Sunday Synopsis: July 31, 2011

Where did my weekend go?!?  Where did my summer go?!?  How can it already be the end of July?!?  I simply cannot believe it!  I cannot believe that I am already doing school shopping for my kids and that my son will be going back to school in only a couple of weeks.  I had so many expectations for this summer and it is already almost over!  And, on top of it all, we won't even talk about my reading goals!  Actually, we will in order to see just how much reading I have not done this year as I had hoped!  This second half of the year had better be picking up if I am going to even get half of my reading done as I had set my goals for!

Wow!  Okay, I am done with the venting for now!  :)

On to the fun stuff . . . I attended an author event this afternoon at one of my local independent bookstores!  As I was sitting there waiting for the event to get started, I started thinking about how many times I have been introduced to new-to-me authors because of these such events.  Though I seek out names that are familiar to me, I also just like to pop in to events of authors that I have never heard of before, books that may grab my attention, or just to support an author local to me.  Thanks to this little habit, I can say that I am very excited to have found a new author to me once again this afternoon!  Of course, I'm not going to be sharing much about the event right now because it is part of my big surprise coming up next week!  So for now, I will just leave you in suspense, thinking about how your local indie can bring about some new authors to you!

I started reading In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson this week.  I have not made it far, but so far, I am enjoying it.  I will be finishing this one no later than Friday (if not earlier), so I will then be joining in Kristen over at We Be Reading for her Fforde-a-thon with Eyre Affair.  I have yet to read these books, but picked up the first in the series a couple of months ago after hearing such wonderful things about it.  I don't know if I will read the entire series right away as I do have some other books I have to get to this month, but I am very excited to be introduced to it for now!

I will now leave you with my latest Reading Challenge Check-In since it is the last of the month.  I have done well on a couple of the challenges.  A few others, on the other hand, I really need to work on.  I think I am going to try to focus on the Off the Shelf Challenge the rest of the year.  My TBR piles are toppling!

• The Stephen King/Richard Bachman Challenge (Perpetual)
• 2011 Graphic Novels Challenge (7 of 3-10 Books)
• Off The Shelf Challenge (7 of 30 Books) 
• Young Readers Challenge (9 of 12 Books)
• Take A Chance Challenge 3 (0 of 3 Books)
• 2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge (10 of 50 Books)
• The Dewey Decimal Challenge (1 of 4 Books)
• 100+ Reading Challenge of 2011 (25 of 100 Books)
• Fairy Tale Challenge  (1 of 12 Books/Movies)

That's it for this week!  Have a great one and happy reading!  And, don't forget to share your reading plans for the week with me!

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness is a book that I first discovered through a personal recommendation during a local literary event.  You cannot imagine my excitement when it was then voted to be the July read for my Tales to Tomes Online Book Club!

Diana is a descendant of the infamous Bishops of the Salem Witch Trials, and she wants nothing to do with magic because of this history.  She wants to earn her success.  But when she uses a simple spell to retrieve a book from a high shelf and unknowingly requests a manuscript with great power, she discovers beings . . . vampires, other witches, and daemons . . . all becoming a part of her life and her ancestry becoming more difficult to avoid.  She finds an unexpected friend in a fellow colleague (and vampire) Matthew.  And, the adventures they begin unraveling will keep you turning the pages as quickly as you can.

I stayed up way too late reading this book on a multitude of nights.  I could not wait to discover what was going to happen next.  I loved the complexities added in, including alchemic history, suspenseful mysteries, intricate connections, scientific relations to the paranormal, and more than a little romance.  When I read the last page, I was very tempted to turn back to the beginning and re-read it immediately!  In fact, if I didn't have the large stacks of books that need read and if my copy wasn't due back to the library, I probably would have.  I promise you that I will return to this book at some point in the future though.  And, I am even going to go so far as to say that this is my favorite book in 2011 so far!

A Discovery of Witches is the first book in the All Souls Trilogy.  For more information, visit the author's website.

What did you think of A Discovery of Witches?  Did you love it as much as I did?  If you have not read it, did I just convince you to?!?

Author Sighting: Erik Larson

When I heard that Erik Larson, the author of my all-time favorite non-fiction book (The Devil in the White City) was going to be in town, I literally jumped for joy!  I was so excited and I did everything in my power to be able to hear him speak!  In fact, when I arrived at the hosting local library, the event room was already packed and there were only a few spaces left for standing room.  There was an overflow room available where you could watch the event on a big screen, but this was simply not good enough for me.  I found myself a piece of wall to lean on and got comfortable!

Erik Larson came to speak about his newest nonfiction release, In the Garden of Beasts, featuring an outsider perspective on Hitler's Germany from the point of view of Americans living in the country in the years prior to the Holocaust.  Listening to him speak about his research and his passion for the story was so absolutely amazing that I cannot even begin to put into words this man's talent!  His talent has brought about his ability to write a nonfiction book with a fiction feel, and hook you on the most random and little details about an event so many years ago.  He tackles some of the most difficult subjects, and does it with style.  And, when he speaks to his fans about his writing, he uses wit and humor that was so unexpected based on the topics that he writes about.

One of my favorite things about attending author events is that I get to step into the mind of the writer, even if it may be in snippets.  I get to peak into a world behind the world that I read about.  I get to find out the inspiration, the process, the time, and the sweat that goes into the stories that I love.  Erik Larson was no exception!  For example, in a span of a couple of hours, I learned that Larson finds the research and writing the easy part of his job.  The difficult part is the "idea hunt" -- what to write about next.  I also discovered through an hilarious story that his own daughter called him out on national television, challenging him to share if he "makes this stuff up."  (For those who are curious . . . he does not!  And, his daughter almost found herself stranded hundreds of miles from home!)  And, I walked away with my favorite quote of the night . . . "If I give someone nightmares, I declare that a victory."  As morbid as this sounds, this is my kind of author!

