The Woman in the Window

Synopsis : Anna Fox lives alone in her New York City home. She suffers from agoraphobia, literally unable to even venture outside of her home. She is separated from her husband and young daughter, and really struggling. She spends her time drinking Merlot (too much), watching classic film noir of the 1940s and 1950s, and observing, or some might even say spying on, her neighbors. One night as she watches the windows of the her neighbors the Russells, she sees something shocking. Has she been drinking too much? Is someone in danger? Will Anna ever be well enough to leave her house?

Nicholette’s review: It’s a sign of the times, we can’t get enough of our unreliable female narrators. This psychological suspense thriller is very much in the vein of Gone Girl, or The Girl on the Train. At least now she has graduated to being called a Woman! This was not groundbreaking in any way, nor great literature, but I’m not ashamed to say it was a lot of page turning goodness. We’re not told the circumstances of Anna’s separation from her family (at least not immediately), but clearly she’s in the throes of some serious issues, and drinking way too much. She can’t even figure out if she should trust herself! The classic film component provided interesting parallels to her own reality and made me want to check some of those classics out myself. This moved along at a crisp pace and was a fun diversion.

Rating: 4/5

Menu : OK, a bottle of Merlot MUST figure into the menu somehow right? So while just drinking it might be Anna’s style, we decided to use it in cooking some delicious braised short ribs. This is a very easy recipe, mainly just taking the time needed, and not a lot of ingredients.

Ingredients

4 English cut beef short ribs, roughly 8 oz each

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

1 bottle of full bodied red wine

4 cups low sodium vegetable broth

4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

1) Preheat the oven to 325 degrees

2) Pat ribs dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper on all sides.

3) Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in large Dutch oven over medium high heat. Brown the ribs on all sides. Transfer to a plate. Add the garlic to the pot and stir until softened but not browned, about 1 minute. Pour in the bottle of wine, bring to a boil, and cook until reduced to about 1 cup.

4) Add the ribs and any juices to the pot, along with the stock. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot, and put in the oven.

5) Cook about 3 hours, until meat is tender and falling off the bone. Transfer the ribs to a plate, tenting with foil to keep warm. Strain the sauce and remove the grease. Simmer 10 minutes or so to reduce, the whisk in the last tablespoon of butter.

6) Serve the ribs and sauce, I like to serve it over grits, or polenta, or even mashed potatoes would work!

Rating: 5/5

The Orphan Master's Son

Synopsis:  This novel is told from the perspective of two young men living in the world’s most mysterious dictatorship, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or as Americans call it, North Korea.  In Part One, Pak Jun Do begins life in an orphanage.  Jun Do gets his first taste of power, and is assigned the job of distributing the meager food rations and assigning the sometimes dangerous work assignments.  Along the way, he is forced to make a few questionable moral choices.  When he turns 14 he becomes a tunnel soldier, then a kidnapper for the state, and in return for his loyal service is rewarded with language school where he learns English.  He then is assigned to “work” on a fishing boat where his real assignment is to intercept and translate foreign radio transmissions.  More things happen, some things go wrong, and ultimately he winds up in a prison mining camp.  Part Two is told from the perspective of an unnamed interrogator.  He has been assigned the job of extracting a confession from Commander Ga, a national war hero.  It becomes apparent pretty quickly (to the reader, not the interrogator) that Commander Ga is actually….Jun Do!  And so we spend Part Two ultimately unraveling a mystery in which The Dear Leader himself plays not a small part.

Nicholette’s  review : I became interested in learning more about North Korea a few years ago and selected two books to begin my education. The first, Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea and the Kim Dynasty, is a fascinating, dense, 900+ page masterwork, though I am not reviewing that here.  (But if you too want to become a student of North Korea, this is an excellent overview!)  The second was this work of fiction.  It was well reviewed and won the Pulitzer Prize so I had high expectations and my expectations were actually surpassed.  I think it’s rare to find a novel that is equally driven by plot and characters.  The story started slow, but became quite a page turner as Jun Do (yep, John Doe, a man in search of his true identity) becomes a more vivid character.  It is both a thriller, as well as clever social satire.  There were many themes of the novel, but perhaps the one that resonated with me the most is simply that love is being totally honest and transparent with another person.  In the context of a society where people are constantly  in fear of being turned in to the secret police, where people have to constantly guard their true thoughts and emotions, the gift of total honesty and transparency is a magnificent thing.

Rating:  5/5

Corey review: once again did not read this week’s book. Part of me is intrigued because of the 5/5 rating my mom gave, but the other part of me knows this is not a book I will get into. Any book that starts slow is a no go for me. One thing I can get behind is the burger. Speaking from experience, these are awesome.

Menu : A recurring theme in the book is how important the myth of North Korean superiority is in their culture. At one point in the book, the Dear Leader wants to try and replicate a Texas ranch, but it will be “improved” to his standards.  So what could be more American than a burger?  This recipe from Rachel Ray is a bit more complicated than your average American burger, but it is without question my favorite burger of all time! 

Korean BBQ Burgers

Ingredients

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2-3 tablespoons gochujang

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger

3 teaspoons sugar

1 clove garlic, grated

2 cups shredded cabbage (red, green or savoy)

1 cup kimchi, thinly sliced, plus a splash of brine

2 scallions, thinly sliced

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 red onion, very thinly sliced

1 1/2 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon canola oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 1 inch pieces of fresh ginger, peeled and grated

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon soy sauce

3 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tablespoon warm water

1 tablespoon honey

1 1/2 pound ground beef

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

4 brioche buns, split

toasted sesame seeds

FOR SLAW: in a medium bowl, mix the may, 1 tablespoon each gochujang and sesame oil, the 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 1 teaspoon sugar and the grated garlic.  Mix in the cabbage, kimchi and brine, and scallions.  Cover and chill.

FOR ONION:  in a small saucepan, heat the cider vinegar, the remaining 2 teaspoons sugar and the salt over medium, stirring until dissolved, about 2 minutes.  Mis in the onion. Remove from heat.  Let stand until cool then drain.

FOR SAUCE:  in a medium skillet, heat the 1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil over medium.  Add 2 cloves of the minced garlic and one 1 inch piece of grated ginger.  Stir until aromatic, about one minute. Add the brown sugar, 1/2 cup of soy sauce and the rice vinegar, dissolved cornstarch, honey, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil.  cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 2 minutes.  Add the remaining 1-2 tablespoons gochujang.  Reduce heat to low and keep warm.

FOR BURGERS: place the beef in a medium bowl. Season with pepper.  Mix in the remaining 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 inch piece of grated ginger, 1 teaspoon soycause, one teaspoon sesame oil, and the Worcestershire sauce.  Form into 4 patties.  Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil.

Heat a large griddle or grill pain over medium high heat and cook the patties for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, for medium.  build the burgers by layering bun bottoms, onion, burgers, sauce, sesame seeds, slaw and bun tops.

The Secret Keeper

Synopsis: During a summer party at the family farm in the English countryside, sixteen year old Laurel Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house and is daydreaming about the future. She spies a stranger coming up the long road to the farm, and watches as her mother speaks to him. Laurel then witnesses a shocking crime that remains a family mystery for decades. Now, fifty years later, Laurel is a successful actress in London. She gathers at the family farm with her siblings to celebrate her mother Dorothy’s 90th birthday. She decides it’s her last chance to gain answers to the questions she has harbored for all those years. Dorothy and Laurel’s story take the reader from pre-WWII England, through the blitz, to the 60’s and beyond. It’s a story about hopes and dreams and secrets, and the consequences of our choices.

