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The Sunday Salon ~ Savoring Reading
Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope that this post finds you fat and happy after a relaxing Thanksgiving weekend. Thanksgiving was fun this year because both girls had an understanding of what it is about and actually wanted to watch the parade with us Thursday morning. This also promises to be a fun Christmas as well. Both girls are starting to get on pins and needles waiting for Santa. I can’t wait until Christmas morning! Something tells me they won’t be sleeping in again this year like they did last year.
Savoring Reading
I want to, but I don’t – at least not recently. This hit home last night as I was finishing up The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer. I thoroughly enjoyed my first Regency Romance, but as the back cover got closer and closer, my thoughts were already shifting to my Mining ARCs spreadsheet and the book I would be reading next. When I finished the novel, there wasn’t a minute between putting The Reluctant Widow on my nightstand where it awaits my review (most likely Wednesday) and picking up The Front Porch Prophet by Raymond L. Atkins. The reviews of this novel have been wonderful and I’ve really been enjoying the first 40 pages. Still, I know that as I get closer to finishing it, I will start drifting toward whatever might be the next novel on my spreadsheet. I just don’t like this.
This wasn’t how it always was. I distinctly remember sitting back in my rocking chair holding my copy of Life of Pi to my chest after I finished it. I played the novel back through my imagination, stopping from time to time to pick up on portions of Pi’s journey that I missed or overlooked during my reading. The Monsters of Templeton, Wicked, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, The Last Queen, Gardens of Water, The Thirteenth Tale, The Other Boleyn Girl, Innocent Traitor, The Witch’s Trinity, The Gargoyle, and The Kite Runner had similar affects on me. I even miss the reactions I’ve had with books I didn’t care for such as Perfect Match and Eat, Pray, Love. At this point, I’m reading books as fast as I can to fill all of the obligations I’ve made since July. There doesn’t seem to be room to fully appreciate a great book or get my dander up over a book that pisses me off. There’s always that next book pushing its way into my consciousness like a permanent tooth unwilling to wait until the Tooth Fairy has been summoned.
Although I was a little blue about this last night, It has occurred to me that all is not lost until my spreadsheet is completed, though. When I write my reviews, I am also savoring my books in a different way. It takes me between one and two hours to write my reviews, and that is after a day or more thinking through what I want to say. That might not feel as luxurious to me as I would like, but it is very much time spent reflecting on what I’ve read. Between the time I finish my review of A Civil General and Wednesday, I’ll most certainly be reminising over old times with Elinor as I prepare for my review of The Reluctant Widow. And let’s not forget that there is nothing stopping me for rereading the books I would have wanted to spend more time with after I’ve finished plowing through my ARCs. That’s even something to look forward to, now isn’t it?
Have you been savoring any books recently? I’d love to hear about your experiences. I have no problem living vicariously through others…
#126 ~ Mansfield Park Revisited
Mansfield Park Revisited: A Jane Austen Entertainment
I first read Mansfield Park in my early 20s. A co-worker let me borrow her copy. It was my introduction to Jane Austen and, perhaps as a result, it has always been my favorite Austen novel. Although I’m not much of one for sequels to significant novels when they are not written by the original author (don’t even get me started on what’s happened to Gone With the Wind…), the thought of heading back to Mansfield sounded very pleasant. I was hoping it would prompt me to re-read Austen’s classic. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, but I was quickly reacquainted with Mansfield Park and its inhabitants and neighbors through Aiken’s Mansfield Park Revisited.
This novel picks up with Susan Price, Fanny’s sister, living with Lady Bertram and her cousin Tom. Tom, as the oldest son, has recently become the Lord of Mansfield Park after the unexpected demise of his father. Edmund and Fanny, married with two children, live at the Parsonage. Maria Bertram, disgraced after leaving her husband for Henry Crawford, a man who abruptly showed her the door, is not discussed. Julia, who made an equally impulsive and regrettable match, has two unruly sons and is constantly at Mansfield Park conniving to make a match between her sister-in-law and the new Sir Thomas. Lady Bertram, who mourns her husband only as much as is required, has even less interest in her children now than she did before they lived with her. The story gets started when, after Edmund and Fanny leave to tie up lose business ends for the late Lord Bertram in Antigua, an extremely ill Mary Crawford returns to rent the White House in hopes of improving her health. Her arrival raises what would be considered an uproar in an otherwise sleepy Mansfield Park.