Erik Larson speaking to a packed crowd.

I had yet another fabulous night filled with some local literary love.  I purchased his latest release, chatted in line with other book lovers, had my books signed, and left on a natural high of once again experiencing an evening with a favorite author.  If only all of my pictures had remained on my camera (my pictures of the actual signing were mysteriously deleted), I would have even had a pictorial account of the night as well.  Instead, I leave you with just the one from a distance.

What have been some of your favorite author events?  What makes them your favorite?

Author Sighting: Rebecca Rasmussen

This past spring, I just kept seeing praise for an upcoming book from a debut author.  Over and over and over again, I was seeing fellow bloggers and Twitter friends recommend this book.  And, I was reading all this praise about how sweet and amazing the author was.  With all this chatter, I began investigating this book a bit more.  Who knew through my research that I would discover that this little acclaimed novel was actually local to me?!?  And, I discovered all this just in time, for she was visiting one of the local libraries and I was able to make the event!

The book that I am speaking of is The Bird Sisters and the author is Rebecca Rasmussen.  I had the great pleasure to meet her and learn more about her debut back in April during a very intimate author event.  After another long day at work, I was so thankful to be able to head to the library for the evening.  I really had no idea what to expect.  I didn't know if it was going to be a reading or a Q&A or something completely different.  I didn't really care!  I simply was excited to meet Rasmussen and hear more about her story.

While I was awaiting for her arrival, I decided to purchase a copy of her book and began to browse it a bit more.  The summary itself sounded interesting, but once she arrived and began talking about her inspiration for her story, my interest turned to intrigue and I knew that I had to read this book!  When Rasmussen's grandmother passed away years ago, the family discovered forty secret journals.  Being the one to care for them, Rasmussen found herself reading through them, creating that spark that would soon become The Bird Sisters.

Rebecca signing my book!

Only weeks before attending this event, one of my own grandparents had passed away.  Rasmussen's chat stirred my recent raw emotions and struck a chord with me.  She had established a connection even after her grandmother's passing; one that will live on forever in the form of published work.  She took this family treasure and turned it into a treasure for so many more!  To put it simply ... I was impressed!  However, I did admit to her that I would not be able to read the book in the near future because of my recent loss.  It still sits on my shelf, right next to my bed.  I know that I will get to it before the end of the year, but for now, I just let the beautiful cover make me smile.  And, I let her words from this night inspire me!

What exactly left me inspired?!?  Here are just a few things that are imprinted into my memory from that night . . .

Tif & Rebecca
(Rebecca looks great, but I think you
can tell that I had a long day at work!)

You can take something as simple as a journal and make your dreams come true.

Though I do not have the exact quote, Rasmussen shared that she does not believe her characters to be evil.  Rather, she sees them as unfortunate life partners.  (I will be keeping this in mind when I read the book!)

Lastly, she shared the concept of relationship-shifting regarding her characters.  In my understanding, she felt that characters molded themselves to be more like each other over the years.  Though I have seen this happen in real life, the way she described it was so . . . perfect!  I have found myself wondering how I have shifted in my relationships!

All in all, it was a fabulous night and one that I will remember for a very long time!  It's not often that when you leave an author event, you feel that you have just left with one more friend!

For more information on Rebecca Rasmussen, be sure to check out her website!

Fables: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham

Last year when I hosted Fairy Tale Fridays, I was recommended by both FICTION STATE OF MIND and West Virginia Red Reads to read the Fables series by Bill Willingham.  With my love of the classic tales, particularly with a modern spin, they both thought it would be the perfect pick for me.  Since then, these books have always been in the back of my mind.  Occasionally, I would check the shelves of the library or my local bookstores for the books.  I flipped through a couple intrigued, but never really knew where to start.  Then one day, I had one of those rare trips to the library without my children in tow.  Before leaving, I decided to try my luck in the graphic novel section and I got lucky!  A number of the Fables books were sitting right there in front of me.  I immediately started researching the series to find the first.  Once again, I got lucky!  Legends in Exile was there!

Legends in Exile is the first book in the Fables series, featuring the history behind the tale and the very first mystery.  As the name implies, the legends of the fairy tales we grew up with have been exiled from their home lands by a mysterious lord.  They have bound themselves into one of two communities . . . one that can live among the humans and the others who would draw too much attention among us.  They have formed their own government, justice system, and leaders.  And, they have adjusted to living in their new roles.

In the first installment, however, a shake-up occurs . . . Rose Red suffers a bloody disappearance and she is feared dead by the leader and her sister, Snow White and the "police chief," Bigby Wolf (aka The Big Bad Wolf).  They work together to discover the truth behind the mess and keep the fable community on the down-low.

Legends in Exile has definitely caught my attention and I am now on the hunt for the next in the series, Animal Farm.  I want to know what might come next, who may make the next appearance (or disappearance), and I honestly want to step into Willingham's artistic world and see how he will portray the exiles next!

WARNING:  This is a graphic novel meant for an older audience!

Have you already discovered Fables or am I the last to have picked up these books?

