Book Report: ‘Just What Kind Of Mother Are You?’ By Paula Daly

Paula Daly is my new favourite author and she should be yours too.  I started reading her latest book ‘Just What Kind Of Mother Are You?’ a month ago and have looked forward to getting into bed with it every night since then.

The backdrop of this story is the Lake District in the North of England. I went there on my 29^th birthday when I lived in Manchester so making this an even more magical read.  It is definitely one place you need to experience in your life.  It is truly a romantic, seductive and beautiful place to inhale.  An innocent setting for a story such as this.

Picture windy roads splashed with grandpa trees, thatch cottages, Lilliput Lane imagery, poetry, lush gardens, deep walls of mist for miles, clean crisp winds, and the smell of grandiose spooky Lakes beckoning to get lost in.  The Lake District echoes safety, comfort and the love of nature.

I fell for Paula Daly’s brand of writing – it’s not often that you get swept into a fever to read quickly about characters after only the first few pages into a book.  This book is an easy ready but an intriguing one at that.  There are loads of lil details that are full of symbolism that require a slow digestion.

I was drawn in on the first page with the tale of a weird man stalking young girls on their way home from school.  Safety and comfort begone!  We are introduced to the main character Lisa, a kennel owner and mother who had a responsibility to care for her best friend’s child who dum, dum, dum —disappears on her watch.

Lisa is a likeable character.  Indeed full of flaws but a tour guide full of wonderment, self-reflection, self-doubt and a mistress of ‘taking on other’s peoples stuff in times of guilt’.  We all do this stuff.  Reading about these sentiments through this character made me reflect upon how I would have handled certain situations if I was in her shoes and my own complexes.

I found myself constantly examining the characters presented in the book and looking under rocks for them to trip up.  Daly kept the story very tight but at the same time left you wanting more after small reveals came to fruition in every chapter.

I appreciated the bubbliness and light hearted hand that Daly writes in.  This story is not overly complicated and a nice change from the heaviness of this genre.

The conclusion of the story is a jaw dropper.  No matter how many clues you collect on the way would you figure out who the true criminal is until the very last page.  This is a sign of good storytelling.

http://www.randomhouse.ca/books/226382/just-what-kind-of-mother-are-you-by-paula-daly

Buy it here!  Just What Kind Of Mother Are You?

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Mother’s Day is weeks away so it’s time to get a leg up on how to celebrate the mom in your life.  Here are some gift ideas to start you off.

If you live in Vancouver check out The Urban Tea Merchant’s Mother’s Day Tea Service.  It features a splendid selection of handcrafted tea-infused tea sandwiches, petite savories, and delightfully luscious sweets. Offered in the tea service is an optional sparkling tea cocktail infused with TWG Tea.  Each mom will receive a 50g TWG Tea gift to take away. There is no better way to show your love and appreciation for the most important woman in your life. This special tea service is available from May 10^th to May 12th at The Urban Tea Merchant’s Downtown Vancouver Tea Salon.

If you can’t take your mom for tea, maybe pick her up a tea stash from The Urban Tea Merchant. My favourite tea of the moment is Bain de Roses Tea from TWG Tea.

 

Bain de Roses Tea from TWG Tea

In the month of May, the roses of Grasse come to bloom, enveloping Provence with an incomparable and luxurious perfume. Masterfully blended by TWG Tea, this sensual Darjeeling is a magical union of extraordinary roses and hints of vanilla and sweet spices. Show your gratitude for mother’s feminine touch with this outstanding tea.  You can also couple this tea with the Bain de Roses Tea Scented Candle which will add to a lovely ending to her day.

http://www.urbantea.com/

What lady wouldn’t like a posh eau de parfum on her special day?  I like Penhaligon’s Artemisia Eau de Parfum.

 

Artemisia Eau de Parfum 100ml

Head Notes

Nectarine and Green Foliage

Heart Notes

Green Apple, Lily of the Valley, Jasmine Tea, Violet and Vanilla

Base Notes

Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Musk, Amber and Vanilla

Created in 2002, Artemisia is both floral and fruity with a beautifully sensual powdery dry down. Caramel soft, sweet, powdery and silky. A tumble of green apples and nectarines washed with jasmine tea and sprinkled with a luxurious medley of violet, cyclamen and lily petals. All this softly unfolds with great subtlety surrounded with layers of honeyed vanilla, warm spices, a touch of amber and a hint of musk. Haunting and addictive.

http://www.penhaligons.com/shop/fragrance/artemisia-eau-de-parfum-100ml-496881.html

For a gift that will keep giving, consider giving her the latest and greatest book from Kate Atkinson entitled ‘Life After Life’?

