Green Books Campaign: Girls Gone Green Review & Giveaway

Summary: Hayden Panettiere, Mischa Barton, Ellen Page— everyone’s going green these days, but saving the environment is a large task for anyone to take on, especially a teenager. Yet the everyday green girls profiled here have a passion—to do just that. They’ve stepped up, taken the initiative, and made their voices heard, and in doing so, they have helped to effect change—from creating a cosmetics line free of toxic chemicals to trying to conquer global warming to encouraging the use of wind power. Filled with stories from real girls who made a difference, plus lots of celebrity green girls who are doing their part to help out, Girls Gone Green gives girls everywhere the inspiration to do something to help their world. It doesn’t matter how small the change is—it only matters that you make the effort to bring about that change. -- Puffin

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 200 bloggers take a stand to support books printed in an eco-friendly manner by simultaneously publishing reviews of 200 books printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper. By turning a spotlight on books printed using eco-friendly paper, we hope to raise the awareness of book buyers and encourage everyone to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books.

The campaign is organized for the second time by Eco-Libris, a green company working to make reading more sustainable. We invite you to join the discussion on "green" books and support books printed in an eco-friendly manner! A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.

I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed GIRLS GONE GREEN by Lynn Hirshfield. I was initially drawn to this book because of its cover, and I thought it might be perfect for Booking Daughter, who is 11 years old. It's definitely aimed at girls twelve and up; however, I found that this book had many components that really appealed to me.

Probably the first thing that stuck out to me about GIRLS GONE GREEN is how much fun it was to look at and read. The entire format of the book is perfect for young girls from the foreword by Hayden Panettiere, to the colorful photographs, to the fun fonts and illustrations, to the page layouts. There is definitely a lot happening on each page, and it's all very eye-catching. Quite honestly, I can't imagine a young girl picking up this book and not wanting to read it!

I also appreciated that the book told the stories of real girls who have made a difference. And, I loved that their stories were written in their own words. Not only did this presentation provide a wide-range of "green" success stories, but it also gave the reader a wide variety of writing styles and storytelling voices. In addition to the stories of "normal" girls who accomplished some major green initiatives, there are also a few celebrity stories thrown in. I wasn't as impressed by most of these snippets; however, I'm pretty sure I would have loved these sections as a pre-teen and teen.

GIRLS GONE GREEN is divided into seven chapters according to various green causes -- The Beauty Entrepreneurs and Fashionistas; The Animal Advocates; The Educators and Artists; The Recyclers; The Growers and Grocers; The Defenders of Air, Land and Water; and The Environmental Scientists and Green Engineers. Within each of these chapters are multiple stories of real-life girls who have made a difference in the world. For example, one girl has created her own line of eco-friendly beauty products, while another girl has created her own line of reusable lunch bags, and another one is a major advocated for polar bears and honeybees. All of the stories are extremely interesting and, without a doubt, inspiring. At the end of the book, there is a list of resources for green girls as well as a page with the "My Green Girl Pledge."

There is no doubt that GIRLS GONE GREEN gives readers plenty to think about. Not only did I come up with some ways to make my family's life "greener", but I was also very impressed  with how much these young girls have already accomplished in their lives. In addition, I discovered some valuable products, conservation ideas, websites and other resources that I want to explore further in the upcoming weeks. I hope that every person who picks up GIRLS GONE GREEN will be inspired to make a few changes/sacrifices in their life to make the world a better place.

GIRLS GONE GREEN was printed in the USA on recycled paper; and some of the text was set in Ecofont, which omits parts of each letter. By omitting certain portions of each letter, an ink cartridge or toner lasts longer because up to 20 percent less ink is used to create each letter. In addition to these "green" characteristics, the author is also donating part of the proceeds from GIRLS GONE GREEN to environmental and animal charities.

Thanks to Eco-Libris for coordinating this Green Books Campaign and to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book.

Giveaway alert: Thanks to Penguin, I have to extra copies of GIRLS GONE GREEN to share with two lucky readers. To enter, just fill out the form below! The contest will be open until November 23rd at 11:59 p.m. ET, and I will notify the winners the following day. U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. Good luck!

