Book Review: Poor Man’s Feast by Elissa Altman

This week it’s a change of pace from what I have been reviewing recently.  Poor Man’s Feast by Elissa Altman is part memoir and part cook book.  As Altman tells her story, she sprinkles in recipes that reflect that point in her life.  She starts out talking about her life prior to meeting her significant other.  At that point, she compares her life to these elaborate, fancy dishes that are difficult to create.  She moves through her life as she meets her significant other and the recipes she shares shows that evolution.  Altman’s significant other introduces her to the idea of more simplistic, homey cooking.  By the end of the book Altman’s recipes show this change.

As far as the memoir part goes, I wasn't terribly impressed.  I struggled at times to follow what was happening as she sometimes wandered a bit.  She also seemed to jump around at times.  But, the pieces she told were wonderfully illustrated memories.  The scenes are rich with the emotion she shares in them.

I have not tried the recipes, but intend to when I have time (maybe when I’m like 102).  Some appear a little daunting for a novice cook.  Others seem easier to prepare.

All in all, I gave this book three stars out of five.  It isn't a book I would go out of my way to find, but certainly worth a read when you get there.  Particularly if you love things culinary.

Random Sunday – Zucchini Bread, Snowflakes, and Halloween

I made zucchini bread today.  I haven’t made it in a long time.  I’d forgotten that there was pineapple and raisins in it.  It was interesting, though, as I was mixing it up.  There was some weird reaction after I mixed up the oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla, pineapple and zucchini.  The whole thing started to foam mildly.  Not out of control, but enough to notice.  It got worse after I added the baking soda and baking powder.  I expected it at that point, but I thought it was interesting that it did it before I added the powder and soda.

I’m going to attempt something I've never done before.  I crochet.  But, I've never made anything that required anything smaller in diameter than regular yarn.  This year I’m going to try to make some crocheted snowflakes.  They use significantly skinnier crochet cotton than anything I've ever used before.  Either I will figure out how to make snowflakes or I’ll end up with a whole bunch of knotted up string that resembles nothing more than what would happen if my son got a hold of the string.  I’ll let you know what happens.

I finally got my house decorated for Halloween today.  At least I wasn't decorating the day before or the day of.  I did have to get much more creative than I have before in my decoration.  See, my son is very curious.  Anything remotely close to his reach would be in his hand in a heartbeat.  Maybe faster.  So, I had to be much more selective and careful about where I put some of my Halloween decorations.  But, at least they’re up.

The Diary

I combined two prompts for this post.  Unfortunately I missed the deadline for Master Class - which gave us the opening line from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.  I did catch Trifecta's prompt - phantom.  As usual, any concrit is very welcome and appreciated.  Enjoy!

***I just found out I didn't miss Master Class after all.  The deadline got extended.  Be sure to pop over and check out the other responses over there.

“’It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a good wife’.  That’s what that hag told me today!  I couldn't believe she thought I should be satisfied being some flower hanging off the arm of some dandy.  But, then my dear diary, the most exciting thing happened.  Mr. Martin stopped to speak with me.  He said he had an offer to make me and I should meet him at the market square.  I trailed behind him to the far corner where the animals are sold.

“I must confess - a phantom of nervousness passed through me at that point.  He whispered to me that he had an alternative to marriage.  At first I thought he might have something rather dishonorable in mind.  But he assured me he didn't.  Then he told me it was an adventure!  Mr. Martin wanted me to go on an actual adventure!

“I thought it a bit odd when he said I wasn't to tell anyone and not to worry about bringing anything.  He reassured me that all would be arranged for me.  Then he reminded me, the only other alternative I have right now is to find myself stuck in a dull marriage just like every other girl my age around here.

“I just have to go!  Maybe I can post a letter to Mother after we depart explaining things to her.  I just hope she understands.”

“There’s nothing else in that diary?”

“No, sir.”

“Not very helpful in locating the girl. Or this Mr. Martin fellow.”

“Unfortunately not, sir.  But at least we do know something foul happened.”

