The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

  

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date 

What a busy weekend! We had not one but two birthday parties for Wyatt's cousins on Saturday. One for his newly three year old cousin, and another for his cousin celebrating her Sweet Sixteen! I think it is so cool they all have such close birthdays. :) We took advantage of the nice weather this week too, with many walks and hanging out with friends and babies. It was a good week. 

I hope to get my seeds started this week - I am so behind already, but I think I should still be ok. I really just want to start some flower seeds this year for a cutting garden. Everything is getting all green and growy, I can't wait!

Read:

Best of My Love by Susan Mallery: Overall, a fun read, although a wee bit sexist, in my opinion. Review to come soon.

Reading This Week:

Ugh I am so so so close to the end of the Oregon Trail! It will definitely be finished in the next few days. I never got to the Linda Lael Miller book from last week, so I might read that. Or I might read this one:

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: I have enjoyed everything I have read by Rowell so far. I am looking forward to this one.

Posted Last Week:

Book Review: The Drowning Girls by Paula Treick DeBoard

Dear Mr. Conroy - My Reading Life, Revisited

I loved Pat Conroy's work.  I read every one of his books, and waited very patiently (not) for his next book to come out. He wasn't an author that published quickly, but when that next book finally did come out, it was well worth the wait. I was very saddened to hear of his death, and will feel his loss in the reading world, where we will all forever be waiting for another new book. Conroy's publisher, Open Road Media, sent me this very touching video tribute in honor of the late great Conroy.

Book Review: The Drowning Girls by Paula Treick DeBoard

Title: The Drowning Girls
Author: Paula Treick DeBoard
Source: Author

Goodreads Summary:

Liz McGinnis never imagined herself living in a luxurious gated community like The Palms. Ever since she and her family moved in, she's felt like an outsider amongst the Stepford-like wives and their obnoxiously spoiled children. Still, she's determined to make it work—if not for herself, then for her husband, Phil, who landed them this lavish home in the first place, and for her daughter, Danielle, who's about to enter high school.

Yet underneath the glossy veneer of The Palms, life is far from idyllic. In a place where reputation is everything, Liz soon discovers that even the friendliest residents can't be trusted—and almost everyone has secrets they'd do anything to protect. So when the gorgeous girl next door befriends Danielle, Liz can't help but find sophisticated Kelsey's interest in her shy and slightly nerdy daughter a bit suspicious.

But while Kelsey quickly becomes a fixture in the McGinnis home, Liz's relationships with both Danielle and Phil grow strained. Now even her own family seems to be hiding things, and it's not long before their dream of living the high life quickly spirals out of control… 

My thoughts:

DeBoard is one of my all-time favorite authors. I absolutely devour every book that she writes. If you are not familiar with her, I highly recommend her. I described DeBoard's writing to my book club as Joyce Carol Oates meets Gillian Flynn, and they agreed. She has her own twists and flair of course, but if I had to compare, I would definitely use those two authors.

When I received The Drowning Girls in the mail, I of course had to start reading immediately. Like with her previous books, I could not put it down. Riveting and compelling, this book was like The Crush on steroids. Never has there been teenager so dangerous, devious, and smart. Kelsey is one scary chick.

When Liz, her husband Phil, and daughter Danielle move into the ritzy gated community of The Palms, they have no idea how much their life is about to change. Their once happy lives are soon threatened and split apart by obsession, paranoia, desperation. Held hostage by one fifteen year old girl, this family is going to either sink or swim.

It is impossible to read this book without getting sucked in - I felt nervous and scared for the characters at times, anger at other times. Told in present time and flashback, you start with the ending and are brought full circle before finding out the whole story. I don't have a lot of time to read these days, and I managed to finish this book in a hurry - I had to know what was going to happen next! The ending will blow your mind!

If you are in the mood for a psychological thriller, I highly recommend The Drowning Girls, which comes out in April. Until then, check out DeBoard's previous books The Mourning Hours and The Fragile World.

