Divergent Series

For the next installment of that very specific genre that I like so much, I read the first two books in the Divergent series by Veronica Roth (and I am very anxiously awaiting the third, and I think final book, so like, come ON already!) Divergent and Insurgent.

The setting: Chicago, a couple centuries in the future. The city has the same landmarks as we would find now including Lake Shore Drive, Navy Pier, and the John Hancock building, but the city is now surrounded by a wall and the population is broken up into five factions that each have a different set of values:

1. Candor-- the honest
2. Abnegation-- the selfless
3. Dauntless-- the brave
4. Amity-- the peaceful
5. Erudite-- the intelligent

On their sixteenth birthdays, kids must choose a faction. Most choose the faction they were raised in, or the one they "match" with according to some super high-tech virtual reality test.

Our protagonist: Beatrice, also known as Tris, who is raised in a very conservative Abnegation household but chooses Dauntless for her faction after her test results are "inconclusive". Tris, who starts out meek and without a clue who she is, slowly grows into an incredibly strong woman who, like both of her factions, is both brave and selfless.

The love interest: Four, an older member of the Dauntless faction who helps Tris find her strength. He is dark, tormented, dreamy, and mysterious... you know, the usual.

What's so dystopian about it? Well, across both books (I'll try not to give too much away here), Tris learns more and more about the different factions and discovers they aren't as peacefully coexisting as she once thought. 

The verdict: As far as I can tell, this series has it all-- it's a coming of age story, has a strong female lead, the swoon factor is off the charts (in the first book especially), and has enough action (in the form of a revolution!) to satisfy anyone. I can't wait for the next installment!

Deadlocked... no, really

The latest book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, Deadlocked, is very aptly named as I find myself in a virtual deadlock with the series. While Charlaine Harris' world of "supes" and lusty vampires enticed me for at least seven or eight novels, I'm just over it now. The last two books have lacked any sort of cohesive story line or plot, and I feel like instead I am just "checking in" with all of the characters down in Bon Temps.

So, why am I in a deadlock? I need this series to end; I'm waiting for it to tidily wrap itself up so I don't have to read it anymore. As I have explained in this blog before, I am somehow incapable of quitting a book. I will stop reading it, sure, but I won't ever admit that I'm done, and will keep the never-ender on my bedside table, taunting me every night when I get in to bed and yet again choose something else to read. Well, as it turns out, I am also incapable of quitting series.

So, Ms. Harris, please quit writing these books because I can't quit you! Oh, and p.s., please do not have Sookie end up with Sam because the Sam portrayed on True Blood has ruined his character in the books for me. Okaythankssssss. And while I am on the subject of True Blood... what the heck is going on in this season? Have we abandoned all worthwhile story lines from the books? I'm just not happy with the state of vampire affairs right now, obviously. I just want Eric to wear blue sweaters (see below) and be in love with Sookie. Is that so much to ask?

you are welcome

17th Meeting: Rabbit, Run

The 17th meeting of Eat, Drink, and Be Literary was hosted by one of our newest members, Kelsey. She made her official mark on our book club with a bang, by selecting John Updike's classic Rabbit, Run. Our whole club remarked that while knowing John Updike's name, that we had never actually read anything by him. We were very glad to have righted this obvious wrong!

This novel, the first of the Rabbit series, follows a young man nicknamed Rabbit suffering what we would now refer to as a quarter life crisis. He is 26, married to an alcoholic, has a toddler and a baby on the way, and impulsively decides to leave his home and his life. He runs away from all responsibilities, searches for an identity, and leaves a nothing but uncertainty and destruction behind. 

While I am sure this novel was groundbreaking and scandalous (hence being a banned book) when it came out in the 1960's, for most of us in the book club, it felt like a tired story. We have actually read quite a few novels lately about men suffering crises of virtue and identity, and it is really only palatable in small doses. 

Updike's prose were incredible, though, and it was apparent to all of us why he is a household name. While I didn't love the book, and I especially didn't love Rabbit, I think I might be interested in reading the later books in the series in hopes that I see some actual growth in the character. 

Because of the symbolism of Rabbit's nickname (as a creature without much foresight, and with too much fight or flight instinct), Kelsey suggested that we bring "animal" themed food. I brought radishes from my garden (that's rabbit food, right?), and we had other goodies such as puppy chow, ants on a log, and monkey bread. It was probably the cutest theme yet!

