Embracing the Winter Season

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow. 

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

Happy Reading!

Rebecca

What I'm Reading- Jan. 28, 2013

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a meme hosted by Sheila from Book Journey where readers share what they are currently reading, recently read, or plan to read next.

Recently Finished:

Check out my thoughts on Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn here:

http://thekeytothegate.blogspot.com/2013/01/gone-girl-by-gillian-flynn.html

Check out my thoughts on The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis here:

http://thekeytothegate.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-twelve-tribes-of-hattie-by-ayana.html

Currently Reading:

** This is my book club's latest selection.
Book Description from amazon.com: Police Chief Luke Granger's witness to a murder, Amy Griffin, has been on the run for years. Her family thinks she was murdered eight years ago, but Amy chose to accept a life in the shadows in order to protect her sisters' lives. Now unveiled secrets about their father have thrust the sisters into the public spotlight. The man who wants Amy dead now sees her sisters as the way to locate her. Luke and two of his homicide detectives are determined to stand in the way. They are each falling in love with a different sister, and it's become a personal mission to keep them safe. But chances are that at least one of them will fail, and facing the future will take a faith deeper than any of them currently knows.

Up Next: The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

Weekend Cooking: Rosemary Bread

This simple and delicious bread recipe is one that I have make a lot, especially during the summer months when my rosemary plant is flourishing. Surprisingly, the plant is still surviving the winter thus far so I decided to harvest some of it up and bake more bread. This recipe is a version from Romano's Macaroni Grill that I found on food.com. It is really good and super easy but you do have to plan ahead because it takes a while for the bread to rise.

This version makes two small loaves.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon yeast

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 cup warm water

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons rosemary

2 Tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. Place yeast, sugar and water in large bowl or food processor and allow mixture to become bubbly.

2. Mix in 1 Tablespoon butter, salt, and 2 cups of flour

3. Add 1 Tablespoon of fresh rosemary

4. Knead for about 10 minutes by hand or in food processor about five minutes until smooth and elastic

5. Add more flour if necessary

6. Oil a bowl, put dough in it and cover with a towel

7. Let dough rise in a warm place for one hour until doubled

8. Punch down dough and divide in half

9. Let dough rest about five minutes

10. Spray baking pan or cookie sheet with cooking spray

11. Shape dough into two small rounded loaves

12. Sprinkle remaining 1 Tablespoon of rosemary over the loaves and press lightly in the surface

13. Let loaves rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes

14. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

15. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned

16. Carefully remove from oven, brush with remaining butter and add salt if desired.

You could also substitute dried rosemary, Italian seasoning, or Herbs de Provence seasoning if you did not have fresh rosemary on hand.

Enjoy!

This post is linked up to Weekend Cooking, a weekly meme hosted by Beth at Beth Fish Reads.

Happy Cooking!
Rebecca

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Book Description (from amazon.com):
Marriage can be a real killer.
One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?
As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

My Thoughts:
     Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is one of those books that you simply do not want to put down. A suspenseful tale that is always changing course. Flynn takes the reader on a terrifying yet exciting ride with her incredible talent to craft a story that astonishes more with each chapter. What begins as a missing wife/husband suspected of foul play routine story becomes anything but in Flynn's creative hands. This is definitely a story that you can't be told about, you have to read this one for yourself in order to experience the impact of the twists and turns- and there are many.

"When I think of my wife, I always think of her head. The shape of it to begin with. The very first time I saw her, it was the back of her head that I saw, and there was something lovely about it. Like a shiny, hard corn kernel or a riverbed fossil. She had what the Victorians would call a finely shaped head. You could imagine the skull quite easily." ~ Nick Dunne

     At root is the looming question- "How well can we truly know another person?" We are all flawed but in our efforts to camouflage these flaws, are we altering who we really are? In Gone Girl, Flynn tackles the concept of what happens when the charade of a new relationship is over? While at times the story feels very heavy, it is also peppered with comedic relief from secondary characters such as Amy's parents, Rand and Marybeth Elliott and Nick's attorney Tanner  Bolt. Pop culture also plays a secondary character in this story- society's interest in crime stories; the power of the media; the fall of print media in the online age; the impact movies have on how we think we are "supposed" to act and react.