Sunday Synopsis: July 24, 2011

This is one of those few times where I am glad that it is Sunday evening!  It has been a whirlwind week, with it finally slowing down last night after two different birthday parties.  The first was for my little one.  We decided to do it at the zoo this year, but unbeknownst to us at the time of planning, we were in a heat advisory.  Thank goodness I scheduled the party for first thing in the morning and planned frequent indoor visits!  Overall, it was a complete blast pretending to be one of the Dora and Diego gang using Map and Backpack filled with goodies to help us along the way!  Who knew that 3-year-old's would be so fascinated with maps?!?  And, what a great early literacy tool!!

This last week, I did not get as much posted as I had hoped.  However, I did get my Harry Potter meme, a review of Blankets, and a little Fun Friday post for all you Tolkien fans out there!  This week, I'm working to get caught up on a number of pieces, including the last of my author events that I have not yet posted, and maybe a review or two.  Much of the pieces are already written long hand (as usual), so I just need to get them written up and some graphics added.  Not too shabby!  I am also in the midst of scheduling a number of other posts for my revived Literary Locals feature and I am hoping to share my first-ever post in my new feature, Ramblings of a Night Writer!  Of course, I always have high expectations, so we will see what actually gets done!  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

To close out on this nice Sunday evening, I will leave you with a bit about my current read . . . Blind Your Ponies by Stanley Gordon West.  I was recommended this book by a family member and stayed up way too late last night reading it.  This book has impacted me in a way that no other book has before.  It literally hits close to home for me and I cannot wait to share it all with you.  If I'm lucky, I will finish it tonight!

What are you reading this week?  Have you ever had a book have a strong impact on you?

Fun Friday: Peter Jackson Reports on Filming The Hobbit!

We haven't had a Fun Friday post in a while, but when I saw this, I knew I had to share!  If you are a fan of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and/or Peter Jackson, you definitely want to watch this!!  Heck, if you like seeing some gorgeous scenery, you will want to see it too!

Blankets by Craig Thompson

Craig Thompson takes on quite the feat in his book, Blankets.  He tells the story of his first love, but not just any first love . . . his first love written in graphic novel format.  He shares raw intimate details through intricate black and white sketches of a short span of his life . . . feeling different and like an outsider in his teen years, meeting someone he could relate to at a religious camp, and how it felt to fall hopelessly in love.  Throughout the novel, however, it became so much more than just a story of first loves.  It gave us a peek into families . . . the struggles, the complexities, and what helps to keep us grounded.  Relationships of a wide spectrum were incorporated, from parent/child and siblings to simple friendships and with religion.

Blankets has received a multitude of praise.  Because of this widespread love, I knew I had to read it for myself. I quickly fell into the story and closed the book with a sense of sad satisfaction.  Thompson created a beautiful piece of art with his novel . . . a piece of art that goes beyond the pulling of heartstrings with most stories of first love.  In the final pages when Thompson approaches his brother and also when he returned home for the first time in years, there was something there that I could relate to on so many levels.  It was at that time I realized that Thompson captured humanity in a way that pictures or words could not do alone ... but when combined, created a superb illustration of life.

Have you been awed by Blankets?  What impacted you the most?

WARNING:  This is a graphic novel written for an older audience!

Remembering Harry Potter

As you may have guessed from my dedication to Harry Potter over the last week, I absolutely love Rowling's world that she has created!  I fell in love with the series years ago and love them just as much, if not more today. Now that the final book and movie have been released, I thought it would be fun to do a little bit of a Harry Potter meme.  I hope you will join in with me!  If you do, please feel free to link up using Mr. Linky below!

When and Where (when you first discovered the series):  I first discovered Harry Potter on my honeymoon on the Oregon Coast!  That means it will be 11 years ago next month!  I remember my husband being frustrated with me, wondering if I was going to pay him any attention or just have my nose stuck in a book!

Favorite Character:  Ron Weasley ... I love his genuineness ... his humor, his willingness to admit his mistakes, his loyalty, and his love.

Most Hated Character:  It's a tie between Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix LeStrange ... no explanation necessary!

Favorite Book:  I have always considered Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to be my favorite, but Deathly Hallows is not far behind!

Favorite Movie:  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 & Part 2 ... I simply can't separate the two!

Rank the Books (1 = favorite, 7 = least favorite):  This is really, really hard, but here it goes ...

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Most Memorable Scene:  Mrs. Weasley and Bellatrix LeStrange ... another one that needs no explanation!

What You Will Miss the Most:  Never experiencing a new Harry Potter for the first time.

What You Are Looking Forward To (even despite the end):  Living vicariously through my children as they discover Harry Potter for the first time!

Your turn!!

Sunday Synopsis: July 17, 2011

Guess who made it to Harry Potter this afternoon?!?  Yep, that's me!!!!!  I was hoping and hoping that I would be able to make it work and thankfully, the stars aligned themselves to make it happen!  Completely made my week, both this last week and this upcoming week!!!  I'm not going to share too many thoughts here at the moment because I really need more time to process this final installment of one of my most loved books ... and probably my MOST loved series.  If and when I am able to do this, I will post a review of the final movie right here on the blog.  In a nutshell ... I loved it!


This past week, I shared a whole week of Harry Potter, with reviews and yummy wizarding recipes for your pleasure.  In case you have not seen the entire series, I have listed them for you below:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, featuring recipes for Butterbeer and Wandsicles!
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, featuring yummy Dragon Snot!
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, featuring Acid Pops!
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, featuring Cockroach Clusters!
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, featuring Cauldron Cakes!
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, featuring Celestial Tortilla Chips!
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, featuring the Crystal Cheese Ball!

