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!

The Mysterious Benedict Society

I meant to share this lovely post with all of you last Friday. Obviously that didn't happen. Then I thought, "I'll just do it next Friday." So, obviously, I'm sharing it on Thursday. I just want to keep you on your toes.

Guys, we're only a few days away from it officially being Fall! Don't be surprised if I start sharing some Fall baking because I haven't posted any baking in awhile. Also, we're only a few days away from Hobbit Day! It's a pretty big deal. If you're a nerd. I should make some lembas to celebrate, and yes, I do actually have a go to recipe for lembas. I am one of those nerds.

So, if we were going to have an in person session of The Book Club of Destiny and you were going to bring one lovely Fall themed baked good to share, what would it be?

And now, without further ado, I give you The Mysterious Benedict Society!

Title: The Mysterious Benedict Society

Rating: 4/5

Author: Trenton Lee Stewart

Pages: 485

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Synopsis:

“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?”

How can any child resist such a tempting newspaper ad? If they choose to participate, the must undergo a series of unusual, mind-bending tests to see if they qualify for—well, it’s not quite clear what the results will bring. Even with dozens of children showing up to complete these series of tests, only four are found worthy to proceed. They soon learn that there’s terrible danger at hand, and only they can stop it and save the world.

My Reaction:

Adventurous, intelligent, and stressing the importance of our own individual strengths, The Mysterious Benedict Society is an adventure worth embarking on.

The story holds some unique concepts and has a few twists that I didn’t see coming. Each character is individual and well crafted. They feel like children you could actually meet in real life. They each have their own strengths, weaknesses, and view points, and it’s only by working together as a team that they can complete their seemingly impossible task. This major plot point was something I thoroughly enjoyed. It reminds me that everyone has something good to provide to a situation. It was also a good reminder that we sometimes neglect to see the value or importance of an individual. Every one of our four main children are essential to success, even if they can’t always see how. It’s only in the end that we see how each of them would play a necessary part.

Full of action, adventure, and a bit of mystery, I enjoyed this story more than others that it reminded me of. The major difference is that I felt that The Mysterious Benedict Society could transition well to older readers, even adult readers, better than some others that seem to fit mostly within a certain young age range. I could see this as a fun adventure for parents and children to enjoy together.

Although there are more books in the series, I felt that this book also does well as a standalone book if you don’t quite feel like investing in a whole series at present.

Reader’s Guidance:

There is one light scuffle between one of the main characters and some other kids, but nothing major.

I wasn’t bothered by any content of the book.

Similar Books:

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

This story has a few more fantastical elements to it in that eating candy gives you special abilities. This is another story filled with adventure and mystery.

Next Book:

I’ve read a good handful of books by Lois Lowry (author of The Giver), but I realized there’s one on my shelf that I still haven’t read. Next up is Gossamer!

There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale

Title: There and Back Again: An Actor’s Tale

Rating: 4/5

Author: Sean Astin with Joe Layden

Pages: 308

Genre: Nonfiction/Autobiography

Synopsis:

From the moment Sean Astin heard that he would have the chance to audition for a role in Peter Jackson's newest project, The Lord of the Rings, he knew that he absolutely had to be a part of it. He didn't realize just how life changing the experience would be.

Follow Sean Astin as he reflects on the road that led him to this amazing opportunity and what it was like to bring Tolkien's Samwise Gamgee to life.

My Reaction:

There and Back Again wasn’t 100% what I expected. Even so, it kept me interested and engaged. To be honest, I’ve been feeling like I’ve been in a bit of a reading rut. Even though I’ve given good reviews, and the books deserved it, I’ve also struggled to actually want to read and finish some of the recent books. It’s nothing against the books. Sometimes you just get into a rut. I felt like this book finally got me out of it. I was genuinely interested in reading again and wanted to sneak in a few pages whenever I could.