"...Because you can't be as in love as we were and not have it invade your bone marrow. Our kind of love can go into remission, but it's always waiting to return. Like the world's sweetest cancer." ~ Amy Elliott Dunne

     As over-the-top and despicable as both Nick and Amy often are in this story, Flynn has created two characters that instantly engage the reader like a the "perfect couple" image we are so often presented through mass media. It is completely unrealistic, yet we want to believe it all the same.

Happy Reading!
Rebecca



The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis

Book Description (from amazon.com): In 1923, fifteen-year-old Hattie Shepherd flees Georgia and settles in Philadelphia, hoping for a chance at a better life. Instead, she marries a man who will bring her nothing but disappointment and watches helplessly as her firstborn twins succumb to an illness a few pennies could have prevented. Hattie gives birth to nine more children whom she raises with grit and mettle and not an ounce of the tenderness they crave. She vows to prepare them for the calamitous difficulty they are sure to face in their later lives, to meet a world that will not love them, a world that will not be kind. Captured here in twelve luminous narrative threads, their lives tell the story of a mother’s monumental courage and the journey of a nation. Beautiful and devastating, Ayana Mathis’s The Twelve Tribes of Hattie is wondrous from first to last—glorious, harrowing, unexpectedly uplifting, and blazing with life. An emotionally transfixing page-turner, a searing portrait of striving in the face of insurmountable adversity, an indelible encounter with the resilience of the human spirit and the driving force of the American dream.

My Thoughts:
     The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (Alfred A. Knopf, 2012) references Hattie's 11 children and grandchild that she later cares for as her own. From our first introduction to Hattie, we sense that her life is going to be filled with heartaches and difficult situations. We also sense her strength and intelligence, yet these qualities never seem to be enough to elevate Hattie. In Chapter One, Hattie suffers the loss of her her twin babies, Philadelphia and Jubilee, and this event haults Hattie's evolution. "She felt their deaths like a ripping in her body." (page 13) Her life is chronicled by the births of nine more children and little else.
     Told through the eyes of Hattie and her tribe, this family saga dismantles in a series of short stories that weave together time. Human flaws and internal conflicts abound in her descendants, eagerly passed from Hattie herself, perhaps in an attempt to alleviate her own burdens by sharing the pain.

" Hattie knew her children did not think her a kind woman--perhaps she wasn't but there hadn't been time for sentiment when they were young. She had failed them in vital ways, but what good would it have done to spend the days hugging and kissing if there hadn't been anything to put in their bellies? They didn't understand that all the love she had was taken up with feeding them and clothing them and preparing them to meet the world. The world would not love them; the world would not be kind." (page 236)

     Each chapter stands alone yet ties into the next, creating a portrait of a family struggling to survive in a changing America. The writing is exquisite. The character development is powerful with each strong enough to lead separate novels. In The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, Mathis expertly guides the reader through the passage of time that defines Hattie the mother, the lover, the grandmother, and the woman. Her tribe will go forth and with them the hope for a better future.

This book is the current selection from the Oprah 2.0 Book Club. You can learn more and participate in online discussions at www.oprah.com.

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

 About the author: Ayana Mathis is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and is a recipient of the Michener-Copernicus Fellowship. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie is her first novel.

The Happiness Project by Gretchin Rubin

How Happy Are You?

Have you ever thought about working to become happier?

"There is no duty we so much underrate

 as the duty of being happy."

                                                   ~ Robert Louis Stephenson

Book Description (from amazon.com)
Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. "The days are long, but the years are short," she realized. "Time is passing, and I'm not focusing enough on the things that really matter." In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.
In this lively and compelling account, Rubin chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Among other things, she found that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.

