Review – Page 24 – Book Journey

The Runners World Cookbook edited by Joanna Sayago Golub

Published on February 1, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

If you have followed my journey, you know that the past year I have “dabbled” in running. I still don’t think I qualify as a runner, but my cousin says that if I am not laying on the couch and I am out moving my body, I am a runner.

Ok… I guess that makes me a runner.

Right before Christmas I treated myself to a purchase just for me. I bought this book. Runner or not, I am always interested in working with whole foods and breaking the habit of the “fast food fix” that tends to occasionally plague my busy lifestyle.

The Runners World Cookbook promotes eating well if you run 10 miles a week or one hundred. (A hundred!) It also encourages “eating the rainbow” a colorful array of fruits and vegetables every day. Mmmmmm

The book starts out with explaining healthy antioxidants, carbs, grains, proteins and fats. Then the book breaks down into chapters:

Breakfast
Snacks and Smoothies
Salads and Dressings
Soups and Stews
Sandwiches, Pizzas, Burgers
Sauces and Pasta
Meat and Poultry
Fish and Seafood
Vegetables
Desserts

The recipes look delicious! They are submitted from runners, marathon winners, Olympians, doctors, test kitchens and more. At the top of each recipe is a little paragraph of when is a good time to eat this (pre – run, after run, recovery…. daily….). It also shares how long to prep, how many servings, and of course nutrition values. I also like that each recipe is labeled : V: Vegetarian, VE: Vegan, GF: Gluten Free, Many of the recipes are also accompanied by a photo which I love to drool over!

I admit, I have not had a chance to cook out of this book yet although I have spent time over several days paging through and making note of the ones I want to try. A few that caught my eye are: Egg and bean burritos with avocado and yogurt lime sauce, banana oat energy bars, spinach bacon sweet potato salad, Asian Noodle Salad with eggs and peanut dressing, Thai Avocado soup, Smoked Salmon and Vegie Wraps, Jerk Shrimp with sweet potato and black beans… I could go on forever 🙂

Tonight, I think we are going to try the Chicken Mango fajita. Seriously, look at that tasty picture. It is labeled as Fast, Recovery and Low Calorie. Since I am planning on running a 5k today to keep up my motivation for the half marathon I signed up for at the end of this month as well as a walk with my dogs in snow shoes- it sounds perfect. 🙂 I think you may see recipes coming out of this book frequently this year 🙂

I am submitting this post as part of Beth Fish Reads Weekend Cooking. It is true, I always have more time to make good tasty and healthy dishes on the weekends. 🙂

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Published on January 31, 2014January 31, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)26 Comments

In he year 2044 the earth as we have known it is no more. Now a world of mostly poverty and destruction, people find it is better to spend their time inside a virtual world called the Oasis, created by a genius named James Halliday who has a mad fondness of all thing’s 80’s (ie… arcade games, music, movies, restaurants…) The Oasis is a large virtual world that encompasses many worlds within and to access beyond the first world, real money is used. In the Oasis, you can create an Avatar (an icon or figure representing a particular person in computer games, Internet forums, etc.), to represent you. An Avatar can assume any type of body and look as well as an alias name.

Wade Watts is a teenage student who spends as much time as possible in the Oasis. Here he is more than the overweight slightly acne faced teen… in the Oasis he is Parzival, a taller, leaner, handsomer version of himself. As Wade lives in a very impoverish state, he spends most of his time on the free parts of the Oasis.

When it is announced that the mega billionaire Halliday has passed away and left an elaborate game plan in his will with hints and clues to the ultimate prize – all of his billions of riches and the ownership of the Oasis; the world goes wild. Thousands upon thousands of people are trying to figure out the clues that will lead them to the keys that open up more clues….

and five years go by with no one any closer to the treasure than when it was announced.

Many of the treasure hunters – “gunters” as they are called, have fallen away believing that perhaps this was just the last craziness of a sick old man and nothing more. And then….

Wade figures out the first clue.

