Lemon Zucchini Bread

Did I mention that we have a goodly amount of zucchini at our disposal? We're not in the "we're completely drowning in zucchini" phase. Thank goodness. In fact, I'd say we have just enough both for baking and as a side to whatever it is we are currently eating.

This is my other favorite thing to do with zucchini--lemon zucchini bread. YUM! Once again, this is not my recipe. Find it here!

What makes this recipe so great is that it's perfectly moist and stays that way even after a few days. You can thank the yogurt for that. I go for the vanilla flavored one, but you could opt for the lemon flavored if that suits your fancy. You can do it with out without the glaze. I opted out of the glaze this time around but that's mostly because I started baking too late, and then my baby needed me, and then it was bedtime. It just didn't happen. But it's still delicious! The glaze gives it a little extra punch of that lemon flavor,
so if your a lemon enthusiast, you may want to make time to get that glaze on there.

I did mini loaves again. I'm a mini loaf fan. It's great if you want to give someone a little treat without giving them a full loaf. It's also more convenient for my husband to run off with have a loaf as he's heading out the door for work. Also it doesn't take as long to bake which can definitely come in handy sometimes.

So give it a try and tell me what you think! Are you more of a chocolate zucchini bread fan or a lemon zucchini bread fan? If we ever had an in person book club meeting, I would make your three loaves--chocolate, lemon, and plain ol' classic zucchini bread. All are delicious! And those are the only three variations I know! I'm sure there are more out there. Do you have a secret family zucchini bread recipe that's to die for?

Happy baking!

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Hey guys! How's the reading going? How's the baking going? How's the combo going? Nothing's better than eating a delectable baked good while curling up to a good book...until you get crumbs and or melted chocolate on the pages. It's probably worth the risk though.

I've been getting some good baking in, so it's time for another recipe post! Huzzah!

I don't know about you, but there always seems to be a surplus of zucchini in the summer time. We aren't even the ones growing it! But when you live close to the in-laws who are growing it, you inherit a bunch of the green squash (I'm totally not complaining by the way). There are a few different ways to savor the vegetable, but with my baking tendencies I must say my favorite is bread form. I have a few different variations up my sleeve. This double chocolate version is definitely a favorite. I mean, it's double chocolate. What else is there to say?

This recipe come from another blog, so I'm actually going to redirect you over there. Click here!

This recipe is so good! My husband and I both said it's like eating a Costco chocolate muffin, but you can feel a little better about it because it has a vegetable in it, right? RIGHT?! Plus when I've seen copycat recipes for Costco muffins it basically says, "Buy a cake mix." This has to be a little better than that. Or so I'm telling myself.

I made this recipe in a mini loaf pan. It takes at least 30 minutes that way. Often I start with 20 minutes and then go from there because I had a streak of overcooking banana bread when I tried to do it in mini loaf or muffin form. Better to start out smaller than to cook it for too long.

Since it is chocolate it can be a little harder to tell when it's done. When it doubt, poke it with a toothpick or cake tester and if it comes out clean it's done! Give it some time for cooling and enjoy! Your taste buds will thank you.

As for reading, I'm currently reading Endling by Katherine Applegate. Pick up a copy and follow along!

The Time Machine

Title: The Time Machine

Rating: 3.5/5
Author: H. G. Wells
Page: 140
Genre: Science Fiction


You may recall that there are some classics worth reading and some classics that I wonder how they became classic in the first place (unless your a classics enthusiasts and love all classics. Is there such a person that loves all classics ever? Probably not since I wouldn't expect a lover of any genre to give every book in that category two big thumbs up. I think this parenthesis conversation has gone on long enough.)

For instance, why has the Twilight fandom quieted down while I have nieces who haven't even reached the double digits yet who are already Harry Potter enthusiasts? To be clear, I'm not trying to give new life to Twilight versus Harry Potter arguments. I'm just curious as to what makes something classic. What makes it stand the test of time? Thoughts? Comments? Do share.

A friend of mine has a book club that I've taken some part in. This month's book was The Time Machine, so I decided to give it a go. All I knew about The Time Machine was the movie released back in 2002 (which I apparently liked better than Rotten Tomatoes which gave it 29%) and an episode of Wishbone, which I don't remember all that well if I'm honest. So I was really curious to see how the movie compared to the source material. More about that in a minute.

Synopsis:

Well, the synopsis for this one is pretty straight forward. Our main character, simple known as the Time Traveler, sets out to prove his theories correct, that time travel is possible, and he's built just the machine to do it. On his maiden journey, he travels 800,000 years into the future where he finds that man has evolved into two separate groups, one peaceful and carefree, and the other creatures that dwell in the darkness. When his machine goes missing, he is faced with the daunting task of recovering it and returning home before he gets trapped in the future forever--and possibly hunted down.

My Reaction:

My first thought is that this is one of those books where I actually enjoy the movie better, but that's not because the book was bad. Here's the thing, the book is told almost from a scientific perspective which is what you should expect when the main character has the sort of intellect to create a time machine in the first place and those he is telling his story to are also highly educated men of different fields. The book, therefore, is appropriate in it's telling and still has moments of excitement and mystery as the Time Traveler tries to work out his situation and comes closer to danger with every passing minute that he stays in the future. To sum up, the book is great if your a fan of science fiction, and it's not super long either.

It has been quite awhile since I've seen the movie. I admit that. Still, from what I recall, here's why I like the movie better. (In case you haven't seen the movie, I'm about to spoil it for you). The biggest reason is the difference in motivation for the Time Traveler. In the book his driven simply by the desire to travel through time, to prove it possible, and to observe his findings. While this is part of the motivation in the movie, his need becomes more desperate when the love of his life is killed. The emotional aspect of this version pulled me in more and made me more invested in his story.

