Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Our Beloved Rabbi


I have known Rabbi Debbie for a few years. I connected with her right away. She is my kind of person. She is a " free spirit". A Jewish feminist, my kind of person. Our biggest connection is books.  We would occasionally bump into each other at Barnes at Noble at Market Commons.  When we get together, watch out. We can talk for hours about books.

Rabbi Debbie each year for the last four years has been the guest speaker for our Jewish Grand Strand Reads event. From Alice Hoffman, and the Dove Keeper, to Rav Hisda's Daughter, from Maggie Anton, and finally our favorite read, Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.

She doesn't ask for compensation for these events. But, does this for the love of reading and sharing her knowledge to others.

Rabbi Debbie doesn't have a pulpit. Instead she teaches at the local university, at Coastal Carolina University. She teaches religious studies. Everyone loves Rabbi Deb.

A few years ago, Rav Deb and I were discussing something about a Jewish community read. Then after that I decided to organize, and she did the talking. What a great combination. The rest is history.

Jewish Grand Strand is very upset when we all learned that Rabbi Deb has become ill. She is a prominent Jewish leader in the Jewish community. We all care so much about her.

We all wish her well, and g-d willing a full recovery. .
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Sunday, June 22, 2014

The Cook's Temptation's: Blog Tour



Book Blast: The Cook's Temptation by Joyce Wayne


HF Virtual Book Tours invites you to join Joyce Wayne as she tours the blogosphere for The Cook’s Temptation! Find the information below to enter a giveaway to win an eBook of The Cook’s Temptation or a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

Publication Date: February 1, 2014
Mosaic Press
Formats: Ebook, Paperback

Joyce Wayne brings to life the complexities of Victorian life, first in County Devon and then in London’s East End. The ‘big picture’ is about one woman’s life, class conflict, religious intolerance, suspicion and betrayal. The central figure is Cordelia, a strong-minded Jewish woman who is caught between her desire to be true to herself and her need to be accepted by English society. Cordelia Tilley is the daughter of a Jewish mother and an Anglican father. Her mother has groomed her for a life in English society while her father, a tough publican, has shown no tolerance for his wife’s social climbing or the conceits of their perspicacious daughter. Cordelia’s mother dies from typhoid fever, she tries to run the family ‘s establishment, she falls prey to a local industrialist, she gives birth to a son, she is tormented by her husband and his family. Finally, she is rescued by suffragette friends and sets off to start a new life in London. The Cook’s Temptation is about a woman who is unpredictable, both strong and weak willed, both kind and heinous, victim and criminal. It is a genuine Victorian saga, full of detail, twists and turns, memorable scenes, full of drama and pathos.

 

PRAISE FOR THE COOK’S TEMPTATION

“Joyce Wayne’s debut novel, The Cook’s Temptation, has the stately bearing of a nineteenth century novel – the mercilessness of Thomas Hardy, the black allegory of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the tense marriages of George Eliot. It is a story of how people become what you blame them for being.” – Ian Williams, poet and fiction writer, short listed for the 2012 Griffin Poetry Prize

 

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon CAN
Amazon UK
Amazon US (Kindle)
Amazon US (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Chapters.Indigo
Kobo 
Mosaic Press

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joyce Wayne has an MA in English literature, has taught journalism at Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario, for twenty-five years, and lives in Toronto, Ontario. She was a winner of the Diaspora Dialogues contest for fiction and the Fiona Mee Award for literary journalism. She is the co writer of the documentary film So Far From Home (2010), a film about refugee journalists persecuted for their political views, and various of her other works have been published in Parchment, Golden Horseshoe Anthology, Canadian Voices, and TOK6.


For more information please visit Joyce Wayne’s website. You can also connect with her on FacebookTwitter, and Goodreads. She is happy to participate in Books Clubs by phone and Skype.

 

VIRTUAL TOUR & BOOK BLAST SCHEDULE

Monday, June 9
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Tuesday, June 10 Book Blast at Bab’s Book Bistro
Guest Post & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, June 11 Book Blast at History From a Woman’s Perspective

Thursday, June 12 Book Blast at WTF Are You Reading?
Book Blast at I’d So Rather be Reading

Friday, June 13 Book Blast at Literary Chanteuse

Saturday, June 14 Book Blast at A Bookish Affair
Book Blast at Griperang’s Bookmarks
Book Blast at Just One More Chapter

Sunday, June 15 Book Blast at Historical Fiction Obsession

Monday, June 16 Review at Book Nerd

Tuesday, June 17 Review at Seaside Book Corner
Book Blast at Lily Pond Reads

Wednesday, June 18 Interview at From the TBR Pile
Book Blast at Historical Tapestry

Thursday, June 19 Review at Flashlight Commentary
Book Blast at Kelsey’s Book Corner