Suddenly the news is filled with the mysterious Avatar “Parzival”. Wade’s true identity becomes even more important to keep secret as the hunt inside the Oasis is back up in full force. Not all of those involved are part of the friendly competition. A large corporation called IOI wants the Oasis and all the treasures for themselves and they will stop at nothing to get what they want. Now Wade, and a handful of fellow Avatars that he would like to call friends, are playing for their lives.

Ready Player One?

Yes that is a long synopsis. Yet as I thought about this, this is how I would describe the book to a friend. There is nothing here that gives anything away… not by a long shot. This book is so full of fun twists and turns and awesome (AWESOME!) 80’s references you will not want to stop once you are started.

You do not need to be a gamer to love this book. While I do love games and am an 80’s girl… I was not big into the arcade scene. Let me say that you do need to be to appreciate the book and the dystopian feel to it.

Did I mention that I love this book?

Long time readers of Book Journey may be scratching their head thinking they have heard me RAVE about this book before. You would be right. In December of 2011 I listened to this book on audio and reviewed it then as well. To this day, it is still one of the best audio books I have ever listened to. Narrator Wil Wheaton could read the back of a cereal box to me and I would be all like “Go Wil, read about the red dye #5 again!” Yes, he is that great. In fact – earlier today I was looking for other books narrated by him just so I could listen to him again. I would like him to be the voice on my Garmin, the sound of my alarm…. you get the picture. 😉

Two years later, I still love this book. I chose to listen to it again recently when I went the 3 1/3 hours to our cabin in a car alone. I love being alone in a car for road trips so I can listen to audio. It was just as incredible as the first time.

Seriously – I am not the only one raving about this book. If you have read this, please rave with me. If you have not… please grab this one on audio and treat yourself to something AMAZING!

Rumors have it that the movie rights to Ready Player One have been sold.

(And now I am going to go and read my original review which I have not allowed myself to do until I wrote this one 😉 )

*Update: Upon reading my original review I found that I had made two predictions in that review… both have come true. 😀

1aa — Ready Player One is set in Oklahoma

The Roses Underneath by C. F. Yetmen

Published on January 30, 2014January 30, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

In 1945 a war-torn Germany struggles to get a foot hold on some sort of stability. Anna Klein and her six-year-old daughter Amalia are among those struggling as well. Separated from her husband for their own safety, Anna finds herself working for the US Army’s Monuments Men as they search for art and other stolen treasures. When it is discovered that Anna speaks English, she is recruited as a translator for American Captain Henry Cooper, a laid back man who likes opportunities to bend the rules. When a mysterious stash of art is found, secrets are created causing Anna to question where the truth really does lie and look closely at the secrets she herself keeps….

The Roses Underneath is one of those books that you want to read slowly and cherish as one would a favorite candy. Savoring each word as it dissolves into the next. Reading this book caused me to slow down and really take it all in, which is not always the case in my reading style. I often find myself reading fast paced books that flow with activity and crackle with adrenaline. I was pleased when I started this read and found that this was a book that I needed to take my time with.

I am careful when I choose to read a book that involves war. I tend to become so engrossed in the heaviness of the subject that I usually choose to pass on these books. Yet there was something that called to me about The Roses Underneath that caused me to take a chance on it and I am glad I did. Anna was a protagonist that I found myself hoping for things to turn out well.

I enjoyed this book, even if it did make me slow down and well… smell the roses. 🙂

The In Between Hours by Barbara Claypole White

Published on January 29, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

When bestselling author Will Shepard’s young son is killed in a tragic car accident, Will is left with a tremendous amount of grief that he can not seem to get out from under. As Will’s aging father memory fades, Will uses his talent of writing to rewrite the truth. Amazingly enough, the fictional version of Will’s life brings relief that he never expected.

Hannah Linden rents a cottage next to where Will and his dad lives. Hannah comes with her own cross to bear as she deals with her grown sons struggles. As a holistic veterinarian and healer, she uses her gifts to try to bring peace to Will and his dad’s lives, finding her own solace in putting her energies into someone else.

The In Between Hours is one of those books that just makes me feel warm inside. I liked reading this book and perhaps, for a while, feeling like I too lived in the neighborhood and seen everything play our first hand as I watched Will, and his dad, and Hannah.

