Saga Saturday II

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Abbie Lu

My pick for this Saturday is a favorite of mine.

Here is my Saga Saturday Selection:

(Click title or picture for more info.)

Little Women
I adore this book written by author Louisa May Alcott. It is such a great story about family, friendship, and love. The story is about the life and relationships of the four March sisters. I can especially relate, as I have 4 sisters of my own, which makes it special for me. I can identify a little bit with each of the sisters, but mostly the character of Jo. She is the main protagonist of the story, Jo is a very passionate person and writer. The story follows her and her sisters through many joys, adventures, and tragedies.

This books is so delightfully old fashioned, which is one of the things I love most about it. I know there are so many people out there who love and cherish this heartwarming book as much as I do.

orange_mocha_5 Rated 4.4 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Orange Mocha
I love chocolate and orange! Try adding a bit of orange extract, zest of orange, or orange syrup/liqueur to your next mocha or hot chocolate. It is simply heaven.

Little Women as many know, was also made into a movie three times, once in 1933, again in 1949 and lastly in 1994. I think the book is best, which sort of goes without saying.
However, I loved all of the movies that were made as well.

Have you read Little women,
or perhaps seen any of the movie adaptations?

Share your thoughts.

Fun Fact: Little Women was originally published in two volumes
in 1868 and 1869.

“I’d rather take coffee than compliments just now.”

My Material Soul

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Abbie Lu

I love this, and it is most certainly me. I get very emotionally invested in my reading material, and especially the characters. When I read a long book or a series, it takes me a while to re-coop when it is completed. This is probably why I was not a fan of Game of Thrones 😉 It’s also why I prefer to read books before I watch any adaptations. I like having the opportunity to form my own ideas, thoughts, and (most importantly) imagination around a story.

Book have always been a magical experiencing for me. Some more than others, but it is a feeling and experience I treasure. For this reason I have a hard time casually reading books I am emotionally invested in. I need to really be able to focus and absorb the story, so I can really feel like I am a part of it. I try to purposefully insure that I am distraction free. It’s not always easy or possible, but it worth it for a quality reading experience. I have been known to put off reading a particular book, simply because I knew I would not be able to really lose myself in it. I didn’t want to cheapen the experience knowing I would only get to read it a quick moment here and there. I don’t mind reading some books this way, but when it’s a book that I am really connected to I don’t want to be desperately scrounging for time to read it. That’s just stressful and depressing. Maybe that means I take my books and my reading way to seriously, and to that I say
“AMEN.”

Does anyone else do that? Put off reading something purposefully until the atmosphere is just right?

Saga Saturday I

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Abbie Lu

I am a major sucker for a good long saga. Some of my favorite books
are considered to be as such.

Definition of saga

1: a story of heroic deeds
2: a long and often complicated story
(http://beta.merriam-webster. com/)

Here are my favorite saga’s (to date.)

(click any photo or title for more info.)

Gone With The Wind
I’m sure everyone has heard of gone with the wind. Whether you have seen it or not, have you read it? It is an awesome book! I recommend that if you like the movie and/or love saga’s that you read this book by Margaret Mitchell. It’s a novel that takes place during the civil war. The characters are ones that you cannot help but fall in love with. Gone With The Wind is truly an epic book.
Gone With The Wind Rated: 4.8 on amazon.com

Book Bean: Scarlet Tea
White tea (or coffee) with frothed milk, 2 sugars,
and sprinkled with cinnamon.

Far and Away
I cannot say enough about this book by Sonja Massie, I loved it so very much. It was the first book that I ever read ‘after’ I saw the movie. The movie it was based on is one of my all time favorites. The book is much deeper and more detailed. It is a great story about overcoming pride and on discovering oneself. It carries a theme about painting your own journey, which I really love. There is of course a love story, and it is a good one. It seems to be a bit under appreciated, as you will see if you follow my links, maybe I’m over biased…
Far and Away Rated: 4.3 on amazon.com

Book Bean: Old Fashioned Irish Coffee
Of course you can substitute the whiskey as I do with non-alcoholic rum flavoring (buy it where you get your vanilla.)

East of Eden
This novel takes place in Salinas Valley. Steinbeck does not disappoint with his beautifully descriptive narrative. Some people may not like his long winded picturesque intro’s, but I for one, love them. He brings you on location so you hear the wind in the trees, see each shapely cloud, and taste the very air he writes of. Who knows if it wasn’t for all of the wonderful descriptiveness, it might not even be a saga 😉
East of Eden Rated: 4.6 on amazon.com

Book Bean: Green Tea Latte
Just substitute the espresso in your normal latte machine/bialetti with condensed green tea leaves, it’s so good. If you don’t have one then well, I’m sorry.