The Hunger Games Series

Oh. My. Gosh. That is really all I can say.

I finished the Hunger Games series over two months ago and I have just been contemplating what to write about them ever since. Nothing I can say could ever accurately represent these novels or how much I loved them. This series was like brain candy. I read all three books in a combined four sittings, and after I finished them I went through a mourning period. I couldn't think of reading another book, I couldn't believe the world Suzanne Collins had created for me was over, and I found myself literally cuddling with the books at night re-reading select chapters to get my fix.


No spoilers here-- the Games are best experienced if you have no idea what to expect. But, let me just say that these novels have something for everyone.

If you can't remember the last time you stayed up all night to finish a book then it is time to pick up the The Hunger Games, Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games), and Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, Book 3).

Vampire Book Club-- Dead Reckoning

My girlfriends Lisa and Mandy and I discovered a few years ago that we all share a passion for silly vampire novels. Obviously we had a hay day with the Twilight series, but now our focus is on the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris-- and perhaps more importantly, the HBO series True Blood that brings the books to life!

Last summer we got together once a week to watch episodes of the show, share our culinary skills with each other, and squeal in delight over the viking vampire, Eric.

This summer is going to be no different, as the show just started up, but to tide us over before season 4, we had a vampire book club night so we could discuss the latest chronicles of Sookie-- Dead Reckoning. While these books are always fun, and very easy to devour in just a night or two, the latest installment mostly fell flat for us. (Somewhat-of-a-spoiler alert)The supernatural world that Sookie finds herself involved in has just gotten crazy-- there are vampires, werewolves, other shifters, fairies, elves, and plenty of others that appear every once in awhile. This book, instead of focusing on Sookie's battle with just one supe (or even one supe), basically covered too much ground. We checked in with every supe in Bon Temps at least once, and the plot barely moved a long.  The big events that unfolded were the end (or what appears to be) of Sookie's relationship with Eric, the end of the latest evil vampire in charge, and the discovery of some interesting Fae related truths in Sookie's home.

The book was still fun, raunchy, and exciting-- but it didn't have the same engaging qualities as some of the previous.

The ladies of the vampire book club are currently more excited for Season 4 of True Blood (Sunday nights on HBO). Any woman who has read the fourth book knows why.

Nothing says "Independence Day" like bourbon, jazz, and vampires!

Happy 4th of July! I rather like this holiday, if only for fireworks and an obligatory day off of work. This year, I think I have used my long weekend rather well.

Yesterday, I went to the Cedar Ridge Vinyard in Swisher, Iowa to try their newly released Iowa (100% corn) bourbon whiskey-- the first bourbon made in Iowa since prohibition. Along with a sip that was strong enough to give me a buzz, I tasted several of their award winning wines (from Iowa grapes-- practically unheard of) and got a tour of the distillery. It is a rather small scale production, and the bottles are all hand filled and hand labeled, but the staff was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly and everything I tasted was great. I love to support local business, and getting to drink some quality beverages while doing it made me feel even better! I'm no bourbon connoisseur, but I look forward to whipping up a batch of mint juleps and celebrating some Iowa spirits!

If wine and spirits weren't enough for one day, I also enjoyed Iowa City's Jazz Festival last night. It was a perfect evening for jazz on the lawn, beer on a warm breezy patio, and fresh kettle corn to munch on. Though today promises to be rainy, I am half tempted to head downtown if only to taste more of the treats offered by food vendors lined up and down the street.

This morning, I opted against anything so patriotic as a parade, and instead picked up the latest Sookie Stackhouse book, Dead in the Family. It is the tenth installment of Charlaine Harris's southern vampire (among other supernatural beings) mystery series. 


For those of you who have not picked up this delightful, trashy, addicting fluff I beg you do so only if you have a few weeks of free evenings to pound out the ten book series. The books are just as engaging, exciting, and swoon inducing as the Twilight series (yes, I am as bad as a tween girl), but they have an added raunch factor to please more adult (and more gender neutral) audiences. I just finished the book and am already counting down the days til the next book is released. I just can't get enough Sookie! Thankfully, True Blood seasons 2 and 3 can tide me over. Though the series is not nearly as good as the books, it definitely provides some, ahem, titillating distractions from real life.

On that note, I hope your Independence Day is full of good eats, delicious drinks, and as many adventures (literary or not) that you can handle!