"...studies show that the absence of feeling bad isn't enough to make you happy; you must strive to find sources of feeling good." (page 113)

My Thoughts
     Gretchen Rubin's, The Happiness Project (2009 HarperCollins Publishing),was an ideal read before the start of the year but this is a book that could inspire any month in which you read it. Rubin begins her project by acknowledging that she is not depressed and has no reason to be unhappy. The goal of the project is to feel happier by changing her attitude not her surroundings. By incorporating positive thoughts and reactions into her daily routine, Rubin details her year of success and failure in trying to achieve happiness while things are calm in her life so that she is more prepared to deal with setbacks when they are bound to occur. Even the author questions her own purpose for wanting to begin this project. "Was I searching for spiritual growth and a life more dedicated to transcendent principles- or was my happiness project just an attempt to extend my driven, perfectionist ways to every aspect of my life?" (page 4)
     Rubin's book sparked many to begin their own happiness projects during the year she blogged about the process and following the publication of the book. Each happiness project would be unique with the individual using his/her own interests to determine areas of focus. She outlined her project as such: January- Boost Energy, Vitality; February- Remember Love, Marriage; March- Aim Higher, Work; April- Lighten Up, Parenthood; May- Be Serious About Play, Leisure; June- Make Time for Friends, Friendship; July- Buy Some Happiness, Money; August- Contemplate the Heavens; Eternity; September- Pursue a Passion, Books; October- Pay Attention, Mindfulness; November- Keep a Contented Heart, Attitude; December- Boot Camp Perfect, Happiness.
     For those who have previously read about mindfulness, gratitude or simplifying your life, The Happiness Project repeats a great deal of these techniques and affirmations. It is through her research of these topics that provides Rubin with a basis for her study. What this particular book does is to reinforce the concepts that you are likely familiar with such as thinking before you speak, waking with the right attitude, listening to what others are saying without feeling the need to correct or express your own opinions, etc. Rubin's project takes the concept of New Year's Resolutions further by creating a checklist for the areas in which she hopes to improve in an effort to hold herself accountable. "My desire to change was meaningless if I couldn't find a way to make the change happen." (page 287)
     One of the most significant attributes of this book is Rubin's willingness to share details about her life and family with the reader. She doesn't always paint herself in the best light nor does she score herself perfectly on her attempts to change. She acknowledges that resolutions can be difficult to maintain, but she inspires us to keep trying. If you decide to begin your own happiness project, it may be beneficial to read other books on your spiritual inclinations and ways to be work on being "in the present." But if you are looking for a realistic approach to addressing areas in your own life that leave you feeling less than happy, The Happiness Project is a solid starting point.

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

What I'm Reading- Jan. 7, 2013

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a meme hosted by Sheila from Book Journey where readers share what they are currently reading, recently read, or plan to read next.

It's a new year to be filled with great reading in wonderful books!
You can check out my Reading Resolutions here: Reading Resolutions for 2013
These are the books I hope to pull down from the shelves and delve into in the coming months.

Currently Reading: The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis

This is the latest selection from the Oprah 2.0 book club. I am already half-way through this one and the writing is excellent. I am excited to try the process of online discussion and look forward to sharing my experience with fellow readers.

Recently Finished: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

I had read this book many years ago but it was book club's recent selection so I needed to reread it in order to discuss it at length. It was much more challenging than I recall it being the first time I read it. I had previously watched the recent Masterpiece Classics adaptation which helped with following the storyline. The language is often difficult to follow due to the dialect of the characters. Following two families for two generations, Bronte weaves an incredible story of love and loss in this book that has stood the test of time providing it the label of a classic novel.

Up Next: The Witness by Dee Henderson

This is my book club's latest selection.

