Book Review: The Tale of Genji

The Tale of Genji

Author: Murasaki Shikibu
Publisher:  MyBooks Classics 
Publish Date: 11th Century 

Book Rating 5+
Amazon /  Goodreads / Barnes and Noble

Publisher's Description 

Murasaki Shikibu, or Lady Murasaki as she is sometimes known in English (Japanese: 紫式部), was a Japanese novelist, poet, and a maid of honor of the imperial court during the Heian period. She was most well known as the author of The Tale of Genji. It was written in Japanese between about 1000 and 1008 (11th century.). It one of the earliest and most famous novels in human history. The original manuscript no longer exists. It was made in "concertina" or "orihon" style: several sheets of paper pasted together and folded alternately in one direction then the other, around the peak of the Heian period. 

 "Murasaki Shikibu" was not her real name; her actual name is unknown, though some scholars have postulated that her given name might have been Takako (for Fujiwara Takako). Her diary states that she was nicknamed "Murasaki" ("purple wisteria blossom") at court, after a character in The Tale of Genji. "Shikibu" refers to her father's position in the Bureau of Ceremony (shikibu-shō). She also credited with the creation of hiragana. 

The work is a unique depiction of the lifestyles of high courtiers during the Heian period. The language used is now considered archaic and a poetic and confusing style that makes it unreadable to the average Japanese without dedicated study. 

Book received:  Own

Why I Picked it up: It was long overdue for a reread.  Images of the book have been showing up all over my Instagram and new feed. I also have the pleasure of seeing screens of scenes from the Teal of Genji at the Freer and Sackler in Washington DC. It is something to stand in the room with these screens and know where they are from and to hold what inspired them in your hands. 

Why I finished it: It was funny and wonderful and witty. She was women of her time and wrote for the women that would come after her. She is one of the reasons that we have novels. She is one of the reasons that an entire country reads and is love with books. 

Who I would give it to: Women. Women should read this.

Book Review: The Melancholy of Mechagirl

 

The Melancholy of Mechagirl

Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Publisher: Haikasoru; Original ed. edition
Publish Date: July 16, 2013
Book Rating 5/5
Amazon /  Goodreads / Barnes and Noble

Publisher's Description 

A woman who dreams of machines. A paper lantern that falls in love. The most compelling video game you’ve never played and that nobody can ever play twice. This collection of Catherynne M. Valente’s stories and poems with Japanese themes includes the lauded novella “Silently and Very Fast” and the award-nominated “Thirteen Ways of Looking at Space/Time,” and “Ghost of Gunkanjima”—which originally appeared in a book smaller than your palm, published in a limited edition of twenty-four. 

Also included are two new stories: the semiautobiographical metafictional, and utterly magical “Ink, Water, Milk” and the cinematic, demon-haunted “Story No.6.”

“I finished this collection late one night and feel asleep and had what felt like a year’s worth of intense dreams.”
—Charles Yu, author of Sorry Please Thank You

Book received:  Own

Why I Picked it up: I have read her before. I knew what I was getting into . Or so I thought. This was a new view on the world. It also dealt  with isolation.  To be alone in a crowd.

Why I finished it: This style of writing allowed for understating of the unknown. The stories with in stories are a hallmark of her writing and pulled you deeper to comprehend oneself with in the novel. 

Who I would give it to: Anyone who feels like an outsider. 

Book Review: Empress of All Seasons

 

Empress of All Seasons

Author: Emiko Jean
Publisher:  HMH Books for Young Readers
Publish Date:  November 6, 2018
Book Rating 5/5
Amazon /  Goodreads / Barnes and Noble

Publisher's Description 

In a palace of illusions, nothing is what it seems.

Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete—all except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. 

Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yōkai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit. As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari’s fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yōkai outcast.

Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku in this beautifully written, edge-of-your-seat YA fantasy.