At just 201 pages, Mansfield Park Revisited is not a lengthy novel, but there were portions that felt long. This can be attributed to a rather tame story line and the amount of inner dialog that could have been better conveyed through action. Julia and her sister-in-law Charlotte could have made a winning foils if only they did something other than gossip or complain. Susan equally could have been a stronger character had her struggles been more difficult to overcome. Lady Bertram also would have been more fun had she a little of her old bite back. When a hair covering lent to Susan by Mary did nothing to create drama, I started praying that Maria would come back to spice things up a little. This would have been a better novel had the author spent more time on the Roman excavation picnic and all that transpired afterward. The story line would have been better suited for a shorter novella.
Although it was not what I had hoped, it was a relaxing read. I would compare it to fan fiction, so the subtitle “A Jane Austen Entertainment” fits it very well. As the novel became more engaging toward the end and I found the conclusion satisfying, I would recommend this to other Jane Austen fans who like having something around the house or in your purse to read off and on as the mood strikes.
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To buy this novel, click here
Off the Thanksgiving Menu Recipes!
Are you salivating yet just knowing that Thanksgiving is tomorrow? Well, either way, the five recipes entered into my Off the Thanksgiving Menu contest should do the trick! I hope that you enjoy reading these as much as I have.
Just a reminded that I’ll be announcing the winner of the contest once Christine Son gets back from her Thanksgiving holiday. Any one of these would be fantastic!
Turkey Flautas
Kelly Manfredini submitted this holiday leftover recipe:
Here in Texas, everything has a Mexican flair, even Thanksgiving leftovers!
NOTE: You can also roll them up and bake them at 350 for 20 minutes if you want to eat a little healthier.
Ingredients
1 Cream cheese
4 Jalapenos chopped fine
4 Garlic chopped fine
1/2 A red onion chopped fine
1 1/2 cups Smoked turkey chopped
1/4 teaspoon Crushed red pepper
1/8 teaspoon Ancho powder
1/8 teaspoon Cumin
1/8 teaspoon Oregano
3 Glugs of hot sauce
- A glug is a precise kitchen measurement meaning more than a dash and less then a pour.
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Corn tortillas that have been left out on the counter to dry for one hour. They will absorb less oil if they are dry. Blend all ingredients. You can add a small amount of sour cream or milk to help blend the mixture. I did not add anything. Spread approximately one heaping tablespoon of the mixture on the lower 1/3 of a tortilla and roll it up. Secure with a toothpick. Fry in 1/2 inch of peanut or corn oil until crispy on all sides. When they were done I dusted them with Ancho powder mixed with salt. Drain on paper towels. Serve with salsa and sour cream.
Squash Muffins/Cake
AmandaSue submitted this recipe using squash:
Ingredients
3 Cups Flour
1 Cup Sugar
4 Teaspoons Backing Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
3/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 Cup Milk
1 1/2 to 2 cups mashed butternut squash (or you can use any type of squash you like)
1/2 cup butter, softened.
2 eggs
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine milk, squash, butter and eggs and mix well. Add all the other ingredients and mix until smooth. Batter will be thick. Fill paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full or use a greased cake pan. If making muffins makes about 18. Back at 350 degrees 20-22 minutes for muffins and 30-35 for cake.
Sweet Potato Ambrosia Salad
Carol Mintz submitted this recipe saying:
We like to make this because you can make it the day before. There are enough last minute things to do.
Ingredients
1 cup brown sugar
½ stick butter
1 tablespoon flour
½ cup orange juice
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon allspice
2 large sweet potatoes, boiled, peeled and cut into cubes
1 cup pecans
½ cup raisins
1 cup small marshmallows
Instructions
In a sauce pan combine sugar and butter until melted. Add flour and mix well. Gradually add orange juice, rind, and allspice. Let cool slightly. In a serving bowl combine sweet potatoes, pecans and raisins. Pour sugar mixture over top and coat well. After mixture has totally cooled add marshmallows and mix in. Store in refrigerator.
Serves 6 to 8
Chile Corn Custard
Jill at Fizzy Drinks submitted this recipe:
Ingredients
2 c drained corn, frozen or canned
1 1/2 c melted butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp salt
1 c sour cream
1 c diced jack cheese
1/2 c cornmeal
1 4 oz can diced Ortega chiles
2 tbsp chopped celery (optional)
Instructions
Mixed all ingredients together. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 qt casserole dish, or a 9×9 pan. (Tip from softdrink’s mom: the shallow pans are better than the round dishes with the higher sides, otherwise the middle doesn’t always cook through.) Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until set.
