Savannah Hendricks's Blog, page 21
August 5, 2015
Sycamore Row ~ Book Review
Summer is always the best time to dive into a John Grisham southern set novel. I admit I drank a sweet tea as I turned the pages. In the follow up to Grisham’s A Time to Kill, his fans are taken back to Clanton to join Jake Brigance on his latest legal representation. This time Brigance is representing the validity of a will. For fans of courtroom dramas, which was the center of A Time to Kill, Sycamore Row focuses on the investigations and preparations outside of the courtroom. This book is heavy in a long list of characters, which can be a bit much at times, but because returning readers will remember many of them it isn’t too big of a deal. Money is a common focus with both the will at hand and for the livelihood of the Brigance family’s current living arrangement.
In Sycamore Row we meet Lettie Lang, whose character’s life factors into the will without a solid reason why until the very end. Grisham’s work on Sycamore Row is somewhat flat in the middle, but his writing sparks within the last few pages. However, Grisham may have pushed himself too hard to write a sequel because of this lengthy lag. For fan wanting another heavy handed book of powerful speeches and threats of safety you will be disappointed. For fans wanting to know the ins and outs of will laws this puts an understandable real life spin on it. If you are a fan of Lucien Wilbanks from A Time to Kill, you will be pleased that his character plays an important role within this story.
Overall Sycamore Row runs close to 450 pages, but could have been a more powerful and tightly written had it focused on only two-hundred some pages.
3 out of 5 stars
August 1, 2015
New Addition ~ Happy August ~ Happy Reading
Happy first day of August! I am looking forward to fall, my favorite time of year! So when August rolls around I know it won’t be much longer.
I have been thinking a lot about writing, and why I love it, how it makes me feel and so-forth. However, recently I have been focusing on reading because I’m fighting a few writer struggles. Also, I wanted to finally get some much needed reading in as my to be read list was piling up.
Yet all of the reading had me thinking about my favorite books. I laugh when I think about this because I hated reading so much as a child, and even as a teenager and young adult. I was a fan of R.L. Stine (although due to my reading delays I read his books along side the kids two to three grades younger than I). When searching book covers I realized how many I remembered and was taken back to the joy I felt reading them. I remember the school library and checking them out. I also remember hiding the books in my backpack because if any kids saw that I was reading a “kids” book I would get made fun of…even more than I already did.
You can find my list of favorites from picture book to adult as a new tab on the left of the blog under Savannah’s Favorite Books. What are some of my blog visitor’s favorite books?
July 29, 2015
Attempt #2 – Bon Appetit
I was most pleased with my second recipe attempt from Bon Appetit, July 2015 issue.
I made the Crispy Chicken Cutlets with Cherry Tomato Panaznella. I modified the recipe from skin-on and bone-in to chicken tenders. I also used a basic mallet to flatten the chicken per recipe, instead of using the required kitchen meat tenderizer. The chicken took much longer to cook than the recipe claimed (recipe stated 5 mins), mine took about 8 minutes.
Even though I had to re-read the recipe at least 10 times to make sure I was doing it correctly, it was rather easy to put together.
I enjoyed creating something somewhat fancy looking and sounding.
4.5 stars out of 5
July 13, 2015
The Connection Between Authors and Architects
As I read through the 5 pound Henry Howard Louisiana’s Architect book (by Robert S. Brantley w/Victor McGee, 2015) I realized that the work of an architect is similar to that of an author.
Architects and authors both work with the big picture in mind, focusing on the end result. The work of both require planning and constant revision when problems occur if the structure is not working. Both use detailed drawings or a computer to construct the needed layout. In addition, both must be willing to branch out and try new styles. Authors and architects require creativity that catches the eye of others to become popular.
Authors and architects can become famous with one piece, or not truly appreciated until after death. Both work with teams, be it publishers and agents, or builders and clients. While author’s work can be lost if unsaleable or lost among millions of other future publications, architects work can be lost to fire, natural disasters, and age.
The early works of architects are sometimes not credited to the right person (as was the case for Howard). Much like an author can be a ghost writer. And like authors and architects, people have favorites:
My favorite buildings of Henry Howard would have to be the Belle Alliance Plantation, which sits on the Bayou Lafourche in Louisiana and Antonio Palacio house (which graces the cover of Henry Howard Louisiana’s Architect).
July 8, 2015
Attempt #1 – June – Bon Appetit
Nana’s Brownies – from the June issue of Bon Appetit.
In celebration of my non-fiction story “Grandma Known, Unknown” appearing in the anthology Dear Nana (available now!!) I felt this would pair perfectly.
This issue was a challenge because nearly all the recipes had something in it that I couldn’t eat do to allergies.
This recipe called for Rum, but I didn’t want to buy a bottle to use just a tablespoon, so it was the only thing I didn’t add per the recipe.
I used a glass baking dish, which could have caused the edges to burn while the middle was still slightly uncooked. The recipe called for optional roasted walnuts. I love walnuts so I added probably slightly more than the recipe required.
“Grandma Known, Unknown” appears in this anthology available now on Amazon
I didn’t like that the recipe didn’t have the ingredient in order of use. It made for a lot of skipping around that was unnecessary. For those that like German chocolate cake and a strong chocolate flavor this recipe is for you. It was good, but not great on any level for me. I still find my favorite brownies are from a recipe given to me by author/illustrator Wendy Watson some years ago. YUMMY!
June 30, 2015
Attempting Bon Appetit
I am without doubt a picky eater and have been my entire childhood (chicken fingers or nuggets only!!) If the restaurant didn’t offer those I wouldn’t eat. Okay…I threw a temper tantrum. And as an adult I have developed food allergies. I don’t want to allow these things to hold me back from trying new recipes and food.
