Friday Linkups - The Grapes of Wrath

It's Friday linkup time!  I'm linking up with the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer, Book Beginnings of Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, and the Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice

This Week's Book Blogger Hop Question:
Do you read a lot of diverse or own voices books?  Why or why not?

My Answer:
Not really.  I'm not purposely choosing to not read them it's just I typically read genre fiction like mysteries and romance which I'm not sure really have options that fall under the diverse or own voice tag.

This week's book is a classic I've been wanting to read for awhile.  I've really enjoyed everything I've read by Steinbeck (except The Pearl but I refuse to speak of that one) but somehow never managed to read The Grapes of Wrath which feels like the book he's best known for.  So far I'm really enjoying it.  There's something about Steinbeck's writing style that I always enjoy and I'm reading a chapter or two of this a night.  It's like a little treat at the end of the day just with lots of dust and sorrow.

The Beginning:
To the red country and part of the gray country of Oklahoma, the last rains came gently, and they did not cut the scarred earth.

My Thoughts:
I love how visual this is.  I normally don't think of Steinbeck being particularly descriptive but I can just see the rain and the earth.

The 56:
Muley observed, "Judge says he give you a light sentence 'cause it wasn't all your fault"

My Thoughts:
I love how matter of fact Steinbeck's dialogue is and this scene is a really perfect example of that.

So what do you think?  Keep reading?  Are there any classics that you've been meaning to read but just somehow haven't picked up yet?

Yes My Accent is Real - Nonfiction Memoir Review

Yes, My Accent is Real and Some Other Thins I Haven't Told You by Kunal Nayyar
Rating: Very Good
Source: eStories.com

Description: Of all the charming misfits on television, there’s no doubt Raj from The Big Bang Theory — the sincere yet incurably geeky Indian-American astrophysicist — ranks among the misfittingest. Now, we meet the actor who is every bit as loveable as the character he plays on TV. In this revealing collection of essays written in his irreverent, hilarious, and self-deprecating voice, Kunal Nayyar traces his journey from a little boy in New Delhi who mistakes an awkward first kiss for a sacred commitment, gets nosebleeds chugging Coca-Cola to impress other students, and excels in the sport of badminton, to the confident, successful actor on the set of TV’s most-watched sitcom since Friends.
Going behind the scenes of The Big Bang Theory and into his personal experiences, Kunal introduces readers to the people who helped him grow, such as his James Bond-loving, mustachioed father who taught him the most important lessons in life: Treat a beggar as you would a king. There are two sides to every story. A smile goes a long way. And, when in doubt, use a spreadsheet. Kunal also walks us through his college years in Portland, where he takes his first sips of alcohol and learns to let loose with his French, 6’8” gentle-giant roommate, works his first-ever job for the university’s housekeeping department cleaning toilets for minimum wage, and begins a series of romantic exploits that go just about as well as they would for Raj. (That is, until he meets and marries a former Miss India in an elaborate seven-day event that we get to experience in a chapter titled “My Big Fat Indian Wedding.”)

Full of heart, but never taking itself too seriously, this witty and often inspiring collection of underdog tales follows a young man as he traverses two continents in search of a dream, along the way transcending culture and language (and many, many embarrassing incidents) to somehow miraculously land the role of a lifetime.

Genre: Nonfiction - Memoir

Why I Picked This Book:  I'm a huge Big Bang Theory Fan and I really wanted to learn more about the actor who plays Raj.

My Impression:  I have wanted to read this book since it came out but I really wanted to listen to the audio when I found out Kunal himself was reading it.  When I was offered a chance to try out an audio book for eStories this was the one I knew I wanted to listen to and I was not disappointed!  It was an absolute delight.

