia. Not enough to make her feel bad and lay in bed, just enough to give her a cough and not being able to go to school and spread it around to everyone else. So selfish!

Part of Monday and all of Tuesday morning was spent making 120 mini-cupcakes with roses. A lot of damn roses and icing. But they turned out nicely and were appreciated by Savvy and Jensen Jewelers.

And with the onset of cold weather and snow, I have been feeding the entire sparrow population of Helena, plus a few friends. We have had seagulls and now crows came to partake of my stale bread I threw out. The snow has stopped and nothing in the forecast for any this coming week. It will give a chance for the rest of the snow to melt.

Otherwise this week...

• Potted up my amaryllis for my contribution to Christmas decorating. They are already starting to put out the stem and leaves...barely.
• Did a bit of Christmas gift sewing
• Some crocheting on my Corner-to-Corner afghan
• Bundled up a trash bag of scraps to move on
• Had my permanent crown put on my broken tooth
• Saw Murder on the Orient Express with a good friend
• Got a ton of laundry sorted and put up (mostly)

So for the coming week...

• Catch up on NaNoWriMo
• Clean plants out of bay window and put up window cover to help stop cold air leaking in
• Attend Orchid Society meeting
• More crocheting while binge-watching Midnight Texas. I'm hoping they didn't butcher it like they did her Sookie Stackhouse vampire series.
• Going to see Thor: Ragnarok at the movies Tuesday (discount day)
• Working the Turkey Challenge at our local library (taking in turkeys for the local food bank)
• Punch Class Saturday at Gulch Distillers
• Lots of reading (huge stack of books at hand)

But for now...

More coffee, some oatmeal, and fresh fruit salad for breakfast.

The Comic Book Story of Video Games

We are a gamer household. 

My daughters grew up on Zelda and the Pokemon games. I still think the first Bomberman was one of the best. My oldest daughter met her fiance playing World of Warcraft and we still play. We have owned and currently own, different platforms for gaming.

So, Jonathan Hennessey's The Comic Book Story of Video Games was right up our alley. Especially since graphic novels are also a passion in our household.

This was more a walk down memory lane for me as I remember going to the local 7-Eleven to play Joust. 

It was fun to read about how various games evolved and (cringing) how many I and my family have played over the years. 

In full color, even non-readers will love this book. However, it did make me sad to think about all the money I have spent over the past few decades on consoles and games.

This is a great book for the gamer in your life!

 "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Awesome Things Matching Game

Considering the stack of books beside my bed (and pending reading) was beginning to become more than unmanageable, I opted for this little jewel as my next 'book' to review.

Needless to say, I have actually handled it for about 5 minutes total since it arrived. Lady K, who is 4.5 years old, loves it.

Some of the great things about this set of 'matching' cards...

• Size fits little hands nicely
• You can match by color or by image
• You can pull out one stack of 10 at a time for a small game or use them all for a larger game
• Pictures are fun and there are 2 blank ones so they can make their own cards
• Made of study cardboard with bright, simple images 
• The box they come in is study and will hold up better than the regular card boxes

Since we are on the 'decluttering before we move' stage, we sent the game to 'school' for everyone to play with, especially as we are entering winter here in Montana and days they can play outside will be few and far between. 

And the head of the day care brought up a good point - they aren't 'commercial' images, like Disney Princesses and the like. She was really excited to get them for the classroom.

And the two blank cards? Well, I think a picture of the two classroom teachers will be on them for a fun match.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Gone - by Min Kym

I received a copy of Gone - A Girl, A Violin, A Life Unstrung by Min Kym shortly after our house had burned down and we were in limbo between emergency housing and finding a rental until we found permanent housing. And while the house we lost wasn't a soulmate, it was the home to my daughters, son-in-law, grand daughter and myself.

So in reading this book, I felt I understood a lot of the feelings Min Kym was going through with the loss of her violin. Not to mention it was a priceless Stradivarius.

I think the thing which I really took away from this book is that you really have to go through a loss in your life to understand what it really feels like. In the past, I could empathize with someone who had a major loss, but I didn't know how it felt. Now I do.

