10 Books: That Have Stayed with Me

The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
The best exploration of what living in a truly alien society would mean that I have read. The unique relationship that forms between two individuals with no common ground is what has stuck with me.

Dragon on a Pedestal - Piers Anthony
This is the book that got me hooked on reading. An innocent girl lost in the wild meets the land's most feared dragon and then things really get going. Filled with puns, wit and charm I was hooked on the land of Xanth and reading after this.

The Silmarillion - J.R.R. Tolkein
The history of Middle-Earth from it's creation to the events immediately preceding The Hobbit. It's a masterwork of myth and epic in scope. Every time I read it it impresses me more.

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Filled with wit, unforgettable characters and a strong female lead, the rocky love story of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (sigh) is my favourite example of why we shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

Psalms
Equal parts praise and lament. These lyrical outcries to The Lord regularly inspire me and remind me that it's not about having it all together, it's about reaching out whatever my situation.

Lord of the Flies - William Golding
The descent from order to chaos, civil to wild of a group of boys stranded on an island. A haunting exploration of the human condition.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
The last of the Harry Potter series, but the first to break the formula. No journey to the school, no trying to since a mystery while still passing all your classes, just a mission to defeat the ultimate evil.

Perelandra - C.S. Lewis
The second of his space trilogy, Perelandra a world newborn world. Will the main character be able to combat the Tempter and prevent this world's Fall? This book helped me better understand the story of Eden and the possibility of life beyond Earth.

The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton
An American novel of society and scandal. An engaged high society man tries to shake off his obligations and follow his heart.

The Sparrow - Mary Doria Russel
Jesuits in space! A modern day Job. The Sparrow explores colonization, conversion, exploration and is the reason I am an English teacher and not a rocket scientist or astrophysicist. The heartbreaking climax is matched by an oh-so-subtle glimpse of hope.

What doesn't go with peas?

Kristin asked what she thought was a rhetorical question tonight at supper: what doesn't go with peas? They have a mild flavour and are sweet. When I started thinking about it, it was hard, but I kept thinking. Here are my top three things that do not go with peas (I guess, this is a bottom three list?):

3. Peas & Squid - the squishiness, the elasticity, the horror!

2. Pea Cookies - Take a recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Keep everything the same except substitute peas in for chocolate chips. A sure fire catastrophe!

1. Lucky Peas! - Another substitute method. Take Lucky Charms and swap the marshmallows out for peas. Then add milk. I can feel it curdling in my stomach already!

Can you think of anything worse?

From the Archives

Here is a log of some new food experiences I found lost in draft status. Enjoy taking a trip back five years.

11/21/09 Chocolate Covered PEI Potato Chip - It was a ripple chip covered in chocolate and it tasted exactly like that. The oiliness of the chocolate-chip combination robbed it from the crunchiness I was  expecting. If it had retained its crunch it would have been very good.

11/21/09 Blackberry - It was pretty big. The berry bits were a lot larger than I was expecting and the mini berry seed crunch wasn't very mini, but still enjoyable.

11/16/09 Bruschetta - Kristin really likes bruschetta and when we went out to eat after our English movie on her birthday we got a sampling of apps. I tried the bruschetta. I like everything that goes along with it, like the fancy toast and the cheese, but the bruschetta itself I'm just not a fan. Kristin took heaping forkfuls to top her toast. I took small fork tips.
VERDICT: Owen List

11/15/09 Feta - Like the hard-boiled egg, feta was a topping at the Bergers. It was a salad topping (along with corn if you can believe it) and again it tasted a lot like cheese. I can confidently say my fear of feta has been vanquished.

11/08/09 Chestnut Cream - This was one topping for the crepe party at the Bergers. It is made with chestnut paste and real whipped creamed stirred together. It is sweet and very nutty. Okay, but couldn't compete with the nutella and dark chocolate spread.

11/03/09 Cranberry - This was the next day. Nicole bought all the fruits I tried this day just so I could try them. I liked cranberries the most of the bunch. They were fresh and therefore very tart. I love tartness!

11/02/09 Plum - Tried it during the same tasting session as the kiwi. Though I ate the skin I still don't think I'd like it skinless. Just not a taste that agrees with me.
VERDICT: Owen List

11/02/09 Kiwi - Tried it on the day my teachers found out I was a relatively inexperienced fruit eater. A kiwi tastes kind of like the child of a generic citrus fruit and a grape. Way better than a plum.

09/29/09 Chinese Fondue - When we went out for our anniversary to La Maison de la Fondue. We had an entirely fondue meal. I'd never had fondue with oil before, nor with chinese broth. It was excellent!