Bookish Liaisons – Page 3

The Nutcracker of Nuremberg by Alexandre Dumas

December 16, 2018 RaeAnna

The Nutcracker of Nuremberg | Fossil Watch (a favorite)

Worth A Read Yes
Length 142
Quick Review The Nutcracker of Nuremberg is not the ballet you’re probably familiar with, but it is just as entrancing.

Alexandre Dumas wrote The Nutcracker of Nuremberg; well, he retold it. E.T.A. Hoffman wrote the original Nutcracker, which is very dark and not necessarily the story you want to tell your children at bedtime. Alexandre Dumas reworked the story into something lighter and happier. It evolved and inspired a ballet that has inspired the imaginations of children and adults alike for generations.

Alexandre Dumas is famous for The Count of Monte Cristo and more. He is an exceptional writer. Even writing for younger audiences, he doesn’t abandon his style or pizazz.

The Nutcracker of Nuremberg has many of the elements we’re familiar with from the ballet, but there are many more storylines not included. It is darker than I expected, but that is in accordance with the times. Children’s stories were not completely happy way back when. If you don’t believe me, just read Grimm’s fairy tales.

The story begins when a father falls asleep. He wakes up to discover his children and their friends have tied him down. They refuse to let him up until he convinces them to with the promise of a story. He begins with a nod to E.T.A. Hoffman before diving into his own telling. The story consists of three parts I. The Story of the Nutcracker of Nuremberg II. The Story of the Nut Krakatuk and the Princess Pirlipate III. The story of Marie and the King of Toys. It’s a fun story to read at this time of year because of its impact on the season.

Some of the more interesting things about The Nutcracker of Nuremberg are the names. They all have meanings, which escape most of us who don’t speak German. Drosselmeier is a much stranger character in the story than the ballet. I love the language he uses. It’s beautifully written. There are so many literary and historical allusions. It makes it a little bit of an adventure trying to find and figure out all of them.

At only 142 pages, it’s a small time commitment to read a story that helped inspire an internationally iconic ballet.

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Title: The Nutcracker of Nuremberg
Author: Alexandre Dumas
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co.
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9781435154520

Books, Fiction

A Christmas Treasury

December 14, 2018December 13, 2018 RaeAnna

Should I Read Go Buy It
Length 368
Quick Review It is the quintessential collection of Christmas stories for the family. The perfect book to place on your coffee table year after year.

If there is one book you should purchase this Christmas season, it should be A Christmas Treasury. Not only is it a beautifully bound book, it is filled with iconic stories of the season and stunning illustrations. I also love the glossy pages. Nothing, to me, says classy like a glossy page. No bookmark needed; one comes included. Like I said: classy. It is the most beautiful book I have read all year.

Every year, books are published to celebrate the spirit of the season. (I have read a bunch this year.) This is not a new phenomenon. Over time, some stories and poems have become ingrained in our psyches and traditions being passed down through the generations. Some stories have even shaped cultural identities and celebrations regarding the imagery, language, and even food we eat during the Christmas season. Sugar plums! Do you know what a sugar plum is? It’s delicious. Even if you don’t know what it is, you most likely think about them around Christmas time. There’s a poem to thank for that, which is in the book!

A Christmas Treasury starts out with the legendary A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. If there is one Christmas story, it is this one. The rest of the pages are graced by the likes of Louisa May Alcott, O. Henry, L Frank Baum, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Clement Clarke Moore (of course), and more. The stories are beautiful and classic. They are sure to captivate even the youngest readers without disappointing the more seasoned Christmasers.

Even if you can’t make it through all the stories, you’ll have time to read one or two. It is perfect to read with your children – or someone else’s children with parental permission, obviously – before bed all through the Christmas season for years to come. Maybe, they’ll even read it to their children someday.

I really like this book. A lot. It is such a gorgeous anthology. It oozes Christmas spirit. I just want to hold it and walk around with it. That makes me cool, right?

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Title: A Christmas Treasury
Publisher: Sterling Publisher Co.
Copyright: 2017
ISBN: 9781435164598

Books, Fiction

Mutts and Mistletoe by Natalie Cox

December 13, 2018 RaeAnna

Beau and I curled up in our jammies reading Mutts and Mistletoe | My Jammies | Beau Jammies

Should I Read It Yes
Length 320
Quick Review There’s dogs, love, personal injury, English countryside, mystery, hunky men with accents, and Christmas, what else do you need in a satisfying Christmas tale, or should I say tail?

Natalie Cox rights a puppy filled Christmas romance in Mutts and Mistletoe from P.G. Putnam’s and Sons. She fills the pages with everything a reader could possibly hope for in an easy going novel to curl up with by the fire or with your four-legged friends. As I was reading this, I realized four out of the five Christmas themed books I’ve read this month are set in England. Spoiler alert, but there are several more books coming set across the pond before the big guy lands on December 25th.

Charlie hates dogs. The only thing she likes less than dogs is Christmas. Mutts and Mistletoe begins with top ten list of things she hates about Christmas. To be fair, she does try to find a handful of things she enjoys about the season. She’s overworked, but suddenly finds herself with a bunch of time on her hands when the apartment above falls on her. Literally. Impermanently homeless, she visits her cousin, who owns a dog kennel, in the English countryside for a few days. Her cousins tech-aided, long-distance, lesbian relationship is made possible when Charlie agrees to watch the dogs for a few days. A hot but hard to read veterinarian makes an appearance. A dimpled, rich man drops off a Great Dane. A pregnant beagle. A scary white van. A reindeer dressed as an elf. So many wonderful little things to look forward to.

The bit with the white van is everything my nightmares are made of. I’m not kidding. It’s my greatest fear as a dog mom. There could literally be nothing worse in my life.

One of my favorite aspects of Mutts and Mistletoe is the witty dialogue. It’s definitely giggle worthy: “Better pack your wool knickers, then.” | “Who has wool knickers?” | “Sheep.” Cox has a talent for coming up with dialogue that is interesting and comical. I can imagine having these conversations with my best friends.

The plot is cute. I definitely appreciated all the dog personalities and appearances. I wish the puppies on the cover more closely imitated the pooches on the page, but I’m being nitpicky. The plot, though engaging, is very thinly veiled and highly guess worthy. I think that is a flaw of romantic comedies; the reader expects their happy ending.

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Memorable Quotes
“Sian has long maintained that Beatrice and Eugenie will single-handedly bring down the monarchy, simply through their choice of hats.”
“Admittedly they (dogs) are rubbish at housework, but then, so is every man I’ve ever known.”

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Title: Mutts and Mistletoe
Author: Natalie Cox
Publisher: P.G. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Random House)
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9780525539193

Beau was chewing on a marshmallow, which I used to bribe her into posing so cutely behind the book!

Blog + Dog, Style

Christmas Tree Hunting

December 5, 2018June 23, 2019 RaeAnna

We had so much fun at High Star Christmas Tree Farm in Houston. Beau’s Jacket (sooo warm and a deal!) | My Shirt (perfect winter flannel) | My Jeans (I wear these all the time) | My Shoes (I love the sparkle!) | His Shirt (perfect flannel)

Christmas tree hunting is one of my favorite activities of the year. There were only a few years after college when I didn’t hunt for a tree because family I lived with had a fake tree *gasp*. Even in my college apartment, I cut down a tree every year.

As a kid, my family brought our dogs with every year it wasn’t too cold for them. They always had a blast running around the tree farm sniffing all the smells. My brother and I would run around pointing at our favorite trees. I have always loved the big fat ones. The fatter the better. One year in college, I found the fattest tree, and it was 12 feet tall. It was ginormous. And it didn’t fit in my tree stand. It ended up being one my favorite disasters, and my best friend and I still giggle about it!

The Christmas after Beau came home, it wasn’t even a question of if she would come with us or not. We didn’t know exactly how she would do riding on the trailer at the farm or with all the people around, but she was a dream. Beau is incredibly well behaved around all the people, loves sniffing the smells, and running between the trees as best she can on a leash. This year, she did even better on the trailer. I’m such a proud Mama!

This is our third Christmas in Houston. The first year, we found High Star Christmas Tree farm just North of the city. We love it. The prices are unbeatable. They’re very kind. And they’re dog friendly! We’ve gone every year! Beau has come with all of her years with us! So, two.

Beau helped pick out our tree. As best as she can…. She sniffed it and wagged her tail, so I’d say that’s a yes. I’m so picky about trees. I like them tall and fat, but we don’t have a ton of tree space in our apartment. It’s also important to find one that is green and doesn’t have too much dead stuff in the middle. It’s a process. When we arrived, we took the obligatory blogger pictures. Then we spent an hour roaming around looking for the perfect tree. Don’t go tree hunting with me unprepared for a bunch of walking and “hmm…,” *head tilt*, walk around, and “not quite.”

The tree is now up and decorated. I couldn’t be happier. I love sitting at home with a cup of cocoa enjoying all the lights! Beau cuddles have made my Christmas season a gazillion times better.

If you still need a tree, you can find more information about High Star Christmas Tree Farm here. They’re really wonderful. This is not sponsored at all. I genuinely love them!

*Style* We decided to be nerds and all wear matching shirts. Beau LOVES her jacket. It keeps her so warm. It is an absolute must in the cold weather for our furry friends. It’s a deal at Target under $10. My shirt is from Old Navy. Dylan’s shirt is from Target. I actually wear his when I want the over-sized look! My jeans are talls from Abercrombie, but they come in short and regular too. I wear them all the time. I’m absolutely in love with my shoes. They’re silver sparkles from Old Navy! I’m wearing a size 7.5, and they’re true to size.

Happy Wednesday! Love,
Beau, RaeAnna, & Dylan

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Beau’s jacket doesn’t actually fit that way. You couldn’t see the pattern when she wore it the right way, so it’s a bib.

Books, Fiction

One Day in December by Josie Silver

December 4, 2018December 4, 2018 RaeAnna

One Day in December is the must read Christmas book of the year. | Dress (it’s perfect for all occasions) | Heels (they go with everything | Belt (It’s a great pop of color) | Watch (so dainty!)

Read Yes
Length 416
Quick Review One Day in December was a surprise. It has the happy ending you want in a winter/Christmas novel, but it was complicated the way life and feelings and friendship are. Josie Silver didn’t simplify it.

Happy December!!! It’s officially Christmas month, which means it is the month of all good and happy things. At least for me. If it’s not so good and happy for you, you should pick up this book. It’s the must read winter book of the year. One Day in December was picked by Book of the Month and by Reese Witherspoon for her book club. All month long, I’m reading winter and Christmas inclined novels because I can.

One Day in December is a great place to start with the Christmas novels. It’s not too cheesy, even though it is truly just a love story. I knew exactly what the ending would be from the very beginning, so it won’t leave you speechless.

I took pictures at Levy Park in Kirby because there are iconic London phone booths! It’s fitting.

Laurie and Sarah are best friends living in London. One December, Laurie is on a bus when a beautiful man catches her eye and she his. They aren’t able to make a connection, but they can’t stop thinking about each other. Laurie and Sarah spend a year looking for bus-dude until Laurie finds him as Sarah’s new boyfriend, Jack.

The story of One Day in December follows Laurie through pivotal moments over the next ten years. The narration is mainly told by Laurie, but Jack tells his side of the story occasionally throughout the novel. The characters are all well developed. None of them come off in a bad light. They’re easy to empathize with because Silver does a good job laying the foundation and explaining the situation and the motivation behind their actions or lack thereof.

The novel is written with British spelling and cultural references. I like that the editors kept this style for American publication. The references were hard to understand sometimes because they aren’t necessarily relevant to the American audience. I love it because it reminds us there are cultures outside of our own.

I really enjoyed that One Day in December is set in London. It’s hard not to enjoy a winter novel when you’re imagining you’re in London. I wouldn’t say it’s a great novel, but it is perfect for this time of year.

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Memorable Quotes
“But I love you,” he says, as if it’s a magic phrase that trumps any other.”

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Title: One Day in December
Author: Josie Silver
Publisher: Broadway Books (Penguin Random House)
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9780525574682

Books, NonFiction

Well-Read Black Girl

November 23, 2018November 23, 2018 RaeAnna

Read Yes
Length 272
Quick Review Glory Edim is the amazing woman behind the Instagram @wellreadblackgirl. I have been obsessively following her since I started my blog. Her book is a testament to the importance of books.

Well-Read Black Girl is a book of essays about reading journeys by amazing black women from a variety of backgrounds compiled by Glory Edim, the creator of @wellreadblackgirl. It is beautiful. Literature is white-centric. As a girl, I read books and new they were about girls who looked like me. To be honest, I didn’t really read books with people who don’t look like me as the main characters until I was in high school. There aren’t that many of them. For a huge swath of the population, they don’t see themselves in the pages they read.

The authors of the essays talk about finding their reflection in the books they read within the pages of Well-Read Black Girl. The books they talk about are meant for the world, but have unique meanings to each woman. They searched for themselves in books like we all do. For them, it was harder because literature rarely tells their story. These are the essays about the books that changed them. We all have that book, I think.

I honestly don’t want to go into too much depth about the book because it’s so fabulous. You should take the time to read it. The essays aren’t long, so you can enjoy them with a busy schedule. I will be returning to the book often because it’s inspiring.

I truly loved reading this. There were names I knew and names I am not familiar with, but I’m going to try and broaden my horizons more. Several books and authors are mentioned in several essays. The fact this is so prevalent goes to show how few options there are for and about women of color. In fact, the books the essays discuss are the same books that touched me deeply.

My favorite thing in Well-Read Black Girl are the book recommendations. There are several lists of books for and about black women throughout. It also compiles all the books mentioned throughout the pages. There are so many good books mentioned and several I still need to read.

I can’t recommend this book enough!

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Memorable Quotes
“I suddenly understood that her story was part of the larger story of Black womanhood and survival.”
“We are not looking for anyone else to give us validation; because we have one another.”
“Mom raised us more like cactuses, rather than orchids.” Gabourey Sidibe

Title: Well-Read Black Girl; Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves
Author: Glory Edim
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9770525619772