Reading Review: 2013 Books

I did it! I made my goal of reading 80 books this year! A few of these were cookbooks, decorating books, shorter young adult or kids chapter books, but I didn't count any picture books. I feel like 80 is a sweet spot for me - I read 72 in 2012 and 68 books in 2011. But to read more than 80 I would have to cut out other things that I love to do also. So I'm going for 80 again in 2014. But... more non-fiction. And classics. I only read 3 classics and 1 non-fiction. Man, no wonder I got to 80 easily!

When I look at the reading goals I set last year, I failed miserably at most of them. I only read 3 of the 6 books I wanted to get to (although one I took off the list) and didn't get to any poems, plays, or non-fiction. So I guess my goal for 2014 is to read more meaningful and quality books and a little less just-for-fun fiction. And to finish a few I have been working on for a super long time!

To Read in 2014

To Finish:
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Hand the First Held Mine by Maggie O'Ferrell
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Classics:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber

Non-Fiction:
Trails to Testimony by Bradley D. Harris
Raising up a Family to the Lord by Gene R. Cook
The Parenting Breakthrough by Merrilee Boyack

Plays:
The Odd Couple by Neil Simon
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

General Fiction:
Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

This seems like a lot - just the 14 listed above. But anyone who can read 80 books in a year can get through those, right? Let's hope so. I would like to be widely-read and well-read (and well-rounded) and not just have finished a bunch of fluffy mystery books.

But I did read some great things in 2013 and want to lay out my favorites here.

Favorite 5 Stars (I only gave this rating to 6 books and one was a cookbook.)

The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall
I love this series and this family so much! It has a charming, old-fashioned feel to it, but probably set more currently since they mention laptops and such. It just impresses me that the children play sports, do creative things like writing, crafts, cooking, and plays, and never seem to mention watching tv or playing video games. It helps that it is set on the East coast in places that seem to good to be true but I want it anyways. I gave the 2nd book (of 3) 5 stars, but the rest are solid 4 stars and supposedly another book or two will be coming out eventually.
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman - a gripping, emotional story of love & loss about a couple isolated on an island off the coast of Australia
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff - A Newberry Honor book from The Battle of the Books list for elementary school, about an orphan girl who finally finds a family
A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin - a fun, light Christian romance
The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King - A Sherlock Holmes fan fiction book/series, introducing a young, female assistant for an older, semi-retired Holmes. Can't wait to read more!

Notable 4 stars

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - about a couple of women serving in the RAF during WWII
Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George - for grade-schoolers
Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan - an interesting twist on a spy novel. set in the 1970s.
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving - this has really stuck with me
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri - great collection of short stories






The entire list of the 80 books I read is on Goodreads.

Still Love My Books

Even though I don't write much on this blog anymore (I want to do better), I look forward to doing this post at the end of every year. In 2012 I read 72 books, which included 8 non-fiction - that's a lot for me. And I kept track of every single book, including my rating and review, on my Goodreads account. I love that website. Was waiting for it all my life. See all my books here. But just in case you don't want to go through all my books, the good and the bad, I'll list some of my favorites here.

Favorites 5 Stars

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt - my very favorite that I recommend to everyone!
I Am The Messenger by Marcus Zusak - loved The Book Thief, and this one too, even though it was very different.
He Shall Thunder in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters - #13 in Amelia Peabody series - my fave since book 1 and I recommend it to lovers of the series or of this genre.
A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George - 1st in the Inspector Lynley series. I was very impressed but only those who love British police mysteries will agree.
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett - different than I usually read, and almost ruined at the end, but a fascinating look at a very different society and the things that drive us. Heart of Darkness-esque.
Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey - I was so skeptical and then totally surprised at how great this book was. Quick and easy to read, but very convincing to me. 2013 financial goal: get out of debt!


Notable 4 Stars

James Potter and the Hall of Elder's Crossing by Norman Lippert - great fan fiction but not dependent on the originals- so close to the feel of the Harry Potter series and free to read on the Goodreads app. will be getting to #2 soon.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - a classic that was on my must-read list for 2012. so glad I finally read it, and loved it - but the first third of the book was soooo slow and kept it from 5 stars.
Divergent/Insurgent by Veronica Roth - best YA dystopian I've read since Hunger Games (although I really liked Incarceron and Chaos Walking series too)
Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn - a fun, British, historical mystery - exactly my genre. can't wait to read the rest!


To Read in 2013

I am putting these six book on my must-read list for the year, in addition to whatever I can get to on my Goodreads To-Read list, which I try to keep close to 200 but is currently at 211. These books have either been on my list for a long time, or are popular or award-winning, come highly recommended, or just sound really good to me.

Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

And in addition to these, and in the name of pursuing a well-rounded reading list, I want to read more classic fiction, more non-fiction (specifically church/parenting/self-improvement books) and specifically a book of poetry, and a play.


Have you made a list of to-reads for 2013? What are your top faves that I should add to my list? Any suggestions for poetry or plays? Wish me luck with my goals and I wish you a very happy year of reading too!

