Reading anything written by Sarah Addison Allen is, to me, the epitome of comfort reading.
Other Birds is her most recent.
"When Zoey comes to claim her deceased mother’s apartment on a tiny South Carolina island, she meets her quirky and secretive neighbors — including a girl on the run, two estranged middle-aged sisters, a lonely chef, a legendary writer, and three ghosts. Each with their own story. Each with their own longings. Each whose ending isn’t yet written."
I recommend reading them all.
Every one of 'em.
Gobble them up while indulging in your favorite snacks and comfort food.
There are a few authors whose books I'm going to read the minute I'm able.
Lucky for me, I was able to get advance copies of these novels written by these outstanding writers through NetGalley even though I have each of them pre-ordered.
I know some people think re-reading is silly and a waste of time.
I don't feel that way.
Yes, i know - there are exciting new books being published every day.
"Too many books, too little time."
I get that.
I am, however, a re-reader from way back.
When an author is able to find a way to use words to create a phrase or a thought that feels magical enough to cause me to stop reading long enough to think about, savor, and feel a connection, that's a book I know I'll come back to.
These are the most recent books delivering that magic.
Today we'll be reading from Sarah Addison Allen's "The Sugar Queen." "Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night. . . . Until she finds her closet harboring Della Lee Baker, a local waitress who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother."
"Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love—and the enchanting possibilities of every new day." I adore Sarah Addison Allen's work. When I read more than one person's review of my "Whimsey" comparing it to work done by Ms. Allen, it was the greatest compliment I could ever have hoped to receive. Take a listen to this excerpt, and enjoy!
I loved this book to the moon and back. Fun quirky characters living in a delightful old house turned into apartments in Alphabet City, NY, along with good food, and even a taste of the south. All things I love. And some hysterical dialogue. It's a gentle read bringing comfort and some smiles. It's a funny story without trying too hard to be funny. It's sweet without being overly so. I think it's "just right." And the bees! Oh my, I fell totally head over heals in love with the bees. I think this was the first books I've read by Sarah-Kate Lynch, but I'm going to take a look at what else she's written. The story reminded me a great deal of books written by Barbara O'Neal and Sarah Addison Allen, two more favorites. Disclaimer: I purchased this book.
Back in 2011, I wrote a blog here about an author I had recently discovered - Sarah Addison Allen. I was blown away by her writing, and became a fan and devoted follower of her work.
As it happens, serendipity was about to come into play. I was over the moon about being interviewed by Marlisa Mills, for Western North Carolina Magazine. I couldn't wait to have the March, 2011 edition in my hands to read the final version when I was stopped in my tracks to see thatmy interview followed a wonderful interview of Ms. Allen written by Erin Campbell. It was a very big deal to me to be invited for an interview by Marlisa, an exceptionally gracious woman, and terrific writer, who I greatly admire. Sometimes life hands over the sweetest of gifts, and being included in the same edition of a magazine I love along with New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen was the oh so sweet icing on the cake.
A lot of things have happened since I wrote that post. In my life - I've published WHIMSEY: A NOVEL.
In Sarah Addison Allen's life - she has a new book coming out in February - LOST LAKE. Her first book in three years. Her first, to quote her from her Facebook page "post cancer book."
In addition to being a hugely talented writer, she's also a fighter who has successfully fought a battle against breast cancer. A fight many of us have followed through her posts at FB in an amazingly honest and inimitable fashion. The woman rocks. She. just. rocks.
She's one of my heroes, although she has no way of knowing this. Our only relationship is through Facebook where I'm one of her many readers and fans. And she has MANY. They're loyal, they love her for not only her work, but for her daily graciousness in their lives. She's fun and funny and kind.
Jumping forward to yesterday.
She posted a very short little something on her Facebook wall - "check out my FB friend Kaye Wilkinson Barley's WHIMSEY: A NOVEL."
This morning I work up to find my Whimsey picked up quite a few friends during the night. People who most likely would never have discovered it without the kindness of a stranger. Words are powerful. We sometimes forget just how powerful.
My thanks to the incredible Sarah Addison Allen and her friends who have decided to give WHIMSEY a chance just because of a few short words she was thoughtful enough to take the time to post at Facebook.
As the year comes to a close, I'm still pondering my "Best of 2011 List."
It's hard! I read a lot of really terrific books this past year.
Two books, however, pop immediately to mind, and they will top my list - Margaret Maron's THREE-DAY TOWN and Louise Penny's A TRICK OF THE LIGHT.
Both books were books I've been waiting for. Margaret finally gives us Deborah and Sigrid together and Louise gives us the event I started hoping for in the very first Three Pines novel. I finished both books with a smile on my face and immediately read through them a second time. Pure Bliss ! ! !