While core elements of the stories are the same, the movie adds some more depth to the characters. We're also introduced to more characters in the movie, such as Jeremy Irons as the leader of the Morlocks. There are a few more differences I could get into, but the motivation and character depth were the biggest differences that made the movie a more enjoyable experience for me. However, as mentioned above, the book is a great piece of science fiction. Clearly I simply get more enjoyment from a story when I'm more emotional involved.

Also, I love this bit from the movie soundtrack. That has nothing to do with the story itself, but it's still a fact that this track is amazing.


Reader's Guidance:

When the Time Traveler is describing the innocence and carefree nature of the Eloi, he refers to some as "making love." It is also inferred that the Morlocks hunt and eat the Eloi. Both groups are supposed to be descendants of men.

Discussion Questions:

Well here's something new! As I've discussed some books with others, there have been some really good discussion questions brought up to help us talk about what we've read. As I read through The Time Machine, I found myself thinking of my own questions and observations. So I've decided to include this section. Feel free to answer in the comments below!

1. Considering that The Time Machine was published in 1895, what can we learn about the time period based on the Time Travelers observations about the future?

2. The majority of the characters in the story aren't given specific names. The Time Traveler himself is never identified by name. One of the few characters whose name is given is that of Weena, one of Eloi. Why do you suppose this is? How does that lack of time, or a given name in the case of Weena, affect how you view the characters?

3. If you could travel through time, would you travel to the future or the past? Why? If the past, what period of time would you most like to visit?

Orange Scones

I have been wanting to write a post for FOREVER! Apparently I haven't figured out how to juggle reading, baking, and blogging along with the other things I have to do, like caring for a three month old (which I love). But hey! I still plan on stopping by here when I get the chance, and I still do fit in some baking and reading. Mostly I've been reading children's picture books. I've found some real gems by the way.

But today is a baking post sort of day! If you were to come visit me this week for a live, in-person book club, I would probably make these for you, or possibly something patriotic given the upcoming holiday. These are delicious though, and really aren't that difficult to make.

So, I always hate it when I want to get to a recipe on a blog but people always chat forever about it when I just want to see the recipe so I can eat it. Even so, I'm going to make you read a little bit more before I give you the recipe.

Has anyone else referred to fry bread or know people who refer to fry bread as scones? Well, those aren't the scones I'm talking about (although, those are quite tasty with a bit of homemade jam, cinnamon and sugar, or honey butter). My husband has grown up calling those scones, and I had heard that too, but I also knew scones as a delicious baked treat that I can get at Panera Bread or at a fair not too far from where I grew up. Because of this, there's been some confusion in our house when it comes to the mention of scones. My husband is usually thinking of deep fried goodness while I'm thinking of baked heaven. I decided to do some research because especially now that I can hold Google in the palm of my hand I like to learn anything and everything that has to do with random facts about, well, pretty much anything.

Here's what I found out:
Referring to fry bread as a scone is a regional thing, particularly to Utah, and it seems that no one knows why people started referring to deep fried dough as a scone. It appears that the baked scone has much older roots. Apparently, the deep fried versions are also known as Utah Scones or Pioneer Scones. My research is basically wrapped up in this one article from the Salt Lake Tribune.

Okay, know that I've shared my random collection of knowledge with you, let's get to the baking! I should note that this is actually a mashup of two recipes. Here's what I came up with:


Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, frozen
Zest of 2 medium oranges
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla

For the glaze:
3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. *Grate the Frozen butter. Toss the grated butter into the flour mixture and combined with a pastry cutter, your fingers, or two knives until the mixture resembles course meal. Stir in orange zest.

In a small bowl whisk the cream, egg, and vanilla together. Drizzle the wet ingredients over the flour mixture and then toss the mixture together with a rubber spatula (I use a spoon and my hands a little) until everything appears moistened. Try your best to not overwork the dough. Sometimes, I add a tiny bit more cream to get it all to stick together, but be careful not to add too much as you don't want your dough to get too wet.

Work the dough into a ball with flowered hands and transfer to a baking sheet with parchment paper. Press into a 8 in disc and cut into 8 equal wedges with a very sharp knife.

Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and using a sharp knife separate the scones so there is a little more space between each one. Bake for 5 more minutes or until lightly brown on the top and edges. If you don't separate them before that second back, the insides of your scones won't cook all the way through. I've noticed with my oven that I sometimes have to cover the scones with aluminum foil to prevent the outsides from burning while the insides finish cooking.

Mix all the ingredients for the glaze together in a small bowl. With a spoon, add as much or as little glaze as desired. The glaze will firm up as it dries on top of the scone. For best results, let the scones cool a little before adding the glaze.

*Note: I don't always use frozen butter. Sometimes I cut up refrigerated butter into small cubes and then put it in with the flour using either a pastry cutter or two knives to sort of cut through the mixture. The danger is having your butter melt too quickly. As we're getting into warmer days, I thought I was going to have an issue with it melting. I made it once grating frozen butter and once my cubed way and both turned out fine. If you're worried about it, I'd say go the frozen butter way.

There you have it! I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. And now I must leave you as I do believe I hear a little one who has decided nap time is over. Fare thee well follow readers and bakers!

The Book of Three and The Black Cauldron

Hello out there! Salutations! Greetings! And so forth.

It's certainly been awhile, but I hope that hasn't stopped you from enjoying an array of baked goods and fine reading material. I've been adjusting to life as a new mother (which I love!), which is why I never talked about The Book of Three, and I've only just now finished reading the sequel, The Black Cauldron. I've also been reading quite a few children's books as my goodreads profile will attest to.

But let's talk about the first two books in Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles. I first read them years ago, and it's been fun to go back and revisit them. I didn't realize how much I'd forgotten or remembered incorrectly as the Disney movie was fresher in my mind than the source material.