Life After Life

by Kate Atkinson

How do writers tell a story? How do they choose the minute details to make time’s arrow chart a straight path? Take a fork in the road, make a mistake, deal with it. Kate Atkinson, who keeps reinventing herself, has created a character who spans Britain’s course through the two “world wars,” who keeps dying and being reborn into the same person, who with each subsequent rebirth retains atavistic cellular memory of past experience, and thus the pageant of history unfolds through the same eyes with differing results. Her family core retains its shape as does her personality, but with each variation there is further insight into life at its moments of indelible change with Ursula at the center. This is a rich, satisfying book that resonates with intelligence, humor and compassion. Atkinson has never let me down — I’ve been reading her since the late ’90′s, and continue to be amazed at her virtuosity.

http://www.randomhouse.ca/books/211671/life-after-life-by-kate-atkinson

I like the idea of picking up a cool note card and using your own words to convey why your mom is important to you.   Check out Cath Kidston Mini Notes.

Cath Kidston Mini Notes

These irresistibly petite notes are perfect for dashing off a quick, pocket-sized message or adding a little card to a mother’s day gift.

http://www.chroniclebooks.com/titles/paper-goods/stationery/notecards/cath-kidston-mini-notes.html

Finally, pop on top of a Cath Kidston mini note card a cool Rimmel London:  Royal Gloss Lip Gloss.  It will sure put a smile on your mom’s face for those on the go days.

Rimmel London:  Royal Gloss Lip Gloss

Rimmel Royal Gloss Delicious Lip gloss is deliciously sweet and fabulously juicy.

http://us.rimmellondon.com/

Happy Mother’s Day from Thirty Four Flavours!

Book Report: ‘The Longest Way Home’ by Andrew McCarthy

The Longest Way Home – Andrew McCarthy

I think you’d be hard pressed not to read this book if you didn’t find Andrew McCarthy dreamy in St. Elmo’s Fire and Pretty Prink as a teen.

I was keen to get lost in this book – which I did but it was a tad disappointing.  Let me just say that up front.

In this book you will experience Andrew being unable to commit to his fiancée of nearly four years.  With no clear understanding of what’s holding him back—he found himself at a crossroads, plagued by doubts that have clung to him for a lifetime. Something in his character has kept him always at a distance, preventing him from giving himself wholeheartedly to the woman he loves and from becoming the father that he knows his children deserve. Instead of staying at home to figure out next steps – he takes off on a travel adventure.  Hmmm, yep.

Hobbling up the treacherous slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, dodging gregarious passengers aboard an Amazonian riverboat, and trudging through dense Costa Rican rain forests—the journey is exquisitely written, beautiful exotic images and true moments to reflect within on your own as a reader.

On his soul-searching voyages, Andrew traces the path from his New Jersey roots, where acting saved his life—and early fame almost took it away—to his transformation into a leading travel writer. He faces the real costs of his early success and lays bare the evolving nature of his relationships with women. He explores a strained bond with his father, and how this complex dynamic shapes his own identity as a parent. Andrew charts his journey from ambivalence to confidence, from infidelity and recklessness to acceptance and a deeper understanding of the internal conflicts of his life.

I appreciated his moments of self discovery and his love song to his wife but at times it felt like he was whining.  It was obvious the man had wanderlust and there is no fault that.  But the constant rocking back and forth on if he should marry this woman made me yawn.  I didn’t care enough.

That said – I enjoyed reading his travel writing and odes to off the beaten track spots.  This book inspired me to jot down these spots in prep for a land mark birthday next year.

If you are keen to read a good piece of travel writing, learn about people Andrew meets on his way and some neat life anecdotes – this book is worth a purchase.  Don’t get bogged down with his marriage woes.  It all comes together in the end.

