The Rosie Project

 I feel like I'm getting back in my reading mode.  It was helped along by finally reading a novel that was INTERESTING! I have read 3 books in 2021 so far. 

"Wife Wanted: Must be punctual, logical and enjoy travelling by bicycle. No smokers, drinkers, or horoscope readers need apply.

Don Tillman, has a brilliant scientific mind, but social situations confound him. He's never had a second date. And so in the evidence based manner in which he approaches all things, he embarks upon the Wife Project: a 16 page questionnaire to find the perfect partner. Then in walks Rosie Jarman."

You grow to love this quirky character and the science thrown into the mix is interesting as well. I definitely enjoyed this book and I hear that there is a 2nd one called The Rosie Effect. This was a first novel as well for the Author. Well done! 

Time To Read

Well, I didn't do so well with my reading challenge last year. Disgraceful, I know. I didn't make it through 20  books and I used to LOVE to read. I'm blaming my IPAD. I spend most of my free time reading blogs and generally wasting time. (Thanks HAYDAY!) so this year, I have decided to get an earlier start and get reading, novels, the paper kind, not the electronic kind.

I received this book for my birthday and I wanted it to be the first book that I read in 2016 but after I started it, I realized that I wanted to savour and enjoy every page. It's not a book to read when you're half asleep or waiting for your dentist to call your name. So I'm saving this treasure for a long, leisurely day off.

I went through the stack of books that I have at home and started with What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarity and I loved it. Interesting, not too deep, and some interesting human perspectives.

I liked it so much, I went to the Public Library and picked up the Husband's Secret (which I have read) and the Hypnotist's Love Story, which I just got today and can't wait to start.
And in case, I don't make it back to the library anytime soon, these are a few of the novels that I have lined up to read in 2016....

I have read Chronicles of Narnia but I think I will revisit it. January is a good month to purge the "stuff" and read a good book. Wish me luck. I'm aiming for 25 books this year.

Friendship Bread

Well, I read the novel so I just had to make the starter and bake me up a few loaves of Friendship bread. A few years ago, someone had given me the starter and I remembered that the bread was delicious. Then, I discovered this book at the Public Library and my interest was renewed.

I kept it alive for 3 splits and sent it off to 6 friends and then sadly, I had to let it go. After a month of baking loaves every 10 days, it wasn't doing any wonders for my waistline and my friends were starting to run the other way when they saw me coming (just kidding). I DID stick a baggie of the starter in the freezer so if I feel the inclination, I can always start it up again. I never got a chance to bake up the 1000's of variations that you can make from the starter (there is a website that lists them all) since I really loved the original, cinnamon recipe. So delicious and with a light yeasty flavour.
Check it out.

The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society

It's Family Day here in Ontario and what's better to do after spending some quality time with your loved ones, then to lounge around and read. I just picked this up at the Public Library. It's a new release and the second novel by Darien Gee.

It's a delightful novel about a small town in Illinois that follows the lives of its residents particularly 5 women who are all struggling with different issues. There is something in each story that we can all relate to and the references to the world of scrapbooking will bring a smile to your face. If you've ever read the Friday Night Knitting Club, it is a very similar type of story.  I would definitely pick this one up for a light read.

Book Review

Finally! After 4 books and 849 pages in the final book, I have completed the Eragon series.
The last book Inheritance was probably my favourite. This series was pure fantasy... elves, dragon riders, dwarves and other creatures. There were a lot of battles but if you like this type of book, you would enjoy the series. AND I just saw the Author on Sugar Dome judging Dragon cakes so it's almost related to baking. Anyway, I was really happy to complete it because now I can start on a book I've had my mind on for some time... Night Circus.

 

This novel got really good reviews. It is the debut novel for its author and so far it has me intrigued.

 

I will let you know how it turns out. I'm reading much earlier in the year as I would like to meet my goal of 20 books (or more).





Hope in the Colour of Orange

As many of you know, I am very proud of my Dutch heritage. My Dad is a wonderful example of many of the excellent qualities possessed by the Dutch people; hard-working, determined and proud.

I recently signed a book out from the public library called Hope in the Colour of Orange. If you watch the World cup, you will know that at many of the Dutch sporting events, spectators are dressed in orange after their heritage which is the House of Oranje. The title is also associated with oranges which were given to the Dutch children by the soldiers shortly after Liberation.  This book was written by civilian children and young adults who endured the deprivations of the Second World War. I was very interested in this period of history as this is the time my father was a young man in Holland. It was an interesting collection of short stories written by several people who emigrated to Canada shortly after the War and wanted to share their memories.

Many of their stories parallel what I have heard from my relatives. I was very fortunate to travel to Holland with my father in 2000 and was present for Liberation Day where the Dutch people celebrate and remember their freedom and the role Canada played in the Liberation of their country.

What a moving time to see the aging Canadian veterans being cheered by the Dutch people as they paraded past and towns decorated with hundreds of Canadian flags. The Dutch people were yelling out "Thank you for our Freedom!" It was a moment I will remember forever and made me very proud to be a Dutch/Canadian.  I hope as Remembrance Day approaches, we continue to remember these brave men and women; both soldiers and civilians who sacrificed so much for freedom.

Beautiful Georgian Bay

 

Just back from a wonderful camping vacation on beautiful Georgian Bay, near Tobermory. The weather was great and the water was COLD! It was great spending time with family at Cyprus Lake where we have made it a tradition to spend time together every summer.
This year, we finally checked out Singing Sands which is a beautiful beach on Dorcas Bay. You can walk out a far distance before it gets deep. It is sandy bottomed, clean and MUCH warmer then Georgian Bay.

I have been able to ramp up my reading and have completed 4 more books. Of course, after reading Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, I had to read Seabiscuit and I was not disappointed. It was another fabulous non-fiction story which was also made into a movie. I couldn't put it down.

I will be adding to my Books Read list.... Rescue by Anita Shreve, East of the Mountains by David Guterman and The Island by Elin Hilderbrand. All very different genres but decent novels all around.
It has been fun having a little more time to read this summer. I hope I can keep it going.

Unbroken

If you look at my book list of novels that I've read this year, you might think I have a thing for dragons or Young Adult books. Actually, I LOVE to read and I love to read a wide variety of genres. I just find it a lot harder to concentrate and find the time to pursue this hobby when there are so many other things to do. That's why I put it on my 12 in 12 list. I really wanted to go back to this enjoyable past-time. So to celebrate reaching my milestone of 12 books in 2012 so early in the year, I want to highlight my favourite one and probably one of the best non-fiction books that I have ever read.

This book was good on so many levels. It was well-written, it was interesting and unbelievably uplifting to know that people can rise above the most profoundly difficult circumstances. What a story!

 I'll keep the re-cap brief.  Louis Zamperini was a rebellious teenager who discovered a love of running and ended up participating in the Olympics in Berlin in 1936. He was poised to be the first person to break the 4 minute mile when Japan bombed Pearl Harbour. Thus begins his remarkable odyssey of will to survive unspeakable events including being shot down and drifting in a raft for many days and ending up as a Japanese POW. Even though some of the material is graphic in nature, you will want to keep turning the page to find out how this incredible and true story plays out.