Thursday, December 22, 2011

Suite Francaise: A Novel



 
Book menu for Suite Francaise: A Novel by Irene Nemirovsky

ISBN of edition I read: 9781400096275 (trade paperback)

Food mentioned in Suite Francaise: A Novel:
Filet of sole, 11
Roast beef, 13
Oranges, 17
Strawberries, 17, 102, 139, 254
Peaches, 19, 192, 219
Cheese, 19
Wine:
     Pommery, 19
     Champagne, 70, 102
Cold chicken, ham, bread, 30
Petit fours, 51
Tea, 51
Pains aux raisins, 51
Shortbread, 52
Gingerbread, 52, 79
Cherries, 64
Mineral water, 67
Coffee, 73
     Mocha coffee, 169
Apples, 79
Nuts, 79
Hot chocolate, 145, 149
Croissants, 145
Cherry tart, 146
Cream-filled choux, 146
Jam sandwiches, 212

Books/Authors mentioned in Suite Francaise: A Novel:
Marcel Proust, 18
War and Peace / Leo Tolstoy, 18
George Byron, 66

Movies mentioned in Suite Francaise: A Novel:
A Day at Solesmes Abbey, 266
From Caterpillar to Butterfly, 266

Music mentioned in Suite Francaise: A Novel:
Bach, 283
Mozart, 283

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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Breakfast at Tiffany's

 
Book menu for Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

Edition I read: Selected writings. With an introd. by Mark Schorer.  Random House, 1963

Food mentioned in Breakfast at Tiffany's:
Cottage Cheese and melba toast, 171
Peanut butter, 174
Apples, 174, 177
Hamburger, 178
Lemon pie, 178
Sweet and sour ribs, 189
Coffee, 197
Chow mein

Books/Authors mentioned in Breakfast at Tiffany's :
Georges Simeon, 172
William Saroyan, 173
Ernest Hemingway, 173
Somerset Maugham, 174
Wuthering Heights / Emily Bronte, 203


Music mentioned in Breakfast at Tiffany's :
Cole Porter , 172
Kurt Weill , 172
"Oklahoma", 172

Radio programs mentioned in Breakfast at Tiffany's:
Our Gal Sunday, 163
Gilbert and Sullivan, 163

Title mentioned on pages 187, 202

Libraries mentioned in Breakfast at Tiffany's:
page 200

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The Seven Songs of Merlin

 
Book Menu for The Seven Songs of Merlin by T.A. Barron

ISBN of edition I read: 0441009476 (trade paperback)

This is book 2 in the Lost Years of Merlin series.

Food mentioned in The Seven Songs of Merlin:
Berries, 21
Ambrosia bread, 150
Honey-soaked nuts, 242
Rosemary mint tea, 242

Great vocabulary in The Seven Songs of Merlin:
gamboled, 2
nefarious, 6
rankle, 21
hubris, 92

Discussion questions for The Seven Songs of Merlin:
They are several songs/poems in this story? Do you have a favorite?
Would else could the seven songs be called? 

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Before You Know Kindness

 
Book menu for Before You Know Kindness: a Novel by Chris Bohjalian

ISBN of edition I read:  1400031656 (paperback)

Food mentioned in Before You Know Kindness:

Snow peas, 3, 19
Coffee, 9, 210
Altoids, 10, 146, 61, 289
Pancakes, 11, 12, 14
Sausages, 11
Soy milk, 14, 369
Soy hot dogs, 14
Tofu, 14
Garden burgers, 15
Muffins, 15
Vegan granola bars, 15
Bagels, 15
Lobster, 16
Lamb, 19
Bologna, 19, 79, 289, 293
Radishes, 19, 49
Oakleaf, 19
String beans, 19, 25, 46, 75, 95
Beets, 19, 25, 49
Corn, 20, 46
Zuccini, 20, 75, 95
Squash, 20, 49
Wine: Chateau Aile d'Argent, 24
         La Vignee Bourgogne, 24
Peas, 25, 46
Strawberries, 37, 70, 127, 128, 416
Blueberries, 37
Raspberries, 37
Grilled cheese, 43
Tomato-filled with salmon, 44
Carrots, 49
Kohlrabi, 49
Endives, 49
Souvlaki, 58
Shich kebab, 59
Slim Jims, 61, 289
Waffles, 69, 287
Strawberry shortcake, 70
Strawberry smoothies, 70
Strawberry soup, 70, 75, 80
Iced tea, 97
Marshmallows, 101
Popcorn, 101
English muffin, 127, 385
Blueberry preserves, 145, 259
Vegan granola, 145
Oatmeal cookies with carob chips, 145
Burgers, 145
Ice cream, 181
Cookie dough, 181
Cheeseburger, 181, 289
Hamburger, 181
Bran flakes & soy milk, 210
French bread, 210
Blueberry jam, 210
Bottled Iced tea, 226
Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, squash, 249
The meal described on p256
Egg salad sandwiches, 258
Scones, 259, 261
Patty melt on rye, 271
Turkey sandwiches, 273
Iced honey bun, 276
Hot fudge sundaes, 279
Pizza, 279
Gin and tonic , 284
The meal on page 285
Eclairs, 285
Okra, 286
Pretzels, 311
Shirley Temples, 323
Mimosas, 323
Chicken breasts, rice, peas, carrots, 353
Orange juice, 377
Frozen yogurt, 377

Books mentioned in Before You Know Kindness:
Naomi Shinab Nye, epigraph 
The Secret Garden / Frances Hodgson Burnett, (front quote and throughout the book)
Ovid (poet), 28, 216
Bronte, 58, 182
Jane Austen, 182
Charles Dickens, 182
William Shakespeare, 305
The Wind in the Willows / Kenneth Grahame, 334
Ramona / Beverly Cleary, 334

Movies/Television mentioned in Before You Know Kindness:
The Sound of Music, 99
Monty Python, 308
Masterpiece Theater, 355
Father Knows Best, 362

Music mentioned in Before You Know Kindness:
Sammy Davis Jr, 38
Mel Torme, 38
Marvin Gaye, 298 

Theater mentioned in Before You Know Kindness:
Oliver!, 66
Phantom of the Opera, 66
Annie Get Your Gun, 66, 152, 156
The Secret Garden, 189, 213, 231, 260, 269, 321, 412

Magazines mentioned in Before You Know Kindness:
Cosmo, 62
MAD, 152
People, 334
Vogue, 334
Teen People, 334
National Geographic, 347

Program ideas for Before You Know Kindness:
Vegetarianism, Vegetarian cooking, handgun laws and safety
Book group discussing The Secret Garden
Screening of the movie The Secret Garden

Discussion questions for Before You Know Kindness:
What role does The Secret Garden play in this novel?
What is the significance of the Cloisters, 366-7

Need a list like this for a book you're reading or an upcoming book-related event? Email me at ndemers62@hotmail.com for a free quote. (Please include "Book Menu Request" in the subject line). 

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Friday, December 16, 2011

The Handmaid's Tale


 
Book menu for The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

ISBN of edition I read: 038549081X (trade paperback)

Food mentioned in The Handmaid's Tale :
Chewing gum, 3
Bread, 9, 11
Peas (shelling peas), 10
Coffee, 10, 70, 105, 172, 246
Oranges, 25, 47, 116, 153
Ice Cream cone, 43
Baked potato, green beans, salad, 65
Canned pears with cinnamon, 65, 89, 282
Hard boiled eggs, 84
Hamburger balls and hash browns, 91
Apple juice, 110
Brown bread and lettuce sandwiches, 114
Cakes, 116
Ham, cheese, breads, 116
Fruit juice, 123
Beef Stew, 135
Orange Juice, 151
Strawberries, 164, 203
Doughnuts, 164
Ice cream with Jimmies, 165
Granola, 175
Peanut butter sandwiches, 178
Radishes, 207
Gin and tonic, 238
Celery sticks, 282
Cheese sandwich on brown bread, 282

Books/Authors mentioned in The Handmaid's Tale:
Alfred Tennyson, 153
Raymond Chandler, 184
Hard Times / Charles Dickens, 184
Geoffrey Chaucer, 301

