Review: "Sleeping Embers of An Ordinary Mind" by Ann Charnock

As I was perusing through the Kindle book store, looking for an ebook that was reasonably priced and had some pizzazz, I stumbled across Sleeping Embers. I hoped the book would imaginatively delve into the life that female Renaissance painter Antonia Uccello could have led. I wanted a book that explored the lives of women who broke with tradition in the Renaissance; after all, the book does get its title from Laura Cereta, a feminist writer in fifteenth century Italy. I did not get the book I hoped for; instead, I got the strangest book I've ever read.

"My ears are wearied by your carping. You brashly and publicly not merely wonder but indeed lament that I am said to possess as fine a mind as nature ever bestowed upon the most learned man. You seem to think that so learned a woman has scarcely before been seen in the world. You are wrong on both counts... I am a school girl, possessed of the 

sleeping embers of an ordinary mind. 

~ Laura Cereta

   January 13, 1488 "

 In Sleeping Embers, Charnock travels the story-lines of three different women, Antonia, Toniah, and Toni, in three distinct time periods, 1469, 2113, and 2015. Surprisingly, these three women have absolutely nothing to do with each other. The book opens with Toniah, a "second gen partho" who is working at the prestigious "Academy" in 2113 to basically re-write history to make women more prominent and lessen the roles of men. We find Toniah struggling to find fulfillment in her job, uncovering family secrets, and quietly bickering with her sister. Next, we meet Toni. Toni is a fifteen year old girl living with her widower father, who just happens to be an artist. Together, they struggle to cope the loss of their mother and wife. Interestingly, they find "healing" in visiting the ignored grave of their family relative. Last, we meet Antonia, the daughter of famed Renaissance artist Paolo Uccello. Antonia, unlike the other two, is learning her craft and having her martial fate decided for her by her father.

"The artist must have a strategy every bit as cunning as that of the commander of a great army" 

The three story-lines are interesting, but they feel strange contained in the same book. Toni, Toniah, and Antonia seem to fight for attention leaving the reader wishing for a little more Antonia and a little less of whiny, spineless Toniah. Charnock would have been better suited to write three separate books about each one of the main characters. After all, they are all three interesting in their own right. 

"everyone alive today is a survivor of the Black Death. Of plague. 

Our ancestors were immune, so we are." 

Honestly, I drudged through this book without any pleasure. Of books that I have hated, Sleeping Embers runs right alongside Uncle Tom's Cabin. When I finished the book I was left with no take away message and no enjoyment. I was actually happy that it was over, a rarity in my world.

"From a distance, the future always seem serene" 

Bottom Line: This book is oppressively boring and unnecessarily confusing. Charnock has created a novel that is completely and utterly forgettable. The only thing that redeemed it was the several quotable lines that are sprinkled throughout the novel; however, that isn't enough to save it. Unlike most things I review here on DC, I can not recommend that you read Sleep Embers of An Ordinary Mind. 

Love and Happy Reading,

Gayle

xoxo 

Review: "What Doctors Feel: How Emotions Affect The Practice of Medicine" by Danielle Ofri, MD

When I picked up this book, I expected a book full of technical mumbo-jumbo. I expected it to dull and boring, and honestly I had no intention of ever finishing it. It just something I started to take up my time. Boy, I was wrong. From the moment I read the first word, I was fascinated.

In What Doctors Feel, Dr. Ofri delves into the emotions of fear, shame, grief, anger, and being overwhelmed, and how they affect the doctors who experience them. But the book doesn't stop with the doctors, it also deals with their patients.

"It could easily be argued that doctors are no more emotionally complex than accountants, plumbers, or the cable-repair guy, but the net result of doctors' behavior - logical, emotional, irrational, or otherwise - can have life-and-death consequences for patients, which is to say, for all of us." 

Each chapter deals with one the the five emotions that Dr. Ofri chooses to tackle. Intertwined with the analysis of behavior, is a story of one of Dr. Ofri's own patients. With raw emotion, Dr. Ofri admits just how much her patient, Julia, meant to her and how her own emotions affected the way in which she dealt with Julia's tragic disease. Dr. Ofri does not shy away from her own shortcomings; rather, she describes the times that her emotions have gotten the better of her in a remarkably honest way. Her observations are both profound and relatable even to those who aren't in the medical field.

"Sadness and grief will never leave medicine, and, of course, it shouldn't" 

Not only does Dr. Ofri explain her own mistakes, but she includes the personal stories of other doctors. But rather than placing the blame for medical mistakes due to emotional burnout on the doctors themselves, she places it on the system in which doctors are trained. She seems to believe that if emotions were more excepted in the medical field and if medical schools acknowledged the various young doctors would have then maybe, just maybe, patients would not feel the effects of their doctors' tense nerves. 