Nicholette’s Review: This was an absorbing family drama/mystery told from the points of view of multiple characters. Lots of twists and turns, and I was sure I had it figured out multiple times (nope), until the ending which left me stunned and surprised! What a happy turn of events for a reader! The characters are vivid, and more complicated than first glance would suggest. Kate Morton is gifted at making the transitions between time/place/narrator seamless. The WWII backdrop provided some atmosphere, but this is not really a historical novel. It’s a long book, and a little slow to start, but stay with it and you’ll have a great reading experience.

Rating: 4/5

Corey’s Review: This was one book I wanted to start, but when I heard it was long I knew now was not that time! Too much going on. This book does sound right up my ally and like the prefect fall read. Something about the English countryside and mystery make me think of a cold fall night. It’s no secret that my mom is dominating the review game… I need to pull my weight.

Menu: At one point in the novel, Laurel is reminiscing about the chickens on her family farm and how her mother would use them to make “Coronation Chicken.” Of course, I was curious about what Coronation Chicken was, so trusty Google informed me. Coronation Chicken was created to be served at the banquet celebrating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. I expected something more elaborate, but chicken salad it is. The original recipe is a bit more complicated than it needs to be (in my opinion), but the results are tasty. Converting grams of mayonnaise to English measurements were tricky, so hopefully I got it pretty close to the right proportions!

Coronation Chicken

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot

1 bay leaf

2 teaspoons curry powder

1 teaspoon tomato paste

4 tablespoons red wine

4 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon brown sugar

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1/3-1/2 cup creme fraiche (or unsweetened whipped cream)

finely chopped dried apricots

2 large skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or cut into chunks.

Instructions:

1) Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan

2) Add in the onion, bay leaf and curry powder and gently cook for 2 minutes

3) Add in the tomato paste, red wine and water and bring to a gentle boil.

4) Add in the lemon juice and pinch of sugar, then season with salt and pepper.

5) Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from heat, strain, and cool completely.

6) In a large bowl mix together the prepared sauce with the mayonnaise, creme fraiche, and apricots.

7) Add in the chicken, and mix gently.

An American Marriage

Synopsis: Celestial and Roy are young newlyweds, educated, middle class with upwardly mobile ambitions, and happily married. After only 18 months of marriage, Roy is accused and convicted of rape, a crime that he did not commit. Celestial knows that he is innocent, but the years pass, wreaking havoc on their marital bond. Celestial begins to spend more time with her childhood friend (and Roy’s best man) Andre. After five years, the wrongful conviction is overturned, and Roy returns to Atlanta to try and reclaim his life.

Nicholette’s Review: This was such a moving, powerful examination of love and marriage. The brief plot synopsis might make you expect a courtroom drama or examination of the prison-industrial complex. In fact, there is surprisingly little time devoted to the criminal proceedings. Instead, this is an examination of the slow devastation of a man/woman/couple. We read about the hopes of romantic love, some realized and some failed. We read about disapproving in-laws, flawed families, questions of whether to have children. This novel was beautifully written, honest and heart breaking, but ultimately hopeful. It is told from alternating POV-Roy, Celestial, and Andre, and partially epistolary in the letters Roy and Celestial exchange while he is incarcerated, and the letters were probably my favorite part. The letters make you realize how little you actually know someone when you marry, and the process of truly “knowing” takes so long. I thought it was one of my favorite books of the year.

Rating: 4/5

Corey’s Review: Oh this book!! It was a roller coaster of emotions. I was also expecting this to be a book about our criminal justice system and the fight for racial justice, but it ended up being that and so much more. The heart wrenching love story of Roy and Celestial took front and center stage in this book. It’s funny because at first I hated the letters, but then they grew on me. They opened and peeled back another layer to our characters and it made the story! This is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
Rating: 4/5

Menu Early in the novel, Roy and Celestial visit Roy’s parents. He describes having “Sock It To Me” cake for dessert which he declares his favorite. I’ve never made the Sock It To Me cake, but decided that a cake with cinnamon swirl couldn’t be a bad bet. This recipe dates from the late 60’s/early 70’s as you can tell from it’s name. Those of us of a certain vintage will certainly remember Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In which popularized the phrase. It was one of the early “doctored up” cake mix recipes meant to make life easy!

Ingredients:

1 package plain yellow cake mix

2 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup finely chopped pecans

1 cup sour cream

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Glaze:

1 cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted

2 tablespoons milk

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist a bundt pan with vegetable oil spray and dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour and set pan aside.

2) for the filling, place 2 tablespoons flour, the brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans in a small mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Set aside.

3) Place the cake mix, sour cream, oil, water, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Mix until thick and smooth.

4) Pour half the batter in the pan. Sprinkle the filling evenly over the batter in the pan. Pour the remaining batter evenly over the filling, smoothing it out with a rubber spatula. Place the pan in the oven.

5) Bake 50-55 minutes until golden brown and the cake wirings back when lightly pressed.. Cool on a wire rack, then invert the cake onto another rack and let cool completely, 30 minutes more.

6) Mix the confectioner’s sugar and milk to make a glaze, then spoon over the cooled caked.

7) Slice and serve.

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

Synopsis: A novel in epistolary form, this is a letter by the narrator addressed to his mother. Little Dog is the 20 something year old son of a single mother, living with his mother and grandmother in Hartford Connecticut where they are now refugees from Vietnam. Little Dog was very small when they moved to the US, assimilated in language, so functions as the bridge between his grandmother and mother (both illiterate) and American life and culture. If this plot sounds a little like the author’s biography, well, that is probably not an accident.

Nicholette’s review: Is this a novel, a memoir, or a poem? Maybe the so called “auto-fiction.” This ostensibly fictional novel does have significant parallels to the author’s life story, so who knows. I was interested to learn more about Ocean Vuong, and his Wikipedia page led me to understand that he is also a poet. That makes sense as the writing is beautiful, and highly stylized. The coming of age story is pretty universal—we’ve all been teenagers! But the particular experience of a gay Vietnamese refugee took me a little out of my comfort zone. In the end, this seemed like a lot of style, but not a lot of substance. Reading almost any paragraph in the book is a delight, but the whole of it together was a tiny bit disappointing somehow. It made me think of how you might feel after going to a fancy restaurant and getting five wonderful desserts. Each of them completely delicious, but at the end, even though full, you’re not quite satisfied. I liked it, and am glad I read it, but it’s probably not for everyone.

Rating: 3/5

Corey’s review: I didn’t read this week’s book and based on the review I think I will skip it. The one thing I am not skipping is meal! This looks so delicious and perfect for summer.

Menu: This recipe from The Food Network is a favorite of mine. It is quick and easy, and of course, delicious.

Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Pulled Pork

8 ounces rice vermicelli

1/4 cup rice vinegar

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

3 tablespoons fish sauce

2 tablespoons sugar

Chopped romaine lettuce

2 cups shredded carrots

1 seedless cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced

2-2 1/2 cups pulled pork

1/2 cup packed fresh mint and/or basil, torn if large

1/3 cup salted peanuts, chopped

Sriracha, for topping

1) Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add the noodles, stir and remove from the heat. Lit sit until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water, draining well. Cut into shorter lengths with kitchen shears.

