Book Review: The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen - BONUS RECIPE: Cambodian Red Curry Bean Curd with Peppers

This is an intriguing if somewhat predictable love story with religious undertones set in 19th-century England. Captain Stephen Overtree, a responsible elder son, marries the daughter of a famous artist. The girl, Sophia, became pregnant by Stephen’s free-spirited younger brother, Wesley, before he ran off to the continent.

The strife between proper “moral” behavior and Bohemianism plays out in the extended Overtree family, and Sophia struggles to fit in. Sophia’s secret love for Wesley and the need to keep secret the circumstances of her pregnancy is a focal conflict of the story, and Wesley’s climactic return makes a good plot point. An interesting cast of characters includes Stephen’s old nurse, a woman with a propensity for predicting the future. While historical in setting, the novel’s values and voice have a somewhat modern feel.

The novel will appeal to those Regency romances readers who may also like faith-based novels. The story has it all for the romance fan: unrequited love, loss of innocence and two men battling for the heart of one woman. It is an easy read, although improbable at times. Fans of Bethany House’s other offerings will enjoy it.

Review first published in The Historical Novel Review
 

BONUS RECIPE

Cambodian Red Curry Bean Curd with Sauteed Peppers

Ingredients:

1 block of firm Tofu, cubed
2 TBS Kroeng Cambodian red curry paste
1 Large shallot sliced
1 hot green pepper cut in rings
1 yellow and 1 red sweet pepper sliced in rings
I clove elephant garlic cut in thick slices
I tsp minced fresh ginger
3 TBS cream of coconut
1 cup chicken stock mixed with one tsp cornstarch
dash soy sauce
dash salt
dash lime juice
3 TBS peanut oil
1 TBS sesame oil

Saute tofu with Kroeng and salt in the peanut oil in a very hot wok until tofu is beginning to brown. Add stock, cream of coconut and cornstarch.  Toss and let cook down until the sauce is thick and coats well.  Set aside in a warm bowl.

Reheat wok and add sesame oil and remainder of ingredients.  Saute 4-5 mins until peppers are seared.  Cover and let steam over low heat for 5 mins more.  Serve over jasmine rice, veggies first, then top with tofu.  Pairs well with Champagne.

BOOK REVIEW: The Comet Seekers by Helen Sedgwick - BONUS RECIPE: Brisket Triple Decker with Bubbie's Sweet Vinegar Gravy

Harper, Harvill Secker, 2016, (US) $25.99 (UK) £12.99, ISBN(US) 9780062448767,(UK) 9781910701737, Hardback, 304 pp.

Find & buy on Amazon

This spellbinding debut novel encompasses the past, present and future of two unexpected lovers whose lives and relationships are intertwined with the passing of great comets overhead. The characters’ complexity and the connections in their lives build as the book slowly gets to its climax.

The two primary characters first meet on a snowy white expanse of modern Antarctica and are immediately drawn to each other, knowing everything will change for them. They are completely different in personality and past. Older by a few years, scientist Róisín grew up in a tiny village in Ireland with her astronomer father. She is passionate and well suited for surviving and working on the remote base station. François, the chef for the base, has left his birthplace in Bayeux, France, never having been away from home before. They are each longing for a fresh start, their respective reasons for leaving home each tied to tragedy.

Time and its complexity are the book’s most magical elements. The destinies of the two lovers are shown by the glimpses of the past and future, the celestial visitation of comets, and the ghostly, almost watchful presence of their ancestors. The novel’s main story is contemporary, but each chapter provides a historical vignette going back as early as the 11th century.

Sedgwick’s style is demonstrative and tactile, with the sweet, casual poeticism of haiku. A skillfully crafted, and emotionally perceptive novel that gives the reader a chance to explore the choices we make, the connections we miss, and the ties that inextricably join our fates.

Review first published in The Historical Novel Review


BONUS RECIPE

Slow braised brisket triple decker with Bubbie's sweet vinegar gravy.