Music mentioned in The Handmaid's Tale:
Beethoven, 44
Elvis, 302
Folk Songs of Lithuania, 302
Mantovani Orchestra, 302
Twisted Sister, 302
"Amazing Grace", 54
"Les Sylphides" / Frederic Chopin, 70
"Oh What a Beautiful Morning", 85

Magazines mentioned in The Handmaid's Tale:
Time , 45
Newsweek , 45
Vogue, 157
Mademoiselle, 184
Esquire , 184
Ms, 184
Reader's Digest 184

Games mentioned in The Handmaid's Tale:
Scrabble , 138, 144, 155, 163, 181, 209, 254

Discussable quotes in The Handmaid's Tale:
pages 24-5 "There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don't underrate it.....We were a society dying, said Aunt Lydia, of too much choice"

page 111: "In reduced circumstances the desire to live attaches itself to strange objects."

page 134-5 "But remember that forgiveness too is a power. to beg for it is a power, and to withhold or bestow it is a power, perhaps the greatest."

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Heir Apparent

 
Book menu for Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde

ISBN or edition I read: 0152045600 (hardcover)

Food mentioned in Heir Apparent :
Popcorn, 6
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, 10
Peaches, 141, 305
Ham and cheese sandwich, 190
Leek soup, 235
Pastries, 236
Chocolate Pop-Tarts, 241
Bread and honey, 241
Bread and cheese, 281
Apple tart, 281
Double-cheese pizza, 282
Castle-shaped cake, 305

Great vocabulary in Heir Apparent :
montage, 10
deigns, 16
vestigial, 30
apprise, 42
deviant, 43
saboteurs. 52
shirk, 61
dithering, 81
rapt, 129
brawn, 132
anachronistic, 141
derisive, 190
obsequious, 243

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman

 
Book menu Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy

ISBN of edition I read: 0740750399 (hardcover)

Food mentioned in Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman:
Whiskey sours, xii
Oreo Blizzards, (DQ), 17
Bud Light, 65

Cinnamon Rolls, 75
Danishes, 75
Bagels, 75

Doughnuts, 75
Cake, 75
Blow Pops, 75

Cookies 75
M&M's, 75-6, 77
Olive Garden's Black and White cheesecake, 77
Subway, 78
Oreos, 79
Diet Coke, 79
Oive Garden Chicken parm, 81
Olive Garden Lasagna, 81
Olive Garden Bread Sticks, 81
Altoids, 100
Gin and Tonic, 106
Apples,  116
Pizza, 119-20
Wine, 121
Filet Mignon, 121
Turkey and Provolone on sourdough, 127

Chicken fingers, 129
Chicken wings, 129
Nachos, 129
Chips and salsa, 133
Peanut Butter, 143
Jagermeister, 187


Books/Authors mentioned in Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman:
The Art of War/ Sun Tzu, 26
Men and Mars, Women are From Venus / John Gray, 67
Stephen Covey, 87
Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of Hardwood Warrior

      / Phil Jackson and Hugh Delehanty, 133-134
The Scarlet Letter / Nathaniel Hawthorne, 156


Movies mentioned in Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman:
Raising Arizona, 19
Rebel Without a Cause, 115
Interview with a Vampire, 122
The Man Who Knew Too Little, 123
Animal House, 133
Home Alone, 155
The Flintstones, 174


Television programs mentioned in Hard Sell: The Evolution 
of a Viagra Salesman:
Cheers, 10, 155
Andrew Dice Clay, 19
E.R. 41, 57
Adult Swim, 54
Mad About You, 18
 

Music mentioned in Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman:

The Cult, 19
Nirvana, 19
Lionel Ritchie, 48 


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The Wings of Merlin

 
Book menu for The Wings of Merlin by T.A. Barron

ISBN of edition I read: 0441010245 (trade paperback)

This is book 5 and the last installment in the Lost Years of Merlin series.
 