I am especially impressed on what an additional layer to the book Will’s dad brought to the read. While the book could have worked with the focus being on Will and Hannah, Will’s dad made me smile… he brings the icing on the cake, or in this case – the filling to an already engaging read.

I enjoyed The In Between Hours and will think about this one for quite a while.

**Thank you to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to spend time with a group of amazingly three dimensional characters!**

I am at the end of the tour on this one – but please feel free to stop in and see what others though of this book:

Tuesday, December 31st: bookchickdi
Thursday, January 2nd: Bibliotica
Monday, January 6th: cupcake’s book cupboard
Tuesday, January 7th: Kritters Ramblings
Wednesday, January 8th: Tina’s Book Reviews
Thursday, January 9th: Chronicles …
Tuesday, January 14th: Becca Rowan
Wednesday, January 15th: From the TBR Pile
Friday, January 17th: Peeking Between the Pages
Friday, January 17th: Not in Jersey
Monday, January 20th: Staircase Wit
Tuesday, January 21st: Sweet Tea and Lollipops
Wednesday, January 22nd: Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Friday, January 24th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Monday, January 27th: As I turn the pages
Tuesday, January 28th: Book Journey
Wednesday, January 29th: Found Between the Covers
Thursday, January 30th: Good Girl Gone Redneck

Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

Published on January 21, 2014January 21, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

32 year old Holly Brennan was never what you would call a small girl. When her husband at a young age suddenly became ill, Holly comforted herself with food. When he passed away, the food addiction did not go away.

Then Holly meets Logan Montgomery on a plane. Logan is fit, self-assured, confident, and good-looking. Everything Holly feels she is not. When Logan shares with Holly that he is a personal trainer and would like to work with her at a discounted rate to get her moving in the right direction, Holly figures why not, after all… she is not moving in any direction currently.

Turns out, Holly has some natural-born skills when it comes to working out. She is hard-working, determined, has great strength and is flexible. Before long Holly is shaping up and more than one guy is noticing, including Logan. But is it really in the cards for Holly and Logan to be together?

Big Girl Panties for me, was a fun read with a great protagonist. I really enjoyed Holly, who is funny, quick-witted, and doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to her weight issues. She was an easy girl to cheer on as she reaches her goals. I even enjoyed Logan who is not perfect by far, and has a few strange habits but deep inside, despite this, I liked him.

Big Girl Panties was one of those books that I picked up planning to read a few pages and then just kept reading to the point I carried it around the house with me while I made dinner, let the dogs out, and propped it up on the bathroom sink while I styled my hair. It was quick and it was fun.

One word of advice, Big Girl Panties is a book that can easily be taken offense too. It deals with weight issues and eating disorders and not always kindly. There is talk of using liposuction to improve Holly’s body. There is also some odd interactions regarding sexual activities that mainly comes from the direction of Logan’s friend Chase, but in some cases, Logan too.

Over all, I liked the book. It’s not perfect, but I would probably be bored if it was. I do not have to like all the characters in a book – and in this book I didn’t. Holly is what keeps this book moving forward. She was someone I wanted to root for, I wanted things to go well for her and you will too. 🙂

The Wrong Girl by Hank Philippi Ryan

Published on January 20, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

What if you were adopted and after years of hoping and searching you have a chance to be reunited with your birth mother? And what if this joyful moment is dimmed by a strong feeling that this is not your mother at all… that the agency has made a mistake. It is a mistake… right?

When Investigative Reporter Jane Rand is asked to check into her former co-worker, Tucker’s concerns about her supposed birth mother… things get interesting.

The Wong Girl is a sequel to The Other Women; this I did not know going into this read but it did not seem necessary to have the pre-knowledge of the first read. I enjoyed Jane’s strong lead woman role, as well as her partner, Jack. I liked the idea of the story line centered around an adoption agency.

My only reason for not gushing on this one is that on audio it felt drug out and I admit I became tired waiting for the story to move forward. While well written, and kudos to Ilyana Kudushin’s narration (she also narrated the Twilight audio series), I just became tired. 11 CDS.

