lit*chick

The Week Ending 1/31

• The dudes were home from school 3 straight days, thanks to a freak snowstorm. Our school is in an area that regularly loses power, last year we thought we would be moving closer, but this fragile mama cannot bear to lose power that often. The hubs was caught in what is now being referred to as "the worst rush hour in history" around these parts - which if you are familiar with our traffic issues is a quite a feat. It took him 6 hours and 10 minutes to get home on Wednesday night, normally a 45 minute drive.  We are thankful he chose to drive the mama truck and that he arrived home safe, tired but safe. Did I mention the kids were home for 5 straight days (including the weekend)?

 

• Being homebound means drinking a lot of coffee, reading a lot of books (mostly to Evie who has an obsession with A Very Hungry Caterpillar) and catching up on lotsa blogs. Here are a couple I am currently getting lost in : Baked Bree and A Holy Experience . Real food and spiritual food.

 

• In what may be considered wishful thinking since we are entering February, I ordered some spring clothing. I've settled on a uniform of sorts...t shirts, bermuda shorts & capris, mixed with colorful cardigans, shoes & jewelry. I am attempting to take Jamie Lee Curtis' closet cleaning advice...pretend you are packing for a 2 week trip, then get rid of the rest. And I'm already making excuses like, should I pack for 4 different trips since we have all the seasons?  I can rationalize just about anything.

 

• To add one more project to the mix, I'm going to attempt to make bread, specifically using the method in Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a Day. This is a holdover from a 2010 goal that never took flight, due to lack of skills with dough, killing of yeast, and lack of equipment. I think I'm ready now, mostly because our weekly bread intake is getting pricey. And I'd like to master something useful. I promise to take pictures.

 

• I received an Amazon gift card and with it, heaps of indecision. Isn't it funny how I'll say to myself "I'll get that with a gift card or If only I had money for books..." and now that I do I'm crippled by choice.  My cart is looking much different than I anticipated. But I'm on hold for now while I sort it out...does anyone else experience gift card freeze?

 

• If you are reading along with the classics, how is it going?  Have you started/finished either My Antonia or Madame Bovary? Are you waiting for February? I'm really anxious to talk about Madame B.  - she's a saucy one. And it's interesting to think about how scandalous this book was when it was originally published (1856).

 

• In an effort to be a small step ahead, I have begun Steinbeck's The Winter of our Discontent...the 2nd February pick is will probably be Doroty Sayers' mystery The Nine Tailors. If you have strong feelings about it, or any feeling at all, or are waiting to jump in for a specific title, just say so.

The End.

 

Cover Me - Mr. Chartwell: A Novel by Rebecca Hunt

Mr. Chartwell: A Novel by Rebecca Hunt, 256 pages, available February 8.

July 1964. Chartwell House, Kent: Winston Churchill wakes at dawn. There’s a dark, mute “presence” in the room that focuses on him with rapt concentration.

It’s Mr. Chartwell.

Soon after, in London, Esther Hammerhans, a librarian at the House of Commons, goes to answer the door to her new lodger. Through the glass she sees a vast silhouette the size of a mattress.

It’s Mr. Chartwell.

Charismatic, dangerously seductive, Mr. Chartwell unites the eminent statesman at the end of his career and the vulnerable young woman. But can they withstand Mr. Chartwell’s strange, powerful charms and his stranglehold on their lives? Can they even explain who or what he is and why he has come to visit?

In this utterly original, moving, funny, and exuberant novel, Rebecca Hunt explores how two unlikely lives collide as Mr. Chartwell’s motives are revealed to be far darker and deeper than they at first seem.

Mr. Chartwell for these purposes is a huge black dog, a living symbol of the "black dog" of depression.  (Is it still considered personfication if it's an animal?)I 'm curious about this one, fully aware that suspending my disbelief is a continuing struggle. But oh, that cover, my favorite of the new releases I've seen thus far. And one thing that e-readers will never be able to overcome - even in color - is the feel of a thick, well designed cover page.