Friday, June 20 Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Book Blast at The Mad Reviewer

Saturday, June 21 Book Blast at Bibliophilic Book Blog

Sunday, June 22 Book Blast at Book Lovers Paradise
 Book Blast at Historical Fiction Connection

Monday, June 23 Book Blast at History Undressed
Book Blast at CelticLady’s Reviews

Tuesday, June 24 Book Blast at Mina’s Bookshelf
Book Blast at Peeking Between the Pages

Wednesday, June 25 Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views
Book Blast at Broken Teepee

Thursday, June 26 Review at Caroline Wilson Writes

Friday, June 27 Review at Historical Novel Review
Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book

 

GIVEAWAY

Up for grabs are 3 eBooks of The Cook’s Temptation and 3 $10 Amazon Gift Cards! To enter, please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway HERE. Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only.

Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on June 27th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on June 28th and notified via email.

Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
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Monday, June 9, 2014

Bintel Brief: Review






Bintel Brief
By Liana Finck
Harper Collins


This is a love letter to the Bintel Brief. The Bintel Brief was part of the Yiddish newspaper called , The  Forward. The Bintel Brief was written by the editor, Abraham Cahan. He was the editor and creator of the Bintel Brief.  They were letters written to the editor.  They were letters asking for advice( Dear Abbey). 

Bintel Brief was a popular column in the Yiddish newspaper,  The Forward. It was  read by many Jews in New York.  I learned about the Bintel Brief years ago. It was a popular Jewish newspaper read by many Jews.  The Forward still exists today. The advice column was started by Abraham Cahan, editor and creator. 

I have wanted to read a graphic novel for a few years. To get out of my comfort zone. This one was the first novel that caught my eye. I am very happy that I found this gem of a book. Finally, when I saw Bintel Brief, I knew I had to read it.  I enjoyed reading it very much and recommend it to anyone that is Jewish, loves history, and Yiddish will enjoy reading this.  I recommend it highly. 


The story is about a young girl that finds the letters in the trunk of her grandparents house. The stories seem to come to life.  Some of the stories, are sad, funny. The stories all relate to assimilation to American life. This is a keeper. 

I would like to thank Ashley Garland from Harper Collins for sending me a review copy.  I will treasure this one for years. 


Here is a review by the Table,  here






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Saturday, June 7, 2014

Remembering Rue McClanahan as Blanche



I didn't realize how young she was when she starred in Golden
Girls with the Bea Arthur, and Getty. She must have been in her 40's.
She passed away today, she was in her mid 70's.  She died of a massive stroke- so sad.

I saw a recent picture of her. I don't want to remember her like that. I want to remember her as a beautiful, refined, classy lady( at least in Golden Girls). 

She was great in the Golden Girls.  The Southern Belle with sexual seduction tendencies.

She really made the show. She was so funny.  Brings back memories of the 80's, and the TV shows.
Only one left now is, Betty White.  Thought I would post to share. Just loved Golden Girls.

The Golden Girls brought a view of older citizens as lively, and feisty. I think this changed the perspective of older people. People thought older citizens just waiting to die. I think in some ways that has changed.  Because of the baby boomer generation, which is a large group.  Will not let that happen.

 I am reaching the senior age, not there yet, but will be reaching it soon. You still have your spunk, your craziness, and you always think  like a teenager. It never goes away.  I don't think younger people realize that until it is their turn.

Enjoy this video. I think I am going to search for some video's of the Golden Girls. 

May you rest in peace, Rue McClanahan.

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Sunday, June 1, 2014

Disappointment: From the Sidelines of BEA 2014






I am disappointed in BEA and the powers that be this year. They changed the format for people that were unable to attend this year. This year they decided not to stream the panels, and events and conversations on the floor with authors, and publicists.  The past few years that I attended by the side lines at home from my computer, they streamed. 

Publishing magazines allowed accessibility to know what galley are hot and would be given out to BEA. There was not any list floating around on the web that I know about. 

Third was the disappointment with Saturday, formerly a extension of BEA.  Now called Book Con.

                                                                    



They had a panel of publishers talking about upcoming book club books. Carol, from Book Reporter emailed me back and told me there would not be anything on youtube this year. But they would still have their slide show-how disappointing. 

I am writing this post with a heavy heart. Because in past years BEA has thought of people that were unable to attend. This year was very different. I did not feel like, I usually do. Previous years even though I was sitting in the side lines 


I could feel the beat of Book Expo. Not this year unfortunately. I am writing this post to let BEA and the powers that be about my disappointment. 

                                                                    


I was expecting streaming of Book Expo this year and more exposure to other programs that they have done in the past. For example conversations with the publicists, or authors about what was going on. The buzz on the floor, etc. There wasn't any publications online this year to give you a list of galleys that were hot and a buzz( I have to get that one). The third thing is, Carol Fitzgerald organizes a program each year for book clubs. Publicists talk about what books will be hot for book clubs. Formerly it was a extension of BEA. Now it is called Book Con.  