Let's be serious, I still have Harry Potter on the brain and I'm going to for at least a few more days.  In fact, I've got a fun little Harry Potter meme that I'm posting tomorrow that I'm hoping you will join in for.  Other than that, who knows what else you will see here this week!  I've got lots to post about, but right now I'm just stuck at Hogwarts!

Did you get to see the movie this weekend?  What did you think?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Today we come to the final installment of my countdown and my reviews of the Harry Potter series with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  After the first part of this movie was released, I decided to go back and re-read the entire series, and particularly re-read Deathly Hallows for the very first time.  I was so excited to visit this book again and I must say that I fell in love with it even more the second time around!  Who knew that on the second reading that I would still tear up at all the appropriate places (and some maybe not so appropriate!)?!?  Who knew that I would not be able to set the book down until I finished the very last page in the wee, wee hours of the morning?!?  Who knew that when I did set the book down that I would have the special feeling in my gut . . . that feeling that left me sad that this was the end, but completely satisfied with where the end left off?!?  I had no idea that all of this would happen with such strong feelings, emotionally and physically, on a re-read.  And, I firmly believe that it speaks louder than words at the power of Rowling's work!

Some of my favorite pieces of Deathly Hallows included, but were not limited to . . .

• Neville (Need I really say more than that?!?)
• Mrs. Weasley taking on Bellatrix (Cannot wait to see this on the big screen and am really hoping it is as awesome as I imagined it to be!)
• The first kiss (Need I really mention between whom?!?)
• The strength and power of friendship and love
• The epilogue (for so many reasons that I cannot even begin to mention them here!)

For fans who followed this series until the end, so much pressure was put on the ending of this phenomenal series.  Rowling lived up to the hype and then some.  We lost characters we loved, we triumphed over evil right alongside the wizards, and we left feeling the impact of those seven years even after nineteen years later.

In the previous six reviews and remembrances of the Harry Potter series, I left you with a number of my favorite quotes from each installment.  Unfortunately, this time, I've got nothing.  This is not because there is nothing worth sharing.  It is simply because my eyes were not in the mode for catching them.  My eyes were too busy gobbling up the story as quickly as possible.  However, I will leave you with a bit of fun . . . my original review of this book almost four years ago.  And, of course, I will also leave you with a final yummy recipe that is only complete with the Celestial Tortilla Chips that I posted about yesterday!  Enjoy!

Crystal Cheese Ball

Ingredients

2-1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 10 ounces)
2 packages (3 ounces each) Cream Cheese, softened and divided
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup Mayonnaise1 teaspoon Chili Powder
1/3 cup chopped pitted ripe Olives
1 to 2 tablespoons Milk
1 large red Bell Pepper (decorations)
6 whole pitted ripe Black Olives (decorations)
A batch of Celestial Crackers

Directions

Beat Monterey Jack cheese, 1 package cream cheese, onion, mayonnaise and chili powder in medium bowl until smooth. Mix in chopped red pepper and chopped olives. Shape mixture into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours. Beat remaining package of cream cheese in a small bowl until fluffy; beat in just enough milk to make the mixture into a good spreading consistency. Spread mixture on and over cheese ball; refrigerate loosely covered until serving time, at least 2 more hours. Cut red pepper into stars with small cutter or sharp knife. Slice olives into crescent moons. Just before serving, decorate cheese ball with stars and moon. Place cheese ball on inverted mug (pedestal) and serve with Celestial Tortillas.

As you can see, I didn't decorate the outside of my crystal ball. I thought that this was super cute, but I ran out of red peppers! Personally, I would buy 2 large red bell peppers so you have enough for both the decorations and the ball itself!

I was very much inspired by the original post of this recipe found over at HarryPotterBirthday.com.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

As we are about to close our Harry Potter countdown, I am furiously working to figure out a way to get to the big Harry Potter film this weekend!  I am even thinking as I type this that there are a few lucky ones out there that will be viewing it in only a few short hours.  I am definitely jealous, but only get more and more excited that this day has finally come!

In the meantime, though, let's get to the second to last in the series . . . Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!  When this book was released, I was in my last days of working in an independent bookstore, right before we relocated across the States.  I worked at a midnight release party, and I could not have asked for a greater party to depart on such a high note!  I worked at a photo station, featuring the ever-popular Platform 9 3/4.  Other stations included fortune telling by our very own Professor Trelawney, Wizarding Chess, Choir Practice, Care of Magical Creatures (complete with live, mysterious animals), and so much more!  It was such a blast!

Once the party was cleaned up, I finally was able to head home and begin reading the book.  I did not get far before falling asleep after such a crazy, fun night!  However, no worries because I was able to quickly breeze through the book in no time and was left speechless at the ending!  WHAT?!?  (Yep, that was my reaction with a bit of a milder tone!)  I loved how the mysteries began to unfold in this book ... those surrounding both Harry and Lord Voldemort.  I loved how you watch as Harry grows, realizes his own power, and strengthens his friendship with those around him.  Characters rise up and begin to surprise you at their courage and power (e.g., Neville, Luna, and Ginny for example).  And, your feelings for other characters grow stronger in the other direction (e.g., Snape maybe?!?).  I truly had a love-hate relationship with this book, but the love always seems to win out.  Afterall, I returned to this book only a little over a year later and taught an elective course on Half-Blood Prince at the university I was based at!  (One of the BEST classes I have ever taught, by the way!)

It is in this book that I truly began seeing how much more this book offered than a story I could easily get lost in.  I really could go on and on about my thoughts, but instead I am going to leave you with two passages from the book for you to ponder yourself.  Enjoy!