They were worth the wait.
2011 brought some new authors to my attention that found their way onto my "Auto Buy List." They're a fairly wide ranging group. I can't think of a single word that might fit each of these writers and tie them together in any manner, but they each captured me in a big way. Well, actually, I can. They're all women. Something I did not realize until now. I "think" I read a pretty good mix of both men and women, but I have to admit, this is going to send me back to the list of books I read in 2011 and see if that's really true. Huh. How 'bout that? A mystery to ponder . . . .
Here are my new discoveries. If you haven't tried any these authors yet, please do and let me know what you think. (I'd suggest reading the Tana French books in the order written. They're not really a series, but each novel introduces a character you'll meet in the next novel. And I would most definitely read Susan Hill's Simon Serrailler series in order).
Sarah Addison Allen - "North Carolina novelist Sarah Addison Allen brings the full flavor of her southern upbringing to bear on her fiction -- a captivating blend of fairy tale magic, heartwarming romance, and small-town sensibility." author bio
Tana French - "Ambitious and extraordinary" Washington Post
Julia Glass - "Glass establishes her literary credentials with ingenuity and panache." Publisher's Weekly
Susan Hill - "Thoughtful mysteries...elegant prose." New York Times Book Review
Erin Morgenstern - “Every once in awhile you find a novel so magical that there is no escaping its spell. The Night Circus is one of these rarities — engrossing, beautifully written and utterly enchanting. If you choose to read just one novel this year, this is it.” Danielle Trussoni, author of Angelology
Barbara O'Neal - “As dark and deep and sweet as chocolate…I wanted to live in this book.” Sarah Addison Allen
Any discoveries you'd care to share?
And I'd like to wish all of you a Happy New Year! May 2012 bring you nothing but good things!
We readers are passionate about sharing newly discovered books and authors. That's certainly not news to any of you guys! Some of my all-time favorite writers are those who were introduced to me by many of you through the DorothyL mystery community; others I've just been lucky enough to stumble on.
Such is the case with the wonderful work of Sarah Addison Allen, who describes her work as "Southern-Fried Magical Realism."
I had just discovered this delightful young writer when a particularly lovely occurrence was happening in my life. I was over the moon about being interviewed by Marlisa Mills, for Western North Carolina Magazine. I couldn't wait to have the March, 2011 edition in my hands to read the final version when I was stopped in my tracks to see that my interview followed a wonderful interview of Ms. Allen by Erin Campbell. It was a very big deal to me to be invited for an interview by Marlisa, an exceptionally gracious woman, and terrific writer, who I greatly admire. Sometimes life hands over the sweetest of gifts, and being included in the same edition of a magazine I love along with New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen was the oh so sweet icing on the cake.
This from her webpage: "North Carolina novelist Sarah Addison Allen brings the full flavor of her southern upbringing to bear on her fiction -- a captivating blend of fairy tale magic, heartwarming romance, and small-town sensibility."
Ms. Allen has written four novels -
Garden Spells
"Spellbindingly charming, Allen's impressively accomplished debut novel blends the evanescent desires of hopeless romantics with the inherent wariness of those who have been hurt once too often."
- Booklist, starred review
The Sugar Queen
"Words such as sweet, charming and delightful are weak accolades for such a pleasurable book."
- Publishers Weekly
The Girl Who Chased the Moon
"That it is never too late to change the future and that high school sins can be forgiven--these are wonderful messages, but Allen's warm characters and quirky setting are what will completely open readers' hearts to this story."
- Library Journal, starred review
The Peach Keeper Allen juggles smalltown history and mystical thriller, character development and eerie magical realism in a fine Southern gothic drama. The underlying tension will please and unnerve readers, as well as leave them eager for Allen's next.
-Publisher's Weekly
So, there you have it, my latest author discovery that I'm pretty passionate about. I hope you'll give Sarah Addison Allen a try. Let me know what you think, please! In the meantime, here's a little magical bonus surprise for you. From Sarah's webpage - - - - (this is just one of a few recipes she shares with you there - stop by her place for the others. Her webpage is lovely and you'll enjoy spending a little time there -
(Be sure to use culinary flowers, never florist flowers.)
ROSE PETAL SCONES
rose petal -- encourages love...
2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
4 Tbs unsalted butter
1/3 cup unsalted coarsely ground pistachio nuts
1 cup heavy cream
1 Tbs rose water
2 Tbs edible rose petals - finely shredded
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine and sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Cut in the butter and mix until crumbly. Stir in the pistachios. In a separate bowl, combine the cream and the rose water. Stir in the shredded rose petals. Add the cream-rose mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring until a soft dough forms. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