Speaking of which, if you haven't seen Disney's The Black Cauldron, I wouldn't bother. Well, you can if you're really curious. It's not one of Disney's successes. It's not even one of those that failed at the box office, but then you watch it a few years later, fall deeply in love with it, and can't imagine why nobody likes it. (For example, I'm a huge fan of Treasure Planet and think it deserves more love than it gets. Anyone else out there with me?) The Black Cauldron, unfortunately, falls short. Perhaps there's some cult following of it somewhere, but I have yet to meet a person who talks about it being one of Disney's greats.



There are a few problems with the film as I recall. However, I think the thing that bothered me the most was some of the voice acting. Okay, mostly just Taran. I can't stand him. To be fair, he definitely has his flaws in the book, which is intentional. One of the great things about these first two books (the film was based on both) is the character development of Taran in particular. He's kind of arrogant with delusions of grandeur, but he has some humbling experiences and meets characters that help him learn what it means to be a true leader and hero.

There's much more depth in the books than the movie managed to portray. It's not an easy thing making a book into a movie, and now that these books are fresh in my mind, I would say that this story could be potentially difficult. It's not that it wouldn't make a great film. It's more that there are many elements, locations, and characters to deal with. For the time limit they were allowed and the number of plot elements in the story, it must have been a difficult task indeed.

The books themselves are worth a read. The characters are unique and memorable and learn valuable lessons on their journeys. I enjoy each of the main characters and could take time talking about each one as they truly each have something that sets them apart. It's a great introduction to the fantasy genre and would make a good starting point to transition over to something like Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

My favorite bit of these books was the quote I shared recently on Facebook from a character who you will not see in the film--"Is there not glory enough in living the days given to us? You should know there is adventure in simply being among those we love and the things we love, and beauty, too."

If Netflix ever wants to turn  the books into a series, I would give it a go. For now, if you're a  fantasy fan, I would definitely give these a go.

Also, now I kind of do feel like I need to watch the Disney film again just to see if it's as bad as I remember...

Valentines, Excuses, and Chocolate Mousse

Ready for my confession? I'm sure you may have a guess as to what it may be. I mean, have you seen how long it's been since I wrote a post? I really shouldn't shower you with excuses when this happens, but I'm going to anyway.

I haven't read a single page of a book since that last post. Okay, that's not entirely true. The other night I couldn't sleep so I started reading a book about the making of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I definitely read more than one page. And I've read recipes while preparing dinner in the evening, so it's not like I haven't been doing any reading at all 😆

The fact of the matter is this: I have a big life changing event coming up in a few weeks, and my mind has been a bit preoccupied with that. Not to mention I've gotten sucked into watching the original Twilight Zone with my husband in the evenings. My last excuse/distraction was the release of Kingdom Hearts III. I'm not just a book lover. I enjoy a good video game now and again. I finally started playing the new game yesterday even though I've had it since it was released in the end of January partly because I've been trying to get things ready for aforementioned life changing event and also because I was trying to play through (most of) the previous games and I was stuck on the last one. Finally, I got fed up, watched the final scenes on YouTube, and began the new game. (For the record, I have beaten that game in the past. I'm not a complete cheater. Ha!) Kingdom Hearts has it's own rich (if not sometimes convoluted) story line, so my need for a good story is still being met!

Basically, I have no particular book to talk to you about today, so instead, I'm going to share a treat with you that I tried the other day! It's not technically a baked good...but hey, I would still give it to you if you came to my house for an official book club meeting.

This was my first attempt ever making a chocolate mousse. From what I can see from other recipes online, this is quite a simple version. It's quick and easy and doesn't involve eggs like the other recipes I peeked at. The whole reason why I gave this a go is because I had made a dinner using heavy whipping cream, and I always have cream leftover. I really didn't want it to get wasted, so I googled things to do with whipping cream--you know, besides making whipped cream...

This called for four ingredients, which I already had, and it's done in a few minutes. The recipe can be found here.

The ingredients you will need are:
Heavy Whipping Cream
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Powdered Sugar
Pinch of Salt

She made this by shaking it all together in a mason jar. I mixed it up in the kitchen aid, and that did the trick. I might play with the cocoa to sugar ratio as it was a little bit more bitter than I wanted it to be. Or perhaps I'll just drown it in more whipped cream! Either way, this is something I would do again, and it's a nice quick, easy treat.

So, if you haven't thought of some Valentine's Day treat yet, perhaps you should give this one a go! Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! I hope it's a good one filled with great people (or perhaps a fur baby who will be more than willing to give you all the loves).

Until next time!

The Little Selkie

Title: The Little Selkie

Rating: 3/5

Author: K.M. Shea

Pages: 318

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Synopsis:

Dylan is a selkie which means she has the ability to change from a human form to a sea lion form as long as her sea lion pelt remains safe and undamaged. She also has a special connection to the ocean and a duty to protect it. When the waters are tormented by a wicked sea witch, Dylan brashly races onto land to confront her. Too late she realizes the severity of her mistake.

The selkie is captured and her pelt stolen from her. She’s certain the sea witch will force Dylan to use her special powers to help aid her in her wicked plans. But Dylan’s powers only work through her ability to sing. When Dylan stumbles upon a passing enchantress, she begs her to seal her voice. Now, unable to speak and fearing that she may never retrieve her pelt, Dylan must discover the sea witch’s plot and do whatever she can to thwart it before it’s too late.

My Reaction:

Recently, I saw a book list full of books with strong female characters, so I know that’s something some readers are looking for. If that’s you, than K.M. Shea may be the author for you. One of the positive things about both of her books that I’ve read so far are female protagonists who get the job done!