Wrapping up LDS Fiction

This month has been fun while I read as many novels by LDS authors as I could get my hands on for the Summer Book Trek, hosted by LDS Publishers blog. I just finished my last book last night, and am anxious to get all my reviews listed. Here's my final list:


Freefall by Traci Hunter Abramson - read Aug 9th
Crossed by Ally Condie - read Aug 21st
Austenland by Shannon Hale - read Aug 17th
Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale - brand new & offered on Kindle for $1.99 - read Aug 26th
Twitterpated by Melanie Jacobson - read Aug 28th
Lemon Tart by Josi S. Kilpack - read Aug 23rd
Dead Running by Cami Checketts - read Aug 7th
Michael Vey: the Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans - read Aug 24th


I've  got a lot of reviews to list here. As always, I review every book I read on Goodreads.













Crossed by Ally Condie

I enjoyed this one a little more than the first, but maybe it was because I read it myself, rather than listening. I always like that better. There was also a lot more action, but you still get to hear all of Cassia's thoughts - and now we get Ky's thoughts also. It starts to explain some of the background, but leaves plenty for the 3rd book. I still love Cassia & Ky's relationship, the pull they feel towards each other, but Xander isn't out of the picture yet. This love triangle has more to...moreI enjoyed this one a little more than the first, but maybe it was because I read it myself, rather than listening. I always like that better. There was also a lot more action, but you still get to hear all of Cassia's thoughts - and now we get Ky's thoughts also. It starts to explain some of the background, but leaves plenty for the 3rd book. I still love Cassia & Ky's relationship, the pull they feel towards each other, but Xander isn't out of the picture yet. This love triangle has more to tell I think.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

	I'd give this book 3.5 stars. It was just the kind of easy-reading book that I like sometimes. Romance, British characters & historic literature, some American humor, and a happy ending. It was clean and good for teenagers. Still plenty of kissing though.

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

	3 stars. I read this right on the heels of Austenland, so the same plot device wasn't exactly novel for me. I did like having a heroine that was quite a bit different than the 1st, who was there for different reasons. The whole real mystery and nod to Northanger Abby was great (especially since I just read that one recently) and the happy ending wasn't so bad, since that's how I like them.

Twitterpated by Melanie Jacobson

I wanted to like this book as much as I liked the main character, but I just didn't. The plot was cliche but still has some potential. I really felt for Jessie and some of the situations she ended up in. But the main conflict with Ben felt contrived and then wrapped up all too quickly. And despite the fact that Jacobson can obviously write decently, it was the writing that ruined this book for me. I rolled my eyes and practically threw the book down every time a million details of the setting ca...more22 stars. I wanted to like this book as much as I liked the main character, but I just didn't. The plot was cliche but still has some potential. I really felt for Jessie and some of the situations she ended up in. But the main conflict with Ben felt contrived and then wrapped up all too quickly. And despite the fact that Jacobson can obviously write decently, it was the writing that ruined this book for me. I rolled my eyes and practically threw the book down every time a million details of the setting came out. I really don't care about the colors of the walls, and the couch, and the accent pillows. Or the plates & flatware, the table runner, and on and on! Not to mention the clothes, which I don't mind quite as much, but are still a huge departure from the actual story. It was so distracting! (I was not surprised when I read Jacobson's bio & found out she was in the fashion industry.) The same thing happened with so many details of Jessie's work life. Even though it was a bit more important to the story, we still didn't need so much. But if all of the excess details had been taken out, it would have been a very short book. Lds fiction is hard to write as any kind of decent literature. I hope Jacobson keeps it up and I'll try another of hers in a few more books

Lemon Tart by Josi Kilpack

3 stars. I didn't expect a lot from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. It certainly fits in with its genre of culinary mysteries - the recipes look delicious and I will be trying them soon. And the mystery has a few more plot twists than I expected. It ended with the expected confrontation with the killer, but I still liked it. The heroine was new to me, so she doesn't drive me crazy yet and I'm interested in getting to know her. I'll pick up a few more of these.

Michael Vey: the Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

4 stars. This book is like X-men for teenagers. The premise wasn't super original, but still very fun and exciting. The hero is very likable and his band of merry men totally grows on you. The action was great, without being violent or gory at all. There was no langauge or sex - totally clean for pre-teens but adults will enjoy it too. I think I'll have my son read it in about a year when he turns 9. (The characters are 15 so it's a little old for him.) I really liked it, and sometimes Richard Paul Evans is a little hokey for me, so I was very pleased with Michael Vey. I will look for the next in the series soon.

Summer Book Trek

I finished my first two books for the Summer Book Trek, hosted by LDS Publisher blog. I altered my list a bit for what I was able to quickly get my hands on, and here's the update:

Freefall by Traci Hunter Abramson - read Aug 9th
Crossed by Ally Condie - currently reading
Austenland by Shannon Hale (found out Palace of Stone doesn't even come out for a few weeks)
Twitterpated by Melanie Jacobson (The List sounds more interested but a friend loaned me this one)
Lemon Tart by Josi S. Kilpack (my friend loaned me this one too)
Dead Running by Cami Checketts - read Aug 7th

The exciting news is that I won a prize before I even finished my first book. I look forward to receiving Dispensation in the mail. It is an anthology of short stories by LDS authors, compiled and edited by Angela Hallstrom. And in choosing my prize, I found Dead Running, which I finished quickly. More points! Maybe I'll win another prize. Here are my reviews:

Dead Running by Cami Checketts

Goodreads Summary:
Cassidy Christensen is running.
Running from the mercenaries who killed her parents.
Running from a scheming redhead intent on making her life miserable.
Running from painful memories that sabotage her dreams of happiness.
With two very tempting men competing for her attention, she hopes she’ll finally have someone to run to, but can she trust either of them? When secrets from her past threaten her family, Cassidy decides to stop running and fight for her future.

