Marilyn's Bookshelf

July 2011

Stockett, Kathryn, The Help (June 2011)

            Although I am usually a little skeptical of so-called best-sellers, this novel is excellent.  Set in Jackson, Mississippi, in the 1960s, the novel portrays the relationships between white female employers and their black maids.  We are introduced to a culture that, in the sixties,  still resonates with discrimination and retaliation for blacks no matter how small the implication of wrongdoing.  Skeeter, a white woman recently graduated from college with a passion for writing, decides to elicit the help of one of the black maids, Abilene, in describing this tenuous relationship between employers and maids.  Skeeter has an interest from a New York publisher but must find at least twelve black maids to cooperate and give her their stories.  Although she promises anonymity to each of the maids, there is a very real threat if it is discovered that any of the maids is one of the characters in the book. The threat could be loss of a job or the distinct possibility of violence to any of the black families, of course from sources unknown.  As a sub-text is the relationship between Skeeter and her old-school mother whose main purpose is to see Skeeter married to someone of “class,” and while she tries to make over her daughter, Skeeter forges her own course in life and eventually takes a job in New York after her book is published.  Stockett was raised in Mississippi, so she speaks from personal knowledge.  However, she herself admits that it can never be assumed that a white writer can actually speak for the black point of view.  I would imagine that unless you had some experience in the South, this story would seem incomprehensible.  As it is, it gives us a glimpse into a part of the history of the United State of which we should all be ashamed.

Marilyn's Bookshelf

June 2011

Thayne, Emma Lou Warner, The Place of Knowing

Anything written by beloved Utah author Emma Lou is a gift. We’ve been waiting for a long time for this one.  Several years ago, I bought a copy on CD, read by the author herself, but until last month, it was not in print.  Emma Lou tells us of a terrible accident in which she basically had a near-death experience.  In the process, she leads us through many observations about life and learning.  She tells us, “To make an event a reality, I have to write it down.” With her gorgeous poetic prose, Emma Lou shares with the reader many personal stories of her own and interactions with some of her myriad number of friends.  Above all, we come away with a sense of the reality of how our lives affect who we are, a deep sense of peace, and an abiding faith in a loving God.  Although you might want to get this from the library, I suspect that you’ll want your own copy to underline and cherish.  You’ll probably want several to give as gifts

Humanitarian Projects Delivered!!

   We finally delivered 100 baby dolls and their blankets to the Humanitarian Center.  We hope we make some little girls happy!  We also dropped off 20 quilts. With all of the recent disasters, the quilts will be very useful to someone who has probably lost everything.  Good Work Sisters!! 

Marilyn's Bookshelf

du Maurier, Daphne, Rebecca

If you’ve never read any of du Mauier’s novels, of course the one you should start with is Rebecca, a great summer read.  The great stone house of Manderley on the Cornish coast of England sets the scene for the novel, as the second Mrs. DeWinter enters the scene with her new husband, Maxim.  Unfortunately, Housekeeper Mrs. Danvers, who has served the first Mrs. DeWinter is not at all happy with the arrival of the new wife.  As this tale unfolds, we are swept into phantoms of the past which wind a spell around the reader.  Du Maurier is a master of her craft as she takes us into the past with the life of Rebecca – truths and untruths.  You may just get hooked and decide to read others of the author, like Jamaica Inn, Frenchman’s Creek,or My Cousin Rachel.

Blogging and Brunch

Frances taught us how to blog today! Thanks Frances!!
Jill made us a fabulous Quiche today! Thanks Jill!!
Thanks to everyone else who came to learn how to blog
and for the yummy food.

QUICHE
1- 9" unbakes pie crust
1 cup 4 oz. shredded swiss cheese
6 slices bacon- cooked and crumbled
3/4 cup ham- minced
2 green onions chopped
1/2 green pepper diced
3 eggs- beaten
1 cup light cream
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. dry mustard
Bake crust for 5 minutes at 425 degrees. Remove. Set oven to 325 degrees.
Put cheese, bacon, ham,in crust.  Sprinkle onion and pepper on top.
Mix eggs, cream, salt, mustard in blender or beater.
Pour mix over other ingredients in crust.
Bake at 325 for 45 minutes (Knofe clean test)
Stand 10 minutes before cutting

Manti...A turkish Style Ravioli

Ingredients:
1 Qt. Middle East Yogurt
5 Lg. garlic cloves
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 Lb. lamb (lean, ground)
1 small shallot finely chopped
1 tsp. Italian parsley finely chopped
2 pkg. wonton wrappers (3x3 square)
2 large eggs lightly beaten
1/4  lb. butter
1 tsp. paprika (fresh, fresh!)
1/2 cup Italian parsley chopped

Method:
Crush the garlic with the salt into a paste, mix it into the yogurt and set the mixture aside.

Gring the lamb, chopped shallots, chopped parsley, a pinch of salt and fresh cracked pepper together and keep cold.  Get a large pot of water boiling on the stove at this point.

On a lightly floured surface lay out about a dozen wonton skins.  Place "about" 1/2 teaspoon of the ground lamb in the middle of each wonton skins.  Dipping your finger (or a small brush) in the beaten egg, coat the perimeter of the skins.  Next you just fold corner to corner forming a triangle, pressing the edges firmly to seal.  Place the completed assemblies on a lightly floured cookie sheet and cover with wax paper.  Repeat the process with another twelve wonton skins until you get to the end of the second package.

Drop about two dozen Monty into the boiling water immediately reducing the heat to acheive a very light boil.  Cook for about four minutes.  Generally, the Monty will float to the surface when they are done.  Carefully scoop them out of the hot water and drain in a colander for a few minutes.  Meanwhile, cook your butter to a nice golden brown.

Place about a dozen Monty on a nine inch plate, spoon a generous amount of the garlic yogurt over the top, drizzle some hot browned butter over the top of that, give it a pinch of paprika and a generous pinch of chopped parsley. Top with a warm marinara sauce.

Cheers! From my family to yours, Chef Rick Raile

Marilyn's Bookshelf

Here’s one last book from the Canyon Readers’ selections from last year.

Enger, Leif, Peace Like a River

Jeremiah Land, a school janitor who harks back to the biblical Jeremiah in his absolute faith and trust in the Lord, is the midwestern father of three children.  After provocation, his 16-year-old son, Davy, shoots two intruders.  Reuben (Rube), the 11-year-old and narrator, a la Huck Finn, who also suffers from asthma, sees the unfolding of the events of this story through amazingly mature eyes.  His father, who claims no great powers, obviously is responsible for "miracles."  Precocious little sister, Swede, who writes western poetry, is the fourth of this strong, if unusual family.  The family "inherits" an Airstream trailer and hits off to search for brother Davy who has escaped from jail.  Their propitious meeting and extended stay with Roxanna turns out to feel like home.  The strength and integrity of Jeremiah dominates this novel.  He is torn between his love for Davy and his sense of right and wrong.  A great first novel from the author.