Sunday Notes on Monday So long 2013

It is hard to believe that 2013 will be over at midnight tomorrow. Personally I am glad, I have no problem saying goodbye to the year.  It just seems that years that end in an odd number aren't as much fun as those that end in an even year.  That's a ridiculous statement but none the less I will stick with it and hope that 2014 turns out to be a good one.

So if you have been reading my blog by now you know that  every Sunday I play this little game with myself. On Sunday the first section that I read of the Washington Post is the Outlook section, it contains the book section. I go to the last page and read the Washington Bestseller list. This week the bestseller list focused on paperbacks but it alternates between paperbacks and hardcover. You can check my scoring system on the May 6th post. 

I met my goal this week having read 3 out of the ten but the books on the list were not that exciting.  I did manage to add one to my must read list Where'd You Go, Bernadette. I am always glad when I can add a new book to my must read list.  Lucky for me that list never grows any shorter. I would be lost without a good book to read.

This week I am finishing up the book Deadline by Sandra Brown.  I have read several of her books and I like her.  This book has a mystery, some murders,  a suicide or was that a murder too and of course a little romance. It is always good to have a little chemistry going between characters.  So look for that post mid week.  Two books that I have in my reading queue are Tell The Wolves I am Home which by the way is for my book club this month and The Final Cut which is written by Catherine Coulter.  If you have been reading my Blog I have talked  about her books before and enjoyed them.  Again they contain mystery, adventure, murder and chemistry. 

So I leave you all by saying have a safe New Year's Eve and a Healthy and Happy New Year. And to all of you who have been reading my blog thank you.  Have a great year!

 

Phyllis Richman. You go Girl!

If you are from the Washington DC area and have been around for awhile and you read the Post or if you just happen to read the Washington Post than most likely you have read or heard of Phyllis Richman.  Until 2000 she was the food critic for The Post and I remember reading her reviews. Being in the food industry at the time I looked forward to and loved her column.  If she gave a thumbs up to a restaurant than most likely that restaurant would do well.  Thumbs down, oh my not good.  I often went to check out a restaurant that she gave a good review and she pretty much was spot on. 

Recently, while reading the Washington Post I came across this article about Ms. Richman which I really loved.  In 1961 she applied to Harvard.  Harvard wrote her a letter about how she planned, as a woman to balance her time at Harvard and her family obligations. Shame on Harvard but I guess that is what women faced at the time.  It took fifty two years for Phyllis to respond.  The response was brilliant and I say GO GIRL!. What boundaries the women before us faced and to all of them I say thank you.

Follow the link below to read the article.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/answering-harvards-question-about-my-personal-life-52-years-later/2013/06/06/89c97e2e-c259-11e2-914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html

The Longest Ride

I have read several Nicholas Sparks books.  In fact I keep coming back to his books.  Why?  He rights human emotion so well.  If you read The Notebook you know what I mean. Once I started reading I couldn't put the book down and of course I cried at the end.

The longest ride in this book is a metaphor for one journey in life.  Ira is a man who is in the later stages of his life.  His wife died and he is on his own.  He set out in his car one wintery night and end up in a ditch after miscalculating a curve.  He is badly hurt, pinned behind the steering wheel unable to move.  He is hurt, he is cold and he wonders whether this will be the end for him.  His wife Ruth appears next to him and they start to "talk"  about their life together.

Meanwhile the author switches to a young couple at the beginning of their relationship.

If you like Nicholas Sparks books you will like this one.

Happy Holidays.  A Happy and Healthy New Year!

Sunday Notes

So if you have been reading my blog by now you know that every Sunday I play this little game with myself. On Sunday the first section that I read of the Washington Post is the Outlook section, it contains the book section. I go to the last page and read the Washington Bestseller list. This week the bestseller list focused on hard covers but it alternates between paperbacks and hardcover. You can check my scoring system on the May 6th post.