The End.

Short & Sweet Reviews

 
The Heroine's Bookshelf by Erin Blakemore - I loved the idea of this book and the layout (each chapter focuses on a specific character's strengths i.e. Simplicity = Laura Ingalls, Fight = Scarlett O'Hara, Ambition = Jo March) was clever. And I liked the reading suggestions at the end of each chapter. Both the authors and the charaters they created are subject to adoration. While I liked it okay, it didn't live up to my expectations - it was a little too over the top with girl power for my taste. And I don't necessarily agree each example necessarily fits the heroine model, particularly the real life ones. It didn't help that I spilled milk on it and as a result it stinks. ;)

 

 

What Alice Knew by Alice Marantz Cohen - This is one of those cool insert a real life author into a novel books, but this time  it's Henry James and his siblings working with Scotland Yard to solve the Jack the Ripper crimes. It is gruesome in parts (hello, Jack the Ripper) but it is a fabulous imagining of what may have been. Combining true parts of both the investigation and the lives of the James' family  - bedridden sharp as a tack sister Alice, cerebral brother William, and snobbish Henry - I believed it and was completey engrossed. If you are a fan of  literary mysteries, this will hit the spot.

 

The Tin Ticket: The Heroic Journey of Australia's Convict Women by Deborah J. Swiss - When non-fiction reads like fiction, I'm hooked. This story follows young Agnes and Janet through their Dickens-esque existence on the streets of Glasgow during the early 1800s. Convicted of petty theft, they, along with thousands of other "criminals" are deported to the new colony Van Diemen's Land (Australia). It is a riveting look at history and how women subjected to the harshest conditions survived with dignity intact.

 

The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan - Newly reissued from the 1995 original by Penguin Books, this combines all the cultural, spiritual and familial elements her readers have come to expect.  While I am not typically drawn to stories with an emphasis on eastern mysticism/reincarnation, it was craftily woven into the story and provided an interesting twist.  I presumed Tan's writing would be more intricate, but this one reminded me of lighter fiction I recently read involving ghosts and a whiny female character. That said, I still liked it and flew through it in almost one sittting.

 

Emily Hudson by Melissa Jones - another novelization of author Henry James. Emily Hudson is sent to live with her cousins, ruled harshly by her uncle, she bonds most with her cousin William(modeled after James).  Partially told in letters, the first half of the book was promising. Emily had spirit and spunk, but after a broken engagement begins to depend heavily on William. The second half didn't quite match the first, Emily is lost with none of her former vigor and it became rather maudlin. I just didn't completely buy it. But if you are still interested, I'd be happy to send it along.

 

Getting In by Karen Stabiner - You know how I love to read about the world of college admissions. This was a fast read, a highly amusing story with LOTS of characters. It follows a group of high school seniors, their parents, and their college counselor through the school year.  I knew I was going to like it in the first chapter when a parent waiting in Starbucks for her daughter to finish taking the SATs passes judgment on the barista, then finds out he went to Yale and freaks out. It raises some interesting points subtlety through use of humor, one of my favorite elements in literature. I enjoyed it thoroughly, despite getting lost in character overload.

 

The Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy Dickinson - I hadn't read a memoir in a while and this one was nice and gentle. Not quite what I expected - I thought there would be more anecdotes about Dickinson's extended family, but it was more about her journey as a single parent. She has an easy conversational style and it was an engaging read. Another one, I'd be happy to send to an interested reader.

 

Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women by Harriet Reisen -  An absolutely thorough study, painstakingly researched by Alcott expert Reisen. If you are expecting romantic notions of this writer's life, you may be disappointed, but the realities of her daily life and intense struggles are told in fascinating detail. Because of the depth of information, it took me a few weeks of occasional reading to finish but I learned a lot about one of my favorite authors. And I'm considering adding Eight Cousins to the Classics ReadaLong.