Ingredients:

3 pound fatty cut of beef brisket
2 medium onions
1/2 cup chopped fennel fronds
2 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole
1/2 cup diced carrots
2 staves celery
Basil leaf
1 TBS each rough cut parlsey, rosemary, thyme, juniper berries
Handful of shitake mushrooms
3 quarts beef stock
2 TBS cornstarch, mixed with 2 TBS of the stock in a cup
3 TBS balsamic vinegar
2 TBS brown sugar
1 TBS apricot jelly
salt and pepper to taste

Place all ingredients in slow cooker and set to low for 8-10 hours.

Remove meat carefully with two slotted spoons to a greased cookie sheet, fat side up.  Brush with apricot jelly and place close under broiler for 2-4 minutes or until well browned but not burned. 

Strain liquid into a saucepan over medium heat. Thicken with cornstarch mixture and adjust seasoning to taste.

Toast three slices of rustic rye or sourdough bread, add cheese if desired (melt in micro for 30 secs on bread). Slice brisket thinly on bias, place on bread and sauce.  Serve with tomato, thin sliced raw onion, horseradish, fried egg if desired. Pairs well with Stout.

5 Reasons the Minoan Eruption May Have Been Worse Than We Thought - And Might Happen Again

No one disputes that the eruption of the volcanic island of Santorini (called Thera in ancient times) was a catastrophe on a massive scale, affecting large areas of the Aegean and linked to the decline of the powerful Minoan civilization. But could it have been much worse than originally thought? And more importantly, could it happen again?

1. Radiocarbon studies paint a picture much more grim than previously believed.

The most accepted date of the eruption, based on carbon dating of pumice deposited during the first stage, traditionally thought less destructive, is a little before 1600 B.C.E., although archaeological evidence is still debated. But those same radiocarbon studies paint a picture much more grim than originally thought.  Carrying a heavy rain of hot pumice, the 25-mile high eruption column spread a blanket up to 7 meters thick not just on Santorini itself, but across the entire Aegean and possibly beyond. Most terrifying of all, everything below the layer is older, and everything above it, much younger. But the Santorini volcano was only getting started.

2. Much of the eruption occurred below the sea surface, creating a tsunami of enormous size.

Archaeologists have long known that a tsunami accompanied the second stage of the eruption, and that some amount of damage was done to the Minoan civilization on its home island of Crete to the south.  But more recent studies of sea deposits show that the massive wave flooded coastal areas as far away as modern Israel, and throughout the Mediterranean. How is this possible? Because much of the eruption occurred below the sea surface, creating a tsunami of enormous size, as hundreds of cubic kilometers of sea water collapsed into the massive undersea caldera.

3. The sheer volume of the eruption was much greater than earlier believed

In the 1990's, geologists estimated that 39 cubic kilometers of magma and rock had erupted from the volcano around 1600 B.C., based on fallout observed on land.  But new evidence of the marine deposits resulted in an increased approximation of 60 cubic kilometers. These revised estimates place the Santorini eruption as the second largest in recorded history. More recent studies have produced even larger estimates of the kinetic power of the eruption, a blast with the energy of hundreds of atomic bombs occurring within a fraction of a second, possibly making it the largest ever.

4. The environmental damage may have been of literally Biblical proportions.

The eruption appears to have substantially turned the course of the previously stable Mediterranean climate. The after effects during the years following the eruption may have killed far more people than the event itself, and lead to the downfall of civilizations, as well as the providing the basis for the Biblical plagues, famine and Exodus narratives.

5. Could it happen again?

Short answer, definitely, but the big question is when. Minor eruptions occur fairly frequently on Santorini, but eruptions like the Minoan event are of a much grander scale, classed as plinian eruptions, and occur after a long period of subsurface dome building. This took thousands of years before the Minoan blast, but Santorini is by far not the most monitored active volcano on the planet.   The Minoans appeared to have had enough notice to evacuate Crete before the blast.  Given what we now know of its potential, it is certain we should keep a closer eye on Thera.

J.P. Jamin is an historical novelist who's latest book The Seas Come Still is based upon the fall of the Minoan civilization.

BOOK REVIEW: Labrys and Horns by Laura Perry

Labrys and Horns by Laura Perry

An authentic scholar and practitioner, Perry offers a gorgeously structured and informative guide to the cultic history of Crete and the integration and relevance of Neo-Minoan spirituality in contemporary life.

