Jerusalem Maiden by Talia Carner

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Esther Kaminsky is a young Orthodox Jewish girl around the age of 12 who lives in the holy city of Jerusalem.  In this time, a woman is expected to marry and produce many sons to hasten the arrival of the Messiah.  While Esther understands this role she is to play, she has trouble accepting it.  Secretly she desires to draw and wonders about exploring beyond her religion to possibly study in Paris.  When her teacher catches her extraordinary talent for drawing, he gets her colored pencils and art lessons.  Again Esther wonders if perhaps God has chosen her to be an artist and now a mother.

When tragedy strikes her family, Esther puts aside her dreams and instead follows the path that was chosen for her and becomes an obedient “Jerusalem Maiden”.  Yet its hard to smother a strong desire and that desire still burns within Esther.  When an opportunity arises Esther has a clash of faith and passion… and forces her to confront the most difficult question of all… “to who must she be true?”

In a word: passionate. 

Talia Carner had me from the first pages of this well written, well thought out book.  Even as I type now I find myself taking a deep breath as I recall turning the pages, at once fascinated and curious with where I would be taken on this particular book journey.

Divided into 4 important parts of Esther’s life:  Maiden, Marriage, Motherhood, and Artist, each opening into pages of deliciously detailed descriptions of life, and family, and dreams.  Historically beautiful…. seriously here – I am looking for the words to let you know this book amazed me

It made me think about passions and talents in general and how our lives are shaped, much like Esther’s by choices and life happenings beyond our control.  It made me think about how does one choose between right and right?

A page turner for sure, but know that while this book speaks of faith, it is not (not exactly anyway) Christian Fiction, nor is it marketed that way.  There are a few parts in the book that will make that quite clear to you as there  are a couple of sex scenes and a few situations that I found fitting to the nature of the book.

Overall, if you enjoy Historical Fiction this is a wonderful read.  I was delighted to not find it to be a heavy read, but instead it was like taking a journey with Esther walking together through Jerusalem and through her life. 

Talia Carner and me

Side note:  I had the opportunity to meet the lovely and talented Talia Carner at the Harper Collins Book Blogger Reception a few weeks ago when I was in New York for BEA.  She was wonderful to talk to and I find myself now curious about her other books, China Doll and Puppet Child.

Thank you to TLC book tours for a chance to read this book

Thank you to Harper Collins Book Blogger Reception for the chance to meet Talia Carner.

Morning Meanderings… Do You Know What Tomorrow Is?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)40 Comments

Good Morning!  What a week huh?  So much going on but I am working hard to keep on top of it all….  Audio Week (woo hoo!!!) is happening and if you did not see my giveaway you can still check that out, and the current mid-week audio thoughts are here:

Current/most recent audiobook:  I listen to 3 at a time (different locations people…. don’t be afraid! :razz:)  In my car is Every Last One by Ann Quinlin.  In my IPOD is Bossy Pants by Tina Fey (hilarious!), and in my kitchen CD player is the Maltaise Falcon (which honestly is freaking me out a bit… is is performed by The Hollywood Theater Of The Ear…. and it takes a bit of getting used to.)

Impressions:  One good, one great, one ummmm….. (you can guess which is which :D)

Current Favorite Audio:  So touch to choose but I really enjoyed The Art of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein.  (*sob)  That’s all I’m saying. 

One narrator I wold choose over print:  I am not “there” yet.  When it comes to narrators, I am still a rooky.  Sitting on the bench waiting for the coach to let me in the game.  😛  (It’s early yet – first cup of coffee….)

Genres I most often listen to:  I really am all over the genre field.  I think with audio I am more daring… a classic or what looks to be a hard read I may try in audio and have had good luck with that. 

If given the choice I will always choose audio when:  … When I am traveling.  I am actually bummed when I have to ride with someone somewhere as most will not tolerate my “do you mind if we listen to hours of audio?  😛

If given the choice I will always choose print when:  If it is a book I really want to know well, I need to be able to go back and forth… and repeat as necessary. 