"Harry did not really listen.  A warmth was spreading through him that had nothing to do with the sunlight; a tight obstruction in his chest seemed to be dissolving.  He knew that Ron and Hermione were more shocked then they were letting on, but the mere fact that they were still there on either side of him, speaking bracing words of comfort, not shrinking from him as though he was contaminated or dangerous, was worth more than he could ever tell them." p. 99

"Don't you see?  Voldemort himself created his worst enemy, just as tyrants everywhere do!  Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress?  All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back!  Voldemort is no different!"  spoken by Dumbledore p. 510

Pondering . . . Pondering . . . Pondering . . . Pondering

With all that pondering, I am sure that you are now hungry!  Let's check out the latest wizarding recipe, with dear Professor Trelawney in mind.  This will be part one of a duo, with part two (the most complicated of the recipes) appearing tomorrow on this last day of the Harry Potter countdown.  One photo with both examples will appear tomorrow.

Celestial Tortilla Chips

Ingredients

Flour or corn tortillas, whichever you prefer

Melted butter (optional)

Directions

Use 2-inch star- and moon-shaped cookie cutters and cut out shapes from the tortillas of your choice.  Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and place shapes in a single layer.  Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 5-10 minutes, until the tortilla shapes start to harden.  Remove from oven and let cool.

I like to put a spin on this recipe!  I provided a variety of chips using the directions above as well as adding a bit of spice to vary things up a bit!  Some examples include just a little butter brushed on top, adding a little parmesan cheese and/or garlic to the butter, or for those with a sweet tooth, sugar and/or cinnamon.  Get creative and try your own witchy concoctions!

Tomorrow we visit the last book in the series.  In the meantime, I will leave you with a random fact ... My very first post on this blog more than four years ago was a short review of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, in preparation for the release of Deathly Hallows!  Just for fun, I recommend clicking on over and reading a few of my predictions.  I got a good laugh (in hindsight) at a couple of them!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Today we take a look at Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling in honor of the release of the final movie in the series.  It is now less than two days until the release and as each day goes by, I get a little (or maybe a lot!) more excited!!  I'm still working on if I will be able to go to the movie or not, but I will definitely be keeping you posted!

The Order of the Phoenix is a book that holds a special place in my heart.  It is not because of the book itself exactly, but more so the memory of purchasing it instead.  When the fifth book in the series was released, I attended  my first ever midnight release party!  I bought my book and took it home to start reading it.  I only made it a little ways into the story before heading to bed for the night, but just the idea of being able to buy the book at midnight was so fascinating and fun!  And, I loved how so many others were also in attendance.  At this time, the parties were not as huge as they would become.  The trend was still just beginning and who knew that it would be continuing today!!

As I think about this memory, I realize how pivotal the Harry Potter series has been over the past ten years.  It has taken authors to the same level as rock stars.  It has inspired those reluctant to pick up a book and read.  It has propelled the book business to offer midnight release parties and cause even more excitement around a great piece of literature.  And, of course, Harry Potter is simply a fun read with easy-to-relate characters!

I really do not have more to say on this book, except that though it was not my favorite (probably due to the ending once again!), it is one that has also grown on me.  It contains a number of very small, but very important details.  And, it is one that I am currently listening via the mesmerizing voice of Jim Dale as I take my walks.  It is one that I can get lost in easily, but it is also okay if I do not focus 100% of my attention on the entire time.

Instead of sharing a list of favorite quotes for this one, I am going to do something a bit different due to the length of the pieces that I wanted to share with you.  Instead, I am going to recommend that you open up your own personal copy (and if you don't have one, get one!) and read the passages on page 244 and page 317.  In each of these pages lie what some may view as a defiant Harry, unable to hold his tongue.  I view Harry as a brave soul, one that is standing up for what he believes in despite the consequences that may result from his actions.  Harry is a boy that is constantly wondering why he is the center of all this attention, but I believe that in this book he truly begins to stand up and be the legend that began with the rumors of "The Boy Who Lived."  No more whining.  No more haphazard spells that he may tend to luck out on.  He begins his journey to being THE Harry Potter!

Last, but not least, the daily recipe . . . Cauldron Cakes!!

Ingredients
Devil's Food Cake (go easy with a boxed version)
String Licorice (or anything that you can find that will work as a "handle")

Directions
Bake the Devil's Food Cake into cupcakes following the instructions on the box, except do NOT use the liners.  Simply grease up the cups using cooking spray or butter.  Once they have cooled off, slice the top off of the cupcake, so that it can sit evenly when turned upside down (hence, the cauldron shape!).  Poke the licorice (or designated "handles") so that it looks like handles on a cauldron.  Voila!

Tomorrow we visit Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and I share the first of a yummy duo!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Today we visit the fourth installment of the ever-popular Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling ... Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.  I remember reading this book so many years ago for the first time.  I gobbled the book up, unable to finish it quickly enough soon after its release.  I loved the idea of the Triwizard Tournament.  I loved the challenges of the Triwizard Tournament.  I loved that other wizarding schools were introduced and the diversity among them became a part of the story.  However, the ending of this book ruined it for me!  It was absolutely devastating ... more so than any of the previous books, and I think it was simply that a "good guy" had to die and I felt that the "bad guy" triumphed.  As I have re-read the books multiple times over the years, I have grown to appreciate this book more.  Afterall, the "return" was truly inevitable ... it was bound to happen sooner rather than later!  As the book began to grow on me, I started appreciating the importance of this book in the series as a whole.  In fact, on this latest re-read, I closed the book with more satisfaction than I ever have before.  After the multitude of re-reads (I really have lost track!), I have come to realize how much thought and planning Rowling put into this series.  And, I have come to realize that I fall more in love with the series each and every time I pick up these books.  I understand the intricacies better and better.  My familiarity with the characters only strengthens my relationship with the books.  And, I have come to realize that I cannot even begin to predict how many more times I will be returning to these books in the years to come.  Even those that I have considered weaker than others have so much to offer!