Serves 6-8, so you might want to double it if you have lots of people, or kids who fight over the leftovers.
Leftover Turkey-Spaghetti Pie
Kathy at BermudaOnion submitted this recipe for leftovers she got from Kathy Brown:
Ingredients
4 quarts water
1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon salt
1 (1 pound) package spaghetti
3 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (8 ounce) cans sliced olives
2 (8 ounce) jars pimentos
1 1/2 cups leftover gravy or 1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 cups crushed tomatoes with juice
2 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
4 cups leftover turkey, chopped
nonstick cooking spray
1 cup bread crumbs
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring water and 1/4 cup of the salt to a boil and cook pasta for 1 minute less than package directs. Heat a large sauce pan over medium heat and add butter. Once butter is hot, add onion and garlic, and saute until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Add olives, pimentos, gravy, tomatoes, stock, cream cheese, pepper, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring liquid to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring often. Make sure cheese melts completely, then add turkey. Add pasta to sauce and mix well. Coat a 13 x 9 inch pan with nonstick spray and add mixture, spreading evenly. Cover evenly with bread crumbs. Bake until bread is toasted and pie is hot throughout, about 20 minutes. Remove pie from oven and let rest 10 minutes before cutting.
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I don’t know about you, but man I’m hungry! Come on Turkey Day! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Announcing the Midwife of the Blue Ridge Winners
Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and left a comment. I got some great leads on future reads and I hope that everyone else did, too! There were 22 entries for this contest and I added everyone’s name into the List Randomizer.
Grand Prize Winner
The winner of a copy of Midwife of the Blue Ridge, a bar of homemade lavender soap, and a bag of tea leaves is:
Tammy Sorrell!
Runner Up
The winner of a bag of tea leaves is:
Kristi!
Congratulations!
Tammy, I have your mailing information. I’ll send off your package this weekend. Kristi, please send me your mailing address.
#125 ~ Off the Menu ~ Review and Contest
Today it is my pleasure to serve as Christine Son’s hostess on her blog tour TLC Book Tours. What a great way to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday week! Please see information on her entire tour at the end of this post.
For more information on TLC Book Tours, their authors and all of their wonderful tour dates, please click here.
The Review…
Whitney, Audrey and Hercules are three Asian women from Houston, TX. They have been friends since high school, where they were each the co-valedictorians of their graduating class. Although they have different goals and dreams for their lives, they meet once a month at Hercules’ restaurant to discuss their lives and achievements. The Valedictorians are about ready to enter their 30s and are all outwardly successful. Inside, they each have anxieties about their lives and their futures that they do not share with each other for fear of what they each might think. Independently, each of the women is bright, but they are sinking without the help of their best friends. They learn that their troubles are best shared and resolved together.
Off the Menu is an interesting look at how three different women who share a similar race can be impacted by that in context of their family and of their country in very different ways. Whitney is the youngest child of a traditional Korean family. While clearly loved by her parents, the emphasis is on education and professional success. Whitney is an up and coming attorney at a prestigious law firm, but what she really wants to do is take a shot at becoming a singer/songwriter. She hides her weekend gigs from her friends and family for fear of how they will react. This secret eventually becomes part of the distance growing in her relationship with her parent-approved Korean boyfriend. Hercules is from a Chinese family. Her mother died when she was 12, leaving her to be raised by her father, a man who never gets over the loss of his wife. Hercules, whose given name is Xiao-Xiao, can never please her father, despite her success as a chef and restaurateur. She constantly struggles dealing with her father’s refusal to assimilate into American culture, with his ailing health, and taking care of his personal financial matters. Audrey was adopted by her billionaire parents from Korea when she was two months old. Her adoptive family is Irish and it is that cultural identity she thinks of first when asked. She often thinks of herself as white because of her surroundings. While her family paints a perfect picture for the rest of the world, family life is not so very pleasant. Her parents, though married, are little more than strangers to each other.
Of all the characters, Hercules was my favorite. I wouldn’t have expected this at the beginning, though. At first I found her to be off-putting. Some of her very first words were f*ck and motherf*cker. Those happen to be my favorite cuss words, but they were like a slap in the face coming right out of the blue. After I got to know her better, I understood that her near constant foul language maintained the walls she built around herself. My reaction to her is just what she would have wanted from any stranger. It instantly moved her behind her wall, keeping me at a distance. She didn’t allow her friends to get much closer, either. When her relationship with her father come to a head at the same time as an eagerly awaited business venture with a college friend, she could no longer shut Whitney and Audrey out. It was a treat to watch her start to blossom from within her darkest moments.