Kunal starts out the book by stating that this really isn't a memoir because he's only 34 but more a collection of stories that explain how he got to where he is now.  Some were silly, some thought provoking, some touching, but all were funny.  I enjoyed listening to stories about his childhood growing up in New Delhi and I adored getting to know his family.  His bond with his family really shines through and his dad sounds absolutely amazing.  Normally when an entire chapter is dedicated to things a family member says I tend to skim through it because frankly their mother/grandmother/father/grandfather/aunt isn't nearly as interesting as the writer thinks they are but in this case it was one of my favorite chapters.  For starters Kunal's father is just awesome.  He sounds intelligent and funny but also soft spoken and caring but with a tough edge.  I also really enjoyed that for each piece of advice Kunal gave an example as to how his father applied the advice to real life.

I really enjoyed his stories about how important his culture is to him as well as learning to fit in at a US university and his first entries into the acting world.  The book itself was highly entertaining and I felt like I knew Kunal a lot better after reading/listening to it.  My only complaints are that the beginning he jumps around several times timeline-wise and it could feel a little disjointed though I enjoyed the stories themselves and as a huge Big Bang Theory fan I wanted more behind the scenes stories!

If you enjoy memoirs about growing up in countries that aren't the US and about someone trying to make their dreams a reality I think you'd enjoy this one - even if you're not a Big Bang Theory fan.

Note about the audio - Kunal himself did the reading of this book and unsurprisingly did a fantastic job.  While I think this would be good in print form the audio was an extra bit of delight.

I used the eStories app to listen to this book and found it super user friendly and was able to immediately listen without having to go through a lot of steps or figure anything out.  I really liked that it showed the % complete and how much time was remaining in the book. It works on all devices and has unlimited cloud storage which makes it super flexible.  80%+ of the audiobooks are DRM free so you are free to do as you like with them once they're downloaded. At $11.95 a month it's definitely worth checking out.  You can start a free 30 day trial here.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Absolutely!  I'll be reading anything else he writes and in the meantime I've been doing some Big Bang Theory re-watching!

Would I Recommend this Book?: I would!  Even if you're not a fan of The Big Bang Theory I think it's an enjoyable read.

Someone to Love - Contemporary Romance Review

Someone to Love (Darling, VT #2) by Donna Alward

Rating: Good
Source:  Publisher

Description: SOME WISHES DO COME TRUE

Ethan Gallagher is a firefighter in Darling, Vermont, who followed tradition and pledged his love on the Kissing Bridge to ensure lifelong happiness. A few years later, he s a widower with two rambunctious boys who no longer believes in magic. But even he has to admit that free-spirited Willow Dunaway fills him with wonder and an attraction he cannot deny.

Willow s come back to Darling a different girl than the one who left after high school. Overcoming her past and owning her own business has made her into a strong, independent woman. Single dad Ethan appeals to her in a way she didn t expect, even though settling down is the last thing on her mind. But after fire destroys the local food bank, the town rallies, and a fling between Ethan and Willow leads to unintended consequences. Can they find a way out of their heartbreak to make a home in each other s hearts?

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book: I've been a fan of Alward's for awhile and I loved the first book in this series.

My Impression:   I have slightly mixed feelings about this one.   I absolutely loved Willow and Ethan and their interactions were a lot of fun to read.  They have very different outlooks on life and -especially at the beginning- misinterpret what they see of each other but they're both honest and direct with each other which kept it from being frustrating.  I really appreciated that Ethan's marriage had been a happy one and that he isn't afraid of love but of loss and having his children hurt.  I loved checking in with the Gallagher family and with Darling, Vermont.  In the previous book it was clear that Willow had quite a back story.  It was nice to get to know her better and to learn her story.

My mixed feelings come from the last third of the book or so.  While I understand Willow's reaction to the conflict given her history I struggled with the fact that she avoided Ethan for several weeks given the fact that she had formed an attachment with his children and them with her.  I understood his anger as his fear of letting someone in to their lives and then them disappearing had been realized.  As well I wasn't entirely comfortable with her deceptive phrasing to Ethan regarding the conflict.  I understood her motivation but the lack of honesty seemed out of character.  Willow's back story could be considered controversial but it was handled so sensitively and honestly that I don't think anyone would have a problem with it.

Despite my minor hesitation with this book I really did enjoy the read.  I found the characters unique and interesting and just plain likable.  I loved seeing more of the town and I absolutely can't wait for the next book!


Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Absolutely!  I have the next book in the series and I'm super excited to start it!

Would I Recommend this Book?: Definitely!  If you enjoy contemporary romance like Jill Shalvis, Susan Mallory, or Sarah Morgan you will really enjoy this series!

Top Ten Tuesday - 10 Books On My Spring TBR

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic from The Broke and the Bookish is the Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR.  I love this topic because it gives me time to think about what I want to read in the next little while.  This is what I want to read this spring!

1.  The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - I've seen several modern interpretations of this story but have never read the actual book.  I've seen several Oscar Wilde plays and there's a certain wit to them while this story sounds much darker.  I'm curious to see how it all comes together.

2.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - I had zero interest in reading this one when it first came out.  The whole gamer science fiction thing just didn't catch my attention.  But then I started seeing the reviews and they were beyond glowing.  And THEN I discovered that Wil Wheaton reads the audio and that my library has a copy on audio on their digital site.  How can I pass that up?

3.  Three Fates by Nora Roberts - I love new and shiny books but lately I've been realizing that I miss my old favorites so I'm trying to throw in a reread every so often.  This book involving 2 countries, 2 time periods, 3 couples and a whole host of villains is the one I'm hoping to reread this spring.

4.  Lost on Planet China by J. Maarten Troost - I've really enjoyed Troost's previous two books that chronicle his time spent on an atoll in the Pacific and then Tahiti so I'm super excited to read about his adventures in China.

5.  Tightening the Threads by Lea Waite - I've really been enjoying this cozy mystery series featuring a group of needlepointers and a former PI granddaughter.  They all have a historical element that always makes me happy and this newest one is supposed to solve the mystery of one of my favorite side characters who I'm really looking forward to getting to know better!

6.  Gone Without a Trace by Mary Torjussen - Because what TBR would be complete without a thriller with an unreliable narrator?  I'm super excited about this one about a woman whose boyfriend has quite literally disappeared without a trace.

7.  Any Day Now by Robyn Carr - Robyn Carr is one of those authors that I'm always meaning to read more of but never quite manage to read as much as I'd like.  I'm really looking forward to this 2nd book in the Sullivan's Crossing series.

8.  Until You by Denise Grover Swank - I loved the first book in this contemporary romance series and am super excited about this second book!

9.  Death in the Abstract by Emily Barnes - This cozy series about a former police chief turned artist  has been on my radar for awhile and this one features a missing person mystery which is one of my favorite kinds of mysteries.

10. The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King - I'm woefully behind in this Sherlock Holmes?Mary Russell series.  I read the one right before this last year and there were a lot of things left unresolved.  I'm really looking forward to finding just how everything works out!

What are you looking forward to reading this spring?

In Farleigh Field - Historical Fiction Review

In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II by Rhys Bowen

Rating: Very Good
Source: Publicist

Description:  World War II comes to Farleigh Place, the ancestral home of Lord Westerham and his five daughters, when a soldier with a failed parachute falls to his death on the estate. After his uniform and possessions raise suspicions, MI5 operative and family friend Ben Cresswell is covertly tasked with determining if the man is a German spy. The assignment also offers Ben the chance to be near Lord Westerham’s middle daughter, Pamela, whom he furtively loves. But Pamela has her own secret: she has taken a job at Bletchley Park, the British code-breaking facility.
As Ben follows a trail of spies and traitors, which may include another member of Pamela’s family, he discovers that some within the realm have an appalling, history-altering agenda. Can he, with Pamela’s help, stop them before England falls?

Inspired by the events and people of World War II, writer Rhys Bowen crafts a sweeping and riveting saga of class, family, love, and betrayal.

Genre: Fiction - Historical

Why I Picked This Book:  I can't resist the Bletchley Park connection and I've really enjoyed other books from Rhys Bowen in the past.