Review: Kidz Bop Dance Party! The Video Game

Product Description: KIDZ BOP, the #1 music brand for kids ages 5-12 in the U.S., has teamed up with D3Publisher to launch KIDZ BOP Dance Party! The Video Game -- the first-ever video game based on the chart-topping music franchise. Available exclusively for Wii this fall, KIDZ BOP Dance Party! The Video Game features 24 of the biggest KIDZ BOP dance hits, including "Get the Party Started," "Fire Burning" and "Thriller." Players can customize their own in-game character and mix and match outfits and accessories for a truly unique look. Five different gameplay modes: Free Play, Challenge, Dance Off, Shop and Dress-Up, will extend the dance party for hours. Players can dance solo, team-up with a friend to dance together in 2 Player Challenge mode, or go head-to-head in Dance Off mode to compete for top score. Kids are encouraged to succeed with no penalty for errors or missteps as they receive helpful dance tips and tricks from KIDZ BOP Kids, Dana and Valerie, to pull off sensational dance moves to become the next KIDZ BOP star! -- D3Publisher

A few weeks ago, our family received a big box with a warning label attached. It said CAUTION: The Contents of this Package May make you Dance your Heart Out!!! Of course, we couldn't resist and tore the box open to find a copy of KIDZ BOP Dance Party! The Video Game , as well as some glow-stix, a mini disco ball and some Chex Mix! Do I even need to tell you how excited my kids were?

Since we've opened the package, my 11 year old daughter and 6 year old son have spent many hours playing this video game. They absolutely love it and couldn't wait to share it with me. I've been hearing about how terrific the game is for weeks now, but I finally decided to take the plunge and see what they were talking about. I have to say -- they were totally right. KIDZ BOP Dance Party! The Video Game for Wii is pure family fun!

Of course, it's probably to be expected that my daughter, who dances six hours a week, appreciates it a little bit more than my son. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how much he wants to play the game too. He's not quite 'the natural' that my daughter is, but he's also five years younger and a little less coordinated. As a mother, I love that he doesn't get frustrated with the game because it doesn't penalize him for missed moves. In fact, just the opposite -- it encourages him by saying "almost." The game also offers a two-player mode where both participants play (and gain points) at the same time. I've found that this mode works best for my two kids because it eliminates the competition and focuses on teamwork.

There are a lot of elements to KIDZ BOP Dance Party! The Video Game so kids can stay entertained for as long as you want! There are many different modes of dance activities, and you don't need a dance pad or Nunchuk -- just the Wii remote. I found most of the moves to be pretty simple (of course, I was playing on the easy mode), but I think even young kids will be able to feel a sense of accomplishment playing this video game. For the most part, I found the songs and dances were catchy; and I have to say that I did get a bit of a workout -- my arms actually got a little fatigued! In addition to dancing to 24 different KIDZ BOP songs (new songs open as you complete each level), kids can create and customize their own dance character. As the play accumulates more points for their dance movies, he or she can shop for new outfits, costumes and accessories.

Our family loves KIDZ BOP Dance Party! The Video Game for Wii,  but there are other products in this line available for the holidays. There is a KIDZ BOP Dance Party! CD which includes 12 of the most popular KIDZ BOP Dance tracks and a KIDZ BOP Dance Moves DVD. If you know any kids like mine, then these products are guaranteed to keep them entertained for hours. And since all of the songs are sung ‘by kids for kids’ with family friendly lyrics, parents don't have to worry about inappropriate language or content.

I had a blast playing KIDZ BOP Dance Party! The Video Game, but my kids enjoy it even more than I do -- you might say they are totally addicted. They want to play it together (how fantastic is that?) all of the time and they are constantly singing the songs even when they aren't playing the game! I pretty much think that's one of the best recommendations you can get for a kids' product!

Featured Music:

* Party In the USA
* Fire Burning
* Let It Rock
* Paparazzi
* Don't Stop the Music
* Hot N Cold
* Disturbia
* Say Hey (I Love You)
* Ice Cream & Guacamole
* Thriller
* Evacuate the Dancefloor
* Take You There

* All Star (Dance Mix)
* Circus
* Since U Been Gone
* Live Your Life
* 1985
* Girlfriend
* Axel F (The Frog Song)
* Crazy In Love
* Hey Ya!
* Chicken Noodle Soup
* Kidz Bop Shuffle
* Get the Party Started

Thanks to D3Publisher and fortyseven communications for providing us with a copy of this Wii game.

