Three-day weekend coming up! It’s also marathon weekend, which sadly, I will not be partaking in. I will be doing more reading on beaches though, so let’s talk books. Although it’s not my my absolute FAVORITE YA book, meaning I didn’t mourn the end and try to force all of my friends and family to read it, it was a fun read.

Title: Under the Never Sky

Author: Veronica Rossi

Published: January 2012

Number of Pages: 384

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Adventure, Sci-Fi

I. Overview:

Aria and her friends become involved in a teenage prank gone terribly wrong, in AG-6 a service pod in Reverie, the enclosed city where they live. Aria had only been along to get information about her missing mother, but then she finds herself cast out into the Outside (also known as ‘the Deathtrap’).

Perry is a hunter in the tribe called The Tides, marked for his keen sense of smell and eyesight. Through a tragic accident, he becomes cast out by the tribe and sets out on a quest to clear his name. He runs into Aria along the way, and an unlikely alliance is forged. Together they embark on a journey for answers, survival, and revenge.

II. Essential Questions:

How does someone who grew up in a virtual world survive in the real world?

What are the good and bad implications of a technology driven society versus a non-technologically driven society?

What happened to Aria’s mother?

What really is the Aether?

Again: Do they drink enough water? Shower enough? Sleep enough?

III. Analysis:

1. Setting:

In the distant future, people lived in Unity. Then about 300 years ago, viscous-charged storms called Aether forced people to split: live in Pods or stay to battle harsh outside conditions. People in Pods live mostly in Realms, or virtual realities accessed through an eyepiece called the Smarteye. (Sounds kooky, but Rossi writes about it in a cool way that made me actually want to visit the Realms.) Everything is genetically designed for efficiency, and most people virtual Realms. Their slogan: Better than real.

People on the Outside banded together to form tribes, become bloodthirsty cannibals, or were cast out on their own.They…have no slogan.

2.Hero/Heroine Personality:

Aria and Perry could not be more different, growing up in two totally different worlds, but I liked that and I liked the two of them. While Aria is no Katniss or Tris, she can’t really be. She’s taken from a plugged in world to an outside world. Aria is literally scared out of her mind for the first part of the book. Perry is the more capable one of the two, yet his hubris is that he thinks he brings ruin and shame to his family, tribe, and most situations.

3. Love-Potential:

Potentially, but it’s not immediate in a fight to just survive. And would it ever last?

4. Story-line:

The world-building is incredibly creative. The juxtaposition of a technologically driven world and a raw, almost primitive world isn’t a new concept, but I found this novel to be a very captivating, entertaining read. There are quite a few post-apocalyptic YA books on the shelves, and this one is truly unique and well done.

The part that was a bit little spotty for me surrounded the Pod-concept. I wanted to know more about the Pods. I think Rossi was just setting us up for the future books, but I didn’t quite get how the society fragmented, how they created these Pods, the culture of the Realms, this Hess character?

I do like how the book alternates chapters (like Legend), which again, works out very well for this story.

5. The Extras:

Cannibals, caves, tattoos, violent storms, virtual spaces, good friends, evil people, BOW + ARROWS.

IV. Conclusion:

This isn’t in the same category as books like The Hunger Games and Divergent. The writing isn’t as gripping. The storyline isn’t as tight. The characters aren’t as good. But I still found myself entertained along the way and enjoying it.

V. Future Implications:

Part one of a trilogy. Like all of them.

This book is getting some buzz. Its rights were sold in 20 markets (with six-figure advances). Film rights secured by Warner Brothers. Not bad for her first novel!

VI. Additional Resources:

Veronica Rossi talks Under The Never Sky

Veronica Roth: Book Recommendation

The Book Smugglers Book Review: Under the Never Sky

The Book Swarm: Up in the Aether

Words and Wardances: Under the Never Sky

Still on my nightstand:

Even though it’s almost summer, here’s what I’ve been listening to for part of the spring. It’s a blend of new music my sister Allison sent me, mixed in with a few songs I like. I’ve been doing more walking with my injury, and 9 times out of 10, I’m listening to this playlist.

Tanlines – All of Me
The Notorious B.I.G. – Hypnotize
Beach House – 10 Mile Stereo
Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream
Robyn – Dancing On My Own
INXS – Disappear
The Echo-Friendly – Same Mistakes
Beach House – Myth
Phantogram – Mouthful of Diamonds
Tennis – Marathon
Dorsh – Je t’aime
Tashaki Miyaki – If Not For You (Dylan Cover)
Aloe Blacc – I Need A Dollar
LCD Soundsystem – I Can Change
Sufjan Stevens – Futile Devices (Shigeto Remix)
KO KO – Float
Robyn – Don’t Fucking Tell Me What To Do
Aesop Rock – Zero Dark Thirty
Radiohead – Reckoner
Talking Heads – And She Was – Remastered LP Version
Robyn – With Every Heartbeat – with Kleerup

I haven’t been taking many pictures the past few days. Jen and I watched more of The Bachelorette on Monday. I tweeted myself silly, which was kind of fun. I went out with coworkers for Thai food on Tuesday. It’s been rainy this week, so I haven’t even been outside!

So here are more pics from North Beach. I spent a fair amount of time there this weekend, reading and dipping my toes in the (still chilly) water. It seems sort of surreal that it was beach weather over the weekend.

2.) Bonfire + red wine on Sunday night. I ended up reminiscing about Ireland with another person who had traveled there. We both gushed about Doolin! I came home and looked at all of my Ireland pics again. So if anyone is thinking about traveling to Ireland, head to Doolin, which is a tiny town on the western side near the Aran Islands and known for traditional music.

3.) Reality television happened. Jen and I are out at 3 Needs having a beer on Saturday night. I’m telling her about Bethenny Ever After and she’s telling me about The Bachelorette. (I know, I know…..no one talked to us! I wonder why.) I babble on about how I never watch that show because the relationships never work out. It seems fake. Blah diddy blah. But, Jen the psychologist, starts breaking down potential suitor behavior and it’s HILARIOUS. Also, she says that there is a gorgeous guy – a Dutch race car driver – who is just dreamy. I don’t believe her since we never think the same guy is cute. Thus, I come home at midnight and watch The Bachelorette. And she’s right…about everything. I’m hooked! It’s on our calendars for tonight. I’m not ashamed. I might even tweet during it.

4.) Lots of reading time! I spent some time reading at North Beach.

I spent some time reading on the grass, listening to Radiohead and a playlist from my sister Allison.

5.) I just discovered Robyn. I liked a song on Girls last week (Dancing On My Own) and had to SHAZAM it. I told this to Allison.

She sighed. “I’ve seen her like five times in concert, Sarah.”

“Yeah, I didn’t know who she was.”

She sighed again. “I’m sending you a playlist on Spotify right now.”

6.) I dusted off my bike, put some air in the tires, and went for a nice bike ride on the Burlington bike path. I stopped at the beach and put my feet in the water. HEAVEN. I’m a wimp when it comes to biking up hills though.

7.) Cooking-wise, it’s been ‘what-can-I-make-with-an-English-muffin’. Pizzas. B-L-T’s. Egg sandwiches. Peanut butter sandwiches. Hoping that I come out of it soon…..

8.) Whipped up a batch of cold-brew coffee because I got so hooked on the iced coffee in New Orleans.

9.) Happy First Birthday Merlin! I think. The vet says May or June. I am the brave soul (or crazy person) who took in a stray cat that I found on Craigslist after I read a very nice post (it was well-written) on how his mother died or abandoned him, a couple found him at their lake house malnourished, but they were headed back to Atlanta and couldn’t keep him. Hundreds of dollars later, he is flea-free, worm-free, tested negative for feline leukemia (my mom had to come up and go to this appointment with me), neutered, and overall a very happy kitty. I would never do it this way again, but I’m so glad Merlin is in my life. There are a few strange things though. I worry that he wasn’t around his mom long enough. He doesn’t meow. And he doesn’t sit like a normal cat.

10.) Sunset watching. Will be doing more of it this summer.

It’s supposed to be, like, unbelievably nice outside this weekend. Blue skies with temps hovering around 80 degrees F. I want to go on bike rides and read in the sunshine.

I read this book earlier in the year, but never wrote about it because I feel majorly unqualified to review this book since Jeffrey Eugenides is a Pulitzer Prize winning writing GENIUS, but I’m going to get all crazy and do it anyway. 

Title: The Marriage Plot

Author: Jeffrey Eugenides

Published: October 2011

Pages: 416 pages

Genre: Fiction (Not Young Adult either….woah.)

I. Overview:

It’s 1982 and college graduation weekend at Brown University. We’re quickly thrust into the lives of Madeleine Hanna (beautiful, sweet, English major who enjoys tennis and Victorian novels), Leonard Bankhead (tortured philosophy major who is also a scientist), and Mitchell Grammaticus (intelligent Religion major who is soon to travel the world in search of truths). Mitchel likes Madeleine and Madeleine likes Leonard and Leonard is….lost. We’re sort of voyeuristically following all of them the year after graduation, as their lives intertwine and unfold.

II. Analysis:

1. Setting:

I loved every single setting in this book. Even Leonard’s dingy apartment. And I MUST visit Brown now. My friend Ashley, who recommended this book to me, went to Brown. I kept thinking that it had to have made the book extra exciting and special to read. What else? Cape Cod. Paris. Europe. India. New York City. Etc. Etc. I now want drop everything and go traveling the world in search of truths.

2. Characters:

Separately, I enjoyed all of the characters, but when they intertwined with another; then no, I didn’t like them. And it’s because I didn’t feel the emotional connection they supposedly had for one another. At times, I thought, “Sheesh, Jeffrey, this could have been a bit better!” But, but, but, then it got me thinking to most (ALL) of the relationships that I had in my twenties. I was selfish. They were selfish. We were trying to figure out who we were and survive this time. And while our paths crossed, ultimately, we never worked well together. JUST LIKE THE CHARACTERS. After this revelation I thought Jeffrey was BRILLIANT. And that the entire premise of his book, the marriage plot that dominates Victorian novels taken into a modern-day context, was clutch.

3. Writing:

The writing – the descriptions and even the sentence structure – blew me away. It’s so f*cking good. From the very beginning, I just started writing down sentences that I liked.

“Semotics was limited to ten students. Of the ten, eight had taken Introduction to Semiotic Theory. This was visually apparent at the first class meeting. Lounging around the seminar table, when Madeleine  came into the room from the wintry weather outside, were eight people in black t-shirts and ripped jeans. A few had razored off the necks or sleeves of their t-shirt. There was something creepy about one guy’s face – it was like a baby’s face that had grown whiskers – and it took Madeleine  a full minute to realize that he’d shaved off his eyebrows. Everyone in the room was so spectral-looking that Madeleine’s natural healthiness seemed suspect, like a vote for Regan. She was relieved, therefore, when a big guy in a down jacket and snowmobile boots showed up and took the empty seat next to her. He had a cup of take-out coffee.” pg. 25 (I LOVE THIS. The snowmobile boots guy is Leonard!)

In bed on a Friday night, wearing sweatpants, her hair tied back, her glasses smudged, and eating peanut butter from the jar, Madeleine was in a state of extreme solitude. pg. 49 (And this is still my normal nightly routine.)

It had to do with Leonard. With how she felt about him and how she couldn’t tell anyone. With how much she liked him and how little she knew him. With how desperately she wanted to see him and how hard it was to do so.” pg. 49 (Um, this too is still my routine….)

I could go on….I have pages and pages…..but I won’t.

4. Storyline:

Eugenides weaved  a coming of age tale into something incredibly highbrow. I was a hot mess the first (few) years after college. It was full of highs and lows, uncovering self truths while I made a million mistakes, much like these characters are experiencing. Except Eugenides writes in a way that makes them all seem so brilliant that you, the reader, feel like the actual hot mess.

I would say that there was a lot that flew over my head in this novel. Maybe I learned it in college? (Hopefully….) But it was interesting to read and connect with this time in my life, yet also not connect or want to go back and reconnect. He dedicated it to his college roommates, which makes sense.

I liked that each character had their own narrative in the novel, which felt very different than any Victorian novel I’ve read.  At times Leonard’s was sad to read. (I also learned a lot about drugs for bipolar disorder.) Or it was tough to read about an affection that was never meant to be. Nothing seemed swoonworthy about the story-line, like something I might get from my young adult books. At times, I missed having that element in a book.

But a novel doesn’t necessarily fall apart without it.

The best of any book. Talking Heads references, college – senior year, love triangles, Barthes’ A Lover’s Discourse, traveling, Paris, real talk on UTI’s, scientists, The Cape, Jane Austen, Betsy Johnson dresses, tennis, and Portland boys.

III. Conclusion: 

Do yourself a favor. Read it this weekend. It’s one of those books that I keep thinking about, replaying in my mind, like a movie that touches you. I liked it, then I didn’t like it, and now I’m back to liking it. I’m still thinking about it and I think that’s the hallmark of something incredibly well done.

IV. Future Implications:

I need to read more books by Jeffrey Eugenides.

V. Additional Resources

New York Times Book Review: Jeffrey Eugenides on Liberal Arts Graduates in Love

NPR: A ‘Marriage Plot’ Full of Intellectual Angst

Badass Digest BOOK REVIEW: The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

Still on my nightstand: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (almost done!) and An Uncommon Education by Elizabeth Percer

Okay, here it is. The last recap! I think I string them out to keep them close. I always get a bit of the post-vacation blues, similar to when I finish a really good book and know it will be a while before I find one I like that much again.

Sunday, 5.6.12

Despite the late night, I still got up early. I went downstairs just as Mr. Chip and Alison were headed out to a French bakery down the street. Um, um, um, wait for me, I’M COMING TOO! (I never miss an opportunity to go to a bakery, a bookstore, or a grocery store.)

The bakery was only a block away and adorable, just as I imagined any bakery in the French Quarter to be.

So many options at the bakery! I picked out an almond croissant, which was HEAVEN.

Speaking of….we saw nuns there. It was cute.

Then Alison and I went to pick up some iced coffee at the grocery store. I, of course, am distracted by the marketing for ice cream.

The gems I find in other grocery stores. This is why I go. You’d never see some coach (I’m sure he’s famous, but it’s lost on me) selling fudge bars or a 5-year old in make-up and pearls selling ice cream sandwiches in Vermont. I love it.

I went up to the balcony – actually, they tell me it’s technically called a gallery, which fits since the entire house is like a museum – to eat breakfast and read. Everyone else was either not up or wanted to stay in the air conditioning. Chloe was the only one who followed me.

Isn’t this a lovely view? Chloe and I had a wonderful morning.

I know, I know. Another picture of me reading Insurgent and drinking coffee in the morning.

There’s this great quote (from some famous person I can’t remember) that says, “All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.” It’s so true. I get sick of rushing out the door most days, so this – waking up very early and doing absolutely nothing for a few hours – is all kinds of awesomeness.

And while I was up there reading it started to rain. Sa-woon!

It only rained for a short while. After it stopped, I walked around the French Quarter looking for some gifts for Jen (who was watching Merlin) and my coworkers. It’s spectacular. There are about one million flowering plants overflowing on balconies and windowsills. STILL LIVE MUSIC, even in the a.m. Arts galore, and not the dorky/kitschy kind. People everywhere, but never rushing anywhere. I was walking around with one contact in wrong which left my right eye bloodshot and wearing the t-shirt I slept in from the night before and didn’t feel judged. I still meandered into shops and people still smiled at me. Stuff like that just makes my day.

After lunch at a cute BBQ joint, we headed back to Baton Rouge. I had a flight to catch early the next day. Boo hoo.

But I was excited to make red beans and rice for dinner!

Earlier that weekend, I asked what foods Shelby and Kate, the two two-year olds, liked best of all. (Aren’t you curious too?) And it was red beans and rice. REALLY? I think mine, much to my mom’s chagrin, would have been Breyer’s Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream or something equally sugary. (Friends, the sweet tooth started young.) I’ve never even made red beans and rice as an adult.

I had to have it. Laney told me that we would make it on Sunday night. A fitting last night in Louisiana meal.

We ate our bowls while watching House Hunters International and doing my laundry so that I could unpack clean clothes.  If that isn’t happiness…..

Laney’s Red Beans + Rice

Supposedly, this is a big Monday night dish because you use a ham bone from Sunday’s dinner in this dish. I had NO IDEA how easy this was to make. You just dump everything in a Dutch oven and let simmer away. All it takes is a little planning.

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried red beans
• 1 meaty ham bone
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1 rib celery with leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme
• red or black pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Tobasco sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• water to cover
• 1-2 pounds andoiulle sausage (depending on how meaty you want this dish)
• cooked rice (for serving)
• scallions (for garnish)
• cornbread (We used Jiffy. The box kind. It’s delightful!)

Directions

1. Soak beans in water to cover overnight.
2. The next day, rinse the beans. Cover with water in heavy pot, such as a Dutch oven. Add ham bone (fat trimmed off) and remaining ingredients, except sausage. Bring to boil and simmer for 2 hours.
3. Add sausage (which has been sauteed in a skillet).
4. Just before serving remove bay leaf and add a little more fresh parsley For added thickness, remove about a cup of beans from pot, mash them thoroughly and return to pot.
5. Serve the beans with rice and chopped scallions. Corn bread also goes extremely well with this dish. Also, Laney said this tastes even better the next day. It’s a winner!

Previous Recaps: Day 1: Off to NOLA, Florence + The Machine, Jacques-Imo’s, Day 2: Alison’s amazing hallway, PINK cruisers, and the French Quarter, Day 3 Recap: Courtyard reading, back to Jazz Fest, and balcony gathering.

Rachel joked that she’d see this picture on my blog. I tried to resist, but she was right.

Red boots in the hallway outside of yoga class. Totally random, but made my day in a way that only something so unexpectedly eye-catching can do. I had to share.

Also, I want a pair.

It’s Tuesday. So I suppose I should finish up my vacation recaps from a week ago.

My brain is a little foggy today. I unexpectedly got sucked into a good book (non-YA, yes, I do read them) last night called Your Voice Inside My Head. It’s a haunting memoir by Emma Forrest, a British writer, about the year after her psychiatrist died and her struggle with manic depression. Mental illness or not, we all need a Dr. R in our lives.

Saturday, 5.5.12

My usual routine: I woke up early, fixed an iced coffee, and read more of Insurgent in Alison’s courtyard. Mind you, everyone else thought I was crazy and stayed inside in the air conditioning. But to me, it was magical. To feel warm…..whew…. the heat felt like a bear hug from an old friend.

I found a friend too. Check out this pretty kitty in Alison’s courtyard. I heard it meowing behind me. Fluffy, long-haired cats have a special place in my heart. This one was very handsome.

Then we left for Jazz Fest. It was much busier than it was on Thursday night.

Also, Jazz Fest is HUGE. This is a map of part of it. There are around a dozen stages on the grounds.

After scoping out an area to stash our things, Arrie, Alison, and I walked around for a bit in search of some eats. There were TONS of food stands, as well as a large craft section.

Mmmmm, Crawfish Monica.

After eating, Laney and I browsed the crafts.

And look at all the colorful beads! I felt like I was back in Belize.

I wanted a hat. I actually brought a hat (see here from my tacky tourist Halloween costume) because it was easy to pack in my suitcase, but everyone said it was so ugly that I couldn’t actually wear it to Jazz Fest.

Laney and I went hat shopping and we both found hats to suite our giant heads. Success!

Look how cute Laney looks! That romper is from Urban Outfitters from like three years ago. It was adorable.

While we were shopping, we caught part of Ne-Yo.

Then we headed over to the Gentilly stage to watch My Morning Jacket.

Laney, Arrie, and Alison. Gorgeous gals!

I love this photo of Arrie.

Hi.

A picture of both of us wearing our hats.

Dads plus babies. This was too cute.

My Morning Jacket played until dusk. They played some favorites of mine, like One Big Holiday, which were cool to hear live. Also, we were in a prime people watching area, which makes any festival fun.

After Jazz Fest, we went back to Alison’s parents place and ordered pizzas for dinner. Then we hung out on THE BALCONY OF ALL BALCONIES.

What a view.

I felt like I was in an Anne Rice novel for most of the evening too. Tours kept coming by and talking about the vampire that supposedly haunted the house. And the moon looked AWESOME again that night.

Arrie, Judson, and I ended up going out on the town later that night. I reveled in the fact that I didn’t need a jacket because it was STILL WARM.

We went to Lafitte’s, which is supposedly the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States. I felt like I stepped back in time. Sort of. It had no lighting, so you felt like you were in a cave, yet it was packed and served purple slushie drinks in styrofoam cups.

Also, you can drink in the street here.  (Among many other things. I kept using the word “lawlessness” to describe New Orleans that weekend.)

Later on we walked over to Frenchman’s Street, purple slushies in hand. It was PACKED. Arrie said it’s where the locals go on the weekend. We ended up popping into another bar that had a live band….so much music in this town. Really, it’s ridiculous. We lost Judson because he ran into some other friends. Arrie and I came back to spend the night at Alison’s parent’s place around 2 a.m.

Fun day.

Up Next: Almonds croissants and red beans + rice.

Previous Recaps: Day 1: Off to NOLA, Florence + The Machine, Jacques-Imo’s, Day 2: Alison’s amazing hallway, PINK cruisers, and the French Quarter

In addition to wearing bright fuchsia lipstick, eating waffles, and watching too much television (Girls, Game of Thrones, and Sister Wives) this weekend, I went to a gorgeous birthday party on Saturday night. A sit down dinner with candles, flowers, and real china.

I brought beer and a koozie, but now I think I want Waterford crystal and dinnerware. LOOK HOW PRETTY!

Jen made the cheesecake, which had this shortbread crust, delicious extra layer with almond extract, and a topping of sugared strawberries. It was a winner, and I’m prone to only liking cheesecakes with graham cracker crusts.

Not to worry! I snagged the recipe from Jen the next day.

Norma Jean’s Cheesecake

Okay, how much do you love the name?! The recipe is from a friend of her mom’s in Washington state.

CRUST

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 T granulated sugar
• 6 T melted butter

1. Stir, press into bottom of 9-inch springform pan.

2. Bake at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes until set and light golden in color. Turn oven down to 325 degrees F.

CHEESECAKE

• 3 8-oz. packages of cream cheese
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 T all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup skim milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp lemon juice

3. With a mixer, blend cream cheese and sugar together until light and fluffy.

4. Add in eggs and blend. Add flour, milk, salt, and lemon juice. Blend once more. No need to overbeat!

5. Pour into pan and bake for one hour. Can be wiggly but should look dryish and matte. Turn oven off, prop door open. Leave cheesecake in oven to cool for about an hour.

TOPPING

(add after cheesecake cools)

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 capful of almond extract

6. Mix topping ingredients together and spread on cheesecake. Jen served it with sliced strawberries, sprinkled with a bit of sugar. IT WAS AMAZING!

Some friends and I got together for a Sunday “Mother’s Day” brunch since our mothers live far away. I made the Cardamom and Nutmeg Waffles with Minted Berries from Turntable Kitchen. (Thanks Amy!) They were incredible – crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and fragrant from the spices. If only our moms could have been there, especially since we went for pedicures after brunch.