Title: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder
Subtitle: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
Author: Joanne Fluke
Pages: 322
Welcom to Lake Eden, Minnesota where Hannah Swensen owns the local bake shop The Cookie Jar. But with the town on the cusp of the Fourth of July holiday, Hannah discovers a grisly surprise, Rhonda Scarf a town local has been killed and it's up to her to help solve the crime, before time runs out!
Sounds like your regular run of the mill mystery novel right? Wrong! What makes Hannah special is her recipes. Yes, you read that right recipes. In each Hannah Swensen mystery book lies REAL recipes for dessert, cookies, and more. Not only are the recipes EASY to read, follow, and understand but they are TASTY too. When I read the first book Chocolate Chip Coookie Murder I decided to try a couple of recipes on my family. Guess what? Huge hit. And I have already been asked to bring along another batch this Christmas. When my company had a potluck, I decided that the Fluke recipe had done so well with my family that I would try them again. And another hit on my hands. They now think I am a baking genius! Giggles!
So not only did the story entertain me but I am SO excited to try out the recipes. The recipes alone are reason enough to check out this book and all the others in the Hannah Swensen Mysteries. Beause cookies and reading just go together. 4 out of 5 stars!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Me Talk Pretty One Day
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Pages 272
(POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW)
Me Talk Pretty One Day is a collection of short stories from author David Sedaris (brother of Amy Sedaris aka Jerri Blank from the tv series Strangers with Candy.) I first came across Sedaris' writing when I read Holidays on Ice, which is a book I loved and read several more times. So I decided to start with his other works and thus was brought to Me Talk Pretty One Day. In Me Talk Pretty One Day, David covers everything from his childhood, his time in France with boyfriend Hugh, his drug abuse, and everything in between. And even when the subject seems dark, Sedaris' uses a wit, satire, and sarcasm that makes the reader laugh with him, at him, and at ourselves. The stories inside include a childhood filled with speech therapy classes for his lisp, unwanted guitar lessons from a midget, his performance art career, his stint as a writing teacher, his challenges to learn French, watching American movies in another country (It is Necessary to Save the Soldier Ryan), his sister's obsession with disguises, his differences with his brother "The Rooster", his experiences with family pets, his bathroom embarrassment at a party, his time working for a moving company, the ludicrous nature of new cuisine, website phobia/hate, his crossword puzzles, his father's hoarding of food, and many, many more.
Perhaps my most favorite of the short stories is "The Late Show". It is what goes on in David's mind when he can't sleep. So what does he do? He makes up fantasies for himself, including a Mr. Science fantasy, a boxing fantasy, and a white house intern fantasy. It's a story that hits home while remaining humorous.
I do have to warn the readers out there that David is NOT shy. In his story he openly talks about his homosexuality, his former cocaine habit, and many other topics that might make other squemish. It's not that he's promoting these things, he just tells it like it is. So if frank, humor doesn't bother you than pick yourself up some Sedaris. 4 out of 5 stars!
Pages 272
(POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW)
Me Talk Pretty One Day is a collection of short stories from author David Sedaris (brother of Amy Sedaris aka Jerri Blank from the tv series Strangers with Candy.) I first came across Sedaris' writing when I read Holidays on Ice, which is a book I loved and read several more times. So I decided to start with his other works and thus was brought to Me Talk Pretty One Day. In Me Talk Pretty One Day, David covers everything from his childhood, his time in France with boyfriend Hugh, his drug abuse, and everything in between. And even when the subject seems dark, Sedaris' uses a wit, satire, and sarcasm that makes the reader laugh with him, at him, and at ourselves. The stories inside include a childhood filled with speech therapy classes for his lisp, unwanted guitar lessons from a midget, his performance art career, his stint as a writing teacher, his challenges to learn French, watching American movies in another country (It is Necessary to Save the Soldier Ryan), his sister's obsession with disguises, his differences with his brother "The Rooster", his experiences with family pets, his bathroom embarrassment at a party, his time working for a moving company, the ludicrous nature of new cuisine, website phobia/hate, his crossword puzzles, his father's hoarding of food, and many, many more.
Perhaps my most favorite of the short stories is "The Late Show". It is what goes on in David's mind when he can't sleep. So what does he do? He makes up fantasies for himself, including a Mr. Science fantasy, a boxing fantasy, and a white house intern fantasy. It's a story that hits home while remaining humorous.
I do have to warn the readers out there that David is NOT shy. In his story he openly talks about his homosexuality, his former cocaine habit, and many other topics that might make other squemish. It's not that he's promoting these things, he just tells it like it is. So if frank, humor doesn't bother you than pick yourself up some Sedaris. 4 out of 5 stars!