It was never my intention to bundle these reviews, but when you fall as far behind as I am (and write slowly), plans must be revised for sanity. And I figured it was better to honor my commitments quickly rather than extend them any further into the new year. Apologies to my friendly neighborhood publicists for the lack of prime blogging real estate. If you have any questions about these titles, or have read them and would like to share your thoughts I'd love to talk more.

The End.

 

 

 

 

Giveaway: The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig

The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig

"Pride and Prejudice lives on" (USA Today) in Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series, which has been hailed for its addictive blend of history, romance, and adventure. In The Orchid Affair, Willig introduces her strongest heroine yet. Laura Grey, a veteran governess, joins the Selwick Spy School expecting to find elaborate disguises and thrilling exploits in service to the spy known as the Pink Carnation. She hardly expects her first assignment to be serving as governess for the children of Andre Jaouen, right-hand man to Bonaparte's minister of police. Jaouen and his arch rival, Gaston Delaroche, are investigating a suspected Royalist plot to unseat Bonaparte, and Laura's mission is to report any suspicious findings.

Soon Laura and Jaouen are forced on the run with the children, and with the help of the Pink Carnation they escape to the countryside, traveling as husband and wife. But Delaroche will stop at nothing to take down his nemesis. With his men hot on their trail, can Laura and Jaouen seal the fate of Europe before it's too late?

An unsolicited review copy means a giveaway for you! I'd love to be able to read everything I receive, but I can barely keep up with the ones I've requested. So if you are interested - this is a PAPERBACK ARC the hardcover officially comes out this Thursday -  please say hello, below.

Winner will be contacted Wednesday, January 19.

The End.

Favorite Reads of 2010

While I have you all thinking about books and lists and what not I thought I'd insert my best of 2010.

Even though we are all aflutter with newness I'd like to slip in this quick look back. In the midst of compiling I noticed I didn't review most of these titles. This is a tendency I discovered with many of my favorite reads from years past. I find it difficult to put into words all the emotions I have about certain books. Also, I don't want to give anthing away, however small - much of the time the magic of a treasured story comes from how it unfolds before you. And sometimes it's nice just to say I really liked this, you should read it.

   

1. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson - third and final book in the series. Not a series that can be read out of order. The best series finale I've read - satisfying without being predictable. Action and intrigue without being or frivolous. Good stuff. And maybe the least violent of the three?

2. Bloodrootby Amy Greene - after seeing friend on Goodreads rave about it, read right away. It has that gothic southern darkness I so enjoy.  The other thing I find appealing is while the characters are usually suffering though intense hardship, they are not to be pitied. Rather, there is room for redemption. This just came out in paperback so you are without excuse.

3. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt  by Beth Hoffman - another southern fiction, not quite as dark. More on the quirky, eccentric side since the heroine is a young girl. She is abandoned by a crazy mother sent south to live with her aunt.  All kinds of tensions swirl around while CeeCee tries to find her place in the world. It helps too that author Beth Hoffman is kind and gracious with talent aplenty. Hooray.

4. Indiana by N.C. Weyl - I rarely if ever read self-published novels. But this story of Sam, a minister's daughter growing up in the 30s admidst issues of class and race, drew me from the first page. Told from multiple viewpoints it was beyond nice to finally see a pastor portrayed as wise and heroic ala Atticus Finch. A solid story well done.

5. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonsen - This is one title that comes to mind immediately as a universal recommendation. Major Pettigrew likes things a certain way and tries to uphold tradition wherever possible. But his friendship with neighborhood grocer Mrs. Ali opens his eyes and his heart to letting a little bit of new into his life.

6. A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse trans by Alison Anderson - My late addition to the list. Two book lovers open a specialty bookstore that only has "good novels". There is a secret group of people selecting these titles and a few of them have come under attack.  A fascinating look at what makes good books good, who should choose what other people read, and what happens when you try to sell good taste. It isn't a perfect story, but I think it is wonderful for all the questions it stirs up.

7. Every Last One by Anna Quindlen -  Quindlen's talent is in lulling you gently into a suburban stupor and then socking you in the gut. I bought what she was selling hook, line, and sinker. But it isn't great only because it surprised me, it is great because she writes real life with nod your head believability and painful truth.