You know me and hard covered books, I usually  wait until the book comes out in paperback or I download them onto my kindle.  Two books that are on the list this week are Sycamore Row and The Goldfinch.  I have downloaded both onto my kindle.  My problem, I have about six other books on my reading list first.  This week catch my post on The Longest Ride.  I am also reading Deadline by Sandra Brown so look for my post on that soon.  Surprisingly I did read one book on the list Inferno. Can't go wrong with a Dan Brown book.

This week and next things should be slamming busy with the holidays and being on call but I am taking the first full week of January off and looking forward to a staycation.  That means more quality reading time for me.  So I am checking my list and checking it twice to see which books will make my staycation list.  I can hardly wait.  Have a great week and happy reading.

     

Candlelight Christmas

Another Hallmark script.  He is a divorced dad trying to spend as much time with his young son as possible.  He has dated other women but has not found THE WOMAN.  She is a freshly divorced woman who is taking a respite from relationships.  She had loved her husband but alas he cheated on her and left her. His sister, which happens to be her best friend, just happens to get them together.  This happy meeting takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Oh Joy!  I can tell you no more.

Gourmet Rhapsody

Once again I have chosen a book where the main character is an arrogant self centered individual.  He is what he has deemed in his mind "The King of the Table".  He is the best food critic in Europe and elsewhere, at least in his mind, who has had the ability to make or break an eating establishment by using his words. He loves no one except perhaps himself and feels no remorse for this lack of feelings.  The things he does love is himself and food.  And as he lays dying he thinks not of people he has met, lovers he has been with or his relationship with his family but of a food or the taste of something that he can not seem to place and it is driving him crazy.

I find the main characters obsession with food very frightening.   Food has never been my friend.  I have lived on a diet all my life and to have someone who lives to eat with such great abandonment  as he does is scary. Actually I find it repulsive  which in a way is I think what the author might be trying to say.  Just my opinion.

This book loosely fits into my foodie series.  While there is no food in the title, the main character talks about food in great deal.  In fact the descriptions are so detailed that you can almost see and smell them yourself.  You almost can taste them yourself.  That is how amazing the writing is.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog is the other book written by this author and if you haven't read that book I highly recommend it.  It was a well written book with a great story and great characters.  This book is the pre-quell to that book and is also well written.  What I find especially great is that both these books were written in French but are translated by someone who really understands both languages well.

Sunday Notes

So if you have been reading my blog by now you know that  every Sunday I play this little game with myself. On Sunday the first section that I read of the Washington Post is the Outlook section, it contains the book section. I go to the last page and read the Washington Bestseller list. This week the bestseller list focused on paperbacks but it alternates between paperbacks and hardcover. You can check my scoring system on the May 6th post. 

I hit pay dirt this week having read five out of ten of the books on the list. I have read the top two, Dark Witch and Notorious Nineteen and the bottom three, The Christmas Wedding, Ender's Game and To Kill a Mockingbird. I always like when I go above 30%.

This week I will be blogging about the book Gourmet Rhapsody.  I found this book fascinating.  It is all about a food critic whose whole life is food.  Food is ecstasy beyond all else and he has shut everything else out of his life.  The author also wrote the Elegance of the Hedgehog and if you were to ask me which book I liked better it would have to be Elegance of the Hedgehog.  The characters in this book set in France were written so well.  I am also finishing up The Longest Ride so take a look at that when I post it.  As always have a great week!

Orange Is The New Black

She was young, fresh out of college.  She had no idea what she wanted from her life, no direction.  She was unclear about her sexuality.  She gets involved in a lifestyle and people who just happen to be enmeshed in drug trafficking.  She did not willingly run drugs or drug money she was coerced into it and when she realized what was going on desperately tried to distance herself from the situation She thought she had until one day federal agents came knocking at her door and she ended up in jail. 

Even if the jail is known as Camp Cupcake, I can't imagine what it would be like to be in jail. But this author had enough experiences to write about and to have a cable TV show so in the end, I think she came out of the experience OK.  Don't you think?

