I've been too busy for pretty much everything, except reading, so here's my late October wrap-up!
Books I Read in October
Except for the first book, there is a Jewish/fairytale/winter theme that happened organically (a.k.a. what new books were on display at the library).
1. This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
2. Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul by Nikita Gill
3. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
4. The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish
5. The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner
Top 2 Books I Read in October (Look at me getting selective!)
Every single book listed above is fabulous, and I would highly recommend each. That said, there were two standouts for me personally this month.
1. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
This one was recommended by a friend--and, wow. It may have hit me so powerfully because it was not at all what I was expecting, and I think your mileage may vary, but this was definitely the right book at the right time for me. As I wrote, it's not Rumpelstiltskin retold, it's Rumplestiltskin unspun, and retold in an Eastern European Jewish, but also still totally magical fantasy, context. It's not perfect, but it is an entertaining and thoughtful read for a winter's night.
2. The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish
I should pick up books without foreknowledge more often! When I saw this at the library, I picked it up because I thought it was If All the Seas Were Ink by Ilana Kurshan (still haven't read it). Therefore, I was quite surprised to open a work of nonfiction about a woman reading through the Talmud, to discover a work of fiction about a professor unearthing documents from a Portuguese Jewish community in 17th century England. Although this book speaks to my particular interests in Judaism and early modern England, I think anyone who enjoys literature and history will find this a treat. Furthermore, I currently avoid reading books with multiple timelines since I usually like one timeline more than the other, usually the historical, and wish the book would just stick with that one. However, The Weight of Ink has two distinct timelines, each with its own protagonist(s), and...I loved both. Well worth a read.
5 Posts in October
1. September Wrap-Up
In my second official wrap-up, I read even more books than the first!
2. October Goals
I made some reading, baking, and writing goals in October.
3. What I'm Reading
I enjoyed Ann Patchett's collection This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage and DNF'd The Other Alcott.
4. Library Haul
I had to share my gorgeous winter fairytale library haul!
5. Mini Book Review: Spinning Silver
I loved this book so much, I wanted to review it in a little more detail!
Favorite Post This Month
My review of Spinning Silver, mostly just because of how much I liked the book and want other people to read it!
3 Things I Baked This Month
1. I saw this applesauce cake on Smitten Kitchen and knew I had to have it--but I didn't have enough applesauce! I tried to substitute with mayonnaise, and that was a mistake. The resulting cake was way too dry. However, I made this recipe two more times with the correct amount of applesauce, except I made it as cupcakes to bring to friends and to work. They were delicious, moist, and went over very well--especially with this cream cheese frosting, which is my new go-to!
2. Candied Pecans
The second time I made the applesauce cake cupcakes, I used My Baking Addiction's recipe to make candied pecans for a decoration on top! They were delicious on and off the cupcakes!
3. Gingerbread Snacking Cake
I made gingerbread snacking cake with homemade whipped cream for my husband's birthday, and although I'm really proud of myself for making the whipped cream by hand, I don't think I would try this recipe again. It was a little too dry for us and we don't like whipped cream enough to make up for it (although homemade is so much better than the canned stuff).
Books I Read in October
Except for the first book, there is a Jewish/fairytale/winter theme that happened organically (a.k.a. what new books were on display at the library).
1. This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
2. Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul by Nikita Gill
3. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
4. The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish
5. The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner
Top 2 Books I Read in October (Look at me getting selective!)
Every single book listed above is fabulous, and I would highly recommend each. That said, there were two standouts for me personally this month.
1. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
This one was recommended by a friend--and, wow. It may have hit me so powerfully because it was not at all what I was expecting, and I think your mileage may vary, but this was definitely the right book at the right time for me. As I wrote, it's not Rumpelstiltskin retold, it's Rumplestiltskin unspun, and retold in an Eastern European Jewish, but also still totally magical fantasy, context. It's not perfect, but it is an entertaining and thoughtful read for a winter's night.
2. The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish
I should pick up books without foreknowledge more often! When I saw this at the library, I picked it up because I thought it was If All the Seas Were Ink by Ilana Kurshan (still haven't read it). Therefore, I was quite surprised to open a work of nonfiction about a woman reading through the Talmud, to discover a work of fiction about a professor unearthing documents from a Portuguese Jewish community in 17th century England. Although this book speaks to my particular interests in Judaism and early modern England, I think anyone who enjoys literature and history will find this a treat. Furthermore, I currently avoid reading books with multiple timelines since I usually like one timeline more than the other, usually the historical, and wish the book would just stick with that one. However, The Weight of Ink has two distinct timelines, each with its own protagonist(s), and...I loved both. Well worth a read.5 Posts in October
1. September Wrap-Up
In my second official wrap-up, I read even more books than the first!
2. October Goals
I made some reading, baking, and writing goals in October.
3. What I'm Reading
I enjoyed Ann Patchett's collection This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage and DNF'd The Other Alcott.
4. Library Haul
I had to share my gorgeous winter fairytale library haul!
5. Mini Book Review: Spinning Silver
I loved this book so much, I wanted to review it in a little more detail!
Favorite Post This Month
My review of Spinning Silver, mostly just because of how much I liked the book and want other people to read it!
3 Things I Baked This Month
1. I saw this applesauce cake on Smitten Kitchen and knew I had to have it--but I didn't have enough applesauce! I tried to substitute with mayonnaise, and that was a mistake. The resulting cake was way too dry. However, I made this recipe two more times with the correct amount of applesauce, except I made it as cupcakes to bring to friends and to work. They were delicious, moist, and went over very well--especially with this cream cheese frosting, which is my new go-to!
2. Candied Pecans
The second time I made the applesauce cake cupcakes, I used My Baking Addiction's recipe to make candied pecans for a decoration on top! They were delicious on and off the cupcakes!
3. Gingerbread Snacking Cake
I made gingerbread snacking cake with homemade whipped cream for my husband's birthday, and although I'm really proud of myself for making the whipped cream by hand, I don't think I would try this recipe again. It was a little too dry for us and we don't like whipped cream enough to make up for it (although homemade is so much better than the canned stuff).
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