Keeping in tradition, I will leave you with a few of my favorite quotes from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire . . .

"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."  spoken by Sirius Black, p. 525

"You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!"  spoken by Dumbledore, p. 708

And, on a more humorous note ...

"A week ago, Harry would have said finding a partner for a dance would be a cinch compared to taking on a Hungarian Horntail.  But now that he had done the latter, and was facing the prospect of asking a girl to the ball, he thought he'd rather have another round with the dragon."  p. 388

(How many other times do you think boys have thought just these thoughts, only not quite with such a comparison?!?)

And, last but not least, let's get to another yummy recipe . . . Cockroach Clusters!

Ingredients
Dark Chocolate
Dry Chow Mein Noodles

Directions
Melt the chocolate until smooth.  You can do this on the stove top, but I use the microwave, heating in 15-30 second intervals.  Stir in noodles until the mixture is thick enough to hold together.  Spoon bite-sized clusters onto wax paper and let harden in the refrigerator.  These can be frozen (just thaw before serving).

See you tomorrow for a look at Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and a recipe for Cauldron Cakes!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

As the days tick by, we are quickly approaching the release of the final Harry Potter film.  Yesterday in my Sunday Synopsis, I talked a bit about my feelings.  Today, I talk about one of the books that still rank at the top of my Harry Potter favorites ... Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban!  I believe that Azkaban is the book that I have re-read the most times ... and I have re-read these books many times!  For those who have not heard me say this before, Harry Potter is one of my comfort reads.  If I am feeling especially down, I tend to open up one of these books.  Azkaban is a popular one for these times and I truly believe that it is because of the one true happy ending.  No one really dies in this book!  Instead, Harry discovers that he has family ... family that is willing to risk everything to protect him, despite the reputation, the risk, and the danger.  At the end of the story, I feel hopeful.  I don't worry about what Voldemort is going to try next.  I don't worry about who will be the next victim.  I simply remember the unconditional acceptance and love, and the fact that it is still there despite all that Harry has been through.

Before sharing a quick Potter-ish recipe, I want to share my favorite quote from the book.  As I read it, I discover that these few lines impact me even today in real life.  If you have lost someone close to you recently or not, I think it will have a bit of an impact on you too.

"You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us?  You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble?  Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him."  spoken by Dumbledore p. 427-428.

Not the best picture, but you get the idea!

Now for a little extra fun!  I now introduce you to Acid Pops, a quick and easy recipe that is blast to do with your kids!

Ingredients
Charms Blow Pops Lollipops
Pop Rocks

Directions
Roll the Lollipops in the Pop Rocks.  If they are not sticky enough initially, I quickly ran the Lollipops under the faucet and then rolled them.  The Pop Rocks will begin to lose their "pop," so you will want to do these as close to serving time as possible.  I then wrapped them in mini clear plastic gift bags that you can find at most craft or hobby stores.

Enjoy this yummy treat! And, see you back tomorrow for the next installment of Harry Potter countdown fun!

Sunday Synopsis: July 10, 2011

I cannot believe that this week is here!  This is the week that I have been waiting for!  It is a week that brings many mixed emotions ... excitement, sadness, anxiety to name just a few.  I am sure that many of you may already know what I am talking about, but those that do not, I will leave you with two words ... Harry Potter!  Friday marks the release of the last film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.  I am so excited to see this movie that I really cannot express how much in words.  Let's just say that I get all a-flutter whenever I think about it!  However, I also feel sadness for a couple of reasons.  For one, I am not sure if I am even going to be able to go to the movie on opening weekend!  Waiting a week may work in my favor (or at least, that is what I am telling myself!).  I do not have to worry about spoilers because I already know how the story ends, but I am still going to be avoiding people's thoughts and opinions to not shadow my own expectations!  I am also sad because this means that I will not be able to read or view Harry Potter for the first time ever again!  I will be able to do it vicariously, but never through my own eyes again.  So very sad!  Lastly, I feel a bit anxious.  Will the final installment live up to my expectations????  I have had mixed feelings on previous movies, more so on the earlier ones.  Once I got to the fourth or fifth movies, I began separating the book and film from each other and treating them as separate entities.  Otherwise, I would just get upset at missed details that seemed so important at the time (and some of them were!).

In honor of the release of the final installment, I will be having a Harry Potter week.  Last year, I started posting reviews of my re-reads with Harry Potter recipes that I personally made for my own HP party when the final book was released.  I only posted the first two books before getting sidetracked.  Here are the links to those original posts:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, featuring recipes for Butterbeer and Wandsicles!
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, featuring yummy Dragon Snot!

My goal is to post the remaining five books for every day of this week, along with more fun quotes, a few thoughts, and even more delicious recipes (including pictures)!  In the meantime, feel free to enjoy the latest trailer . . .

Will you be watching Harry on the big screen this week?  How are you preparing for the final installment?

Author Sighting: Ridley Pearson

This post is an addition to my recently
revived feature, Literary Locals.