This novel was not at all what I had anticipated. Where I was expecting chick lit about friendship with an Asian twist, I found thoughtful commentary on what it means to be a daughter, a friend, a lover, successful, an American, and a minority. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and learning from their experiences. This would make a perfect book for reading groups and dear friends. I am glad that Son’s husband believed in her dream and bought her a laptop. I’ll be looking forward to reading her next book – no pressure, Christine! 
The Contest…
Since it is Thanksgiving week, I thought it would be very appropriate to host a contest with Christine Son that revolves around food. Can’t you smell the turkey now? Well, in the spirit of this novel and its title, I know that there are those who celebrate Thanksgiving with food that falls outside of what is considered traditional. Maybe this is because your family likes to add a cultural flair of your own, your family simply cannot celebrate anything without a particular dish, or you just don’t like turkey. Whatever your reason may be, this contest is for anyone who serves, eats, or even dreams about something off the Thanksgiving menu.
To enter this contest, leave a comment here by the end of the day tomorrow (11/25) explaining why you like to eat something outside of the norm or, if you prepare the traditional Thanksgiving feast, what creative things you do with your leftovers. Then, send me an email with the recipe for that dish (literatehousewife_at_gmail_dot_com). I’ll compile all of the recipes and post them Wednesday morning, giving everyone a little time to drool over other ideas – and perhaps brave the grocery stores for the ingredients. If I get enough entries, I’m going to publish them in PDF format and make the electronic recipe book available to everyone to download.
I will also be sending the recipes to Christine Son. After looking them over during the holiday weekend, she is going to select her favorite recipe. The lucky reader who submitted the winning recipe will win a $15 gift card to the restaurant of their choice (as long as I can buy the card on-line and send it via email) or an Amazon gift card – the winner’s choice.
Good luck to everyone who enters!
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Christine Son’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Saturday, November 1st: Estella’s Revenge e-zine (author interview)
Monday, November 3rd: Literarily (author guest post and giveaway!)
Wednesday, November 5th: Beastmomma (author interview)
Thursday, November 6th: Book Nut
Friday, November 7th: Ramya’s Bookshelf
Friday, November 7th: Ramya’s Bookshelf (author interview)
Monday, November 10th: Pop Culture Junkie
Tuesday, November 11th: 8Asians
Wednesday, November 12th: Savvy Verse and Wit
Thursday, November 13th: In The Pages
Friday, November 14th: She is Too Fond of Books
Monday, November 17th: Planet Books
Tuesday, November 18th: B & B ex Libris
Wednesday, November 19th: DISGRASIAN
Thursday, November 20th: Booking Mama
Monday, November 24th: The Literate Housewife Review
Tuesday, November 25th: Feminist Review
Wednesday, November 26th: Diary of an Eccentric
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To buy this novel, click here
#124 ~ Midwife of the Blue Ridge ~ Book Review and Giveaway
Midwife of the Blue Ridge 
Maggie Duncan lost her family as a very young girl during a massacre between the British and the Scottish. Her destiny falls into place when she helps a injured man find his way home to his wife, Hannah. Hannah, a midwife and local healer, realizes almost instantly that her husband’s gangrene will end his life. Childless, she sees Maggie’s arrival as the blessing to bloom from her husband’s death. She takes Maggie under her wings and teaches her healing and midwifery. Unfortunately, the little Scottish town in which they live is superstitious. They think that Maggie is bad luck given what happened to her parents. They believe she possesses the powers of the evil eye. When Hannah gets sick with consumption, she gives Maggie one last gift before she dies – she plants the seed about going to the America. After Hannah’s death, Maggie is living hand to mouth. When she’s offered the opportunity to sale to America at the cost of spending four years as an indentured servant, Hannah’s words come back to her and she travels to find her destiny in the New World.