 

Ok – BUT the real real REAL reason for this post title is that tomorrow is……My Blogiversary!  SQQQQUUUEEEEEEE!!!!!  Seriously SSSQQUUUEEEEE!!!!   😀

If you have been around here for any length of time you will know that I go all out for my blogiversary and I have HUGE giveaways as thank you to my awesome readers (YOU!).  If you are new to my blogiversary madness you can get a sneak peak of what happened here in previous years:

Blogiversary  Year One

Yup….. soooooo much fun.  AND tomorrow it is happening again so please stop by!  I have awesome giveaways thanks to incredible authors and publishers.  I will give yo a hint I have a copy of the not yet released __________________!!!!  (I know right!)  And if you were drooling over this one I picked up at BEA, know that I have a second one that will also be on the giveaways!  As always there will be books, coffee, and chocolate too.  All you have to do is come to the party 😀 

I am soooo excited but have a busy day ahead of me….. need to have the blog cleaned, the decorators arrive late this afternoon, caterers will be here in the morning…  oh I should check on the giant  ice sculpture too!

Have an awesome day – a book tour yet to come and later…. an awesome audio review.

Sound Affects In Audio Books…. yay or nay?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)31 Comments

This week is Audiobook week and our host Jen from Devourer Of Books has been posting themes each day as well as audio giveaways.   Todays topic was on sound effects in audio books.  originally I wasn’t planning on writing this post as I fall somewhere in between.  As the day went on and I thought about it… I decided maybe I did have something to say to this after all.

If you read my “No Excuses” audio book post yesterday, you may recall I mentioned that my first audio was a James Patterson, Worst Case.  (Which – shameless plug here… this particular series with Michael Bennett are clean and excellent audio… you can not say that about all of Patterson’s work).  Now no matter where you fall on the whole Patterson issue (love him, hate him….) this is not so much about him as it is about the narrators and the sound effects.  The narrators of these books are so fantastic, and as this was my “debut into audio”, the sound effects were icing on the audio case.  An occasional gun shot, a door slamming, the sounds of footsteps…. not cheesy, not consistent throughout the reading, but occasional and like they belonged.  I remember I was so into that first book when that gun shot sounded I jumped.  Now that my friend…. is good audio.

Now on the other side of this…. it can also not work.  Be considered cheesy, over the top, and just basically too much and I want to say STOP IT.  Just STOP IT.  😛  I am currently listening to an audio (it shall not be named…) where I am experiencing this over the top dramatic sound effects.  It is a classic so I am thinking they meant it to be this way, but I am finding it takes away from the experience and I am finding in this case that it distracts me from the story line.

This particular discussion – is really the listeners preference.  For more thought son this topic stop by the discussion going on at Devourer Of Books and see the other audio listeners links to their thoughts on sound effects in audio.

How about you?  If you listen to audio – what do you prefer?

Rococo by Adriana Trigiani

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

 

Rococo:  also referred to as “Late Baroque” is an 18th century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings. It was largely supplanted by the Neoclassic style. In 1835 the Dictionary of the French Academy stated that the word Rococo “usually covers the kind of ornament, style and design associated with Louis XV’s reign and the beginning of that of Louis XVI”. It includes therefore, all types of art produced around the middle of the 18th century in France.

~ Thank you Wikpedia

 

 

Bartolomeo di Crespi, “B” has a dream.  He has always wanted to get his interior decorating hands on his church, Our Lady Of Fatima.  Seriously…. this church could do with a make over and B has just the plan.  When the opportunity arises renovate the church, B is beside himself with joy and that is really where the fun begins!