The Broken Path by Cami Checketts

Published on January 19, 2014January 19, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

Ethan Searle is a good looking guy by all accounts. With his legs injured in an accident as a child, he feels that when women do look at him it is with pity. Love has been something that has never really worked out for him.

Then one day while leaving church, Ethan catches the eye of two year old Britton and he thinks this beautiful little girl may have just stole his heart away. Unfortunately, one look from Britton’s mother Autumn as she at first cautiously looks Ethan over, and then with pity when she sees his legs, and Ethan knows all to well that familiar rejection.

Autumn, carries her own ghosts. After escaping an abusive marriage that left her miscarrying her first child and then escaping while pregnant with Brit, Autumn has no room in her heart for anyone but her own mother and Brit.

But does anyone know the magic that a two year old blue eyed baby girl holds in the palm of her hand? As Autumn starts to warm up to Ethan and dare herself to possibly dream of a future together, she is unaware of the danger that is approaching. Trent, her ex husband is recently out of jail and he has one thing on his mind, reclaiming what is his…. and what is his in his mind… is Autumn.

I have enjoyed Cami Checkett’s writing in the past. I was first introduced to her writing in Sister Pact that I really enjoyed, and then again in Dead Running. The Broken Road is the first of Cami’s books that I have listened to on audio.

The Broken Road is a sweet listen. It reminded me a little of some of Nicholas Spark earlier works, perhaps a bit predictable, but good all the same. I found Britton to be perhaps me favorite character, sweet and innocent she brought not only glue to Ethan and Autumn, but to the book itself.

Narrator Christy Crevier brought a sweet smooth rhythm to the audio. My only complaint was that the voice of Autumn came across as so young sounding that I found myself considering her age rather than listening, her voice sounded to be around 18 instead of a girl who had been married in her 20’s.

Autumn also comes across as a bit babyish at times, not only in narration, but in actions and words. While not a deal breaker, it was annoying at times.

The story as a whole is a good one. Checkett once again writes three dimensional characters that make for a pleasant reading experience. As I mentioned earlier, fans of Sparks and clean light romance reads will enjoy this one.

Then Again by Diane Keaton

Published on January 16, 2014January 16, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments

Diane Keaton was born Diane Hall in 1946 (two years before my mother was born!). After studying in the arts and graduating she took her mother’s maiden name Keaton as her own. Then Again is a recap of Diane’s years growing up with a mom (Dorothy) who spent her early mom years reaching for something more by entertaining contests (and sometimes winning – Mrs. Los Angelas for Homemakers !). Diane adored her, right through her golden years and her battle with Alzheimer. It was her moms early influence that caused Diane to want to be an actress. It is also about Diane’s battle with food addiction, and of course her movies. She spends time talking about her earlier movies (many I have never seen) as well as the leading men not only on the screen, but in her life like Woody Allen, Warren Beaty, and Al Pacino.

Hmmmm….. I love the movies I have seen with Diane Keaton in them. I have fond memories of The First Wives Club, Hanging Up, Father Of The Bride 1 and 2, Somethings Gotta Give, The Family Stone and Because I Said So. She has always been that actress that is effortlessly funny. Needless to say when I started seeing positive murmurs of this memoir Then Again on the blogs, I knew I wanted to listen to it on audio as Diane Keaton narrates it herself.

Listening to Then Again is like sitting down and talking with Diane. It was pleasant to listen to this as she reads like she is talking, with emotion, and sighs, laughs, and pauses. At times, Diane is a slow steady pace and will list things or repeat sentences, like types of foods, or emotions, (and at one point even her bank account numbers!) which gave me a feeling she was trying to stretch her words.

I did like Then Again. She puts a lot more attention on the movies from her earlier career then the ones that I am more familiar with, but maybe that just gives me reason to watch some of her older movies. She also spends a lot of time talking about her mother, and I was hoping for more Diane, but it was still interesting and I did come out the other side knowing a little more about the person I see on the screen.

1aa — Then Again is mainly set in California, where Diane currently lives.