The Midwife of the Blue Ridge is an engaging novel about the joys, struggles, and courage of those who took the risk of leaving their home land in order to make their own way in Virginia. From the very beginning, America was seen as a land of opportunity to those whose futures in their home countries was set from the moment of their conception. It says a great deal that people would knowingly agree to four years of indentured service under unknown masters in order to have a shot at creating their own fortunes and secure their own land. Christine Blevins brings this all to life through Maggie, Seth Martin and Tom Roberts. Just as vividly, Blevins writes of those who were forced to go to the New World by their privileged and wealthy families found them to be an embarrassment best kept an ocean away. Their resentment over their circumstances colored their view of this new land and how they treated other people. In the Colonial Virginia painted in this novel, it is a toss up as to who was more savage, the Shawnee warriors or the disgraced lords of England.
Maggie Duncan is one of the most delightful heroines I’ve encountered in a long time. Although her accent was difficult for me to catch on to at first, I was soon caught up in the story of this clever, sassy, and giving young woman. The very scrappiness that was viewed suspiciously by her Scottish kinsmen was what kept her safe and gave her the advantage she needed to get off to a good start as Seth’s servant. She endeared herself to Seth, Naomi and their children by her generous spirit and her strong work ethic. Her sarcastic spunkiness endeared her to almost every single man she encountered. I admired her optimistic yet pragmatic attitude toward life and the courage she displayed under the most stressful conditions found in the Virginia wilderness. I enjoyed every minute I spent with her and hope that my daughters growing up in the Blue Ridge of Virginia four centuries later will develop her same strength of character.
Over the past couple of years I’ve read a great deal of wonderful historical fiction. For the most part, I’ve shied away from historical fiction set in my own country. I have read The Winthrop Woman and Devil Water by Anya Seton and, while they were both novels I enjoyed, they did not ignite in me the same excitement for my country’s history that Midwife of the Blue Ridge has. Colonial America, just like Tudor England and Venice has its own charms and dangers to explore. After reading Blevins’ novel, I am looking forward to spending some more time at home.
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Christine Blevins was kind enough to send me two copies of Midwife of the Blue Ridge, but that’s not all. She also sent some wonderful smelling goodies! If you would like a chance to win your own copy of Midwife of the Blue Ridge, a bar of handmade lavender soap and a bag of tea leaves, please leave a comment below about your favorite heroine or your favorite destination when you read historical fiction by 11:59pm EST on Monday, November 24. I’ll take all the entries and add them to the List Randomizer. The first name in the list will win the grand prize. The last name in the list will also win a bag of tea leaves. Based on the way the tea leaves smell, they will make a wonderful and relaxing cup of hot goodness during the winter. The winners will be announced by noon EST on the 25th. Good luck!
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To buy this novel on Amazon.com, click here
You Can’t Steal Our Sunshine
This has been a difficult week for many of us out here in book blogging land. Up until now, I have not weighed in on it, but I’ve been following it very closely. I wish I had something eloquent to say, but others have written down my thoughts before I got the chance and I champion them for fighting the good fight.
With a the exception of a couple of bumps along the road, it has always been a joy and a privilege to be a part of this community. I love what I do and what we do together so much and I have not met one book blogger yet who has purposefully tried to be or do anything ugly. Still, in this life things are bound to occur when more than one human is involved. So, I vow to try my best to gracefully accept my lumps do everything I can to sooth others when they receive theirs. Please feel free to email me if ever you need me.
I won’t let the bastards steal our sunshine!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOCRPrEAVxU]
unless it’s to provide us with a gorgeous sunset to remind us of how beautiful life is [over Lake Huron taken by my beautiful cousin Diana]…
Mailbox Monday on Tuesday
Last week was a wonderful week for Literate Housewife’s mailbox (front porch, actually). It was a bonanza of wonderful books and was by far the most exciting mail week I’ve had since I started my blog. So, what was it that makes me so excited? Take a look:
The Reluctant Widow and The Conqueror by Georgette Heyer sent by Sourcebooks
The ENTIRE Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer won as part of Maw Books’ month long awareness campaign for Darfur and sent to me by Hatchette Book Group. I cannot tell you how left out I’ve felt about this from day one. Now I can hardly wait to make it through my existing ARCs so I can dive on in. With the movie, I’m having a hard time not scrapping everything and reading Twilight…
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford and signed by the author (!) won from Marcia’s contest (lucky, lucky me!!!). Marcia’s review is wonderful and I cannot wait (again).
The Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones snagged as part October’s Early Reviewer from LibraryThing. It’s been at least 5 months since I snagged my last book, but in October I hit the jackpot – and it was completely accidental. Given the number of ARCs I have, I only picked a couple historical fiction looking books in October and almost didn’t. When I requested The Jewel of Medina, I didn’t connect it at all to the controversy earlier this year when Random House decided to pull this book for fear of offending Muslims. Now, published by Beaufort Books, I can see what the entire stir was about. Yeah!
