The Sunday Salon: Melody Lost

I woke up this morning and when the cobwebs cleared out of my head the reality that one of the world's most beautiful voices was silenced came crashing down. Although we don't know what caused this shocking death, speculation is running rampant and most people are assuming the worst. Like many, I've been rooting for Whitney these last years and hoping she could get control of her demons and live a life void of the terrible things that pulled her down.  Even when she was at her worst and her image was severely tainted by what we saw in the media, my heart went out to her. Those were not her finest moments, but I hoped she would make it through.

I was looking forward to watching the Grammy's tonight and now I'm sure the tone of the evening will be much more subdued out of respect for the Queen of Pop.  How ironic that she passed on the eve in which we celebrate the greatest in the music industry. I bought her last CD when it was released in 2009 and I really liked it and found some of the songs so moving. The title track is called I Look To You and its one of the best songs on the CD and one of my favorites.  In it, she has a conversation with God and I thought I'd share it here with you. The video is hauntingly beautiful.  Please take a minute to listen and watch.

In the coming days I'm sure we'll be bombarded with everything Whitney in the media, but I will try to stay focused on what she gave us with her lovely voice and not on anything negative. Its a sad time but there is solace in knowing that her fight with the demons is over and she can finally be at peace. RIP Whitney

Weekend Cooking: A Soup Craving

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share. (Novels about food, non-fiction, cookbook reviews etc.) that is hosted each week by Beth Fish Reads. If you have a food related item you'd like to share, just jump on over there and post your link.

It's been a while since I've participated so I'm really happy to be here today with a new recipe to share with all you foodies.  The recipe I am featuring is one of my own that I kind of just made up as I went along, based on my craving lately for polska kielbasa. I am also a huge lover of soup, especially this time of year so I came up with this hearty soup that is so easy, you can just toss everything into a crockpot and let it do it's thing! Or it can also be done on the stove top in a relatively short time. Now, on to the recipe...

 HEARTY POLSKA KIELBASA BEAN SOUP

Ingredients:

1 lb polska kielbasa, cut in slices, then halved or quartered (depending on how big a bite you want)

1 can kidney beans (light or dark), drained and rinsed

1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed

1 large onion, diced

1 cup carrots, diced

1 cup celery, diced

4 cans (14.5 oz) chicken broth (58 oz total)

1 Bay Leaf

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 can diced tomatoes, undrained

Instructions:

Put all ingredients in crockpot except for tomatoes and cook on low setting for 6-8 hours. Add tomatoes last and continue cooking for another 15 minutes. Remove bay leaf and enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This recipe is so easy and versatile that you can change it and add whatever kind of bean or veggie that you like. The flavor comes from the kielbasa and the corn gives it just a touch of sweetness. However, if you are on Weight Watchers like me, or you are counting your fat intake, you can use low-fat or fat free turkey kielbasa, sodium-free broth and omit the corn (too much natural sugar).  My mom doesn't care for corn, so if I were making this for her, I'd add some fresh, shredded cabbage shortly before serving instead of the corn.  If your not a big bean person, you could substitute Ditalini pasta for some of the beans. Its a small, round pasta noodle that wouldn't overtake the soup. 

With the weather turning cooler this weekend, this soup will be just the thing to get me through.  I can't wait to dig in with a piece of fresh Italian bread - that I picked up from the bakery! If you do get the chance to try my recipe, I'd love to know if you liked it. Or if you have substitution ideas, please share them! 

Thank you for visiting today and allowing me to share my foodie ideas! Have a wonderful Saturday!

Review: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

THE PEACH KEEPER is another delightful example of why I love Sarah Addison Allen's books and the magical themes she puts in them. Here is a brief tidbit about the book, and as always I've left all spoilers out, so don't worry if you have't read it - I'm careful to give nothing away.

In the small town of Walls of Water, North Carolina, Willa Jackson and Paxton Osgood live such separate lives, that their paths seldom cross. They've known each other since childhood yet they don't consider each other friends. 


