Book Review: Divergent Series (Steph)

Divergent series by Veronica Roth

Books in this series: Divergent, Insurgent, and third book (untitled) to be released September 2013

5 out of 5 thumbs up

Sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior lives in Chicago after the collapse of modern civilization. The city is divided into 5 factions, each emulating a specific virtue. Candor-honesty, Erudite- knowledge, Dauntless- courage, Amity- peacefulness, and Abnegation- selflessness. She, along with the other youth her age, will follow tradition and  decide whether to stay in the factions they were born into, or decide to make a different faction their home.  After Beatrice’s surprising decision, she discovers a dangerous secret about herself and that the world around her is not as peaceful as it seems.

Whether it’s the engaging story, colorful characters, or heart-pounding action, this book is a winner. It’s engaging, emotional and a real page-turner.  I loved the story and the characters and literally couldn’t put these books down.  It was one of those instances where you take that one tiny little second right after you’ve finished the last word of the last book and wonder how you’re going to live another year until the next book is published.  Overdramatic, yes, but it happens to everyone. Right?  I could go on gushing over the books, or you could just read them and find out for yourself.

Book Review: Caster Chronicles (Steph)

Caster Chronicles series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Books in this Series: Beautiful Creatures, Beautiful Darkness, Beautiful Chaos, Beautiful Redemption

      

 3 out of 5 thumbs up

Ethan Wate lived in Gatlin, Georgia his whole predictable life when he is changed forever after the arrival of Lena Duchannes, an outsider, who moves into her shut-in uncle’s giant, mysterious house.  As Ethan befriends Lena and unravels the mysteries of her family, he learns that Lena is no ordinary teenage girl and that she will have to make a choice that could change their world as they know it.

One thing I actually really liked about these books, was that they are told from the boy’s point of view, rather than the girl’s, which is sort of a refreshing change. However, the book was not only written by a woman, but by two women, so I’m not sure the “feelings” Ethan nanners on and on about are entirely from a teenage boy’s perspective.  Or maybe he’s just a really sensitive guy. Who knows. 

I also hold little sympathy for teenagers who have to make “choices” in which the correct decision is obviously apparent.  Since that is basically what this story revolves around, I couldn’t really get behind Lena and her decision making. I couldn’t figure out why she didn’t just get it over with already, and consequently resulted in the first book being a bit of a lackluster read.  The good news is that the books get a little bit better as they continue.  The bad news is that a Beautiful Creatures has been made to be released in March (I think) 2013.  Sounds like one to Redbox, maybe.

Book Review: Wicked Lovely (Steph)

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr 

1 out of 5 thumbs up

I think that the name of this book should have been Wicked Confusing. I generally like things that I read, even if they are a little corny, or there’s parts I don’t really care for.  This book, however, even I have to admit was a stinker.

The book is about a teenage girl who we know very little about due to the author’s devastatingly  poor character development.  This girl, Aislinn (Ash for short- maybe I have no idea how to pronounce Aislinn, but “Ash” wouldn’t have been my first guess as a nickname), can see things that most other humans can’t, faeries (eye roll).  She doesn’t tell anyone about her “sight” because if the faeries find out, it’s bad for her, for some reason.  I guess they’ll kill her or something; it never really says. Aislinn is pursued by the faerie Summer King, Keenan, who has been looking for his queen for 900 year or something like that. Again, it’s not real clear. If she agrees to try to become Summer Queen and rule with the Keenan, they will restore balance to the mortal and faerie world, because apparently the world has been sort of stuck in Winter (because of the evil Winter queen, Keenan’s  mother), but you would never know that unless you could read the mind of the author. She definitely doesn’t elaborate much about the state of the world Aislinn lives in to begin with.

Saving the world from perpetual winter would probably be an obvious choice, but Aislinn has a “friend”, Seth, who she’s hung up on, though I have no idea why. Seth is probably the character that I understand the least.  He’s a goth or something like that, I guess, but he paints his nails black and has “tats” (shudder) and piercings all over.  He seems like he’s older than Aislinn, but I have no idea how old, nor what he does for a living, but apparently has some money.  He lives in a set of train cars (which he purchased, apparently, so I guess he’s not a bum) which have people in them all the time, so I’m guessing he’s popular and likes to party. (?)  He seems like a nice enough guy, but not exactly my cup of tea.  So basically the entire book is Aislinn trying to decide what to do.  It’s rather frustrating to read.