B soon learns that his “one man plan” is not going to work as there is no “I” in Team.  And as if working with other artistic types isn’t hard enough, he also is dealing with his large Italian family and loads of drama… his sister Toot is desperate need of a post divorce make over of her own and relies heavily on her brother, Capri the daughter of the richest woman in New Jersey was long ago told she would marry B, and as much as B loves her…. he doesn’t love her in that way, Father Porporino does his best to keep his flock scandal free (even as we slowly uncover one of his own), Eydie the international designer is stepping to close into B’s dream for the church, and B’s cousin Christina is drowning in a grief that consumes all who come near…

What this adds up to is a funny adventure with delightful characters centered around a family that still sticks together no matter what, a church that is the center of them all, and B the artist who would love to just do his job and avoid all the rest but has too much a sense of family to shut them out.

Adriana with friend and comedian, Mario Cantone

There is no secret that I adore Adriana Trigiani.  She is an amazing woman, writer, and author.  I have been lucky enough to spend time with her and this is where I stumbled on to this treasure of audio.  Adriana is an amazing story-teller…. not only in her books, but in everyday life.  Recently at a lunch in New York, Adriana shared stories about her books and about her good friend Mario recording Rococo.  (You may recognize Mario from the Sex In The City movie). 

When I left that luncheon I knew I had to find Rococo (which I had never read) and I had to find it in audio with Mario narrating.  I did find it on audible.com and anxiously awaited for my current audio to end so I could give this one a try.

If you are talking awesome narrators – Mario Cantone hit the spot.  This audio was amazing to listen to!  I laughed through much of it, delighted in all the Italian characters who were loud and opinionated and lovable.  Honestly – Adriana did it again.

What I love about the books I have read of Adriana’s is the family.  I am not sure if all her books are like this, but the ones I have had the privilege to experience are centered around family that cares about one another.  I come from a small family that is not all that close and reading or listening to such family is an experience for me.  I bask in what that would be like – big meals, family gatherings, opening your home and your heart when there is a need….

This audio is truly a treasure.  If you have a chance to listen to this one, I encourage you to do so.  Mario reads with such a passion and while it is a fun listen, there is also a great story line and in the end… I was emotionally choked up, already missing characters who had now become family in my mind.

I have updated the 2011 WHERE ARE YOU READING map to include Rococo

I purchased this audio from audible.com

Morning Meanderings… Choosing to connect when you would rather Disconnect

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)35 Comments

Good morning.  *sips coffee deeply, slowly*

Did any of you ever watch Gilmore Girls ?  If you watched it like I did (every episode and then I bought the seasons….) you may remember that in a particular episode or two they talked about Luke’s “Dark Day.”  I don’t recall all the details of his “dark day” but I think it had to do with the passing of his dad and Luke would just disappear for a day.

Yesterday was my dark day.

June 6 is a hard day for me,  It is an anniversary of a loss and even though it has been 15 years, it can still hit me like a ton of bricks.  (Does this happen to anyone else?)

My point of sharing this really is multi-fold.  One is, as much as I try to keep my posts on a happy note, occasionally there is stuff in our lives and I don’t mind letting you in.  Two, this is where many things come into play that make me thankful… and without dark days… we may not always notice that silver lining.  🙂

Yesterday – I would have rather just been gone for a day.  I was feeling bad, and if it were not for factors in my life and on this blog that I commit to – I would have had a “dark day” and not posted at all….

however…

It was Monday.  And… the Monday meme is a privilege for me to host and I enjoy it.  AND it was the start to Audio Week which I have so been looking forward to as I do love my audio and I am going to hopefully bring some of you nay sayers around to audio throughout this week.  😀  So my point is… no dark day… I had things to post.

As the day went on I left work early, came home with a plan to get some things done and instead I wallowed a bit in a dose of self-pity and then…. my College son called.  He checked in on me, made sure I got the card he sent (he amazes me), and asked my plan for the day.  I told him that I was home… that I was supposed to go out to dinner with a few friends but was going to pass.  He told me I had to go out to dinner and if he had to he was going to text me friend and tell her to make me go. 