Dear Mr. Conroy ~ My Reading Life, Revisited

This post is a repost from 2011~

Title: My Reading Life

Author: Pat Conroy

When I was fifteen years old, my father put the book The Prince of Tides in my hands and told me to read. An unusual choice, some might think, for a 15 year old female from the suburbs in Michigan, who listened to Nirvana and frequented Denny's. This was my life though, growing up. My parents started my reading education early, as young as ten when my mother gave me James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small, and never moderated or censored my reading choices; in fact they encouraged me to read whatever I could get my hands on, and suggested many of their favorites, like J.D. Salinger, John Irving, James Herriot, and Kurt Vonnegut. I read voraciously and tenaciously, hanging on every syllable of every sentence.

The Prince of Tides was a changing point in my life however; while I always read constantly, and by constantly I mean actually not putting the book down, and read while brushing my teeth, making breakfast, walking from room to room, I really couldn't put this book down. I even convinced my mom the day after I started the book that I was sick, and had to stay home from school. I finished The Prince of Tides that very day, and thus began my lifelong love of the south and southern writers. The lives of the characters in this book could not have been further from my own, yet something in the writing, in the story spoke to me. The setting, the characters, were a million miles away from my own personal landscapes, and I wanted to be part of that world. I wanted the concrete and tall buildings around me to transform into tidal lowlands; I had a crush on Luke, wanted to be Tom's friend, wanted to save Savannah. And later Luke. I can still recite from memory the poem Savannah wrote about Luke, still remember the white porpoise, Caesar, Callonwolde. This book is so full of pain and beauty and love rolled into one. I cried throughout most of it.

After that day, I read all of Pat Conroy's published works, and made sure to read every new one that came out after. Now, 20 years later, I am midway through Conroy's book My Reading Life, and am just as enthralled as I always am. It has reminded me just how in love with reading, with words, with books, with the south, with southern writers, Conroy in particular, I really am. He taught me that there is magic in a sentence, and that you can never use too many adjectives. He has shaped my northern world into one that dreams of the south, flawed or unflawed.

"Books are living things and their task lies in their vows of silence. You touch them as they quiver with a divine pleasure. You read them and they fall asleep to happy dreams for the next ten years. If you do them the favor of understanding them, of taking in their portions of grief and wisdom, then they settle down in contented residence in your heart." Pat Conroy - My Reading Life

~ The passing of Pat Conroy is heartbreaking to me. I feel so deeply saddened by the fact that I will forever be waiting for that next new Conroy book to come out. "Man wonders but God decides.."

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

  

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date 

This week we celebrated Wyatt's first birthday! My husband took Wyatt's actual birthday off from work, and we did some fun family things that day, just really low key the three of us. Then Saturday we had his first birthday party with his family! It was a big undertaking that we survived with the help of that family! His birthday is actually on National Reading Day, Dr. Seuss' birthday, which is a great person to share a birthday with. I hope to blog about what we did later on this week, especially since I am on spring break from school this week. Yay!

We also had book club on Thursday, which as always is super fun. 

Read Last Week:

Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid: I am so close to being done with this book, I'm calling it! I really enjoyed it - I needed a fun read during my crazy week. 

Reading This Week:

I think I have spring fever! It's time for some fun reads. The weather this week is supposed to be in the 50s and 60s, I can't wait to get outdoors with Wyatt. I think these books will be perfect for my lighthearted mood!

 

Once a Rancher: I have not really read anything by this author but I am looking forward to seeing what she is about.

Best of my Love by Susan Mallery: I am excited to read another in the Fool's Gold series!

I am also still working away on Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck!

However, I could not get into Pretty Baby, and I am sticking a fork in that book. 

Watching:

The Walking Dead (woohoo!), The Originals, The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, iZombie

Speaking of watching - The Agatha Christie book And Then There Were None miniseries is going to be airing on Lifetime on March 13th and March 14th! I highly recommend it!