Aside from that, The Little Selkie was another enjoyable read. However, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as Beauty and the Beast. I appreciated the fact that she was a selkie instead of a mermaid. It changed the dynamic of the story a little bit as her motivations are different than say Disney’s version of the tale. Also, there’s no turning into sea foam involved, so that’s a plus for Dylan. I kind of would have liked a just a little more information on selkies. I mean, you can figure out the concept, but I found myself wondering if they spent more time in seal bodies versus their human forms since Dylan thinks of things like all her sister’s books or sleeping on straw mattresses which didn’t really match what I was picturing in my head (waterproof books, perhaps?). But, you’ll understand the important bit—a destroyed pelt equals bad news for a selkie.

Also, I will admit that I googled “selkie” because I wasn’t sure what it was as opposed to a mermaid. See? Reading is good for you. You learn stuff.

You may notice that this book as well as Beauty and the Beast are part of the series, but fear not. You don’t have to read them in order. In fact, you could just read one book out of the series and still be fine. From what I’ve seen, they are stand alone books that may make subtle references to each other just to let you know that they are in the same universe.

Oh! I nearly forgot to mention that there is still a love story in there. Don't worry about that :)

Reader’s Guidance:

I can’t think of anything.

Similar Books:

I feel like I’ve run out of fairy tale books to tell you! Here’s an idea: what are your favorite fairy tale related books out there?

Next Book:

So, I started reading another fairy tale, but then thought, “Maybe I need to shake this up and come back to this one.” But the first few pages seem interesting, so I may just keep reading it anyway. It’s called Goldheart by Kenley Davidson, and it’s a retelling of Rumplestiltskin. I was a little hesitant to start reading a retelling of that particular story as I read Rump last year and absolutely loved it! Based on the first little bit though, I think they’re going to be totally different in both style and twist on the original tale.

The other books I’ve been thinking of are The Prydain Chronicles. You may not know that name, but perhaps you’ve heard of The Black Cauldron, which is one of the books in the series (and not one of Disney’s finest adaptations into film). I read the series some years ago now. I was talking to my husband about Disney’s take on the book and found that I couldn’t remember much about the series as a whole except that I liked it. It’s sitting on my shelf ever so patiently waiting to be read again.

Basically, I’m claiming to be reading two books now, though in all honesty I probably won’t read them simultaneously. I don’t think I’ve ever been successful with that. Usually one book falls by the wayside. Well, I’ve committed now. You’ll be expecting reviews on both. Let’s do this.

Also, does anyone else feel in need of another baking post? Perhaps I need to bake something… I

mean, I bake usually once a week at least, but I should maybe document it. Ha!

Beauty and the Beast

Happy New Year! It's only day four of 2019, and I've already managed to get one book under my belt. I feel accomplished. I should have made the resolution to read a book, and then I could already check one off my list... Next year...

Title: Beauty and the Beast

Rating: 4/5

Author: K.M. Shea

Pages: 293

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Synopsis:

Elle has one job to do, and it certainly doesn't involve falling through the ceiling of an enchanted chateau. But that’s exactly what happens. With one misstep, Elle finds herself falling to the ground below and breaking her leg. She is now forced to heal and rely on the good graces of the chateau’s cursed owner, Prince Severin, and she’s not so sure he has any good graces to spare.

The prince has his own problems to deal with, and although his servants are hopeful that Elle could finally be the one to break their curse, Prince Severin sees her as little more than an inconvenience. At first he is eager for her leg to heal so he can be rid of her, but the longer she stays, the more he realizes that he truly doesn’t want to be rid of her at all.

But will he feel the same once he learns Elle’s secret?

My Reaction:

Have you noticed by now just how much I enjoy a good fairy tale retelling? And let me remind you that Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale. That being said, I’ve read a good handful of retellings of that particular story, some of them better than others. And yet, Shea’s version of the tale offered something different from what I’ve seen before, most noticeably the background of the two main characters. Elle in particular has a secret that drives her motivations which was a new twist to the tale.

I wasn’t immediately pulled into the story, but it didn’t take long for it to catch my interest. By the time I got to the end, I had just the right amount of girlish gushing that I would expect of myself when a love story is involved. You know, when the main character realizes they’re in love, but then there’s a conflict, and then it’s all resolved in the end. Yep, this story had just the right amount of romantic build up and resolution. Not to mention, the characters were well crafted and enjoyable to follow.

There were a couple of small things that made me give it a 4 instead of 5, but they really are small things. The book as a whole is quite enjoyable and is great for cuddling up on the couch and indulging in like I did yesterday afternoon. Without revealing too much, I found the mention of Elle’s secret slightly repetitive. There was also a moment I found a bit cliché, but the rest of the conversation balanced it out. Finally, I didn’t really understand why characters reacted the way they did towards the end. It made a little more sense in the following chapter, but it still just seemed a little unexpected. It came to my realization that the characters' understanding of a major plot element was not the same as my understanding of the major plot element. (FYI, my understanding was the correct one. Take THAT fictional characters!) That threw me off a little bit. All in all, none of those things were enough to keep me from enjoying the book and recommending it. In fact, some of you may not even notice those things. So read on and enjoy!

P.S. Don't be fooled by the cover. This is not a modern retelling. Also, it's not a harlequin romance like my husband thought it was. Ha!

Reader’s Guidance:

There are a couple of moments that involve death by sword, but there are no graphic details.

Similar Books:

I could tell you every Beauty and the Beast retelling I’ve ever read. I also thought of Pride and Prejudice as I read mostly because I couldn’t help thinking how Elle and Severin are totally Elizabeth and Darcy, if Darcy were a man cursed to be a beast until he found true love that is. There are plenty of Pride and Prejudice retellings out there that may suite your fancy.

K.M. Shea has also written a good deal of other fairy tale retellings, so if you enjoy this one, you ought to give some of her others a shot!

Next Book:

I’m thinking I may try out another one of K.M. Shea’s books. I think I’ll go with The Little Selkie which is a retelling of The Little Mermaid. I don’t think I’ve ever read a retelling of that one before. Here goes nothing!

