bookshelf – Page 2 – DAK Living- Dave and Karen exploring the world!

January (2017) Books – The following materials can be found in your local library!

As many of you know, I try to alternate fiction and non-fiction books. I am always looking for new ways to stimulate my mind and not get caught up in the fiction world. Not that a really good fiction book can’t be stimulating, but if I didn’t restrict myself- that would be all I would read!

As a Media Specialist by trade, I enjoy all forms of media. I especially like Art films and really enjoy ones that have won awards from the Tribeca Film Festival. This film won a special Jury Prize.

Stand Clear of the Closing Doors, DVD 99 minutes. 2013 👍

Ricky is a 13-year-old autistic boy who decides to run away. His failure to return home from school puts his undocumented mother into a tailspin. Ricky’s mother, Mariana, begins an extensive search of the city. We see Ricky wondering the streets of New York and finally ending up on the subway. He spends many days trapped in the subway. He’s hungry, thirsty, and scared. He doesn’t know enough to ask for help. No one offers to help him. In fact, some punk kids push him around and tell him he smells. All the while, his mother is going out of her mind. She has to be careful not to draw too much attention to herself and her family because they are here illegally from Mexico.

This is such a good story depicting what it must be like to have autism and be lost in a big city where no one really cares or offers much help-people rushing around too busy to notice. The sights and sounds of New York are exactly what I remember. One critic mentions that this movie should be put into a time capsule so future generations can see what New York’s subway system was like. This movie stays with you.

I would pair this movie with the book Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer. Bauer’s story is about a medical student with Aspergers who is fascinated with death. Pairing books with movies is a great way to connect with book club members.

My Name is Lucy Barton, by Elizabeth Strout.👍

Lucy’s life was briefly interrupted by a lengthy (9 week) hospital stay. It is in the hospital where we meet Lucy while she reflects upon her childhood, her parenting, and her marriage. Her estranged mother visits her and through conversation a dysfunctional family history is disclosed.

This family has lots of baggage. Possibly growing up impoverished has something to do with it. Possibly the lack of communication and the lack of showing compassion toward one another, has something to do with it. Page 118 reveals a heartbreaking story involving her brother and her father. What happens to her brother would break anyone. Throughout the story, Lucy exposes intimate details that help the reader understand the choices she has made.
Elizabeth Stout delivers a revealing depiction of a troubled family dealing with issues that many readers will be able to relate to.

Under the Harrow: A Novel by [Berry, Flynn]

Under the Harrow written by Flynn Barry.👍

Another title similar to Girl on the Train and definitely full of suspense! As the weekend approaches, Nora can’t wait to leave the busy city and travel by train to her sister in the countryside. She is looking forward to spending down time drinking wine, cooking, relaxing. When she arrives at the house, she throws open the door and expecting to hear her sister yell, “Get in here and help me”, she instead is met with a distinct quiet and a disturbing smell. What is that smell and where is my sister?

You need to read the rest to find out what happens to Nora. This book is a page turner and Flynn Berry is a great story teller. You will not be disappointed. I look forward to more stories by this author.

I came late to this party:( Who knew I would fall in love with Leonard Cohen’s music and lyrics. I can’t believe I didn’t discover him earlier, especially now that he has passed. I have been listening to him nonstop since I picked up this CD from the library. His last CD titled You Want it Darker is full of thought provoking lyrics with a religious undertone and an offering to God. I feel he was ready to leave this world- he must have come to terms with his “Maker.” In the 2nd stanza of the song Treaty, Cohen tells God to please assure him that he is saved by signing a Treaty- at least that’s what I think. You will need to listen for yourself.

I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes the bloody hill
I’m angry and I’m tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty
I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine

January 26, 2017

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Just some thoughts…

I just checked my phone and saw on Instagram that our President’s grandson is eating his lunch in the White House Kitchen. My first thought was damn-Lucky kid! I mean who eats lunch on fine china with white linens and polished silverware? Look how perfectly cut the melon is! I guess this is how lunch is served in the kitchen of the White House. I would never have known if the picture wasn’t posted on Instagram.

