Booking It December

I thought I would wrap up my year with one more review. Here is my Booking It Report for December.

Well, I had been waiting a long time for the book Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Newell Jr.  IT explores the mysterious life of Huguette Clark.  I thought it was an awesome look at Huguette Clark's life.

When Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Bill Dedman noticed in 2009 a grand home for sale, unoccupied for nearly sixty years, he stumbled through a surprising portal into American history. Empty Mansions is a rich mystery of wealth and loss, connecting the Gilded Age opulence of the nineteenth century with a twenty-first-century battle over a $300 million inheritance. At its heart is a reclusive heiress named Huguette Clark, a woman so secretive that, at the time of her death at age 104, no new photograph of her had been seen in decades. Though she owned palatial homes in California, New York, and Connecticut, why had she lived for twenty years in a simple hospital room, despite being in excellent health? Why were her valuables being sold off? Was she in control of her fortune, or controlled by those managing her money? - Amazon


I was intrigued by her story. Yes Huguette Clark was eccentric but not crazy.  Huguette loved privacy. I think this book did a lot to clarify that she wasn't crazy.  A lot of her behavior reminds me of my son who Asperger's - intense special interests, limited social circle.  I believe the hospital should of done more to find out what was going in her emotional world.  She lived for 20 years in a hospital but she wasn't sick. Did she have Asperger's?  I feel the hospital shouldn't of just allowed her to remain there.  I also feel bad that she felt she needed to pay everyone. There wasn't one person in her inner circle that was just a friend.  I like the quote , "Huguette was a formidable personality who lived life as she wanted, always on her own terms."

November Booking IT

The days are getting darker and busier but this is the time of the year when I just need to read. Reading is my guilty pleasure and one I always seem to make time for. I am linking up with Life as Mom Booking IT.  Over at Life as Mom they are sharing their favorite books from 2013. I am not quite ready to do that.

Oh my this book hooked me, The Girl You Left Behind by Jo Jo Moyes. 

France, 1916: Artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his young wife, Sophie, to fight at the front. When their small town falls to the Germans in the midst of World War I, Edouard’s portrait of Sophie draws the eye of the new Kommandant. As the officer’s dangerous obsession deepens, Sophie will risk everything—her family, her reputation, and her life—to see her husband again.
Almost a century later, Sophie’s portrait is given to Liv Halston by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. A chance encounter reveals the painting’s true worth, and a battle begins for who its legitimate owner is—putting Liv’s belief in what is right to the ultimate test. - description from Amazon 
I so engrossed in the Sophie story that I didn't want to switch  to the present day and Liv.  You just want to know what happened to Sophie but I got over it.  However, I really enjoyed this one.

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Gilman is a travel book/coming of age book.

In 1986, fresh out of college, Gilman and her friend Claire yearned to do something daring and original that did not involve getting a job. Inspired by a place mat at the International House of Pancakes, they decided to embark on an ambitious trip around the globe, starting in the People's Republic of China. At that point, China had been open to independent travelers for roughly ten minutes.

 Armed only with the collected works of Nietzsche, an astrological love guide, and an arsenal of bravado, the two friends plunged into the dusty streets of Shanghai. Unsurprisingly, they quickly found themselves in over their heads. As they ventured off the map deep into Chinese territory, they were stripped of everything familiar and forced to confront their limitations amid culture shock and government surveillance. What began as a journey full of humor, eroticism, and enlightenment grew increasingly sinister-becoming a real-life international thriller that transformed them forever.- description from AmazonAt the beginning I wasn't sure if this was a book I wanted to continue.  I was just kinda irritated with these American travelers but as this adventure unfolded I became more engaged in the story.  I don't know how I would handled my friend/travel partner coming mentally undone.  Once again, I am reminded of the kindness of strangers and how I have been a recipient so many times.

Lastly, I read The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz.  This book made me hungry.  I found David's observations about Parisians interesting. 

Booking it October

I am linking up with Life as Mom and Booking It 2013. They are reviewing Mr Penurumba's 24 Hour Book Store.  I read that several months ago and Here is my really small review.  The ladies over at Life as Mom are calling it a cross between Harry Potter and National Treasure.  I agree. Listed below are some of my reads for October

I read The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin. 

In her stunningly original and haunting debut novel, Amanda Coplin evokes a powerful sense of place, mixing tenderness and violence as she spins an engrossing tale of a solitary orchardist who provides shelter to two runaway teenage girls in the untamed American West, and the dramatic consequences of his actions.- from Amazon

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It is getting a lot of buzz in my current home state of Washington because it is set in Eastern Washington.  This book kept me reading.  I am not sure if I liked the ending.  I am not sure anything was really resolved and that left me feeling cheated out of the ending I thought it deserved.   The writing was beautiful.