Book Review – Beastly by Alex Flinn

This week is another book by Alex Flinn – Beastly.  After reading Bewitching, I was intrigued enough to try one more of Flinn’s books.  Once again, she takes a fairy tale and retells it in modern terms.  This one was turned into a film in 2011.

I have to say that I found the same issues in this book as I did Bewitching.  Beauty and the Beast themes were there.  Kendra was absent for most of the book, which I found to be okay for the most part.  The characters were good, nothing special, but not completely flat either.  I think that most of the problem I had was that the book was predictable in more than just the Beauty and the Beast theme.

I would say that this is one to add to a guilty pleasures list for a quick, fun read.  But, don’t have high expectations for it.  Maybe it’s better from the eyes of a teenager, but I gave it 3 of 5 stars.

Random Sunday – Carrots, Cookies, and Christmas

I didn't intentionally plan this week’s Random Sunday to be all Cs.  It is random.  Just funny how that worked.  Anyways, my grandparents plant this huge garden every year.  And every year there is ten times more produce then what they can use.  I’m not exaggerating.  This year I was given about fifteen pounds of carrots.  My mom and my brother each got that many carrots.  My great aunt and uncle and some shirt-tail cousin got that many carrots.  My grandparents kept at least that many carrots.  I spent the afternoon chopping carrots.  Thankfully all I had to do was peel them.  Then they went in the food processor to be chopped.  Much faster.

My son makes me laugh for many reasons.  Tonight wasn't really any different than other nights, but I still had to laugh at him.  He ate his supper very nicely.  He ate quite a bit of supper considering he’s 14 months old.  When he got to the point of not wanting to eat anymore, my hubby let him down from the high chair.  Then my hubby got a chocolate chip cookie.  My son had to have some.  He ate close to half of the cookie.  I just laugh because no matter how full he is, my son will always have room for some cookie.  He doesn't really go after too many other sweets, just cookies.

I hate to be one of the crowd that starts this, but I will anyways.  Christmas is coming.  It will be here sooner than expected.  I’m particularly sensitive to this fact this year because I am trying to make many of my Christmas gifts.  I am happy to report that the first gift is almost done.  Now I only have about a dozen or so more to go.

Book Review: Bewitching by Alex Flinn

Bewitching by Alex Flinn is an interesting combination of Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella.  The story is told from Kendra’s point of view.  Kendra is a witch.  The first half is her life prior to discovering she’s a witch.  The basic plot there is Hansel and Gretel but with a few twists and new bits thrown in.  Then, the second half is modern day.  She meets a girl who needs some help. In comes a loose interpretation of the Cinderella plot where the stepsister gets everything.

From an adult perspective, this book wasn't anything overly special.  Flinn did a nice job of spicing up the fairy tales she used for inspiration in this book.  You can recognize them but there are enough little things different to make it fun still.  But, from a young adult perspective, the intended audience for this book, it opens up interesting possibilities.  The simple ideas of going to school with a witch and not knowing it or that magic exists in modern day can get the imagination going.

I did feel somewhat connected to the characters.  Kendra bugged me a little to be honest.  She seemed at times too much the victim to me.  Then again, maybe that’s just me as that kind of role in any degree really bothers me.

In the end, I would say it’s a fun, quick read but nothing to go out of your way for.  The younger the audience (keeping it somewhat age appropriate), the better the book will be.

Random Sunday – Chores, Shipping, and School

I feel pretty good.  I got quite a few chores done today.  It is a fleeting good feeling, though, because I know in a week many of them will be waiting for me to finish again.  Just like I commented on last week, the laundry tends to get out of control.  I tamed it again this week.  The dishes were almost as bad.  My hubby chipped in on the battle against them.  The floor got swept and mopped.  My son’s nails got clipped – and being he’s one this is quite a challenge.  But, in a week it won’t even look like I did much today.  For now I will bask in the feeling.

I was going to order some stuff online today.  I had several coupons for a favorite store I was going to use.  With the previously mentioned one year old son, online shopping often is much easier.  Today, though, I ran into a different issue.  I couldn't get two of the codes to work online.  Then, when I looked at the total, it was $14 to ship my order.  The only coupon I got working was the $10 off my order.  For $14, I think I’ll just go to the store and use the collection there.  My hubby even volunteered to go with and mind my son while I shop.

