Review: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R. R. Martin

I'm one of those people who is trying to wait patiently for the next big installment in George R. R. Martin's Ice and Fire series. Yes, I know, the TV show will take us past the last printed page, but I really want to read the story as Martin intended it to be told.

In the meantime, I read (and listened to) Martin's newest collection set in the Game of Thrones universe, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which takes place a hundred years or so before the events in the main books. Although the three novellas included in the volume have been published before, they were all new to me.

I don't want to say too much about what happens in these stories about Ser Duncan the Tall (a hedge knight) and his young squire, Egg, because I don't want to ruin your fun of meeting these characters and learning about their adventures. Note that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a lighter take on the world of Westeros than that of the Ice and Fire books. There is a distinct medieval feel, and the stories are more action/adventure than they are fantasy.

I loved the developing relationship of Dunk and Egg, which is part mentor/student and part loyal friendship. Egg is great character, and the nine-year-old boy is full of secrets and useful knowledge. Duncan often calls himself "Dunk the Lunk," but the young knight knows how to get himself out of tricky situations. For those of us who know the Game of Thrones books, there are many familiar family names (such as Lannister, Targaryen) and places (for example, King's Landing) as well as references to events that will later have a significant impact on the kingdom and its rulers.

Although the stories in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms won't further the major plot lines of the Ice and Fire saga, they will give Game of Thrones fans a welcome fix while they wait for the next big novel from George R. R. Martin. Don't miss these charming tales, which give us a gentler perspective of Westeros (despite a few bloody deaths).

Notes on the print edition versus the audiobook: If you want only one copy of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, you might be in a bit of dilemma. The unabridged audiobook (Random House Audio; 10 hr, 1 min) is read by Harry Lloyd. His expressive performance kept my attention while leaving me room to form my own reactions to the stories. He skillfully built up the tension and pace of the action without foreshadowing the outcome. In addition, Lloyd did a good job keeping the characters distinct and differentiating between dialogue and Dunk's inner thoughts.

On the other hand, if you listen to the audiobook, you'll miss out on the many illustrations by the talented Gary Gianni. The black-and-white drawings add much to the story and are not to be missed. If you don't recognize Gianni's name, perhaps you'll recognize some of his work: he drew the "Prince Valiant" comic strip (2004-12) as well as a number of graphic novels, comics, and magazines.

I decided not to choose between the media: I listened to the audiobook and took the time to look at and study Gianni's illustrations in the hardcover edition. However you read A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, you'll be glad you revisited George R. R. Martin's rich and complex world.

Published by Penguin Random House / Bantam, 2015
ISBN-13: 9780345533487
Source: Review: audiobook; bought: hardcover (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Weekend Cooking: Using Up That Leftover Turkey

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

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A few Thanksgivings ago, I wrote about my love of the cookbook Culinary Classics & Improvisations by Michael Field. It's one of my go-to books for company meals and for using up leftovers (the "improvisations" of the title). As I said in my earlier post, I'm not sure this cookbook is still in print, so look for it at a used-book store.

In 2010, I shared one of Field's ways to transform your turkey leftovers into a yummy dinner. Today, I'm going to post another favorite poultry recipe from the cookbook. It's a great way to perk up your holiday weekend meals.

The following recipe was originally written for chicken, but it works beautifully with turkey. I have substituted milk for the cream with no problems, so don't worry if you don't have cream. I've added a few notes in brackets and have pared down the directions a little (Field is pretty chatty).

Gratin of Roast Turkey in the Style of the Savoie
 Serves 4

• 4 tablespoons softened butter (3 for roux, 1 for topping)
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1/4 cup white wine [use extra stock if you don't have this]
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup heavy cream [or milk]
• 1 teaspoon fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
• Salt to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons grated Swiss cheese
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 4 to 6 substantial pieces of cold roast turkey

Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan [over medium-high heat], and when it is completely melted but not brown, mix in, off the heat, the flour. Stir this roux until it is smooth, then pour in the stock and wine. Whisk until the roux has somewhat dissolved, return the pan to the heat, and cook, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens. Turn the heat down and let the sauce simmer as slowly as possible for about 5 minutes, stirring with a spoon every now and then. The sauce should be quite thick. Then thin it with a 1/2 cup of cream; if it is still too thick, add more cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce runs sluggishly off the spoon when it is lifted from the pan. Add the tarragon, salt, cayenne, mustard, and cheese and stir until well combined. Simmer a moment or two to melt the cheese and taste for seasoning, adjusting as necessary.

Choose a shallow baking dish that is just large enough to hold the turkey in one layer and attractive enough to serve from at the table. Spread a thin layer of the sauce on the bottom of the pan and arrange the turkey pieces, skin side up. Sprinkle each piece very lightly with salt, then with a large spoon coat the pieces thoroughly, one by one, with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top and dot with the remaining tablespoon of butter.