The Thorn Birds
I may sound like a broken record now but this is such a marvelous novel. It’s hard to pick a favorite among so many fantastic books, but this one almost makes me want to. Colleen McCullough tells a beautiful story, that follows the life of a girl, through the eyes of a handsome young priest. It takes place in Australia, and has it’s share of scandal, pain, and yes love. It may sound corny, but it is a delightful novel that I will love forever.
The Thorn Birds Rated: 4.3 on amazon.com

Book Bean: Ginger Peach Tea
Hot or iced, tea infused with dry peaches and ginger. If you don’t have it just add dry peaches and a dab of ginger to your infuser and use whatever tea you have.

And there are so many more I still have yet to read, and so many that I can’t wait to read.

What is your favorite saga?

Fun Fact: The mythical “Thornbird” searches for thorn trees from the day it is hatched. When it finds the perfect thorn, it impales itself, and sings the most beautiful song ever heard as it dies.

Saga Saturday IV

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Abbie Lu

I am currently reading this novel and thoroughly enjoying it.
Oddly enough I had forgotten that I already read it, when I began it. It was a bit odd because I kept feeling a sense of déjà vu, but it took me about 5 chapters to realize I had read it. I can’t quite decide how I feel about that…
On one hand I do read a lot of books, and it must have been a very long time ago, but I can’t help feeling a bit ashamed that I have read a book, and forgotten it so completely. I guess it was bound to happen eventually, after reading so much. At least now I get to read it again and experience it for a second time, I’ll look at the bright side.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.”

The unnamed narrator, a naïve young woman in her early 20s, becomes acquainted with a wealthy Englishman, Maximilian (Maxim) de Winter, a widower aged 42. After a fortnight of courtship, she agrees to marry him and, after the wedding and honeymoon, accompanies him to his mansion in Cornwall, the beautiful West Country estate Manderley.

The second Mrs. Maxim de Winter recalls the chilling events that transpired as she started a new life as the young bride of a husband she barely knew. In every corner and room of the isolated gray stone mansion were phantoms of a time dead but not forgotten.
An eerie past devotedly preserved by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers: a suite immaculate and untouched, clothing laid out and ready to be worn, but not by any of the great house’s current occupants.
Sinyard_Rebecca_Danvers-e1361723009755 A ghostly aura silhouettes her heart, as the second Mrs. de Winter walks in the shadow of her mysterious predecessor. She lives cautiously, yet compelled to uncover the darkest secrets and shattering truths about Maxim’s first wife; the late and hauntingly beautiful Rebecca.

Rated 4.4 on amazon.com

“And the ashes blew towards us with the salt wind from the sea”

Book Bean: Pale Moon
Earl grey tea steeped dense or pulled, white chocolate swirl, steamed/frothed milk, sprinkled with nutmeg.

Have you read Rebecca, or any other such hauntingly mysterious books?

Fantasy Friday

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Abbie Lu

I am a big fan of Fantasy Fiction but I am also very particular and picky about which books and series I choose to read, and eventually which books I like.

Here are the top 2 Fantasy Fiction books on my TBR:

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I have nearly started this series SO many times, and I keep kicking myself for still not having started it. I have wanted to read it for so long, and have extremely high hopes for it, I just hope that I will love it as much as I anticipate.

Outlander is a New York Times bestseller, and has earned the praise of critics and captured the hearts of millions of fans. The story introduces two great characters, Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser, in a spellbinding novel of passion and history that combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages.

Rated 4.6 on amazon.com

G raceling by Kristin Cashore

This book was recommended to me by a fellow blogger, and once I checked it out, it quickly made it to my list of books to read.
Another best seller and award winner.

Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable yet strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. She is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace.

Rated 4.3 on amazon.com

Have you read either of these books, what did you think? No spoilers please 😉

Saga Saturday III Alice Walker

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Abbie Lu

It’s another Saturday time for another great Saga

My pick for this week is:
(Click any picture of title for more info.)

“The Color Purple“
This is a classic southern tale of friendship/family and hardship. I love story about sisterhood, I myself have 4, so I can relate. Alice Walker has captured a depth of character in her female protagonist, that is empowering. She is an amazing writer, and has written a very important piece of literature. “The Color Purple” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1983 (the year I was born.)

Rated: 4.4 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Sweet Tea
This tea is good hot too but is traditionally consumed iced.
In a large glass measuring cup, place 6 tea bags and 1/8 tsp baking soda. Pour 2 cups boiling water over the tea bags. Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Take out the tea bags and do not squeeze them. Pour the tea mixture into a 2-quart pitcher; add 1.5-2 cups sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add in 6 cups cold water. Let cool; chill in the refrigerator and serve over ice.

1098570994-Color-Purple-Quote-copy

Honoring Alice Walker:
uewb_10_img0708 Alice Walker was born February 9th 1944 in Putnam, Georgia. She had 8 siblings and was the youngest. When she was 8 she was shot in the eye with a bb gun by her brother, and become permanently blind in that eye. Her feeling of isolation and embarrassment from teasing were consolidated by writing poetry. She ended up being voted most popular and became valedictorian of her class. She went to college on a full scholarship. Alice walker has overcome so many challenges and obstacles and is an amazing women.