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

  

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date 

Whew it was a doozy of a week! Midterms, a teething baby, and a husband with the flu!!! I was actually more prolific on the blog this week too; I think with everything going on, I needed some time to relax, and I found that here.

This week we celebrate Wyatt's first birthday! I am so excited, and I seriously can't believe it has been a year already. Where did the time go? We are having a Where the Wild Things Are themed party for him - I can't wait! It is also book club week, which is always fun.

Read Last Week:

Hope Unfolding by Becky Thompson: I think with my crazy week, this was the perfect read. Review coming soon.

Reading this week:

 

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica: I will probably start this one, although I need to concentrate on Neanderthal Seeks Human - which is our book club book!

I am also still chugging along on the Oregon Trail book by Rinker Buck!

Watching:

The Walking Dead, Top Chef, iZombie, and The Originals are my current favorites right now, with the addition of 11/22/63. 11/22/63 is amazing so far!!! And it doesn't hurt that I have a huge crush on James Franco anyway.  

Posted Last Week:

"Quick to the Point/To The Point No Faking" Book Reviews

Reading Habits Survey

My Grandma's Coconut Tarts 

So what is the happs with you? 

My Grandma's Coconut Tarts

My family is divided into two camps: The Coconut Tart people, and the Empire Biscuit people. Don't get me wrong, we will gladly eat either/or, but..we have a preference for one or the other. I love a good Empire Biscuit, but Coconut Tarts are my weakness. My grandma made them every Christmas and it was the dessert I looked forward to the most.

My grandmother is gone now, but my Uncle Art has taken up the mantle, and baked the tarts for the holidays. Yesterday I spent some much needed time in the kitchen, learning how to bake these tarts. I have decided to share my love for these with all of you! Just note - I am not a baker, nor am I a food blogger. Lol. My tarts look a little more rustic than professional - I have not managed pretty food yet, just yummy tasting! Because these turned out awesome in flavor, if I do say so myself.

Surprisingly, these are not a health food! :) They are fattening and delicious!

Ingredients for the gooey coconut filling:

3/4 cup sugar
1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 lb. butter melted
1 egg
3/4 cup coconut, firmly packed

For the pastry - my uncle's version:

2 c. flour
2/3 c. butter flavored Crisco + 4 additional TB (my mom uses cold butter but I don't know how much)
a pinch of salt
2/3 c. water

Preheat the oven to 425.

We made the filling first, but I don't think it matters which you start with. It was easy! Basically, just combine all the above ingredients in a bowl, and whisk until everything is mixed really well. You want to make sure you really incorporate the sugar, it has a tendency to want to sit on the bottom.

Next we made the pastry- this was a little bit more complex but not too terribly difficult. I just really hate getting my hands dirty. Bleh. You start by adding all the ingredients together in a medium to large size bowl- we used a vintage Pyrex one which I am sure was not bought vintage like mine were. Then I cut it in the Crisco using a pastry cutter. Once this was all cut in well, my uncle showed me the next technique, of making the dough all crumbly. I am not sure of the technical terms, but we called it making it crumbly.

This technique involved running it between his hands, using the friction to combine it and make it all crumbled into little balls, Once the mixture was all crumbly balls, we could easily roll it all together into a ball.

Ta-da!

Once we had this nice round ball of dough, we split it into two balls. Next, we placed one of the halves onto a floured piece of wax paper to roll out. We also put another piece of wax paper over the top of the dough, so it was sandwiched between two floured sheets of wax paper. Then I commenced rolling. You want it nice and thin, but not too thin. Maybe 1/4 inch thick. 

 We had some little helping hands too. My cousin's three year old daughter assisted me.

Once it is rolled out, you can cut circles to place into the muffin tray. I would say the one my uncle used was about 4" across. He said this was not perfect but it worked for him. So maybe the size of a wide mouth water glass. 