Monday, October 5, 2009
In God We Trust All Others Pay Cash
In God We Trust All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd
Pages: 264
(SPOILERS BELOW)
In God We Trust All Others Pay Cash is one of my husband's favorite books and it's the book that the movie A Christmas Story starring Peter Billingsley is based on. Here is how the book is set up. Our narrator, Ralph has arrived back in his hometown of Hohman, Indiana where his first stop is Flick's Tavern, run by his childhood friend and Army buddy, Flick. Once Ralph begins to talk with Flick, we get flashback stories of Ralph's childhood and teenage years. So the book is set up of a chapter, usually one to three pages of Ralph and Flick as adults talking in the bar and then a chapter of flashbacks.
I will skip the Flick and Ralph as adult chapters and lay out the flashback chapters, so you my dear reader will know what the short stories are about:
Duel in the Snow, or Red Ryder Nails the Cleveland Street Kid: Probably the most famous story in the whole book! This is Ralphie's story of his quest, his obsession with getting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.
The Counterfit Secret Circle Member Gets the Message, or the Asp Strikes Again: The story of Ralphie's love of the Little Orphan Annie show and his desire to discover the secret message played at the end of each broadcast.
The Endless Streetcar Ride Into the Night, and the Tinfoil Noose: Ralph's blind date
Hairy Gertz and the Forty-Seven Crappies: Ralph goes fishing with the grownups and tries to puncture their inner-circle.
My Old Man and the Lascivious Special Award That Heralded The Birth of Pop Art: Ralph's father wins a lamp shaped like a sexy woman's leg in a newspaper contest.
The Magic Mountain: The story of the Magic Mountain inside the World's Fair.
Grover Dill and the Tasmanian Devil: Ralph has finally had too much from a bully and fights back.
Ludlow Kissel and the Dago Bomb that Struck Back: The story of a giant firework gone wrong.
Uncle Ben and The Side-Splitting Knee-Slapper, or Some Words are Loaded: Ralph overhears his Uncle Ben telling a joke, which Ralph then repeats to a neighbor without realizing what he's truly saying.
Old Man Pulaski and the Infamous Jambreaker Blackmail Caper: Ralph lives for the black jawbreaker at the local candy story.
The Perfect Crime: Ralph scratches his dad's precious car and the blame falls on someone else.
Wilbur Duckworth and his Magic Baton: Ralph relives his time in the marching band as a sousaphone player.
Miss Bryfogel and the Frightening Case of the Speckle-Throated Cuckold: Ralph has a crush on his English teacher Miss Bryfogel and in order to impress her reads a book without realizing that it's content is inappropriate.
"Nevermore," Quoth the Assessor, "Nevermore....": The property tax assessor comes to town and cleans out a local family.
Leopold Doppler and the Great Orpheum Gravy Boat Riot: In order to raise attendance at the local movie house, the owner Leopold Doppler has a promotion where he gives away a dish set to all women who attend. But what happens when the dishes stop coming?
My thoughts: Sometimes, this book was hard to read. All I could hear and see in my head was the movie. Like Ralph's bully in the book is Grover Dill, where in the movie his name is Scott Farkus. And when I see Ralph, I see Peter Billingsley. So for me the most effective stories are the ones I hadn't heard before. I LOVED the story about the Gravy Boat Riot and the fireworks. The book is funny and poignant, heart-felt and ironic, wit and satire. 3 out of 5 stars.
Pages: 264
(SPOILERS BELOW)
In God We Trust All Others Pay Cash is one of my husband's favorite books and it's the book that the movie A Christmas Story starring Peter Billingsley is based on. Here is how the book is set up. Our narrator, Ralph has arrived back in his hometown of Hohman, Indiana where his first stop is Flick's Tavern, run by his childhood friend and Army buddy, Flick. Once Ralph begins to talk with Flick, we get flashback stories of Ralph's childhood and teenage years. So the book is set up of a chapter, usually one to three pages of Ralph and Flick as adults talking in the bar and then a chapter of flashbacks.
I will skip the Flick and Ralph as adult chapters and lay out the flashback chapters, so you my dear reader will know what the short stories are about:
Duel in the Snow, or Red Ryder Nails the Cleveland Street Kid: Probably the most famous story in the whole book! This is Ralphie's story of his quest, his obsession with getting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.