Overall, the book did appeal to my love for a glance at the behind the scene world of cinema that I mentioned in my last post. However, there were just a couple of small things that for me docked it a point. First of all, I’m not a fan of language in my books. There are a couple words I’ll let author’s get away with, but when they start straying towards more offensive language I’d rather that was left out entirely. I know not everyone feels that way, so this wouldn’t bother you in the least. It’s not like there’s profanity on every single page (there are 308 after all), but he definitely used the f-bomb far more than I appreciate—9 times to be exact. Granted, most of those times he was quoting other people, but I’m still not a fan. There was some other language in there, most prominently the use of the “s” word, but again, if that doesn’t bother you then this isn’t an issue.

The second thing that brought it down a point is the simple fact that I wanted more. You would think 308 pages would be enough to completely satisfy my inner Lord of the Rings fan; however, Astin’s book is more of a commentary and reflection of what it is to be an actor, Astin’s own personal insecurities and faults, with a little bit of specific experiences from the making of the films. I will give him some credit, as he made me realize that perhaps it’s a good thing I never pursued acting like I considered once upon a time as my own personal insecurities would probably have been quite the hardship for me. Essentially, even though the book was mostly compelling and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing his firsthand account of the experience and what it was like to work with certain actors, the writing sometimes felt long winded or repetitive, and I really would have liked some more specifics about what it was like to film certain scenes. He does give some specifics, which were great, I just wanted more.

Overall, it’s still worth a read for any Lord of the Rings fan especially if you enjoy a look behind the scenes.

Reader’s Guidance:

As mentioned above, there is some language through out the book.

Similar Books:

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden

I absolutely loved this book. I read it before I started this blog, but I would give it a 5/5. If you're a fan of The Princess Bride then you definitely need to check this book out!

Next Book:

I'm one of those people who buys books faster than I read them. I have a bunch of unread books and yet I still buy more or get some from the library, and that's how I get books like There and Back Again which sat on my shelf begging to be read since 2004. Therefore, to choose my next book, I scanned my shelves for a book a haven't read. The book that begged to be read the loudest was The Mysterious Benedict Society. 

What is the Mysterious Benedict Society, and what makes it so mysterious? I have no idea! Let's find out together! Happy reading!

The Next Book

Guess what, guys! I picked another book to read! Huzzah!

Logically, you'd think I would pick the next book in the Anne of Green Gables series, but that's not what I did. Also, many thanks for the suggestions you gave me! If nothing else, I learned that I definitely need to give Brandon Sanderson a try at some point because his books have now been recommended to me by numerous people.

Don't be offended when I tell you that I didn't pick any of your suggestions, and it's not because I didn't think they were good ones. In fact, the ones I hadn't already read are now on my to-read list on Goodreads so I won't forget. However, fate brought me and this book together. I can't fight against fate!

Here's what happened.

The other day I was tidying up my office. Organization isn't always my best skill in some regards. In some aspects of my life, I want things organized in a specific way, and I want it to stay that way. Everything else has a tendency to spread wildly across the floor and stay that way for some time. Well, I knew something had to be done because, ironically, I actually hate it when a space gets THAT cluttered. And I knew that it was probably driving my husband nuts even though he never said anything. He's much more organized with his space than I am.

As I was cleaning and rearranging a bookshelf, I found myself holding a book that has been in my possession since 2004, and yet I've never read it! I'm sure I have plenty of books in a similar situation on my shelves, but what surprises me about this book is that I was so into The Lord of the Rings at the time. (I still think it's amazing, by the way.)

The book is There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale by none other than Sean Astin who plays Samwise Gamgee. I love behind the scenes stuff whether it be for movies, plays, Disneyland rides, etc. (I seriously have a couple of books devoted to the making of the Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion rides). I really enjoy seeing how things were accomplished and hearing first hand accounts of the experience. The last book I read that fits into this genre is As You Wish by Cary Elwes all about the making of The Princess Bride. I thoroughly enjoyed that one, so if you're a Princess Bride fan, you should definitely pick it up.