But you don't have to go through a loss in your life to pick up this book. At just over 200 pages it makes for a nice read on a rainy afternoon. Preferably with violin music playing slowly in the background.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge

Considering the huge pile of books on the floor beside the bed to read, not counting the ones of the shelves across from the bed, I felt a little guilty about starting this book almost the moment it arrived. I think there was part of me pleased with being able to read a book before it was actually 'released'.

And I am so glad I did!

Written by Hillary Manton Lodge, it's the story of three sisters who head out from San Francisco to Austin, Texas to try and piece together their lives yet again. Tea and scones meet Texas BBQ in a wonderful combination. 

A modern day take on Sense and Sensibility (and probably some Pride and Prejudice too), Celia, Jane and Margot make a move to Austin to start over again, living on the property of a cousin until they can get their feet under them and a new tea shop opened. Sound familiar?

There is also the wounded military officer, haughty wives and sisters and bad-boy romances, all of which make it imperative you curl up on a Sunday afternoon to 'nap' and finish the book. It's so good, I recommended it to my library as a book club selection.

I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time. Light, fun reading - perfect with a cup of tea.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

The Story Cure - Dinty W. Moore

Subtitled as a pain-free guide to finishing your novel or memoir, I grabbed this one right up. Plus, I have read other books by Moore in the past and knew, if nothing else, it would be a pain-free read. And I wasn't wrong. 

Under 200 pages, The Story Cure is set up in two parts - Cures and Checkups. 

Within "Cures" you have your 'diagnosis' and then the 'cure' for the ailment. Plus there are prompts and exercises to help. One of my favorite exercises is the "Green, Pink and Yellow of Character". This is were Moore has you take a chapter from the book and color-code various elements in the chapter. And if you have a lot of green and little or no yellow, then you are on the right track to a good story.

Another thing I enjoyed about the book were the examples Moore gives in each section. A lot of books on writing tell you, but don't show you, what they are talking about. He gives an example to illustrate what the section or chapter is referring to. There is no guess work on your part, so you can't get it wrong.

I enjoyed the book and will be using several of the exercises to keep me motivated in my own writing.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

The underground Culinary Tour - Damian Mogavero

I have been toting this book around for months now as we have been trying to get settled into a new, all be it temporary, home.  

A bit about the book - 

ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND CULINARY TOUR

In the bestselling tradition of  Moneyball, The Underground Culinary Tour is a high-octane, behind-the-scenes narrative about how the restaurant industry, historically run by gut and intuition, is being transformed by the use of data.
 
Sixteen years ago, entrepreneur Damian Mogavero brought together an unlikely mix of experts—chefs and code writers—to create a pioneering software company whose goal was to empower restaurateurs, through the use of data, to elevate and enhance the guest experience. Today, his data gathering programs are used by such renown chefs as Danny Meyer, Tom Colicchio, Daniel Boulud, Guy Fieri, Giada De Laurentiis, Gordon Ramsay, and countless others.
 
Mogavero describes such restaurateurs as the New Guard, and their approach to their art and craft is radically different from that of their predecessors. By embracing data and adapting to the new trends of today’s demanding consumers, these innovative chefs and owners do everything more nimbly and efficiently—from the recipes they create to the wines and craft beers they stock, from the presentations they choreograph to the customized training they give their servers, making restaurants more popular and profitable than ever before.

 
Finally, Damian takes readers behind the scenes of his annual, invitation-only culinary tour for top chefs and industry CEOs, showing us how today’s elite restaurants embrace new trends to create unforgettable meals and transform how we eat. From the glittering nightclubs of Las Vegas to a packed seasonal restaurant on the Long Island Sound, from Brennan’s storied, family-run New Orleans dynasty to today’s high-stakes celebrity chef palaces, The Underground Culinary Tour takes readers on an epicurean adventure they won’t forget.

That being said, the book made me long for a larger city where places to eat, especially small, hole-in-the-wall restaurants thrive. More farm-to-table style places. Food trucks being the norm rather than a rarity, trotted out when warmer conditions hit Helena. 

But while I can go on and on about the description of menus, what is fascinating is something few, if any, of us think about - the day-to-day running of shops and how 'numbers' matter. From the number of people who come in to hear a DJ spin songs, to how many order what on what day of the week. Owning a place to eat is far more than just putting food on a plate and setting it on the table.

I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who loves finding out what goes on behind the swinging doors of a restaurant. And I want to go on one of the culinary tours Damian puts on!