My review:

I might give this 2.5 stars. It was quick and kind of fun, in a spy mystery/all the bad guys are chasing her kind of way. There was some fun romance and I was a bit inspired by the heroine's drive to train for the St. George marathon. The plot wasn't original and the writing wasn't anything special. I did like the main character, even if I thought her reactions were unrealistic sometimes. I got this as a 99 cents Kindle download from Amazon, and found it through the blog ldspublisher.com. I am pa...moreI might give this 2.5 stars. It was quick and kind of fun, in a spy mystery/all the bad guys are chasing her kind of way. There was some fun romance and I was a bit inspired by the heroine's drive to train for the St. George marathon. The plot wasn't original and the writing wasn't anything special. I did like the main character, even if I thought her reactions were unrealistic sometimes. I got this as a 99 cents Kindle download from Amazon, and found it through the blog ldspublisher.com. I am participating in their Summer Book Trek to read books by LDS authors. The church isn't mentioned anywhere in the book, but it was completely free of language and sex. There is just kissing and mentions of violence. Not explicit or gory, or even scary.

Freefall by Traci Ambramson Hunter

Goodreads Summary:
Lieutenant Brent Miller arrived in the Middle East with one objective--get seven hostages out of a hostile country. The plan almost worked. But now he has been left behind--with one of the hostages. It's up to Brent to get Amy Whitmore, a US Senator's daughter, across miles of desert to safety. What he doesn't know is that to survive, he needs her as much as she needs him.

My review:

This book was enjoyable and nostalgic for me. I used to read stuff like this in junior high. The spy thriller/terrorist type of book, with some LDS people thrown in. It is good, clean fun for me. I liked the format of action, romance, action - not too intense, but not boring. I was glad that both of the main characters were LDS, otherwise it gets a too unrealistic to me. This book was neither original, or fabulously written, but I liked it and will read more of the series. There was no sex or la...moreThis book was enjoyable and nostalgic for me. I used to read stuff like this in junior high. The spy thriller/terrorist type of book, with some LDS people thrown in. It is good, clean fun for me. I liked the format of action, romance, action - not too intense, but not boring. I was glad that both of the main characters were LDS, otherwise it gets a too unrealistic to me. This book was neither original, or fabulously written, but I liked it and will read more of the series. There was no sex or language, and the violence was minimal and completely vague.

A Book Challenge

I haven't posted much on this blog in 2012, and much of it has been of the crafty variety. But I still love to read and do quite a bit of it. Despite my not mentioning it here, I always list and give a brief review of every book I read (even the embarassing ones) on Goodreads. You can find my lists there. But it's time for me to bring back some posts about literature, good and bad. Here are some of my favorites from this year:

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

I really liked this book, even though it took just a little bit longer to get into it than most of the fiction I read. It is more serious and made me think more than most of the fluff I read too. And the writing was beautiful, that certainly pulled me in from the beginning. I found myself re-reading entire paragraphs just for the way the words flowed and made me feel. I don't read writing of this caliber nearly often enough. The first half of the book takes place in Minnesota & Manaus, Brazil...moreI really liked this book, even though it took just a little bit longer to get into it than most of the fiction I read. It is more serious and made me think more than most of the fluff I read too. And the writing was beautiful, that certainly pulled me in from the beginning. I found myself re-reading entire paragraphs just for the way the words flowed and made me feel. I don't read writing of this caliber nearly often enough. The first half of the book takes place in Minnesota & Manaus, Brazil, the second half deep in the Amazon rainforest. The characters are imperfect, but compelling. The whole thing is very Heart of Darkness, but somehow lighter without losing the impact. Cautions: an occasional swear word and mentions of sex (sometimes completely pointless) without details. also some native drug use.

Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady (Bloody Jack #2) by L.A. Meyer

	Read #1 first, Bloody Jack. That Jacky just charmed me again with her enthusiasm & love for others. I enjoyed reading about her adventures as a fine lady just as much as being a sailor. I was much more heartbroken at the end though, when she moves on. I'm really enjoying this series but am a little worried about them keeping up the high standards as the books keep coming.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

I'm glad I bought a copy of this book because I think it's something I'll read again. I also marked a couple quotes, and that's not something I normally do. I really enjoyed the writing and felt the author had a lot of great insights. I enjoyed the characters, especially seeing them grow & change - even some of the minor characters. I found myself smiling a lot while reading this, and the ideas just stuck with me. Even though it is a slower read, it was so charming and enjoyable that I didn'...morI'm glad I bought a copy of this book because I think it's something I'll read again. I also marked a couple quotes, and that's not something I normally do. I really enjoyed the writing and felt the author had a lot of great insights. I enjoyed the characters, especially seeing them grow & change - even some of the minor characters. I found myself smiling a lot while reading this, and the ideas just stuck with me. Even though it is a slower read, it was so charming and enjoyable that I didn't mind. And you still got some drama & action towards the end, which felt pretty improbably, but was still fun. The ending was a little neat but that's how I like them. We had some great discussions in book club about this book.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
this is my new favorite book that I recommend to everyone! such a great story with inspiring characters. I was very interested in the historical aspects and the cultural intricacies of long island - with a feel of a small town but so close to NYC. Holling Hoodhood is a national treasure & I hope my boys are something like him when they are in 7th grade. And I hope they have a teacher somewhere along the line like Mrs. Baker. and I want to read some Shakespeare now. this will make for an excellent book club discussion.