Besides the poor character development, which didn’t give me any reason to root for or care about anyone in this book, the story is riddled with plot-holes and a lot of instances where, I felt, the author didn’t feel like writing something and wanted you to read her mind instead.  I remember reading along and felt like I had missed something.  So I’d back-track a little bit to see if I had missed anything, but, there was nothing there to miss.  Also, she would mention a name, or a place, with absolutely no explanation.  As if the reader should already know what she’s talking about, but there’s no other mention of this person or place ANYWHERE.  It’s just really confusing throughout. That and the teenage whining is especially bad.  I know, I know.  It’s a youth fiction book, so there’s bound to be a little moodiness, but this is just ridiculous.

All in all, I’m not sure how this book got published, much less made it on the NY Times Best Seller list. (Yeah, I was just as shocked as you). Don’t waste your time. Seriously. Don’t.

Book Review: Delirium and Pandemonium (Steph)

Delirium and Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

4 ½ out of 5 thumbs up

Lena lives in world where love is thought to be a disease (deliria nervosa)  and showing any kind of passion (love, or hate), or affection can land you in prison for life, or worse.  She lives in time where cities are fenced off and traveling between them is next to impossible.  She knows that when she turns eighteen, she will undergo a surgical procedure that will “cure” her from possibly contracting deliria, and she looks forward to it, counting down the days until it’s her turn.   That’s when she meets Alex, an uncured member of an underground resistance living undercover in the city.  Lena learns about love and a life outside the cage she calls home.

These books are similar to the Hunger Games, in that the government has completely taken over the country to the point where most people live in a sort of oppression and many live in poverty.  The books are well written (though a teeny bit predictable at times) and quick paced. Delrium is written chronologically, while Pandemonium jumps back and forth between the past and present.  Of the two, I think I liked Pandemonium more.  I liked the writing style, but I also thought there was more suspense and there was even one part that made me cry.  Both books really evoke emotion out of the reader, which I loved. 

Of course, I had to choose another series that wasn’t completely published yet, so the third and final book Requiem will be released March 2013.  (Grrrrrrrr)

Oven dried tomatoes (mom)

I have to say that the bruschetta that is posted is DELICIOUS!  But it does call for dried tomatoes.  I did some this summer and they are really easy.  You put your halved tomatoes on a cookie sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper and put in your oven at 250* until they no longer have juice running from them.  Store them in a ziplock freezer bag and in the freezer.  EASY!  and very good for this recipe.

Bruschetta (Amber)

Charles and I were given a lot of tomatoes from everyone's gardens at the end of the summer. Charles doesn't like fresh tomatoes and I couldn't eat them all by myself; so we looked though our cookbooks for recipes that use tomatoes.  We found a recipe for Bruschetta in a cookbook called Smart Cooking.  We both really like this recipe. 

    

Double-Tomato Bruschetta 

8 Campari tomatoes, diced

½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped

4 garlic cloves, chopped

¼ cup chopped fresh basil

½ cup chopped red onion

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

½ teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 whole wheat baguette

1 cup grated Asiago cheese

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

    In a large bowl combine tomatoes, garlic, basil and onion.  Add ¼ cup oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper; mix well. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours to let the flavors develop.

Place the top oven rack 5 inches from the broiler element.  Preheat the broiler to high.

Cut baguette into 1/2 inch thick slices. Brush with the remaining oil and place on a cookie sheet.  Set under the broiler and cook until golden brown, watching carefully to avoid burning.  Remove from the oven, leaving the broiler on.

Spread a ¾ inch thick layer of the tomato mixture on each baguette slice.

Sprinkle with grated cheese.

Place under the broiler once again until the cheese melts and begins to bubble.

Remove from the oven, let cool and serve.

Makes 6 servings.  

A great time

Hey, this is Charles by the way, just giving my review of the chili cook off that we had. Amber and I just jumped on line and found a recipe called Debbie's chili, very simple, quick to make, and over all really a good easy chili that is standard no nonsense chili. We got all ready, enjoyed it the first day and for a couple days later enjoyed spooned over baked potatoes with a bit of cheese and sour cream. Great way to keep lunches at work spiced up and not just cold cut sandwiches, as well as keeping fast food out of the rotation.