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND CULINARY TOUR

In the bestselling tradition of  Moneyball, The Underground Culinary Tour is a high-octane, behind-the-scenes narrative about how the restaurant industry, historically run by gut and intuition, is being transformed by the use of data.
 
Sixteen years ago, entrepreneur Damian Mogavero brought together an unlikely mix of experts—chefs and code writers—to create a pioneering software company whose goal was to empower restaurateurs, through the use of data, to elevate and enhance the guest experience. Today, his data gathering programs are used by such renown chefs as Danny Meyer, Tom Colicchio, Daniel Boulud, Guy Fieri, Giada De Laurentiis, Gordon Ramsay, and countless others.
 
Mogavero describes such restaurateurs as the New Guard, and their approach to their art and craft is radically different from that of their predecessors. By embracing data and adapting to the new trends of today’s demanding consumers, these innovative chefs and owners do everything more nimbly and efficiently—from the recipes they create to the wines and craft beers they stock, from the presentations they choreograph to the customized training they give their servers, making restaurants more popular and profitable than ever before.
 
Finally, Damian takes readers behind the scenes of his annual, invitation-only culinary tour for top chefs and industry CEOs, showing us how today’s elite restaurants embrace new trends to create unforgettable meals and transform how we eat. From the glittering nightclubs of Las Vegas to a packed seasonal restaurant on the Long Island Sound, from Brennan’s storied, family-run New Orleans dynasty to today’s high-stakes celebrity chef palaces, The Underground Culinary Tour takes readers on an epicurean adventure they won’t soon forget.

ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND CULINARY TOUR

In the bestselling tradition of  Moneyball, The Underground Culinary Tour is a high-octane, behind-the-scenes narrative about how the restaurant industry, historically run by gut and intuition, is being transformed by the use of data.
 
Sixteen years ago, entrepreneur Damian Mogavero brought together an unlikely mix of experts—chefs and code writers—to create a pioneering software company whose goal was to empower restaurateurs, through the use of data, to elevate and enhance the guest experience. Today, his data gathering programs are used by such renown chefs as Danny Meyer, Tom Colicchio, Daniel Boulud, Guy Fieri, Giada De Laurentiis, Gordon Ramsay, and countless others.
 
Mogavero describes such restaurateurs as the New Guard, and their approach to their art and craft is radically different from that of their predecessors. By embracing data and adapting to the new trends of today’s demanding consumers, these innovative chefs and owners do everything more nimbly and efficiently—from the recipes they create to the wines and craft beers they stock, from the presentations they choreograph to the customized training they give their servers, making restaurants more popular and profitable than ever before.
 
Finally, Damian takes readers behind the scenes of his annual, invitation-only culinary tour for top chefs and industry CEOs, showing us how today’s elite restaurants embrace new trends to create unforgettable meals and transform how we eat. From the glittering nightclubs of Las Vegas to a packed seasonal restaurant on the Long Island Sound, from Brennan’s storied, family-run New Orleans dynasty to today’s high-stakes celebrity chef palaces, The Underground Culinary Tour takes readers on an epicurean adventure they won’t soon forget.

Eat Beautiful by Wendy Rowe

I have to say I was a bit reluctant to pick up this book. It sounded a bit to 'fluffy' for me. However, I must say there is more than meets the eye here. 

Divided by the seasons, Rowe gives foods common during that time of the year, along with the nutrients and some yummy recipes using that ingredient. This is going to be helpful since we all want to eat better this year (lots of stress, you understand) for not only weight management, but overall health.

While it probably will not be my first 'go-to' cookbook, there are a lot of interesting ones I will try. And the layout and pictures are fantastic. Well worth a look through every now and then.



"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

The Chemist - Stephanie Meyer

If you pick this book up expecting something in the line of The Twilight Saga or a sequel to The Host, you are going to be very disappointed. Nothing paranormal here.

However, if you want a book to keep you on the edge of your seat, then pick up The Chemist.

Alex is on the run and has been for the past three years. On the run from her past employers at a top secret government agency. Hoping to resolve her dilemma she gets involved, quite by accident, with other people and dogs.