2). combine the vinegar, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl and stir until the sugar is dissolved.

3). Divide the lettuce among bowls, and top with the noodles, carrots and cucumber

4). Cook the pork in a medium nonstick skillet over medium high heat, stirring occasionally until hot and crisp, about 8 minutes. Divide among the salads. Drizzle with the dressing and top with the herbs and peanuts. Drizzle with sriracha.

Long Bright River

“This was the secret I learned that day: none of them want to be saved. They all want to sink backward toward the earth again, to be swallowed by the ground, to keep sleeping. There is hatred on their faces when they are roused from the dead.”

Synopsis: Mickey and Kasey are two sisters living in Philadelphia, but walking two different paths. Mickey is police officer patrolling the streets at night and Kasey is a drug addict looking for her next fix. Kasey mysteriously disappears right around the time of a string of murders and Mickey becomes obsessed with finding the murderer and her sister. The story alternates between their childhood and present day and each parts are equally riveting and shocking. Yes, this is a thriller, but it’s also much deeper than that

Nicholette’s Review: I didn’t really think that this was going to be the book for me, but I was wrong! It is a well written mystery, but SPOILER ALERT, it’s not really a mystery story. I mean it is superficially a mystery story, but at it’s core it is a family drama about the the ripple effect that opioid addiction has on a family, and a community. Kasey and Mickey are believable, flawed characters with a heartbreaking history. Raised by their grandmother after the overdose death of their mother, they go from inseparable, to not speaking at all, but their bond remains. A tenuous bond at times, but love endures. The topic is timely given our opioid epidemic, and while sad at times, I found it ultimately hopeful. I liked the fact that the writing in this book was so good it could make me truly enjoy a genre type fiction that I normally wouldn’t go for.

Rating: 4/5

Corey’s Review: Wow! I don’t even know where to begin with this one. It really has so many layers. It starts off as a murder mystery, but it turns into so much more that that. It is about family, loss, addiction and coping with whatever life throws at you. There are so many twists and turns in this book it will keep you engaged all the way until the end. It has always been interesting to me that two people who grow up under similar circumstances could be so different and choose such opposite ways of life. We read this in our book club and everyone loved it. It really has something for everyone. One thing that stuck out to me was the lack of quotation marks. It was obviously done on purpose, I just couldn’t figure that piece out.

Rating: 4/5

Menu: Philly= Philly cheese steaks of course! We have one non beef eater in our book club so we had to improvise and use chicken. I know- that is a big no-no, so I have included an easy traditional recipe below. This recipe comes from a food blogger Natasha’s Kitchen.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ribeye steak trimmed and thinly sliced*

• 1/2 tsp Sea salt or to taste

• 1/2 tsp Black pepper or to taste

• 1 sweet onion (large), diced

• 8 slices provolone cheese mild (not aged provolone)

• 4 Hoagie Rolls sliced 3/4 through

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter softened

• 1 garlic clove pressed

• 2-4 Tbsp mayonnaise or to taste

Method:

1. Slice hoagie rolls 3/4 of the way through with a serrated knife. Dice onions and thinly slice beef.*

2. In a small bowl, stir together 2 Tbsp softened butter with 1 pressed garlic clove. Spread garlic butter onto the cut sides of 4 hoagie roll. Toast the buns on a large skillet, flat cooktop or griddle on medium heat until golden brown then set aside.

3. Add 1 Tbsp oil to your pan/cooktop and sautee diced onions until caramelized then transfer to a bowl.

4. Increase to high heat and add 1 Tbsp oil. Spread the super thinly sliced steak in an even layer. Let brown for a couple of minutes undisturbed then flip and season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Sautee until steak is fully cooked through then stir in the caramelized onions.

5. Divide into 4 even portions and top each with 2 slices of cheese and turn off the heat so the cheese will melt without overcooking the meat.

6. Spread a thin layer of mayo on the toasted side of each roll. Working with one portion at a time, place a toasted bun over each portion and use a spatula to scrape the cheesy beef into your bun as you flip it over. Serve warm.

The Overstory

“There is no knowing for a fact. The only dependable things are humanity and looking.”

Synopsis: “It’s about trees.” Well, the person who gave me that synopsis didn’t exactly inspire me. But it was a Pulitzer Prize winner, and so many praised it, I figured there had to be just a little more to it than “it’s about trees.” What it’s really about is people, our relationship to nature and to each other. The novel starts with 9 separate character vignettes introducing the cast of protagonists. The plot then weaves them together, how they came to be connected (or not), but all defined by a love of the natural world. Much of the plot is centered around the eco-terrorism of the late 1990’s, set in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a difficult novel to summarize, but I’ll say that in a good way. It covers A LOT of ground!

Nicholette’s review: This is the type of book that I read and then I want to buy it for everyone that I know. I loved so much about it. First of all, there is just so much to learn from this book. It really makes you think about the world, and how much humans can underestimate the power of the planet. I think that there are some that have described it as a bit preachy, but this is the best rendering of science wrapped up in novel that I have encountered. The character development was tremendous, and the slow weaving together of the story threads was wonderful. This novel was brilliant, passionate, terrifying and painful. I truly cannot stop thinking about it. It deserves all the accolades and more. As a final note, there was also some sly, clever humor on display. Set in the Pacific Northwest of the late 1990’s, there had to be a few veiled Amazon references. My favorite? “Once you’ve bought a novel in your pajamas, there’s no turning back.”

Rating: 5/5

Corey’s review: This book has been on my TBR list for a while and I couldn’t get my life in order to read it in time for this week’s blog. My mom amazes me in many ways, her speed reading ability is just one of them. Everything about this book sounds like what I need right now. A walk in nature with an amazing story-line. I love our planet and have an immense amount of respect for her. I have this sitting my nightstand and just might need to hit pause on everything else to read this.

Menu : This was not a book that immediately called to mind any particular dish, so call it a wild card. I’ve been wanting to make Alison Roman’s Coconut braised chicken, and if we want to stretch it, coconuts come from trees, so that works, right?

Coconut-Braised Chicken with Chickpeas and Limes

3.5-4 pounds bone-in, skin on chicken pieces

2 tablespoons canola oil

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 large yellow or red onion, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons gochujang or tomato paste

2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 tablespoon fennel seeds

1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

two 14 oz cans full fat coconut milk

3 cups low sodium chicken broth

two 15 ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 teaspoons fish sauce (optional)

1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

3/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts

2 limes, quartered

1) Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Brown 8-10 minutes a side and transfer chicken to a plate.

2) Add the garlic and 3/4 of the onion to the pot, season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add gochujang, ginger, turmeric, fennel, and pepper flakes and cook about two more minutes.

3). Add the coconut milk and chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Return the chicken to the pot, add the chickpeas, and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.

4). After 45 minutes, remove the lid and simmer uncovered 20-25 more minutes. Add the fish sauce if using.

5) Serve the stew with remaining onion, cilantro, peanuts and lime for squeezing over.

Writers & Lovers

“If we didn’t have fear, imagine the creativity in the world. Fear holds us back every step of the way.”