Book received:  Rented

Why I Picked it up: I wanted to read something different.  Something not set in a European world. This fit the bill. This was a story that I could relate to about being other, wanting to fit in and finding power in being yourself. 

Why I finished it: The moment of the story carries you forward. The story explains things but made no effort to Westernize itself. This is a wonderful story that follows a narrative uncommon in typical western novels. 

Who I would give it to: Anyone who feels like an outsider. 

Chamomile and Orange Tea

There are quite a few teas out here to help people sleep. Most of these involve chamomile, maybe even lavender. I know I made one last week. It it is a lovely tea, but sometimes ones needs somethings refreshing and calming. That is where this tea come in. This is a chamomile and orange tea.

This can be made as just a herbal tea or mixed with a black tea for something richer and fuller. It could also be mixed with a white tea for something light and delicate.

Ingredients

1 handful chamomile flowers

3 large slices orange zest
Milk, cream ,honey or lemon  (optional)


Instructions

Bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Place chamomile flowers and orange zest in the bottom of a teapot. Or you can place them in reusable tea bags or ball as needed. This would make enough for a cup or mug. Pour the hot water over the flowers, cover with the lid, and steep for 5 minutes. Serve immediately through a strainer, if using a tea pot. Add milk, cream, honey or lemon as desired.

If you want to mix it with black or white tea. Just take a bout 2oz for your favor it tea and add to the mixture listed above. This tea would make a lovely gift or just something light to sip during the day.

Book Review : MistWood

 

Queen Victoria's Book of Spells: An Anthology of Gaslamp Fantasy

Editors: Leah Cypess
Publisher:  Harper Collins
Publish Date:April 27, 2010
Book Rating 4/5
Amazon /  Goodreads / Barnes and Noble

Publisher's Description 

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.

But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty—because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

Book received:  Rented 

Book Review: Dearest

Dearest

Author: Alethea Komtis
Publisher:  HMH Book for Young Readers
Publish Date: May 8 2012

Book Rating 3/5
Amazon /  Goodreads / Barnes and Noble

Publisher's Description 

In her third book about the delightful Woodcutter sisters, Alethea Kontis masterfully weaves "The Wild Swans," "The Goose Girl," and a few other fine-feathered fairy tales into a magical, romantic companion novel to Enchanted and Hero.

Readers met the Woodcutter sisters (named after the days of the week) in Enchanted and Hero. In this delightful third book, Alethea Kontis weaves together some fine-feathered fairy tales to focus on Friday Woodcutter, the kind and loving seamstress. When Friday stumbles upon seven sleeping brothers in her sister Sunday's palace, she takes one look at Tristan and knows he's her future. But the brothers are cursed to be swans by day. Can Friday's unique magic somehow break the spell? 

Book received:  Rented 

Why I Picked it up: It was a free book. I had hope for a good retelling of a beloved fairy tale. Her writing style is strong. The editing. Ugh. it was just awful. The same as the first book. Great idea but very confusing and poorly edited. This is the third book and nothing has changed in the editing. of the book. There is information that the reader does not need to know or see but and could be explained later and in a better manner. I am underwhelmed. I am pleased this book was free to read...

Why I finished it: I did not finish it. 

Who I would give it to: This book did not live up to expectations. 

Herb of the Week:Orange

This week we are going to look at the fruit orange. This fruit is often used in herbalism  and everyday life. It has been used for beauty, cleaners, toners, teas and medicine.

It has also been used in sweets. It pairs well with dark chocolate and sets up wonderfully in brownies One orange provides 130 percent of your vitamin C needs for the day, 2 percent of vitamin A needs, 6 percent of calcium and 0 percent of iron. It also  contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, selenium and copper. Due to their high vitamin C content (over twice the daily need) oranges are associated with boosting the immune system. Oranges also contain choline, zeaxanthin, and carotenoids.


We will be used the orange in bringthen up or winter as it is a mood enhancer. We will be making aliqure witht he peel. Truffes, tea and


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/272782.php