Sarai Henderson's Blog, page 60

Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

 My book review of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

Title: Remarkably Bright Creatures

By: Shelby Van Pelt

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 360

Release Date: May 3rd, 2022

Publisher: Ecco

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.
Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.

Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

 

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Review:I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but reading a story from an octopuses point of view needs to be on everyone's book bucket list.
My favorite character has to be Marcellus the octopus. He tells his story in a very realistic way, but also like a creature that is learning about the world of humans above the water. Its fun to follow him as he leaves his enclosure to explore and feed. Who would have thought this book would be so extraordinarily entertaining?
Favorite Quote:“Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.”
This book received a solid 5 out of 5 stars from me. The story was wonderfully written and entertaining. I felt connected to all the characters and their pains and passions, wanting the best for them. To see how Shelby Van Pelt was able to weave an octopus into her story is amazing and should win an award. Loved this book and can't wait to read the next book from this author.

Weekly Menu #528 And The Book Of The Week

 

Hello Monday and welcome back to my weekly menu where I share all the delicious recipes we will be making throughout the week.
The boys and I are gathering all the things we need to celebrate our first Día de Muertos. As the boys are growing older and their interest in dressing up and trick-or-treating wanes, we are now switching our focus to celebrating our relatives and inviting them to spend one night with us as we spend time with each other. I believe there will be puzzle making going on as I try to entice one of my grandpa's to show up.
This weeks read is The High Country by John Jackson Miller. I'm finally starting to make some headway on all those backed up books I've shelved over the past month and this book is the oldest. If you don't already know, I'm a huge Treky. My husband signed me up for monthly Star Trek t-shirts and that is all I wear now, and with Strange New Worlds over for the year, I need a little reminder of how much I loved that series.
Well, that's enough babel from me. Lets get to this weeks menu. Enjoy!

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Slow Cooker Cheesy Ham Chowder

Kids - Chicken and Biscuits

Kid 3 - Biscuit and Peanut Butter

 

Tuesday

Creamy Bacon Pork Chops with Rice

Kids - Chicken Tenders and Ranch

Kid 3 - Dinner Roll and Yogurt

 

Wednesday

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Kids - Cheese Quesadilla

Kid 3 - Tortilla Chips and Cheese

 

Thursday

Red Beans and Rice

Kids - Chicken and Green Beans

Kid 3 - Whole Grain Crackers and Peanut Butter

 

Friday

Spaghetti Night

Kids - Mac and Cheese

Kid 3 - Dinner Roll and Cheese

 

Saturday

Pancake Night

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night

Sunday Confessions #221

 

Hello Sunday!
We keep finding ourselves here. Another week, more chaos and plenty more books on the blog. Enjoy the recap.

Sunday Confessions #220~Weekly Menu #527 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving~Recipe: Creamy Chicken Soup~Book Review: Dead Voices by Katherine Arden

Weekly Menu #528 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt~Recipe: Orange Chicken~Book Review: Take the Lead by Sasha DiGiulian~Sunday Confessions #222








Take care of you - OneRepublic

Caught up on Special Forces last night. I still will never put myself in that situation voluntarily. That's not for me.
Of course, I fell asleep during the new episode of The Masked Singer, so I have no idea who was booted (Shhhh... Don't tell). I will have to go back and finish the episode before any of you tell me who it was, lol.

110/100 2023 Reading Challenge~58/196 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~67/341 Gilmore Girls challenge~81/100 in my 100 books before you die challenge

Another wonderful week of great reads, good food and family. Happy reading, my friends.

Book Review: Dead Voices by Katherine Arden

 My review of Dead Voices by Katherine Arden.

Title: Dead Voices

By: Katherine Arden

Genre: Horror

Pages: 256

Release Date: August 27th, 2019

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:Having survived sinister scarecrows and the malevolent smiling man in Small Spaces, newly minted best friends Ollie, Coco, and Brian are ready to spend a relaxing winter break skiing together with their parents at Mount Hemlock Resort. But when a snowstorm sets in, causing the power to flicker out and the cold to creep closer and closer, the three are forced to settle for hot chocolate and board games by the fire.
Ollie, Coco, and Brian are determined to make the best of being snowed in, but odd things keep happening. Coco is convinced she has seen a ghost, and Ollie is having nightmares about frostbitten girls pleading for help. Then Mr. Voland, a mysterious ghost hunter, arrives in the midst of the storm to investigate the hauntings at Hemlock Lodge. Ollie, Coco, and Brian want to trust him, but Ollie's watch, which once saved them from the smiling man, has a new cautionary message: BEWARE.
With Mr. Voland's help, Ollie, Coco, and Brian reach out to the dead voices at Mount Hemlock. Maybe the ghosts need their help–or maybe not all ghosts can or should be trusted.
Dead Voices is a terrifying follow-up to Small Spaces with thrills and chills galore and the captive foreboding of a classic ghost story.