Synopsis: Casey Peabody is trying to figure it out. She is a 31 year old woman who has moved to Boston in the summer of 1997 with the chief goal of completing the novel she has been working on for the last six years. She’s struggling in a lot of ways: she recently lost her mother to an unexpected death, she is financially strapped with crushing student debt, and is barely getting by as a waitress. She is also fresh off a failed romance. Casey begins to date two very different men which only makes her life more confusing. This is an introspective, intimate story of a young woman trying to realize her dream of the creative life.

Nicholette’s Review: I really, really enjoyed this novel. I found it to be a refreshing and fairly realistic story of a young woman just trying to figure out what kind of life she wants to live. Casey is an imperfect heroine (aren’t we all), and has a few failures to contend with. This novel is a thoughtful exploration of what happens when life doesn’t turn out exactly the way you planned, and trying to make it work anyway. While it’s a novel about writing, ironically I most enjoyed the parts of the novel set in the restaurant, Iris. The social politics between wait staff, hostess and chef, the effort to look presentable when you have to ride a bike to work, dealing with customers of every stripe. I suspect the author must have worked as a waitress herself, it was so realistic. This is my first reading of Lily King, and now I’m inspired to visit her previous novel Euphoria.

Rating: 4/5

Corey’s Review: I didn’t read this book, but it sounds like it was a great read. I love books based in New England and the self discovery aspect of this novel sounds endearing. One thing I will not pass up is the meal we curated for this book!

Menu: Casey works at restaurant called Iris. It’s where a number of important plot points occur, including one where she waits on a widower out with his two young sons. The description of creme brûlée was perfect! The shellac of the caramelized sugar topping, “like ice but really just the opposite, made from heat not cold.” It’s one of my favorite desserts ever. You may be tempted to skip the step where you strain the egg and cream mixture, but I implore you not to cut that corner! It keeps it silky smooth.

Creme Brulee

8 egg yolks

1/3 cup sugar

2 cups heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup sugar for topping

1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees

2) In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until mixture is thick and pale yellow and sugar is dissolved. Add cream and vanilla and continue to whisk until well blended.

3) Strain the mixture to skim off any foam or bubbles.

4) Divide mixture among 6 ramekins and place in a water bath. I usually use a lasagne pan or roasting pan, and fill it with hot water until the level reaches about half way up the ramekins.

5) Bake until set around the edges but still loose in the center, about 40-50 minutes.

6) Remove from the oven and leave in the water bath until cooled.

7) Remove cups from water bath and chill for at least two hours.

8) When ready to serve, sprinkle the top with 2 teaspoons of sugar, and use a small hand held torch to melt the sugar.

The Water Dancer

Synopsis: Hiram Walker is born a slave on a Virginia plantation. His mother Rose was sold into the Deep South when he was a young boy, and his father? Well that would be the master of the plantation, Howell Walker. Hiram ends up being raised by Thena, an old woman who also has suffered from the horrible practice of separating slave families. Hiram is gifted with intelligence, a keen memory, and other powers to be discovered. He is tasked with caring for his half brother Maynard, the heir to the plantation. His journey to escape from the world of bondage requires confronting his lost memories of childhood, and self discovery.

Nicholette’s Review: There’s so much to like about this novel, and I want to give it a rave review, but it’s more of a mixed review from me. Ta-Nehisi Coates as a superb writer, and his extraordinary gift with words is pleasure enough. I know I will be more than ready to read more of his work in the future.  The first part of the book was for me the most interesting and enjoyable, detailing Hiram’s transition from young child, through his growing awareness of his legacy and the unspeakable injustice of his world. As the story progresses, he becomes aware of a special gift of “conduction” that will lead him to the Underground Railroad, freedom, but ultimately a return to Lockless, the Virginia plantation of his birth. The “magical realism” of the story was not necessarily an issue for me, but it felt half way done.   I felt like it didn’t quite embrace the fairy tale quality of the story, so that element never seemed to fit well.  I would have preferred for Coates to either fully lean in to the magical part of it, or leave it out altogether.  I thought the characters were nuanced and complex and I appreciated that.  The abolitionists were almost as extreme as the slaveholders, hating the institution of slavery, but not always caring that much about the actual slaves.  In the end, for all the things I really admired about this debut novel, it came up a little short for me.   Rating: 3/5

Corey’s Review: This is a really hard review for me to write and I know probably goes against the popular opinion, but I could not get into this book. I have to agree with my mom, the first part of the book was the best for me. As soon as the book started dabbling with “magic” I got lost. The book covers such important and tragic events in our history I thought the magic portion was off putting. The author certainly has a way with words. Sometimes I felt like I was reading poetry rather than a novel and maybe that’s the point. This was my first book by this author and had such high expectations. Unfortunately, it was a miss for me. Rating: 3/5

Menu: A classic Virginia dish is peanut pie, very similar to pecan pie but with peanuts of course!

Ingredients:

1 pie crust

1 1/2 cup roughly chopped salted peanuts

3 large eggs

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 1/3 cup light corn syrup

1 tablespoon melted butter

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2) Lightly beat eggs, whisk in sugar and flour

3) Add corn syrup and peanuts, then add butter

4). Pour into pie crust

5) Bake for 50-60 minutes, until the edges of the pie are a rich golden brown and the filling is still a little loose in the center

6). cool, serve with whipped cream

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

“I thought at times that poetry might be an elegant way of screaming.”

Synopsis: It’s the last day of 1984, and 85 year old Lillian Boxfish decides to take a stroll around Manhattan. As she does, the story alternates between Liliian recalling a long and eventful life, and the events that occur during her walk. Lillian had an early career in advertising at Macy’s department store, cut short by marriage, motherhood, and divorce.

Nicholette’s Review: This novel is set exclusively in the head of Lillian, and what a delightful place to be! Lillian tells her life story as outlined on the streets of New York. Her life included lot of triumphs and joys (successful career, love and marriage, motherhood), as well as regrets and set backs. It’s also a bit of a love letter to the New York City itself, as she reflects on many of the well known landmarks of the city that she adores. Among the things I loved about Lillian: she was funny, smart and brave, she loved to walk everywhere that she goes, she could admit her failings, and, even at the age of 85, could still be open to the world and the people that she met. Rating: 4/5

Corey’s Review: I’ll start off by saying that this book is slower paced, not that there is anything wrong with that, but be forewarned. There were times when I dazed off for a bit. The entire book is narrated by our main character, Lillian Boxfish as she looks back on her life and her time living in NYC. Lillian is a spunky old lady that has had her shares of triumphs and failures. My favorite parts of the book were her reminiscing about old New York and the way life was back in the day. While I enjoyed the book, I don’t think I would recommend to someone that is looking for a page turner. Rating: 3/5

Menu: During Lillian’s New Year’s Eve stroll around New York, she decides to stop and have dinner at Delmonico’s. Delmonico’s is a well known restaurant of New York, perhaps one of the first in the modern style of a la carte dining. The restaurant claims to be the originator of several notable dishes including Eggs Benedict, Delmonico steak, Lobster Newburg and Baked Alaska. Lillian dines here with her ex-husband Max as they hash out the details of their divorce. She has the steak and “Delmonico potatoes.” The restaurant was known for the potatoes, but the interesting thing is the Internet has quite a few different recipes which all claim to be the original version. The general idea however, is diced potatoes in a cream sauce with cheese, topped with breadcrumbs. It’s quite similar to a familiar dish Southerners call “funeral potatoes,” and I promise that if you decide to use frozen hash browns, I won’t give up your secret.

