Three Reviews with One Thing in Common (Chocolate!)

Hi! I'm just stopping by to share a few products that I have recently sampled.

First up, Artisana nut butters. I'd heard a lot from the blog world about their coconut butter and Cacao Bliss, and this stuff did not disappoint!

Both products were a lot grittier in texture than I thought they would be, and it was kind of annoying how hard they got, but the taste was terrific! My favorite, by far, was the Cacao Bliss. This stuff is good enough to eat by the spoonful. I also like the coconut butter, but I think I would like to try some recipes with it, as I'm not really sure how to use it plain.

I also received some samples of several of their other nut butters, which are also good. The Cacao Bliss was the clear winner for me, though.

I also had a chance to try some of the Zing bars. Three of their flavors are vegan: Chocolate Coconut, Cashew Cranberry Orange, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. (The other flavors are not vegan, so make sure you read the ingredients!) All of the Zing bars are wheat, gluten and soy free. They are also high in protein and naturally sweetened. I really like having these as an option for when I want a bar with more staying power. I imagine they would be great for traveling or hiking--any time one needs a convenient source of energy. I hope that they open up even more vegan options in the future. Zing was kind enough to offer readers of this blog an online discount code for 15% off! This coupon starts on Oct. 28 and goes until Nov. 30. Here is the code: audreyzing

And last, I had the chance to sample some delicious Salazon chocolate bars. This company specializes in making dark chocolate with sea salt. It's a great combination, and I think my family really enjoyed sampling with me. :) Their chocolates are organic and rain forest certified (I am a little confused as to why they aren't fair trade. The response to that question here just confused me. In any case, it seems that they at least attempt to make measures to ensure fair working conditions. Which is more than most chocolate and coffee brands can say.) They sent me four bars--all organic:

• original dark chocolate with sea salt
• dark chocolate with sea salt and turbinado cane sugar
• dark chocolate with sea salt and cracked black pepper
• dark chocolate with sea salt and crushed coffee

Their chocolate is 54% dark and to me, this was really the perfect combination of richness without bitterness. My favorite flavor was probably the original, but I loved them all. The only one that seemed a bit odd to me was the one with cracked black pepper. It's not something I think of as going with chocolate. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't my favorite. The other three flavors were absolutely delicious, though.

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation for these reviews.

MHL Reading Challenge: Reviews of the First Four Books

As promised, here are my reviews of the first four books in the Betsy-Tacy series. I pretty much just copied and pasted the very same review I posted on Goodreads, though I did add some quotes and pictures.

BETSY-TACY

A delightful book that celebrates the innocence and imagination of childhood. This book is written for a very young audience and makes a perfect read-aloud. When I was little, all I wanted was a friend like Tacy. :) I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: growing up is okay, but nothing compares to the magic of childhood—when simple things can become most adventurous and exciting. This book is the first in a series of ten books about Betsy (plus two books about other characters in which she is mentioned). The reading level and plots DO increase as the books progress and the characters mature. So don’t give up on the series if you are an older reader and find this one boring. (Though I still think it is charming!) This is a series that no childhood should be without.

"We'll have lots of fun," said Betsy. "You and me and Tacy. Lots of things will happen." And so they did.

BETSY-TACY AND TIB

** spoiler alert ** I think I like this one even more than Betsy-Tacy. Maud's descriptions are balm to my soul. For example: 

It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside. (p. 4)

Such a beautiful turn of phrase. I also really love all of her descriptions of wildflowers and sunsets. :)

For some of the things they did, like the flying (Chapter 2 and 3), I thought that it seemed a bit odd that eight-year-olds wouldn’t know that you can’t fly. But perhaps they were just really innocent and had not ever been told otherwise. Maybe kids today are a bit more cynical because of the media and so many other outside influences? I don’t know.

Poor Tib! I kind of dislike that her dad says she can’t be an architect. There’s nothing at all wrong with being a housewife, but I just feel sorry for her that that option was imposed on her at the exclusion of any other career ambitions (p. 49).

The "Everything Pudding" story (Chapter 5) is fun but am I the only one who cringes at the waste of food? (p. 64) Haha, I'm such a miser. I still love the story, though. I feel kind of the same way about the haircutting thing. I can relate to their mothers’ reactions on that one! They all have such beautiful hair. But…I actually did something very similar when I was little (cut off half my hair—just one braid), but for decidedly different reasons. My plan was more premeditated and not at all sentimental; I just really wanted a haircut!

I thought it was interesting that the girls liked to talk about God. It did bother me a little that their view of faith was so, well, depressing. There is truth in what Betsy and Tacy say (that we are “born bad" (p. 100), etc.) but they don't mention the hope in Jesus’ redemption! Christianity is not a dour religion. I wish the girls understood that more. They seem very receptive to things of a spiritual nature, and I think that is true of a lot of children. I just wish that instead of deploring their bad actions, they had tried to do GOOD things and reward those. But, I suppose the whole story about the stones (Chapter 8) wouldn’t be quite as entertaining that way. :) I understand that, but I also think that kids have a great potential—an underestimated one—to really do good and be holy. I think the sentence at the end of Chapter 8 really expresses this:  

In silence the three of them looked at the sunset and thought about God.

I find that really beautiful and sweet. :)

It's interesting to first read these as a kid and then come back many years later and read them when I am older. And guess what? I still love them! (Though I may be over-thinking some things here a little.) Children's books or not, this is one of the most delightful series you could ever hope to read.