 It was great in previous years.  They had televised the entire presentation. If you were unable to see it, then you would be able to watch it on you tube later .  You were also able to watch  conversations with the authors, and people in the know on the floor, and what things were coming up. This way you felt like you were there.

But this year, you were not able to watch anything from the sidelines- how disappointing.

I had contacted BEA from Facebook and they told me they decided not to stream. Not enough people were watching it. Instead it will be on youtube. But, it doesn't have the other programs and panels instead it is clips of 10 minutes. Last year you were able to see everything. On youtube you can see the clips but they are not the entire panel.  You can watch the celebrities, but that is not what is important to me. 

                                       
                                      The AUTHORS, !!!, NOT CELEBRITIES  

 I contacted Carol,  from Book Reporter and she gave me more disappointing news. She told me it would not be available this year. But she would be putting the slide show on her website.  But, darn that is not the same as actually watching the enthusiasm of the publicists about the book.

I would think streaming or putting the presentation on at youtube would bring more publicity for the books. Isn't that the idea behind BEA in the first place?
-hand sell.  Another form of publicity and talking it up about books.

 Not just reading about it, watching the enthusiasm of the publicists and authors. After seeing a presentation and the person that was presenting. If the person was enthusiastic, Most people would take notice. They would go to the store and buy the book after seeing the panel.
                                       
My other complaint there was not anywhere that I could find. Any publicity information about what the buzz books were this year at BEA. In years past Publisher's Weekly, or other publishing magazines put out a list of galleys that were hot for BEA.

This year I was so psyched expecting the same from the publishing magazines, and BEA. This was a wonderful service to us book bloggers, or any body that were unable to attend. 


I am making my voice heard hoping someone from BEA will hear me. Please, Please make BEA more accessible to everyone. To us book bloggers, and publishers, and consumers that are unable to attend

 Make your voice heard, and write on your book blog, facebook twitter, Let the publicists that you correspond with know as well about your thoughts on BEA.  
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The Best Movie I Have Seen All Year-Chef




This is one movie definitely, if you have not seen yet- you must see it. Most movies this season have been disappointing.  We saw a movie, Belle last week. I was very disappointed.

This time around I checked out the video first, and checked for reviews. It received high ratings, and I checked out the trailer. It looked great.

Anything to do with food, especially Cuban is my kind of movie.  Too bad only thing we were missing was a nice meaty Cuban sandwich being served at the theater.  That would have been a great gimmick. The movie was a fun, nostalgic ride of Miami and the food. I could smell the Cuban sandwich sizzling, LOL!!

The movie was part road trip, part family relationships, comedy, friendships, father-son relationships, and of course part foodie, and even twitter.

I can't say enough about this movie. I have seen movies this year that were so disappointing this one was definitely not.

Chef, played by Jon Favreau  is Carl Casper. He  is a chef in a elegant restaurant.  He is not the one who controls the restaurant.  The owner, Riva( played by Dustin Hoffman)  is not a great person. He always wants he's way. He doesn't allow Carl to be creative and make new dishes.  He doesn't  allow Carl to be creative on the menu.

 One night a big important food critic is coming. Riva and the Carl get into a verbal disagreement about the menu. Carl is told he can't change the menu. The menu has stayed the same way for years.

" It is not about pleasing the food critic, but pleasing our customers"
 When the critic( Oliver Platt) sits down for the meal he is disappointed, and he tweets on the internet about his experience.  The chef has no idea what twitter is. He's son( Emjay Anthony) sets up an account for him. I think you can guess what happens.  The twitter conversation between the food critic and him goes viral. He looses his job, and he's ex-wife, Inez ( Sofia Vergara) pressures him to go to Miami to purchase a food truck.

I am not going to tell you anymore. You will have to see it yourself.  Here is the movie trailer at the bottom of this post. I think you will agree with me to go see it.

The movie is funny. There is definitely a lot of laughter in the movie theater
you will want to  make yourself a Cuban Sandwich or go to Versaille, or La Carretta,  if you live in Miami.

Unfortunately, in Myrtle Beach there isn't a Cuban restaurant.  I will just have to make myself a Cuban Sandwich instead.  I miss Cuban Cuisine... Maybe someday.... I can dream.......!!!

This movie brings back memories when I lived in Miami. The cafeteria, of what they are called in Miami. They are small restaurants, off the streets of Miami. Where they served food while you are walking by. They are mom and pop places. No dining area, and everything was set up in one room. The usual fare was a Cuban sandwich, and cafe leche.  What you would call simple food.

.
Unfortunately, in Myrtle Beach there isn't a Cuban restaurant. We have Mexican.  I so miss Cuban Cuisine.















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