I enjoyed the book on one hand. However, I do have a couple of problems with it.  First, it did take me a bit to get into it. It was quite lengthy in describing how she has been protecting herself for the past three years and all the precautions she takes - gas, poison rings and other booby traps. However, part of me feels it is necessary to really understand why she is referred to as The Chemist.

Secondly, I'm not really sure I understand exactly what she was running from or trying to stop from happening and even if was really resolved.

Given my issues with the book, would I recommend it? Absolutely! No sparkling vampires here, but an intense action read, well worth settling in on a cold and snowy winter day with.

By the way, I want a dog like Einstein.

Under the Tuscan Sun - Frances Mayes

Twenty years! Where did the time go?

If there is one book I have given away more copies of it's this book. 

This is the book which is responsible for starting my love affair with travel books, it's Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes.

Forget the movie (please, forget the movie) and settle back in a chair, preferably in the sun. I always seem to wind up with a sprig of basil as a bookmark and fix lots of Italian food to eat afterwards.

From the trials of buying property in Italy, to the difficulty of finding people to help restore your new, but falling down, villa, it's a romp through Italy which will have you packing your bags and heading to the airport.

With a new copy of the book in my hands, it's time for a dinner of spaghetti, red wine and fresh bread.

Ciao!

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Amaro - The Spirited Worlds of Bittersweet, Herbal Liqueurs

I really don't know much about bitters. I do know a local distillery has started producing their own bitters.  So when I had a chance to get ahold of Brad Thomas Parsons new book, Amaro, I was pleased to not only get a history of amaro, but also a volume of fantastic sounding drinks and recipes for using bitters.

A beautiful book filled with recipes for various drinks and the stories behind them, I was particularly taken with the section on how to make my own bitters (and the Autumnal Amaro sounds so good), as well as other recipes using amaro.  Right now, despite the cold in Helena, a Campari Float, made with orange soda, ice cream and Campari sounds like a wonderful slice of summer.

This is a keeper for our drink shelf.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

A Study in Scarlet Women - Sherry Thomas

Charlotte Holmes has invited ruin upon her good name in order to live the life she choses. And she does so under the guise of being Sherlock Holmes.

The names are familiar...to a certain point. And the interweaving of story lines makes for a great read. Between the deaths which occur (or were they murders?) and the twists and turns of Charlotte's own life, you find yourself flipping pages and reading far past your bedtime.

A great alternate version of the Sherlock Holmes legend and I can't wait to read the next one. 

You can find the book here, on Amazon, just in time for Christmas reading!

Heartless is Breathtaking!

First off, I love anything to do with Lewis Carroll and the "Alice" stories. Love it, love it, love it. Not so far as to have an entire sleeve being tattooed on my arm, but close enough. (Note to self - go back and read my annotated copy of Alice in Wonderland.)

Actually, I am going to claim ignorance of what the book was about.  I don't always read the fly-leaf on the cover. I just know I have enjoyed Meyer's retelling of fairy tales in The Lunar Chronicles, so I brought it home with me.  And devoured it. Much like the delectable confections Cath prepares in the book. The result - I discovered something special (and cried a bit too).

Catherine is nobility. But all she wants to do is open a bakery, preparing all manner of sweets and tarts. However, the King has his eye on more than her tarts and a new court jester has arrived. Along with the Jabberwoky.

What happens is a romp through Wonderland with all your favorite characters, including a Mad Hatter, who might not be quite as mad...yet.

I don't think I could recommend Heartless by Marissa Meyer any more. In fact, if you hurry over to Amazon, you can get the first four chapters on ebook free.  Since it's suitable for teens on up, this would make an excellent Christmas present for someone. 

Story Genius - Lisa Gron

I am a sucker for books on writing.  Almost as much as I am a sucker for anything chocolate.

And interestingly enough, this book came to me right be National Novel Writing Month started.  However, Story Genius is not a quick read, especially in light of some of the other writing books I'm read.

Lisa Cron takes what most of the books on writing says to do and turns it on it's head.  Using the old '5 W's and How' from journalism, Cron has you crafting your novel using "What If?, The Who, The Why, The Worldview, The When and What Next?".  Creating the inside story is the first half of the book. Then she takes you into 'blueprinting' your story, pulling out cards, and building your story.  

