War and Peace

We had book club on Friday and I have to say, most of the time that's my favorite day of the month.  Seriously.  You could not meet a better group of girls. 

And we're girls who are serious about books!  I've heard a lot of book clubs gather simply so that the group can talk and eat/drink for one night per month.  No husbands or babies allowed (though we do allow babies in ours from time to time, heehee!).

We do plenty of that too, but when it's time to talk books...we're serious and listen to each and every person go through their bag of books. (I've mentioned before that we don't all read the same book every month, rather each person gets to talk about every book they read and offer to rotate it through the club if there's any interest.)

Well, about halfway through book club this time, my friend Kelsie took a pic of some of our rotation.  We're definitely an eclectic bunch!

Today I wanted to talk about the book in this pile that's mine, the third from the top.  War and Peace.  You remember how I mentioned last week that I had a super intense book that required some fluffy, palate-cleansing side reading?  Yea, this one was it.

War and Peace is one of those books that works it's way into everyday conversation simply because eeeeveryone has heard of it.  In fact, David and I were watching an old Seinfeld rerun the other day and Elaine was talking about it (War, what's it good for?).

In case you're unaware and curious as to the plot, War and Peace is the story of five interconnected families in Russia spanning the French invasion of Russian as well as the Napoleonic era and the peaceful times surrounding those.  It's extremely intense and long...in fact, War and Peace is almost unanimously certified as the longest novel ever written.

I really enjoyed the story, but I will say that I was super glad to finish it simply because of the length.  I actually listened to it via audiobook (through my library app) and kept the character log open at all times.  And if you want to try this, I would definitely recommend having a fantastic character log.  My particular copy (the one pictured) had a wonderfully detailed one and I don't know what I would have done without it.  Plus, having to check this book out with the library, I only had two weeks with it.  That pushed me to finish it quickly, unlike when I read on Anna Karenina for approximately six months.  This was a much better experience.

Needless to say, War and Peace is fantastic and I highly recommend it.  But, you do need to be prepared to dedicate a certain amount of time to reading it and also on being an active reader (constantly checking the character log throughout).  There's no "zoning out" on this one.  Let me know if you decide to give this one a go!

Friday Harbor Series

I know you must be thinking, "Man, this girl really likes Lisa Kleypas!"  Well, you'd be right...along with about half of my book club.  We've actually started using a term to describe her books, a "Kleypas cleanser."  I've referred to this many times about how I need a palate cleanser between reading serious or intense literature (...regarding my most recent intense book that sparked the reading of this series, I'll give you a review of it later this week).  With Kleypas, you always know what's going to happen: the couple is going to get together in the end.  But, it's almost always an enjoyable experience to read your way through, hence a nice palate-cleansing read. 

This series, Friday Harbor, is Kleypas' most recent and her second contemporary series.  It also throws in a smidge of witch craft and ghosts (only in books 2-4).  While this series is still worth the read, I didn't think it was quite up to Kleypas' usual standards.  There's supposed to be a fifth book coming out soon, and I'll definitely read it too.  But, if I were to give Lisa Kleypas some advice, I'd tell her to stay with her historical fiction niche.  That's her forte and where I really enjoy her writing style.

Silver Screen Chick Lit

A certain percentage of the huge stack o' books that I got from my great-great aunt's house were those that had been converted from chick lit into chick flicks.  Recently, I've plowed through a few of them...all of them being quick and easy reads.  Each of these was like reconnecting with an old friend that you haven't talked to in a long, long time. 

First up, Where the Heart Is.  I love this movie...and I think it might have been Natalie Portman's first big movie.  I might hold it in a little extra regard simply because the vast majority of it takes place in Oklahoma too.  This one is excellently adapted from book to movie, with the book having a few extra details throughout.  No major parts were altered, so if you enjoyed the movie, then you'd also enjoy the book.

Next, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. This is actually the middle book in a trilogy and I went ahead and read the first (Little Altars Everywhere) and the last (Ya-Ya's in Bloom) books as well.  The verdict?  Just read Divine Secrets...the other two don't give you any extra backing for the story and I didn't particularly enjoy them.  There are a few major points that are different in Divine Secrets the book, but the main basis/theme of the story is the same in movie and book.

Third...The Notebook.  How, oh how, have I never read this?  I'm not sure.  But, this book is truly a joy to read.  I know that Nicholas Sparks is a supremely sappy author and you always feel manipulated into tears by the end.  However, I knew that going in...I've seen the movie many times...and it was a real joy to read this one.  There are certain scenes in the book that aren't as gritty as they are in the movie, which I appreciated.  A while back I also read The Wedding, which is a semi-sequel to this one...for my review of that book too, click here.

Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake

This past week has been a bit hectic.  But, this past weekend was fun and we got to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday.  Of course, my first question was what dessert to make...duh.  Both David and his sister informed me that their dad's favorite was chocolate cake with chocolate icing or frosting.  What's the difference between icing and frosting?  I don't think there is one.  Regardless, doesn't this cake look scrumptious?



This recipe is verrrry rich, almost like a dark chocolate because there's so much cocoa in it.  You'll need a big glass of milk (or a dollop of vanilla ice cream) to wash it down.

