Book Review :: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault In Our Stars, John Green
 
Synopsis:  Hazel has a terminal form of cancer.  She has to drag an oxygen tank everywhere she goes and spends some time at a ridiculous "support group" (that she hates, by the way).  Until one day when a handsome stranger shows up to support a mutual friend.  Augustus Waters is surprising, different, and interesting--and in love with Hazel.  She introduces him to her favorite book, and he introduces her to his.  They share their thoughts on life, on the perks of being a cancer kid, and the oblivion beyond this life. 

And they travel to Amsterdam together using Augustus' Wish, to meet the author of Hazel's (and later, Augustus') favorite book, hoping that he can answer some questions that remained unresolved at the end of the novel. 

But things, when they are perfect, seem unable to last that way for long.  Hazel and Augustus are about to experience the most difficult announcement they have ever had to deal with.  Is their relationship strong enough to survive?  And will it even matter?

My Rating:  *  *  *  *  *
 I know I read a lot.  And I know I kind of have a lot of five star ratings.  But honestly, if I had one better than five stars, I would rate it higher.  I don't actually say this about a lot of the books I read, but this book will change your life.  I cried like a baby.

Risky Content:  To find out more about things in this book that may or may not be questionable or objectionable to your personal morals, click here.  It's great, very detailed and in-depth!  BE WARNED THOUGH--it contains spoilers.

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.  READ IT.  IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

Book Review :: Dust City

Dust City, Robert Paul Weston

Synopsis:  Henry Whelp is a resident of St. Remus, a correctional facility for troubled adolescents.  But not just any adolescents--adolescent wolves, foxes, ravens, and other animalia.  The hominids have since moved to Eden, the fabled city of the fairies built in the sky above St. Remus and the earth-dwelling animalia.  One day, the fairies just vanished, and took their magic--their wonderful, amazing, destiny-inducing magic--with them.  No more fairy godmothers or godfathers.  No more fairydust to help your dreams become a reality.  Now all that's left is the dust runoff, which pharmaceutical companies have begun to mine and sell to the surface-dwellers.  They refine the dust and make it cure almost anything--headaches, toothaches, broken bones; it can even be used as an anesthetic.  Dust monopolies have formed, and some animalia have begun to sell it on the streets, like a drug.
Meanwhile, Henry has discovered a packet of letters from his father, who is in prison for killing Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother.  In his letters, he reveals a terrifying and deadly secret about the dust monopoly and its leader, Skinner.  Are the fairies really still alive, like Henry's father believes?  And if they are, where are they?  It's up to Henry and a small band of misfit hominids and a she-wolf named Fiona to find out.

My Rating:  *  *  *  *

**WARNING:  THE FOLLOWING SECTION MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS**

Risky Content
Language:  0/5

Adult Content:  0/5

Violence:  3/5
Henry takes some very potent dust that makes him understand the bloodlust that caused his father to kill Red Riding Hood.  Some blood, some gore.

Right Now I Am...

Missing:  ...the beaches and warm weather of beautiful California.
Loving:  ...that I cleaned an entire room today; I always feel good after that.
Watching:  ..."One Tree Hill".  Thank heavens for Netflix.
Listening:  ...to the comforting hum of the washing machine.  Thank heavens for washing machines, too!
Feeling:  ...like I should probably do some homework but I really don't want to.
Wanting:  ...for dinner to already be made without having to put forth any effort.
Waiting:  ...for the first load of laundry to be done so I can switch it out, wash another load, and then go grocery shopping!
Hoping:  ...that Husband will be able to get enough sleep tonight.
Needing:  ...to get up and use the bathroom.
Wishing:  ...there was more moneys in my bank account, but at the same time feeling very content with what is in there and for everything that we have.
Reading:  "Born Under a Lucky Moon", by Dana Precious.