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline was another book I read.  I thought it was really enjoyable and not a difficult read. IT even made me cry.  The conditions orphans faced back in the day were truly awful. Orphans were treated as indentured servants and not children.
Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to “aging out” out of the foster care system. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse...

As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.

Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life – answers that will ultimately free them both. - Amazon

The orphan trains are fascinating bit of history as well.  My book contained some historical perspective about the trains in the back of the book.This also hit near home because of the Hanna Williams case where an adopted child was starved to death. Her adopted parents are awaiting sentencing this week on Tuesday. This happened in the next county over. Have we come that far? Ophans still don't seem to have many protections.

How Children Succeed by Paul Tough - To be quite honest, I am not real sure why I picked this book to read.  The sub title is Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character.  Lots of thought provoking information in the book.  I found some of the statistics in the book interesting.  Like a high GPA is the most likely to indicate success in college rather than IQ.  That the US has the one of the highest rates of sending kids to college but one of the lowest completion rates. That a poor fit for college, as in not challenging enough, is one of the main reasons kids drop out of college. The book talked a lot about how it is important to have motivation and volition to be successful. That teaching character is challenging to kids. I do have a new quote and it applies more to me than my children - " You have to motivation and volition.  You can have all the motivation in the world but if you don't have the will power.  You won't be successful.

September Booking It

I am linking up with Life as Mom and the 2013 Booking It.

I read 52 Loaves - A Half -Baked Adventure by William Alexander.  William Alexander was also the author of The $64 Tomato.  I thought it was a wonderful book.  William baked a loaf of bread - peasant loaf once a week for the entire year.  He was after the perfect loaf but along the way discovered a lot about bread and himself.  I learned that flour has additives in order to prevent pellagra.  His quest also lead him to France to teach some monks to bake bread.  The book made me want to renew my interest in baking bread beyond my breadmaker.  It also reminded me of my favorite loaf of sourdough from a local bakery.

I fell victim to the Hot Picks shelf at the library once again.  I picked up Shelter by Frances Greenslade. It reminded me somewhat of  This Life is in Your Hands by Melissa Coleman.  It was about two sisters basically abandoned by their mother.  Some sensitive subjects are covered. It was set in Canada.  It was ok for me.

Lastly, I read the bonnet novel Leaving Lancaster by Kate Lloyd. I don't recommend it.  It was just a little too contrived.  I think there are better bonnet novels.

Booking It August

Check out what everyone else read at Life as Mom. This past month I read a couple books.  It was more quality than quantity.

I read Salt to Summit by Daniel Arnold.  It was a story about a hike through Death Valley to Mount Whitney.  The author discusses what he was thinking about as he crossed this vast landscape.  He weaves the history of Death Valley into his narrative.  It was a fascinating read.  The writing about the landscape makes you feel like you are right there.

I also picked up Mr. Penumbra's 24 Bookstore by Robin Sloan.  I don't know how this quirky book got on my list but I am glad it did.  This book kept me guessing and reading.

A gleeful and exhilarating tale of global conspiracy, complex code-breaking, high-tech data visualization, young love, rollicking adventure, and the secret to eternal life—mostly set in a hole-in-the-wall San Francisco bookstore.  (Amazon)

Lastly, I read Eighteen Acres by Nicolle Wallace.  Eighteen Acres refers to the 18 acres the White House sits on.  This totally fiction book follows 3 powerful woman in Washington including a woman President.  This book reminded me a lot of the TV series Scandal for some reason.  I thought it was a decent read.

Booking It 2013 - June

I am linking up with Life as Mom Booking it 2013. Check out what everyone is reading.

I read  A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar by Suzanne Joinson.  I actually read it in one day.  It has an intriguing story that kept me reading.  Subjects such as homosexuality and adultery are touched on in this book so if that makes you uncomfortable this book is not for you.

I also read two fiction books about son's accused of murder with completely different endings.

Defending Jacob by William Landay.  This book is getting a lot of buzz. This book is about the son of the assistant district attorney who is being tried for murder.  The book explores whether there is a genetic gene that links one for violence.  Also how far a parent will go to protect their child.  I really disliked the mother in this book to be honest. There was a couple parts in the book that I was yelling at her.  A part of me just wanted to shake her. It was an interesting read.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult. In this book a boy with aspergers is accused of murdering his social skills tutor.  I love how each character gets to tell the story.  I don't always agree with all the generalizations about aspergers but in general a lot is spot on - black and white thinking and ruling following.  It made me realize how much my neural typical son has to give up and the line I have to walk between accommodating my other son without unintentionally punishing my other son. It also brought up how crazy all this accommodating looks to the outside world. On top of that, it brought up how selfish and self centered aspergers can be.  I hadn't really ever seen that way. I don't think it is selfish but it is definitely self centered. That is heavy stuff. It was an excellent read.