The Longest Way Home

Andrew McCarthy

Print Length: 290 pages

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1451667485

Publisher: Free Press; 1 edition (September 18, 2012)

Sold by: Simon and Schuster

Buy it here!  http://www.chapters.indigo.ca

Moleskine: 18 months – Weekly Horizontal – Red hard cover – Large

Moleskine: 18 months – Weekly Horizontal – Red hard cover – Large

There is no contest when it comes to sourcing out my Annual Weekly Planner every year.  I blame my school days.  Having a proper planner with loads of room, lovely paper, hard cover to last the year ahead in rain, sun and snow is truly a task to find.

Moleskine is the perfect one stop shop in Annual and Weekly Planners.  You search ends here.

This year I chose a Moleskine Poppy Red 18 months – Weekly Horizontal – Red hard cover – Large.

Here are the spec’s:

Size (inches): 5″ x 8 ¼”

 Size (cm): 13×21

 ISBN 13: 978-88-6613-132-8

The large 18-Month Weekly Horizontal Planner runs from July 2012 to December 2013. Laid out in a horizontal format to show each week on a two-page spread (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on the left page; Thursday, Friday and Saturday/Sunday on the right), this planner style is perfect for seeing the week at a glance.

The inner pocket contains an insert with a 24-page archive and 225 adhesive labels to mark important dates and deadlines.

I prefer the planner with a Weekly Horizontal view.  I can see what I have in the days  ahead with ease and most importantly there is loads of room for me to make and change notes, pop in appointments, rip out pages if I need to, tape original reminders into the planner or just doodle when I’m on the phone.  For a girl who likes to save information – this arty but functional planner is my main mate.

I also appreciate having a simple red band that I can use to hold all my bits of paper, post it notes and receipts in place.  It’s a small thing but a godsend.

The inner pocket with the archive and adhesive labels are fun too.  Although I forget they are there at times.  I have recently been using these stickers to fasten notes on friend’s desks with a Moleskine page torn from the ‘Notes’ stock page at the back of the planner.

This notebook is also the perfect size for a work purse and for hustling around on errands.  If you bust it out in a store, whilst travelling or on transit it’s pretty non-descript and easy to handle with one hand.  A perfect fit.

The tea stained paper is also a love of mine.  There is something about it that makes me want to fill my Moleskine pages with random thoughts, words of encouragement and sign posts for the days ahead.  Moleskine offers you a luxury Planner that you will want to use for practical measures on a daily basis.

 http://www.moleskine.com

Moleskine Hobbit Limited Edition Collection

Forget this Staycation, I’m moving to The Shire!

Following in the footsteps of Bilbo Baggins and his loyal troupe, the Moleskine Hobbit Limited Edition Collection is made for Tolkien fans, literary enthusiasts and those with a quest of their own.

After Pac Man and Star Wars this latest pop culture Limited Edition marks the release of Peter Jackson’s film adaptation The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Each page is a new chapter, each line of graphite forming the features of a mythical creature.

Tucked into the back pocket, away from prying eyes, is a map of Wilderland to aid you on this very personal journey whilst you tackle the dragons, beasts and goblins of everyday life.

Choose your weapon: plain or ruled. Influenced by Tolkien’s original drawings, the ruled version with burgundy red cover features Lonely Mountain framed by two dragons, whilst the plain notebook cover is emblazoned with the seal of a hot-foil stamped red dragon. It gleams over a silkscreened chestnut cover representing Mirkwood. Both have the original “JRRT” monogram inscribed on the notebook spine.

http://www.moleskine.com/

Book Report: ‘Grace: A Memoir’ By Grace Coddington

“If Wintour is the Pope . . . Coddington is Michelangelo, trying to paint a fresh version of the Sistine Chapel twelve times a year.”—Time

I was dead excited to watch ‘The September Issue’ three years ago.  I wanted to see Anna Wintour in her natural ‘I’m holier than thou’ habitat.  But for some reason all of the fashion porn somehow blocked the majority of the oddness.

Being a fan girl of Fashion Television with Jeanne Beker, I watched the same episode that ran on Saturday and Sundays nights at 6:30 p.m. when I was a teen just so I could soak up all of its goodness.  Even today when by fluke I catch old episodes of FT – everything stops in my flat.