Food mentioned in The Wings of Merlin:
Gooseberries, 10
Raspberry syrup, 22
Walnuts, chestnuts, almonds, 24
Biscuits, 26
Baked apples with honey & cinnamon, 26
Oatcakes, 60, 74, 165
Berries, 74, 123
   Strawberries, 102, 123
   Blackberries, 123
Fruit pastry, 114
Pears, 123
Cherries, 123
Apples, 123
Plums, 123
Grapes, 123
Oatmeal porridge, 144
Apple cider, 144, 165
Dried fruit, 165

Books/Authors mentioned in The Wings of Merlin:
"Merlin and the White Death" (poem), Robert Williams Buchanan, epigraph

Music mentioned in The Wings of Merlin:
psaltery (instrument), 18
harps, 244
flute, 244

Great vocabulary in The Wings of Merlin:
iridescence, 11
chortling, 49
divisiveness, 65
astride, 73
copse, 73
verdant, 130
raucous, 150, 179
tumultuous, 151
boisterously, 166
coalesce, 196
reverberations, 221
incessant, 221

Discussion questions for The Wings of Merlin:
What was Merlin's most important lesson?
What do you think is Merlin's most useful power?
     Which power will best serve him in Britannia?
     Which of his powers would you most like to have?
What is Merlin's biggest flaw?
What does Rhita Gawr symbolize?
Describe the older Merlin. What would you say to your older self, if you could?

Monday, December 12, 2011

Empire Falls



 
Book menu for Empire Falls by Richard Russo

ISBN of edition I read: 0375726403 (paperback)

Food mentioned in Empire Falls:
Burgers, 21
Lobster bisque, 27
Green Mountain coffee, 28
Granola bar, 38
Lemonade, 46
Cookies, 47
Coffee, 47
Hot cocoa, 48
Sugar doughnuts, 84
Chinese food, 101
Fried haddock, whipped potatoes with gravy,
     apple sauce and parker house rolls, 101
Italian food, 102
Mexican food, 102, 423Steamer clams, 135-6
Clams casino, 139
Escargot, 140
Caviar, 144
Cheetos, 173, 374
Chicken salad sandwiches, 181
Seltzer with lime, 191
Beer nuts, 193
Flautas, 211
Hot dogs, 307
French toast, 319
Ham, 319
Roast chicken, 319
New England pot roast, 319
Dairy Queen hamburgers and fries, 334
Prime rib, 365
Seafood enchilada, 429

Books/Authors mentioned in Empire Falls:
The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald, 63
Ernest Hemingway, 127, 370
Ralph Waldo Emerson, 181
Robert Frost, 228
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn / Mark Twain, 232
Emily Dickinson, 245

Music mentioned in Empire Falls:
Abba, 30
     "Mama Mia", 193
     "Dancing Queen"
Barry Manilow, 30
     "Copa Cabana"
Rolling Stones, 41
Beatles Anthology, 75
Perry Como, 278

Artists mentioned in Empire Falls:
Andrew Wyeth, 104
Pablo Picasso, 181, 183, 187
Van Gogh, 360
Dali, 444

Discussion questions for Empire Falls:
Why is Mrs. Whiting so generous to Miles?

Did you notice which chapters are told in the present tense? (Any patterns?; effective?)
[Chapter 4, 10, 30]

What, if anything, does Tick have in common with either of her parents?

Any parallels between Miles and his mother?

Irony: Both Janine and Grace Roby confess their affairs to a priest.

What is the author's opinion of the Catholic church?

Describe the relationship between Janine and Tick?

Which character would you most like to meet?

What role does the river play in the story?(Symbol, metaphor)

How do you feel about most of the kids' treatment of John Voss?

Is Tick a believable character? Explain.   Is she ahead of her time/wiser than her years?

Discuss the author's choice of the name 'Tick'.

Any similarities between Tick and John?

Describe Zack in ONE word.

Why doesn't Tick have friends?

For what is the cat a metaphor?

Describe Jimmy Minty in one word.

What are examples of the 'Empire' falling?

Libraries mentioned in Empire Falls:
page 260: "Hey, speaking of getting pushed around, will you please stand for school board again? The damn fundamentalists are going to ban every library book worth reading if I don't get some help."

page 468 (entire first full paragraph).

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