book reviews done differently – katie: normal girl

Book and Tea Pairings: The Witch of Belladonna Bay and Alabama Sweet Tea

Forget food and wine pairings, I’m all about book and tea pairings. Grab a book, pour some tea and curl up in a cozy chair for delightful reading and tea-sippin’ experience.

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The Book
The Witch of Belladonna Bay by Suzanne Palmieri

When the warm weather sets in I want to read something that takes place in the south, preferably in a small town or out in the country. I want the backdrop of the story to have that warm, easy pace that only a southern town can offer. And a little bit of magic thrown in certainly doesn’t hurt. I’m not talking Harry Potter magic but more of that given-by-the-earth, nature magic that blows on the wind and makes intriguing things happen. Fortunately for me, this book has both.

…her family firmly believed somehow, somewhere, at the very moment when the stars first erupted with a bang, stardust settled on only a few specks of life already forming in the the sea. And how those few specks evolved into people who hold all sorts of unexplainable talents. When I was little I thought it was terribly romantic, being held stardust, half Southern magnolia.

-Bronwyn

I’ve been on a bit of a book-bust lately, unable to find a story that I could get lost in, but this story took care of that. It was the perfect book to read while sitting on a covered porch and sippin’ on some Alabama sweet tea. Speaking of which…

The Tea
Alabama Sweet Tea

This story took place in small-town, Magnolia Creek, Alabama, so what better beverage to sip on but some Alabama sweet iced tea? I started by making my basic sun tea recipe and added that signature, southern ingredient…sugar, lots of sugar. Then because I already had one, I added a lemon slice too. Originally I almost thought about using honey instead of sugar but that must be the yankee in me and I knew that in the south, the only way to sweeten tea is with sugar!

How I drank it: 16 oz. of warm sun tea mixed with 2 tbsp. of white sugar, mix together and chill with a handful of ice cubes and a lemon slice on top.

That’s it for this edition of Books-N-Tea. What are you reading and sipping on this summer?

katie: normal girl

To see what I’m currently reading, along with previous books reviews and tea pairings, check out the “Books-n-Tea” page. As I read, I comment on Twitter and Facebook, I’d love to have you join the conversation!

Book & Tea Pairings: The Aftermath and German Breakfast Tea

Forget food and wine pairings, I’m all about book and tea pairings. Grab a book, pour some tea and curl up in a cozy chair for delightful reading experience.

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The Book

I was first attracted to this book because of its cover (somewhere a book marketer is rejoicing). I read the synopsis and saw that it was a historical fiction novel and I was sold. I’ve always been intrigued by the past and even more than that, I’m intrigued by people of the past.

1946, post-World War II Hamburg. While thousands wander the rubble, lost and homeless, Colonel Lewis Morgan, charged with overseeing the rebuilding of this devastated city and the denazification of its defeated people, is stationed in a grand house on the River Elbe. He is awaiting the arrival of his wife, Rachael—still grieving for their eldest son—and their only surviving son, Edmund. But rather than force the owners of the house, a German widower and his rebellious daughter, out onto the streets, Lewis insists that the two families live together. In this charged atmosphere, both parents and children will be forced to confront their true selves as enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal, to their deepest desires, their fiercest loyalties, and the transforming power of forgiveness.

Though this story is fiction, it amazes me to know that similar events and circumstances really did happen. Families that had been separated by war for years were suddenly thrust back together again. With each unit of the family having lived through an entire lifetime while apart, it’s amazing to me that they were able to find a rhythm with each other again. I’m sure many of them weren’t able to reconnect and their previous domestic bliss became another casualty of the war. I imagine that was still better than the group that never got the chance to try.

The Tea

Our biblio-journey is taking us to Germany, so what better tea to drink than a stout German Breakfast Tea. Much as you might expect from a German tea, it’s bold and very strong. I love a robust cup of black tea so it was perfect for me without any additions. If you prefer a smoother tea drinking experience, a splash of cream and 1/2 teaspoon of raw sugar would blend well with this strong tea.

How I drank it: 8 oz. of hot water poured over 1/2 tsp. of German Breakfast Tea steeped for 3 minutes.

Have you read this book or tried German Breakfast Tea before? Let me know in the comments and if you’re talking about the story be sure to mark any spoilers!

katie: normal girl