Book Description (from amazon.com: Police Chief Luke Granger's witness to a murder, Amy Griffin, has been on the run for years. Her family thinks she was murdered eight years ago, but Amy chose to accept a life in the shadows in order to protect her sisters' lives. Now unveiled secrets about their father have thrust the sisters into the public spotlight. The man who wants Amy dead now sees her sisters as the way to locate her. Luke and two of his homicide detectives are determined to stand in the way. They are each falling in love with a different sister, and it's become a personal mission to keep them safe. But chances are that at least one of them will fail, and facing the future will take a faith deeper than any of them currently knows.

I hope everyone is enjoying their new reading selections for 2013!
Happy Reading,
Rebecca

Weekend Cooking: Tortellini Soup

I have been seeing several recipes for Tortellini Soup as of late and wanted to give it a try. I was going to make a healthier version that consisted only of tortellini, tomatoes, spinach, and a chicken broth base but then I came across this version in the 2012 Mixing Bowl magazine, a special interest publication from Better Homes and Gardens.

 

This version incorporates Alfredo sauce, chicken and cheese in addition to the tomatoes, fresh spinach and chicken broth. I used a jar of sun-dried tomato alfredo instead of the regular version for a little extra flavor but you could make your own alfredo sauce if you prefer your version to store bought. The amount of sauce you make will be dependent on how many servings you want.

First, boil your tortellini according to the package directions. Next, heat the alfredo sauce and broth on the stove. Adding the broth to make the soup the consistency you prefer. Bring to a boil, then toss in some pre-cooked shredded chicken and tomatoes. Finally, toss in your fresh spinach for a few minutes. Finally, combine the tortellini with the sauce mixture and sprinkle on some extra cheese if you so desire.

This was a great way to serve tortellini in a different fashion and it was a perfect cold weather, comfort food dish.

Enjoy!

 

This post is linked up to Weekend Cooking, a weekly meme hosted by Beth at Beth Fish Reads.

Happy Cooking!
Rebecca

Reading Resolutions 2013

"Ideally a book would have no order to it, and the reader would have to discover his own." 

                                                                                                      ~ Mark Twain    

Making a list and checking it twice: Discovering the benefits of list making

     Many of us are list makers. We make lists for grocery shopping, home improvement, To Dos, etc. At work, I like to make a daily focus list.

     Book lover's make reading lists: Lists of books we have read, books we plan to read, books that sounded interesting, books that would make good gifts, and so on.

     Studies indicate that creating a list helps us to organize our thoughts and increase our productivity because the act of checking off a particular item encourages us to complete another task, and ultimately reach our goal. Research also suggests that writing out projects and responsibilities can help reduce stress. By compiling your duties or errands into a list, you are able to conceptualize all of the items you need to tackle and better determine which tasks need to be prioritized.

     This year, I decided to make a list of books that I want to complete in the year ahead. These are books that I have previously purchased, shelved, and never had or made the time to begin. Committing to certain titles was actually a bit overwhelming. There are so many wonderful books out there still waiting to be discovered.

     With new releases promoted weekly if not daily, the excitement of the latest "it" book can change up your entire reading schedule. Additional books will be thrown into my mix as my book club announces its selection each month and I read about books fellow readers have enjoyed. I also have several e-reader books ordered, including Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn which I can't wait to read. For 2013, books I hope to get off the shelf include:

The Plague of Doves by Louise Endrich

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

The Last Tycoon by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Sanctuary by William Faulkner

Two new books I received over the holiday which I am excited to read:

A Train in Winter by Caroine Moorehead

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis (This is the new Oprah 2.0 selection)



In the new year, I don't want to set a goal of reading as many books as possible. Instead, I want to savor the ones I do read and spend more time digesting these stories.

What is on your 2013 reading list?

Here is to a new year filled with reading!

Rebecca

It's Almost Here! Downton Abbey Season 3

Downton Abbey Season 3 is set to premiere in the U.S.

on Sunday, Jan. 6 on PBS.