Blair House, DC and White House Kitchen

(Check out what my grandson eats off of on Monday Mash Up(Jan. 30))

I love the fact that the President and his family keep posting pics on Instagram! I feel like we, the American people, are on this journey with the Trump family and we get to witness it first hand by all the pics and stories they keep posting.

Wow, I just checked my phone again and Ivanka’s youngest child just learned to crawl on the carpet in the White House Dining Room! You can see the waiter in the background cleaning up dishes while the family visits and plays with the kids. We have never been privy to the inner rooms and rituals of the White House before.

I’m not saying I like the tweets the President continues to regurgitate, nor do I agree with all of his rhetoric or policies, but I love the front row advantage we have now that he and his family inhabit the White House.

If you don’t have Instagram and are not following the President and his family then you are missing out on a continuous narrative of their journey- one the American people are usually left out of. Just some thoughts…

Click here to see video at White House with Ivanka and son.

White House bowling alley

My thoughts, not necessarily Dave’s thoughts.

December 31, 2016

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Karen’s Book Shelf

December (2016) Books – All these books can be found in your local library!

As many of you know, I try to alternate fiction and non-fiction books. I am always looking for new ways to stimulate my mind and not get caught up in the fiction world. Not that a really good fiction book can’t be stimulating, but if I didn’t restrict myself that would be all I would read!

With the holiday’s here, I have been remiss in my reading responsibilities. I try to read for an hour a day, but sometimes, even for a Librarian, life gets in the way. I love reading- I love how it forces me to sit and stop, but this month has been very busy, so I only have two books to review.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, Shay, Brand and Matt, 2016.

I was once invited to an Ugly Christmas Party and I remember having so much fun! That’s why I chose to read and review this book. I haven’t thrown a party like this, but I am always looking for a reason to laugh with friends and family. This book contains lots of ideas to make any Ugly Sweater Party successful. Recipes are provided like Ugly Sweater Cake, Ugly Sweater Cookies, Pigs in an Ugly Sweater Wreath, to name a few. I like best the Hideous Projects section where the authors give simple directions to make an Ugly Sweater Bunting and Garland, Felt Ugly Table Runner, and Ugly Wine Glass Candle holders. In the Apparel section, the authors supply easy-to-follow instructions on creating your own ugly sweater. Overall, the book was good in content and detail, but I wouldn’t bother purchasing it. That is why you should only check out this book from your public library 🙂 👎

If you don’t want to bother with a book, just go to this website. 10 tips to throwing an Ugly Sweater Party– lots of great ideas.
Also, Amazon offers these for sale: Set of 12 Ugly Sweater Contest Award Buttons, for $6.00

The Couple Next Door, written by Shari Lapena, 2016. Winner of the Goodreads Choice Awards Best Mystery and Thriller.

I read this book in one evening! I couldn’t put it down; I even forwent sleep just so I could see what happens in the end. Although a little disappointed- I found the story line to be predictable- the pace of the novel kept my interest. Have you ever left your baby sleeping in a crib and gone next door to a party? I actually did this once. I remember checking in on Lauren (18 mos. then) and thinking what the hell am I doing? What if something were to happen to her while I was away? Needless to say, I didn’t return to the party.
The main characters of the novel, Anne and Marco Conti, find themselves in a similar situation. Although when they return home the unimaginable has happened and the fierce unraveling of their story begins. It is at that point that the reader is taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I can easily see this book being made into a movie. Jake Gyllenhaal would be my choice for the main character of Marco. He is the perfect age and could conjure up the exact emotions-guaranteed. I suggest you read this book from your local library, 👍

December 1, 2016

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Karen’s Book Shelf

November (2016) Books – All these books can be found in your local library!

As many of you know, I try to alternate fiction and non-fiction books. I am always looking for new ways to stimulate my mind and not get caught up in the fiction world. Not that a really good fiction book can’t be stimulating, but if I didn’t restrict myself that would be all I would read!