The Jackons and the Osgoods have deep roots in their community and that history is part of the reason these two have a strained relationship. Willa's family used to be very wealthy and help to put Walls of Water on the map with their logging company that employed many of the townsmen back in the day. But as the economy suffered through The Depression, the Jackson's were forced to close the business, therefore leaving most of the employees without an income. The Jackson's themselves lost everything, including their family home known as The Blue Ridge Madam, built by Willa's great-great-grandfather. Willa has few memories of the grand home, but her connection to it tugs at her soul. Paxton's family bought The Madam and has restored it and converted into an elegant inn with a grand opening gala planned. 


Scandal arises when during the landscaping phase of the renovation, skeletal remains are dug up during the removal of an out of place peach tree.  The girls reluctantly team up and approach their grandmothers, who live in the same nursing home for answers, hopefully before the police discover the connection the two older women have to the apparent victim.


My Thoughts -
As usual, Sarah Addison Allen has woven a story rich in southern charm, suspense and that magic she is known for. Right away we get to know Paxton and Willa and realize how different they are and the vulnerabilities they share. There's a lot of self discovery within the pages, not only with Willa and Paxton, but also with Paxton's twin brother Colin and her friend, Sebastian. I really enjoyed those four characters as they grew to know each other better and trusts began to develop. I also enjoyed how each of these characters learned so much about themselves and were able to become more comfortable in their own skin and not be so guarded.

The magical element of the story is subtle but ever-present and gives the book a whimsical feel. Addison-Allen paints a lovely picture of the small town and all it's treasures, including The Madam. I could close my eyes and envision the little town in my mind and almost smell the peaches.  In fact, I did smell peaches while reading this charming book. I'm serious! I was lucky enough to win my copy of The Peach Keeper from Random House on Twitter along with a peach-scented Yankee Candle.  So when the book arrived they were packaged together so that every time I opened the book or turned a page, the scent of peaches found my nose. It was actually quite a clever idea and made the experience of reading the book even more charming!

THE PEACH KEEPER is one of those books that just makes you happier for reading it. I'd like to thank Random House for my copy that I can now add to my Sarah Addison Allen collection. With Spring right around the corner, this would be a fantastic book to read on Spring Break.

THE PEACH KEEPER
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Publisher: Bantam
Published: January 2012
Pages: 304
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely!

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Kindle Edition)

I was reluctant to read this first book of the series because this is completely out of my comfort zone. But with the movie coming out (with such a great cast) this Spring, I didn't want to be left out. Another reason I couldn't pass this Kindle edition up was that Amazon offered it as a free Daily Deal a few months ago - FOR ALL THREE BOOKS!. That was the clincher. So, if you've been living under a rock the last few years and don't know what this book is about, here is a quick rundown for you from Goodreads:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, the shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts.  The Capitol is harsh and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.  Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the games.  But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature.  Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. 


My Thoughts:
 I have to be honest and say I thought it was going to take me awhile to get into this story of The Hunger Games but I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly Suzanne Collins reeled me in. Right away I was able to form a visual image in my mind of the world Katniss and her family lives in - and it is bleak. I think that is why I generally stay away from these types of books: I don't like all of the bleak and barren conditions associated with this genre.  But I was able to look behond it, partly because I really liked Katniss. Her love for her sister was pure and genuine and that really spoke to me.

Although I did have a hard time accepting the concept of these Hunger Games, I was eventually able to get into the story and even enjoy it. I thought Susanne Collins did a great job portraying the Capitol, the Arena and the locals there. The Games themselves were disturbing, but again, I had to remind myself this is the genre and let it go and not dwell on it.

I ended up really getting into it and rooting for Katniss and Peeta, who I really like a lot. I was very impressed with how well Collins wrote the parts about the battles and how Peeta and Katniss survived in the arena. How in the world did she come up with this concept? The romance angle was original and I thought played well into the story. I also like Gale's character, even though we don't really get to know much about him. Maybe in the next book? Hmmm....

So I am happy to say I really enjoyed THE HUNGER GAMES. I am surprised by that but that's what getting out of your comfort zone is all about! You never know what you may end up liking. That being said, I don't know how necessary a second or third book is, but I'm willing to give them a chance. I've just started reading CATCHING FIRE and I am not totally sold on it, but I'm only in Chapter 3.

For those of you who think this book just isn't for you - I say take a chance with it! You may find you really like it!