So at 5:30 I went mainly because we were celebrating Key’s birthday and I did not want to miss out on that.  As I drove through town I was down… but there is something about friends…. soon we were sitting outside the restaurant at a table with the warm sun and cool breeze, with the smell of lilacs next to a small waterfall.  Tension and sorrow melted off me.  We talked, we ate, we shared until 9:30 pm.  It was getting dark when we left, and while I had no intentions of staying that late.  I am so glad I did. 

My point (I believe) in sharing this is that we all have these moments where we would just rather not let others in.  The first part of June is  hard on me.. has been for many years as memories pour through…. BUT, even my daily rituals of chatting with you makes it a little easier, and friends… are icing on the cake called life.

l: Julie,Key,Me, Sandi

Ok – enough.  One more thing this morning.  I mentioned it is audio week (SSQQUUEEE).  If you did not get a chance to read my introductory post yesterday, I hope you do.  There is a giveaway.  If you want to join in – check out Devourer Of Books as there are daily things and giveaways.  Also – pop over to The Literate Housewife for the start of something fun… introducing:  Shaken Not Stirred!

My Journey With Audio Books – and a GIVEAWAY for you!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)60 Comments

Today is the kick off to audio book week (thank you Jen at Devourer of Books!)and I could not be more THRILLED!  I listen to as much audio as I read books…. some weeks, audio beats out the books.  Now – before you non audio book listeners click off this page, bear with me because really – this post is for you.  😀

Those of us who listen to audio know how awesome it is… yet I know from many of my readers, they think it is all good and well for me… but they really couldn’t possibly.  SO let’s take a little journey together shall we?

It’s fall 2009 and I have several trips I need to make to Grand Marias Minnesota.  this is a 4 hour drive, one way from my home.  Now normally, I am an 80’s rockin’ to the music kind of gal… but 4 hours of hard pounding tunes in my head (even if some are pop music – yup… I said it :razz:), gets to be too much.  At that point… I would rather listen to silence.

But this particular fall is different… as I am  fairly new to the book blogging world and recently had discovered Hachette Audio.  They gave audio books away to listen to and review.  Seriously new concept for me.  SO sure enough, in my jeep I have an audio book… it is James Patterson’s Worst Case (the Michael Bennett series – and yes…totally the third book in the series but how would I have known that?)  Anyway… I popped the audio into my vehicle and I was hooked.  The story grabbed me and while making the long haul to Grand Marais, I was able to get deep into the story – loving the sound effects, the narrator, EVERYTHING.

I ask myself, “Where can I get more of this?”

So that is where it began – but it only lead to more… I had to have more.  I loved it and I could listen to audio when I was unable to read a book.

*Hand waving rapidly back and forth*

“But Sheila, I can’t listen to audio – I can’t stay focused on it and it puts me to sleep!”

I hear that a lot.  So here’s the thing.  I can not just get cozy in a chair and listen to audio.  I would be passed out in no time or my mind drifting to something else…. like if there is ice cream in the house, or is the DVR is set up right to record Survivor…. HOWEVER as many of us readers are multi taskers, here is how audio works, and when it works for me:

  • In the car – I have audio all the time.  I listen to it to work, to the grocery store, everywhere…. and road trips where I am riding alone – it is awesome and passes the time!

  • While mowing the lawn.  We have a big lawn.  On the rider I still invest 3+ hours on the lawn once, sometimes twice a week.  I pop in my ear buds on the IPOD and mow to a story… now instead of singing while I mow and scaring the neighbors, I can laugh out loud or cry and let them think I am crazy.  😛

  • While cooking.  I don’t have the patience to stay in the kitchen.  I have to start dinner, then move on to something else which usually means I forget about dinner.  Dinner dies.  BUT now I listen to audio Cd’s in the kitchen and I hang out…. its like it calms me and suddenly I enjoy chopping vegetables, and cleaning up while an audio is on.  I am happy – my hubby is really happy.