Booking It - May 2013

I am linking up with Life as Mom Booking It May.  Check out what everyone else is reading.

Oh, it was a slow reading month.  I finished a Danielle Steel book which I am not going to review. Sometimes you just need an easy really non thinking read and this was it for me.   It wasn't half bad. 

I also read a memoir called "This Life in In Your Hands" by Melissa Coleman. Melissa or Lissa as she is called in the book is the daughter of one of the forefathers of the organic gardening/homesteading  movement. Here is the description from Amazon:

With urban farming and backyard chicken flocks becoming increasingly popular, Coleman has written this timely and honest portrait of her own childhood experience in Maine with her two homesteading parents during the turbulent 1970s. Inspired by the back-to-the-land lifestyle of Scott and Helen Nearing, Coleman's parents, Sue and Eliot, decided to create their own idyllic reality on 60 acres of land in Maine that was sold to them by the Nearing family for a token sum. While Coleman emphasizes the beauty of growing up in a family culture that valued the bounty of nature and freedom of expression, she does not hesitate to also expose farming's detrimental effect on family life—her own well-being as well as the accidental death of her younger sister

In some ways this was a little bit of a depressing read .  In her author notes, she says she writes about this time period in her life as her therapy.  She writes in the author notes," The losses my family experienced didn't happen because of our alternative lifestyle; these sorts of things can happen to anyone, anywhere. The reason they hit us so hard is that we didn't have a faith in something bigger than homesteading to guide us through life's difficult turns."  I found myself being quite critical of Melissa's parents.  It certainly doesn't glamorize the homesteading lifestyle as far as family life.

April Booking It

I am linking up with Life as Mom's Booking It.

I was inspired by an article, "Growing Forward," in Sunset Magazine/ April 2013 about Novella Carpenter.  Novella is an urban farmer in Oakland, CA.  I decided to read her book Farm City - The Education of an Urban Farmer.  Wow, Novella is a character and her book follows her journey into urban farming in the grittier part of Oakland where an abandoned lot becomes her farm. Throughout the book, I couldn't decide whether to cheer her on in her endeavors or just say this is all a little crazy. Living next to pigs may not make for the best neighbors.  I love that she dumpster dived for her pigs.  You have to admire the moxie.  I also love how she really drove home that we really don't appreciate how much hard work goes into our food.  This book has a lot of food for thought. I hope she comes out with her further adventures.

I also read Almost Somewhere by Suzanne Roberts about a 28 day adventure on the John Muir Trail in California.  This book is a similar read to books I have read about the Pacific Crest Trail.  The John Muir Trail does include some parts of the Pacific Crest Trail.  This was an OK read for me.  I did appreciate the girl power theme.  It just didn't speak to me as much as some others have. 

I have continued with the Call the Midwife series with Shadows of the Workhouse By Jennifer Worth.  I admit the first part made me cry like a baby. 

Lastly, I read The First Rule of Ten -A Tenzing Norbu Mystery by Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay. It has been a while since I have read a decent mystery.  This fit the bill.  It is the 1st book in the series that follows a Buddhist Monk turned LAPD Detective turned Private Detective.  I liked it. 

Booking It March

It is kinda been a slow reading month.  I am linking up with Life as Mom for Booking It March.

I read I am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirby.  I am interested in other cultural religious groups.  I am unfamiliar with Hutterites and I thought this was a really good introduction to the Hutterites.  A much better introduction than the rather lame somewhat reality show that was on TV. Mary Ann's grew up Hutterite for most of her childhood.  She delves into some of the history of the Hutterites and daily living in a Hutterite community. It was riveting and fascinating to me.

I picked The Wisdom of the Radish by Lynda Hopkins off a library display on gardening.  It was a good read about a young couple who set out to run a small farm.  I think there are probably far better books on this topic but this was decent enough. I did love the part of her book on how she came to love chickens.

On the recommendation from last months Booking It, I read Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth. It can be graphic but I thought it was really interesting how birth and pregnancy was handled during this time period.  I did go ahead and watch much of the first season of Call the Midwife and found that the show is pretty true to the book.  I think together they really compliment each other.  Netflix has the first season

February Booking It

I read a couple books off my list from the beginning of the year. Here is my update.  Please check out what everyone else is reading at Life as Mom.