There is a lot to absorb with this book and each chapter ends with an exercise based on that chapter's contents.  This is not a book to breeze through and stick on your shelf, but a deep read and write.  So much so, my initial read through is now a 'go-back-and-reread'.  But after NaNoWriMo.  Otherwise, I would be trashing what I've got and starting all over again (exactly what Cron's warns me about!)

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Alexander Hamilton's Guide to LIfe - Jeff Wilser

Everything is coming up Hamilton these days (except in my wallet, which is bare of Hamilton's)!

This small size book packs a big punch of fun reading.  Covering everything from handling office politics to honor to leisure time, Wilser's book is part history lesson and part practical advice, all from Hamilton's point of view.

Quick, short chapters make this a perfect book for reading just a page or two at a time.  However, once read, you then think about what you just finished for hours (if not days).

Of course, reading it with the sound track from Hamilton playing in the background is recommended.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Photographs From the Edge by Art Wolfe with Rob Sheppard

No, this isn't a pictorial account of my nervous breakdown.  Instead it is a drool-worthy book and hits all the right buttons on my account.

In Photographs from the Edge: A Master Photographer's Insights on Capturing an Extraordinary World, just the photographs alone are worth a sit-down and flip-through.  But each picture is accompanied by three things - 

1. A journal-like story about the picture itself - where it was taken, when - a bit of background information.
2. "The Nature of the Photos" - a brief paragraph about the area the photo was taken in, something about the subject - a quick snippet.
3. "Photo tip" - a how-to on photography and how it applies to that particular picture.

Art Wolfe, the photographer, along with Rob Sheppard, have put together a book which will take hours to go through.  And then hours running outside to try some of the tips and hints in the book.  A great book to sit down with a cup of tea and slowly go from page to page, savoring the visual impact of each photograph.

This is a must have for any would-be photographer, armchair traveler or a combination of the two.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Natural Color - Sasha Duerr

I have resisted learning how to spin.  Well, actually, I do have 2 drop spindles, but only 2 hands and I think I need a third hand to make it work - for me.  

And it's fall.  Leaves on the ground, wonderful colors everywhere.  And then I received Natural Color by Sasha Duerr.  And I think all my holding back from dyeing fabric and yarns is now out the window!

Subtitled "Vibrant plant dye projects for your home and wardrobe", Duerr has broken the book into seasons, a very sensible way to looking at gathering plant material for dyeing fabric.  She doesn't go into yarn dyeing, but I'm sure her methods could be used on yarn too.  

From rose petals, to hibiscus, to blue spruce being used on napkins, hats and baskets this is one hefty dose of eye candy.  And it's not all just about pretty pictures (although there are tons of them.)

Duerr covers everything from setting up the work area and the tools needed to achieve the results you want.  If you have ever been even remotely interested in dyeing your own fabrics, DO NOT pick up this book or you will be out eyeing all sorts of leaves, flowers and grasses for potential use.

So know I am stockpiling linen, silk and wool and scouring the thrift stores for stainless steel pots.  All I need is an outside burner.  Wonder if my grill would work?

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Engineering Eden - Jordan Fisher Smith

Now living in Montana, issues concerning the wilderness are more on my mind these days.  I can walk four blocks up the street and be in the 'hills'. Yearly, we seem to get the warnings about mountain lions in those same hills. Deer are a constant visitor to the streets of Helena.  As I write this, smoke from wildfires several miles away are evident.  So the whole idea of just how much control we do have over the wilderness and it's occupants are very up close and personal. 

This year alone, we have seen someone who is use to the outdoors and bears, be killed while riding his bike.  It's very sad.

But I would hate to think of the alternative.  

Already, oil and mining companies ogle the wilderness areas for their own gain.  And the animals?  Do we turn our outdoors into one big zoo?  

While the interaction between man and animals sometimes makes man on the losing side, I would hate to think there were no 'wild' predators anymore. 

And the fires?  Loss of house and home are devastating.  I have seen where hillsides are bare of trees from a fire.  And I have seen hillsides where trees and grasses and flowers are growing after a fire, rejuvenated.

Smith presents a compelling argument in the Man Vs. Nature fight all around the plight of Harry Walker and his untimely death. 

Frankly, after seeing the stupidity of tourists in Yellowstone who think warning signs about the geysers and animals are there for decoration, I hope the animals and wilderness wins this fight.

 "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."