Have you been following this wonderful television series? This British period-drama is part of the Masterpiece Classic anthology and has received critical acclaim as well as a large following.

"April 1912. The sun is rising behind Downton Abbey, a great and splendid house in a great and splendid park. So secure does it appear that it seems as if the way of life it represents will last for another thousand years. It won't."

For fans, The World of Downton Abbey, written by Jessica Fellowes with a foreward by the creator Julian Fellowes, is a beautiful, full-color book featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the show, interviews with the actors, and background information on life and society of the time.

The series begins in 1912, two years before the Great War, and depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and the servants employed on their country estate. There is no shortage of drama upstairs or downstairs. From murder and betrayal to romance and loss, viewers have several storylines to remain entertained. Season two ends at the beginning of 1920. During the eight year span of the first two seasons, the series highlights many of the technological advances of the time including electrical lights and the introduction of the telephone. Historical news items, such as the sinking of the Titanic, are also incorporated into the story to establish the time setting. Gorgeous interiors and costumes grace the scenes of the society set while the exploration into the duties of servants on a large estate creates a deep divide between the two classes.

In between episodes, curl up with The World of Downton Abbey to return to the days of Edwardian society and discover more about these wonderful actors and the characters they play.

Happy Reading!

Rebecca

Happy Holidays and Blessings for the New Year!

"Write it on your heart that every day

is the best day of the year."

                                                 ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The book tree in the entrance of Empire Books & News
at Pullman Square, Huntington, W.Va.

 

Rebecca

This photo is linked up to Saturday Snapshot, a super fun meme hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Head on over and check out some great photos!

Holiday Wishes from Around the World

I posted my Book Bloggers Holiday Card Exchange message too early. When I arrived home yesterday, I had this lovely card and frame-worthy bookmark awaiting me in my mailbox from Australia. This was sent to me from Jeanie at the wonderful blog: www.samstillreading.wordpress.com.

     One of the many benefits of blogging is the opportunity to communicate with others from many countries and to share the joy of reading worldwide. This terrific card exchange was hosted by Judith at www.leeswammes.wordpress.com and Courtney at www.stilettostorytime.wordpress.com. A special thanks to them for all of the time they spent organizing it for fellow book bloggers!

Wishing everyone a happy holiday and peaceful new year!

Rebecca

From Sea to Shining Sea

Book Bloggers Holiday Card Exchange

     This year I participated in the Book Bloggers Holiday Card Exchange hosted by Judith at www.leeswammes.wordpress.com and Courtney at www.stilettostorytime.wordpress.com. Opening the mailbox and finding a card filled with notations and recommendations about books has been so exciting. These fellow book bloggers have suggested many titles for me and I hope to add some of them to my 2013 reading list.

     These ladies have some terrific blogs and I hope you will check them out!

www.avidreader25.blogspot.com

www.satiasreviews.blogspot.com

www.sueysbooks.blogspot.com

Share the joy of reading with your family and friends this holiday season!

Rebecca



The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

"Life, Enza decided, is not about you get, but what is taken from you. It's in the things we lose that we discover what we most treasure." ~ Chapter 5

Book Description (from amazon.com): The fateful first meeting of Enza and Ciro takes place amid the haunting majesty of the Italian Alps at the turn of the last century. Still teenagers, they are separated when Ciro is banished from his village and sent to hide in New York's Little Italy, apprenticed to a shoemaker, leaving a bereft Enza behind. But when her own family faces disaster, she, too, is forced to emigrate to America. Though destiny will reunite the star-crossed lovers, it will, just as abruptly, separate them once again—sending Ciro off to serve in World War I, while Enza is drawn into the glamorous world of the opera . . . and into the life of the international singing sensation Enrico Caruso. Still, Enza and Ciro have been touched by fate—and, ultimately, the power of their love will change their lives forever. A riveting historical epic of love and family, war and loss, risk and destiny, inspired by the author's own family history, The Shoemaker's Wife is the novel Adriana Trigiani was born to write.