Is it better to have nothing and want, or want for nothing? In Beer Money: A Memoir of Privilege and Loss Frances Stroh reveals her story growing up in a privileged and prominent family of Detroit. Fortunes spent on art and antiques, instead of investing in the health and well-being of the marriage and children, ultimately destroys the Stroh family. Surely bad business practices did not help, but the needless spending and lack of accountability, laden with drugs and alcohol, also took its toll.

I had a hard time making connections with Stroh’s dysfunctional family, although I did enjoy reading about Frances’ memories of Detroit, Grosse Pointe, Coleman Young and Kwane Kilpatrick. I still give it a 👍because of all the memories it brought back for me about the Come Back City of Detroit.

The Girl with No Past by Kathryn Croft

Fast paced and well written is what comes to mind when I reflect on this novel. Leah Mills lives life quietly- trying to stay under the radar. She lives in a tiny flat in London and works in a library shelving books. Life is predictable, just as she likes it, until one day she meets someone in a chat room and her life begins to unravel. Secrets that are hidden are soon discovered. From the first page I was hooked. You will be too. 👍

The Stranger by Harlan Coben

A thriller that kept my attention throughout. A mysterious person, the Stranger, shows up at a bar and reveals some pretty disturbing information about Adam’s wife. Adam has a choice as to how he will handle this new information. Will he confront his wife or pretend that the conversation never took place. After awhile the Stranger makes the decision for him. The Stranger never has good news. This is an easy, entertaining read. 👍

November 1, 2016

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Karen’s Book Shelf

October (2016) Books – All these books can be found in your local library!

As many of you know, I try to alternate fiction and non-fiction books. I am always looking for new ways to stimulate my mind and not get caught up in the fiction world. Not that a really good fiction book can’t be stimulating, but if I didn’t restrict myself that would be all I would read!

Cook It in Cast Iron: America’s Test Kitchen, Google Books, 2016.

For many reasons Cook’s Country is huge in the public libraries. We subscribe to the monthly magazines and they usually fly off the shelf. Cook’s Country contains easy to follow recipes that have been tested in commercial kitchens. The testers follow the recipes as stated and then make suggestions on how the recipe could be improved. The new instructions would most likely be easier to follow instructions or a healthier version of the same recipe. The cookbook I read was a compilation of such recipes but all the recipes were cooked or created in a cast iron pan or skillet.
Not only does this book offer great recipes, it also provides information on how to properly care for your cast iron skillet and the nutritional value of cooking with cast iron. I remember cooking with cast iron years ago and hated when the skillet would get rust on it if it sat in water too long. I was young and naive. I tossed that skillet in the garbage and now after reading this book, I wish I hadn’t. My skillet would be soooo seasoned by now.

On page 8 the testers review the best cast iron skillets in the marketplace. They tested dozens of skillets and offer their honest comments on each. The book also contains many appealing recipes that I could see myself making, A scrumptious potpie recipe is listed below. I have not gone out to buy a new skillet but am considering asking for one for Christmas, the kids are always wondering what to buy me and this would be a good gift that wouldn’t cost too much. 👍

Cast Iron skillet Chicken Pot Pie recipe

Cooks Country website has lots of tips and recipes.

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah, St. Martin’s Press, 2010.

The novel is about two sisters who need to care for their aging parents. Each sister, Meredith and Nina, deal with their parents differently. One tries escaping and one tries ignoring the reality. They grew up in a cold home without much conversation between the sisters and the mother. If it were not for each other, and their father, they would have had a very lonely childhood. When the father gets sick, the mother must take on a more active roll and it is then that the sisters learn to appreciate their mother.

I did not enjoy this story. I thought is was strange. I never felt any sympathy for the characters and I didn’t like the plot. I forced myself to finish the book because a patron said she thoroughly enjoyed it. Probably won’t read another Kristin Hannah book again. I tried reading Nightingale last year by the same author and didn’t like that one either. 👎

Don’t Try to Find Me by Holly Brown, William Marrow Publishing, 2014.