Ingredients:

8 medium Yukon gold or red potatoes, diced to 1/2 inch size

6 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

2 cups milk, half and half or light cream

1 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese, mild cheddar or whatever you have

1 cup soft bread crumbs

1) Heat the oven to 425 degrees

2) Butter a shallow baking pan

3) Simmer diced potatoes in salted water for 12-15 minuets, or until just ten cook and stir for 2-3 minutes, but don’t brown

4) Gradually add the milk and continue cooking over low heat until thickened. Season with salt and pepper

5) Combine the drained potatoes with the sauce, transfer to baking dish.

6) Cover with grated cheese

7) Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and toss with the breadcrumbs.

8) Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the potatoes

9) Bake for about 20 minutes until the top is browned and casserole is bubbling around the edges.

The Silent Patient

Synopsis: Alicia Berenson is a famous artist, married to a successful fashion photographer in London. Alicia murders her husband by shooting him ruthlessly in the face, then never speaks another word. She is sequestered at the Grove, a forensic psychiatric hospital in London. Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who becomes somewhat obsessed with trying to get Alicia to talk and understand the crime. No question here about the “who” in the whodunit, more trying to unravel the “why.”

Nicholette’s Review: I would consider this a well crafted suspenseful beach read. Unfortunately, too early for the beach in Maine right now, but feel free to save it for your own summer reading! As I was reading this book, I thought more than once, “this would make a great movie!” I was therefore not too surprised to learn later that the author is an established screenwriter, though this was his first novel. You can tell he has the expertise in structure, pacing, sense of time etc… The plot treads some familiar ground, and even if you think it’s missing the familiar “blackout drunk female unreliable narrator,” don’t worry, there is a heavily medicated silent female narrator to fill that void. If you enjoy mysteries and psychological thrillers, this would be a great choice. Rating: 4/5

Corey’s Review: Ok, this actually sounds right up my alley. Seems a bit reminiscent of Gone Girl. Although we don’t have a beach in Arizona, it is certainly pool weather. This is not a typical book that my mom would read and a 4/5 is a great rating. So for that reason this is officially on my list.

Menu: Alicia and Gabriel liked to frequent their neighborhood Italian restaurant, Augusto’s, every Friday night to enjoy the food and chilled white wine. I will reserve judgement on drinking white wine with Italian food, but attempted to accommodate this by selecting chicken piccata to accompany their Pinot Grigio. Rating: 5/5

Ingredients:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Kosher salt and ground pepper

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 extra large egg

3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

Butter

Olive oil

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup capers, rinsed

1/3 cup fresh parsley

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2) Pound chicken breast between 2 sheets of parchment to 1/4” thickness. Srinkle both side with salt and pepper.

3) Mix the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a shallow plate. In a second plate, beat the off and 1/2 tablespoon of water together. Place the bread crumbs on a third plate. Dip each chicken breast first in the flour, shake of excess, then dip in the egg and bread crumb mixtures.

4) Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat, and cook the chicken breast for 2 minutes on each side until browned.

5) Transfer to the sheet pain and bake for 5-10 minutes while you make the sauce.

6) Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the pan, with a little more oil if needed.

7) Add lemon juice, stock and capers, bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for about 5 minutes until slightly reduced.

8) Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously.

9) Pour sauce over chicken breasts and garnish with parsley.

A Little Life

“Wasn’t friendship its own miracle, the finding of another person who made the entire lonely world seem somehow less lonely?”

Synopsis: The story of four suite mates from a small college in Cambridge (wink wink) who move to New York after graduation. Their stories intertwine through adulthood, as friendships do. The bulk of the novel centers on Jude as he attempts to move past a childhood of abuse.

Nicholette’s Review: I don’t relish giving bad reviews, but this novel made me about as angry at a book as I’ve ever been. This book was brutal, misery porn. Every horrible thing you can imagine—sexual abuse, child abuse, rape, addiction, suicide, violence, abduction, devastating trust violations and more. It is purportedly a novel about friendship, but actually a novel about enablers with no hope or redemption in sight. The characters are all complete cliches. Each of the four roommates somehow miraculously becomes “the best” at whatever they do (actor, architect, artist and attorney). And the names!!! Willem (that is correct, Willem, not William), Jude, Phaedra…. apparently no one named Bob or Sue lives in NYC. And the never-ending supply of pedophiles and child abusers strained belief. OK, maybe the world truly is like that, but from Catholic clergy, Dickensian orphanage counselors, homicidal psychiatrist, long haul truckers, culminating in a sadistic violent psychopath, it seemed there was no end. I could go on, and this book certainly did, for more than 720 pages. It won many awards and was highly acclaimed, but for me, I just didn’t get it. Rating 1/5

Corey’s Review: Wow….well this will be a definite pass for me based on a few things. Most importantly, the fact that it was 700+pages of pure misery. I think we have enough of that right now. Maybe I will revisit in a year. I try and read highly rated books that win awards, just not sure this is the time.

Menu: I needed to balance this miserable book with something to provide some comfort. So what else could it be other than grilled cheese and tomato soup? Homemade tomato soup beats anything out of a can, and its not hard at all!

Rating 5/5.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 cup chopped red onions

2 carrots, unpeeled and chopped

1 tablespoon minced garlic

2 28 oz cans tomatoes, coarsely chopped, or 4 pounds fresh if they are good tomatoes!

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/4 cup packed chopped fresh basil

3 cups chicken stock

1 tablespoon kosher salt

2 teaspoons black pepper

3/4-1 cup heavy cream

Directions:

1) Heat the olive oil over medium low heat. Sauce the onion and carrots about 10 minutes until tender. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Add the tomatoes, sugar, tomato paste, basil, chicken stock, salt and pepper and stir well.

2) Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes.

3) Blend until smooth—another great use for the immersion blender! Or use a blender if that’s what you have, but be careful as hot liquids can be tricky in the blender.

4) Add cream, and serve.

5) Garnish with julienned basil leaves or croutons if desired.

Beartown

“Everyone has a thousand wishes before a tragedy, but just one afterward.”

Synopsis: Beartown is a novel set in the eponymous town. It focuses on the local junior hockey team, preparing to compete in the national semi-finals. Set in a depressed town that is obsessed with the sport, it examines themes of parenting, the cost of keeping secrets, loyalty, family and regret.

