Light Between Oceans Review...

This past month for a book club I belong too, we read Light Between Oceans. Everyone enjoyed the book, and it does bring out a variety of emotions. It is the first book by M.L. Stedman and hopefully not the last. Tom who happens to be a lightkeeper along with his wife live by themselves, except for the few times a year that supplies or sent to them. One day a small boat with a deceased man and baby appear. In reading this book it reminds us that all of the decisions we make, not only change our own lives, but several others as well. That is all I am going to say, as I don't want to give away spoilers. I ranked this a 5 out of 5, and the other people in the book club either ranked it a 4 or 4.5. Everyone enjoyed it, even if we didn't agree with some characters decisions. I am counting this book towards my fourth review for the Outdo Yourself Challenge.

 

 

The next book that I will be reading, that has been chosen for this book club

Winner of The Lover's Knot

According to Random.org the winner of Feb. book giveaway is:

List Randomizer

There were 2 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Starwood Quilter
2. lisa0116

Timestamp: 2013-02-28 20:16:52 UTC

Congratulations Starwood Quilter!

Tomorrow I will announce another book for March's giveaway!

Oliver Musical Review...

I have watched another movie for the Period Drama Challenge that is being held by Old-Fashioned Charm. This is my second review for this challenge. I watched the musical from 1968. It was a fantastic musical I thought. However, it did change quite a bit from the book, especially at end. Oliver, doesn't get a chance to meet some of his friends from the book, and a few players don't have as big of a role in the musical. It is a one that I think people will enjoy, if they don't mind musicals. I can see myself watching it again and again. The acting was really good. I still want to see another version that is closer to the book though.

Ivanhoe movie review...

After reading and enjoying the book Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, I watched the movie for the Period Drama Challenge that is taking place over at Old-Fashioned Charm blog. This is my first review for that challenge. If you are interested in my thoughts of Ivanhoe, here is my review of the book. I watched the made for tv version with Sam Neil made in 1982. The movie is a lot faster than the book, but in doing this it leaves something out when trying to introduce all of the characters. This takes place during the 12th century in England. If you do not know about the background of the reasons for the dislike between the Saxons and Normans or at least some parts of history, there maybe a tad bit of confusion as to what is going on. There are joust tournaments, kidnappings, ransoms, battles, antisemitism , and even charges of witchery with the threat of burning at the stake. The movie did add more of a  love interest I thought between Ivanhoe and Rebecca compared to the movie. I probably wouldn't watch this version again. My next period drama challenge review will be Oliver.

Classic Club Blog book Giveaway!

I am giving away a copy of Oliver Twist, available ONLY to Classic Club blog members (must be USA resident). Make sure to read terms and conditions, before entering to win. Good luck!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d3bdbf0/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mystery Library book revealed

So about two posts back or so I mentioned I had gotten a mystery book from the library. I was unaware of the title or the main description of it. Here was the book:

I am excited to read this book, as I saw the movie growing up but never read the book. Normally I may not have picked this out. Of course later on I will do a review of it.

Review of Oliver Twist

I think there is so much to learn about society in reading Oliver Twist. The poor tale of Oliver in his upbringing, how some things have changed in the world while some have remained unchanged. There is still poverty in the world, criminals, people of higher power abusing their authority (in thinking they are above the law), etc. It does give one a lot to think about. I often thought perhaps if Dickens himself could see and relate to Oliver as he was writing this book, I guess this maybe answered if I read Little Dorrit. Everyone's life experiences shape who we are in same way, this can of course be either good or bad. Oliver Twist I think also shows the resilience of humans, as far as Oliver never giving up, even though he was not treated kindly by a great majority of people and didn't have much of a support system in several instances. In reading Oliver Twist I wanted to keep reading to see what occurred, and I enjoyed knowing the end of all the characters in such detail. This is a definate reread. I rate this book a 5 out of 5. This is my third book review for the Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge, second for Historical Fiction Challenge, and fifth book for Classics Club.

