Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Top Ten Tuesday - Debut Novels I Enjoyed
Happy Tuesday, dear readers! This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt from That Artsy Reader Girl is Debut Novels I Enjoyed. So, in no particular order, here we go...
📙 The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian
📗 Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
📘 The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
📕 The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
📙 Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
📗 The Maid by Nita Prose
📘 Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
📕 Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnis Garmus
📙 Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
📗 Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (I’m not 100% positive this was her debut novel. Anyone know?)
Friday, July 19, 2024
Sullivan Book Nook July Update
Friday shelfies from the Little Free Library. Stop by if you see something you’d like to have, but please don’t take more than three books at a time. Leave some for others to enjoy. Thank you!
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Review - The Dutch House
AUTHOR: Ann Patchett
NARRATOR: Tom Hanks
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.
The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.
Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives, they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.
REVIEW: First of all, I believe Tom Hanks has officially become one of my favorite audiobook narrators. He did such an outstanding job with this book, and I honestly didn't want it to end. This was my first time reading Ann Patchett's work, and my emotions were up and down throughout the entire story. Having a child with Type 1 diabetes, the parts with Maeve struggling with the disease left an all too familiar ache in my heart. I loved every character - even the evil step-witch, Andrea - but Danny and Maeve were my favorites. Between my two parents, I've been through many divorces, so it was easy to sympathize with them and the complexity of emotions they dealt with as children and adults. Patchett's writing is flawless, and I was fully immersed from the very beginning. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Recipe - Korean Chicken Breasts
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut in half lengthwise - from 2 breasts)
- 1/4 cup low sodium or gluten-free soy sauce
- 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (plus more for topping)
- 2 thinly sliced scallions (white and green parts)
DIRECTIONS: Place the chicken breasts, 1 at a time, in a Ziploc bag. Pound the chicken breast to an even thickness, about ½ inch thick, being careful not to puncture the bag.
In a medium bowl, combine the soy sauce, apple sauce, onion, sesame oil, ginger, brown sugar, garlic, red pepper flakes, if using and sesame seeds. Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade and transfer the remainder to the Ziploc bag with the chicken. Refrigerate and marinate for at least 1 hour.
Over medium-high heat, grill the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes or until it no longer sticks to the grill. Turn the chicken, spoon the reserved ¼ cup of marinade over each breast and grill an addition 2 to 3 minutes.
NUTRITION INFO: 4 oz, Calories: 180 kcal, Carbohydrates: 9 g, Protein: 25 g, Fat: 4.5 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 73 mg, Sodium: 666 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 6 g
(Recipe and photo courtesy of Skinnytaste)
Monday, July 15, 2024
Review - The Mistletoe Mystery
AUTHOR: Nita Prose
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): Molly the Maid has a whole new mystery to solve this holiday when a Secret Santa gift exchange raises questions about who she can and cannot trust—a heartwarming story about the true spirit of the season, by #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.
Molly Gray has always loved the holidays. When Molly was a child, her gran went to great lengths to make the season merry and bright, full of cherished traditions. The first few Christmases without Gran were hard on Molly, but this year, her beloved boyfriend and fellow festive spirit, Juan Manuel, is intent on making the season Molly’s most joyful yet.
But when a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel raises questions about who Molly can and cannot trust, she dives headfirst into solving her most consequential—and personal—mystery yet. Molly has a bad feeling about things, and she starts to wonder: has she yet again mistaken a frog for a prince?
A heartwarming, magical story about the true spirit of the season, The Mistletoe Mystery reminds us that love is the greatest mystery of all.
REVIEW: I’ve been a fan of Molly the Maid and Nita Prose from the very beginning. (Molly has always reminded me of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory - one of my favorite TV shows). This novella wraps up a lot of things and offers the reader a satisfying happily-ever-after for Molly and her one true love, Juan Manuel. Although it’s very predictable, and I saw the ending coming from a mile away, it still brought a huge smile to my face. I hope Nita decides to write a new book giving us a glimpse into Molly and Juan Manuel’s marriage and (I hope) parenthood. If you love Molly the Maid, then you’ll enjoy this quick little read. Recommended.
(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)
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