Once you roll out all the dough and have cut the circles, you can start slowly placing them into the muffin tin. This part is the slowest, most laborious part in my opinion. 

Mine were a bit messy but looked like this when I was done. A bit of a trick - instead of using your fingers to press the dough down into the tins and onto the sides, once you have it set in loosely, you can use a small lump of dough as a little press instead of your fingers. 

Once you have everything ready to go, you are ready to fill! Give that filling a good whisking again to stir up any sugar that may have settled while you did all this stuff with the dough. When finished, add about 2 TB filling to each tart. This is entirely up to you, how much is added. I just wouldn't suggest all the way to the top, because then they will overflow during cooking. Pop them into the oven for about 15 minutes (12-17, but we did 15) until the dough is a nice golden brown, and the filling has a nice golden color as well. My uncle then covers his with a dish towel for a few minutes to trap the heat a little longer without baking. 

                                       

Once they cool, enjoy! Perfect with a milky, sugary cup of tea. Yum!

And that is all there is to it! I hope I did an ok job explaining this - I didn't realize how difficult it was to write down a recipe that is mostly conveyed by look and feel in our family. If you try to make them, let me know how it goes!

Reading Habits Survey

Reading Habits Survey

Just for fun, from View From My Home-

1. Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

Definitely.  I like to read while sitting on the right hand side of the couch, leaning against the arm rest with my legs tucked up under me, usually surrounded by cats at their whim of course. Sometimes I even get all three cuddled up next to me. I also read in bed for about ten minutes before passing out - this is the most likely scenario these days. Other times, I decide to forgo all my responsibilities during Wyatt's nap-time and I will read in the comfy chair next to his crib while he sleeps. That is probably my favorite place and time to read these days, and I don't allow myself to do that as often as I should.

 

2. Do you use a bookmark or a random piece of paper?

I have a ton of cool bookmarks, but I usually just use whatever flat is laying around me - like Rita, mainly envelopes or appointment cards. Sometimes those advertising postcards or receipts make it in as well. Most often though, I make a mental note of the page number I left off on and don't use anything.

3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or a certain amount of pages?

I can stop wherever, even midsentence at times.

 

4. Do you eat or drink while reading?

Yep, I'm a snacker while I read. Or a lunch eater, dinner eater, etc. When I worked I always ate in my office like a loner, dining alone with my book for company.

 

5. Do you watch TV or listen to music while reading?

Sometimes. I don't intentionally do it - it is usually when Billy is watching something and I want to read. I find it harder to concentrate but I can do it, especially if I am super involved in a book.

 

6. Do you read one book at a time or several at once?

I read many books at a time. I usually have three going for a while, then one once hits a spot that I can't put it down, I focus on that one. Before Wyatt (BW) I used to have a morning, afternoon, and evening book. Now it is more of a fun book, book club book, and review book deal I have going.

 

7. Do you prefer to read at home or anywhere?

I prefer to read at home but can read anywhere, and take books with me - or I used to. I guess I still would if I am alone. I also always take books for the kiddo too. You never know when you get that moment to squeeze in a book, and he loves them.

 

8. Do you read out loud or silently?

Silently, unless I am reading to Wyatt.

9. Do you read ahead or skip pages?

I have been known to skip ahead to the ending to see what happens when I am halfway through a book - sometimes I just need to know!!!

10. Do you break the spine or keep it like new?

I will just say, if I own a book, you can tell that it has been well read....

If it is not mine, then I return them in the condition that I borrowed them.

11. Do you write in your books?

Yes. I like to underline my favorite quotes or star them! Or sometimes make little notes - I am a big rereader of all my books that I own and sometimes it is cool to see what I was thinking or what I liked when I read it the last time. I don't always do it, just when something particularly strikes my fancy.

I know, I am a book sinner!! I skip ahead, my books look well read, and I write in them. Lol.