My Top Recommended Books I Read in 2018

It’s quite common when we come towards the end of another year to take a retrospective look at the year that has just passed. I do believe this is the first time I’ve ever dedicated some of that retrospection to the books I read that year. It’s not a bad practice. I recommend it. While perusing my blog posts of the last twelve months, it was fun to remember some of my favorites. I also gave more 5/5 ratings than I expected to find. I guess I was feeling generous this year, or maybe I’m just really awesome at picking books to read.

By the way, thanks to everyone who has given me suggestions for books to read. I enjoy seeing what other people love to read, and I’ve discovered some gems through the recommendations of friends. I can only hope that some of my recommendations do the same for you. There’s nothing quite like finding a good book that you absolutely adore. I’ve also enjoyed reading your comments about things like your favorite classic books or books that you thought were the absolute worst. Please keep stopping on by and sharing your comments, insights, and recommendations. I love it!

Without further ado, here are the books I rated the highest in 2018:

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

It’s the first book in the series and probably the best one. It works great as a standalone book, so if you’re not much of a book series person, it would still be well worth your time to give this book a look. Also, if all you know about this story is the movie renditions of it and you’re not a fan of the movies, still give it a chance. It’s better. If you liked the movies, then you should definitely love the book.

I loved this sci-fi story about a girl named Meg, who wants desperately for her missing father to return home. Rescuing him is no easy task, and it turns out there’s a lot more at stake than just whether or not he’ll return home safely. There were a few reasons why this book spoke to me. First of all, there was the classic theme of the light versus the darkness, which I always enjoy and which can be applied on a personal level. Sci-fi elements aside, I think we can agree that there is both good and bad in the world, but we can do our part to share the light and bring a little more of the good into the world around us.

Something else that struck me during this reading of the book was the fact that the characters have their flaws. Each character has weaknesses and strengths, and we see how sometimes those are reversed—the things we see as weaknesses can actually be our strengths and vice versa.

Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood and Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk by Liesl Shurtliff

Discovering Liesl Shurtliff’s works was definitely one of the highlights of my reading this year. It’s probably no secret by now that I love a good fairy tale retelling, and her stories are some of the best! I find myself just wanting to praise her endlessly, so you should probably just read her books. Do it now.

I think part of what made these stories memorable is the fact that I haven’t really read retellings of these particular fairy tales before. I have seen Red and Jack featured in other books, but those usually involved many fairy tale characters of which we are familiar, whereas Shurtliff took the individual story itself and cast a new light on it. They have the elements of the original stories, but there are so many more elements and plot twists to them. I love Shurtliff’s prose also.

These are fun, adventurous, and if you’re looking for it, you may find a message to the story just like classic fairy tales.

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo is one of my all time favorite children’s authors, so really, it’s no surprise that one of her books would end up on my list. I love the way she writes and the characters she creates. Her stories are memorable, unique, and relatable.

The premise of this book is so fun in and of itself—cynical girl with a love of comics meets squirrel after said squirrel has near death experience. Said squirrel may now also have super powers. How awesome is that!

But this story is about much more than a potentially superhero squirrel. When it comes down to it, I guess you could say that it’s about people (plus one squirrel). I went in expecting a fun read, which it certainly was, but besides laughing with the adventure and unusual predicaments, I also found myself lost in thought and even touched by the end. This was a heartwarming, adventurous story that is deserving of the Newbery Medal it won in 2014.

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

I don’t think I was quite expecting to like this book as much as I did when I first picked it up. I wanted to try out another book by Katherine Applegate after falling in love with The One and Only Ivan, and it seemed to have potential. Crenshaw is an imaginary friend in the form of a cat. Maybe part of the reason why I enjoyed this book is because I have my own cat that comes asking me for snuggles every morning. Aside from that, Crenshaw is a great character that represents the need that we all have at certain times in our lives for a friend, a shoulder to lean on. Reading this story made me think of instances in my own life when people have been there to support me and lift me up. Besides that, Crenshaw teaches the importance of being honest with yourself.

It was also interesting to see the perspectives of both the children and the parents in the difficult situation that these characters find themselves in. Applegate does a terrific job presenting those perspectives and exploring very real thoughts and feelings that may occur. It’s something I appreciate now that I’m older that I’m not sure I would have appreciated as much had I been introduced to this book at a younger age.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I really wanted to love this book and was afraid that I wouldn’t. Good news: I DO LOVE IT! The

Netflix movie is a pretty good interpretation of the book, but I feel that you need to read the book to fully grasp who these characters are. The story is told through a series of letters written by various characters. I was concerned that this would be confusing and that I would quickly become lost. That was not the case, however. In fact, it really helped to make each character personal. It was like getting to know people in real life.

The book tells the story of some of the residents of Guernsey during the Nazi occupation. It takes place soon after the war has come to an end when those dark days are still fresh on everyone’s minds. I tend to like stories that take place during this era of history despite the fact that I know there will always be some part that brings tears to my eyes. Despite the horror and heartache that so many faced during that time, I think what speaks to me are the acts of kindness and heroism, even simple ones, in a time where it would have been easier to have an “every man for himself” mentality or even to sell people out for your own gain. Even in our darkest hours, we can be the good in the world.

East by Edith Pattou

This one was a recommendation to me from a friend who’s an even bigger bookworm than I am. She has super speedy reading abilities that enable her to read as many books in a week that I read in a month…or two. She’s awesome, and I love her, and I couldn’t say no to a book recommendation, especially one with fairy tale elements.

This book is based off of a fairy tale that I had never heard of. The more I read, I did come to realize that there was a movie based off of the same fairy tale that my sister used to watch as a kid. So I guess I had been introduced to it at one point, but the only thing I could remember is that a guy had turned into a polar bear. That is a pretty crucial part to the story, so at least I remembered something important. I could also compare the story to Beauty and the Beast or the story of Cupid and Psyche.

