Book Review: Shadow Baby by Alison McGhee

 Finished August 4, 2020

Book 11 of 20

Shadow Baby by Alison McGhee
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I'm leaving this one unfinished, about halfway through. A boring repetitive story told from the perspective of an 11 year old that the author tried to make sound smart and precocious, but it fell extremely flat. The story meanders between the girl's imaginative stories (which are not interesting or add meaning to the story), current events (also not interesting), and her own more recent memories (which surprisingly are more interesting). Peeking ahead it seems the book may become more interesting, I just can't get there.

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Summary (from the hardcover edition): Clara first spies him through the crack in the stained-glass window of her church, lighting a string of handmade lanterns in the Adirondack woods. A lone old man, Georg Kominsky moves stealthily among the shadow world of his hanging, glittering creations.

In Alison McGhee's stunning novel Shadow Baby, eleven-year-old Clara is struggling to find the truth about her missing father and grandfather and her twin sister, dead at birth, but her mother steadfastly refuses to talk about these people who are lost to her daughter. When Clara begins interviewing Georg Kominsky for a school biography assignment, she finds that he is equally reticent about his own concealed history. Precocious and imaginative, the girl invents version upon version of Mr. Kominsky's past, just as she invents lives for the people missing from her own shadowy past.

The journey of discovery that these two oddly matched people embark upon is at the heart of this beautiful story about friendship and communion, about discovering what matters most in life, and about the search to find the missing pieces of ourselves. McGhee's prose glistens with shrewd truth and wild imaginings, creating a fine novel that will reverberate in the hearts and minds of readers long after the book is finished.

Recipe of the Week: Batata Harra

 I was looking for something different to do with potatoes, and this recipe satisfied my need for flavor. The only thing I will do different is cut my potatoes smaller.

Batata Harra

6 medium-sized potatoes (original recipe said peeled, but I didn't)

1 cup water

3 TBSP olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp coriander seeds (1 tsp ground)

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

2 tsp ground turmeric

1 lime, juiced

1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (I used 1 tbsp dried)

1 cup fresh parsley, chopped (I used 1 tbsp dried)

1 cup fresh dill, chopped (I used 1/2 tbsp dried)

Salt & Pepper

Quarter and boil potatoes. I used my instant pot, placing my potatoes in the pot, covering with 1 cup water, sprinkled with a good bit of salt (1tsp or a bit more), and using the rice setting to cook.

Cool potatoes. This would be a good time to cut into smaller bite sized potatoes.

Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet on medium heat. Add garlic, red pepper flakes and coriander seeds. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Stir in lime juice and turmeric. Toss in the potatoes and stir gently to coat potatoes. Add 1/2 of the cilantro, parsley and dill. Cook for 4 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Remove from heat and top with more red pepper flakes, and the remainder of the cilantro, parsley and dill.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

This was delicious served with hamburgers. I would also enjoy this with a nice egg, toast and bacon breakfast.

Book Edition: July Review and August Goals

I had an overwhelming urge to recap my book reading for the last four years, and then sanity prevailed. You're welcome. I'm just going to jump right in where I'm at. We can fill in blanks later.

July Review

I'm still continuing my way through The History of the Standard Oil Company by Ida Tarbell. This was supposed to be a read-along with my friend Katie, but she dropped off the face of the earth, and being mildly intrigued, I'm still continuing the Seven Pages a Day Plan... kind of. I have a goal to read 7 pages at least 15 days of the month. I may never finish this book. For July I read 10 of 15 days.

Other Reading Goal was to complete 2 books during the month. I finished 3 books:

Business Boutique by Christy Wright

On Folly Beach by Karen White

The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane (ebook)

I also started Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen, for a book club that my friend Lindsey started. I had bought this book a few weeks before Lindsey announced her book club, after Christy Wright had the author on her podcast. I think this is a sign I needed to do this.

August Goals

15 days reading The History of the Standard Oil Company by Ida Tarbell

Finish 3 books.

Participate in Book Club.

I plan to post the single reviews for the books I read in July during the month of August. I'm struggling a bit to get back into blogger mode, hang with me. We'll get there.