My Impression:  I've been a long time fan of Bowen's Royal Spyness series - a cozy mystery series set in the 1930s around Lady Georgiana, 34th in line from the throne.  While this series is always entertaining and always a good read it has a tendency to go a little silly at times.  While this works for Georgie and her hijinks I wasn't sure how it would translate to WWII era Bletchley Park. Really though I should have trusted Bowen because while there was an occasional humorous interaction this book never once strayed to hijinks or silliness but instead was a solid, ridiculously readable, and compelling mystery.

The mystery itself is intriguing - who was the man who fell to his death in the middle of the night?  Who was he trying to meet up with?  What is going to happen next?  I loved the different elements of how the mystery unraveled between Ben work at MI5, Pamela's work at Bletchley Park, and the very curious and intelligent Phoebe, 12 year old sister of Pamela, and her new found friend the out of place Cockeny Alfie.

But my favorite part of this read were the characters themselves and the different challenges they faced.  There is the intelligent and observant Pamela who struggles to be taken seriously as an interpreter at Bletchley, the injured and friend-zoned Ben, unable to serve because of a careless accident shortly before the war but devoted to his country, the resentful Dido who is stuck and Farleigh and angry that she neither gets her debut nor is able to go to London to take part in the war work.  They all add to the wartime feel of the mystery easy to identify and connect with.  I adored the relationship between Phoebe and Alfie - her young lady of the manor mixed with his Cockney bravado is frequently funny and I found it sweet to watch their friendship develop though they both would be horrified by the use of the world sweet.

While this isn't silly it also isn't a particularly dark or angsty read.  I really enjoyed the look at Bletchley and the countryside of England during wartime.  It definitely made me want to read more about both.  If you're looking for a light but not fluffy historical fiction and can't resist a World War II setting this is one you must not miss!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Absolutely!  I really enjoy her Royal Spyness series and and I was really impressed with this book.

Would I Recommend this Book?: 

This Week in Reading - March 12

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

All Signs Point to Murder by Connie di Marco - I enjoyed the first in this series last summer and am looking forward to this one!  This involves a wedding day and I'm guessing many hijinks will ensue.  (NetGalley)

Until You by Denise Grover Swank - I really loved the first book in this series and I love when a series is about 2 groups of friends who all end up together.  That way you can check in with earlier couples and it works with the book.  (NetGalley)

Hospitality and Homicide by Lynn Cahoon - I've really been enjoying this series by Cahoon and I'm super excited about this newest book.  She's started another cozy series recently which I also like but I'm constantly worried she's going to abandon this one.  (NetGalley)

Dying on the Vine by Marla Cooper - Apparently murders around weddings is my kryponite these days because I just couldn't resist this one!

Currently:

Reading: Forever a Hero by Linda Lael Miller, The Lake House by Kate Morton and The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Listening: Diamonds are Forever by Ian Fleming

Watching:  Actually not a huge amount.  Major Crimes is back on TNT so J and I have been watching that.  I've been catching up on NCIS and all it's franchises.

Off the Blog:

Apparently this is spring forward weekend.  I'm not ready!  Sure daylight and all that is good but I need that extra hour of sleep!  Luckily it's occuring on what is Spring Break for us so I at least won't have to get up an hour early.

Speaking of spring break the Tornado and I are heading south to visit my grandparents.  My grandfather had a fall back in November and is still not feeling quite himself.  We're going to go and hopefully distract him and help my grandmother with a few things that need to doing.  This is the first time in his life he hasn't been able to be super active (he's 93) and all the sitting has him bored and stir crazy.  His eyes get tired if he reads a lot but he's just discovered audio books.  Any recommendations?  He was career Army and was a pilot in World War II and really enjoys books set around those.  He also listened to The Boys in the Boat and Seabiscuit and enjoyed those.  He also really enjoyed a book he read about Apollo 13 but I can't remember what it was.  Any suggestions - especially for really great audio books will be much appreciated!

Since I'll be out of town I won't be around too much this week but I hope everyone has a fantastic week and I'll be back to visit you soon!