I had a hard time putting this book down. It was evident that Pattou had done her research as she wove some real life landscapes and other elements into the story. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives that gave a broader view of the story as a whole. It’s full of themes of adventure, superstition, making amends, and the importance of family.

There you have it! Those are all the books that earned a 5/5 rating from me this year. I’m looking forward to whatever books 2019 brings my way. What were some of your favorite reads of 2018? Any suggestions for what I should read in 2019? Also, if you’re a procrastinator and haven’t finished your Christmas shopping, nothing says “I love you” like a new book. It’s hard to beat that new book smell. Of course, there’s always the e-reader option, which I can also get behind. Although, sniffing an e-reader doesn’t have quite the same enjoyment as sniffing pages of a book…

Merry Christmas!

Ogre Enchanted

Title: Ogre Enchanted

Rating: 4/5

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Pages: 352

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Synopsis:

If you’re familiar with the story of Ella Enchanted, then you know that some interactions with fairies are more trouble than they’re worth, especially if that fairy is Lucinda.

Well, Lucinda makes another appearance in this story to ruin someone else’s life. This time, she isn’t blessing someone with the gift of obedience. Instead, she curses a young healer named Evie, turning her into an ogre, all because she turned down a marriage proposal! Now Evie only has a limited amount of time to break the curse, and there’s only one way to do that. Someone must propose to her and she must accept—not the easiest task for a smelly ogre who finds it very tempting to eat a human being despite the fact that she used to be one.

Set in the same world as Levine’s award winning Ella Enchanted, this book is a good stand alone story reminiscent of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast.

My Reaction:

I’m pretty sure I said it before, but I’ll say it again—I always enjoy a good Gail Carson Levine book. This story is such a great addition to her collection of books. If you know someone who is a fan of fairytale type stories, just buy them a ton of Levine’s books.

What’s great about Levine’s stories is that even if they have similarities to stories we’re familiar with they’re so uniquely their own. They are original with great characters. I had a fair idea of how the story would end after only a few pages, but really just one main plot point. Everything surrounding it and leading up to it wasn’t entirely predictable.

Evie is a strong, courageous character that learns a lot in the process of her journey. Sometimes people, or ogres, aren’t all that they seem. Maybe we can lift the lives of others even if our own circumstances are less than favorable.

Ogre Enchanted is a great read especially if you’re already a fan of Levine’s books.

Reader’s Guidance:

Well, there is a part where Evie kills a band of ogres and their heads are later left on display outside of a city. That’s probably the most violent event in the story.

Similar Books:

Ella Enchanted or anything else by Gail Carson Levine

Books by Cameron Dokey—she’s done a good handful of fairytale retellings

Books by Liesl Shurtliff like Rump

Epilogue:

I hope you all are enjoying this holiday season. I know I've been enjoying some good baking. We made up some goodies to take to some of our neighbors, and of course we saved a few for ourselves. So, basically a sugar cookie has been part of my dinner every night this week. And they are delicious! Also, some are in nerdy shapes like Yoda and Mickey Mouse. We couldn't help ourselves. I'm a bit of a cookie cutter fanatic, so we had a good amount to choose from besides the traditional Christmas shapes.

I also tried a couple things I've never done before like fudge (super easy by the way) and Mexican wedding cookies. Nom nom nom! I love baking! What are you guys enjoying as part of your Christmas celebrations? What are some cool traditions you have? I should start a book related tradition. It seems fitting especially when I know that there are some book traditions out there for this time of year. 

It's hard to believe that 2018 is almost over! Stay tuned for a post on my top picks out of the books I read this year!

My attempts to make a storm trooper cookie.

East

Title: East

Rating: 5/5

Author: Edith Pattou

Pages: 507

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Synopsis:

There is an old superstition that children will inherit specific traits based on which direction their mother is facing when they are born. For Rose’s very superstitious mother, the last thing she wants is a north-born child, who would be filled with a need for adventure and wanderlust. Not only that, but when her mother is told that if she has a north-born child that child will surely be lost to her under an avalanche of ice and snow, she’ll do anything to ensure that none of her children are born in that fateful direction.

When her final child, Rose, is born in a rush, her mother is so distraught in finding that she’s a north-born that she convinces herself that she was actually facing east. Rose believed the lie all her life until one fateful evening when a great, white bear appears on their doorstep demanding that Rose come with him. In return, her ailing family would be blessed with much needed health and prosperity. Realizing that she was always destined for something like this, Rose accepts the bear’s offer. She is taken to a mysterious castle where she soon discovers that there’s more to her circumstances than meet the eye. When she makes a terrible mistake, she is forced with the most difficult decision of her life—return to the love and safety of her family or embark on a perilous journey to undo her wrongs and save the very creature that stole her away from her family in the first place.

My Reaction:

I always think twice before I give a book a 5/5 rating, but when I finished this book I couldn’t think of single thing wrong with it! Therefore, it earns a 5/5.

This book is based off of a fairytale called East of the Sun and West of the Moon, a fairytale I had never heard of before. However, it did remind me of other classic tales—Beauty and the Beast and Cupid and Psyche in particular. It also jogged my memory of a movie my sister used to like when we were kids. If I’m not mistaken, the movie is The Polar Bear King which is based off of the same fairytale. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale, so it really comes as no surprise to me that I would enjoy a book with similar themes (I’m not saying all Beauty and the Beast stories would earn a 5/5… I’ve read a couple that didn’t quite make the cut for me.). Part of what I enjoyed about it was how Edith Pattou incorporated some real history and landscape details. She clearly did her research as she developed this story.

The book is told from multiple points of view, which I know bothers some readers. Pattou pulls it off well, and it gives us glimpses of all aspects of the story. The readers get a more in depth tale through these different characters. I’d say the book is still predominately told by Rose, and I think that’s why the different perspectives work so well—there’s one leading voice that solidifies the story and keeps the reader on track. It also makes it a little bit quicker of a read, so don’t be daunted by 500+ pages.

This is a great take on a little known fairytale full of adventure, superstition, making amends, and the importance of love and family. I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down. I read it during every free moment!

Reader’s Guidance:

This book involves trolls who capture humans to use as slaves. Rose sees a troll kill a human. She also discovers that when humans outlive their usefulness they are left in a frozen wasteland to freeze to death. Neither of these situations was super graphic. I didn’t find the telling of them bothersome.

Similar Books:

Beauty by Robin McKinley – A retelling of Beauty and the Beast that is worth the read!

Next Book:

Gail Carson Levine recently released a new book, and I love me a good Gail Carson Levine book! Set in the same world as her award winning Ella Enchanted comes her brand new story, Ogre Enchanted!

Book VS Movie: A Wrinkle in Time

Some of you may remember my “Times the Movie was ActuallyBetter than the Book” post. I’ve decided to have a “Book Versus Movie” post on occasion. That doesn’t mean that the movie will be better. I can see some of you in my mind’s eye going, “Duh, the book is always better.” If that’s you, go read the aforementioned post.

To start off this series of posts, let’s talk about Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time. You may recall that I reread the first few books of the series in anticipation of the movie’s release. I had decent hopes for it, but ended up not seeing it in theaters because of all the bad things I was hearing about it. I finally watched it a few weeks ago (Thank you, Netflix), and while I don’t feel the need to be quite as critical as some comments I’ve read, this is definitely a case where the book was better than the movie.

I had a few hopes/expectations for this film:

• If nothing else, it would be pretty. The trailers seemed to promise that.
• It would be better than the made for TV version that Disney made in the early 2000’s. If you haven’t seen it, I would suggest that you don’t bother.
• It would be a decent representation of the book despite whatever changes the creators of the film chose to make.

A little side note: I’m not one of those people who will hate a movie just because it’s not a copy and paste format of the book. Some things that work better on the page don’t work in quite the same way on the screen. I also sometimes value the different choices made in telling the story because you can actually end up taking more out of a story by having the two forms of media working together.

That being said, the film just didn’t quite live up to its full potential. It’s evident that a lot of time, thought, and effort went into the film. It truly was beautiful to watch as far as settings and good use of CGI. There were some changes that I was totally fine with them making (the absence of Meg’s twin brothers, for example, as that would have taken extra time and potentially distracted the audience with two new faces that would really only be a part of the story for about a minute). There were some other changes that I wasn’t quite sure why they did it (Mrs. Whatsit turning into a giant lettuce lady comes to mind).

Whether you’re for or against the various changes from book to film (I won’t get into all of them), there was one thing that stuck out in my mind as I watched it. I felt like I didn’t truly know who these characters were, at least not from my movie watching experience. I knew who they were because I had read the book. There just seemed to be something lacking.

One example in particular involves Charles Wallace. As we head towards the climax of the story as told in the book, it is very clear that we each have strengths and flaws and that both of those things can either aid or inhibit us in certain situations. In the book, Charles Wallace is specifically warned upon their arrival at Camazotz, and it becomes blatantly clear why he was given that warning. Although he believes he’s doing what’s best, he ultimately is nearly lost to the darkness and has to be rescued. This sequence in the movie didn’t have quite the same effect, and I believe that’s because some of the dialogue and setup was either omitted or slightly changed.

While one of the overarching messages of the book is still present—Meg’s struggle with self-esteem while learning about her own strengths and flaws as well as the power of love—it still felt like we were missing some of the essence of the original story. There are some scenes they could have done differently, or even possibly cut, to make way for a deeper sense of connection with the characters.

The movie did some things well, but in the end, the book was the clear winner for me.

What are your thoughts? Is there anyone out there who liked the movie better? I promise I’ll still be your friend if that’s the case.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Rating: 5/5

Author: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Pages: 274

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

The war may be over, but the scars are still evident in the piles of rubble. Juliet Ashton, a writer met with some success with the release of her newest book, is looking for inspiration for her next book. It comes, although she doesn’t know it at first, when she receives a letter from a stranger with a simple request. What starts as a simple correspondence turns into a need to know what it was like on the island of Guernsey during the German occupation. Join Juliet as she meets the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, hears their stories, and learns how books gave them the strength to withstand the darkness of war.

My Reaction:

I was really hoping that I would love this book mostly because the preview for the Netflix adaptation made it seem like something I could potentially love. When I actually got it in my hands and started reading it, I was filled with a sense of dread that I’d set myself up to love something only to be met with disappointment. Don’t worry. This has a happy ending. I did give it 5/5 after all.

My apprehension came because the book is made up entirely of letters from the various characters. There’s no traditional sort of storytelling, if that’s what you want to call it. Instead, the story forms in your minds as you read these letters, most of which are from the main character, Juliet. I was afraid that this would be much too confusing and that there would be no way that I could keep track of who was who. Thankfully, I was wrong. It didn’t take long for me to get the main characters sorted, and I could follow the story easily. If you think this may be an issue for you, you may consider watching the movie first so you can put a face with the characters.

With my apprehension gone, I could fully delve into the story. It was one of those books that I didn’t want to put down! I loved hearing these character’s stories and how books gave them strength to make it through a very dark time in history. I’ve always enjoyed books that take place in the WWII time period. I think I must be a glutton for punishment because I know there’s going to be some part that will break my heart. This book was no exception, but I won’t tell you why. Spoilers, you know. But you also know that a book must be doing something right if your heart breaks for people you’ve never met and never will meet save on the pages of a book.

If you’re wondering how the book and movie compare, I’d say that the movie is a pretty fair adaptation. You miss certain aspects and characters as is prone to happen when you adapt a book to the screen, but the overall essence of the story was there. It was a good movie. I did enjoy the book a bit more just mostly because you have a chance to create a closer, more personal relationship with the characters.