My journey and goal is set through the monthly issues of Bon Appetit. I love to cook and bake, but I’ve been stuck on the same meals and same tastes for years. So in my attempt (think Julie & Julia) I want to create at least one dish from each monthly issue of Bon Appetit.
My WIP character…well this is nothing new to her (she always cooks foods at this level. Lucky me I will get to tackle both and hopefully learn along the way. And for you all….I will be documenting the recipe I attempted monthly on this blog.
Two foodie movies that feel classic but are newer and remind you to enjoy food:
The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)
Julie & Julia (2009)
June 26, 2015
Down the Rabbit Hole – Holly Madison – book review
“Do you have the Holly Madison book in?” I asked the Barnes & Noble’s clerk.
“New magazines don’t come in until Thursday,” she replied.
“It’s a book, Down the Rabbit Hole, not a magazine,” I stated.
Yet, Down the Rabbit Hole reads like an incredibly long issue of US Weekly so I can understand this mistake. That is why I probably ate it up, reading the book in just two days. Before anyone jumps to conclusions about what type of person I am based on reading this book, let me state, I did not read 50 Shades of Grey, nor I didn’t see the movie. No I have not seen Magic Mike nor will I see Magic Mike XXL.
I was a late fan of The Girls Next Door, watching it all on DVD from the library. Why would I watch that show? Because there was pure joy in watching brainless television, unlike football (stress and cheering), dramas (crying), suspense (nightmares), and comedies (thinking), this was bliss. I even saw Peep Show in Vegas when Holly Madison headlined (I lacked researching what the show would actually “show” and was in horrible shock from what I saw, expected, or was comfortable with). Regardless, Down the Rabbit Hole was a must read. *I had read Kendra Wilkinson’s Sliding into Home when it came out, so not much was a surprise of the Playboy mansion “going-ons.”
Outside the show – 2009
Down the Rabbit Hole has Madison throwing around dollar amounts to everything she made in life, including the carats of her wedding ring. For a book that repeats money is not a goal, Madison mentions it like it was the only goal. Madison’s recount of her early 20’s and decisions she made because she had no choice became tiresome. I too have made bad decisions and also have blamed everyone but myself because of it. Yet, we all have a choice and Madison does a good job of making readers believe in her pity party and that she was trapped in the Playboy mansion for seven years. If you read her words carefully you will see that girls came and went, she could have too. But hey, playing this card works well for a good story. Madison makes sure that each story left the readers cheering for her while essentially bashing others along the way, with one exception; Bridget Marquardt. (Thank goodness, because she was my favorite). While Madison’s stories of Kendra Wilkinson could clearly be true, the way she goes about it with each sentence comes off as a way for Madison to raise herself up as near perfect. Madison does admit she had a history of picking men that were not healthy, Criss Angel, and fully uses the horrible reviews of Angel’s Believe show as an undercut to bash him. *I saw Believe, it was horrible, so I would agree!
What might go overlooked in Down the Rabbit Hole is how the fall of Playboy over the years really went hand in hand with the downfall of the allure and mystery that kept Hollywood buzzing. HOT HOLLYWOOD, while still celebrity filled has changed with the times, and with reality celebrities taking over, i.e. Madison.
Yet, Madison had a point to her book, one that many women struggle with (I can assume) in a world filled with plastic surgery becoming commonplace and Photoshop perfection the only sought after goal. Madison writes the hurtful words etched into her sole by Hugh Hefner, and for those past or present stuck in horrible relationship this is all to real (for one reason or another). Something that echoed in both Madison’s relationship with Hugh Hefner and Criss Angel, that she didn’t understand what a proper adult relationship was; that both men belittling her what she knew love to be. Her poor self-image is something a lot of us struggle with and Madison bringing forth this throughout the book is important, even if it is hidden under her poor-me attitude.
4 out of 5 stars
June 19, 2015
Yogurt Pops for Dogs – Recipe
I had posted this many, many years ago on another blog I had, so I thought it would be good to revisit it.
This “yogurt pop” is dog approved, especially for summer, and an easy treat for anyone to make in a few minutes.
You will need: Plain Greek Yogurt and Wax Paper
Take plain yogurt (fruit kinds make me nervous with possible food allergies), and spoon a good size amount (2 tablespoons) onto a small sheet of wax paper.
Then take and fold the wax paper in half, squashing out the yogurt as you make it into a tight tube.
The “tube” of yogurt should be about 3-4 inches long. Then continue to roll the tube like a rolling-pin forward.
A 6oz. yogurt should provide you with 4 pops. Take the pops and freeze them. They should be ready for the dogs to enjoy in about 2 hours. When you take them out for treat time, simply unroll until you get to your inside fold and then gently pull open. Yogurt pops last about 2 weeks in the freezer, before they start to stick to the wax paper and become difficult to keep, the pop shape, without breaking.
I find that Greek yogurt works well because it is thicker and less likely to break.
*Because of the active cultures, yogurt is a great treat for dogs on antibiotics.
June 12, 2015
ice cream and Netflix for the weekend
Netflix:THE BEST OF ME (2014) – based on a Nicholas Sparks novel.
WORDS AND PICTURES (2013)
RED DOG (2012)
For those looking for a TV series:
Season 1 of CEDAR COVE (2013), based on Debbie Macomber’s novel Cedar Cove (12+ series)
June 5, 2015
What Would You ~ Poem
Spritz of perfume from the counter
Wonder if it would be something you would wear
Breathing in the notes
Picturing your face
Sizzle in the pan
Flavors on the tongue
Wonder what you would make
What you would taste
Ocean of seaweed waves
Sunsets on flowers
Would you be here smiling
What would you be
Where would you be
