January Recap The Bad

I had an outstanding January 2014 reading experience. Overall I finished 15 books and abandoned 2! I made my mind up to abandon a book if I just wasn't into it or if I thought is was not for me. Although my best intention is to keep on top of blogging entries a little better, and include some recipes, I wanted to at least do a recap of my books from this month.

As much as I hate to, I want to mention my abandoned books for this month first, and in later posts I will rate my other reads.


The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science. by Richard Holmes

I wanted to read this book for a long time. Published in 2009, this one lanquished on my wish list for a couple years. Finally, I discovered it on the library ebook list and put it on hold. I am glad to say it was not terrible, or even bad. I was just not in the right mind to read it at the time it came available. I did read the first two stories and they were fine. Good information presented in a casual manner. I just got bogged down in the minutiae of the descriptions. I abandoned it in search of something lighter. I will probably revisit this one later.
My rating: will revisit

 
The Abominable  by Dan Simmons

In spite of the promising setting on Everest with 1920's British explorers and a Yeti for crying-out-loud, this book defeated me. It started out intriguing; a old, mysterious gentleman (Jake Perry) bequeaths his personal notebooks to our faux-documentary writer. But the entire ride quickly degraded into my wondering how anyone so completely stupid would have survived climbing the smallest of hills, much less survived Everest and being stalked by a Yeti. At one point our intrepid explorer congratulated himself on noticing the oxygen delivery system had 3 instead of 4 tanks, although he was surprised when someone pointed out the valves were attached on the bottom rather than the top of the tanks. He remained astonished at most of the equipment and I wanted  to slap him. I made it 30% of the way through this 600+ page book before I mentally threw it across the room, and he hadn't even made it to Everest or the possible Yeti at that point. 
My rating: 1 out of 10 and only because it was an awesome idea for a book

Thankfully these 2 books were the 'worst' books I read this month. Look for upcoming posts dedicated books I enjoyed including 1 book that earned 10 stars.

goodreads Choice Awards 2013 and IKEA measurements are confusing

Hello Reader friends!
So it is that time of year, when goodreads invites readers to vote on the best books of 2013. The pressure! Seriously though, am I the only one that feels uncomfortable doing this?
I typically open the link with excitement knowing I get to vote on my favorite books!! Yeah!! Then reality sets in.  I only read one book in this category.  I didn't have time to read the other books. I can't vote based on only knowing only one book in the category.  There are two books I liked, I can't choose between them.  I like this book but there is another book that I loved in this category and it is not listed as an option. Should I write it in? Is writing it in pointless? The spiral of self talk continues until I just fast forward through the categories without placing a vote in the majority listed.
Regardless of the over thinking I do, I always love discovering new-to-me books. I follow the little rabbit holes looking at new authors, remembering the books I did read and why I did or did not like them. The time is well spent.

I'm currently wrapping reading the first book I will review here and picking out a recipe that I am excited to share. No fancy 'I can't find that ingredient in my local store' shenanigans going on here folks! So stay tuned for that.

Meanwhile, I will leave you with this shout out to IKEA. After my last set of measuring spoons met an untimely demise in the garbage disposal it was time for a new set. I had a girls trip  to IKEA scheduled so I decided to buy new ones there. I might have discovered why their furniture can be confusing; with the directions saying there are different sized bolts but they all look the same.

Our jerky ended up under-seasoned before I figured it out. 

Welcome

Welcome to my little corner of the web. I'm your dedicated reader and recipe maker, Tanya. My family and I live in north-central Colorado. I have 3 children in the just moved out/ finishing high school period of their lives and my husband works in the energy industry. I have been a parts-runner, bakery thrift shop manager, 911 dispatcher, and court clerk. Currently I am ecstatic to be working from my home. With all the kids leaving the nest and the husband working crazy long hours I find myself with time to read and cook like never before.  I hope you enjoy the books and recipes I'm sharing with you in this blog.
I will be giving my reviews of the books I have read along with a recipe that ties in with the book in some way.  I reserve the right to throw in whatever else sparks my fancy, usually book related humor,  art, jewelry, podcasts, author events I attend and the like. I invite you to join me in the exploration of reading and making some (hopefully) good food.