Nicholette’s Review: The synopsis might suggest that this is a sports book, maybe a Swedish version of The Mighty Ducks. I hate to disappoint sports fans, but this is not a sports book. It is a book with a robust cast of characters, and rich relationships. It tackles some difficult content, and deftly displays how events in a small town have ripple effects that can affect the entire community. It is a book about parental love, the angst of retirement, the difficulties of balancing work and family, friendship, teenage turmoil, and yes, a little bit about hockey. Fredrik Backman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors (have you read A Man Called Ove?). He can do it all, humor, anger, tenderness, despair. He so accurately depicts the bond of teenage girls, it’s hard to believe he is not a teenage girl himself. His characters ALL seem so real and whole. I would recommend this book to anyone. Rating: 5/5

Corey’s Review: I had so many emotions while reading this book. I kept thinking how relate-able the characters and town were. I grew up in a small hockey town very similar to Beartown and could vividly picture each character. My mom is right, this book’s theme is centered around a sport, but as a reader you are taken on a dramatic, life altering journey that is so much more than just hockey. It’s about the decisions people make and the lengths that parents and friends go to keep secrets and protect the ones they love. This was my first book by this author, but I know I will read more. Rating 5/5

Menu: Since our author is from Sweden and our book seems to be set in a town somewhere in Sweden, we thought it would be fitting to pair Swedish meatballs. We took this recipe from Tyler Florence, and we think it was the perfect match. Rating 5/5

Method:

4 tablespoons butter

1 small onion, minced

1 pound each ground beef, pork, and veal (or all beef if you prefer)

2 egg yolks

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons salt

Few grinds black pepper

2 teaspoons ground allspice

3 pieces white bread, crust removed, torn and soaked in whole milk

Sauce:

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 cups chicken stock

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 to 2 tablespoons black currant jam

1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves

Lingonberry jam, for serving

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent. Remove the onion to a plate and cool. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meats, egg yolks, heavy cream and onion. Add salt, pepper and allspice. Squeeze excess milk from the bread and add it to the bowl. Mix gently with your hands or wooden spoon.

4. With a bowl of cold water standing by, form meatballs about 1-inch across. Dip your fingers in cold water, from time to time, to keep the meat from sticking to your hands.

5. Melt the remaining butter in the saute pan and once the foam has subsided add a layer of meatballs. Do not overcrowd the pan. Shake the pan once in awhile, to keep the meatballs round. Brown all of the meatballs, in batches, removing them to a large oven safe dish when cooked. Put the dish in the oven for about 20 minutes, being careful not to overcook them.

6. To make the sauce: Pour off most of the fat from the skillet and return it to the heat. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and swirl it around to coat the pan. Sprinkle in the flour, and stir with a wooden spoon or whisk to dissolve the flour into the fat. Pour in the chicken stock, and stir to loosen the bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer, stirring, until the liquid is reduced and the mixture starts to thicken to a sauce. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Lower the heat and stir in the cream and the black currant jam. Add the meatballs to the sauce. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the meatballs are heated through, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Priestdaddy

Synopsis: A memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1980’s and beyond. Patricia Lockwood grew up with a gun-toting, guitar-riffing, frequently semi-naked father who underwent a religious conversion on a submarine. His conversion first led him to the Lutheran Church, and finally to Roman Catholicism. He discovered a loophole which saw him approved for the Catholic priesthood by the future Pope Benedict XVI, despite already having a wife and five children. At age 30, due to a medical setback, Patricia and her husband move back in with her parents. This memoir is a reckoning of this distinctly unusual experience of having a Catholic priest for a father/Father.

Nicholette’s Review I’m a devoted listener to the New York Times Book Review podcast. One of the editors raved about this book so often, I finally had to read it myself. This book was on many “Ten Best” lists for 2017, so I had high expectations. On the surface, it is just a very funny account of a peculiar childhood, but of course it is more than that. I was not familiar with Lockwood before this memoir, but she is a known poet and essayist, and she does have a way with words! She creates such vivid unexpected images in your brain. In spite of the humorous approach, there are also some serious topics that are grappled with. One of the main characters is the Catholic Church, after all, so its not all just absurd comedy. If I have a criticism, it’s that the descriptions of people and events are so uniformly absurd and cartoonish, it reads more like fiction than memoir. Maybe that’s a true depiction of her life. but it detracted from an authentic feeling. I think that people probably would either love this book, or hate it. If you are a devout Catholic who believes that the church and priests can do no wrong, this is probably not the book for you. Rating: 4/5

Corey’s Review: I’ve been looking forward to my mom’s review on this book ever since she got it during our Christmas Eve book swap! This book sounds so ridiculous, I need to check it out for myself. Who knew you could be married with children and still become a priest?! I can only imagine the stories- this will be added to my list!

Menu: What would be more fitting to accompany a memoir of growing up with a priest for a father than a spaghetti dinner? The spaghetti dinner is a staple in most Catholic Church communities and I participated in more than a few at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in my youth! We didn’t serve meatballs, to my recollection, but I love meatballs. Rating: 5/5

Ingredients:

2 pounds meatloaf mix (equal parts ground beef, veal and pork)

1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs

1/4 cup seasoned dry breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 large egg, lightly beaten

For the sauce:

1 chopped yellow onion

1 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 cup red wine

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

1) Place the ground meats, both breadcrumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, nutmeg, egg and 3/4 cup water or milk in a bowl. Combine, and form 2 inch meatballs (makes 14-16).

2) Put equal parts vegetable oil and olive oil in a large deep skillet to a depth of about 1/4 inch and brown the meatballs. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Discard the oil.

3) Heat a little fresh olive oil in the pan and sauce onion over medium heat until soft, 5-10 minutes. Add garlic for 1 minute. Add the wine and cook on high heat for about 3 minutes to deglaze the pan.

4) Stir in tomatoes, parsley, salt and pepper.

5) Return the meatballs to the sauce. cover and simmer on low heat for 25-30 minutes until meatballs are cooked through.

6) Serve on hot cooked spaghetti, amen.

The Great Alone

“A thing can be true and not the truth,”

Synopsis: Ernt Allbright, former POW, comes home from the Vietnam War a changed man. Volatile, angry, he is apparently unable to maintain a job. His wife Cora and 13 year old daughter Leni learn to walk on eggshells to avoid his anger. After losing yet another job, he impulsively decides to move the family to the Alaskan wilderness to be “free.” They are not prepared, yet the help of locals does sustain them. Unfortunately, there is no escape from Ernt’s mental health issues, and life becomes dangerous in many ways in the Alaskan frontier.

Corey’s Review: I agree with my mom’s review on this one. It was such a page tuner I was hooked until the very end. It’s not necessarily going to win a Pulitzer Prize, but it is entertaining! I Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors. I have loved so many of her books. She has such a beautiful way of telling a story. I tend to agree with my mom, the ending was little lackluster which was disappointing considering the majority of the book was so deep and well thought out. I love reading books set in Alaska or rural towns- don’t ask why, it’s a weird thing! I have recommended this book to many friends and they have loved it. If you are looking for a book that has great character development and a story-line that has you hooked from the start then this is it! Rating 4/5

Nicholette’s Review I’m not sure how to review a book that I would say was not GREAT, but I couldn’t put it down. The story is told from the perspective of Leni, part coming of age story, part wilderness drama, part scary like the The Shining. A self imposed quarantine with your family! You can run away, but your demons come with you. I really enjoyed the book when it was focusing on what it takes to survive in the wilderness. I wouldn’t say there was much difference in the Allbright’s daily life and the life of pioneers of the American West. Lots of hard work involved. However, I thought the book romanticized the idea of the rugged individualist. It’s interesting that most of the rugged individualists (men) spent most of their time trying to tell the ladies what to do. “No one is the boss of me, but I most definitely want to be the boss of you.” This books deals with some serious issues like PTSD and domestic abuse in a thoughtful and largely understanding way. My biggest criticism is that the ending felt very rushed and a bit melodramatic. In spite of some of these criticisms, I’ll admit I couldn’t wait to see what happened. Rating: 4/5

Menu: Of course we had to do a salmon dish. Salmon and Alaska go hand in hand! There are many times throughout the book where they go fishing to stock up on enough food to last them through winter. I used and tried and true recipe for this salmon. It is so easy and so delicious! This Asian inspired salmon comes courtesy of Ina Garten….have we said we love her?!