 

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Review:I did something weird... I read this series out of order. Don't judge, its been a weird few months. I have to tell you though, I still loved each story individually as well as how they fit into the series. I'm actually excited its a series. Usually there's so much trauma after reading a terrifying story, whether its the reader or the characters, and sometimes a bit of both, that no one wants to revisit those tragic events in a sequel, but with Katherine Arden, she makes her characters extraordinarily resilient. They can handle a little more trauma.

The creep factor is off the charts and in my opinion, this is the best story out of all the books. There's a mix of dreams, alternate realities, creepy old hags, scared little dead children, lost dead skiers among other things, and lets not forget the isolating backdrop for the story to take place. So many elements that create a perfect storm that is dark and brooding.

Favorite Quote:

“It will be dark in a few hours. Ghosts are stronger in the dark.”

This book received a solid 4, maybe even a 4.5 out of 5 from me. I no longer have the need to take a ski trip to a remote ski lodge in the middle of a snow storm, which is very disappointing since winter is upon us and the old ski lodge near my town hosted the Shinning movie back in 1980. That's your little historical tidbit for the day. Google it...

Any who, with Halloween right around the corner, forget those little snot ridden trick or treaters and just cuddle up near a warm fire with this creepy read and have yourself the trauma you need for the evening.

Recipe: Creamy Chicken Soup

 

For a lot of us, chicken soup was a staple in our homes growing up, and probably still is. With the weather turning cool, its the perfect season for soup and a warm drink, but lets put a little twist on the good old chicken soup and make it creamy and cheesy.

What kind of chicken is best...

Frankly, you can't go wrong with most every kind of chicken. Left over chicken breast, chicken thighs, rotisserie from the store or even a can of chicken. If you are feeling ambitious, you can make some fresh chicken, or crockpot it for a few hours. 

Changing up the pasta...

I think the best part about making soup is picking the pasta. Since I'm gluten free, my selection is limited, so I generally use the Barilla brand spirals, but you can really use whatever makes you happy. Elbow, Rotini, Penne. I grew up on egg noodles. You can even skip the noodles altogether for a lighter, more carb free approach. 

Does this soup make good leftovers?...

I will tell you from first hand experience, yes it does. You can make ahead or save the leftovers for later. The soup warms up well in the microwave or on the stove. 

Course: Main Course

Servings: 6-8 people

Time to Make: 25 minutes (With premade chicken)

Ingredients:

1lb of shredded or chopped chicken breast

4 cups chicken broth

2 tsp olive oil

1/2 cup diced onion

1 cup diced carrots 1/2 cup diced celery

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup shredded cheddar

1 cup cream cheese

1/2 cup heavy cream

salt and pepper

2 cups cooked pasta

1/2 cup parmesan

Instructions:

1. Heat a large pot or Dutch Oven on medium high heat and add olive oil. Add onions, carrots and celery to the pot, sauteing them until tender, about 5 minutes.

2. Add cooked chicken and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring regularly.

3. Add the broth, heavy cream and cream cheese to the pot. Cover and bring to a boil for about 15 minutes.

4. Lower heat to medium low, then add the pasta and cheddar and simmer until pasta is cooked. About 10 minutes.

5. Salt and pepper to taste and serve topped with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

Book Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

 My review of A prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.

Title: A Prayer for Owen Meany

By: John Irving

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 637

Release Date: March 28th, 1989

Publisher: Black Swan

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:Eleven-year-old Owen Meany, playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire, hits a foul ball and kills his best friend's mother. Owen doesn't believe in accidents; he believes he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen after that 1953 foul is both extraordinary and terrifying. At moments a comic, self-deluded victim, but in the end the principal, tragic actor in a divine plan, Owen Meany is the most heartbreaking hero John Irving has yet created.

 

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Review:I felt each and every word in this book.
Although a heartbreaking story, the main characters Owen and John (Who narrates the story) drive a wonderful and excepting culture throughout the book, even when no one else will stand up for what is right.
Owen was definitely my favorite character. He was spunky, hard headed and ready to take on the world, even though his small stature made him the butt of every joke and the blame for all the tricks, even if he wasn't involved. He was sure God had a plan for him, even when no one else thought so. He stood by this statement throughout his short life.
Favorite Quote:“I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice. Not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God. I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.”
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. There were so many emotions in this book, I will remember it for a long time. The life of Owen Meany, although a fictional character, ahs made an impact on my life and has reminded me that size cannot stop a determined heart from achieving great things. 

Weekly Menu #527 And The Book Of The Week

 

Welcome back to my weekly menu where I share the recipes we will be enjoying this week and the book that I will be reading along the way.

Did any of you happen to see the solar eclipse on Saturday? We weren't in the line of total eclipse, but it did get weirdly dark around 9:15 am. It was also super overcast, so we weren't able to see anything cool even if we wanted to. Stupid fall weather...

