Tag Archives: reviews

Winds of Chance

Why do I keep posting  book recommendations that are for girls only?? It’s a major concern to me right now. I used to think I was just a person . . . but as it turns out, I’m actually a girl. It’s an inextricable part of my being, and it defines what I love in life. I’m sorry, tabula rasa theorists. I was born this way!

That probably also explains why I keep returning to this wine . . . everything is starting to make sense:

Wine conoisseurs, please don’t laugh me off the internet. God made me to like fruity, juice-like wines. This bottle was a gift from my mother-in-law. She also likes girly wines, and for that I am grateful. I don’t stand alone in my shame!

The English author Jeffery Farnol (1878-1952) is one of my guilty pleasures—though it should no longer be “guilty” since we have just established that I was born like this. He is a treasure trove of archaic views, fainting women, over-dramatic scenes, and gender stereotypes. Ah yes, the gender stereotypes. So why do I like him? Well—his novels are incredibly romantic. And somehow that cancels out any reservations that any person of sense could ever bring to the table. Romance conquers all! . . . or was that love? Wait, is there a difference?

His books have it all: duels and boxing matches over a woman. Full lips and drooping lashes. Helpless women and strong men; feisty women and men who put them in their place. But I just love them the way they are! Would they enrage a feminist? Perhaps. The storylines all emphasize that submission to a strong and good man is a beautiful thing. Does the word “submission” make you cringe? Well, a few years ago it made me cringe too. And then something changed (namely, a strong and good man). But that’s another story for another time.

“Winds of Chance” (originally “Winds of Fortune”) is the epitome of everything Farnol represents. It’s the first novel of his that I read, and it got me hooked forever. It was published in 1934, and that alone makes it practically historical—in fact, I don’t know why they didn’t have us read it in history class. Plot summary: a feisty and beautiful woman named Ursula through various contrivances ends up on a pirate ship called The Deliverance. She experiences many stirring adventures on the seas and in the jungles, throughout which time she falls madly in love with Japhet, her abductor. He saves her from villains, looks deeply into her eyes, wields various kinds of weaponry, calls her “wench” at least a dozen times, etc. etc.

Please look at some of these fantastic chapter titles:

Other Farnol favorites of mine are “The Broad Highway” (published in 1910—even more historical!), “The Amateur Gentleman”, “Beltane the Smith”, and “The Money Moon.”

If you’re still not feeling convinced, please read the front of “The Broad Highway”:

“Hee who myne heart would keepe for long

shall be a gentle man and strong.”

I’m already sobbing into my morning java. The good kind of sobbing.

Make a fancy coffee and curl up with “Winds of Chance” over the weekend.

Next week—a more guy-friendly book review. Maybe.

Another cast iron triumph

OK, so I haven’t talked about the first cast iron triumph, which is my cast iron skillet. But let’s pretend I’ve raved about it in at least a dozen posts, and move on to the second cast iron triumph in my life: the indoor griddle/grill whatchamacallit.

Why hello there . . .

Living in an apartment in the city, my outside grilling options are nonexistent unless I want to use the fire escape … but the fire escape overlooks piles of trash and dumpsters, and the thought of my food mingling with potentially contaminated air makes me scrunch my face and look like a gremlin–so it’s out of the question. I’m a good wife, and I don’t want to frighten my husband with ye ole gremlin face. Though I do like to spring it on him sometimes when we’re brushing our teeth, so never mind about the “good wife” part.

After reviewing my options the choice seemed clear, so I quickly took action: I bought a griddle! And I love it. I love it so much that I would spank it, if it had a bottom. And if its bottom weren’t made of rock-hard cast iron.

One thing you should know about me up front: I spank the things I love. And the people I love—as long as they’re my sisters or my husband.

All the recipes for grilling I’ve been salivating over for years, I can finally make inside. Perhaps not with exactly the same results—but hey, I’m making do. To complete my extravagant purchase, I bought a press that I can use to make paninis. I’ve never been a sandwich girl, but paninis are a different matter. Especially once I layer them with the garlickyest of garlicky grilled veggies. With a side of garlicky alioli. Garlic, garlic, garlic, how I love you! [shaking a fist of love in the air] And grilled tuna steaks–I love you too. And grilled asparagus. And grilled everything!

Plus, once you flip over the ridged side that will create grill marks destined to be THE ENVY OF MY NEIGHBORS (sorry, I’m hopped up on coffee and the caps are just pouring out of my keyboard), there is a smooth side … a side destined for eggs-in-a-basket. Pancakes. Hotcakes!  Hash browns! Crumpets, crispins, and crimpcakes! [eyes revolving maniacally in head]

I’m sorry, I need to go commune with my grill. I can’t take the separation any longer.

And now, enjoy some shots of last Friday’s celebratory griddle-inauguration feast. I loaded up on materials at a Mexican grocery store, and the results . . . oh, the results.

Grilling recipes coming–sometime in the next 5 years. (Life tip: it’s all about undercommitting up front so that when you come through sooner than planned, everyone is wowed*)

*That will be a non-refundable $20 charge for the psychological advice—payments accepted in cash, wire transfer, check, or additional cast iron objects shipped express to my apartment. Thank you for your business.