Wondrous Words Wednesday - November 10, 2010

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Kathy aka Bermuda Onion where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. Feel free to join in the fun.

THE MISCHIEF OF THE MISTLETOE: A PINK CARNATION by Lauren Willig

escritoire - Turnip's eyes strayed tot he escritoire in the corner, supplied with paper, pens, and ink.  (p. 142)

escritoire: writing desk

moues- The country squires, in their old-fashioned wigs and buckled shoes, looked askance at the pinks of the ton, with their elaborate cravats and painfully high shirt points, while the London matrons made moues at the heavy, full-skirted brocades and long curls of the country set. (p. 260)

moues: pouting grimace

What new words did you discover this week?

What I Learned From My Grandmothers (Inspired by Adriana Trigiani's Don't Sing at the Table)

Grandma Carol (My Paternal Grandmother)

Grandma Penny (My Maternal Grandmother) and Me

Adriana Trigiani's latest book, DON'T SING AT THE TABLE: LIFE LESSONS FROM MY GRANDMOTHERS, definitely touched my heart (as you can clearly see in my review). I thought this book was a beautiful tribute to two very special women in Adriana's life, and I could definitely relate to many of her feelings about her grandmothers. Like Adriana (and many of you), I am incredibly blessed to have been given two amazing grandmothers, Carol and Penny. And I'm even more fortunate because I still have both of them in my life -- not many 41 year olds can say that. In fact just a few days ago, our family spent the day visiting with both of them (as well as my grandfather.)

I have to give Adriana a tremendous amount of credit for being able to write an entire book about her grandmothers' lives and the lessons she learned from them. I'm terribly emotional just trying to write a little post, and it's even more difficult for me to try to express my feelings in words. (Guess that's why she's a best-selling author and I'm just me!) Suffice it to say that I don't think I can do justice to these two awesome women. I'm just glad to be able to say that I have a little bit of their blood running through my veins.

I shared DON'T SING AT THE TABLE with my mom and the book got us both thinking about what we've learned from our mothers and grandmothers. I thought it might be interesting to make my own list of "life lessons" that I learned from my grandmothers. So my mom and I sat down and discussed what I've been lucky enough to gain from my grandmothers' wisdom. It was so much fun to reflect on the events of their lives and just how much they've managed to teach me. I have to think that Adriana would be so proud!

There are many, many valuable things that I have learned from my grandmothers, and I thought I'd share a few of them with you. But first, I wanted to tell you a little bit about each one of them.

My grandma Carol is my father's mom, and she is also my godmother. She's a very smart woman who never had the chance to finish high school because she had to get a job cleaning houses to help support her family. I absolutely adore her and she's definitely a character -- we never know what's going to come out of her mouth. She has been married to my Pap Pap for over 66 years (I actually have the ring that he gave her when she was just 14 years old), and she has two sons of whom she is extremely proud (if you don't believe me, just ask her.) When I was around a year old, I lived with her for about a month while my mom was recovering from surgery and I think that's when we really bonded! Her life wasn't always easy -- her husband left for WWII the day after they were married, her daughter died when she was just a few hours old, her husband was injured while working in a coal mine, and at times, she didn't have "two nickels to rub together" (her words, not mine) -- but she always persevered.

My grandma Penny is my mom's mother, and she's one of the most Christian women that I've ever met. She was the oldest of 12 children, and like my grandma Carol, she wasn't able to finish high school because her family needed her help. She married my grandfather who was a farmer and had 6 children over the next 23 years. Talk about a hard worker! She did all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry for eight people, but she didn't have the luxuries (like automatic washing machines, microwaves, and dishwashers) that we have today. In addition, she maintained a humongous garden, canned all of the fruits and vegetables, and made almost all of the clothes for the entire family -- the list could go on and on. As a child, I honestly don't remember her ever sitting down; and if she did, she was mending clothes. She has slowed down a bit in the past few years -- she lost her husband a few years ago and currently lives in a nursing home -- but she recently received a certification to be a peer counselor for other patients in the home. She is celebrating her 88th birthday tomorrow and she has 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Needless to say, her family is her life.