Family Chili Cook-off (mom)

We did have our chili cook-off on Sunday and it was so much fun.  All of the chili's were great!  I'm glad that I didn't have to judge them.  Dorthy and Rory brought a yummy spicy steak chili, Steph and Kevin brought a pork and apple chili, Mel and Tim brought the obligatory white chili, Charles and Amber brought a very good hamburger chili and Sarah and Colton tried a pork-pineapple chili.  They were all very good.  We ate good food, chatted, played a game and then the kids were done.  It had been a while since we did something like that.  FUN!

Chili Night: Pork Apple Chili Recipe (Steph)

The annual Schmidt Family Chili Cook-off was a lot of fun the other night.  Though, I don't think there was ever a winner declared...?  Justin, you want to get on that?  Just kidding. We're all winners! (insert cheesy smile here)

I just wanted to share my recipe and would like to encourage everyone else to do the same.

Pork Apple Chili- from The Armitsteads

1 1/2 lbs pork meat
2 large onions
1 large bell pepper
1 large Granny Smith apple
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup water
2- 14 oz cans diced tomatoes
2- 8 oz cans tomato sauce
2- 15 oz can beans- your choice (I used 1 can black and 1 can white)
1 small can green chilies

Start by dicing your meat, onions, pepper and apple.

 

This is what my mascara looks like whenever I chop onions

 Next brown the meat in some oil.

After the meat has started to brown, add the onion, bell pepper and apple. Cook until onions turn translucent.

 Next, add the chili powder, basil, red pepper flakes, and cinnamon.  Cook for a minute or two more.

Now drain and rinse your beans, and add water, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans and green chilies.

Simmer for 15-20 minutes then transfer to a 5-quart slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4.

Enjoy!

p.s. I did send a message to Charles, Amber, Justin, Sarah and Colton (via Facebook) with the blog info, so if any/all would like to contribute that would be awesome!

Catching up (Mom)

Kudos to Steph for all of the books she has read this summer.  We haven't had alot of posts this year, so we need to get more posts.  I didn't realize that Amber wasn't aware that we had this blog, so we need to get the word out.

Book Review: "Fallen" Series

Books in this series by Lauren Kate: Fallen, Torment, Passion, and Rapture

3½ out of 5 thumbs up.

Lucinda Price is a seventeen-year-old girl who is sent to a school for troubled teens called Sword & Cross. I’m not sure why she was sent there for sure, but I think it may have to do with some fire that she couldn’t explain that killed a classmate. While at this school, she is drawn to a boy named Daniel, who avoids her at first, but then they fall in love.

Luce finds out that Daniel is a fallen angel and that she is the reincarnated version of many of her former selves. She and Daniel have had an “on-again-off-again” relationship for centuries. She learns that in every lifetime, she meets Daniel, falls in love and then dies unexpectedly. Seventeen years later, the whole process starts all over again. Luce begins to discover more about herself and her past lives, and she and the fallen angels she has befriended band together to save all of history.

I thought that this series was alright. There are a few dramatic parts that are a little surprising and the story was good enough for me to want to read all four books to know what happens. There is also a book of short love stories of some of the characters in these books called Fallen in Love that I read which was okay as well. The story drags on at times, and only because the reader is dragged off into Luce’s redundant realizations of her love for Daniel (eye roll). Also, she goes on, and on, AND ON about the beauty of Daniel’s wings (double eye roll) to the point where it starts to get a little irritating. (If you though Bella carrying on over Edward’s sparkly skin in Twilight was bad…) Also, the end of the story seemed a teeny tiny bit anti-climactic. Overall, an okay read.

Book Review: The Infernal Devices Series (Steph)

Because I enjoyed the “Mortal Instruments” series so much, I decided to read another series by the same author. “The Infernal Devices” series by Cassandra Clare is made up of Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and the not yet released Clockwork Princess due to be released March 2013.

4 ½ out of 5 thumbs up

This book is also about Shadowhunters, but is based in the 1800s London. The main female character, Tessa, is kidnapped (what’s with the kidnapping?) and forced to develop her shape-shifting ability (which she didn’t know she had) by her captors for reasons unknown. She is then rescued by Shadowhunters and taken to stay with them at their academy. As the Shadowhunters attempt to unravel the reason behind Tessa’s imprisonment (and her unique abilities), they are pursued by strange mechanical humanoids, and Tessa falls into the middle of an incredibly tangled love triangle.

I really liked these books (more than the “Mortal Instrument” books even) and I’m anxious know how everything works out in the end. Since it’s also written by Cassandra Clare, there are things that I like in it as with her other series like the writing style and pace. I really like the characters in this series more than “Mortal Instruments,” though I can’t really explain why. These books also have a little bit of a “steampunk” tone about them as well with all the clockwork-type contraptions, which I like.

