The Tale of Hawthorn House by Susan Wittig Albert

A book based around the most popular children's author of all time? Don't mind if I do!

That is exactly what The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter are. Who is Beatrix Potter, you ask? Why, every child has heard of Peter Rabbit! That is exactly who Beatrix Potter is, the author of some of the most famous children's stories ever written.

Albert bases her stories (loosely) around events that actually occurred in Ms. Potter's life. From the history I have personally read of Beatrix it seems to me she made the personality of the character fit very well with the real woman as well. 

Shy, determined, intelligent, creative. Wonderful. 

In this story Beatrix is visits the lovely little town of Near Sawrey where she owns a farm that she, due to over bearing parents, doesn't get to visit very often. Ms. Potter loves her little farm and does her very best to take care of it and make it prosperous. However, every time she comes to the village, she seems to get tied up in some kind of mystery and mild mayhem. In this case it is the mystery of a baby that was left on her doorstep and no one knows who the child's parents are. 

By a series of fortunate coincidences she does in the find the child's parents and the child gets the best of all worlds in the end. In the meantime Beatrix is mistakenly marked a bride, assists a friend with some much needed courage, and misplaces a duck. I do believe the part about the duck is my favorite. Anyone who has read Beatrix Potter's stories knows the tale of Jemima Puddleduck and in this book we get to explore a little further into her story as well as her furry friend's. 

In all of the books Albert has done about Beatrix in her Cottage Tales series, they delve a little further into the children's stories that Potter actually wrote and it is really wonderful to add to those little stories in your head, even if it just seems like some insignificant detail. 

Now, if you're looking for a fast paced, action packed book then this series would not be quite right under those per-requisites. If you want an interesting, well written, quiet yet detail orientated mystery then look no further. I would give this book, and the entire Cottage Tales series, a solid five flopsy bunnies out of five. 


This book inspired me to make Shepherd's Pie.
     Nothing quite says old England to me quite like Shepherd's pie. It is something that could be found in many homes as a hearty meal.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C Wrede

I don't often go for sci-fi. A little bit of fantasy, sure, because what is life without a little imagination. But straight out sci-fi? That happens a little next to never. However, Dealing with Dragons is the first in the series of four in the Enchanted Forest chronicles by Patricia C Wrede and they take you into a world of dragons, fiery princesses, evil plots, and magic that is so carefully written into the story that it seems almost commonplace and normal. 

Cimorene is a princess of the Kingdom of Linderwall and she is not exactly what the king and queen would consider a normal princess. She conjugates Latin verbs, makes cherries jubilee, and can cast a mean invisibility spell. Her sisters learn when to scream as a dragon or orge is carrying them off and different embroidery stitches. But not Cimorene. When her parents arrange a marriage for her to an annoyingly proper prince in a neighboring kingdom, Cimorene goes off on her own and volunteers to become the captive princess of the dragon Kazul. 

Sounds like fun to me. 

While sorting Kazul's library, organizing her treasure vaults, and making her chocolate mousse Cimorene discovers a plot against the life of the king of the dragons. From here she works with a prince that was turned into stone (quite unfortunate), a ginger witch with perfect posture (and a lot of cats), and an only slightly silly princess to try to thwart the over-confident wizards from taking control of the dragon's throne. 

This series is absolutely wonderful. Wrede keeps to her themes, stays true to her characters, and the series itself winds together beautifully. If you have even a passing fancy of sci-fi or even just a good and fanciful story I cannot recommend the Enchanted Forest chronicles enough. If you aren't into science fiction I know it sounds a bit silly. However, I truly believe if you give the books a try you will not regret it. Wrede pulls you into her stories with such wonderful writing and you can't help but keep your eyes glued to the page. I give this book, and the series itself, five melting wizards out of five. (now go and find out what the melting wizards reference is, you silly goose!)

This book inspired me to make Coconut Potato Curry with Basil.
     Thinking of the dragons breathing fire makes me want something spicy but still with a "down home" feel. Potatoes and curry absolutely hit the spot!