Things I Learned from Grandma Carol

-- Bargain Shopping
-- The Ability to Laugh at Myself
-- The Importance of a Good Meal
-- How to Make Risotto and Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
-- Fiscal Responsibility/Never Buy Something that You Can't Afford
-- Fairness
-- Be Direct
--The Key to a Lasting Marriage is Picking the Right Guy

Things I Learned from Grandma Penny

-- A Strong Work Ethic
-- Patience
-- The Importance of Family
-- Nothing Should Go to Waste
-- How to be "Green" -- reusing baggies, saving containers, composting, etc.
-- My Love of  Cookbooks and Crafts
-- The Value of Religion
-- There is Strength in Silence

I am so fortunate to have these two women in my life; and I'm even luckier that they've taught me so many important life lessons. Now it's my responsibility to share this wisdom with my children and my grandchildren!

Review: Don't Sing at the Table

Summary: As devoted readers of Adriana Trigiani's New York Times bestselling novels know, this "seemingly effortless storyteller" (Boston Globe) frequently draws inspiration from her own family history, in particular from the lives of her two remarkable grandmothers, who have found their way into all Trigiani's cherished novels. In Don't Sing at the Table, this much-beloved writer has gathered their estimable life lessons, revealing how her grandmothers' simple values have shaped her own life, sharing the experiences, humor, and wisdom of her beloved mentors to delight readers of all ages. 

Lucia Spada Bonicelli (Lucy) and Yolanda Perin Trigiani (Viola) lived through the twentieth century from beginning to end as working women who juggled careers and motherhood. From the factory line to the family table, Lucy and Viola, the very definition of modern women, cut a path for their granddaughter by demonstrating moxie and pluck in their fearless approach to life, love, and overcoming obstacles. 

Lucy's and Viola's traditions and spiritual fortitude will encourage you to hold on to the values that make life rich and beautiful. Their entrepreneurial spirit will inspire you to take risks and reap the rewards. And their remarkable resilience in the face of tragedy will be a source of strength and comfort. 

Trigiani visits the past to seek answers to the essential questions that define the challenges women face today at work and at home. This is a primer, grand-mother to granddaughter, filled with everyday wisdom and life lessons that are truly "tiramisu for the soul" (The Examiner), handed down with care and built to last. -- Harper

It probably comes as no surprise to my regular readers that I adore Adriana Trigiani. I've been a huge fan of her novels for many years, and I have always read her books the day they became available (if not earlier.) I love her characters and her vivid descriptions of fashion, places, and food; and I can honestly say that she's one of my very favorite writers.

Last May, I was one of five bloggers fortunate enough to win a contest to have tea at  Alice's Tea Cup with Adriana -- you can read about my experience here. I had an amazing time and Adriana was everything I hoped (and imagined) her to be. While we were chatting, she mentioned that her next book was going to be about her two grandmothers and what she learned from them. I could tell this book was a labor of love for her, and I couldn't help but notice how often her family, and especially her grandmothers, came up in our conversation.

Ever since our meeting, I have been anxiously awaiting the release of DON'T SING AT THE TABLE: LIFE LESSONS FROM MY GRANDMOTHERS. A few weeks ago, an advanced readers copy arrived on my doorstep and I found myself doing a little happy dance. Maybe it's because I feel like I know Adriana a little bit after spending a few hours with her, but I couldn't wait to crack open this book and learn about the influence her grandmothers had on her life.

I found DON'T SING AT THE TABLE to be a very heartwarming book, and I'm pretty sure that fans of Adriana's will devour it just like I did. While I found the story and the photographs of the lives of Lucy and Viola to be very interesting, I think I most enjoyed the parts of the book where Adriana described the lessons she learned from both of them. I loved seeing how Adriana has taken this advice and applied it to her own life, and I was extremely touched by how much these women meant to Adriana. There is no doubt that this book is a beautiful tribute to two very special women!