With my interest piqued, and suddenly finding myself 75 pages in, it was the clear choice for my next book. It's only been over a decade since the last movie/this book came out. Better late than never!

Anne of Green Gables

I'm not going to lie. I've kind of been procrastinating writing this blog post. I finished reading Anne of Green Gables some time last week, and I've had plenty of time to write a post about it. Even now, I've been letting myself get distracted by Facebook and also a little bit by my husband playing Battlefront 2. As for the rest of the week, I've mostly been catching up on year's worth of scrapbooking, re-watching episodes of The Office, and spending hours in family history research because that's a thing I do. Oh, and cuddling with my cat. All very important things, especially that last one.

It should be noted that I did enjoy reading Anne's story. I feel like her story is only just beginning (which makes sense as there are like eight books in the series). I'll definitely have to get my hands on the other books.

Title: Anne of Green Gables

Rating: 4/5

Author: L. M. Montgomery

Genre: Classic/Children's

Synopsis:

Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert are siblings who manage the family farm of Green Gables. They are getting older and could use a little help around the place, so they decide to adopt a young orphan boy. They're about to get more than they bargained for when they get Anne Shirley instead, a spirited girl with her head up in the clouds. Anne has a knack for getting herself in to trouble, and Marilla wonders if she'll ever be able to raise her into a respectable young women.

My Reaction:

I didn't really have any specific expectations for this book. All I new about it was that it was adapted into a movie back in the 80's and that there's currently an adaptation of it on Netflix. I know people who are a fan of the 80's film, which is part of what sparked my curiosity in the book in the first place. Now that I've read the book, I can see how a movie adaptation would be wonderful, so I may have to find a way to watch it and see what I think.

But back to the book.

Anne Shirley certainly brought a smile to my face. Corey, who grew up with the movie rendition, said that I actually reminded him of her. Apparently I also have a flair for the dramatic on occasion. Ha! She has a wild imagination and is extremely talkative. It's quite entertaining to see her way of thinking and how it gets her into trouble so often. But the other great thing about Anne is that we get to see her grow and mature. And while there are some attributes that I agree Anne and I have in common, Anne also reminded me of some young girls that I know. This made Anne seem even more real, and it made reading her adventures even more entertaining.

I loved Anne's spunk, imagination, and knack for getting into trouble! This was a very enjoyable book and a great start to the series. I look forward to reading more of Anne's story in the future.

Reader’s Guidance:

Nothing to fear.

Similar Books:

Other classics that explore everyday challenges and the challenges that come with growing up. Perhaps something like Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.

Next Book:

Guys, I can't decide! Do I read the next book in the Anne of Green Gables series? I'm interested in reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but unfortunately, so is everyone else apparently as all the copies are checked out of the library. Curses! I also received a copy of the third book of the Sheer Power series in the mail the other day. I could read that. Or do I just read something completely different entirely? I can't make up my mind, so I'm enlisting you to make up my mind for me. You should feel honored.

What book do you think I should read next? Give me a good one 😃

Second Chances

Some of you may have noticed that yesterday I shared a post someone had written about how they felt that the books they'd read and hated actually had a huge impact on them as a reader. This is the sort of person that can't stop reading a book even if they find it lacking.

I'm not that sort of person...usually.

There are multiple books that I describe thus, "Oh, yeah! I started that book once! Never did finish it..." That's not the majority of the books I pick up, but it happens. There are various reasons why that scenario takes place, not just because it was less than enjoyable, but that's the aspect we're going to focus on. In most cases when I'm not thrilled with a booked if I don't stop reading it it's because a) it's for a class assignment or b) a friend suggested it or let me borrow it and I don't have the heart to tell them I don't quite love it as much as they do.