Silent in the Grave (Lady Julia #1) by Deanna Raybourn
A completely charming book with a lovable heroine that is strong but far from perfect. I liked seeing her personal introspection and the changes in her during the book. I loved the British setting and time period, also the parts about the Romany people. The characters were very interesting to me and the action and mystery thoroughly satisfying. I totally guessed the murderer early but for all the wrong reasons! I loved the interactions between the two main characters but also that everything wasn't wrapped up into one neat package and happily ever after. Marriage in and of itself doesn't bring happily ever after and now I can't wait to read book #2!
Many mentions of homosexuality, prostitution, STDs, etc. No actual sex scenes, but I still wouldn't recommend this for teenagers.
ps - I just read #2 of this series and enjoyed it maybe even a little more, because it was a little lighter.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
I can't believe I had never read this book! In the end I absolutely loved it but have to give it 4 stars because it took me months to get through - the first parts were too slow for me I guess & failed to capture my attention. I'm so glad I perservered because as soon as Jane gets to Thornfield everything starts moving. The last few chapters were my favorite, as I'm sure they are with most women - so romantic and touching! This book feels completely like chick lit to me, just with many, many words I had to look up in the dictionary. I loved the auto dictionary feature on the Kindle app of my new Nook tablet!


We've spent a lot of time in Pinetop, AZ this summer, enjoying the fabulous weather, and I've had plenty of time to catch up on books. Not that I really need the encouragement, but I heard about a book reading challenge from my friend Susan's blog. (Hopefully all readers of this blog know that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, sometimes known as Mormons or LDS.) The LDS Publishers blog is hosting a Summer Book Trek to read books by LDS authors in August. They don't have to be about LDS topics or people, just written by an author who is LDS. You can read all about the details by clicking on the button to the right. And apparently they even have prizes, which sounds fun. You can join too! There are plenty of lists of authors and suggestions on their website.

Here's the list of books I'm planning to read in August:

Freefall by Traci Hunter Abramson
Crossed by Ally Condie
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
The List by Melanie Jacobson
Lemon Tart by Josi S. Kilpack

Old Friends are the Best. But New Ones are Priceless.

These are my friends. I've known some of them since I was born. Some from preschool. And all through elementary. A couple have moved to other states and we all relish visits with them. They aren't in this picture, but we were so lucky to get all the locals together recently for lunch at my house.

Old friends are the best. Although I don't always see these women often, when we all get together I always feel a sense of belonging that I don't find anywhere else. These friends have stood by each other through 34 births, the deaths of parents and siblings, loss of jobs, health issues, parental struggles, and the problems of everyday life. I am so lucky to have them. They are caring, talented, beautiful wives and mothers. If every girl went through junior high and high school with a set of friends like this - the world would be a much happier place.


The problem is that many of us have stories like this - BFFs that we met when we were young. But how many of us live near these BFFs now? I was used to spending time with my friends every day. And then they got married, moved away, got their own lives - the nerve of them! Now I'm not one to make friends easily, but I've been looking for another BFF or two for years. And I've been lucky enough to find a couple - and then we moved away too.


So when I heard about the new book by Rachel Bertsche called MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend, I knew I had to read it. When I finally got my hands on it I started reading and pretty soon I realized it was a non-fiction book. Which was good news, since I always need to read more non-fiction. And while the book reads like a narrative most of the time, there was lots of facts & research dropped in too.

Rachel moves to Chicago after she gets married and although she has plenty of acquaintances, she longs for that close relationship that she has with her old friends. She wants someone to call up & say, "what are we doing today?" Or someone to discuss books, celebrity gossip, and relationships with - preferably all at the same time. Someone to watch bad tv with, do yoga with, and maybe even some traveling. That's exactly what I want! You can see why I liked this book. Plus there's this quote:

The author, Ann Patchett says—”Here’s my idea of real intimacy. It’s not the person who calls to say, 'I’m having an affair’; it’s the friend who calls to say, ‘Why do I have four jars of pickles in my refrigerator?’ ” [Bertsche continues] I want someone with whom I can talk about the deep stuff—hopes and dreams  and expectations and disappointments—and also the minutiae. Sometimes it takes talking about everything to get to the place where we can talk about nothing.

Rachel Bertsche makes a plan to meet as many women as she can and to go on a "date" with a new person every week for a year. Fifty two new potential friends. She meets women eveywhere she can - blind dates arranged by mutual friends, want ads, joining clubs & groups, and even picking-up strangers. Rachel learns a lot about herself, her relationship with her husband, and makes a lot of new close-acquantainces. She concludes that sometimes the only thing between a close-acquaintance and a lifelong BFF is time. She ends up with five or six women that she can see becoming BFFs with over time.


After reading this book I learned a few new things too. I need to give people a chance. Sometimes I judge people too quickly - about if I will click with them, or if we have enough in common. I have realized that the narrow range I have in my head of my ideal friend really should really be wider. I also learned that one person doesn't have to be all things to me. Including my husband. I can have different friends that fill different roles for me. I will always be looking for that local BFF who wants to hang with me practically every day, but I am realizing that if I never find that I'll be okay. And that every new friend I make is priceless.

2011 Books in Review

I read 68 books in 2011. That seems like a lot to me, averaging over one a week. Yet I still feel like my time would be better served reading more books and less blogs - and definitely watching less television. I review every book that I read on Goodreads, so check out my reviews for recommendations. But here are the best books I read last year.
Favorite 5 stars:

Sapphique (#2 Incarceron series), by Catherine Fisher
The One Hundred, by Nina Garcia
The Knife of Never Letting Go, by Patrick Ness - I gave the entire Chaos Walking Trilogy high marks
Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta
The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton


Noteable 4 stars:

Dancing in my Nuddypants & Away Laughing on a Fast Camel, by Louise Rennison (hilarious series)
Mini-Shopaholic, by Sophie Kinsella (another light comedy)
My Life in France, by Julia Child
Daddy Long Legs, by Jean Webster (I bought this!)
Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear
Bloody Jack, by L.A. Meyer


My list for 2012:
The Book of Mormon (I will re-read this as my church studies it for Sunday School this year)
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee (how have I never read this!?!)
finish Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte - another I have missed over the years but am 70% through
The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
The Maze Runner, by James Dashner
I Am the Messenger, by Marcus Zusak
The House at Riverton, by Kate Morton

I actually have 184 books on my To-Read list, but those are the ones I really want to get to in 2012.

Tara's bookshelf: read

Tara Carpenter's favorite books »

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Why Did I Only Take Two?

We went on family vacation this week. A vacation we've been planning for five months and that took us North to lovely, cool Pinetop. And on the 1st day of that vacation my four year old started throwing up. And he didn't stop. On the 3rd day my three year old started too. I sighed a lot, stayed in while my sweet husband took the well kids out, did a lot of laundry, watched a lot of basketball, and wondered why on earth I only took two books on vacation. Why, oh why?

We made it home mostly in one piece, and I realized I haven't done a book review here for a while, although you can follow all my book reviews on Goodreads. So I though I'd recap some worthwhile things I've read lately.


Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
If you love mystery, action, intrigue, and great characterization you will enjoy this book. The plot is unique and intricate - it jumps beween two characters, who eventually come together as we start to see the bigger picture. Many secrets hang on until the end... to be revealed in the next book, Sapphique, which was great too.


The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Another dystopian series - but I loved the characters, dialogue, emotion, and fast-action of this book. The 2nd book throws in some interesting plot twists, but is a little slower paced. I'll be checking out the 3rd soon.


My Life in France by Julia Child
I loved this partial biography and now I definitely want to see Paris, try much more French food, and get ahold of Mastering the Art of French Cooking. This book is full of interesting stuff about France, Europe, history, politics, relationships, and food! The writing was 1st person, journal style, and was a hodge podge of stories and anecdotes. It wasn't formal or fussy, just like Julia!


Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster
A thoroughly charming novelette about a young girl who was raised in an orphanage and is sent to college by a secret, wealthy benefactor. The entire book is in letter form, as Judy writes to her Daddy Long Legs and tells him all about her studies and college life. I enjoyed the historical aspects, the simple straightforward writing, the light-hearted comedy, and the happy ending.



  

The One Hundred

It’s no secret that I love to shop. And watch Project Runway. I’ve wanted to read Nina Garcia’s The One Hundred since it came out a couple years ago. When I was reminded of it recently and added it to my to-read list on Goodreads, I was gratified to see that at least four of my friends added it to their list also. So as an aid to at least four people in the world, here is my review.

When you read The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own, please keep your laptop handy and your browser page set to Google. I imagined Nina Garcia’s book would be huge, and covered with beautiful color photographs showing examples of all the important pieces that should grace your closet. Instead, this book is a modestly sized hardback, with a gorgeous silver exterior and showcasing beautiful illustrations on every page. I am now enamored of Ruben Toledo’s artwork, if I was not already in love with illustrated art (I was). This guide is also a lesson in fashion history, with all one hundred entries giving background and interesting facts about the piece. I had to look up many, many women who were mentioned, and there were occasionally specific instructions on what to google to find examples of a certain piece or style. While Garcia does give some specific examples of brands and iconic pieces, she often sticks with general descriptions of pieces, and really encourages buying pieces that work for you, despite trends, brands, or prices.

In the end, I was thrilled with Nina Garcia’s book, which has enough writing for me to have read every word and to classify it as non-fiction, and plenty of pretty things to look at too. For most of my adult life, I have had a running document on my computer called Classic Wardrobe. I add and subtract things, mark items off as I acquire them, and basically keep track of the things I think I need to be considered stylish and well-dressed, at least in my own mind. Obviously Nina’s top 100 items doesn’t match up with mine, but I’ll make a few lists here that show the intersections of my real life with Nina Garcia’s One Hundred.