  • While Cleaning… if I am working on one room I place the audio where I can listen to it and go to work.  I enjoy the work more, and get a book in on the side.  “Look ma – no hands!”

  • Getting ready in the mornings.  I spend about 30 minutes average a day in the bathroom in the morning.  I keep my IPOD speakers in there and can listen to audio while I get ready for my day.

Audio doubles my “reading” in a year.  There are books I would probably never get to if it were not for audio.  I am more daring with audio… I listen to classics on audio, and non fiction as well as fiction.  You may be amazed at what a great narrator can do. 

*hand shoots up*

“But Sheila…. audio can be pricey…”

True.  However check your local library.  Ours has a wide variety of audio and is connected to many more libraries in the state so I can reserve from another library on-line and have it delivered to my library within days of the request.

Also – audible.com is your friend.  I signed up last year and right away you receive two free audio, after that you receive a credit a month to pick one out for 7.99.  No contract – you cancel anytime.  AND they have wonderful sales – a couple of months back I picked up quite a few for 4.95 each.

That all being said – audio and non audio listeners alike, here is my challenge to you.  This week… start an audio.  Any audio… once you have listened to it come back here and link your review to this post.  I will make a side bar contest link so you can find it.  If you are not a blogger, you can still participate by coming back after you have listened to an audio and share in the comments what you listened to – where you listened to it and what you thought of it. 

In two weeks from today I will draw a name using random.org out of those who link (or comment) about an audio they listened to and the results.  (If you have a blog – I would prefer you also link your review of the audio).  The winner will receive an audio sent to them from Amazon of a value of $20 or less before shipping.

That’s it – happy audio week everyone – let the festivities begin!  😀

** When you have your audio reviewed – link it below to be entered!

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)92 Comments

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  D  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too!  As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.  I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment telling me how many you visited.  **You do not have to have a blog to participate! You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

Last weeks winner:

Samita at Book Purring

WOO HOO!!!!  Please choose an item out of the Reading Cafe Grab Shelves  and email me your choice with your mailing address as well!   journeythroughbooks@gmail.com

**Updates have been made to the Reading Cafe Grab shelves!

Wow…. it probably looks like I have not been reading this week but I have.  😀  I have just been posting like crazy all things BEA related while they were fresh in my mind and before it was all old news.  Believe me…. I have posts backing up over here which is kind of exciting.

So speaking of the crazy posts I put up this week…. you really will want to check some of these out:


From Books To Broadway – a review of Mary Poppins

Dinner with Beth Hoffman (Author of Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt)

Almost Home by Mariah Stewart (yes – a book review!!!)

The Crocodile Hunter meets BEA Box #1 (If you want to hear me make a complete idiot of myself… you have to see this…)

Delirium by Lauren Oliver (yes – an actual book review!  :D)

Box 2 from BEA and what was in it

What I Learned at Book Blogger Con (BBC)

Touring Greenwich Village and Lunch With Adriana Trigiani

Harry Potter Exhibition and why I can’t let go (I can’t… I just can’t… I’m not ready yet… *sob*)


Weekend Cooking:  Spiced Almonds (a treat from New York!)

BEA – That’s a Wrap – The Final Post of BEA 2011

So as you can see – I have been busy posting posting posting about BEA.  😛

Moving forward for this week I think the biggest thing I want to tell you is that Thursday is my 2 year Blogiversary.  If you attended last year, you know I go all out – as you the readers are what makes me want to share bookish stories and reviews.  If you want to see what was given away and what fun happened here (of the comments are as fun as the post) check it out here.  And know that this year will be more of the same – big giveaways, and hopefully a lot of fun comments from the party attendees and you are all invited!!!

Other than the blogiversary – it is also Audio Book week!  I have many audio reviews and audio related posts lined up for this week, and even if you are not a fan of audio I am going to ask that you check out what I am posting, you just never know :D. 