But here's the thing--sometimes books need second chances. I'm not saying ALL books need second chances. Your reading instincts will let you know when you really should maybe look elsewhere for your reading fulfillment instead of retrying that one book you tried to read that one time. Our tastes change over time. Also, there are some books that we might not have been ready for the first time we were introduced to them.

There are two books in particular of which I feel very differently about now than I did when I first read them (in a good way, not a "how did I ever enjoy this" way). I'm pretty sure I've even mentioned them before in previous posts. They are The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I often say they are two of my favorite books, but it wasn't always that way.

In both cases I had to read the books for school. I was in middle school when I first read them, and I thought they were awful! And it wasn't even the older style of language or writing that bothered me. There were certain aspects of the story or the storytelling itself that drove me nuts. The major complaints I remember having were Tolkien's multiple allusions to things that would happen in the future and Darcy's uncanny, yet convenient, way of showing up ALL THE TIME! The funny thing is that those things don't bug me at all now. In fact, I actually love that particular detail of The Hobbit. 

Another funny thing about this scenario is that the whole reason I gave them a second chance was because they were once again assigned to me as school assignments. And on the second reading, I loved them! (Actually, it took me a third reading of The Hobbit to realize how much I loved it. Apparently I had multiple Tolkien fans for teachers.)

The point is this:

Maybe you gave up on a certain book too soon.

Maybe you weren't in the right place to enjoy a potential favorite book.

Or maybe you'll still hate it no matter how many times you read it...

So, have any of you had similar experiences? Are there books you'd like to give a second chance? Or are you like Mr. Darcy in that "[your] good opinion once lost is lost forever?"

The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

Title: The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

Rating: 4/5

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Pages: 385

Genre: Children’s Fantasy

Synopsis:

Peregrine has always strived to make her parents proud by being the best Lakti she can be. She trains hard, is one of the fastest runners around, and is full of bravery—the complete opposite of the Bamarre servants in the castle who everyone knows are weak and cowardly. But there’s only one problem with all of her efforts—Peregrine isn’t a Lakti but a Bamarre. With this new knowledge, Peregrine has a difficult choice to make—she can keep it all a secret and let things continue as normal, or she can complete a daunting task given to her by the fairy Halina to free her people from oppression.

My Reaction:

If you’ve ever read and enjoyed any other of Gail Carson’s Levine’s books, you’ll enjoy this one as well. If you haven’t read anything by Gail Carson Levine, you should!

On the back cover, the book is described as “a compelling and thought-provoking fantasy,” and I think I have to agree with that statement. It’s thought provoking in that it deals a lot with prejudice and overcoming certain mindsets. I kept thinking as I read this story that this is such a good book for some of the things you can see in the world right now.

Peregrine is an amazing heroine. She’s strong, bold, speaks her mind, can get herself out of tricky situations, but it takes a major eye opening moment—the revelation that she’s actually a Bamarre and not a Lakti—for her to recognize her own prejudice and the prejudices of others. What gives this story a bit of a heart-wrenching element is that she also has to come face to face with the mindsets and prejudices of her own parents, both adopted and biological. The stark contrast between her adoptive father’s reactions versus her adoptive mother’s reactions are fascinating in that we can see two possible outcomes from people with similar backgrounds and beliefs. Through her parents we can see two sides of the coin—the ill effects of prejudice versus the benefits of overcoming prejudice.

The other thing that is so great about Peregrine is that even she has her weaknesses to overcome. She gains wisdom through her experiences and can then be hugely influential in aiding an oppressed people.

Reader’s Guidance:

There are elements of war and oppression in this story. There are a couple of deaths mentioned, mostly by way of stabbing. There’s some slapping of inferiors that happens. There’s also one scene where a man is flogged.

Similar Books:

The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Next Book:

One book I’ve been meaning to read for awhile now is Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I know some people who are a fan of the TV miniseries from the 80’s. I’ve never seen it myself, but it’s gotten me interested in the story itself. I know there’s quite a few books in the series, but for now we’ll just worry about book one.

Happy reading!