I've decided something.  Grad school isn't totally about what you learn.  I think part of it is whether or not you can survive it.  Holy crap is my latest class brutal.  We have to read like 200 pages, no kidding, per week, write 2 discussion responses per week, respond to at least 2 other posts per week, and research a 15-20 page paper before the 10 week quarter is over.  That 15-20 page paper has several required parts to submit before the final product is done.  If I were not working full time or didn't have my son, I think I would go nuts trying to finish this class.

All In

Trifecta gave us a fun prompt this week:

ZOMBIE (noun)

1

usually zombi

a :  the supernatural power that according to voodoo belief may enter into and reanimate a dead body

b :  a will-less and speechless human in the West Indies capable only of automatic movement who is held to have died and been supernaturally reanimated

b :  a person markedly strange in appearance or behavior

2

a :  a person held to resemble the so-called walking dead;especially :  automaton

3

:  a mixed drink made of several kinds of rum, liqueur, and fruit juice

As always, it is the third definition and we have to respond with 33-333 words.  My response is a continuation of a recent Trifecta prompt - Catching a Rainbow.  Enjoy!

He answered on the second ring, “Waylon.”

“Umm.”

“What can I help you with, ma’am?”

“This guy.  A bartender at Jack’s.  He gave me your number.”

“I know.  You need help with something.  That’s why he gave you my number.”

“My son.  He was taken five week and two days ago.  The police have nothing.  I need someone to help me find him.”

She hated how pathetic, weak, and desperate she sounded.  But, in the end, that didn’t matter.  Getting Curran back was all that did.

“What’s your name, ma’am?”

“Jen Becker, Mr. Waylon,” she took a deep breath, “And, Mr. Waylon.  I don’t know what you do, but please.  I need your help.”

“Call me Rhys, Ms. Becker.  And yes.  I will help.  That’s why I needed to know your name.  Meet me at Jack’s tomorrow night at nine.  I’ll let you know where we go from there.”

“Oh my god.  Thank you so much.”

“Until then, Ms. Becker.”

The line went dead.  Jen struggled to summon the energy to even put her phone away.  She knew, beyond any doubt, that Rhys Waylon would help her where no one else would.  They all told her Curran was dead and to be ready to find nothing more than his little body cold and still.  Rhys Waylon was the first who took her seriously.

“Here, Jen.  Drink this.  It’ll help,” the bartender handed her a reddish colored drink.

Operating on auto-pilot, Jen took the glass and sipped the drink.  After a few minutes a warmth and lightness washed through her.  She jerked her head up looking for who was in the bar.  The bartender was it.

“What the hell did you do?”

“Nothing.  It’s my version of a Zombie.”

“There’s more than alcohol in this!”

“I tweaked the recipe a little.  I mean you no harm.  You needed something to steady your nerves before you fell off the barstool.  My Zombie does that.”

She stood and realized she did indeed feel much better.

Book Review: Shadows of the Redwood and The Quicksilver Faire by Gillian Summers

 Yep.  I’m cheating a little by combining these two into one review.  They are the first and second book in the Scions of Shadow trilogy, which is the next part of the Faire Folk Trilogy I reviewed a few weeks back.

These two books continue Keelie’s story as she continues to learn about her father and his people.  She, of course, is pulled into a whole new set of adventures.  This time there is the added drama of teenage dating occurring, not just teenage crushes as in the last trilogy.

Once again, Summers writes in a fairly simplistic and predictable manner.  The characters grow some, but much.  It is fun in that the story continues and Summers explores her union of fantastical and modern America in interesting ways.  She does do a nice job of throwing a twist or two into these two books that separate them from the previous trilogy.  This, to me, keeps the stories from becoming so predictable I put the books down.

It still is not a trilogy I would say is a must read for everyone.  It would certainly be higher on the list for a middle school girl.  Otherwise, I would chalk it up as an to the guilty pleasure list.

Random Sunday - Rain, Teeth, and Laundry

I know we need the rain here in MN.  We went for the entire month of August with less than 1 inch of rain.  September wasn’t much better.  But, it’s been raining, off and on, for 2 days now.  I have heard rumors of slight chances of snow even.  I’m sick of it.  I’d like to see the sun for a bit.  Maybe tomorrow.