Top Ten Pieces for a Mormon SAHM
1. Jeans
2. Havaianas (or your favorite brand of flip-flop)
3. Ballet Flats – for when you need something fancier than flip-flops
4. Watch – to pick up the car-pool on time
5. Statement Necklace (important when your blouse selection is mainly solid-colored t-shirts)
6. Spanx (or the Target equivalent) – to make you look like you’ve only birthed two children instead of five)
7. L.L. Bean Tote – to carry your primary/Cub Scout/Young Women’s stuff
8. Hobo Bag – to contain the detritus of four children and still have room for your chapstick and keys
9. iPod/Blackberry – to keep track of soccer/dance/date schedules and to contain some vestiges of your pre-Mommy music (or to drown out Veggie tales CDs in the car)
10. Boyfriend Cardigan – or any cardigan that can keep you a little warmer and hide some of that baby weight (from three years ago) around your middle

Top Ten Items I Still Want to Bring Home to my Closet (for reals, Honey, be prepared)
1. Statement bag (I’ve been eyeing Coach bags for almost ten years and think someday I can drop the $300 for one of those more easily than the four bags that Nina listed that run more like $3000)
2. Camel Coat, trench style
3. Cashmere sweater
4. Pencil skirt
5. Wrap Dress
6. Blazer
7. Striped Sailor Shirt
8. Suit
9. Aviators
10. Polo Shirt

Luxe Items I’d Love to Own But Can’t Easily Justify
1. Frye boots
2. Luchesse Cowboy boots
3. Exotic Skin Bag (Nina’s exact words) – I would love to own a black alligator bag, preferably satchel/doctors bag shaped
4. Gloves – something beautifully soft and expensive
5. Luggage – maybe once my boys are all grown
6. Gentlemen’s Hat
7. Wellington Boot – maybe when I move somewhere where it rains more than 4 inches a year
8. Clutch
9. Driving Shoe
10. Missoni Knit – maybe when I lose 50 lbs

Check out my other book reviews on Goodreads.

Battle of the Books

I've really been digging the literature lately; my Goodreads account has been hopping. Check out my profile there for all my reviews, but here are my thoughts on a few recent faves that were a little bit special or out of the ordinary for me.


The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris

This book had a very original premise and dealt with frustration, social perception, and family relationships. I thought the writing was fantastic, even if the subject matter was a little far-fetched. It was the kind of story I was telling my husband about.


Invisible I by Stella Lennon & Melissa Kantor
I had no idea what to expect with this book - I added it to my list too long ago to remember why. And I was so surprised and pleased at the fresh, modern mystery. A little bit sci-fi, a little bit techie, and a whole lot of fun. I read through it super quick, too engrossed to set it down. It was set up well for a whole series and I can't wait to get my hands on the others.


Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet by Jamie Ford
Takes place in Seattle during WWII. A young Chinese boy becomes friends with a Japanese girl, who is then relocated along with all the Japanese people from coastal cities. I was fascinated with the history of the time period, both war-related and not. The evolution of relationships figures prominently and despite being plot-driven, this book was all about the characters to me.


The Likeness by Tana French
This author is awesome! These are pyschological thrillers, I'd say, rather than classic mysteries. The characters are very intriguing and I loved this as a follow-up to Into the Woods, but it can certainly stand alone too. I gave this 5 stars and am thinking of choosing it for my book club.


The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
I loved this book! It was clearly French, with a bit of a different view and style than American books, and was very refreshing to me. I love the format of very short (2-3 pages) chapters. Even when the material gets deep & philosophical, it is in short bursts and leaves you time between chapters to put the book down and think about what you just read. I don't think I have ever read a book like that. I have never put a book down so many times to ruminate on the subject matter, then pick it back up a little while later.

The vocabulary level was quite high for me, and I pulled my dictionary out a dozen times to check words. Barbery is a fabulous writer, but I think almost as much credit should go to the English translator, Alison Anderson.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog was full of beauty and love and appreciation for art and literature. I feel inspired to take courses in fine art, Russian literature, and Japanese cinema. I'm a huge fan of books that leave you wanting to know more about art and culture. I want to be an autodidact like Renee! (I had to look up autodidact - it means self-taught) I bought my own copy so I can reread it very soon.

How To Have Style

While browsing at my local library several months ago, I came across a book called How to Have Style by Isaac Mizrahi. And I've perpetually had it checked out since then. I'm seriously monopolizing it and should probably just buy a copy, but the library has more than one. To buy your own copy at a great price, click on the image below.

The biggest thing I learned from this book is that I need to be chosen as the subject of a book or television show about makeovers. Because having a group of professionals on your side makes a world of difference. The style team for this book includes a fashion stylist, hairstylist, makeup artist, and Isaac Mizrahi himself. I guarantee they could make me look fabulous. And I suppose the point of a book like this is to glean some of the expertise they use on the subjects in the book and apply it to yourself. Not as satisfying, but financially a much more viable option.