I remember seeing this redhead woman with wild frizzy hair always in the front row of fashion shows with Anna and think ‘what the?’.  That was Grace Coddington.  Last year as I watching ‘The September Issue’ and it all clicked.  Grace has been the Creative Director at Vogue for the past forty years.

Grace describes her early career as a model, working with such world-class photographers as David Bailey and Norman Parkinson, before she stepped behind the camera to become a fashion editor at British Vogue in the late 1960s. She began creating the fantasy “travelogues” that would become her trademark. In 1988 she joined American Vogue, where her breathtakingly romantic and imaginative fashion features are now part of fashion history.

I really loved getting into bed every night and reading this book.  It’s a hardcover so yes a bit heavy but I was able to plough through it in 1 week easily. Grace is a well travelled and seasoned woman.  She is very English and at times simple but elitist.  Sure she does come off as the softer one next to Anna – but Grace has her vices, attitudes and her fair share of uppityness.  She is a true redhead.  Plus some of her commentary on other races and cultures could be considered offensive.

I was actually hoping for more information about her love affairs with Michael Chow and her other men.  Those portions of the book fell a bit flat.  Her experiences with Madonna, Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Liz Tilberis, supermodels, her partner Didier Malige and other A-lister celebrities were also intriguing but too short.  Her storytelling about Anna felt overly edited.  Again I felt like she was holding back.

I loved her pages and pages of descriptions about clothing she would source from designers, her views of the collections on the runways, swish location shoots, discussions with designers, makeup artists like deceased Kevyn Aucoin, hairstylists like Vidal Sassoon, photographers on product styling as well as the accompanying cheeky illustrations made the book a light and a fashion fan’s instant mate.

Grace is 71 and is still working at Vogue.  I respect that and I also respect that even though she works in such a fickle industry, she fully aesthetically honours her age.

Some of the photo from previous campaigns she has worked on up to the present year are located in the back of the book are a historical retrospective into her career.  I would see them as a teen every month as I tore them out of Vogue library copies to adorn my locker walls.  Who knew they would be considered advertising art in the decades that have passed?

Now for a Memoir from Anna Wintour.

‘Grace: A Memoir’  By Grace Coddington

Hardcover Book:  $46.00 CAD

Publisher: Random House

Book Report: Mortality by Christopher Hitchens

‘It’s no exaggeration to say that Christopher had few equals in the sphere of spirited commentary.  But there was something in his saucy fearlessness, in his great turbine of a mind, and in his sociable but unpredictable brand of anarchy that seriously touched kids in their twenties and early thirties in much the same way that Hunter S. Thompson had a generation before’.  (Foreward by Graydon Carter in the book ‘Mortality’.

Christopher Hitchens and I would have disagreed on some major personal beliefs.  But that aside he alongside Martin Amis were huge inspirations in my early 20’s whilst at university studying English Literature.  I struggled early on when writing papers upon papers in my English Lit Program but then I would read works from my favourite writers in my quiet moments their words would keep egging me on to work harder.

Christopher Hitchens’, the legendary writer who died last winter at the age of 62 had been battling esophageal cancer.  His last memoir, ‘Mortality’ was released last month and is a gulping, tear brushing and succinct read.

Hitchens had  written a series of Vanity Fair columns about battling the disease before his passing which are featured in ‘Mortality’.  Although grim as a man faces cancer head on in his last months of life – his words as usual are extremely Hitchenesque in its poetry, obstinate views and charming curmudgeon.

‘My chief consolation in this year of living dyingly has been the presence of friends.  I can’t eat or drink for pleasure anymore, so when they offer to come it’s only for the blessed chance to talk.  Some of these comrades can easily fill a hall with paying customers avid to hear them: They are talkers with whom it’s privilege just to keep up.  Now at least I can do the listening for free.  Can they come and see me?  Yes, but only in a way.  So now every day I go to a waiting room, and watch the awful news from Japan on cable TV (often close-captioned, just to torture myself) and wait impatiently for a high dose of protons to be fired into my body at two-thirds the speed of light.  What do I hope for?  If not a cure, then a remission.  And what do I want back?  In the most beautiful apposition of two of the simplest words in our language:  the freedom of speech’. (page 54-55 from ‘Mortality’)

Indeed it’s ironic that a man that had such strong atheistic views had of all things his voice silenced in his dying days.  Some may say it was punishment.  Personally I don’t think that’s fair.