Book Review: Mortal Instrument Series (Steph)

The books in this series written by Cassandra Clare are City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, and City of Lost Souls. There is also a 6th book, City of Heavenly Fire that is announced to be released March 2014.

4 out of 5 thumbs up.

This series revolves around a young girl named Clary Fray who lives in New York and seemingly has an ordinary life. It is only after her mother is kidnapped that Clary begins to discover that her life in not as normal as she originally thought. She learns that she is Nephilium (half human, half angel) whose job is to hunt and kill demons who find their way into the human world. They are also known as Shadowhunters.

She meets a group of Shadowhunters and as she searches for her mother, she learns more about the world of demons and other underworlders (warlocks, werewolves, fairies, etc.). Clary and the group of other Shadowhunters embark on a quest to locate “the mortal instruments” (artifacts that, when combined, can summon a powerful angel) before another Shadowhunter-turned-evil (a.k.a. the bad guy) can find them, summon the angel, and “cleanse” the Nephilium race.

All in all, I actually really liked these books, and was so frustrated to learn that the last one still won’t be released for another 2 years (what the heck is that about?!). These books have a very “Buffy”/”Angel”/”Charmed” feel to them at first, but the story is really quite entertaining and the characters are likeable enough that you don’t want to strangle them. The writing is descriptive, without being too wordy and the story is well-paced. I read online that this series was originally supposed to be a trilogy, but the author decided to write three more books. Because of this, the “mortal instrument quest” wraps up in the first three books, and the next three are a different adventure entirely.

Book Review: The Gemma Doyle Trilogy (Steph)

One of the few young adult novel series I read this summer was a trilogy of books based in the late 1800s and is narrated by the main character, Gemma Doyle. The books in this series are A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing all written by Libba Bray.

3 ½ out of 5 thumbs up

Gemma is a young English teen who is living with her family in India. After her mother is killed by a mysterious being, the family moves back to England, and Gemma is enrolled into Spence Academy, a finishing school for young girls. Here she is meant to learn how to become a proper lady, but instead unlocks a passageway into a secret realm where magic rules. As Gemma learns more about the realms, the magic, and the impending battle for control of the realm’s magic, she uncovers secrets about her school, her family and herself.

While I did like the storyline enough to read all three books, the story seemed to drag on a little bit at times, especially when Gemma and her friends are goofing around inside the realms. These girls have all this powerful magic at their fingertips, and all they decide to do with it is silly things like turn rocks into butterflies, or make their dresses prettier, or change the color of the trees. I guess I can see doing those things at the beginning when they’re experimenting with the magic, but they do it pretty much every time they go in there. I also found the ending a little bit disappointing, but I guess you’ll have to read it and see what you think.

Book Review: Blood Red Road (Steph)

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

4 out of 5 thumbs up

Blood Red Road takes place in the future where we meet Saba, a teenage girl who lives with her father, twin brother, and younger sister in a barren, dusty place near a dried-up lake.  One day, some strange men arrive and, without warning, kill her father and kidnap her brother.  Saba leaves her home in the waste to look for her brother and has quite the adventure along the way.

Overall, I liked this book.  It’s quick-paced and engaging.  The book is written in first person, and the main character, Saba, is narrator.  It is also written in the same language Saba uses, so it’s like she’s actually talking to you.  Here’s an excerpt from the book.

We ain’t had a drop of rain fer near six months now.  Even the spring that feed the lake’s startin to run dry.  You gotta walk some ways out now to fill a bucket. Pretty soon, there won’t be no point in callin it by its name.

Silverlake.

It was a little distracting at first for me, but once I realized and accepted the fact that the whole book is  written this way, I was able to immerse myself more in the story rather than focus on Saba’s bad grammar.  It even started to grow on me after a while.

Book Review: The Night Circus (Steph)

Time to review another one of the handful of books I've read this summer.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

5 out of 5 thumbs up  (Is it okay to give a review full marks? Doesn't that go against some kind of "critic's code?" Who cares.)

The story of this book is set around a circus that moves from city to city without warning and is only open at night (hence, the title).  It also follows the lives of two young illusionists.  These illusionists, Celia and Marco, have been trained from a young age in the "art" of magic. They are unknowingly destined to be pitted against each other in a duel to the death, bound by magic with the Night Circus as their arena.  Things (of course) get complicated when they develop feelings for each other.