One thing's for sure -- Adriana comes from some very special stock. There is no doubt that Lucy and Voila were very different from each other, but they both managed to teach Adriana some incredibly valuable life lessons. Both women lived through the Depression and had amazing work ethics, and I think each of them was ahead of her time in more ways than one. After reading DON'T SING AT THE TABLE, I can see where Adriana got her inner beauty and strength!

Even though DON'T SING AT THE TABLE was about Adriana's grandmothers and how they managed to influence her, I actually found myself reflecting a great deal on my grandmothers while reading this book. My grandmothers are very different from Lucy and Viola, yet so much of what I've learned from them mirrored what Adriana has learned from her grandmothers. (Make sure you check out my tribute post to my grandmothers!)

At its heart, DON'T SING AT THE TABLE is so much more than just the story of Lucy and Viola. I think that the real beauty of this book is in each individual reader's reaction to it. Personally, I was amazed by how many of the life lessons in this book resonated with me. And, I am hoping that each reader will pause and remember her mother or grandmothers (or aunts or great-grandmothers) and appreciate all the wonderful things that she managed to share with her.

DON'T SING AT THE TABLE is a wonderful tribute to Adriana Trigiani's grandmothers, but I also think it's a book that honors the strength and resilience of all women. It's just one of those books that you want to share with a special woman in your life.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy of this book.

Guest Review: Scorpions

 Summary: A tiny, ebullient Jew who started as America's leading liberal and ended as its most famous judicial conservative. A Klansman who became an absolutist advocate of free speech and civil rights. A backcountry lawyer who started off trying cases about cows and went on to conduct the most important international trial ever. A self-invented, tall-tale Westerner who narrowly missed the presidency but expanded individual freedom beyond what anyone before had dreamed.

Four more different men could hardly be imagined. Yet they had certain things in common. Each was a self-made man who came from humble beginnings on the edge of poverty. Each had driving ambition and a will to succeed. Each was, in his own way, a genius.

They began as close allies and friends of FDR, but the quest to shape a new Constitution led them to competition and sometimes outright warfare. SCORPIONS tells the story of these four great justices: their relationship with Roosevelt, with each other, and with the turbulent world of the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War. It also serves as a history of the modern Constitution itself. -- Twelve

Recently, my father (aka Booking Pap Pap) read SCORPIONS: THE BATTLES AND TRIUMPHS OF FDR'S GREAT SUPREME COURT JUSTICES by Noah Feldman. I had to laugh because while he was reading SCORPIONS, he kept telling me what an interesting book it was. And he appreciated that there was a nice mix of history as well as personal information about each man. He really, really enjoyed this one as you can see from his review:

During Franklin Roosevelt’s three plus terms as President of the United States he appointed eight Supreme Court Justices and named one Chief Justice. Four of those appointments made from 1937 to 1941 - Felix Frankfurter, Robert Jackson, Hugo Black, and William Douglas - have had a lasting influence on the Supreme Court.

SCORPIONS, by Noah Feldman, is an historical account of these men, their times and the important cases that arose from 1941 to 1953 when all four served on the Supreme Court. Feldman begins with Roosevelt’s frustration in trying to get his New Deal legislation through the Supreme Court which at the time favored free market, limited government and gave the states responsibility for regulating social and economic conditions. In response to the Court’s positions, Roosevelt put in place a plan to increase the size of the Court and stack it with pro-New Deal justices. Before any legislative action took place on his controversial “stacking plan”, one of the Justices changed his vote and the New Deal programs came into force. From that point on Roosevelt appointed men to the Supreme Court who were sympathetic toward his New Deal Programs.

Appointed to the Court in 1937, Hugo Black was a southern Senator from Alabama and former member of the Ku Klux Klan who aspired to the Presidency. His firsthand experiences of the devastation caused by the Depression made Black a strong Roosevelt supporter.

Felix Frankfurter, an immigrant Jew, became a Justice in 1939. He was a Harvard law professor and advisor to the President. He was recognized as the nation’s leading liberal intellectual and activist. Roosevelt considered him as the best qualified person for the job of perpetuating Roosevelt’s constitutional ideals.

William Douglas, named to the Court in 1939, was one of the most prominent and successful New Deal players. He made his name as Chairman of the SEC. Douglas, like Black, had presidential aspirations and Roosevelt actually considered him for Vice-President in 1940.

