3 Book Reviews, 1 Dinner and The Weekly Menu

I just completed the next three books in the Gamache Series by Louise Penney.  The first review is the sixth book in the series, Bury your Dead.

Mastering the Art of French Hot Chocolate #CooktheBooks

I just finished reading a fun murder mystery starring chef, Julia Child. The novel was purely fiction but portrayed the chef as a good friend of the protagonist in the story.

The title of the book is, of course, a take on the title of Julia Child's world-renowned cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Lie in Wait; A Book Review

This is the first novel I have read by Eric Rickstad.  It is a murder mystery that begins with a young girl getting murdered while babysitting for an attorney who was representing a gay couple wishing to get married in Vermont.

The ensuing investigation uncovers an underground of homophobia, prejudice, intolerance and pedophilia.  It introduces a female detective trying to make it in a small town that contains more than it's fair share of misogyny and bible thumpers who claim to be doing God's work but belie that claim by spewing anger, hatred and intolerance.

This novel made my skin crawl, perhaps because it was filled with the sad truth that while we want to believe we have made strides in this world, the truth is that all we did was temporarily muzzle those who are intolerant and hateful and now they have been unleashed full force and we have to start all over again.

The novel, kept my attention and was an interesting and quick read.

Murder on the Ballarat Train; A Phrynie Fisher Mystery (Book Review)

This is the 3rd book in a series by Kerry Greenwood starring Phrynie Fisher as an Australian rags to riches success story who finds herself working as a detective.  It takes place during the 1920's and it is a fun little series.  Perfect when you just want to relax and spend an enjoyable few hours cuddled up with a book.

You can't help but love Phrynie, who takes no guff from anyone and has a heart as big as an ocean.  Having come from a poor background, Phrynie is very empathetic and generous with those she deems worthy. Having been treated badly during her early years, Phrynie has no energy or compassion to waste on those who treat others shabbily and/or victimize others.  

She is high spirited and adventurous.  She knows exactly what she wants out of life and she is not going to allow anyone to stand in her way.

In this 3rd book, Phrynie and her companion, Dot, are traveling on the Ballarat train when they are suddenly overtaken by the smell of chloroform while in their sleeping car.  Phrynie is able to shoot out a window and clear her head enough to save the other passengers of the sleeping car discovering that one of the passengers, an elderly woman, is missing. 

Thus begins another fun adventure with Phrynie who is hired by the woman's daughter to find the killer.  I had taken a copy of a book that I had borrowed from my friend Kirsten, containing the first 3 stories of this series, with me to Dominica.  I had read the first two books and was planning on finishing the third while on vacation.  My friend, Linda, was out of reading material and since I had my Nook with me, I loaned her this series.  She LOVED it and has continued on to read the next 3 in the series as well.  She likens the books to "Nancy Drew for adults".

The book was returned to me last week and I finished up this story last night.  Linda is now traveling in Asia but when she gets home I am going to borrow the next three stories so stay tuned folks.

Repurposing Furniture and Two Audible Book Reviews

When I started packing for the move, I placed this chair and table in my garage sale.  I had no takers so it made the move with me.  This turned out to be very fortuitous since the sunroom was larger than I had recalled and I needed furniture to make a sitting area.

So I had a green recliner and this wingback chair, both bought shortly after we were married over 25 years ago.  The table came with me when I entered into the marriage.  It was part of my dowry LOL

The table had seen better days and had been scratched up and chewed on by numerous pups.  This was not a problem when it was tucked in my own little corner next to my own  little chair but it didn't look too nice in the middle of a room.

So I decided to paint it using chalk paints.  My sister had taught me how to do this a couple of years ago when we were getting the nursery ready for Little Miss.  You can read about it and learn the technique here.   

It is very simple.  I had Frank tighten all the loose screws to make the table more sturdy.  Then I started by applying my undercoat that I chose to make pink.  I put on two coats of the pink followed by one coat of a sage green.  Then I took a wet rag and distressed it...going down to the pink in some spots and all the way to the wood grain in other spots.  I let it dry overnight and then applied three coats of minwax to it.

I am happy with the outcome but wish I had used a darker green.  My sis said "so put on another coat of dark".  I may do that but not immediately I dressed it up for the Fall and I think it looks fine.

Moving doesn't allow much time for reading.  I normally read at night for an hour or so before going to sleep but I have been conking out the minute my head hits the pillow.  Thankfully, I can listen to audible books while unpacking or while painting tables.

The first book I listened to was recommended by Heather of Based on a True Story.  I knew I wanted to order up this book based on Heather's review and I am glad that I did. 

This is the story of Zach Anner, written and narrated by Zach Anner.  I had never heard of Zach prior to this book because, as some of you may know, I live under a rock.  Zach has been a youtube sensation and has had a couple of reality television shows.  He is a comedian, a filmaker, and an author.  He also was born prematurely with cerebral palsy.  Zach writes about his life with transparency, honesty and humor.  I found myself laughing out loud and then wiping away tears.  It is, at once, uproariously funny and tenderly touching.  I felt like Zach was sitting at the counter as I unpacked and keeping me company.  I would recommend this book to everyone and think it would make the mandatory reading list for my class if I were a high school teacher.   There are so many lessons to be learned from Zach's story of tenacity, responsibility, empathy and perseverence.

The next book that I listened to and finished while working on the table was Friction by Sandra Brown.  This is the first novel I have read by this author but it won't be the last.  It is the story of a Federal Marshall who lost his wife in an accident and not coping well, gave temporary custody of his daughter to his in laws.  He has now gotten himself together and is in court for his final day of a hearing to determine whether his daughter should be returned to him.  As he is testifying a gunman charges into the courtroom spraying bullets and killing the officer providing security.  The protagonist, Crawford, protects the judge and then flees after the gunman.  Hence starts the story of Friction....Who was the gunman?  Who was his intended target?  Why was there an assasination attempt?  Who deserves custody of the little girl, Georgia?  Can the judge be impartial having been saved by Crawford and finding that she and Crawford are very attracted to one another?....find the answer to these questions by reading or listening to this book that is hard to put away.