Ingredients

1 side fresh salmon, boned but skin on (about 3 pounds)

Marinade:

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

3 tablespoons good soy sauce

6 tablespoons good olive oil

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Method:

1. Turn on grill. Spray with non stick spray

2. While the grill is heating, lay the salmon skin side down on a cutting board and cut it crosswise into 4 equal pieces. Whisk together the mustard, soy sauce, olive oil, and garlic in a small bowl. Drizzle half of the marinade onto the salmon and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

3. Place the salmon skin side down on the hot grill. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. Turn carefully with a wide spatula and grill for another 4 to 5 minutes. I usually cook closer to 5 minutes

4. Transfer the fish to a flat plate, skin side down, and spoon the reserved marinade on top (not the marinade the fish was sitting in) . Allow the fish to rest for 10 minutes. Remove the skin and serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

The Nightingale

“If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: in love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.”

Synopsis: This book follows two sisters as they resist the Nazi occupancy in France during WW2. The two sisters help fight the Nazi regime by hiding Jewish children and helping allied pilots escape France after their planes had been shot down.

Corey’s Review: This book will always hold a special place in my heart. I often say it is one of my favorite books of all time. The story, characters, writing… everything is perfect. I love historical fiction books, especially books set during WW2. It is a heart wrenching story that keeps you hooked until the end. I recommend this book to everyone. I think there is a reason there are over 40,000 5 star reviews on Amazon. I actually read this book on my kindle and had no idea how long it was until I saw it in the bookstore. I savored every chapter and every page and didn’t want it to end. I don’t think I have met a single a person that didn’t love this book.

Nicholette’s Review: Corey, I agree that this book has the required elements: strong female characters, drama, tension, and of course, Nazis and WWII. The two sisters, Vivianne and Isabelle, are so very different, and make so many different choices. This book shines a light on war by looking at the experience of these two women and their struggles, and the different ways that they each tried to resist and fight back. At the beginning of the book, the sisters seemed to be in conflict, but grew in love and understanding I think. I frequently found myself wondering how I would have handled each of their situations, had I the misfortune to experience it! Occasionally the situations seemed a little melodramatic, but hey, its war. Rating: 4/5.

Menu: French Onion Soup seems like the perfect French comfort food: taking just a few simple ingredients and making something delicious with it! This is very simple, though does require a little bit of time, so plan accordingly. Rating: 5/5.

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

6 medium yellow onions, coarsely chopped

4 cups low sodium beef broth

3 tablespoons cognac

2 bay leaves

3 cups cubed crusty or stale bread

8 ounces shredded Gruyere, Emmenthaler or other Swiss cheese

1). In a large pot, melt 4 T. of the butter over medium heat. Add the onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 45-60 minutes or until deep golden brown. If the onions become dry or begin to stick to the pot, add water a little at a time to prevent burning.

2) Preheat the oven to 400* F.

3) Add the broth, Cognac, bay leaves and pinch of pepper to the pot. Add 1-2 C of water to make sure the onions are covered in liquid. simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.

4). Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the bread cubes, stir to combine, and toast, stirring as needed, until crisp and lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

5). Remove the bay leaves from the soup and divide the soup among 4 ovenproof bowls. Float the croutons on top and then sprinkle shredded cheese over the croutons. Place the bowls on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown. Serve immediately.

The Alice Network

“What did it matter if something scared you, when it simply had to be done?”

Synopsis: The Alice Network is told from the perspective of two main characters, Charlie and Eve and spans two different time periods between WW1 and WW2. We follow Charlie as she tries to find her missing cousin when she solicits the help of an ex spy, Eve. Part Suspense, part historical fiction.

Corey’s Review: Historian fiction set in WW2 is one of my favorite genres to read so I had high expectations for this book. Overall, it was just OK. If I was recommending a book that is set during this time period, this would not be my first choice. Charlie’s character was difficult for me to connect to and I didn’t love her story-line. However, Eve’s story-line was very entertaining and I was always disappointing when her chapters ended. It is hard for me to rate this because I don’t think it deserves 4 stars, but better than 3. Too bad we don’t give half star ratings. Rating: 3/5

Nicholette’s Review: Lately we seem to be on a roll with books about WW2 or the French Resistance…. I enjoyed this because I do love strong female characters, and Eve the WW1 spy fit the bill there. Like a lot of historical fiction novels, this uses the dual narrator approach and it works pretty well here. Eve’s story of espionage in France during World War I is engrossing, and while you get hints where it’s going, you’re not sure how you’re getting there, so it definitely kept my interest. I found Charlie’s story less believable, so didn’t buy into it as much. I would consider this something like a beach read, interesting, a little fluffy, perfectly nice but not a top read. Rating: 3/5

Menu: We knew we had to do a classic French dish to pair with this book and we settled for non other than Coq-Au-Vin. A true classic. For inspiration we channeled our inner Ina Garten and whipped up this delicious one pan chicken dish. Rating 5/5

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons good olive oil

4 ounces good bacon or pancetta, diced

1 (3 to 4-pound) chicken, cut in 8ths

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 pound carrots, cut diagonally in 1-inch pieces

1 yellow onion, sliced

1 teaspoon chopped garlic

1/4 cup Cognac or good brandy

1/2 bottle (375 ml) good dry red wine such as Burgundy

1 cup good chicken stock, preferably homemade

10 fresh thyme sprigs

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, divided

1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 pound frozen small whole onions

1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, stems removed and thickly sliced

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

2. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove the bacon to a plate with a slotted spoon.

3. Meanwhile, lay the chicken out on paper towels and pat dry. Liberally sprinkle the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. When the bacon is removed, brown the chicken pieces in batches in a single layer for about 5 minutes, turning to brown evenly. Remove the chicken to the plate with the bacon and continue to brown until all the chicken is done. Set aside.

4. Add the carrots, onions, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper to the pan and cook over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the Cognac and put the bacon, chicken, and any juices that collected on the plate into the pot. Add the wine, chicken stock, and thyme and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid and place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is just not pink. Remove from the oven and place on top of the stove.

5. Mash 1 tablespoon of butter and the flour together and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. In a medium saute pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and cook the mushrooms over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until browned. Add to the stew. Bring the stew to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes. Season to taste. Serve hot.

Before We Were Yours

“

A woman’s past need not predict her future. She can dance to new music if she chooses.”

Synopsis: This book takes places in Tennessee in 1930 and uncovers the shocking truths about the real life Tennessee Children's Home Society that was active from the 1920's thru 1950. They sentimentally helped organize kidnappings of “poor” children and brokered them off to rich families who paid big bucks. This story follows Rill Foss and her four younger siblings as they navigate their way through the Tennessee Children’s Home Society.