Bottom Line: What Doctors Feel is a short, interesting read for perfect for anyone wanting to better understand the emotional pressures that doctors experience in their day-to-day life. It isn't a must read, but it is definitely something interesting to read. 

Love and Happy Reading, 

Gayle 

xoxo

Review: "Charlie and the Christmas Kitty" by Ree Drummond

Ree Drummond, or The Pioneer Woman, is best known for her fabulous blog, wonderful cookbooks, and fantastic television show. If you can't tell from that sentence, I'm slightly (ready incredibly) obsessed with her. In addition to all the things she does to help grownups to cook well and eat yummy food, she is also the author of several children's books. Because I am an actual child my lovely parents got me Charlie and the Christmas Kitty for Christmas.

If you're a fan of The Pioneer Woman you know that Charlie is Ree's beloved basset hound given to her by her husband for Christmas. Charlie often makes appearances on her blog, television show, and even in her cookware line. So it's only natural that the main character of her children's book series would be none other than Charlie himself.

Ree combines her trademark humor that we've come to love from her blog with a storyline that children will love. When a kitty suddenly shows up under the Christmas Tree Charlie has a difficult time adjusting to the change. Needless to say, hilarity ensues until Charlie finally comes to terms with the new kitty in his life.

Not only this book hilariously cute, it's also beautiful. The book is illustrated by Dianne deGroat, who crafts lovely pictures throughout the book that match the story perfectly. You can tell that this truly was a collaboration.

And in true Ree fashion, the book ends with a recipe for Christmas Cookies.

Bottom Line: Charlie and the Christmas Kitty is an adorably little book that kids of all ages will love.

Love and Happy Reading,

Gayle

xoxo

A Night at the Theater

Morehead has been plastered with posters promoting the play "Little Women" for weeks now. They are all over campus and every business has one, and of course, since Little Women is my favorite book, I just had to go. Rebekah and I decided to make a night of it.

Before the play we went out to eat at a fabulous little Italian restaurant called Melini Cuzina Italian, every body just calls it Melini's. They, hands down, have the best pizza in town. If you're in Morehead, you have to stop by and get some. However, since Rebekah and I were attempting to have a night of refinement we tried some of their pasta.

Let me tell you, it was delicious! They have one of the best sauces that I've ever had. I am obsessed with it. Also, their bread sticks are amazing.

We also splurged and bought some desert. Their turtle cheesecake left nothing to be desired. The graham cracker crust was yummy, the chocolate layer thick, the cheesecake rich, and the caramel delicious.

I'm not sure, but I think Rebekah enjoyed her cannoli as well.

That's the face of someone who's found heaven in a desert.

After eating way, way too much, we waddled down main street to the Arts Center. I wish you all could see this little town. For some reason, it didn't occur to me to take a picture. Morehead really is a darling little town, and I'm glad that I get to live in this artsy little town.

The play was a wonderful little production. It was beautiful acted, and it was really a reverent handling of one of my favorite books. I was amazing by what they were able to accomplish with only one set and a rather small cast. They skipped huge portions of the book, but I never felt like anything was missing.

(The only photo I took of the set was a snapchat, that I just barely managed to save. Oh well!)

What made it come together so well was the acting. In fact, the acting was so good that Rebekah was actually sobbing through the end of Act II and the intermission. When the actress that delivered the moving performance came back on stage at the end to bow, Rebekah started to cry again. I too may or may not have been a little teary eyed.

The Morehead Theatre Guild will be putting on one more play this season, and I would strongly encourage you to go. "Dearly Departed: A Deathly Funny Comedy" will be playing November 6-8 and 13-15. If "Little Women" is any indication of their quality of production, you won't want to miss any of their plays.

Girls' Night

Sometimes food on campus gets boring. Sometimes Beakers and ADUC just don't cut it. Sometimes you just need to have a girls' night.  So you have to go off campus and get a bite. Well, last night we went to Pasquales Pizza and Pasta. It was delicious. Yes, the atmosphere is a little sketch, they could do some renovating, but the food is so good. Don't let the shabby interior and old blinds deter you, they really do have good food.

All three of us got lasagna, so I really can't talk about anything other than that. They are known for their pizza, but I can't see how they would be able to compete with Melini's. Anyways, their garlic bread is fantastic! If you're in Morehead and you need a quick dinner or lunch, I strongly recommend you stop by Pasquales. 