Robert Jackson, a New York country lawyer, was appointed to the Court in 1941. As solicitor general and attorney general, Jackson was Roosevelt’s most important legal advisor on World War II, particularly on U.S. neutrality. Jackson also took a leave from the Court to serve as chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials. Jackson always aspired to the Chief Justice position but never achieved it.

These four men had much in common. They were all committed to Roosevelt’s liberal values, all opposed the Court’s rejection of the New Deal programs and all were extremely ambitious. In spite of these similarities, their constitutional interpretations were widely diverse. Frankfurter advocated judicial restraint, Jackson favored pragmatism, Black endorsed originalism and Douglas supported realism.

After an initial period in which these men’s interests were allied, the different approaches to constitutional interpretation caused their positions to eventually diverge to the point where they became enemies, each confident that their constitutional interpretation was the surest route to success for liberal causes.

Feldman devoted much of his book to the important cases that arose during the time these four served on the Court. Some of the more significant included Korematsu v. the U.S., a case that upheld the internment of Japanese citizens during World War II; Youngstown, a steel seizure case that defined the limits of Presidential power and Brown v. Board of Education, the case that struck down segregation. Through his detailed description of these cases, Feldman gives the reader a behind the scenes look at how the Court operated in an environment of petty resentment and diverging constitutional views. In particular, he provides an amazing account of the working of the Court in the Brown v. Board of Education where, in spite of all the resentment and dislike among Court Justices, they were able to issue a unanimous opinion.

Feldman describes how personal and career experiences shaped the constitutional thinking of four of the greatest Supreme Court Justices. His attention to detail provides an historic background that brings to life these four Justices. Feldman also provides an interesting glimpse into both the Roosevelt and Truman administrations.

SCORPIONS is a very readable book that gives the reader an up-close look at four people who made our laws and have had a tremendous influence on the Supreme Court. This is a fascinating book and I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in American history.

Thanks to Booking Pap Pap for his fantastic review and thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Review: Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English & Book Club Giveaway

Summary: At the outset of World War II, Jack Rosenblum, his wife Sadie, and their baby daughter escape Berlin, bound for London. They are greeted with a pamphlet instructing immigrants how to act like "the English." Jack acquires Saville Row suits and a Jaguar. He buys his marmalade from Fortnum & Mason and learns to list the entire British monarchy back to 913 A.D. He never speaks German, apart from the occasional curse. But the one key item that would make him feel fully British -membership in a golf club-remains elusive. In post-war England, no golf club will admit a Rosenblum. Jack hatches a wild idea: he'll build his own.

It's an obsession Sadie does not share, particularly when Jack relocates them to a thatched roof cottage in Dorset to embark on his project. She doesn't want to forget who they are or where they come from. She wants to bake the cakes she used to serve to friends in the old country and reminisce. Now she's stuck in an inhospitable landscape filled with unwelcoming people, watching their bank account shrink as Jack pursues his quixotic dream.

In her tender, sweetly comic debut, Natasha Solomons tells the captivating love story of a couple making a new life-and their wildest dreams-come true. -- Reagan Arthur

As many of you already know, Kathy/Bermudaonion and I are hosting the Reagan Arthur Books Challenge. I have read some fantastic books from this imprint, but sadly, I've been a bit remiss lately with my participation in this challenge. Recently, I read MR. ROSENBLUM DREAMS IN ENGLISH by Natasha Solomons and now I remember just why I love this imprint so much. This novel was terrific! It was sweet, charming, cute, funny, and positively delightful!

I have to admit that I wasn't sure this book initially appealed to me. And even after I started reading it, I wasn't immediately sold on the characters -- especially Sadie. However, all of a sudden, I became caught up in the characters' stories and I didn't want to put the book down. I found Jack's story to be interesting and I was a bit entertained by his desire to become an Englishman. I also found some humor in Sadie's attitude towards Jack, but mostly, I was saddened by her life story. But when the two of them moved to the English countryside and Jack decided to build his very own golf course (by himself!), I absolutely fell in love with this book and its characters.