 

 

 

The Happiest Season

Can you say Hallmark Movie?  This book is part of my holiday book quest. A widow and her five year old son are home baking cookies for a Holiday party when the little boy starts screaming there is a camel in their back yard.  Maggie the Mom ignores the commotion thinking the camel is a figment of her son’s imagination.  Here’s the thing there is a camel in the backyard.  Maggie immediately calls 9-1-1.

Mr.  Hunkey donkey Police Officer John shows up at her door a little skeptical about the whole camel thing when low and behold the camel.  I didn’t mention it was not hump day it was Friday.  As you can imagine there is an instant attraction between the two and the Holiday becomes happier for both of them and the five year old who just happened to ask for a Dad for Christmas.

Sunday Notes on Monday

So if you have been reading my blog by now you know that  every Sunday I play this little game with myself. On Sunday the first section that I read of the Washington Post is the Outlook section, it contains the book section. I go to the last page and read the Washington Bestseller list. This week the bestseller list focused on Hard covers but it alternates between paperbacks and hardcover. You can check my scoring system on the May 6th post. 

As is usual with the hard cover list, I have not read any of the books on the list.  It is pretty typical since I usually do not buy hard cover books so I generally have more success with paperbacks.  The books that I am in the midst of reading are Orange is the New Black a non fiction book about a women who goes to prison for running drugs.  It's an easy read and I will get back to you when I finish.  My holiday reading choice this week is Candlelight Christmas.  In case any of you have read any of Susan Wiggs Lakeshore Chronicles, this is one in that series. Also on my list is the Nicholas Sparks book, The Longest Ride.  I am a sucker when it comes to Nicholas Sparks and my all time favorite of his is The Notebook.  I sat and read that book in a few hours.  Putting it down with out finishing it was not an option.

Going to go curl up on the sofa, watch the snow fall and read my book.  Have a great week everyone.

   

The Husband's secret

Secrets are a funny thing.  Once you know someone’s secret you cannot stop thinking about it or ignore it.  It doesn’t matter whether it is a good secret or a bad one.  It is always there.  You know it and the person whose secret it is knows it as well. Dealing with the secret is another matter.  Do you keep it to yourself or do you share it with someone? Sometimes knowing someone’s secret is a burden that feels like at times it is going to crush you.

I seem to have picked two books in a row that deals with peoples’ secrets.  In The Dinner family members shared the burden of a secret amongst themselves trying to rationalize what it meant and also trying to figure out how to deal with it.

In The Husband’s Secret, wives have to deal with what they have learned.  Cecelia finds a letter from her husband when she is up in the attic looking for something for her daughter.  The letter falls out onto the floor.  It is addressed to her and is from her husband to be opened in the event of his death.  He is very much alive and she wrestles with the idea of opening the letter now.  It is so tempting.  What should she do?

Tess thinks she is in a happy marriage until one day her husband comes to her with a confession.  Her world shatters and she packs up her son and leaves the house.  The separation from her husband gives her time to really examine herself and actually discover things about herself.

How does the book end?  You will have to read it.

Nothing Better than Mac and Cheese

When it comes to food, I am such a kid and so easy to please.  Three things that always put a smile on my face are grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza and macaroni and cheese. In the macaroni and cheese category while I might go to the box of Kraft macaroni and cheese in a pinch, it is not the really the real deal.

 I have a friend who makes the real deal.  His macaroni and cheese is so good it brings tears of joy to my face just thinking about it.  It is oozes cheese.  I can’t talk about it anymore because I am getting too emotional.  It is that good.

But there are many variations on this amazing dish and while perusing the internet I found these.  So enjoy!

http://www.delish.com/recipes/cooking-recipes/grown-up-mac-n-cheese#slide-1

Starry Night

This is book two in my holiday reading quest.  For those of you who are familiar with Debbie Macomber this is more of the same.  You have a hunky reclusive he-man Finn living in Alaska who has written a wildly successful book called Alone and that is how he wishes to stay.  Many reporters have tried to grab an interview with him but have not succeeded. 