Corey’s Review: I had no idea this book was loosely based on real life events. I love historical fiction so naturally I was drawn to the story line. Overall, this is an entertaining book that kept me interested and invested in the characters. If you enjoyed the Orphan Train then I would highly recommend you read this. The story is split between two time periods which can be distracting to me, but I think the author did a good job keeping you invested during both periods. I really can’t imagine that this actually took place. Rating: 4/5

Nicholette’s Review: I enjoyed this story, but I would hesitate to give it my highest review. My first instinct was to go for the true story! Not the historical fiction….. What I liked was bringing this awful true story to a bigger audience, and bringing it to life. I enjoyed the story of Rill and her siblings more than the contemporary story of Avery which was tiresome and cliche’d. It made me give serious thought to how children have been historically slotted into accessories, or property. It was both sobering and sad to think about how society was so willing to relegate children into situations of abuse and neglect. If I had one specific criticism, it is the cartoonish, one dimensional nature of the villains. Georgia Tann, and those who assisted her efforts, come across as very one dimensional, evil characters. While I wouldn’t dispute the final assessment, I think that what is most frightening in these situations is the number of people who aren’t OBVIOUSLY EVIL. There were likely many people who thought they had the best interest of children in mind, who looked the other way when they shouldn’t. That’s the way bad stuff happens, people who really think they have “good” motives at heart, who allow things to go on that shouldn’t.

Review: 4/5

Menu: Ribs! When we think Memphis, we think BBQ. Nothing like fall off the bone ribs to pair with your favorite BBQ sauce. This recipe is fool proof because the majority of the cooking takes place in your oven.

Method:

Spice Rub Recipe

1/2 cup ancho Chile powder

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup kosher salt

2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon cayenne powder

1/2 teaspoon ground dried chipotle pepper

Oven Baked ribs

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place ribs meat side down on aluminum foil. Prick back of rib rack several times with a knife. Generously apply coating of spice rub to all sides of rib rack. With ribs meat side down, fold foil around to create a tight seal. Transfer to a sheet pan. Bake for about 2 hours. Remove and cool for 15 minutes. Increase oven temp to 350 degrees. Open foil, drain and discard accumulated juices and fat. Brush BBQ sauce on all sides of rack. Place rack meat side up and return to oven leaving foil open. Bake for 10 minutes, then brush another layer of BBQ sauce on meat side only. Repeat baking and brushing with sauce 4 more times. Cut rack into individual segments and serve.

Nicholette’s Review: I’ve made this many times. I love ribs, and this allows me to make them even in the midst of winter. Love them!

Corey’a Review: I have not actually made these ribs but I know my mom makes them frequently and everyone loves them. I think the best part is that you can bake them in the oven!

Rating: 5/5

Little Fires Everywhere

Synopsis: Mia Warren moves to suburbia Ohio with her teenage daughter and rents a house next door to Elena Richardson. The Richardson’s are the picture perfect family and Mia’s daughter quickly becomes friends with the Richardson’s kids. All seems to be going smoothly until a custody battle divids the town.

Corey’s Review: I started reading this book without actually knowing much about it. I enjoyed Celeste Ng’s other book so I picked this one up too. My favorite books are those with good character development and I felt this book was average. It took me a while to get into it because it was slow going at first. Once the Pleasantville family drama started to unfold, I really became interested in it. This book hits serious topics and would be a great pick for a book club. I actually think my book club, (RIP we could never agree on a date/time) read this. If you enjoy family drama, then I would grab this one. Rating 4/5

Nicholette’s Review: I want to give this a good review, and largely, I will. One thing about this book that hit home was the way people, society, and especially mothers, judge other mothers. It seems we have this irresistible urge to pass judgement on other people’s parenting decisions. The primary story presents in juxtaposition Mia Warren (the bohemian artist) and Elena Richardson, portrayed as a repressed suburban cliche. Neither one felt quite real, but sadly, the judging is all too real! C’mon folks, we’re all just doing the best we can….. The subplot involves a custody dispute between a hopeful adoptive family, and the single mother of the Chinese baby in question. A lot of questions were raised about the ethics involved in this situation, and again, judging. I did enjoy this book and found it thought provoking. Some of the plot twists were a little far fetched, but probably no more so than real life.

Rating: 4/5

Menu: When we started thinking about dishes that Ohio is famous for we both agreed, Cincinnati Chili. Technially this book isn’t set in Cincinnati, but it’s February and Chili is always a good idea. Cincinnati Chili combines spaghetti, chili and cheese- what’s not to love? Rating 5/5

Method:

My mom uses an instant pot for this recipe to help speed up the process and get that bowl of goodness on the table ASAP.

1 pound ground beef

1 cup finely chopped onion

3 cloves minced garlic

2 cans (14.5 oz) Mexican style stewed tomatoes

8 oz can tomato sauce

2 tablespoons chili owder

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon allspice

8 ounces cooked and drained spaghetti

Chopped white onions, shredded Cheddar cheese, kidney beans for topping

1) Place the beef, onion and garlic in a large skillet, and brown, 4-5 minutes.

2) Drain and place in slow cooker with tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cocoa, cinnamon and allspice, stir to combine.

3) Cover and cook 8-10 hours on low heat, or use a pressure cooker, 18 minutes on high pressure for speedy delivery!

4) Serve the chili on top of spaghetti, and add toppings as desired.

Nicholette’s Review: I really like the warm spices and unusual flavors of this chili. Not quite chili, not quite spaghetti, it’s an Ohio classic! Not that I’m from Ohio, but I can still appreciate it. Is it still Cincinnati chili if you use Vermont cheddar?

Rating: 5/5

Nine Perfect Strangers

“Relax and enjoy the journey. The stream will carry you this way and that, but will carry you forward to where you need to go”

Synopsis: Nine perfect strangers is about a group of people that attend a health and wellness retreat. They are complete strangers and their reasons for attending the retreat vary from weight loss to spiritual awakening. Things start to seem off and the guests begin to question if the center’s methods are actually safe.

Corey’s review: I was really excited about this book because every year my mom and I go on a retreat together. The book started off promising and then took a weird turn. I love Liane Moriarty as an author so I was disappointed that this fell short for me. The storyline was just odd and seemed to jump from one weird situation to another. Sadly I would pass on this one.
Rating: 2/5

Nicholette’s review: I’ve also been a fan of Liane Moriarty! My first exposure to her was What Alice Forgot, and I enjoyed it so much! I’ve read several others as well, and since they are about the issues of middle aged women (and I AM a middle aged woman) I guess I can relate. I didn’t read this one with Corey and sadly, based on the review, I probably won’t put it on my bedside table

Menu:

Throughout the book the guests are given a smoothie for breakfast. I thought it would be fitting to create my own healthy smoothie. I actually do drink one of these 3-4 days a week and it keeps me full for majority of the day because of the fat and fiber. One addition that I did not add below is protein powder (because I ran out!) I usually add one scoop of protein to my smoothie mixture.

Method:

In your blender layer the ingredients the following

1) 1 cup of almond milk/regular milk/ coconut water- basically any liquid base.

2) 1/3 cup oats (optional) depending on the day ahead I’ll add these or omit

3) 1tbs maca powder

4) 1tbs peanut butter or almond butter. You could also use an avocado. I would just switch up other ingredients to match the taste

5) handful power greens

6) 1/4 cup frozen fruit- any mixture will do.

7) blend together