My next book to read is The Little Princess. I still plan on having movie reviews for Ivanhoe and Oliver soon.

Classics Club Group Check In #2

This is the second group check in so far, and the first for this year of 2013. I feel that I have been able to read more this year, hopefully I will be able to continue this. I have read four books so far, since joining the club in Aug. 2012:

1. Pat of Silverbush by L.M. Montgomery - Finished 10/8/2012
2.The Children by Edith Wharton - Finished Nov. 2012
3. The Cossacks and the Raid by Leo Tolstoy - Finished Dec. 2012
4. Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott - Finished Jan. 2013

Currently I am reading Oliver Twist and really enjoying it. I only have about 80 pages or so far to go, I am determined to read the rest of it over the weekend. In the past, I had tried to read Great Expectations but was never a fan and couldn't finish. Since I have various other works of Dickens on my classics club list, it is a good thing that I am enjoying Oliver Twist. My original goal of each book on my classic club list is to also watch any movies based on  the books. I have yet to watch Ivanhoe but hope to do so soon so then I can watch Oliver (my husband is a fan of both the book and film). I will end up doing reviews on the films to try to compare them to the books. Once I am done with Oliver Twist the next book will be A Little Princess, never read the book but watched the film growing up. If you enjoy reading books and finding new ones, I highly recommend joining the classics club!

Mystery book....

Last week I was in my public library, I noticed they had about 5 books or so that was wrapped but had descriptions listed on it. I saw one that I was curious about so I decided to check it out. I thought it was a great idea not to judge a book but the cover/title. Wonder what the book will be?

Results of Classics Spin....

The number picked for the Classics Spin is number 14, so I will be reading;

I already started but need to finish Oliver Twist first. I have seen the 1995 movie version of Pride and Prejudice but never read the book. While reading a little bit today, I kept on imagining the scenes from the movie, lol.

Classics Spin.....

The Classics Club is having has the option of us clubbers to participate in the Classics Spin, basically we pick 20 books of our club list; 5 we want to read, 5 we are indifferent, 5 we don't want to read, and 5 others. Then we number them, tomorrow on Monday Feb. 18th they will then list one number, whatever number matches on a clubbers list, we then have until April 1 to finish reading the book.

If you want to join click on the button;



Books I want to read:

Wives & Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
Larkrise to Candleford by Flora Thompson
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Emma by Jane Austen
Little Dorritt by Charles Dickens

5 other books:
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
 North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
 Walden & Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau

Books I am indifferent:

Germinal by Emile Zola
The Memoirs of Gluckel of Hameln
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Five Little Peppers & How They Grow by Margaret Sidney

Books I am dreading:

Othello by William Shakespeare
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Heart of Darkness & Selected Short Fiction by Joseph Conrad
War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Here is my list, I am mixing it up the order;

1. Wives & Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
2. The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
3. Germinal by Emile Zola
4.Othello by William Shakespeare
5.Larkrise to Candleford by Flora Thompson
6. North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell
7.The Memoirs of Gluckel of Hameln
8.My Antonia by Willa Cather
9.Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
10.Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
11. Heart of Darkness & Selected Short Fiction by Joseph Conrad
12.Emma by Jane Austen
13.The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
14.Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
15.Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
16.War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy
17.Little Dorritt by Charles Dickens
18.Walden & Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau
19.Five Little Peppers & How They Grow by Margaret Sidney
20.The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Making some bread....

Recently, I purchased a Lodge cast iron dutch oven after finding a bread recipe on Simply So Good. I proofed it yesterday for about 24 hours, here it is rising:

After shaping it into a ball, I ended up putting olive oil and kosher salt on top of mine, even though the recipe didn't call for this.

Here was the end result, it tasted pretty good. I think next time I will add the olive oil and more kosher salt after the bread has been baked. Might also add some italian herbs perhaps.