Book Review :: "The Snow Child"

The Snow Child, Eowyn Ivey

Synopsis:  In the 1920s, Alaska is a forbidding place.  Winters consist of bitter cold and blizzards, where even the sun won't shine for a period of two weeks, leaving the inhabitants in perpetual darkness; summer is a time of frantic clearing land, plowing, and planting, praying that the crops survive so that winter can be survived.  Recent arrivals Jack and Mabel find it especially grueling: both getting on in years, they moved to Alaska to escape the memory of their only child, who was stillborn.  Jack hasn't brought down any big game and winter is coming on and it's beginning to look more grim still, but in a moment of frivolity belying their age, the estranged couple build a beautiful snow child in the first flurries of the season.  The next morning, Jack leaves early to go on yet another hunt in hopes of finding a moose to down, and the snow child--along with the beautiful red mittens they had put on her--have vanished; all that remains is a pile of powder and one set of small footprints, leading from the center of the snow pile into the woods on the other side.  A small child appears later that day with a red fox by her side, and leads Jack to a moose.  Who is the girl?  Where did she come from?  How can she control the snow and frost the way she seems to?  And how in heaven's name does she survive alone in the bitter cold winter of the Alaskan wilderness?  Is she truly a child of magic, as Mabel comes to believe?  And what will they do when they fall in love with her, the child they always wanted and never had?

My Rating:  *  *  *  *  *

I loved this book.  It speaks so poignantly of love, loss, survival, parenthood, friendship, loyalty, sacrifice, support, and secrets.  It's true that I love many books, but this is one that has truly stayed with me ever since I turned the last page.  Just like Mabel, I came to fall in love with Alaska and all that it represents.

Risky Content: 
Adult Scenes:  Just one.  Nothing particularly explicit.  Just two people who have become strangers, getting to know each other again.
Swear words:  Not that I can recall.  Perhaps such things as "damn" and "hell" and "shit" occasionally.
Violence:  Just the typical stuff you'd expect from a tale of brutal survival in 1920s Alaska.  :)

Recipe :: Coconut Chicken Curry

So I have this weird thing where I really, really have a thing for Indian food.  But I also have this thing where I'm a college student, and I can't afford to eat it all that often.  So I decided to start learning how to make it at home, all by myself.  My crock pot is my best friend when it comes to making Indian food.  :)  I've only made this recipe a couple of times, but it's delightful!  It's not spicy--like, at all--and it's got all the things you love about Indian food:  complex and aromatic flavors, rich and filling, colorful and laced with delicate and unexpected tastes that will leave your tastebuds tingling.  See the original recipe here!

Coconut Chicken Curry
Ingredients:

• 2 lbs 3.5 oz chicken*
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled**
• 1 small green bell pepper
• 1 can (156 mL) tomato paste (I just get the small can)
• 1 can (~400 mL) coconut milk
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tbsp garam masala
• 2 tbsp water
• 1.5 tbsp corn starch

*Confession:  I never actually weigh or measure my meat in any way.  I kind of just eyeball it.

**I like garlic.  I typically use about 4 cloves in this particular recipe.

***There are some optional ingredients:  2 whole dry chili peppers, if you like more heat; and 1 bunch coriander, for garnish.  I've never used either of these in mine and it still turns out delish.

Procedure:

CAVEAT:  There are multiple ways to make this; the first way is with a food processor.  If you don't have one, another option is to use a blender instead; a third option, though I've never personally tried it, is to just chop up the onion and the pepper really small and mix it all together in a bowl real well.

Cube chicken and put into slow cooker.  Peel skin from onion and quarter.  Seed and quarter bell pepper.  Place onion and bell pepper into food processor (or blender, or just chop them up really really small).  Add coconut milk, tomato paste, garam masala, curry powder, and salt; grind until smooth-ish.  Pour on top of chicken; stir to coat evenly.  Cook on low for 4 hours.  Mix together corn starch and water in a small bowl until corn starch dissolves; stir into slow cooker and cook 1 more hour.  Serve with aromatic rice (we use basmati; jasmine works too) and fresh cilantro.  Also naan is very good with it.  I will link my favorite naan recipe later.  Happy cooking!  

Your house will smell SOOOOO good while this cooks.  Promise.