One night after a hard day's work, I managed to sneak away from the house to help ease the tension of the day. This release was actually a trip to the library for another night with an author . . . Ridley Pearson!  Years ago, I had read one of Pearson's adult novels, Probable Cause.  I remembered enjoying the book, but don't remember much more than that.  (I also discovered as I was preparing this post and perusing Pearson's website that he was also the author of The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer, the book behind the made-for-tv movie, Rose Red.  Who knew?!?  I loved that book and even own a copy of both the book AND movie!)  I also have been wanting to read his Starcatchers series that he co-authors with Dave Barry.  I think that I may even have a copy of the first book in this series buried in my TBR pile!  Needless to say, after rambling about my limited exposure to his work, I knew that I wanted to attend his event and learn more about his latest series, Kingdom Keepers!

When I walked into one of the local libraries, I didn't know what I was going to expect.  I thought that considering the audience, that I may be one of the oldest in attendance.  I even felt a bit guilty because he was on his tour promoting the fourth book in the Kingdom Keepers series, and I had not even read the first one!  My hesitancy did not last long, however!  I walked into a packed room filled with men and women of all ages.  I saw very excited young ones, patiently waiting for Pearson to begin his chat.  And, I saw a large number of adults holding copies of his adult novels for signing.  I was immediately put at ease and sat back to enjoy the presentation.

The presentation was nothing like I had imagined!  He brought out a slide show and shared his unique research for his latest project ... the opportunity to tour Disney theme parks and studios exclusively!  I'm talking being able to ride the rides when no one else is around ... Being a VIP and skipping to the head of a long line during a park's during open hours ... Being able to tour the parks behind the scenes and get to know some of the secrets and little known facts.  What better "research" can you ask for?!?

Pearson had an energy and passion that I have rarely seen at events before.  I can't even put my finger on what made it so special to me.  He was entertaining and just plain funny!  It was just what I needed after a hard day at the office and I can guarantee that I have every intention of attending his next event in my area for the release of the fifth book in the Starcatchers series.  

I will leave you with one of my most memorable moments from the event ... Pearson was asked by a young member of the audience what tips he would recommend for an aspiring writer.  He spoke for a bit about how some authors pump out the books and others simply write one page a day.  Writing may come easier to some than to others.  The important thing is simply to write EVERY SINGLE DAY!  I am now trying to personally live by this advice, so Mr. Pearson . . . Thank you for the inspiration!

Author Sighting: Mary Pope Osborne

**I mentioned last week that I am bringing back Literary Locals, a feature where I highlight a number of local literary loves in my area.  This is the first of many diverse posts to come.**

Since the beginning of the year, I have had the opportunity to attend a number of author events in my area.  This week, I plan to share a few of these events, with more to come later this month!  The first one was an event that re-surged my love for author events, and one that was extra special to me . . . Mary Pope Osborne, the author of the beloved Magic Tree House series!

Mary Pope Osborne visited one of my local libraries back in January and she had an amazing turnout!  I am so glad that we arrived when we did because people literally had to be turned away after the event surpassed more than 700 attendees!  It was an event that I decided to initiate my 6-year-old son, since we were reading the chapter books together in the months prior to the event.  I wanted to share with him one of my personal loves.  I wanted him to meet the author of the books that he enjoyed exploring the world through, both past and present. I wanted him to see that there is a person (just like you and me) that created these stories that we have bonded over.

The event started with a brief introduction about the author by one of the librarians, and was followed by a brief talk by the author herself, sharing her experiences and ideas for the stories featuring a sibling duo, Jack and Annie.  Osborne spoke about her research for the books, the stories that are yet to come, and even polled the audience on what they thought should be part of Jack and Annie's adventures in future editions.  At first, I was a bit disappointed that we had come all this way to only listen to the author speak for 15-20 minutes, but I quickly understood why!  With that many people waiting to have her sign the books, Osborne and the library staff probably did not want to be there all night with such a young crowd!  We were in one of the last groups to meet the author, so we hung out for a long period of time.  Thankfully, the librarian was amazing and kept us entertained the entire time with games and a little stand-up comedy!  (And, many think that librarians are just good for finding and recommending books!)

The time finally came for my son and I to meet the author.  The poor little man was exhausted and hungry, but you could just see the anticipation in his face as we approached the table for signatures.  He is a very quiet little man, so he just stood there in awe as he handed over his little stack of books.  We then quietly walked over to Osborne to snap a picture.  (I typically do not post pictures of my children on the site, so I have cropped him out.)  I was really curious to hear what his thoughts were of his first author event, but he really didn't say much until we got back in the car for the drive home.  Once that door was closed and the car was started, the questions and comments began . . . Mom, that was the person who wrote about the magic tree house?  Do you think she did those things?  I am so excited to read more about Jack and Annie's adventures.  That was really cool! . . . Needless to say, my heart was bursting with pride at this point in time!

Though this night was a wonderful bonding event between my son and myself featuring one of my passions, I also learned a few things along the way as well!  Here are a few tidbits for you . . .

• Did you know that Mary Pope Osborne no longer signs books during her author events?  She had a stamp made with her and her sister's signatures to replace the physical signing.  This is far from a lazy act (as I'm sure that this has got to be hard on the writing hand!), but actually due to an injury a few years ago to her wrist.  She was required to have surgery and signing has never been the same!
• Can you imagine Osborne getting down on the ground pretending to be a dog?  Yep, she did just that for research on one of her upcoming books!  She got down on the floor and played with the dogs at their level to help gain their perspective!
• Did you know that Osborne works closely with her sister on her accompanying non-fiction novels?  They collaborate on the fiction and non-fiction books to create a full reading experience for a variety of readers!

I have not yet had the opportunity to take my son to another author event since, but I am now constantly on the lookout!  Until then, we simply share the love of reading together, cuddled on the couch and exploring more adventures featuring Jack and Annie, among others!