#123 ~ A Heart In Port
A Heart In Port
Emily Givner, the gifted Canadian author of A Heart in Port, died in 2004 of an allergic reaction. She was but 38 years old at the time. The stories in this book reflect the themes of her life and speak of a generational experience that we shared. This collection of short stories left me wondering what might have been had she had more time to write.
My favorite story in this collection is “Canadian Mint.” This story tells of two drug enhanced Generation X slackers who find themselves building a tall tower of pennies in an apartment out of boredom. They are so enamored with what they’ve done that they decide to build penny towers on the street to make extra money. Although it never fit my personality to live like these characters, I can close my eyes and picture myself walking down the sidewalk finding any number of my college friends doing the exact same things, having the same types of arguments. Reading this short story was like listening to an old friend tell a familiar story. It puts me back to a place and time in my life like “Hey, Jealousy” by the Gin Blossoms or “Interstate Love Song” by the Stone Temple Pilots.
I find it difficult to review short stories. I’ve recently received some wonderful advice on how to read shorter fiction, but I don’t feel as if I can really do them justice. Some of the writing was not as polished as others and this is perhaps a consequence of publishing some of the posthumously. She simply may not have been finished with them. Still, the book is held together by the common threads of music, allergies, and interactions with older men. A Heart in Port is an interesting collection and the cover art is very indicative of its mood. It will never be known what Emily Givner would have done with her talent, but Canada still has this diamond in the rough.
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To buy this collection, click here
#122 ~ The Art of Social War
The Art of Social War
Stacy Knight was at the top of her game the evening that her “I HEART New York” campaign was announced toward the end of Rudy Giuliani’s reign has mayor. She sparkled as a member of his administration and, based upon the reception of her PR campaign, had great prospects after Giuliani left office. On top of that, she was engaged to James Makepeace, the man of her dreams. They both were hard working New Yorkers who supported each other in all things. All things, that is, until Jamey’s skyrocketing career required a transfer to Los Angeles soon after their wedding so that he can take over the helm of Pacificus, a floundering film studio. Stacy and Jamey need to learn how to navigate the shark invested waters in Hollywood to save Jamey’s career and their new marriage.
What I enjoyed the most about The Art of Social War was what set it apart from most other chick lit novels I’ve read. While Stacey’s marriage was tested in LA, it was not in the way that most novelists would have chosen. For me, this was a breath of fresh air. Wing also shaped the feudal battle between the Makepeaces and the former owners of Pacificus around the 6th century Chinese military treatise The Art of War by Sun Tzu. I enjoyed the way that Stacey orchestrated Jamey’s counter attack using the enemy’s weapon of choice. As preparations for the final battle were made, I couldn’t book the book down.
It took me a little while to warm up to Jodi Wing’s first novel full of corporate espionage, intrigue, and Hollywood high jinx. Her characters are very human and I honestly liked Stacey and Jamey very much. I found Jamey’s decision to break the news about his career to Stacey at her big party. Given everything I was to learn about him, it was against his character. Most noticeably, I had a difficult time believing that Stacey’s 10 to 15 years of experience in New York’s corporate environment, most recently as a member of Rudy Giuliani’s administration, left her so unprepared for corporate life in LA. While understanding that Stacey’s deep longing for home explains some of her views, I can’t see New York as a warm, welcoming, and fair environment. From what I’ve heard, Omarosa could give Stacey’s arch nemesis Julia Mallis (the last name says it all) and the rest of her gaggle a run for their money.
I smiled appreciatively as I finished this tasty piece of chick lit. Although the first half of the book moved somewhat slowly for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the pay off. Knowing the ultimate outcome did not take away from my delight as the ride took off. Quite appropriately, The Art of Social War has already been optioned by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas. I’ll be looking forward to finding out who will be playing Stacey, Jamey, Julia and Simon. This novel has all the potential needed to become a great chick flick.
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The Art of Social War will be released tomorrow! To order this book, click here
Book Blogger Con
Have you heard about the 1st Annual Book Blogger Convention that will be held in NYC during the BEA? You should check it out. I know it will be a fantastic experience. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend due to family obligations, but I'll be trolling blogs for up to the minute news.
WE Magazine’s A Woman Blogger to Watch
Literate Challenges
What's in a Name? 3
Random Reading Challenge