8. Starting from Scratch by Susan Gilbert Collins - a sleeper title, a sweet story. When her mother dies, Olivia, fresh from defending her thesis, returns home. She grieves and cooks and uncovers some secrets. I thought it was gentle and lovely.

9. The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin - While everyone was oohing and aahing over The Passage, I was getting lost in this earlier work. It was a great summer read - an intricate drama set around a Maine fishing camp, the owners and their wealthy client over the course of several decades.  It reminded me of Wallace Stegner who tells stories of quiet yet murky living so well.

OR skipping all the above:

I really liked these, you should read them. ;)

What were your favorites last year?

The End.

P.S. The My Antonia discussion remains open below. :)

Classic no. 1: My Antonia by Willa Cather

"'I didn't arrange or rearrange. I simply wrote down what of herself and myself and other people Antonia's name recalls to me. I suppose it hasn't any form. It hasn't any title either.'" - pg. 6

So begins the story of Bohemian imigrant Antonia Shimerda, told by her neighbor and childhood friend Jim Burden. It is through telling his own story that Jim reveals details and observations about Antonia - from their first encounter upon arrival on the Nebraska prairie,through their teens, until their reunion as adults.   Surrounded by eccentric characters, including the unforgiving land, Antonia is admirable for her work ethic and maintaining a spirit of playfulness despite the desolation.

First published in 1918, My Antonia is considered part of the modernist literature movement. I have quite a few modernists on my reading list this year including Steinbeck, Faulkner, Sherwood Anderson, and Hemingway. Who knew? (Besides Jill I mean)

Rather than try to have some kind of formal bookclub discussion, feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts on My Antonia or Willa Cather and her writing or other work as it relates. Also feel free to cite any passage you find particularly meaningful.

There is much to discuss here - whether it be the narrator (who is it?), the setting as character, or Cather herself.I did not expect a kind of love story. And I didn't expect it to be so readable. I am still haunted by the story of the wolves chasing the wedding party. And I love Jim's nostalgic tone, perhaps because I live with a nostalgic type too.

Enjoy your weekend.

The End.

 

11 on 1-11-11

1. Preparing for snow. Pantry is stocked. Books are standing by. Schools are closing early. Bring it on.

2. My car battery died this morning. Thankfully it was in front of the house, not in the garage.  And Karl was starting my car for me at 7:30, which is about 3 hours earlier than I normally leave the house. AAA came quickly, I drove it to dealer and was back in business by 11am. Quick turnaround left me unable to take advantage of the dealer's free manicure while you wait service. Of course.

3. Working on new designs for The Paper Pear .  Saw similar collage art in PB Kids and Ballard Designs catalogs this week.    Feeling validated instead of discouraged. Also pricing prints for wholesale - found an awesome enviro friendly local printer.

4. Still reading Madame Bovary for classics read-a-long. Anyone else started this one?  Miji described this as "you think it's going to be like Anna K., but it isn't". So far, she's right. (Do not fear it is MUCH shorter.)

5. Made the Spicy Pulled Pork from PW Cooks. That was a big hunka meat - SEVEN pounds of pork. Everyone (the guys) loved it. Say hello to leftovers. It made tons - I'm adding it to my large gathering recipe file. I would have taken pictures but it didn't look as good as it tasted.

6. Eagerly waiting for the arrival of this book to my door:

I love Orla.

7. Did you know I have a small obsession with melamine trays? Here is my latest fave:

Scrimshaw Moby Tray by Thomas Paul @ Velocity Art & Design.

 

8. Evie update: she is extremely busy - talking on the phone, accessorizing (with her dollar store bead necklaces) , cooking (her bead necklace souffle), feeding baby doll (while talking on the phone and baby hangs upside down), closing important business deals. You know, pretty much the same stuff I do except she's more productive.