Bake in the center of a 375F oven for about 20 minutes or until the sauce begins to bubble and the turkey is heated through. Slide it under the broiler to brown the surface lightly, then serve at once.

Happy holiday weekend to all my US readers!

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Thanksgiving Thoughts and Reading Plans

To all my friends in the United States, I wish you a happy, healthy, and relaxing holiday weekend. Hope you find time to read a book or two between tending the turkey and visiting with friends and family.

To everyone else, pardon our many photos of food over the next twenty-four hours and may your upcoming weekend be filled with all things good.

We're planning a quiet weekend at home. Besides cooking and eating, I'm looking forward to reading, walking, and doing some book culling. I may even get around to watching Jessica Jones.

Here are some the books I have at the top of my reading list. I may read these or pick up something else entirely. I'm going to see where my mood takes me.

A couple of years ago I read and liked Paolo Giordano's The Solitude of Prime Numbers, so when I was offered a copy of his newest novel, Like Family, I didn't hesitate to say yes. According to the publisher's description, this is a story of a young family and their housekeeper. The themes seem to be marriage, parenthood, family, facing personal setbacks, and negotiating adulthood. I have high hopes. First sentence:

On my thirty-fifth birthday, Mrs. A. abruptly gave up the determination that in my eyes characterized her more than any other quality and, already laid out in a bed that by then seemed too big for her body, finally abandoned the world we all know.

I'm giving away a copy of this next week.

Even though the second volume of The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon entered my house in October, I haven't had time to sit down and read it. I don't plan to read this book front to back all in one go. Instead, I'll flip through, reading the essays (on language, on writing, on the television show, etc.), browsing the maps, and skimming the synopses of the more recent Outlander books. Good fun ahead. Here's the first sentence of the first chapter:

The Outlander series includes three kinds of stories: The Big, Enormous Books, which have no discernible genre (or all of them).

It's true: It's damn near impossible to describe the Outlander books by genre.

Also high on my list is the novel by Robert J. Mrazek. I can't resist a mystery / thriller that stars an archaeologist. The first book in the series, Valhalla, involved a discovery of Viking ruins in Greenland. The Bone Hunters concerns hominid fossil remains found in China. The premise promises politics, the military, religious beliefs, and science combined with a twisty and action-packed plot. Good escape reading. Here's the first sentence of the prologue:

It was one of the two darkest nights Corporal Sean Patrick Morrissey could ever remember.

The opening scene is set in China in 1941, but chapter one takes us to Boston in modern times. I'll be giving away copies of both Mrazek books in a couple of weeks.

I have a gazillion other books on my plate, so we'll see what I really get around to reading over the next few days. Enjoy the weekend, and see you Saturday for Weekend Cooking!

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Wordless Wednesday 369

Looking Out, 2015

Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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Review and Giveaway: If You're Lucky by Yvonne Prinz

As you know, I love pretty much everything Algonquin Books publishes for adults. But you might not be aware that my love extends to books published under the Algonquin Young Readers imprint as well.

Yvonne Prinz's If You're Lucky, published last month, is no exception. Here's what I wrote for Readerly magazine:

This is an emotionally complex psychological thriller that weaves a mystery into a story that also examines grief, families, and mental health. After seventeen-year-old Georgia's older brother died in a surfing accident, she begins to question the behavior of one his friends, who decides to stick around town after flying in to attend the funeral. Unfortunately, Georgia has been battling schizophrenia all her life, and her friends and family dismiss her fears as emanating from her condition. As well as building tension and crafting an absorbing mystery, Prinz sensitively portrays the teen's mixed feelings about the side effects of her meds and her struggle to be seen as something more than her diagnosis. This young adult thriller would make an excellent book club choice, initiating discussions of several fruitful issues, including preconceived notions of mental illness.

Many of you read over a broad range of audiences and already know that not all young adult novels involve a dystopian world or an angst-filled love triangle. But if you tend to shy away from young adult novels, I urge you to put your misgivings aside and give this thriller, set in contemporary times, a try. If You're Lucky is multilayered and examines mature topics, making this a terrific crossover book.

For more on Yvonne Prinz and her newest novel, be sure to check out If You're Lucky page on the Algonquin Young Readers website. I enjoyed reading Prinz's essay about the writing of the novel and the surprising source of her inspiration. Book club members, both adults and teens, will appreciate the insightful questions included in the reader's guide, also available on the publisher's website.

Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers, I can offer two of my readers with a US or Canadian mailing address a copy of Yvonne Prinz's If You're Lucky. All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win is to fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner using a random number generator on December 4. Once the winner has been confirmed, I'll erase all personal information from my computer. Good luck!



Published by Algonquin Young Readers, 2015
ISBN-13: 9781616204631
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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