When it comes to what we think we know of ancient Crete, much has been made of very little. Perry's integrity sets her apart from the many well meaning re-imaginers of ancient paganism. The book begins with a thorough digest of the real evidence we have of Bronze Age Minoan culture, and a number of honest best guesses inspired by later Mycenaen archeology and Linear B writings. She does a masterful job of making the often confusing history accessible to the interested layperson. Carefully selected line images of Minoan artifacts and sacred symbols, and a well chosen roster of the most important goddesses and other divinities create an invaluable basis for the aspiring practicioner of this important but largely lost Pagan tradition.

But the heart and soul Perry brings to her subject matter makes Labrys and Horns truly special. Her unspoken assumption that the Pagan spirit will recognize itself in the remnant testimony of Minoan Crete rings true, and the book, while compelling to anyone, will resonate most powerfully with those already familiar with other strains of Pagan belief and practice.

It is equally affirming and inspiring to the informed afficionado. I have spent years researching ancient Crete as an historical novelist, but found dozens of fascinating nuggets I either didn't know or had not connected: the worship of sacral vestments, the extensive plethora of horned deities other than the bull, and the possible ritual and meditative uses of wine and the open fisted "Minoan salute," to name just a few.

Perry concludes with clear, detailed suggestions for real life practice, including the wonderful admonition to "listen to your inner voice."  Well said.  Her personal testimony is perhaps the book's strongest virtue.  Enthusiastically recommended.

See all of Laura Perry's literary and artistic offerings at http://www.lauraperryauthor.com/

BOOK REVIEW: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

An ambitious multigenerational family saga evocative of Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth, Lee's second novel Pachinko is engaging, complex, and highly relevant to the modern immigration experience.

 
The main protagonist is Sunja, daughter of a poor Korean tenant farmer born just after the turn of the century. At first the novel strikes us as economical of description; but the bleakness of Korean life before World War II is masterfully conveyed in Lee's spare style.

After the death of her father-the untimely demise of good men being a major theme-Sunja's mother takes in boarders to make ends meet during the worsening pre-war economy. At 15, Sunja's world is turned suddenly and forever upside down by the love of a fascinating older man who is rich, powerful, and the harbinger of secrets. The child she bears him, and her prideful refusal to become his mistress are decisions that will determine not only Sunja's own fate, but that of her family for generations to come.

Lee's stoic style continues to suit her subject matter, as life in Japanese occupied Korea becomes more difficult and Sonya moves to Japan with her new husband, a frail young Christian minister who married her to save her honor. But life for a Korean immigrant in Osaka proves no easier.
Despite its starkness there is a chaotic intimacy to the story which makes it seem more personal testament, somewhat robbing it of the universal message the reader buys in for. The novel's unabashed ethnic pride also plays a role-Koreans as unfailingly steadfast in their cultural morality despite universal victimization by the Japanese. Perhaps this may be forgiven Lee given the novel's realism, but the hurried tone of the final chapters of the saga, and the bleak conclusion, leave the reader with few other takeaways. A gripping read overall.

Review first published in The Historical Novel Review

BOOK REVIEW: Heirlooms by Rachel Hall - BONUS RECIPE: Raclette Omelet with Roasted Tomatoes and Spinich

 

This volume is a treasure box of interconnected short stories tracking a saga of a Jewish family’s survival, starting in Holocaust-era France.

Beginning in 1939 St. Malo, we meet young Lise, devoted to the raising and protection of the baby of her dead sister-in-law.  She makes her way across and out of France’s occupied zone, facing the horrors and fear of wartime Europe.

Hall’s writing style is minimalist perfection, each chapter a self-contained jewel. She manages to project intense sympathy without a hint of sentimentalism, and her multi-perspective sense of pathos is rare for the genre. Even Nazi officers and abusive French police are given multiple dimensions and some level of human frailty, which only makes the facts of wartime life more starkly real. As the settings progress to Israel and America, the story resonates deeply with the modern refugee experience and seems all the more fresh and timely. Definitely a welcome and beautiful voice in wartime historical fiction. Enthusiastically recommended.