There are so many things about this novel that I loved that I'm finding it difficult for me to articulate my thoughts about this book. However, what I think stood out the most to me about this novel were the characters of Jack and Sadie. When Jack and Sadie flee Germany at the beginning of WWII and head to England, Jack decides that he will make himself into the perfect English gentleman. In fact, he religiously follows the pamphlet he received upon entering the county and even adds his own notes to it. His wife, Sadie, isn't quite as comfortable leaving behind her memories from Berlin. She can't forget her family and her life prior to the war and she also has some serious misgivings about Jack's state of mind. It isn't until they both share a love of the English countryside that they also realize how much they appreciate and love each other. MR. ROSENBLUM DREAMS IN ENGLISH is not only an entertaining story, but it's also a beautiful love story!

By the end of the novel, I absolutely adored both characters as well as their relationship with each other. I couldn't help but fall in love with Jack and his constant up-beat personality. He was the epitome of perseverance and hope. Even though many of his actions (like writing golf legend Bobby Jones letters and trying to build his own golf course entirely on his own) might be interpreted as a little wacky, I found him to be positively delightful -- and I was even able to buy his naivete and hopeful nature. His wife, Sadie, also grew on me throughout the story. I could understand her feelings and her actions because she was reluctant to leave behind her family and their traditions. My heart just broke over and over again and I read about her sadness, and I thought the scenes where she baked her mother's Baumtorte recipe were especially touching.

One thing that I appreciated about this novel was that Natasha Solomons actually based this story on the lives of her grandparents. For some reason, that just made the book all the more charming to me. I really can't say enough about Ms. Solomons' storytelling abilities, yet there was so much more to this novel that just the delightful story. I thought Ms. Solomons' did an amazing job of developing memorable characters from Jack and Sadie to the assorted townspeople. And I also loved how she wove some elements of folklore into the story. In addition, I appreciated just how much this book entertained me. It made me laugh (a lot!) and tear up a few times, but it also made me think. I really can't ask much more of a novel that that!

MR. ROSENBLUM DREAMS IN ENGLISH would make a wonderful book club pick. (Check out the end of this post for a chance to win a set of books for your book club!) Not only is the story charming, but the characters are extremely interesting and worthy of discussion. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and scope of their actions. There is a reading guideSemitism, perseverance, faith, and friendship. In addition, there are also some folklore and religious traditions that might be interesting to analyze.

I'm sure that many book clubs would love discussing this book at a future meeting, but I'm also excited by how creative book clubs could prepare some food that ties into the novel -- like the Baumtorte Recipe. Food is a critical part of this novel and I especially appreciated the symbolism of the Baumtorte that Sadie made in honor of her mother. I was excited to see that the recipe for this cake is actually one from Natasha Solomons' grandmother, and I love that she's so willing to share it with her readers:

Baumtorte Recipe

as made by Natasha Solomons' grandmother

1 cup butter, unsalted

6 eggs

 Zest of one lemon

1 cup vanilla sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

Whisk together a batter made of eggs, sugar, flour and lemon zest. Grease a 9" cake tin and heat a griddle till hot. Spread a thin layer over the bottom of the pan and grill until it is done. Ladle on layer after layer and grill until the side of the cake looks like the rings of a tree.

Bake a layer for everyone you need to remember. Decorate with sugared lemon and orange peel, or in spring, frosted violets.

My grandmother insisted that three cakes should be make at once: one cooking, one spreading, and one pondering.

Overall, I this MR. ROSENBLUM DREAMS IN ENGLISH was a wonderful book and I can't recommend it enough. Reagan Arthur described it to me as a mix between THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL SOCIETY and the movie Waking Ned Devine -- she mentioned that "editors love comparisons." I think she's spot on and this book is not to be missed!

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy of this novel.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

Giveaway alert: Thanks to the folks at Hachette, I have a fantastic opportunity for one lucky book club. I am giving away a set (up to 8 books) of MR. ROSENBLUM DREAMS IN ENGLISH. In addition, the winning book club will receive a box of Walker's Shortbread -- how English is that? Make sure you share this giveaway with members of your book club to increase your chances of winning!

To enter, just fill out the form below. I will be taking entries until November 20th at 11:59 p.m. ET, and I will notify the winner the following day. Open to those of you with U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. Good luck!