I loved this book.  I liked the story, the characters, the imagery (I want to go to this circus), and the format.  It's not until the very end of the book does the whole story come together and the mystery of the circus unravels.

As the summer is winding down, I am unhappy to report that I haven't had time to read one book this summer.  But I have been gardening.  I sure love the gardening this summer.  I could spend all day outside in my garden if I didn't have other things to do or get too hot and tired.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my garden this year.  It is now harvest time and we have quite a few things coming on.  We have picked our peaches and pears, I have done 12 quarts of tomatoes, and we eat zucchini or cukes at every meal.  Green beans are coming on so I will have some of those soon too.  Potatoes look promising, but we won't know until we dig them up in October.  There are about 6 banana squashes and peppers galore.  I am waiting for the peppers to turn red so I can roast them and bottle them.  Apples look plentiful too.  What a great summer it has been!
(Mom)

Book Review: The Spellman Files (Steph)

At the beginning of the summer, I dusted off the ol' library card.  I haven't been to the library in about 6 years, so I decided it was time to pay my $9 fine, update the information on my card, and get to reading. 

My first trip back to the library was a little overwhelming, because I wanted to read a book, but didn't know what to read.  So, I basically walked up and down the fiction aisles, pulling out books at random and speed reading the dust jacket summary (speed reading because I had Abi tugging on my arm asking me if we were going to go home yet). 

I found one I thought I might enjoy, so I took my chances.

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

 3 1/2 out of 5 thumbs up (yes, I am going to adopt a Homer-Simpson-like rating system)

This story revolves around Izzy Spellman and her dysfunctional family of private investigators.  Izzy grew up in the family business of detective work and has learned the tricks of the trade.  She tries to juggle her personal life with her family of sleuths, which becomes tricky, especially when she it comes to personal matters. Tailing, phone tapping, bribing, car chases- nothing is really off limits when it comes to this quirky family.

Overall, this book kept me engaged.  It was well-paced and well-written, though I had a hard time relating to the main character, only because I'm not as hard-core rebellious as she is.  She's into wearing trench coats and combat boots and I'm... well, not.  She also comes home too drunk to remember anything on a couple occasions and has sort of a potty mouth.

There are 4 other books about the Spellman family: Curse of the Spellmans, Revenge of the Spellmans, The Spellmans Strike Again, and Trail of the Spellmans.  I may decide to read them.

MPAA Rating- R for language.  Most of the language it at the beginning of the book, in fact she uses the F-word at least a dozen time in the first 50 pages.  Other than that, it's not too bad.

A New Year!

We are almost through a full month into the new year, and not one post from anyone.  Soooo... I figured I would put something down.  I finished all of the Mitford series - 7 books in total.  By the time I finished, the characters were close friends and I wanted to be part of their little community.  I have been trying to read some Jane Austin or Charles Dickens but so far no luck with that.  It just puts me to sleep.  So now I have been trying to get through the Book of Mormon again, only to really study it.  I am already behind on that.  Do I get points for trying?
We had decided to work on some emergency preparedness this year.  On February 21, our Relief Society is going to have mylar bags, packets and the sealer, if anyone wants to come and make food packs for your 72-hours kits.  My goal is to have them done by April, hopefully.  Here is the list of contents you will need for each packet.  The  packet is good for 2-5 years, depending on where you keep it and if it gets opened.

Ultimate 72-Hour Kit
3 packs of instant oatmeal
3packets of hot chocolate
2 granola bars
3 beef jerky sticks
4 apple cider packets
3 packs of Ramen
2 small cans of fruit (lunch sized fruit cocktail things)
9 pieces of small hard candy ( like a pack of Life Savers)
1 small pack of gum ( no peppermint flavor)
2 fruit snack type food ( this can be fruit roll-ups small boxes of raisins, fruit chew snacks...)
1 plastic spoon

If you plan to do multiple kits, you times the above amounts by the number of packs needed.
You will need to store a gallon of water per pack for cooking some of these items and another 2 liters per person per day in your completed 72 hour kit.

I would guess that if you can find an appropriate substitute for any items that you don't care for on this list, you could include it.  Remember this is just for emergency purposes, so you can't put a lot in your kit.  Also, I cannot stress that you do not put anything peppermint in your food pack.  It will permeate all of your food pack and it isn't very good.

If you want to go in together, let me know.  Give me a call if you have any questions.