Reader’s Guidance:

There is some mild language.

This does take place during the German occupation, so you can expect some mentions of brutality and what it was like at the concentration camps.

There is a mention of a brothel, but it’s only mentioned in a story where an islander would play tricks on German soldiers as they left the building and to mention that many of the women there had no choice—they were just more victims of war.

One of the characters is revealed to be homosexual. The lifestyle isn’t shown in any way. Juliet simply explains that this character is not a love interest for her because he’s homosexual.

Similar Books:

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

The Diary of Anne Frank

Goodnight Mr. Tom by Michelle Migorian

The Moon Bridge by Marcia Savin

Stepping on Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn

I could honestly keep going with a list of books that take place during this era. I keep thinking of them even as I write this very sentence! I’m making myself stop at five books though. I wasn’t lying when I said I’m drawn to these sorts of books. Each of these offer a little different perspective during a very difficult time in our world’s history.

The first two books, The Hiding Place and The Diary of Anne Frank are both firsthand accounts of the WWII era. Anne Frank, as you know, was forced into hiding because she was a Jew. Corrie Ten Boom was sent to a concentration camp for helping to hide Jews.

Good Night Mr. Tom follows an older gentleman and the boy who his sent to his home to live for a time. Just like many children in Britain, the boy was sent away from his own home for his protection from the bombings.

It’s been a very long time since I read The Moon Bridge, but the thing I remember about it is that it takes place in America and deals with the treatment of the Japanese living there after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Stepping on Cracks follows two young, American girls whose brothers are both fighting in the war.

Next Book:

It was recommended to me the other day that I should read East by Edith Pattou. I had never heard of it until that point, but it sounds like it may just be my cup of tea! So I’ll be reading it without further ado!

Gossamer

Title: Gossamer

Rating: 4/5

Author: LoisLowry

Pages: 140

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Synopsis:

Have you ever wondered where your dreams come from? Or what dark creatures are lurking out there, waiting for the perfect opportunity to turn your dream into a nightmare?

Littlest One is working hard at her training. Everyone knows that bestowing dreams is not something to be taken lightly. It’s a delicate process, and there are risks involved. If that weren’t enough, her job gets a whole lot harder when a troubled young boy comes to stay at the home where’s she’s been training, a boy who’s nights are often filled with nightmares.

My Reaction:

This was a quick read, but a good one. Once I'd finished, I almost felt like there should be more, but at the same time I thought, "That was just enough." The story explores the answer to the question, "Where do dreams come from?" It illustrates how dreams can give us much needed comfort and strength in the face of harsh realities. Beyond that, it also shows how even though parts of life are bad, that doesn't mean it's ALL bad. We can overcome our negative circumstances and become more than the bad things that have happened to us. It's a sweet, sometimes heart wrenching, story with just a touch of fantasy.

Reader’s Guidance:

This book deals with domestic violence and child abuse. Most of the time there are just hints at it based on the things the young boy says. There is one experience where the boy goes into more detail, which involves him being forced to eat dog food as a punishment.

Similar Books:

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson was the first book to come to mind. I believe I’ve mentioned it on the blog before. The main character is a girl who has been passed around to various foster homes. Her attitude and life experiences reminded me of the boy in Gossamer.

Next Book:

I got my hands on a copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! How can I not read a book with a title like that?

Fall, Hobbits, and Lembas Bread

It has been far too long since I have done a baking post! Time to fix that.

In case you haven't noticed, it's Fall! Everyone knows that Fall is the perfect time for baking (so is Winter, Spring, and Summer for that matter). It's also a perfect time to remember our dear friends Frodo and Bilbo Baggins. Last weekend was Hobbit day. If you think I'm making that up, I'm not. In honor of that and baking, I'm going to share with you a not so secret recipe passed down by elves for millennia. It's the recipe for lembas bread--that stuff that can fill a grown man after one bite, but not a hungry hobbit apparently.




I've seen this recipe multiple places around the internet, so I don't feel bad sharing it. I honestly don't even know what the original source was! However, I have made it a few times, and I rather enjoy it. It's probably not very authentic, especially since I like to sneak a dab of whipped cream for the perfect finishing touch. Just don't tell the elves.

It's very much like making scones, and the texture is similar also. One bite is definitely not enough to fill a grown man's stomach, but it's tasty!

Lembas Bread

Ingredients:

 2 ½ cups of flour

1 tablespoon of baking powder

¼ teaspoon of salt

½ cup of butter

1/3 cup of brown sugar

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

½ teaspoon honey

2/3 cup of heavy whipping cream

½ teaspoon of vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Add the butter and mix with a well till fine granules (easiest way is with an electric mixer). Then add the sugar and cinnamon, and mix them thoroughly.

2. Finally add the cream, honey, and vanilla and stir them in with a fork until a nice, thick dough forms.

3. Roll the dough out about ½ in thickness. Cut out 3-inch squares and transfer the dough to a cookie sheet.Criss-cross each square from corner-to-corner with a knife, lightly (not cutting through the dough).

4. Bake for about 12 minutes or more (depending on the thickness of the bread) until it is set and lightly golden.

Ignore this one's strange deformity.

***Let cool completely before eating, this bread tastes better room temperature and dry. Also for more flavor you can add more cinnamon or other spices***

I think the only thing that could have made these more complete is if I had wrapped them all fancy like in some leaves. And then perhaps I could have taken them on a long journey to new lands, never knowing if I'll ever return... Or I could just eat them.

Thanks for sharing some of your Fall treats with me on Facebook! I'm dying to make some pumpkin sheet cake, which I actually haven't done in many years. If you take a stab at making lembas bread, let me know. Share pictures even! I can't be the only one partaking in baking fun.

Happy Belated Hobbit Day!