After completing a Google search on books similar to Girl on the Train, I came up with a list of contenders. I chose this one to read because the reviews were good. I dove in and was not disappointed. Marley, a 14 yr. old run away is trying to find her way in the world. She meets someone on Facebook who makes many promises to her and she soon finds out that people sometimes are not what they say they are- a tough lesson to learn at any age. Marley’s parents turn to Social Media to locate their daughter. Many secrets are revealed once the spotlight is turned on them; as they become under suspicion from the police. A true page turner and one I highly recommend. 👍

Next month I will include a review on The Girl with No Past, by an English writer Kathryn Croft. …so far very good! And a new book I picked up at the library last night, a memoir written by Frances Stroh called Beer Money. The title caught my eye 🙂

September 30, 2016

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Karen’s Book Shelf

September (2016) Books – All these books can be found in your local library!

The Best and the Lightest 150 Healthy Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, from the editors of The Food Network Magazine

I particularly love the recipes in the Soups and Stews section! This week I am making the Kale and White Bean Soup on page 21. The Chicken Potpie on page 93 looks delicious, I’ll make that next week. And on page 300 there is a Oatmeal Flax Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe that has Dave’s name all over it:) This cookbook is choc full of recipes that I am anxious to create. Nutritional information is provided, as well as helpful hints for preparing the recipes. Since we joined a dinner club I have become somewhat obsessed with finding interesting, appealing and healthy recipes. I plan on ordering this book to add to my collection of cookbooks. Amazon’s price is $17.70. 👍

(When the dinner club meets, every 6 weeks or so, I will devote an entire post on the full menu and the conversations that took place)

Find Her, by Lisa Gardner

So, I normally don’t read mysteries. No reason really- maybe because they usually seem ridiculous and easily solved. So when this book came across my desk, I was reluctant. I read the back cover, searched the title in Good Reads.com and decided to give this book a try. To my surprise I was hooked after the first chapter. The main character, Flora, is kidnapped during spring break and held in a coffin type box for days at a time. She is reduced to a submissive captive and is changed forever. What I found intriguing is how the author was able to tell this story without gory details…details that usually scare me as a reader and usually invade my own dreams at night. I wanted to find out quickly what happened to Flora so I read day and night and finished the book in two days. This book is well written, plot driven and very suspenseful. I suggest you check it out of your public library. 👍

Balancing in Heels, My Journey to Health, Happiness, and Making it all Work written by Kristin Cavallari

This book sparked a memory when it came across my desk. I remember watching Laguna Beach and later The Hills on MTV, back in the day; therefore, I was curious to see what Kristin had to say. If I was younger, I would have really enjoyed this book; I think my own daughters (26 and 22) would get more out of it than I did. The book presents lots of helpful information on pregnancy, diet and nutrition. Kristin discusses her marriage and the birth of her three children and her routine to get back in shape after each birth. She offers lots of good recipes and helpful wardrobe advice. She also talks about how she got her shoe business up and running. She is a goal setter -very much like me, so we had that in common. Overall, a good read for a twenty- something young women. 👍

Becoming Grandma, by Lesley Stahl

We love 60 Minutes! Every Sunday we are usually glued to the TV to watch it. So- I was curious to see how Lesley Stahl was dealing with becoming a Grandmother. I became a Grandmother in 2014, December, and I am over the moon in-love with KJ. Kenneth Jr. Lesley Stahl is experiencing the same emotions! She talks about how happy she is in her new role of Grandma. She talks a great deal about her relationship with her own daughter and how the dynamics changed once she became a mother. Lesley states that she is amazed at how “mothering” came so easy for her daughter. She was concerned at first, thinking her daughter would continue to be self-absorbed, but her fears were abated once she saw her daughter holding on to her new granddaughter. Her relationship with her own husband changed as well, the family they created was growing and the bond between the two of them strengthened. Lesley tells wonderful stories while giving lengthy discussions about other famous grandmothers. She writes in a casual manner- almost like you are having lunch with her and she is relating stories to you while you order wine. I really enjoyed this book and I particularly enjoyed a glimpse into Lesley Stahl’s life. 👍