"To finish, or not to finish"

     I recently read a blog post about whether or not to finish a novel you have started and don't like. My opinion on this subject has always been pretty simple and straightforward: Why waste my time finishing a book I am not enjoying when there are so many good books out there for me to be reading? And...more importantly, if the author can't make a good beginning, why will the ending be any good? Or on the flip side, if you do write an incredible ending why couldn't you make the beginning worth slogging through? Normally, I give a book a couple chapters at most to decide if I like it and am going to finish it. If it doesn't grab me, I quit reading and try something different. I have found that it's not always the book's fault. Some days it depends on the "reading mood" I am in. I might be mentally tired of reading a certain type of book and if I start this same novel again in a few months, I may love one that I have previously found boring and quit. There has been one book that took me until page 63 and 3 different times of taking it home and trying again to finish it. I only stuck with it that long because so many people told me I needed to read this particular book. Granted, when I finally made it past page 63, I ended up liking it and going on to finish the trilogy. I do still wonder, though, why, if I ended up enjoying the book, did I hate the beginning in the first place?
     Back to the blog, I recently read. This blog cited an article in The Atlantic about whether or not one should finish a novel they have begun. After having read this article, I can see another side to the whole issue of finishing or not finishing a novel you've at once begun. Perhaps, there is something to be said for being a tenacious reader. What do you think? Is it better to finish something you've started, or move on to something bigger and better. Check out the article and let me know what you think!

Happy Reading in 2015!

A Challenge perhaps?

     In flipping through facebook, I ran across this list of 10 best books of 2014. It's always intriguing to me what gets rated as "the best" books and then, how many of them have I actually read. Take a look and see how you compare. Perhaps challenge yourself to read some or all of "The Best Books of 2014."

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/books/review/the-10-best-books-of-2014.html?_r=0

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

     One of my favorite all-time Christmas cookies...They take a fair amount of work, but are totally worth it!!!

Cream Wafers

Rated: Submitted By: FARMLIFE Photo By: SUGARPLUMSCOOKIES Servings: 30

"Cookies with a creamy butter filling."

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup butter 1/3 cup heavy cream 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup granulated sugar for decoration

1/4 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar 1 egg yolk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Mix flour and 1 cup of butter or margarine thoroughly. Stir in whipping cream and mix well. Chill 1 hour.
2.	Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
3.	Roll dough 1/8 inch thick on lightly floured board. Cut into 1 1/2 inch rounds. Transfer to waxed paper heavily sprinkled with sugar, turning to coat both sides. Place on un- greased baking sheet. Prick in 4 places with fork. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until slightly puffed. Put two cooled cookies together with filling.
4.	To Make Filling: Blend 1/4 cup soft butter, 3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar, 1 egg yolk, and 1 tsp. vanilla. If desired, tint with food coloring.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2014 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 12/26/2014

Suggested Holiday Reading....

Here is a holiday reading bookmark for you!! They are also available in the library to give you some fun holiday titles to choose from!!

Enjoy the holidays and Enjoy your reading!!!

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

     This Holiday season has been extremely busy for me and I haven't had any chance to make goodies to share or just to eat. My youngest son needed treats for school, so we made these for him to take...Fun, easy, and yummy!

Christmas Dessert: Snowmen

(https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/post/11299781/2026309079?link=aHR0cCUzQSUyRiUyRmZlZWRwcm94eS5nb29nbGUuY29tJTJGJTdFciUyRmxpZmVzdHlsZXdpdGhkYW5ueSUyRiU3RTMlMkZWNlJ0aC0xQjlMdyUyRnBvc3RyZS1uYXZpZGVuby1ob21icmUtZGUtbmlldmUuaHRtbA==)

Put the sticks into the oreos, then splits into pieces the white chocolate and melt it for 5 min, whisk for 3 minutes to remove any lumps and putting it liquid. When the chocolate is liquid, cover the oreo with the white chocolate, put the oreo with chocolate on the wax paper. Tic Tac for nose and black gel icing for eyes and mouth.

Ours, may or may not have looked like this....could have been more of a Pinterest Fail, but they tasted good and we had fun doing them!!

Book Trailer Monday...

     In all the stress of the holidays, I needed a laugh! Here's what I am reading....


 

From Our Recipe Box to Yours....Christmas Goodies!

     Christmas is fast approaching and I don't know about you, but I am a bit behind. There are sooo many candy recipes I'd like to try, but not enough time in the month!:) Here's one that is super easy and super yummy; a great addition to your traditional treats! I found the recipe here: http://momsneedtoknow.com/oreo-truffles-recipe/

Oreo Truffles

1 - 15 oz. pkg. Oreos (chocolate sandwich cookies of your choice)

1- 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 pkg. white chocolate chips or candy melts (you can also use dark chocolate chips - I like using both!)

Directions:

1. Finely crush the Oreos. This can easily be done in your food processor. Otherwise, you can place the cookies in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin.

2. Reserve about 1 1/2 T. crushed cookies. You will use these later for garnish.

3. Mix cream cheese together with the Oreos. Mix until completely combined.

4. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Shape the cookie mixture into about 40 balls and place on lined cookie sheet.

5. Place cookie sheet in the refrigerator for about an hour, or the freezer for 20 minutes. This will help make the cookie balls firm which will make it easier to coat them.

6. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until melted.

7. Working quickly coat cookie balls with white chocolate. Use 2 forks to help ensure they get coated well.

8. Place coated Oreo Truffles back on the parchment paper and sprinkle with reserved crushed cookie crumbs.

9. Return truffles to the refrigerator for 10 minutes to allow the chocolate to completely firm up. 

If you happen to have any left at all, store in an airtight container!!! Enjoy!!!

Book Trailer Monday...

     This book trailer is a real tease. I actually did just finish reading The Young Elites by Marie Lu, the same author of The Legend series, and it really is all that!! I loved it and cannot wait for the next installment as is always the case with new writers and series. But it is definitely worth a check out!