How to Have Style starts with some basic information and concepts in the introduction, then jumps to chapters featuring one lucky woman each. Isaac and the team polish up each woman, making changes where needed, but keeping all the good too. That's one plus of this book compared to tv makeover shows - Isaac really goes with what the women like/want and what will suit their personality and lifestyle. He doesn't throw everything out and start over. He doesn't do an entire makeover, changing these women into something they are not. He works with them.

This book includes twelve women, of varying ages, vocations, body shapes, and style parameters. I love this! You will find someone who matches you, and will find tips in many other chapters that work for you too. We learn How To Have Style...

... on a Budget
... When You're Petite
... When Traveling on Business
... and Reinvent Yourself
... and Wear Denim
... When You're Not a Size 12
... and Wear Colors
... by Spending More on Less
... and Be Funny and Sexy
... in the Evening
... by Growing Up
... and Wake Up from a Jeans Coma

Finding your style starts with an inspiration board. Isaac suggests creating your own from a basic cork board, compiling any images or items that speak to you. And we find each woman's inspiration board at the beginning of her chapter, and then discover how the team turn that into a personal style.

I loved the information sections at the back of the book too. My favorite was What You Need - listing key items in shoes, bags, jewelry, and bras. Visit Isaac Mizrahi's website to learn more about the How To Have Style concept. There is even an online community - make your own inspiration board and view others' boards and profiles.

Are You a Follower Too?

Sometimes I am really persuaded by other bloggers, especially on products they post about and love. I've seen Japanese masking tape all over my google reader in the last 6 months, in the category I call Design & Crafty Blogs. The online retailers were often sold out but I finally found some here, and spent a total of $9 of my mad money to order 3 rolls of green patterned tape. My husband thought I was crazy. But they are so cute!

When I opened up the package, I was a teensy bit disappointed at first. Because the rolls are teensy. I had imagined them as regular-sized rolls of masking tape. Below is the shot of the tape next to a AA battery, and my well-known marker - a can of Mt. Dew. BUT, I really love them. Actually the narrower tape is much better for any crafty kind of stuff I might use it for. So far I just taped up my 32 Goals on the back of my bedroom door. But I am imagining many more uses - even in my boys' bedroom.

I also saw many posts about the Charley Harper kids' items at Old Navy. And when I was finally at a store this week the little board books kept my baby occupied for quite a while during my shopping. And on a whim I had a sales associate check the price for me, because they were at the back of the store and I knew they had been out for a while. And despite the lack of sales stickers or signs - all the products were on clearance! I bought the ABC and 123 books for $3 each and a set of Memory Cards for $4.50. I played 3 rounds of memory with my four year old today and while he loved the game, I loved the amazing pictures. Charley Harper was one talented guy! (May he rest in peace.) He might be a favorite new designer. I would add Todd Oldham's book about CH to my Christmas list except, you know, it's $126. I'm not finding many of the products on Old Navy's website now - and they are marked at full price. So run on down to the store now. IF, you're a follower like me. (I also found some of these products for reasonable prices on Amazon.)

Me & Famous People

I had a great time a couple nights ago at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore, in Scottsdale, AZ. I met a the author, Joanne Fluke, whom I've written about before. She talked about her Hannah Swensen series, and about her writing, and signed copies of her new book, Cream Puff Murder. I am amazed at Jo's prolific publishing schedule - she's putting out more than a book a year in this popular culinary mystery series. The recipes are as loved as the books and her publishers have finally agreed to a cookbook next year featuring all the recipes (from 12 books or so) and some new never-before-seen dishes and treats.

Thanks to my friend, Susan, from Bloggin' 'Bout Books for going with me. I invited her only a couple hours beforehand and was so glad she could rearrange her schedule. It was much more fun with a friend.

Pick up Cream Puff Murder at your local library, bookstore or favorite online retailer. I can't wait to try out more recipes. The Poisoned Pen even served homemade goodies, recipes from Jo's new book. The brownies were particularly good, and Jo told me you use any brownie mix you want, and just put flat candy bars in the middle of the filling. The piece I had contained a middle of rice crispies, obviously a Nestle Crunch bar. Very tasty & easy.

Baked: This book was made for me

I heard about this new cookbook when it came out last fall and was intrigued with the title. And when I read more about the bakery I swear I started a little fund to save for that trip to New York I've always wanted to take. Baked in Brooklyn will be one of my first stops.

Until then, I plan to make as many recipes from their cookbook as possible. To start, I needed a cake for my mom's birthday and made the Milk Chocolate Malt Ball Cake. I'm fond of malt flavor, and apparently so are Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito, the proprietors. The cake was soft and heavenly - white cake with subtle malt flavor. The Milk Chocolate Frosting was pretty much the best I've ever had. You make it like a ganache, by pouring hot cream over chopped chocolate. But then you beat in three sticks of butter. Heaven. I used my little bit of leftover to frost some sugar cookies.

Next I tried the first recipe from the breakfast chapter - Sour Lemon Scones. With an abundance of fresh lemons in my yard, it was a good fit. I'm a sucker for any recipe that calls for fresh lemon zest. The book calls the scones "elegant" but I disagree. I'd call them a little slice of heaven - light and airy with sunshiny lemon flavor. They're more like a comfort food to me. My husband was a big fan too. The recipe makes quite a bit, so I refrigerated some of the dough for a few days and baked them fresh later. They turned out great, although these scones reheat fairly well too.

I saved the best for last - Baked's famous Brownies. They were featured as one of Oprah's favorite things, catapulting them to instant stardom. The Baked Brownie was also chosen as the favorite brownie by America's Test Kitchen and The Today Show. And I will add my vote as the best brownie I've ever eaten. Number 30 on my list is to develop the perfect brownie recipe. I'm just going to count that as done. It doesn't get better than these. And when I e-mailed Baked to ask if I could share the recipe I got a nice response from Matt Lewis. Go make them now. And while the brownies are in the oven baking, go online and order yourself the whole book: Baked, New Frontiers in Baking - by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito.

THE BAKED BROWNIE
Yield: 24 brownies

The Baked brownie is a beautiful thing. It has won the hearts and minds of many people, been featured on the pages of O Magazine as a favorite thing, and won best brownie by the folks at America’s Test Kitchen and the Today Show. Our brownie really owes many kudos to our friend and superstar pastry chef Lesli Heffler-Flick. She created the original ultimate brownie for us. It is dense, chocolatey, and slightly fudgy, and we are forever grateful to her for letting us adapt her recipe.

Baked Note: A great brownie is easy to make, but you have to be aware of several factors. 1. Use a dark cocoa powder, like Valrhona. A pale, light-colored cocoa does not have enough depth. 2. Make sure your eggs are room temperature and do not overbeat them into the batter, and 3. Check your brownies often as they bake. An even slightly overbaked brownie is not a Baked Brownie.


1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons dark cocoa powder
11 ounces quality dark chocolate (60-72%), chopped coarsely
8 ounces butter (2 sticks), cut into 1 inch cubes
1 tsp instant espresso powder
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
5 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Butter the sides and bottom of a glass or light colored metal pan 9x13x2 pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, the salt, and cocoa powder.

Configure a large sized double boiler. Place the chocolate, the butter, and the instant espresso powder in the bowl of the double boiler and stir occasionally until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and combined. Turn off the heat, but keep the bowl over the water of the double boiler and add both sugars. Whisk the sugars until completely combined and remove the bowl from the pan. Mixture should be room temperature.

Add three eggs to the chocolate/butter mixture and whisk until just combined. Add the remaining eggs and whisk until just combined. Add the vanilla and stir until combined. Do not over beat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey.

Sprinkle the flour/cocoa/salt mix over the chocolate. Using a spatula (DO NOT USE A WHISK) fold the dry into the wet until there is just a trace amount of the flour/cocoa mix visible.

Pour the mixture into the pan and smooth the top with your spatula. Bake the brownies for 30 minutes (rotate the pan half-way through baking) and check to make sure the brownies are completely done by sticking a toothpick into the center of the pan. The brownies are done when the toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Cool the brownies completely before cutting and serving.

The Mother in All of Us

I received a copy of The Mother in Me, by Kathryn Lynard Soper, for my birthday last month and have been lapping up every measure of goodness ever since then. This collection of 43 essays and poems is the most well-written compilation I have ever read. It is obvious that these women, already contributing to the carefully culled Segullah, are accomplished writers. Add to that a subject matter that will hit home with all women and you have a book that will last through multiple readings and keep you coming back for more over the years.

After I read the first few essays, I thought that they stacked the best ones at the beginning, to pull in readers with the gorgeous prose and heartfelt messages. But they didn't. There were standouts throughout the book, although the first story, Forty Weeks 'til Spring by Johanna Buchert Smith, remained one of my favorites. The seasonal analogies and beautiful imagery were so enjoyable to read. The subject matter ranges from first children to last children, infertility to adoption, loss and sorrow to joy. I think there are entries to appeal to every woman. Or the many women in each of us. The stories are all written from an LDS perspective, but the doctrine does not overcome the emotion and personal faith you feel from each author.

And don't get me started on the poetry. To me, this was the biggest surprise. I don't always appreciate poetry, but there were some amazing pieces in The Mother in Me. A few favorites were No Time by Johnna Benson Cornett, East of the Sun, West of the Moon by Melonie Cannon, and Since You Were Born by Darlene Young.

Since you were born there comes sometimes at night
a sense there's something dark that I must fight
without a sword. At night, upon my chest
you and all your children's children rest.

So, here are the few things I didn't love completely. The photographs were touted as being amazing - I thought they were... eh, okay. Nothing special. But certainly not distracting from any of the writing. The only other thing was that The Mother in Me was kind of long. It doesn't seem like a long book, but there are a lot of essays. Which is good, but reading stuff like this can take a lot out of you, emotionally. And after reading the first ten or so, I was ready to take a break and read a mystery or something. It took me a long time to get through the whole book. But I really enjoyed each individual entry - I don't know what I would cut to make it shorter. I guess it's just good to know you can set it down anytime and come back to it when you're ready.

This was a fabulous book & I'm recommending it to every mother I know for their Christmas wish list. I'm even giving one myself. And I know I will be going back to my copy again to reread some of my favorites.

This post was linked up to What's on Your Nightstand at 5 Minutes for Books.