Atlantic Books also published Hitchens’ other memoir “Hitch-22,” the best-selling “God Is Not Great,” and “Arguably.”   These books although again extremely controversial will challenge you as a reader and a writer.

The book is written in a bit of a patchwork of sorts but at the same time strung together with stories that even on his death bed he was grappling with.  Religion, death, illness, and politics – this man was using his talent in writing and debates to fight cancer and yet also trying to stay future focused.

A quick read but not an easy one.  This book reminded me that I should continue to work on myself, enjoy moments and work harder.  I only have this life.   ‘Mortality’ may not have been his intent to inspire readers with this line of messaging but in typical Hitchens fashion I will take from his writing bits and pieces that challenge my views but perhaps won’t change them.

‘For the fact is that Christopher was one of life’s singular characters – wit, a charmer, a troublemaker and a dear and devoted friend.  He was a man of insatiable appetites – for cigarettes, for scotch, for company, for great writing and above all, for conversation.’ (Foreward by Graydon Carter in the book ‘Mortality’.

Book Report: ‘Charlotte Street’ by Danny Wallace

If you are a fan of Nick Hornby’s style of British cheeky writing you will enjoy Danny Wallace’s ‘Charlotte Street’.  It’s an easy and fun read woven within an endearing story line.

It all starts with a girl . . . because yes, there’s always a girl.

Jason Priestley (not that one) has just seen her. They shared an incredible, brief, fleeting moment of deep possibility, somewhere halfway down Charlotte Street.

And then, just like that, she was gone—accidentally leaving him holding her old-fashioned disposable camera, chock full of undeveloped photos.

And now Jason—ex-teacher, ex-boyfriend, part-time writer and reluctant hero—faces a dilemma. Should he try to track The Girl down? What if she’s The One? But that would mean using the only clues he has, which lie untouched in the beaten-up camera.

Unlike Nick Hornby’s style of writing, Danny Wallace doesn’t plug in loads of ‘between you and the writer tongue and cheek jokes’.  I did enjoy the music and cultural notes that Danny Wallace did pop into ‘Charlotte Street’.  It keeps me interested and reminds me that I have likeminded interests to the main character.

Danny Wallace writes characters that are holding their own lil secrets from the reader.

If you are looking for a fun book to get stuck into for a holiday or even as you commute to work and school – pop this into your bag.  It’s a clever twist on the age old story of boy meets girl.

But the book at amazon.ca and chapters.ca.  Voila!

http://www.harpercollins.ca/books/Charlotte-Street-Danny-Wallace?isbn=9781443411844&HCHP=TB_Charlotte+Street

‘Wall and Piece’ by Banksy

I was listening to Massive Attack over the weekend and it reminded me of the time when they played Toronto 2 years ago that Banksy’s street art just happened to appear near their Sound Academy venue days before their show.

Fans of the Wild Bunch years and of Banksy’s art were brimming with excitement that perhaps Banksy was in the city in commemoration of MA’s first North American date of their ‘Heligoland’ tour to support his mates.  As quickly as his art popped up it disappeared with city officials painting over the piece.

The Queen from Banksy

Banksy, Britain’s now-legendary “guerilla” street artist, has painted the walls, streets, and bridges of towns and cities throughout the world. Not only did he smuggle his pieces into four of  New York City’s major art museums, he’s also “hung” his work at London’s Tate Gallery and adorned Israel’s West Bank barrier with satirical images.  His work is unmistakable—with prints selling for as much as $45,000.

On a trip to London’s Tate Gallery in 2010 I picked up a paperback of his work simply titled ‘Wall and Piece’.  I t contains neat photographs of his work and small anecdotes of how he works stealth like under the cover of night, exquisite  stories of his identity nearly being blown, challenging political agendas in the UK and always pushing the is it graffiti vs. is it art? envelope.

Sure it maybe a big year for the UK coming off the Queen’s Jubilee and just recently the Olympics –these big events must have certainly rattled Banksy’s anti-establishment tail.

‘Throughout this period Banksy remained steadfast in pointing out that this ‘Cool Britannia’ thing was all shit. He was the little boy who said that the emperor isn’t wearing any clothes. His campaign was massive and sustained like a well-planned military action. He seemed to be everywhere you looked. He reminded us all that we are the rats.

But Banksy’s rats celebrated a tough survival instinct too. He made them inventive and cunning – qualities you need in the ruthless culture of today. Not only did Banksy’s street work remind you that power does exist and it works against you, but also that power is not terribly efficient. It can be and should be deceived.’ (from Huffingtonpost.com article titled ‘Banksy Graffiti: A Book About The Thinking Street Artist’).

In celebration of the UK in pure Banksy style – I’m giving away a copy of ‘Wall and Piece’.  Thank you Chapters Indigo!  If you would like a copy, please subscribe to my blog by Sept 15, 2012.  If you have already subscribed consider yourself already entered into the draw.  Happy week!

Wall and Piece from Banksy

Buy it here:

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Wall-and-Piece-Banksy/9781844137879-item.html?ikwid=wall+and+piece&ikwsec=Home

‘Garde-Manger’ by Chuck Hughes

GARDE-MANGER Written By: CHUCK HUGHES Published by La Presse

Garde-Manger Restaurant in Montreal

When I was in Montreal in May – my friend and I checked out the cutie chef, Chuck Hughes yummy restaurant Garde-Manger.  If you are a foodie and find yourself wandering the streets of Montreal in need of a slap up meal that will leave you feeling gastronomically satisfied amongst locals, a mix of hipsters and tourists, Garde-Manger is your spot.

‘Chuck Hughes is the star of Food Network Canada’s and The Cooking Channel’s (US) “Chuck’s Day Off”, a show featuring the charismatic chef cooking for friends and family on his day off at his Montreal restaurant, Garde-Manger. Fabulously energetic, fun and a skilled chef, Chuck definitely has star quality and “splash factor”. His star is on the rise in the US, with his show airing there on the Cooking Channel, and his impressive win last spring on Iron Chef, beating none other than Bobby Flay.

Our meal was hearty and the service delightful at Garde-Manger.  The guys that work there have Chuck’s aesthetic as well. Young, hip, tattooed and of course dreamy.  Whatever our waiter recommended we bought and ate.  Simple.  Easy.  Not us.  The food!

If you can’t get to his restaurant his cookbook, appropriately called ‘Garde-Manger’ is a great investment.  The cookbook features recipes from his restaurant and his show, and they are down-to-earth but festive, yet never fussy.

Chuck does seafood best as part of his repertoire but the cookbook contains great recipes focusing on the usual beef, chicken, veal and vegetarian.  The chapters of the book are broken done into easy to find Cocktails, Staff Meals, Amaazing, Garde-Manger, Fish & Seafood, Potato Crazy, Small Plates and Desserts.  I love that Chuck is humble and also gives props to his staff that help in customizing the constantly evolving menu at his restaurant.  There is a dedication in the book just to them.

Some of the delectable recipes you can find in this cook book that you can also have at Garde-Manger include of:

Bloody Caesar with Crab Legs – an in-house specialty drink.  Pricey but all the rage for first timers at Garde-Manger.  Now you can make this in your own house to dazzle your mates with.

Sardines and Roasted Tomatoes on Toast – mmm is right.  I usually have sardines in my kitchen cabinets and love to toss this lil baby together on a Saturday afternoon when I can’t be bothered to go out and do a grocery shop.

Lobster Poutine – we had this when we visited Garde-Manger as an appetizer.  It was warm, pure comfort food, fully laden with the richest and juiciest lobster on a bed of homemade fries with the silkiest gravy I have ever tasted in my life.  A Canadian classic indeed.

Is this book a good investment?  Indeed it is.  Not only is it a great souvenir if you have visited his restaurant and want to try your hand at the meals or as a neat gift for a friend and family member in your life.  It is a true foodie lover’s dream, but also speaks in language that you and I can really get giddy over.

Buy the book here:

http://www.harpercollins.ca/books/Garde-Manger-Chuck-Hughes/?isbn=9781443413268

http://www.amazon.ca/GARDE-MANGER-CHUCK-HUGHES/dp/2923681495

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Garde-Manger-Chuck-Hughes/9781443413268-item.html?ikwid=garde+manger&ikwsec=Home