I am learning, post haste, to hate teeth.  Not mine.  My son’s molars.  If I am right (keep in mind I was checking by sticking my finger in his mouth where he was biting me with his 8 teeth he already has), I think he’s getting like 2 in at the same time.  This sucks.  He won’t sleep well, he won’t eat well and he gets just crabby and clingy.  I don’t blame him.  I probably would too if I were in that kind of pain.  It’s just that he’s not normally like that.  So, that he is like that right now is even worse.  I hope they come through soon before this kills me.

And what is it with laundry?  I swear it multiplies in the dark in the laundry room.  I think I did like 7-8 loads of laundry today and there are only 3 of us living in the house.  One of which is a 1 year old.  Where does it come from?  Now, don’t get me wrong, I’d rather do laundry than dishes – which grow exponentially around here.  But, this is ridiculous.  The laundry needs to slow down, just a bit.

A Path

Write at the Merge gave us the following two pictures as our prompt this week:

This is my response:

A Path

Stretching out

Above

As below

Diverging ways

Await

Mystery

Or certainty?

So many

Infinite choices

Twinkle and glow

Beckoning

Pleading

Choose.

Painful Consequences

Trifecta gave us an easier prompt this week: Ass - as in 3. (adverb/adjective) often vulgar—often used as a postpositive intensive especially with words of derogatory implication.  Trifecta's standard rule of 33 to 333 words applies.  Once you're done with the latest piece of my Weather Riders series, be sure to make it over to Trifecta to see other responses to this one.  It ought to be fun!

“Isaac!”

My scream sounded shrill and panicked even to me.  I could sense the storm he’d just called was one huge ass system.  Big enough to spawn F4 or maybe even F5 tornados.  And he couldn’t control it.  I knew that for an absolute fact.

I started toward him.  Caiden appeared out of who knows where and smashed his sword into the back of Isaac’s head.  Isaac dropped like a puppet cut loose from its strings.  I dropped to my knees by Isaac’s side mud be damned.

“You better not have killed him or I swear.  What kind of coward attacks someone from behind?”

Caiden stared down at me, water dripping into his rich green eyes, “I saved his life.  You’re welcome.”

He stalked toward the bike.  I didn’t know what to do.  Isaac was indeed alive as Caiden said, and Caiden was right – Isaac was out of control.  I pulled my cell out of my pocket and called an ambulance for Isaac then ran after Caiden.

“Now what?”

He gave me a blank stare.

“What happens to Isaac?”

“A Power Sink will be by to absorb the excess power.  If he’s not too badly damaged from the storm surge, he might be able to function once again as a Storm Rider.”

“If not?”

Caiden looked away.  I circled the bike and grabbed his face.  He sighed.

“If not, it would have been kinder had I killed him.”

I don’t know what he saw in my face, but Caiden pulled me tight against him in a warm, comforting hug.  We stayed there for a minute or more in the rain.  The storm had calmed enough I didn’t think I needed to do anything so I continued to absorb Caiden’s warmth.

“Stay with him until the ambulance arrives.  When he wakes up you’ll have your answer.”

With that, Caiden steered me back a few steps and took off.  The ambulance arrived a minute later.  I was still staring down the road where Caiden disappeared.

A Dinner Surprise

Having gotten to choose the Master Class prompt this week, I had to use The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.  After all, it is the inspiration behind the name for this blog.  So, we had to use the last line out of the book - "We'll take in a quick bite at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.".  It took me a bit to work out how to use this line.  But, it ended up fitting into a serial story I've got going.  This is the latest in the One Night in Dusseldorf series.  If you've missed any, follow the link at the top and it will give you the other pieces.  So, here it is!

"Let's take in a quick bite at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe." ran through my head.  I felt so far out of touch with reality it wasn't even funny.

I followed Kris, as a black wolf, out of the woods.  James waited on the veranda.  I struggled to wrap my mind around everything.

Magic was real.  Werewolves were real.  And the world didn't know.  But I did.