Mary Beth Latham is a happily married woman entirely devoted to her three teenaged children. When her talented daughter Ruby casually announces she’s breaking up with her boyfriend Kirenan, a former neighbor who’s become like family, Mary Beth is slightly alarmed, but soon distracted by her son Max, who’s feeling overshadowed by his extroverted, athletic twin brother Alex. Quindlen’s novel moves briskly, propelled by the small dramas of summer camp, proms, soccer games and neighbors, until the rejected Kirenan blindsides the Lathams, and the reader, with an incredible act of violence. Left with almost nothing, Mary Beth struggles to cope with loss and guilt, protect what she has left, and regain a sense of meaning.

I had this one at reserve at the library and have already started listening to it.

 

 

 

With her older sister, Emma, planning a wedding and her younger sister, Sophie, preparing to launch a career on the London stage, Lulu can’t help but feel like the failure of the Atwater family. Lulu loves her sisters dearly and wants nothing but the best for them, but she finds herself stuck in a rut, working dead-end jobs with no romantic prospects in sight. When her mother asks her to find a cache of old family recipes in the attic of her childhood home, Lulu stumbles across a collection of letters written by her great-great-grandmother Josephine March. In her letters, Jo writes in detail about every aspect of her life: her older sister, Meg’s, new home and family; her younger sister Amy’s many admirers; Beth’s illness and the family’s shared grief over losing her too soon; and the butterflies she feels when she meets a handsome young German. As Lulu delves deeper into the lives and secrets of the March sisters, she finds solace and guidance, but can the words of her great-great-grandmother help Lulu find a place for herself in a world so different from the one Jo knew?

I was soooo excited to pick this up at BEA!

 

 

I don’t know a lot about this one and Amazon did not have a good description.  I picked it up at BEA from my good friends at Blackstone audio and thought I should really give it a try for audio week. 

I think that is about as much as I will get done this week unless I get into more audio.  I have a bike ride this coming weekend – a 150 mile for MS and I will be leaving Friday for the cities for that ride which will take place on Saturday and Sunday – 75 miles each day.  HOPING for good weather 😉

In the mean time – I am UBER excited to see what you are all reading as we enter into June.   Please add your link to your Monday What Are You Reading post below where it says “click here”. 

Have an awesome week!  😀

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BEA: That’s A Wrap (as in my FINAL post about BEA)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)29 Comments

Ok I know I know…. I have been trying to get through sharing with you the BEA experience with the posts I have put up this week.  Honestly – I could do a few more, however, I need to wrap this up.

Next week is a HUGE week here at Book Journey.  Starting tomorrow, it is AUDIO WEEK and I have many fun things lined up for that including audio reviews, discussions, an interview with a narrator that you audio lovers will most likely recognize, and a giveaway.  On Thursday it is also my Blogiversary and I like to party it up big time over here.  For a hint of what to expect, check out last years post.  We had so much fun and the giveaways were awesome.  Your comments cracked me up and really made my day – I plan to run it very similar this year as well :).  I have great things lined up for this year too so please mark your calendars to be sure to stop in on Thursday.

So let’s get back to BEA.

Here is the final run down of what I have not yet chatted about….

  • On Monday when Reagan and I arrived in New York we hurried to Simon and Schuster as we were already late for that, and then walked what we thought would be an easy walk to the YA Teen Author Carnival.  We walked a LONG time, and later in the week found out that this area of New York is quite difficult to navigate so mental high-five to us who eventually found our way 😀
  • While I have chatted about Tuesday at BEA (and running the info booth which was awesome!), and I chatted about Wednesday at BEA too – but did not share with you Wednesday evening.  Wednesday evening was the Harper Collins Book Blogger Reception which was AWESOME!  This was for me the first chance for this year to get to hang out and catch up with some of the other bloggers I chat with on-line and off.  The reception was wonderful and crowded with authors, Harper Collins peeps (Hi Jennifer!!!) and bloggers. It was really fun to chat and connect.
Me and Alison (Alison's Book Marks) - I adore Alison. I met her last year at this same event and we just started chatting like old friends. It was awesoem to connect with her again.
M L Malcolm and me. You always know this lovely lady by the hat. M L wrote Heart of Lies and Heart of Deception
Talia Carner and me. Talia wrote Jerusalem Maiden, a book I am on tour for this week...
The Harper Collins reception - (R) Reagan from Miss Remmers Reviews,Theresa from Shelf Love, me, and Ash from English Major's Junk Food