9. Other things I am working on: slideshow for a PTA meeting, researching a cookbook fundraiser for school (anyone have any experience/recommendations?), locating my missing ipod, clearing off the kitchen counters (hoping to find previous item), doing a large review post for the last 5 books from 2010, finishing the take no prisoners closet/dresser cleanout.

10. As an update to Professor Grant Horner's Bible Reading Plan - turns out my parents are friends with his parents. Not from church but professionally - pre-retirement. I obviously didn't put it together because I only know their first names.  But I do enjoy It's a Small World moments like these. Here is the nifty checklist we are using to keep us on track from takebackyourtemple.

11. There is a house for sale that I love but it is lacking a desired 4th bedroom. Notice I didnt say required. The hubs might say required, but I say squeeze 'em in! I know a lot of people are in the every kid should have their own room school of thought, but we have always had some combination of boys sharing even with 4 brms. We also only have books and music and beds in their rooms - they aren't set up as playrooms or for homework. What are your thoughts on sharing bedrooms? I mean, I have to share mine...

The End.

 

Update on 24 Classics in 2011

   
how cool is this? vintage 24 sign from donkee house on etsy

A great big thank you to everyone participating in the discussion over the past couple days. I'm having so much fun already. This is not a closed challenge in any way so hop on in there while we swap out a few titles and hash out the details. Please forgive late night/early morning ramblings, but I wanted to address a few questions.

As you can see to the right, I have put most of the choices into a list for easier reference. They are not in any order since the schedule is fairly fluid, but I will add a note to each with the month we plan to read it as it goes.

I have decided, for the very simple reason it contains the word winter in the title, that John Steinbeck's The Winter of our Discontent will be one of the February reads.  Hopefully that gives you a bit of time to prepare if you are reading along. As for the 2nd Feb book....any you'd like to read sooner vs later?

Also, my intention is to have a regular weekly post checking progress and open for discussion. For example, next Friday (the 14th)  will be all about My Antonia. I will leave it at the top through the weekend so you can drop in whenever. Obviously you do not need to be finished in a rigid every 2 weeks kind of way but this will serve to hold me accountable and give us a few progress markers. It will also be a place to entertain talk of what may be the next pick - and who knows what else since I tend to get sidetracked easily.  This may have to be tweaked along the way, but I think it's a good start. What do you think? Is there a better way to do this part?

Finally I want to encourage you to set yourself up for success here. Whatever that means for you. For me it means planning fun reads for when it gets too intense and I need something a little lighter. From other book bloggers on Twitter, I found this White House Chef mystery series by Julie Hyzy. You know how I love foodie mysteries!

 

 

 

 

2011 Reading Plan: Back to the Basics - 24 Classics

  (photo from Amazon, Penguin Hardcover Collection)

 How did I arrive here?  Well, the number of classics on my To-Be-Read (TBR) list is not in danger of shrinking if I allow them to linger there another year. Toward the middle of 2010 , I experienced some burnout - my review schedule was entirely too full. I over committed and agreed to review books I wouldn't ordinarily read, much less want to write about. The lack of freedom to post off topic left me frustrated. I imagine most book bloggers at some point have to deal with how to balance the books so to speak - but my answer is go Back to Basics. Reading what I want, when I want, and getting sidetracked looking at pretty non bookish things. One trend from last year was incorporating authors into novels: The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott , What Alice Knew (Henry James and family), and Alice I Have Been(Alice Liddell and Lewis Carroll) . My super challenging, yet oh so rewarding experience with Anna Karenina last fall gave me some needed confidence in tackling hard books. And sealing the deal - The Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse was my finale read of 2010. It was a marvelous tale of two serious book lovers and their journey to open a shop that only carries "good novels". The whole concept brings up so many questions that it begs for a discussion for another time, but I found the notion intriguing, especially considering what was already bouncing around in my head.