Kris disappeared as I made my way through the formal gardens.  I didn't catch where he went.  He was just gone.  I joined James.  Neither of us spoke for a while.  Somehow, he sensed my need for silence, for a moment of normalcy.

I don’t know how long we stood that way, but after a while he turned to me with a cheeky grin, “Are you hungry?”

“Yeah.  What’re you thinking?”

“We’ll take in a quick bite at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.”

I blinked.  

“What are you talking about?  Why are you quoting The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy at me?”

I couldn't believe he'd gone there when I'd been thinking that not more than five minutes earlier.

James laughed, “We have a restaurant called the Restaurant at the End of the Universe over in East London.  The owners are big Douglas Adams’ fans.  Even if you don’t like the book the food is to die for.”

Comprehension flowed into my addled brain.  He hadn't actually read my mind.  I laughed and offered James my arm.

“It sounds delightful.  Shall we?”

We took the Underground to the Stratford stop.  Coming up the stairs I could see Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park glowing in the East London twilight.  I followed James several blocks to a small restaurant on the corner.  As he said, ‘Restaurant at the End of the Universe’ glowed in tasteful blue lettering above a patio.  The place was busy, too.

Once we were seated and our orders taken, James looked at me with a more serious expression than where we’d been on the trip to the restaurant.

“I know you've had bit to take in today.”

“Yeah.  That’s one way to put it.”

James looked down, fidgeting with his napkin and water glass.  Several tense minutes passed.  I couldn't stand it any longer.  Just as I was about to break the uncomfortable silence, James blurted out in an uncharacteristically blunt manner.

“Your sister is alive.  In a fashion.”

Yeah.  He was way out there all right.  Let's take in a quick bite at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.

Be sure to follow the link below to see how others used this line!

Book Review: Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison

Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison is an interesting take on paranormal fantasy/romance.  The premise of the book is that a figure, presumably Death, falls in love with a mortal woman.  A child is born of that relationship.  But, in punishment for that, there are bad guys that are turned loose in the world (think a twist on the vampire idea).

This story is about the daughter born of that relationship – Talia O’Brien.  She has special talents because of her patronage.  She also happens to be the key for Adam Thorne in his quest to cure his brother of this disease/possession/whatever you want to call it.

I have to be honest.  I found the book to be a little more predictable than I cared for.  I enjoyed the spin Kellison put on the vampire, good versus evil and fantasy themes.  She had some interesting ways of looking at these ideas and weaving them into her world in a believable way.  I also think she did a good job of creating some reasonably believable characters.  I wouldn’t say that they were stand outs, but they had dimensionality and life.  Which is better than some books I’ve read recently.  My biggest issue is that I would have liked to see a similar kind of twist to the plot.  But, to me, that didn’t happen.

So, in the end, I would have to say that this is a book to put one the “Get to Eventually” list.  Nothing overly stellar but not one to avoid either.

Random Sunday - Tuesday, Allergies, and Hay Rides

Okay.  I know.  It’s Tuesday.  But, it was nuts on Sunday.  To be honest, I’m struggling some to even remember what all happened on Sunday that meant I didn’t get a chance to post this.  I really don’t remember either.  I know we went to church in the morning.  Then my son and I were at an event for the 150^th Anniversary of the American Civil War.  I went grocery shopping after that.  I think maybe by the time I got to having time to post this I was just plain wiped out.

                             

I am so happy.  My doctor gave me a new med for my allergies.  This year has been just brutal.  I don’t normally have bad allergies, except, like I said, this year has been awful.  But, the new med my doctor gave me has been helping significantly.  As in I get to sleep through the night and not wake up sneezing and unable to breathe.

It was so funny this weekend.  We took my one year old son out to a fall festival.  Free hay rides were a part of that (again, very thankful for that new allergy med).  We took my son on one because he LOVES cars and tractors and trucks and such.  He stood up at the front of the wagon right behind the tractor and watched with eyes as big as saucers.  When the hay ride was over there was no one else in line so the driver turned the tractor off.  My son started to cry a little because he didn’t want the ride to be done!  We appeased him by letting him sit on another (stationary) tractor.  Problem solved.