"I don't know what to say to make you believe me. I don't believe in God so much. And the Blessed Mother forgot all about me, just as my own mother did, but none of them could give me what one thought of you could do. But if you come away with me, I promise to love you all my life. That's all I have to offer you." ~ Ciro to Enza, Chapter 21

My Thoughts:

     The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani is a beautiful story of grand proportions. Following the lives of Ciro Lazzari and Enza Ravenelli as they come of age in northern Italy and immigrate to America where their paths continue to cross until they accept that their journey is one.

     The novel begins as Ciro and his brother Eduardo are taken to live with the Sisters of San Nicola as their mother, Caterina, can no longer care for them following their father's death in a mining accident in America. The loss of a father and mother greatly effects the brothers in opposite forms. Ciro turns inward and longs for beautiful women and to find meaning for his life while Eduardo explores his faith, turning later to priesthood to find his peace. Ciro is lead to Enza after being hired to dig her sister's grave and meeting her at the funeral service. Enza's devotion to her family and desires for them to live a better life force she and her father to move to America to find work, always with the plan to return and build a home of their own. Ciro's fate also sends him to America after witnessing an act by the local priest. It is in a new land, that Ciro and Enza's paths cross again.

     More than a love story between two characters, this novel is a tribute to art and a celebration of a simple way of life. Trigiani's geographic descriptions quickly nestles the reader into the landscape, from the quaint Italian countryside to the bustling streets of Little Italy and Manhattan to the sprawling spaces of Minnesota. Along the way, the strength of the characters remains through their traditions; their crafts are elevated to an artform. We see Ciro create shoes with such skill that we can smell the leather. As Enza sews colorful fabrics into form, we envision the fashion.

     The passages in The Shoemaker's Wife are extremely detailed but not to a fault. The reader is easily entrapped in the setting which makes for an easy connection to the characters. It is clear that a lot of research went into creating this epic story and it left me feeling far more enriched after finishing it.

     I first discovered opera after reading Ann Patchett's Bel Canto and then later Ellen Cooney's Lambrusco. Enza's work in the costume department of the Metropolitan Opera House introduces us to the behind-the-scenes moments of famous opera singers of the time, including the beloved Enrico Caruso. Trigiani takes us on an elaborate tour of the world of art from music and fashion to cuisine and architecture, but religion and spirituality are also at the heart of this story.

     WARNING: You will need to have a box of tissues at hand for the last few chapters of this book. At first I thought I would have liked for the novel to have had a different ending, but this story was Ciro and Enza's story. And a beautiful one it was.

What I'm Reading- Dec. 10, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?"It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a meme hosted by Sheila from Book Journey where readers share what they are currently reading, recently read, or plan to read next.

Currently Reading: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

I am re-reading this classic for my book club's January meeting. Our members rotate selection each time so our reading material can vary greatly from month to month. Although I have read Wuthering Heights many years ago, I am always willing to re-read a classic.

I recently picked up these two books below. I'm not sure when I will read these but I found them at bargain price and couldn't resist adding them to my stacks.
Have any of you fellow readers read either of these? If so, what did you think?

 

Oprah announced the new selection for her Book Club 2.0 last week: The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis. This is the second selection for 2.0, following Cheryl Strayed's Wild. Has anyone been following along with her new online format? I haven't read Wild but Hattie sounds interesting. I'm interested to see if an online book club has as much appeal as a face-to-face meeting.

Happy Reading!

Rebecca

Weekend Cooking: Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Red Pepper Puree

I came across Campbell's Butternut Squash soup at the grocery store and was excited to try it because I love butternut squash. I wanted to make it more hearty to serve as a meal so I tossed in some extra ingredients that took this soup from simple to gourmet with little effort.

