Profound Paragraphs: WISO

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Abbie Lu

“A rogue does not laugh in the same way that an honest man does; a hypocrite does not shed the tears of a man of good faith. All falsehood is a mask; and however well made the mask may be, with a little attention we may always succeed in distinguishing it from the true face.”

I know I just did a “What I’m Sipping On” but I’ve been managing my time well lately which in turn means, more time for reading!

The Three Musketeers
by Alexandre Dumas

Published in 1844

The Three Musketeers is a historical novel by Alexandre Dumas. Set in 1625–1628, it recounts the adventures of a young man named d’Artagnan after he leaves home to travel to Paris, to join the Musketeers of the Guard.

Rated: 4.4 on amazon.com

This book despite it’s sexism and class/rank subjugation (which was clearly and unfortunately acceptable at the time in which it was written) is still a very well written and entertaining read. Dumas has a knack for adventure that enthralls me. However I also found a few subtle gems of wisdom among the escapades.

“..the merit in all things consists in the difficulty.”

I also find myself laughing quite often when reading this book; the witty banter and subtle humor quite amuses me. Here is just a little example:

“Porthos: He thinks he can challenge the mighty Porthos with a sword…
D’Artagnan: The mighty who?
Porthos: Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of me.
D’Artagnan: The world’s biggest windbag?
Porthos: Little pimple… meet me behind the Luxembourg at 1 o’clock and bring a long wooden box.
D’Artagnan: Bring your own…
Porthos: [laughs]”

I do love a book full of variety and this one most certainly has it; adventure, comedy, romance, and more! It also reads poetically, it’s almost as though you are reading a Shakespeare play. It’s the perfect lighthearted read for me right now.

Attention e-book readers: This is Free on Kindle click picture
above or HERE for link, AND the audible add-on is only .99!

Book Bean: Light Eggnog Latte
So while I’ve been reading this I have been sipping on one of my holiday favorites; a latte cut slightly with eggnog! mmm good 🙂

“Time, dear friend, time brings round opportunity; opportunity is the martingale of man. The more we have ventured the more we gain, when we know how to wait.”
~Alexander Dumas, The Three Musketeers

So, do share, what have you been sipping on?

Check out Mochas and Musketeers for more swashbuckling madness!

French Press Classics

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Abbie Lu

Heroes, adventure, duels, the high seas, and of course love. These french classics have it all, and their literary mastery are well admired. I have a soft spot for epic tales and romanticism, and I hold these three among favorites.

Here are my favorite French presses:

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantes is confined to the grim fortress of If. There he learns of a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo and he becomes determined not only to escape, but also to unearth the treasure and use it to plot the destruction of the three men responsible for his incarceration. Dumas’ epic tale of suffering and retribution, inspired by a real-life case of wrongful imprisonment, was a huge popular success when it was first serialized in the 1840s.

Rated: 4.6 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Chocolat l’ancienne
Rich and decadent melted dark chocolate poured into cups, and served alongside it’s own separate dish of fresh whipped cream. So thick and creamy, I’ll have mine with Un café please!

Les Misérables by Victore Hugo
Published in 1862 and considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. Within this dramatic story are themes that capture the intellect and the emotions: crime and punishment, the relentless persecution of Valjean by Javert, the desperation of Fantine, the amorality of the rogue Thénardier, and the universal desire to escape the prisons of our own minds. A beautiful and haunting story that many can relate to and easily fall in love with. It is a richly complex emotional tale of good vs. evil and true redemption.

Rated: 4.7 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Un café
A coffee, plain and simple, but not as we would have in the U.S. Order “Un Café” and you will get a small cup of plain strong espresso.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
An adventurous tale of the young man d’Artagnan. Leaving home to travel to Paris, d’Artagnan wishes to join the Musketeers of the Guard. He is not one of the musketeers of the title but befriends Athos, Porthos and Aramis (inseparable friends who live by the motto “all for one, one for all.”) This motto which is first put forth by d’Artagnan, has become a most well known and loved signet. This a historical fiction full of memorable adventure and characters.

Rated: 4.4 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Cafè au Lait
A coffee with hot milk added (In comparison to the Itallian caffè latte.) In the U.S. a café au lait is a drink of strong drip coffee or French pressed coffee, to which steamed milk is added.

Auguste Maquet was a French author, best known as the chief collaborator of French novelist Alexandre Dumas, co-writing such works as
The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.

Fun Fact: Les Misérables as a whole is one of the longest ever written, with approximately 1,500 pages in unabridged English-language editions, and 1,900 pages in French.

Do you have a favorite french classic, and/or a favorite french author?

A Wednesday Wishlist: War

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Abbie Lu

Me and my WWII obsession again. 🙂 There are so many great books out there, both fiction and non-fiction. I usually prefer the non-fiction WWII books, but as you can see here there are some great fiction choices that cannot be passed up. I also added in a modern day war story because the story really intrigues me and it is very highly rated.

Here is my current wishlist of war literature:

“American Sniper “ by Chris Kyle
From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. His fellow American warriors, whom he protected with deadly precision from rooftops and stealth positions during the Iraq War, called him “The Legend”; meanwhile, the enemy feared him so much they named him al-Shaitan (“the devil”) and placed a bounty on his head. Kyle, writes honestly about the pain of war—including the deaths of two close SEAL teammates. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle’s masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time.
Rated: 4.5 on amazon.com

“All The Light We Cannot See”
by Anthony Doerr
All the Light We Cannot See is a novel written by American author Anthony Doerr, published by Scribner on May 6, 2014. It won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.

Rated: 4.6 on amazon.com

“The Nazi Officer’s Wife” Edith H. Beer
Edith Hahn was an outspoken young woman in Vienna when the Gestapo forced her into a ghetto and then into a labor camp. When she returned home months later, she knew she would become a hunted woman and went underground. With the help of a Christian friend, she emerged in Munich as Grete Denner. There she met Werner Vetter, a Nazi Party member who fell in love with her. Despite Edith’s protests and even her eventual confession that she was Jewish, he married her and kept her identity a secret.
Rated: 4.6 on amazon.com

Each of these books is extremely well reviewed, and sound like great stories that I will love. Also together they make a versatile montage, which keeps it interesting. Now I just need more free time so I can start checking some of these off my list!

Do you have any WWII books that you can’t wait to get your hands on?

French Press Classics

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Abbie Lu

Here are my favorite French presses:

Auguste Maquet was a French author, best known as the chief collaborator of French novelist Alexandre Dumas, co-writing such works as
The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.

Fun Fact: Les Misérables as a whole is one of the longest ever written, with approximately 1,500 pages in unabridged English-language editions, and 1,900 pages in French.

Do you have a favorite french classic, and/or a favorite french author?