The order remains pretty loose because I don't thrive in a heavily structured reading environment. Also if you, dear reader, are determined to read Lonesome Dove while vacationing in out West this summer- I'll pick it up then too. The pace is set at 2 per month to leave room for other deliberate reading choices or to allow for a month when tackling an 800 pager.  Compare this to your list and see if any match up - I would love to coordinate if possible.  Many of these titles I either already have, are free or $1 on Kindle, or super easy to acquire via library or used book store. We can even trade them...

The Back to Basics list:

• My Antonia - Willa Cather
• The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
• Middlemarch, Silas Marner, Daniel  Deronda - George Eliot (3 books)
• Around the World in 80 Days - Jules Verne
• The Nine Tailors - Dorothy Sayers
• Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
• Villette - Charlotte Bronte
• Faulkner - I'm open to suggestions here
• Our Mutual Friend OR Dombey & Son OR Little Dorrit  - Charles Dickens
• The Power and the Glory - Graham Greene
• Brideshead Revisited OR A Handful of Dust - Evelyn Waugh
• My Man Jeeves - PG Wodehouse
• The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
• Crime & Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
• Winesburg, Ohio - Sherwood Anderson
• The Minister's Wooing - Harriet Beecher Stowe
• Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert (newly trans. by Lydia Davis)
• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass - Frederick Douglass
• The Man Who Was Thursday - GK Chesterton
• The Winter of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck
• The Leavenworth Case - Anne Katherine Green
• The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Emmuska Orczy
  
• Far from the Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
• The Beautiful and Damned - F Scott Fitzgerald
• Kristin Lavransdatter - Sigrid Unset (1000+ pages yikes!)
  
• Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry
• Night - Elie Wiesel
• Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe
  
• also considering Henry James and Anthony Trollope titles
  

Bravo to you if counted and see the list has more than 24 titles. Three reasons - 1. I love making lists   2. I already read one (My Antonia) , and began two others last year (i'll probably have to reread a bit, but still I don't want you to call me cheater cheater pumpkin eater as Owen likes to say) and 3. I worry I may not be able to finish a couple (due to timing or boredom or both) so I padded it. And yes, some of these titles may seem a bit obscure, but I have read a few classics in my day - mostly the obvious ones (Austens, Jane Eyre, To Kill a Mockingbird, Gatsby, etc.) And if I get really desperate, I can always watch the movies, wink wink.

As a heads up, I'm planning to read Madame Bovary next.  If anyone wants my copy of My Antonia, I'll be happy to give it to you, just leave your request in the comments section.

If you'd like to see a comprehensive list of classics lookie here - Penguin Classics Backlist.

I'd love to see your classics list or your self-made reading plan for 2011. And if you are considering playing along (because this is supposed to be enjoyable) please share your thoughts! There is no hurry, feel free to let it simmer for a few days. I have had the benefit of thinking about it for a few months. Just check in from time to time and maybe you'll catch a spark.

The End.

Running on Belated Time

Happy New Year Friends!

We enjoyed a quiet evening at home eating some of our favorite foods - I make a mean crab dip. :) Just ask Evie and her quadruple dipping self. The pita chip is not edible, but merely a vessel for her. yes it's gross, but we are all family, she is cute, and we are wimps.

 
See what I mean?

As usual I am running behind, but instead of getting down about it I have decided to own it. Such is my life in temporary housing with 4 kids on an extended holiday break. So during this fine month of January I will be catching up on all the posts I had planned for last year but never got around to...reviews, lists (oh, yes it is not too late for a 2011 calendar post - if anything, they will be on sale!),  2010 faves, and the 2011 reading PLAN. Yes, I have a plan and it has me all excited. And it would be superb if you decided to join in. Hint: It involves CLASSICS. And lists. I still love lists.

We have lots of "resolutions" floating around our house. One is cutting way down on refined sugar...stemming in part from a noticable increase in chaos when sugar figures prominently on the menu. Another is our discovery of another Read the Bible in a Year plan, as we remain open to ways to conquer Leviticus. Here is the one we are embracing this year- Professor Grant Horner's System- it's all about reading, not about studying, which I like. And you will never read the same combination of books twice, also a bonus.

What's new in your year?

The End.