Into the pot went the soup, a can on cannellini beans, some pre-cooked and shredded chicken, a little bit of chicken stock and some dried thyme. After heating in the oven at 350 degrees for about an hour, I removed the soup and stirred in some white cheddar cheese.

Finally, I topped it off with a roasted red pepper puree recipe that I found online. I used jarred roasted red peppers for ease. Just toss some peppers, a little olive oil, some minced garlic and some crushed red pepper flakes in to the food processor and blend. Then, just stir into your soup.

This soup turned out as one of my favorites. I was very pleased with how it all came together and definitely want to make it again. It was the perfect comfort dish to for a cold, winter day.

Happy Cooking!

Rebecca

This post is linked up to Weekend Cooking, a weekly meme hosted by Beth at Beth Fish Reads.

A Novel Idea...or is it?

Have you ever read a book where the concept is so original or the storyline so  intense that you were in awe of the author's creativity? Would your opinion of the work change if you became aware that the ideas or characters were not solely of his or her creation?

An article in the November 2012 issue of Fast Company magazine, "Master of Fine Arts," delves into the concept and creation of "book incubators" defined as "a team of idea generators who invent premises, map out plots and characters, and then match the blueprints with undiscovered writers."

One such incubator, Paper Lantern Lit, has had significant success with this strategy, having sold every project it has pitched to publishers- now weighing in at 23 books since the organization launched in 2010, including the popular Venom series. A book concept is created followed by chapter outlines, and then writers are interviewed to develop the characters and fill in the blanks.

In many professions, "think tanks" are able to produce inventive ideas with each participant challenging the creativity of the others, creating a finished product that can have mass appeal but does this apply to the art world?

Billed as fiction, does a lack of authenticity decrease the value of the story or the reader's connection to it? What are your thoughts?

Happy Reading!

Rebecca



Books, Books, and More Books Please

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?
"It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a meme hosted by Sheila from Book Journey where readers share what they are currently reading, recently read, or plan to read next.

Recently Finished: The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

I recently finished Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried and it is a must read. You can check out my review here: http://thekeytothegate.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-things-they-carried-by-tim-obrien.html

Currently Reading: The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

This is the first of Adriana Trigiani's books that I have read. I felt this was a little slow to begin but I'm nearing the half-point and completely engulfed in the story. I am reading this as an e-book but I love the cover art on this one.

Coming Up: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

This will be a re-read for me, having previously read this many years ago in high school English. My book club selected this as the next book for discussion. We rotate reading selection among members which leads to a variety of genres and authors.

 

I also reserved these two e-books from my library when they become available:

 

 

I typically would not select to read a Nicholas Sparks book but after seeing the movie preview for this one, I thought I would give it a try. I know many of you readers have read and loved Gone Girl so I can't wait to get this one and dive in.

I look forward to discovering what you are reading this week!

Rebecca

Weekend Cooking: Deep Dish Mexican Pizza





These short winter days do not cooperate for much weekday cooking so on the weekend, I like to experiment. I had an extra pie crust in the refrigerator and was inspired by one of my favorite dishes of a ham, tomato and cheese dinner pie, which led to the creation of a deep dish Mexican pizza. I pre-baked the crust first according to the box directions so that the it would crisp up on the bottom, covering the edges in aluminum foil so that they would not burn. After baking, I spread re-fried beans into the shell, topped with cooked ground turkey mixed with a can of green chilies and enchilada sauce. Then, I topped that layer with chopped tomatoes and jalapenos, followed by a top layer of Monterey Jack cheese. Back into the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes until the cheese is all melted.



Then slice and enjoy with a nice margarita or your favorite beverage. The best part about this dish is that it can easily be customized. You could substitute black beans, rice, salsa, corn or other veggies for any of these ingredients.

Buen provecho!

Rebecca



This post is linked up to Weekend Cooking, a weekly meme hosted by Beth at Beth Fish Reads.