Now that I'm back on track to clean out my TBR pile, this weeks read is To Build a Dream by Greg Hickey. I really enjoyed the last book of his I read, so I'm excited to dive into this one. Stay tuned for my review.

Anyway, lets get to this weeks menu. Enjoy!

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Creamy Bruschetta Chicken

Kids - Chicken and Mac and Cheese

 

Tuesday

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Kids - English Muffin Pizzas

 

Wednesday

Hearty Taco Soup

Kids - Nachos

 

Thursday

Sesame Chicken Schnitzel Bowls

Kids - Chicken Tenders and Tots

 

Friday

Greek Meatball Bowls

Kids - Cheese Quesadillas

 

Saturday

Turkey Pesto Sandwich

Kids - Grilled Cheese

 

Sunday

Familly Dinner

French Onion Pot Roast

Sunday Confessions #220

 

Welcome back to my Sunday confessions where I recap the week on the blog. Enjoy!

Sunday Confessions #219~Weekly Menu #526 And The Book Of The Week~
Book Review: Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale~
Recipe: Sausage and Potato Soup~
Book Review: A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller

Weekly Menu #527 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving~Recipe: Creamy Chicken Soup~Book Review: Dead Voices by Katherine Arden~Sunday Confessions #221






Just finished The Woman in White. If you're looking for an excellent mystery, this is the one for you.
As always, love the new season of Lower Decks.

109/100 2023 Reading Challenge~58/196 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~67/341 Gilmore Girls challenge~81/100 in my 100 books before you die challenge

Its been another really great week reading. Checking off some of those long awaited TBR books and I can't wait to share them on the blog. Make sure to come back next week for some more reviews and recipes.
Happy reading, friends!

Recipe: Sausage and Potato Soup

 

Ok, this soup is to die for. I never used to be a soup kind of girl, but with the weather cooling down as we go into fall, I'm ready for a sweater and some soup.

There is a lot of hearty foods that go into this pot. Potato, of course, sausage, carrots and Kale to name a few. Its also amazing with a side of warm crusty garlic bread for dipping into the broth. Yum!

Try it out, let me know what you think.

Course: Main Course

Servings: 4-6 people

Time to Make: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

Olive oil

Turkey sausage (Or your favorite sausage)

Half a yellow onion, minced

1/2 Carrots, diced

1/4 Celery, diced

2 tsp Smoked Paprika

1 lb. Yukon gold potatoes or Red potatoes diced (I like a mix)

2 Cups kale, stems removed

32 oz. Chicken broth

Salt and pepper

Optional: Red pepper flakes for a little kick

Instructions:

1. Heat 1 tbs of oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Cook sausage until completely browned. Remove the cooked sausage from the pot to be added back later, but keep the oil and any sausage drippings.

2. In the same pot, add the onion, carrot, celery, garlic and paprika. stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes. If onion starts browning too quickly, you can add another tsp of oil.

3. Add the potatoes, kale and broth to the pot and stir to combine. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower heat to simmer before placing the lid on the pot. Cook the mixture for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.

4. Remove the lid and add the sausage back to the pot and remove from heat. Added salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy.

Book Review: Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale

 My Book Review of Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale

Title: Cassandra in Reverse

By: Holly Smale

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 362

Release Date: June 6th, 2023

Publisher: MIRA

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:If you had the power to change the past…where would you start?Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of habit. She likes what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, her boyfriend, Will) and strongly dislikes what she doesn't (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Her life runs in a pleasing, predictable order…until now.• She's just been dumped.• She's just been fired.• Her local café has run out of banana muffins.
Then, something truly unexpected happens: Cassie discovers she can go back and change the past. One small rewind at a time, Cassie attempts to fix the life she accidentally obliterated, but soon she'll discover she's trying to fix all the wrong things.

 

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Review:This book was recommended to me by a good friend on the spectrum. She knows I adore books like this as is always giving me the deets on the best reads. This one didn't disappoint.
I found Cassandra to be supper relatable. All the quirks she has, I've experienced to some extent at one point or another. And who hasn't wished they had super powers? I know I sure have. Cassandra finds that she can go back in time to change all the mistakes she has made in her relationships.
Toward the end there is a really great scene where Cassandra and her sister have mended their relationship. Everything is going great, but one slip and Cassandra is reeling again from a mistake. Her sister begs her not to go back in time to change it, but she does, and this time its not for herself, but for her sister. Its a really touching part of the story that really brings the whole book together.

Favorite Quote:

“There are infinite things you can do with time. You can save it, spend it, stitch it, kill it. You can beat it, steal it and watch it fly. You can do time and set it; you can waste it and keep it; it can be good or bad, on your side or against you. You can have a whale of it; be in the nick of it or behind it; you can have it on your hands.”

I gave this book a much deserved 5 out of 5 stars as I loved it soo much. Everything in that book made sense to me and it had a wonderful ending. Hats off to Holly Smale for creating such a wonderful read.