Labor Day Book Party with Movie Anticipation!

Published on January 15, 2014January 15, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

When our book club was first chosen to be one of the groups that received ten copies of Joyce Maynard’s Labor Day to read and discuss our anticipation for the movie I was thrilled! I put out info on our Bookies Facebook page and sent it out by email… the first ten to commit to reading this book and discussing it at the end of our next book club meeting would get the books.

The Bookies went wild. 😀

Within a couple of hours I had the ten spots filled and more. Being the kind of awesome gals we are, we shared the books. A couple of us downloaded it on to our readers, in the end – 14 of the 18 Bookies read Labor Day. We had a few that could not make the discussion, one is in Florida (lucky gal) and one is preparing for a trip to Mexico (also lucky gal!) and one was out sick (poor gal!).

We tried our hand at creating a recipe to go with the book. I gave them the option of making the item, or creating the recipe. We had a mix of both. Amy P in our group came up with a Labor Day Lemonade (mmmmmmm), Angie created a recipe for Frozen Peach Lemonade for Labor Day, and Lori N created a Peach crisp that sounded heavenly.

Brenda brought a Cheesecake with a peach topping. Laura brought a homemade pie. I made a Labor Day Peach Slush that I called “Shake My Peach Tree” with frozen Mikes Hard Lemonade, a dry champagne, and (as I could not find fresh ones this time of year), canned peaches all blended and then put in an ice cream bucket to keep in the freezer until serving time (or… Labor Day!).

We drank and sampled the yummy desserts and discussed what we were excited about for the movie.

We discussed that we are excited about Josh Brolin playing Frank. In fact many said that is who they pictured as they read the book.

The opening scene when Frank finds Henry and Adele at the store is one that we are excited about. We are curious as to what that will look like when Frank first observes them, and feels that this will be a good choice for him to go with them.

The pie scene both in the book, and on the screen was a good discussion. First of all personally, I want to try my hand at making that pie… it was described so well that I think me (a non pie maker) may actually be able to do it. 😀 There is also something a little sexy about a man making a pie in the first place.

How they portray both Henry and Frank at different ages is also something we are looking forward to. We are thinking that we will get together for appetizers either before or after the movie when we go to do a little group bonding and either anticipating or recapping, depending on when we go.

A few of us pointed out having seen the movie trailer that Frank appears scary in the movie and Henry and Adele appear scared but fear is not the feeling you get from the book. It will be interesting how we interpret those feelings after we see the movie.

I have the recipes that we created to go with the book just not the time to post them this morning but they will be coming. 🙂 It was a fun discussion and we are looking forward to the movie! Thank you to Harper Collins for giving us this opportunity to chat about Labor Day.

Playing St Barbara by Marian Szczepanski

Published on January 14, 2014January 14, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

1933 Southwestern Pennsylvania is a hot spot of activity. The coal miners are on strike and the Klu Klux Klan is gaining momentum and both are striking fear into many hearts. The Sweeney family: Fin, Clare, and their three daughters; Deidre, Katie, and Norah are right in the midst of it all. Fin, who coal mines for a living is an angry man who fights for the rights of his fellow miners by day and then takes his anger out on his wife and daughters by night.

Secrets are held within each of the Sweeney women and as each shares their story, you see that what is happening within these stories, mirrors the legend of the 7th century St. Barbara, patron of miners, which plays out annually at the town pageant.

Sometimes…. historical fiction blows me away. I felt as though I had donned my own pair of coal mining boots as I sunk dust deep into this amazing read. This was such a change from what I have been reading so far this year and I enjoyed it so much. Sometimes I forget how much I enjoy good historical fiction. And really, who better to tell it? Author Marian Szczepanski whose own grandparents were immigrant miners.

I have a feeling I will be gushing about Playing St. Barbara for some time to come. It was amazing to me, who honestly knew little of this history, how the KKK played a role in what happened. Exasperating, breathtaking, and awe inducing…. Playing ST. Barbara is a must read for lovers of historical fiction novels. I want to say more, but more than that, I want YOU to read this book.

Authors Website