THE HUNGER GAMES
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
Published: September 2009
Pages: 388 pp
Rating:  5 Stars out of 5

[TSS] Review: Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman (Kindle Version)

Today I'm celebrating the 4th anniversary of my book blog and I am thrilled to be posting a review of such a fantastic book on this day! I hope you enjoy my review and that you run out and read it immediately! Thanks so much for your continued support of my crazy addiction to books!  Happy Sunday! ~Lisa



DOMESTIC VIOLETS by Matthew Norman
The Book:


Tom Violet always wanted to be a writer. He's spent the last five years writing his first manuscript and only one person has read it. Katie, a 23-year old co-worker who he has a mad crush on read it - and loved it. Tom, being 35 and married, feels guilty and out of his league when he thinks about his inappropriate feelings for this hot junior copywriter that is his direct subordinate.

His growing feelings for Katie isn't the only problem Tom has: He and his wife, Anna, have grown distant in the last several months, which is having a direct negative effect on his sexual performance, or lack thereof. He also hates his job as a copywriter for a very large managerial support corporation, whatever that is. He dreams of selling his first book and becoming a full-time writer. This brings us to the other issue in Tom's life.  He's living in the shadow of his father who is a very famous and successful writer, who has just won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

With all these things working against him, Tom Violet goes through his days like a man on the way to the death chamber. Soon, things begin to spiral out of control and he is faced with the reality of his life. An unfortunate event at work causes Tom to take the bull by the horns and do something drastic, even though there will be definite consequences. But he believes he is at the point, both in his business and person life, where he must sink or swim. And as he rides this wave, he discovers that, as far as his family is concerned, things aren't always as they seem.

My Thoughts:

I love Tom Violet. I love his personality, his love of family and his ability to use sarcasm to his advantage, mainly towards people he doesn't care for. Not since Jess Riley's DRIVING SIDEWAYS have I enjoyed such snarkiness. Granted, he uses the snarkiness to make up for his lack of confidence, but he does it in a way that makes you root for him. Well, it was that way for me, anyway. But most of all, this book is funny. Matthew Norman had me laughing out loud - a lot. It was the perfect mix of humor and really good family story.

I enjoyed all of the characters in this book, even the less than significant ones because they were easy to believe and they added to the complexity of Tom's character. Katie was a great character and was easy to identify with. Tom's father, Curtis, although he seemed so carefree and full of himself, had redeeming qualities and by the end, I really liked him.

This story, for me, was so well developed and as I read each page, I was drawn in more and more. I especially loved the epilogue. The story itself kept my attention and entertained me, but the epilogue was very moving and insightful and brought the whole book together. I love books about books, and books about people who love books, so this one was right at the top of the list for me.

I don't want to say too much more about it, only that if you haven't read this one yet, you really should change that - right now! Matthew Norman's debut effort was a huge success in my opinion and I will always be curious to see what he comes up with next.  

DOMESTIC VIOLETS by Matthew Norman
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Published: August 9, 2011
Pages: 352
Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

Review: The King of Lies by John Hart

THE KING OF LIES is the first novel of two time Edgar Award winner John Hart  (The Last Child, Down River, Iron House) He is a North Carolina native, who went from defense attorney to novelist, writing crime thrillers based in North Carolina.  

About The Book - (from GoodReads)
Jackson Workman Pickens--known to most as "Work"--mindlessly holds together his disintegrating life: a failing law practice left to him when his father, Ezra, mysteriously disappeared, a distant wife who shares their loveless marriage, and an estranged sister who bore the brunt of their childhood trauma.
 
And then Ezra's body is discovered.
 
Set to inherit his father's fortune, Work becomes a prime suspect.  But so does his sister, Jean.  As much as Work's life was overshadowed by his domineering father, Jean's life was nearly destroyed by him. But does that make her capable of a vicious murder?  Fearing the worst, Work launches his own investigation, crossing paths with a power-hungry detective, a string of damning evidence, and the ugly rumors that swirl within his small, moneyed Southern town.
 
Desperate for the redemption that has eluded him for so many years and stripped of everything he once valued, he fights to save his sister and clear his name--in this poignant and thrilling anatomy of a murder and its ripple effect within a family and a community.