My son(10) and I finally finished The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien.  I had been reading it aloud to him since Christmas.  The print in our Hobbit is itty bitty.  We both enjoyed it and spent most school mornings tackling it.  Now we are working on Lord of the Rings. 

I read the book,  A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg.  I really enjoyed all the stories that went with the recipes included.  I made the Chocolate Banana Bread with Crystalized Ginger.  It was delish.  This reminded how all of us have stories around food.  I hope I am making some memories too.

The Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn I read and really enjoyed.  I believe this was a recommendation from Life as Mom. Kathleen Flinn is another Seattle Writer - WAHOO. You can totally "Wahoo" for Pacific Northwest writers. The sub title is , "How a Few Simple Lesson Transformed Nine Culinary Novices into Fearless Home Cooks."  Kathleen took 9 volunteers and toured their kitchens and set about to basically teach them some basic cooking skills. I can so relate to the 9 volunteers fears of cooking.  I have to admit my basics aren't that great.  I am consider myself a baker not a cook.  I sadly have really poor knife skills amongst other things.  I often think I am taking the path of least resistance by buying ready made. There is so much food for thought in this book.  It inspired me to really examine how I could become a better cook.  I actually spent an afternoon cleaning out my pantry of all my old spices.

Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams was also on my list.  Mark Adams was an adventure/outdoor editor who never really been on an adventure.  He decided to retrace the Yale Adventure Explorer Hiram Bingham III explorations in Peru specifically in regards to the Inca city of Manchu Picchu.  It was an interesting book and Mark Adams exploration of whether or not Hiram Bingham actually discovered Machu Picchu is fascinating. This book also totally makes me want to watch Indian Jones again. I loved the Inca Golden Rule:

Ama sua, ama llula, ama cheklla - Do not steal, do not lie, do not be lazy.

Experimental Cooking - Chocolate Banana Bread with Crystallized Ginger

Chocolate Banana Bread with Crystallized Ginger

I am a banana bread snob.  There is a tried and true recipe I have been using pretty much my entire adult married life.  It actually came from an Albertson Ad - recipe here. However I am reading the book, A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg and her wonderful book includes a recipe for Chocolate Banana Bread with Crystallized Ginger.  I decided to give it my best shot.

Molly also blogs at Orangette. I love all the stories in her book that go with the recipes.  I don't know about you but I didn't have the crystallized ginger on hand.  Inspired in part by The Coupon Project, I bought some from the bulk bin.  I needed a 1/3 of cup.  It was A LOT cheaper to get it from the bulk bin.  Check out her post on the bulk bin shopping. Long story short, the bread turned out beautifully. My kids and my Hubby really enjoyed it.  It was delicious. I don't think I will be ditching my tried and true recipe but adding this one to the mix. This bread definitely kicked it up a notch.  I loved that the ginger wasn't over powering.

A Homemade Life was a book on my Book it List.  For more information on my Booking It for 2013 click here.

Booking It January 2013/Book Plans

This group of books will make you get your Kleenex, seriously. These are the books I finished reading in December.

Hinterland by Caroline Brothers is a story about 2 young boys and their adventures in trying to immigrate to the United Kingdom. This would be a good adult companion book to Shadow by Micheal Morpurgo a young adult fiction book about 2 Afghanistan's who seek asylum in England. I was reading "Shadow" aloud to Chuckles while reading Hinterland.  I think it added to my overall understanding. As Americans, I don't think we fully understand that other countries have immigration problems and I for one didn't think of the logistics that it takes to immigrate to the UK.

The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel is a story about a bakery owner and her adventures in finding out the truth about her heritage through her grandmother.  There is a mystery she solves. In a way this book reminds me of the book Sarah's Key as part of the book discusses and explores the round-up of Jews in Paris during WWII. Bring your Kleenex.  This is a two hanky read.

Lastly, I read Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed.  Cheryl Strayed is also the author of Wild.  I was just so-so on Wild.  There are better books on the Pacific Crest Trail. . However, I really enjoyed the advice she gave as Sugar.  I will say this is adult advice as some the advice requested was clearly for your not typical adult situations. I think most of us NEED a Dear Sugar in our lives.  Someone who give it to us straight up and not sugar coated.

Life as Mom has a great list of books that several other bloggers and her are going to tackle in the new year as part of her Booking it Series. It is a very interesting and diverse. I picked some off that list to add to my own. Check out my list below:

My List
Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams

Dug Down Deep  by Joshua Harris

Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma

The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean

The Feast Nearby by Robin Mather

The Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn

French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon

A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg