The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

by Ayana Mathis. 3 stars

Ayana Mathis is a gifted writer but I really did not enjoy this book as much as I expected to from the glowing reviews. I was really hoping to connect more with the characters, especially Hattie. My parents were from Philadelphia as well and stuggled through the Depression also. We had a huge family and very little money but my mother always gave us love and affection, which didn't cost a thing. I think Hattie's tragic losses during this time pretty much altered and mostly ruined her other children's lives and this was so frustrating and sad to me. She raised all of them like an automaton, never giving them the love and tenderness they needed, I guess she couldn't give of herself again after that kind of pain. Life is about choices we make too and she picked a drinking, philandering, gambling man for a husband and we see this same trait in just about all of her sons. The women all seemed to be filled with serious emotional mental health issues, some totally debilitating. Hopefully Hattie saves one from the next generation at the end but the rest was just so very depressing to me.

Thomas Jefferson's Creme Brulee

This combines two of my favorite topics- American history and food. In 1784 Thomas Jefferson makes a deal with his slave, James Hemings. James will travel with him to France and be trained in the fine art of French cooking, and will then bring this knowledge back home to train the slaves at Monticello. After this service is completed, James is to be granted his freedom. Much of the story involves the events that are going on in France at the time, the revolution against the monarchy of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. I found it fascinating to see what people were eating in those days both in France and America, necessity and availabilty played a factor in the daily diet. Jefferson was always on the lookout to bring new ideas back home to his beloved country to make it the best place it could possibly be. He kept amazingly detailed records of every little plan and item puchased in regards to his estate and the care of his slaves, and was always experimenting with new ways to improve life for himself and those around him. The history of food is a fascinating story all in itself. So much of what is now Southern and American food is a fusion of so many different cultures, not just of French influence. Many of the foods and dishes were African in origin, what the slaves were used to in their native homes- Ngombo (gumbo), okra, black-eyed peas, hoppin' john, and so many more. Some of the French ideas brought back were macaroni and cheese, creme brulee, French fries, Champagne, and sauces. My biggest disappointment in this story is the lack of information about James Hemings. I would have loved to have had some perspective from his point of view, what his life was like both in France and then when he returned to America, and then when he finally became a free man. It is so sad that his experiences and feelings are lost to us.

A Discovery of Witches

By Deborah Harkness. 4 stars.

If you liked the Twilight series, you may enjoy this much more sophisticated version. Scholar Diana Bishop comes across an ancient manuscript in Oxford's Bodleian library that draws the attention of the supernatural characters of witches, daemons, and vampires. I love the little tidbits of historical events and figures that are woven through the story and am quite looking forward to the next installment where the two lovers, Diana and Matthew, step back into the past. They must try to make sense of the Discovery of Witches texts and what this means for the survival of the three races. Will they able to solve the riddle in time as they battle the forces that are out to stop them? Can't wait to find out!

On The Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

5 stars

I loved this book and really hope that they make it into a movie. This is a wonderful story of survival and a strong and enduring bond of love that develops between these two beautifully drawn characters.

TJ is a sixteen year old cancer survivor who is on his way with his tutor for the summer, thirty year old Anna Emerson, to meet his family in the Maldive islands. The charter plane they are on crashes in the Indian Ocean and the pilot is killed. They wash ashore on a deserted island and must find a way to survive until help arrives. Only it doesn't...

I don't want to give too much away, I'll just say this was a riveting read that taps every emotion.

12-21 by Dustin Thomason

An ancient Mayan codex is found that will unearth and perhaps unleash the beginning of the end of the world that will occur on December 21, 2012 as a team of doctors and specialists race to prevent the spread of a new epidemic and find a cure before it is too late. If you liked Michael Crichton's novels, you will really enjoy this. Dr. Chel Manu is an expert in Mayan culture and language and works with artifacts and antiquities at the Getty Museum. Dr. Gabe Stanton works on neuroscience and specializes in prion disease research. The two work together to use their unique talents to make sense of the symbolism and clues found in the manuscript for a cure as to what may have happened to the lost civilization of the once mighty Mayan culture, and what may become of ours. Rated 4 (of 5) stars!

Roses

I don't get a lot of roses from this bush but when I do they are spectacular. I didn't record the name of this variety but the colors are so pretty- a blend of white, cream, pale yellow, peach, and pink.

Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith

This was a totally unexpected version of what could have been up with the three Wise Men from the Bible, (these were more like wise guys). We know nothing about the real trio from the Bible itself but somewhere along the way someone attributed the names Balthazar, Melchior, and Gaspar to this band of visitors. Seth Grahame-Smith takes us on a wild adventure as they try to spirit the Holy Family away from legions of Roman soldiers and the crazed order by King Herod to kill all of the firstborn of Judea. What a wild ride this was. Totally gruesome in many ways and difficult to hear, but it certainly was a very violent culture with persecution and executions being the order of the day. The author captured a feel of this time very well, especially with his portrayal of the sheer madness of Herod. The end of the book was wonderful, I love how everything was all tied together. I was really worried about the book being too disrespectful of Christian belief, but it was really in the end about how the love for others can transform even the most hardened heart and that there is a God above who will show us the way if we open our eyes and hearts. 3 stars