I am now excited to announce a little giveaway thanks to this author event!  I had a couple of extra used copies (in good condition) of the first two books in Osborne's series (Dinosaurs Before Dark and The Knight at Dawn) stamped with signatures by Mary Pope Osborne and her sister, Natalie Boyce.  You now have the opportunity to make these copies your very own.  Simply fill out the form below by Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. CST.  The winner will be emailed and announced the first week of August.  US Residents ONLY please.

Sunday Synopsis: July 3, 2011

Can I tell you how much I love three-day weekends?!?  I love them a TON!  However, I always get these ideas in my head that I am going to just get lost in a book and get so much reading done.  I somehow also get these ideas about getting caught up on some blog posts and reviews, too!  And, needless to say, here I am on a Sunday evening with little reading and writing done this weekend so far!  I've been working on a number of other projects and simply hanging out with my kids.  No worries though, right?!?  I've still got one more day to get some reading and writing in!

Just in case you are wondering what I may be reading . . . A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness for the July selection for Tales to Tomes.  I also lucked out and received a copy of Feed by Mira Grant from the library as well, so I need to get that one read as well, even if it is not the selection until August.

On a non-bookish note . . . I finally finished watching the entire season of LOST!  Can I just say how much I love that show?!?  I am not sure I still "get" everything throughout all six seasons, but it is a show that has stuck with me since starting the episodes on DVD a couple of years ago.  I haven't even really decided what I think about the series finale either to be quite honest!

I really don't have much more to report on this week.  I can say that I am thankful my busy season at work is coming to a close.  I am also thankful that this means I can have more time at work to read and walk over my lunch hour at least.  I will also have the wonderful excuse to read during work hours as well because I will be enjoying our summer reading program selection!

Oh, and I need to check on my reading challenges, so here is the current status on each.  Let's just say I really need to kick it in gear now that we are half-way through the year!

1. The Stephen King/Richard Bachman Challenge (Perpetual)
2. 2011 Graphic Novels Challenge (7 of 3-10 Books)
3. Off The Shelf Challenge (7 of 30 Books) 
4. Young Readers Challenge (7 of 12 Books)
5. Take A Chance Challenge 3 (0 of 3 Books)
6. 2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge (10 of 50 Books)
7. The Dewey Decimal Challenge (0 of 4 Books)
8. 100+ Reading Challenge of 2011 (21 of 100 Books)
9. Fairy Tale Challenge  (1 of 12 Books/Movies)

Since I no longer have anything else to say, I am going to sign off with some final words for those who are fellow Americans.  If you are not in the US, I sign off with the alternative below!

Happy Independence Day!!!

Have a Great Week!!!

2011 Fairy Tale Challenge: July Selections & Special Guest, The Literary Lollipop

For this month's link-up for the Fairy Tale Challenge, I am excited to announce our guest Lydia from The Literary Lollipop.  Let's give her a warm welcome!

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I'm a cynical girl. Romance and happily-ever-after are not part of my vocabulary.
 
There are a variety of reasons that could explain the absence of my rose coloured glasses, a history I would rather not rehash at this time. However, I must confess that my most vulnerable years are at the core of my love for Disney fairy tales, especially The Little Mermaid. Believe me when I say that this movie ushered me through some very tough times. Charming Sebastien and Ariel were my guides into a safe, uncomplicated world.  Happy endings were foreign to me, all the more reason to immerse myself in their simplicity.
 
For the first time in my life, I visited Disney World in 2003. The moment I walked into that park, fairy tales suddenly felt real. I know this sounds a little dramatic but you have to understand that my introduction to Disney had been a massive part of my childhood. I would sing along, for hours on end, to The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. It felt like I had literally walked into the movie itself, and I chose to believe that each cast member, dressed in costume, was indeed the character they pretended to represent. Although I was in my early 20s at the time, I allowed myself to regress into my elementary years... even if it was only for one week.
 
Later in my university career, I completed a course in children's literature. The syllabus included several versions of fairy tales, such as Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and my beloved Little Mermaid. Boy, was I in for a surprise! Not only were these stories completely morbid and depressing, they were a far cry from the happy endings we were taught to love as kids. Angela Carter provided some exceptional food for thought with her rewriting of Red Riding Hood. Many end with death, severe punishment and sometimes rape. 
 
Even now, when I’ll be turning 28 on July 2^nd, I’m very aware that my age does not correspond to my Disney fascination. Most of my friends are not as captivated by these stories as I am, but I remain a dedicated fan. There is something about the innocence of its humour that, despite references to popular and modern culture, remains charming and welcoming. Yes, Disney movies are often didactic and, for some, a little preachy. Perhaps my true reverence is reserved for Old School Disney animation, before Hannah Montana and Hilary Duff stormed the stage. But, if I were to be completely honest with myself, there are generations of teen sensations that occupy the magazine covers, no matter the decade.
 
Regardless of what I learned in university, I continue to use my Disney favourites as anchors. They are memory markers, white flags of safety in a sea of chaos. The Little Mermaid was, quite simply, an escape. The funny characters and the innocent songs, Ursula and her schemes, Sebastien's hilarious anxiety, and Ariel's curiosity make me smile. And, as far as I'm concerned, that will always be a good thing.

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Thank you so much Lydia for sharing your experiences with fairy tales!  Now it is your turn . . . link up your reviews for the month and share in the comments what fairy tales have meant to you.  Do they fascinate you in your elder years just as much as they did when you were younger (as in Lydia and myself!)?