Carrie is the society writer for the Herald.  It's been ok to write this column but she wants something more meaty.  She goes into her bosses office to turn in her resignation and try her luck elsewhere when he proposes something she can not resist. Get an interview with Finn and she can write any article she wishes. Can you say dream come true.  Off she goes to Alaska and finds Finn and there is a lot of Snap Crackle Pop that is not only coming from the fireplace.  

The book is corny but it does have that holiday feel.  If I hadn't been able to finish it quickly I would not have finished it. 

 

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Sunday notes on Monday

So if you have been reading my blog by now you know that  every Sunday I play this little game with myself. On Sunday the first section that I read of the Washington Post is the Outlook section, it contains the book section. I go to the last page and read the Washington Bestseller list. This week the bestseller list focused on Hardcovers but it alternates between paperbacks and hardcover. You can check my scoring system on the May 6th post. 

Wow what a crazy weekend.  Did a little black Friday shopping.  Hope I got a few good deals.  Amazon had some great deals on ebooks.  Picked up a couple of those and I will keep you posted. Looked at the list of paperback bestsellers and I met my goal.   I have read three of the books starting with the book sitting in the number one spot, Dark Witch by Nora Roberts.  It is not surprising that this book is sitting in the number one slot.  Nora Roberts has a huge fan base.  I usually am one of those fans but lately I find her books a little boring and a lot predictable. This book is part of a trilogy and I think I probably could tell you the outline for the other two.  I would never be so presumptuous to say I could write them because after all I am not her.  Ordinarily I would be looking forward to reading the others but I think that this time I will take a pass.

This week stay tuned to my posts on The Husband's Secret and Starry Night. Starry night is one of the books in my holiday quest.  So stay tuned and have a great week.

Cross Roads

I picked up this book on a fly by.  You know you are in the library and you go past the new fiction section and a book pops out at you.  That’s what I mean by a fly by.  I buzzed the book shelf and there was Cross Road.  The title appealed to me and I checked it out.  Once I started reading the book, I realized this book was much more religiously oriented than my usual read.  I decided to continue reading anyway.

Essentially the book is about Tony Spencer a man who is heinous. Maybe heinous is too harsh a word never the less he is a pretty horrible individual. He is awful to everyone he knows and I mean everyone.

One day he collapses and ends up in a coma in the hospital.  He ends up taking what I will call a spiritual journey.  He does this in what I think is a very humorous aspect of the book, by inhabiting other people’s bodies.  Don’t get me wrong he does not take the body over he just sits inside their heads and talks to them.

He is caught in the in-between life where he meets certain individuals who help him make peace with his life.  It is a most intriguing journey.  This author wrote The Shack which many of you may have already read.  If you have read that book than you are familiar with where the author is going with his writing.

What to Do with leftovers from Thanksgving dinner

I don’t know why everyone makes such a big fuss about leftovers from thanksgiving dinner.  I welcome them and here is why.  Turkey freezes really well meaning if I have leftovers I don’t eat them for days and days I freeze them in family size or lunch size portions.  Then several weeks down the road when I am working late and don’t feel like cooking, I whip out a portion from the freezer and make a vegetable and there is dinner on my table.

The stuffing makes a great filling for boneless chicken which I pre-prep and then freeze in manageable portions and cook whenever.  I do admit I love a good turkey sandwich with all the leftovers crammed between two slices of bread.  Below is a link on how to prepare a yummy leftover turkey sandwich in case you are interested

http://www.delish.com/entertaining-ideas/holidays/thanksgiving/ultimate-leftover-thanksgiving-turkey-sandwich#slide-1

These are a Few of my Favorite books

Looking for a really great gift for someone on your list?  One word Books. I have read some really great books this year. I thought I would just include my top picks in this post in case you plan to give a gift card to a book store or website this holiday season and want to include some suggestions.