On the Blog:

What Happened:

Monday: Reviews from the Children's Section - Mandy

Tuesday:  The Fives

Wednesdsay:  Home at Last - Contemporary Romance Review

Thursday: Bel of the Brawl - Cozy Mystery Review

Friday: Friday Linkups featuring The Lake House

Saturday:  Sally's Baking Addiction - Cookbook Review + Recipe

What's Coming Up:

Monday: In Farleigh Field - Historical Fiction Review

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books on My Spring TBR

Wednesday: Someone to Love - Contemporary Romance Review

Thursday: Yes, My Accent is Real - Memoir Review

Friday: Friday Linkups with Current Book

Saturday: Forever a Hero - Contemporary Romance Review

Have a great week and happy reading!

Sally's Baking Addiction - Cookbook Review + Recipe

Sally's Baking Addiction: Irresistible Cookies, Cupcakes and Desserts for Your Sweet-Tooth Fix by Sally McKenney
It's no secret that I've got a sweet tooth of pretty massive proportions nor is it a secret that I've got a teensy bit of a cookbook addiction.  I've been a long time fan of the blog Sally's Baking Addiction so one day when I was in a cookbook buying mood and I saw this was on sale at Amazon I just knew I had to have it!  Now, I know there are people who don't like buying blog related cookbooks because of the availability of the recipes on line.  I'm not one of those people.  While I get a lot of the recipes I use off the internet I find a cookbook so much more pleasing and more useful that this doesn't worry me.  I will say that the majority of these recipes felt unfamiliar to me which leads me to believe that this book isn't just recipes pulled from the blog.

The book itself contains a ton of recipes - all with beautiful photographs.  While the book does contain the cookies, cupcakes and desserts the title promises there are also several chapters on breads and muffins and other breakfast treats as well as a chapter on lighter fare such as granola bars and energy bites.  As well you can find a large selection of cookies (from the gorgeous Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies on the cover to Mom's Gingersnaps and Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Cookies), cakes and pies (the Sweet Peach Pie is calling my name) and a variety of sweet snacks and tasty treats.  I've made several recipes in this book and all have turned out beyond delicious.  However, the one I thought I'd share today went beyond my expectations and I could have happily eaten the entire pan on my own!

Cinnamon Roll Blondies

1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch ground nutmeg
5 tbsp salted butter, melted (I used unsalted because that's what I had)
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup, plus 1 tbsp granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract

Vanilla Glaze
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
3 tsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350F.  Line the bottom and sides of an 8 x 8 in pan with aluminum foil. leaving an overhang on all sides.

Make the Blondies:  In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon, and the nutmeg together.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar.  Add the egg and vanilla extract, whisking vigorously until combined.  Slowly add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring with a large spoon or rubber spatula until combined.  Do not overmix.  The batter will be thick.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.  In a small dish, mix the remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar together.  Sprinkle over batter.  Bake for 25 minutes, or until light golden brown on top.  Allow the blondies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

Make the Glaze:  While the blondies are cooling, mix all of hte glaze ingredients together in a small bowl, making sure there are no lumps of confectioners' sugar.  Drizzle the glaze over the cooled blondies.

Lift the foil out of the pan using the overhang on the sides and cut into squares.  The blondies will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week.

My Results:  These were just ridiculous.  They were so soft and gooey and buttery that I was afraid they were underbaked.  But not only were they not underbaked they held together and packed wonderfully.  But seriously the texture and the flavor were perfection.  I'm glad I was taking most of the pan somewhere or I would have eaten them all myself!  They also came together super quick.  I had the idea of making them about an hour before I was supposed to leave and they were put together, baked, and cooled (with a short stay in the fridge) enough and ready to go within that time.  The only thing that didn't come out exactly as pictured was my glaze.  As you can see in the picture - while tasty it isn't winning any beauty prizes.  Both of these are user error.  For starters I was lower on confectioners' sugar than I thought and only had just over 1/2 a cup.  As well the blondies were still warm when I added the glaze causing it to melt.  I'm sure if I had taken my time and had the proper quantities it would have been photo-worthy.

Will I make this again?  Absolutely!  In fact I'm thinking I need to go make another batch right now!  You should too!  You won't be sorry!

I'm linking up with Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads