Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Movies/TV Shows That Would Have Made Amazing Books (Submitted by Sabrina @ Notes From a Paper Plane Nomad) but I am going to do the most recent examples of where I have seen a movie or TV series based on a book or read a book associated with a series, or a couple of can't wait for the TV series.
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - I have recently watched two French movies based on the books. They were really good adaptations
One Day by David Nicholls - I started watching this series a few weeks ago. I need to get back to it.
Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn - I am looking forward to season 3 coming out soon very soon
Masters of the Air by Donald Miller - We just finished watching this series last week.
Lessons in Chemistry - I read the book late last year and then watched the TV series
No 1 Ladies Detective Agency - I am very close to finishing my current audio book which is book no. 10000 in the series of the same name. I watched the TV adaptation many years ago and very much enjoyed it!
All the Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doerr- We watched this TV series recently.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles - I have read another of Amor Towles books, but not this one yet, but I will be watching this!
Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa - The movie is just called Sweet Bean
Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams - This is a bit of a curve ball because whilst I did watch this it was a play rather than on a screen!
Last week I wasn't 100% sure which book I was going to read next, but I ended up deciding to start The Chocolate Factory by Mary-Lou Stephens. I am about 30% through and I am enjoying it! It is all about the creation of the chocolate factory in Hobart in Tasmania.
I only have about 20 minutes left to go in my current audiobook which is The Woman Who Walks in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith. Now I need to choose which book to start next. We are going for a bit of a drive over the weekend, so I also need to find a book that we can listen to in the car on the way up!
I'm watching
Last year we watched Amanda and Alan's Italian Job where they bought a decrepit house in Sicily and renovated it. They then sold it and gave the profits to a charity. They are back to do it all again, this time in Tuscany! It's a lot of fun!
We were meant to go and see another French movie last night, but I buggered up when buying them and bought the tickets for Saturday night instead of Sunday night. We were nicely settled in when someone turned up and said you are in our seats! Whoops! So instead we got a coffee and then headed home. I really wanted to see this movie as well!
Life
We went to see the musical version of Groundhog Day on Saturday! It was so good! I could watch it over and over and over again!! (See what I did there??)
I also stretched myself a little bit this weekend by making hot cross buns. My brave husband is eating them, and they taste good, but they are a bit dense. I will try to make them again next year and hopefully they will be a bit softer next year!!
I did have a bit of a panic day yesterday. For some reason I got signed out of my Microsoft account and so I suddenly couldn't access any of my spreadsheets. Now one of these is my list of books that I have read going back to 2004, so I was a bit devastated at the idea of having lost it! Luckily I eventually worked out that I had to log in with a different account and nothing was lost, but phew! I was panicking a bit!
It's not often that I reread a book, with notable exceptions, but when this book was announced as the current selection for Cook the Books I was more than happy to revisit. I mean, last time I reviewed this book I used words like charming and delightful more than once!
When it came to creating this post, I thought that I had some thoughts to share but it turns out that the things I wanted to highlight were things that I highlighted last time, so I am going to re-share the majority of the review, and then add something new at the end.
This foodie memoir is a delight. Whilst there is still a hint of the precocious Lucy that we met in French Milk, it is much less of an obstacle to enjoyment, or at least it was for me. I think it also helps that rather than focusing on just one place (albeit Paris) for a very short period of only five weeks, this is an exploration of a life long obsession with good food.
Knisley makes no apologies for the fact that she was introduced to really good food from a young age. Her mother is a chef and her father a foodie from way back and she spent her childhood years in the kitchens of restaurants. She remembers other kids bringing cupcakes to school for their birthdays but her mother would turn up with a blow torch to give the creme brulee a perfect crunchy top.
Lucy lived in New York with her parents until they divorced and Lucy and her mother moved to rural upstate New York - quite the shock to city girl Lucy. It wasn't long before Lucy's mother was involved in food again through farmers markets, catering companies and more, and therefore so was Lucy!
As well as talking about more exotic food and adventures, the author tells of her parents mortification at the fact that she still enjoys junk food like Maccas (McDonalds just in case you didn't get the Aussie vernacular), batches of chocolate chip cookies instead of anything more gourmet, of her shock at finding bits of marshmallows in breakfast cereals (I must confess I find this a bit shocking still!) and more.
We follow Lucy from New York to the country, to Japan, France and Mexico (which was a really fun story), to Chicago and then full circle back to New York. The one thing that stays constant is Lucy's love of good food, of being willing to try new foods, and of trying to recreate those foods. I loved the chapter where Lucy tried to recapture the elusive taste of a croissant that she bought in Venice to the point of being obsessed!
The thing that pleased me most as I was reading was how much it made me smile. In nearly every chapter there was some little quirky addition to the drawing or some tale that just made me happy to read. In one of the chapters, the author talks about going to Japan to visit friend and at the end of that chapter she gives a pictorial demonstration of how to make sushi rolls. In a very small corner, there are three pictures - one of a sushi mat furled, then unfurled and then worn as a hat. They are all tiny pictures, but it is the kind of detail that makes it worth the time to look at all the images closely!
As another example, there is a chapter about why Lucy Knisley doesn't feel guilty about eating foie gras. Let's just say it involves an incident with very aggressive geese. There were echoes of this story in my own family. My sister has a terrible fear of birds which has evolved over the years after being chased up a tree in our backyard by chooks, and then on another occasion being attacked by a black swan!
Now, I was somewhat determined to not cook something sweet to share with this review, but ... that's what ended up happening. I had asked my husband what he wanted to bake one weekend recently, and he said cookies. I had a new cookie recipe to try! So it was meant to be.
Last time I reviewed this book I shared an image of the recipe for Carbonara. Today, I thought I would share an image related to Cookies, and then I would share what cookies would appear on this page if it was my story. Fair disclosure. I cannot draw to save myself so I am using photos instead.
I've made....
Fudgy chocolate cookies from Nagi Maeheshi and Sugar Cookies
Melting Moments (Granny's recipe) and Chocolate and Pistachio Sable from Around the Table by Julia Busitil Nishimura
Finally, in case you are now in the mood for cookies, here is Lucy Knisley's recipe for her Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
I now have two more of Lucy Knisley's books out from the library. I am looking forward to reading them soon!
Weekly meals
Saturday -
Sunday - Smash Burgers
Monday - Pork Chops, mash and beans
Tuesday - Spicy Pork and Beans Stirfry
Wednesday - Mexican Chicken and Rice
Thursday - Beef Stroganoff
Friday - Takeaway
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page
Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Books on my Spring 2024 TBR. As I am in Australia, this means I am looking at Books on my Autumn 2024 TBR
So these first 4 books are upcoming new releases that I will be reading for blog tours.
Summer at the Santorini Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin - I have read a number of Rebecca Raisin's books set in various locations. I am looking forward to visiting Greece.
Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash - Looking forward to returning to Driftwood Bay.
A Single Act of Kindness by Samantha Tonge - A new Samantha Tonge book. Yay!!
The French Cookery School by Caroline James - A cooking school in France. I'm in!
The remainder are books that I have on my TBR for a variety of reasons:
The Chocolate Factory by Mary-Lou Stephenson - I just started reading this yesterday!
Something New by Lucy Knisley - I borrowed 3 of Knisley's books at the same time!
The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns - One of the few paper books I have bought recently
At the Stroke of Midnight by Jenni Keer - I just finished reading another Jenni Keer
The Shakespeare Sisters by Juliet Greenwood - I am hoping to read the second book on the Shakespeare Sisters series.
The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons - I have heard many good things about this book!
I mentioned last week that I started reading a book because it was calling to me. Unfortunately, a different book started calling my name and so I ended up reading No. 23 Burlington Square by Jenni Keer instead. I really enjoyed it, so no regrets, but now I need to try and fit the other book in.
I also finished reading Relish by Lucy Knisley. I will have a review up for my reread of that book on the weekend.
Now I need to decide what to read next. Should I read one of my upcoming blog tour books even though I have about 3 weeks, or just a normal review book, whatever I feel like from my TBR list, or one of the 3 library books I have out. Decisions, decisions.
I also finished listening to Richard Armitage whisper sweet nothings in my ear. Actually he was narrating the book Sylvester by Georgette Heyer. Alway such a treat to listen to one of these books
I wasn't sure what to listen to next. However, last week I tried a new post out called Time Travel Thursday and I was reminded that 10 years ago I was reading one of the books in the No. Ladies Detective Agency and so I decided to listen to The Woman Who Walks in Sunshine, the next book for me in the series. It will also count for my Read on a Theme bookclub as well, so I will have read two books for this month.
I'm watching
We finished a couple of things this week. Firstly, we finished Bake Off : The Professionals which is a show that we love.
We also finished watching Masters of the Air, which is the story of the 100th Bomber Group from WWII. After finishing the last episode, we also watched a documentary called The Bloody Hundredth which features interviews with the actual men who lived the story from the TV series.
Last week, we watched the first part of The Three Musketeers, which was called The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan. This weekend we went and watched the sequel, The Three Musketeers: Milady. Interestingly, both of these movies were filmed at the same time. The end of the movie definitely lends itself to another movie. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a third movie.
Finally, I felt the need for something a bit fun so I watched Irish Wish on Netflix, which stars Lindsay Lohan. It wasn't bad. Here's the trailer.
Life
Last Tuesday night we went to see Pink in concert. This is the third time I have seen her live. The first two times it was in an arena, but this time it was in a stadium, so just Pink, her band and dancers, and 59998 other people! She always puts on an amazing show.
I also did a cooking class for a Maltese Easter treat called Fogilla. I am looking forward to sharing that experience with you all in a couple of weeks.
Last Friday night I was flicking through the TV menu and I saw the name of a TV show that stopped me in my tracks. There is a new version of Ready Steady Cook. When I first started this post, I was contemplating calling the post Back to the Future, because this show gives me an instant throw back to when I first moved to the UK in 1994.
I remember being somewhat bewildered by some of the TV game shows on British TV. They had an affinity for what seemed like quite odd game shows to this young Aussie. And yet, by the time I left 5 years later, I was completely converted and still watch some versions of these shows years later.
Here is an example. I was completely bewildered by shows like Countdown, where you get a selection of letters and compete to make the longest word in 30 seconds. The first few times I watched it I was like.... what the heck is this. And now, 30 years later, we watch 8 Out of Ten Cats Do Countdown at least twice a week, and if I am finished work in time, I will watch the repeats of the Australian version which is known as Letters and Numbers.
I'm not sure that there is still not an affinity for slightly odd game shows on UK TV, even now. I mean, a show like Would I Lie to You when it is described does not sound like a must watch show, and yet it is in our house. Or more recently we have been watching something called The Odd Couple where celebrity couples compete against each other to determine who is the best couple. They undergo tests like who can pack the dishwasher best together, or reverse park a car. Doesn't sound like a must watch TV. And yet, it is very funny to watch.
And there was Ready Steady Cook. The show was hosted by Fern Britton, and she welcomes two celebrity chefs to the stage. A lot of the chefs who became household names in the UK appeared on the shows, including chefs like Ainsley Harriott, James Martin, and many more. Ainsley Harriott went on to host the British version of the show for around 10 years.
The idea is that two contestants bring a bag containing 4-5 ingredients and then the teams have 20 minutes to come up with the tastiest looking dishes, yes multiple, usually 3 dishes. The audience then hold up cards featuring either a red tomato or a green capssicum (pepper) which determines which team has won.
In more recent versions of the show, there is a Chef's Challenge where the chefs then get another set of ingredients, they have to say what they would make with them in 10 minutes and then audience chooses which menu sounds the best and then the two chefs make it.
It's all very frantic, very high energy and sometimes the food which gets created can be a bit on the odd side when you have to incorporate such random ingredients together.
Eventually, the show came to Australia and was shown on weekday afternoons. Originally it was hosted by Peter Everest, and then later by comedian Colin Lane. Whilst it was still the same format, it all felt a bit kitsche and so it didn't really become part of my TV routine, maybe because I didn't get to watch very often. I do believe that the show was made in various other countries around the world as well.
And now, it is back, this time at 7.30 on a Friday night, and I have to say it feels like perfect Friday night viewing. Most Friday nights, I am totally exhausted and just need something to be on the TV that will entertain. It is hosted by Miguel Maestre, a Spanish chef who has become a mainstay of lifestyle TV shows here. he is someone you would definitely describe as high energy and high enthusiasm. So much energy
It is still very low tech, with the audience still holding up boards with either the tomato or green capsicum to cast their votes. Not a lot of tech here, even in the kitchen.
I have now watched the first two episodes, and already I am meeting new to me chefs, as well as old favourites from Masterchef. The first episode featured a chef called Mike Reid, known as the Laughing chef, but he was no competition for the laughing Miguel. He was playing again Hayden who originally rose to prominence on Masterchef.
The second episode featured a Spanish chef to the stars called Sergio Perera against another Masherchef alumni, Sarah Todd. As an aside, we now have a commencement date for the next season of Masterchef Australia. There are three new judges this season, following the death of Jock Zonfrillo and the departure of Melissa Leong. Looking forward to that starting soon.
And the most important thing is the prize. The winner receives a bronze ladle! I did wonder what would happen if you have the same chef win multiple times. I mean, how many bronze ladles does one chef need?
Watching the show has been a fun walk down memory lane, and I can definitely see myself vegging out in front of a TV on a Friday night watching this!!
Weekly meals
Saturday -
Sunday - Prawns and salad
Monday - family dinner
Tuesday - Out for dinner
Wednesday - Baked chicken breast, mashed potato and beans
Thursday - Baked butter chicken and rice
Friday -Takeaway
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page
Have you ever tried to start a book club? It can be a bit difficult, especially if you are trying to bring together a group of strangers. In the latest book by Gillian Harvey we meet Grace, Leah, Monica, George and Alfie who are all British expats who have been living in France for varying lengths of time.
Grace decides that she wants to start a book club for English speakers who live in and near Bordeaux. She already knows that her friend Leah will be a member, but she doesn't know how much more interest she will get. She is therefore really pleased to learn that there are several other interested parties, but you never really know if everyone will click, and if they will come back after the first meeting!
Leah and her family moved to the area three years previously with the idea that they would be able to be self sufficient. They have planted the veggies, bought the chickens, but really, it hasn't turned out to be that easy. They have plenty of eggs, although it is a bit of a risk to go in and get them because at least one of the chooks doesn't like Leah but there are only so many egg dishes you can have. Leah's teenage daughter has turned into a moody teenager and her husband is behaving very strangely. It all just feels a bit too hard
Monica is a young mum who lives in a gorgeous apartment in Central Bordeaux. Her husband is away for weeks at a time and she is struggling with caring for herself and a young baby.
George is a tradie who has been living in France for a year working on a renovation, and Alfie moved to France years before with his mother.
Grace is the organiser, the person who volunteers for all sorts of activities, who ensures the food is organised and that everyone has what they need. Whilst she is always happy to be available to listen to everyone else, in a way that can come across as a bit intrusive, she isn't really that open to others. I feel like I have known a Grace in a previous book club, so I was interested to see how the new friendships influenced her behaviour.
One of the things that I find interesting with book club related books is that the book club choices are always very earnest, lots of classics. and not the kind of book that the reader is reading! It's something that I have noted in previous book club books too. The classics that they read in the book did prompt some interesting conversations at least.
I've read the last four books by Gillian Harvey, and I can assure you right now, I will read the next four too! One of things that I like about her books is that whilst they are all set in France, the situations are all a bit different and so it doesn't feel like you are reading the same book over and over!
Also, how gorgeous is this cover??
I am sharing this with the Bookish Books Reading Challenge and the New Release Challenge.
Check out other stops on the blog tour to hear other's thoughts on this good read!!
Thanks to the publisher, Rachel's Random Resources and Netgalley for the review copy
Rating 4/5
About the book
The Bordeaux Book Club
Love books? The Bordeaux Book Club is seeking new members!
When Leah and her husband moved to France, it was with the dream of becoming self-sufficient. But in truth, it’s not the ‘good life’ she’d imagined, as three hours of digging barely yields a single straggly carrot. Worse, her teenage daughter is acting up, and her husband seems to find every strange excuse under the hot French sun to disappear.
So when her friend entreats her to join the new bookclub she’s forming, Leah decides it’s something she will do for herself. The chance to make new friends, to drink a few glasses of wine, and to escape into stories that take her miles away from the life she’d thought would be her own happy-ever-after.
But the book club is a strange group of misfits. There’s prickly Grace, who lives alone and seems to know everybody and like no-one. Buttoned-up Monica, who says her husband is away and appears to be parenting her baby all alone. Handsome builder George, who has barely read a book before. And Alfie – who is a full two decades younger than everyone else, and is hiding a devastating secret…
As the stories they read begin to bring the new friends closer together, Leah is about to discover that happy-ever-afters don’t always look how you expect them to…
A gorgeously escapist read from the bestselling author of A Year at the French Farmhouse, perfect for fans of Veronica Henry, Jo Thomas and Fiona Valpy.
Once upon a time I was all about books but these days not so much. Now I will be more likely to be cooking. My adventures through time and place used to be all without leaving the pages of my book.. Now real life is an adventure.
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