The Counterfit Secret Circle Member Gets the Message, or the Asp Strikes Again: The story of Ralphie's love of the Little Orphan Annie show and his desire to discover the secret message played at the end of each broadcast.
The Endless Streetcar Ride Into the Night, and the Tinfoil Noose: Ralph's blind date
Hairy Gertz and the Forty-Seven Crappies: Ralph goes fishing with the grownups and tries to puncture their inner-circle.
My Old Man and the Lascivious Special Award That Heralded The Birth of Pop Art: Ralph's father wins a lamp shaped like a sexy woman's leg in a newspaper contest.
The Magic Mountain: The story of the Magic Mountain inside the World's Fair.
Grover Dill and the Tasmanian Devil: Ralph has finally had too much from a bully and fights back.
Ludlow Kissel and the Dago Bomb that Struck Back: The story of a giant firework gone wrong.
Uncle Ben and The Side-Splitting Knee-Slapper, or Some Words are Loaded: Ralph overhears his Uncle Ben telling a joke, which Ralph then repeats to a neighbor without realizing what he's truly saying.
Old Man Pulaski and the Infamous Jambreaker Blackmail Caper: Ralph lives for the black jawbreaker at the local candy story.
The Perfect Crime: Ralph scratches his dad's precious car and the blame falls on someone else.
Wilbur Duckworth and his Magic Baton: Ralph relives his time in the marching band as a sousaphone player.
Miss Bryfogel and the Frightening Case of the Speckle-Throated Cuckold: Ralph has a crush on his English teacher Miss Bryfogel and in order to impress her reads a book without realizing that it's content is inappropriate.
"Nevermore," Quoth the Assessor, "Nevermore....": The property tax assessor comes to town and cleans out a local family.
Leopold Doppler and the Great Orpheum Gravy Boat Riot: In order to raise attendance at the local movie house, the owner Leopold Doppler has a promotion where he gives away a dish set to all women who attend. But what happens when the dishes stop coming?
My thoughts: Sometimes, this book was hard to read. All I could hear and see in my head was the movie. Like Ralph's bully in the book is Grover Dill, where in the movie his name is Scott Farkus. And when I see Ralph, I see Peter Billingsley. So for me the most effective stories are the ones I hadn't heard before. I LOVED the story about the Gravy Boat Riot and the fireworks. The book is funny and poignant, heart-felt and ironic, wit and satire. 3 out of 5 stars.
Friday, October 2, 2009
October Reading
Happy October everyone! It's the start of a new month and that means some of you may be looking for books to read, so here I am! In honor of Halloween this month, I have to recommend everyone read some Stephen King. And in my opinion, King's best works are his short stories. So that is where I am going to tell you to start.
Different Seasons: This book contains four stories: "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" (the basis for Frank Darabont's 1994 movie The Shawshank Redemption), "Apt Pupil" (Bryan Singer's 1998 film Apt Pupil), "The Body" (Rob Reiner's 1986 film Stand by Me), and "Breathing Lessons".
Four Past Midnight: "The Langoliers" (a 1995 TV mini-series of the same name), "Secret Window, Secret Garden" (2004 film Secret Window starring Johnny Depp), "The Library Policeman", and "The Sun Dog".
And perhaps my favorite King: The Green Mile. A serial novel originally printed in six parts: "The Two Dead Girls", "The Mouse on the Mile", "Coffey's Hands", "The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix", "Night Journey"and "Coffey on the Mile". Althought now you can get all six volumes in one book. And yes it is the book that was the basis for Frank Darabont's 1999 film The Green Mile.
So that's it kids. For October, go get yourself some King and some scares. And have a Happy Halloween!!!
Different Seasons: This book contains four stories: "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" (the basis for Frank Darabont's 1994 movie The Shawshank Redemption), "Apt Pupil" (Bryan Singer's 1998 film Apt Pupil), "The Body" (Rob Reiner's 1986 film Stand by Me), and "Breathing Lessons".
Four Past Midnight: "The Langoliers" (a 1995 TV mini-series of the same name), "Secret Window, Secret Garden" (2004 film Secret Window starring Johnny Depp), "The Library Policeman", and "The Sun Dog".
And perhaps my favorite King: The Green Mile. A serial novel originally printed in six parts: "The Two Dead Girls", "The Mouse on the Mile", "Coffey's Hands", "The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix", "Night Journey"and "Coffey on the Mile". Althought now you can get all six volumes in one book. And yes it is the book that was the basis for Frank Darabont's 1999 film The Green Mile.
So that's it kids. For October, go get yourself some King and some scares. And have a Happy Halloween!!!
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