I really wish I would have taken more pictures – but next year I will work on that.  I swear I had moments where I just…. forgot. 

After the reception, Heather from 3o+ A Lifetime Of Books had gathered a group of us to go out to dinner.  It was just a few doors down from the reception so we all walked to Bice.

Me and Florinda from the 3 R's
Here we all are at dinner.... it was so much fun!
I had a shrimp and mushroom past that was delicious!

I think I shared with you all of Thursday and Friday…. so I will end this last of the BEA 2011 posts with a few random pictures I have not had the chance to post:

Reagan and I commented how some of the streets of new York look like the Stay Puff Marshallow Man from the movie Ghostbusters could show up arnound the corner anytime...
Me and Jill from Rhapsody of Books - I ran into her more than anyone else all throughout BEA - it was funny! We never said good-bye, we said see you later. 🙂
Sarah Pekkanen (Author of Skipping A Beat) and I met last year and had a chance to reconnect again this year.

I think that about covers it… for touristy type things we did this year, Reagan and I went to the Happy Potter Exhibition (I posted about this earlier today), The top of the empire state building, and to Mary Poppins on Broadway (also posted about earlier this week.)

It has been a lot of fun sharing BEA 2011 with you.  If you are an attendee – that is so awesome and I hope I get to see you next year!  If you are considering attending, I have to tell you if you can do this one time – DO IT.  I have a hard time putting into words what a great experience this is but I hoping the oodles of posts this week gives you a hint.  😀

Weekend Cooking: Spiced Almonds

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Hi everyone.  If you have been around here lately you may have noticed the mess from BEA everywhere – books, notes, swag stuff….  I have literally been chatting BEA all week-long.

Ummm…. can you say “addict?”

This is my post for Weekend Cooking the weekly meme from Beth Fish Reads.  Earlier this week I talked about a dinner at Mercer’s Kitchen in New York with the amazing Beth Hoffman.  I had also mentioned the delicious spiced almonds we had while sitting at the bar and waiting for the rest of the group to arrive.  Since coming home… my mind has still been thinking about the almonds. 😛

With a little help from Google (my gosh… what did we do before Google?) I found a recipe that I thought would be fun to try to see if I can come close to the awesome experience I had at Mercer’s Kitchen. 

 

Spiced Almonds

Yields 2 cups  (I doubled this as I am that much in love with these!)

You will need:

2 cups raw almonds (you can use another nut…. but my fav is the majestic almond)

2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons brown sugar (packed)

3 tablespoons white granulated sugar

½ teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon ground allspice

½ – ¾ teaspoon cayenne powder

½ teaspoon salt

 

Directions:

Prepare counter space or a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil to place nuts to dry.  Set aside.  Take the sugars and spices and mix well in a medium size bowl.  In a large dry saute pan on medium heat stir in the almonds and continue stirring frequently to avoid burning.  Once they are well heated, then stir in the butter.  Once almonds are well coated, transfer to the bowl with the spices and coat well.  Put the almonds on the prepared paraffin wax or foil.  Spread them apart so they can cool, separating with a fork.  

Store in an airtight jar - or freeze in a large ziploc for future use

 

That’s it.

Results? 

It’s close.  The spices did not stick as well to the nut as they had at Mercer’s Kitchen.  (Any advice on what would make that happen is welcome :D) 

I think these would go well with a cold beverage of choice – The Lemonade recipe here would go well.