Here's the recipe!

Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake

Cake:

2 cups sugar

1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa

1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil (I always use canola)
2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine dry ingredients in large bowl.  Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla.  Beat for 2 minutes on medium speed.  Stir in boiling water. (Batter will be thin.)  Pour into two 9" round greased and floured pans. (I never flour mine, just spray the heck out of 'em.)

Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Cool ten minutes.  Remove from pans to wire rack. 

Cool completely.

Frost.

Frosting:

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine
2/3 cup Hershey's cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt butter. 

Stir in cocoa.

Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating on medium speed to spreading consistency.  Add more milk if needed.  Add vanilla.

I will definitely be utilizing this recipe again!  This was such a big hit that, as of lunch today, this is all that's left.  Anyone else raid their mother's kitchen for awesome 70's era Tupperware?  Oh...just me?  I guess I'm just cool like that.

One Thousand White Women

One Thousand White Women is a historical fiction novel that's made it's way around my book club.  The premise is actually quite interesting because it takes an extremely obscure piece of history and plays that old game of "what if?" 

Supposedly, in the late 1800s, a Cheyenne chief approached the president requesting one thousand white women to assimilate into their tribes.  This chief knew the importance of the Indians adjusting their communities to work well with white men.  So, he came up with this fantastic idea.  And the president essentially laughed in his face, in real life. 

This book explores the "what if" of one thousand white women going to live with the Indians and helping them learn and adjust to the white man's ways.  The book is written like a journal by one of the women who would have taken this journey, May Dodd. 

This was a well written story, but I just never really connected with the main character.  Sometimes I find it hard to connect with a female lead character that is written by a man.  There were some instances in this book that I thought May Dodd's reactions to were a bit...unrealistic.  However, I still enjoyed the book and gave it three out of five stars.  Now, would I recommend this one?  I'm on the fence about that...it's OK, but I'm not going to be running out and singing it's praises.

Happy Friday

On this beautiful Friday I thought I'd share a few of my thoughts on this and that (including a couple book review updates).

First off, I saw this picture of the "Infinity of Knowledge," located in the Prague Municipal Library, on Pinterest this morning and...oh-em-gee, love!

Speaking of Prague.  I recently finished this book, which happens to center around a teenage girl from Prague.

Days of Blood and Starlight is the second book from the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, with the third book coming out sometime in 2014.  If you'd like to read my review of the first book, you can click here.  I feel about the same way for this book that I did the first...a little hyped up, but still good.  I'm glad that Karou finally discovers what her role in the war between angels and chimaera is.  This is not shaping up to be my favorite trilogy, but it's still worth the time to read and enjoy.  Just don't expect it to wow you like Twilight, Hunger Games, etc.

Speaking of mystical fictional YA reading, I finally read Beautiful Creatures as well.

This is another one that's been built up and up and up...and I thought it was just OK.  I will definitely continue reading this series, in fact I'm wait-listed on my library app for the second book.  However, this is another series that I would suggest not going into with high expectations.  It's good, but not the best.

Another another note, I also watched the movie.  I was forewarned that the movie is verrrry different from the book.  And I'm glad I was told that going in...because it is.  I'm not sure what their reasoning was in changing things up so much, but I'm hoping to be enlightened with the second book, perhaps?  I remember that the Swedish version of the Millennium series (aka the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series) had some things occur in the first movie that were actually from the second book.  Luckily, I'd read them all the way through when watching those movies, so it didn't bother me. 

Random subject change: who wants to buy me this t-shirt?  Because it's soooo me!

Seriously though, I'll probably be adding this to my cart here pretty soon.  I don't care if summer is already over half over.

In other news, our tomato plants have been stinking it up this year.  I mean, we've gotten one lousy tomato and the two plants are ginormous with tons of blooms.  Thoughts?  Suggestions?  But, that one tomato really wasn't lousy...in fact, it was delicious and red alllll the way though.  I enjoyed it so, so, very much.

Also, Molly totally face planted in her bed last night.  It always cracks us up when she does that.  What's even funnier is when she's lying like this and her right ear is sticking straight up because of the way she's lying on it.  Ahhh, pets.  They're more than just companionship, they're also comedic relief.

Happy Friday all, and I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Lone Survivor

I received a very exciting text message from one of my favorite people, Nicole, this morning.  My absolute favorite auto-biography has been made into a movie and will be coming out in January!

If you've ever looked at my favorite books tab, you've seen Lone Survivor listed under my favorite non-fiction books...for, like, a long time.

Oddly enough, this book actually came to me from my husband, David, who is a pacifist.  Marcus Luttrell came to give a talk at David's previous employer and gave each employee a copy of his book.  David came home that night, after watching this guy speak, and said, "You've got to read this.  This guy's story is amazing." 

Amazing doesn't even begin to describe it.

I loved this book and, literally, cannot wait to see this grace the silver screen.  Though, I know I'll be balling like a baby in the end.  I cried for the last 50-100 pages and if you intend to read it (or watch it in January), be sure to grab some tissue.  I'll just say this once, there's a reason why the title is lone survivor.