In the fiction category:

     

 

  

 In the non fiction category:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Notes on Monday

So if you have been reading my blog by now you know that  every Sunday I play this little game with myself. On Sunday the first section that I read of the Washington Post is the Outlook section, it contains the book section. I go to the last page and read the Washington Bestseller list. This week the bestseller list focused on Hardcovers but it alternates between paperbacks and hardcover. You can check my scoring system on the May 6th post. 

Once again I have read no books on the list this week.  But I have read a few good ones which I will be talking about in my blog in the coming days.  The first one is Cross Roads which is an unusual book choice for me because the subject matter has very heavy religious undertones.  I really though it would be too much for me but I couldn't put it down.  It is by the author who wrote The Shack.  If you read that and you liked you will probably like this one. 

I also read The Husband's Secret.  I don't know why I am reading books that contain people's secrets but that just seems to be my theme lately. I also read a book that qualifies for my holiday reading quest entitled Starry Night.  For all you fast readers you can have this read in a couple hours.  Not much meat and potatoes in this one but it is a holiday romance and I am a sucker for those. So check them out this week and next.
   

Dark Witch

Nora Roberts is at it again.  The Dark Witch is the first book in her new trilogy.  Usually I wait until the book has been out for awhile that way I can just continue reading the whole set.  But there the book was and I just couldn’t resist picking it up and reading it. I think this is like her twelfth series and since I have read the other eleven, I figured I might as well keep up my momentum.


The book starts in the year 1263 and obviously deals with magic which is a recurring theme in her book series. There are always good and bad witches and this book has both.

Iona feels like she has been drifting most of her life not really feeling that she belongs.  She knows she has a gift but has not developed her talent yet.  She decides to give up everything and move to Ireland to be with her cousins Branna and Conner who are witches as well.  All three are descendants of Sorcha the Dark Witch.  A very bad witch Cabhan wants Sorcha knowing that if they combine powers they will be indestructible.  Does the word Voldemort or he who must not be named come to mind? Sorcha wants nothing of this union and sacrifices herself to protect her children. 

She thought she had taken him down but just as he who must not be named keeps coming back so does Cabhan.  Her three descendants must finish the job. Along they way of course they find love.

If you like Nora Roberts you will probably like this new trilogy.  Personally I am getting a little tired of her writing formula but who am I to judge.  After all she is number one on the Washington Post paperback bestseller list this week.  And after all didn't I pick it up to read? 

Sunday Notes on Monday

So if you have been reading my blog by now you know that  every Sunday I play this little game with myself. On Sunday the first section that I read of the Washington Post is the Outlook section, it contains the book section. I go to the last page and read the Washington Bestseller list. This week the bestseller list focused on paperbacks but it alternates between paperbacks and hardcover. You can check my scoring system on the May 6th post.

First of all the paperback list this week seems kind of dull. In other words not exactly my cup of tea when I am looking for books to read.  That being said, I read the number one and two books.  Sitting in the number one spot is Nora Roberts' Dark Witch.  I won't say too much about this book since I will be talking about it in my Post on Wednesday.  The other is Ender's Game and if you are not aware, the movie has been released.  I do hope to see it.  Maybe Thanksgiving week, seeing a movie is always a good thing to do when you are tired of shopping.

This past week I read The Dinner.  In case you haven't read it yet check out my post from Saturday November 16.  To say I enjoyed this book would not be quite right.  I liked the book.  I found the book to be well written.  I am still thinking of the book's contents so obviously I found the book worth reading.  I did find the story to be disturbing.  All families have some secrets, it is just that this family has some more disturbing secrets than others.  Take a look at my post and think about reading the book.

This week I am reading the book The Crossroads.  It is from the author who wrote The Shack.  I will let you know what I think. 

Right now I have so many books on my plate I am not sure which one I will tackle next.  You will just have to check my blog.  Have a great week.  And as always if you want to know more information on any of the books mentioned in my blog just click on the book.