My Thoughts

Its no secret that I am a big fan of John Hart. The first book of his I read was THE LAST CHILD last year and I really enjoyed it. Earlier this year I read IRON HOUSE, his latest and I was blown away. 

THE KING OF LIES doesn't get off to a quick start like IRON HOUSE does, but Hart methodically lays the ground work for what is, I believe, a very good mystery.  The questions surrounding Ezra's disappearance and subsequent discovery of his remains keep the story going and has many paths to travel. The convincing list of suspects and their involvements with the victim creates a believable and engaging story. The fact that the lead detective only wants to focus on Ezra's son, Work, only makes the other suspects more visible, in my opinion.  

I did feel the story dragging a little bit about half-way through.  I was ready for a tempo change and, luckily, soon after after having that thought, things began to happen at a quicker pace and with more excitement.  That said, I was pleased with THE KING OF LIES. I'm happy I took the time to read it and I do plan to read his second novel, DOWN RIVER, at some point as well. 

Having read his three later novels, I have definitely seen the progression of a really great suspense writer. In fact, IRON HOUSE  is one of my top picks of this year. His writing gets more intense and exciting with each book.  Needless to say, I am anxiously awaiting his next release. 

THE KING OF LIES

Author: John Hart

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Published: 2006

Pages: 320

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Source: Public Library

Audio Book Review: Only Time Will Tell (The Clifton Chronicles #1) by Jeffrey Archer

The Clifton Chronicles, the new series by Jeffrey Archer (best selling author of Kane & Abel), beginning with ONLY TIME WILL TELL, is the coming-of-age story of Harry Clifton.  But this is so much more than a coming-of-age tale. It has an unexpected dark side that Archer delivers brilliantly as the story of Harry's life unfolds.

Book Description from Goodreads:
The epic tale of Harry Clifton’s life begins in 1920, with the words “I was told that my father was killed in the war.” A dock worker in Bristol, Harry never knew his father, but he learns about life on the docks from his uncle, who expects Harry to join him at the shipyard once he’s left school. But then an unexpected gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys’ school, and his life will never be the same again.

As he enters into adulthood, Harry finally learns how his father really died, but the awful truth only leads him to question, was he even his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who spent his whole life on the docks, or the firstborn son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?

My Thoughts:

I have to admit, I enjoyed this book so much that it even surprised me!  Sometimes family sagas can be long and drawn out and bordering on boring, but I was pleased to discover that was not the case with ONLY TIME WILL TELL.  The first thing I noticed in listening to this audio was the superb narration of Roger Allam. His smooth, even voice with it's pleasing English accent just makes you want to keep listening. It was perfectly suited for this novel. Allam does most of the narration but the voice of Harry's mother, done by Emelia Fox, was also spot on. 

The way Archer told this story about Harry's young life and into adulthood was different than just telling a straight-forward story. As we drifted from character to character, the story would overlap and that enables the reader to get the whole truth of events and how they really happened. There were many revelations made this way simply from listening to another character's point of view. I really liked this technique and that's what gave me many 'Aha' moments. I didn't find it confusing at all. 

The characters were fantastic and I especially enjoyed Old Jack, the old man living a secluded life at the shipyard who befriends Harry and looks out for him for years. It was an endearing relationship and made the story very special. All of the characters were well developed and with the interesting way Archer told this story, they seemed to constantly be evolving. 

There was a darker side of this story that made it unpredictable. I tend to like books with a darker side and although this wasn't dark like evil dark, it was dark enough to know that at some point everything would be out in the open and it wouldn't be good.  

I loved the way the first book ended and I am really looking forward to the next installment. Since I enjoyed the audio version so much, I believe I will continue with that format. After I finished this book, I felt an empty place and I actually missed hearing Harry's story told by Roger Allam.  

Special thanks to Anna at Diary of an Eccentric for hosting the giveaway with Macmillan Audio that enabled me to experience this story. 

ONLY TIME WILL TELL (Clifton Chronicles #1)
Author:  Jeffrey Archer
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Published:  August 30, 2011
Listening Length:  12h 41m
Rating: 4.5 Stars out of 5
Source: Giveaway Win from Diary of an Eccentric and Macmillan Audio