Review first published in The Historical Novel Review 


BONUS RECIPE:
Raclette Omelet with Roasted Tomatoes and Spinach

Ingredients:
Three large farm fresh eggs, room temperature
1/4 pound of good Raclette cheese, frozen, grated, and brought back to room temperature.
1/4 pound of raw spinach leaves, picked and well cleaned
One very ripe medium tomato, in 1/8" slices
Brushings of extra virgin olive oil
Pat of good unsalted Normandy or Irish butter
1/4 tsp of good Dijon mustard
Pinch of brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
One ripe mango or papaya for garnish

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place tomato slices and spinach on a large cookie sheet lines with parchment paper, brush or spray with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and lightly sprinkle just to tomatoes with the sugar. Bake for 15-20 mins (use convection if available) or until tomatoes are just caramelized but not disintegrating, and spinach is wilted.

Brush a well-seasoned omelet pan with olive oil and heat not quite to smoking over medium heat. Control your heat well, if its smoking, turn down to medium-low. Beat eggs together very well with Dijon mustard (just eggs, no milk, water etc.). Swirl pan with butter (again watch for burning or smoking of butter - this will discolor your omelet. Add eggs to pan, and as the omelet films, push toward the center of the pan with a curved wooden spoon or metal spatula, tilting the pan to run the liquid eggs over the exposed bottom at least once. Add cheese, salt and pepper to taste (be conservative, you can season again after plating). Layer spinach and tomatoes (or serve on the side, at your option). Put heat on low and cover pan for just a minute or until middle is melted and only slightly runny. Shake to loosen from pan, fold in thirds and plate.  Garnish plate with sliced mangoes/papaya for a sweet contrast. 

Pairs well with brunch cocktails, consider a good tequila.

BOOK REVIEW: HMS Prometheus by Alaric Bond. BONUS RECIPE:Samlor Kary - Cambodian Green Curry

 

Bond delivers another fast-paced, high-impact piece of Napoleonic-era naval fiction with HMS Prometheus, eighth in his Fighting Sails series.

In the western Mediterranean in 1803, Captain Sir Richard Banks races to bring his crippled ship of the line back into fighting trim in time to support Horatio Nelson’s blockade of the French. Bond paints a broader perspective than most other masters of the genre, such as Patrick O’Brian. The narrative not only unfolds through the strategic view of the commissioned officers but also draws us into the quotidian drama of midshipmen, foremast hands, and smugglers, as well as the women who were routinely present on English naval vessels of the period, but less commonly discussed. These are more than sub-plots or contextual ambiance: the shipboard sufferings of the young former prostitute, Poppy, the moral shortcomings of foremast jacks such as Bleeden, the various inner means by which each seaman and officer cope with the terrors of naval combat. Bond shows us how each humble hobnail spirals upward to determine the fortunes of war and the outcome of great sea battles.

The senior staff is not neglected, however, and one of Bond’s most masterful touches is his close portrayal of Nelson, presenting the famous admiral from his strategic genius down to the smallest details of his generous and inspiring personality.

Like all good serial fiction, the author makes it relatively easy to pick up the story and break into the book on its own merits. That said, the ending leaves the reader yearning for the next installment.

Well researched, finely written. A must-read for lovers of sea stories.

Review first published in The Historical Novel Review

BONUS RECIPE
Samlor Kary - Cambodian Green Curry

3 TBS Kroeung paste (see link below)
Two chicken breasts cut in 1 inch cubes
1 cup eggplant in 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup sweet potato in 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup cauliflower in small florets
1 medium onion cut in wedges
2 TBS fresh chopped basil for garnish
2 cups coconut milk
1 TBS sugar
1TBS fish sauce
1 tsp salt
1 cup chicken stock
2 TBS peanut oil
2 TBS crushed roasted peanuts

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add kreoung and saute until fragrant. Add onion, eggplant and sweet potato and saute 5 mins. Add cauliflower and chicken and sauté additional 5 mins. Add coconut milk, stock, fish sauce, sugar and salt.  Simmer partially covered for 20-30 mins. Garnish with crushed peanuts and basil and serve with jasmine rice.

Kroeung:
http://grantourismotravels.com/2014/11/25/khmer-yellow-kroeung-kroeung-samlor-machou-recipe/