After you get your pizza fix, head next door to Bakery On Main. Bakery On Main is one of the most adorable little bakeries I've ever been too. They've got glass cases full of delicious looking sweets and pastries. The service is friendly and everything is made in house.

Madeline and Rebekah got the chocolate creme brulee, and I had the most amazing chocolate cheesecake ever. Trust me, this is a place you want to visit.

Overall, it was a wonderful night with friends, good food, and lots and lots of laughter.

Photo Credit goes to Madeline Janson, my friend and future foodie.

Hiking the Pinnacles

I am not exactly the most "outdoorsy" individual. I'd like to be, but it just never seems to happen. So when some friends wanted to hike the Pinnacles with me before I left for school, I jumped at the chance. I thought it would be a lovely, gentle hike. I was so wrong.

The trail starts out as a nice, flat, paved path, and then quickly becomes a path of torture. That being said, it was amazing. We decided to hike up the West Pinnacle. From the nice, paved path, the trail becomes a steep up hill climb, flattens out again, and then goes steeply uphill. There are tree roots in the paths that you have to avoid, but the trails are exceptionally well-kept.

The trail to the West Pinnacle is a beautiful hike. It is heavily wooded path that shows you some absolutely beautiful countryside. At one point, the trail goes from sandy-dirt path to rocks. We climbed over the rocks, not with ease, but with a lot of laughter. Sometimes, it's just funny to watch your friend fall. You go up, up, up the mountain, and pass huge rocks.

Speaking of the rocks, it's a good thing that I went with friends, because the first large rock we come to I was convinced was the Pinnacle. I was also convinced that the second rock, and the third, and maybe the fourth were the Pinnacle. When we finally actually got to the Pinnacle, I was slightly disappointed because I was so excited about the other rocks. Anyways, the view from the West Pinnacle is absolutely breathtaking. I makes the whole hike worth it. I could just stay there looking at the Kentucky countryside for days.

Just gorgeous. 

Even though the hike was quite grueling, the view was so worth it. Hiking the Pinnacles is definitely a wonderful way to spend an afternoon with your family or friends. Take lots of water, and don't try to go fast. Overall, it was a great way to spend one of the last Fridays of the summer.


Love and Happy Reading,


Gayle

Review: Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

When I heard that Harper Lee was releasing a second book I cried. To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favorite books, and the idea of getting more of Ms. Lee's genius was so exciting to me. So I waited with baited breath for the release to be announced. I sat quietly through all the controversy, hoping that the publisher wouldn't pull it, and I was rewarded with the early release of the first chapter. It was magical! I immediately pre-ordered it. The book finally found itself in my mailbox Saturday, and I spent half that night reading it. Needless to say, I absolutely loved it. It's one of the best books I've read in a while. Still, I have been shocked to read just how many people are not impressed with Watchman.

Many people were expecting it to be a "true" sequel to To Kill A Mockingbird. It isn't. To Kill A Mockingbird is the story of a little girl's father through her eight-year-old eyes. Yes, I suppose it can be classified as a "coming of age story", but, when you really get to the heart of it, it's about how much Scout loves and admires Atticus. Watchman is not a seamless continuation of that story. The story is no longer about how Scout sees Atticus; instead, the story is about Jean Louise. This isn't Atticus's story. This is hers. I think this is the true "coming of age story". 

Watchman is truly Jean Louise's story. It is the story of a young woman being forced to open her eyes and see the world around her. She is young, naive, headstrong, and full of fight. With these things in her arsenal, she sets out to see the people and place she knows best with the eyes of a fledgling adult, and she doesn't handle it well. Full disclosure, there were times where I was completely appalled at how Jean Louise was acting, but it felt real. Ms. Lee writes Jean Louise's story with realness that you can't ignore. Jean Louise isn't perfect. She isn't a philosopher. She isn't a poet. She's a feisty Southern gal living through difficult times, trying to deal with it as best as she can.

The book has left us with many questions at then end, but the one that most people are asking is "Is Atticus a racist?". Maybe. Is that important? Personally, I don't think that he is, but that's not important. Atticus's own personal feelings on race relations are obviously not that important to the overall plot of the book; otherwise, they would have been better explained. The important thing to remember is that, unlike Mockingbird, this book is not so much about race relations as it is about seeing people for what they really are.

Bottom line:  Go Set A Watchman is an interesting read that poses many questions. It is not a "true" sequel to To Kill A Mockingbird, and I don't encourage you to read the two right after each other. I highly recommend Go Set A Watchman.



Love and Happy Reading,


Gayle