BETSY AND TACY GO OVER THE BIG HILL

** spoiler alert ** My enjoyment in rereading this series is increasing exponentially as I continue. I really think the books just get better and better. :)

Poor Tib gets left out in this title, though she is still very much part of the story. The information at the back of the book says that Maud's original idea for a title was "Betsy-Tacy and Tib are Ten", but her publisher disagreed.

I love how Tacy and then Tib move in to defend Naifi when all the boys are so cruelly teasing her (Chapter 5), and Mrs. Muller's response to the incident (p. 75). I wonder what ever happened to Naifi? I don't recall her being mentioned in subsequent books.

The friction of Julia and Katie versus Betsy, Tacy, and Tib is a big part of this book. I feel like Maud portrays the younger sister/older sister relationship very realistically. Even though the story is told from the younger girls' perspective, we can see Katie and Julia's side, too:  

Julia and Katie were good big sisters, as big sisters go, and Betsy and Tacy were no more exasperating than other little sisters. (p. 78)

I also find the part when they all finally make up to be really sweet.

Another favorite incident is when the girls are collecting votes for who will be queen. It is interesting to peek into the homes of so many Deep Valley residents. I had forgotten about "the deaf and dumb family" (p. 93) and I thought the mention of them, and that they taught Betsy, Tacy, and Tib sign language, was really neat. I would've loved to learn more about them. Oh, and it's fun how at the end of that chapter I felt perfectly furious at Katie and Julia sitting there eating their cake and ice cream after getting all those votes at the Ice Cream Social. :)

I also wondered: did the King of Spain write to them in real life? It seems a little improbable, but I suppose it could happen.

Those are just a few of my favorite parts of this book, though I thoroughly enjoyed the entire story.

They soon stopped being ten years old. But whatever age they were seemed to be exactly the right age for having fun.

BETSY AND TACY GO DOWNTOWN

** spoiler alert ** Another perfectly delightful volume in the Betsy-Tacy series. This book might be my favorite of the first four, though I really don't know how I could ever choose.

I have SO many favorite scenes in this book: Betsy writing in the maple tree, when Betsy gets her desk, Betsy going to the library, window shopping, bobsledding, "Flossie's Accident" (at first I thought it was weird but now I find it hilarious), Mrs. Poppy's party, Christmas morning, the reunion with Uncle Keith...etc. there is basically not a part of the book that I don't love. The wintery parts in this story are especially cozy. :)

This book serves as a perfectly toned bridge in the series. Betsy, Tacy, and Tib are starting to grow up: Betsy can go downtown on her own, Tib gets an important role in a play, and even shy Tacy admits that she finds Herbert Humphrey cute. While Betsy has always wanted to be a writer, in this book she first starts to take steps to make that goal happen. Despite the fact that the girls are now twelve, they are not too old to annoy Julia and her beau, invent elaborate stories, or try to hypnotize the impish Winona.

I get such a kick out of Betsy. She's flawed but wonderful. I love how she is such "a talker." 

Betsy liked to talk. Her father always said she got it from her mother, and her mother always said she got it from her father. But whomever she got it from she was certainly a talker. (p. 112)

I have a great fondness for most of the main characters in these books, though--right down to Miss Sparrow! Maud has such a matter-of-fact, yet tender, insight into human nature, and I always feel refreshed after spending time with the town and people she wrote about. 

 

~

With the recently re-reprinted Betsy-Tacy Treasury, all four of these books are available in one volume. (Just so you know, I'm not paid or rewarded in anyway for mentioning that.)

This post is part of the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge.

Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge: One of My Favorite Scenes

The MHL Reading Challenge continues! This week's prompt for the giveaway was to write about a favorite scene or character from one of Maud's books. Since I have about 40 favorite scenes (per book, that is) I am going to pick a scene from one of the books that I recently re-read, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown. This scene takes place in Chapter 6. What I love about it is how encouraging Betsy's family is of her writing. I also always enjoy the interactions between Mr. and Mrs. Ray. (Mr. Ray, in particular, is a favorite of mine. :)) 

"Betsy's mother was a great believer in people having private places."

This particular moment takes place one evening after supper. That afternoon, Mrs. Ray had helped Betsy find a writing corner:

"Your father and I are very proud of your writing. We want you to keep at it. You ought to have a desk but we can't afford one yet. I'll find a place for your things, though."

Mrs. Ray loved to fix things up around her house. And when she got started, Mr. Ray often said, she didn't let any grass grow under her feet. 

I wonder if part of the reason that Betsy's parents are so supportive of their children's ambitions is because they saw how Uncle Keith (Mrs. Ray's brother) was not encouraged in pursuing his talents? [If you haven't read this book, you will learn more about this in the story.] 

"Well, Betsy," he [Mr. Ray] said, "your mother tells me that you are going to use Uncle Keith's trunk for a desk. That's fine. You need a desk. I've often noticed how much you like to write. The way you eat up those advertising tablets from the store! I never saw anything like it. I can't understand it though. I never write anything but checks myself. "

    "Bob!" said Mrs. Ray. "You wrote the most wonderful letters to me before we were married. I still have them, a big bundle of them. Every time I clean house I read them over and cry."

    "Cry, eh?" said Mr. Ray, grinning. "In spite of what your mother says, Betsy, if you have any talent for writing, it comes from family. Her brother Keith was mighty talented, and maybe you are too. Maybe you're going to be a writer."

    Betsy was silent, agreeably abashed.

   "But if you're going to be a writer," he went on, "you've got to read. Good books. Great books. The classics." (pp. 89-91)

Mr. Ray then proceeds to tell Betsy a plan he and Mrs. Ray have devised to allow Betsy to go downtown twice a month to check out some books from the library (and get her lunch in town, too). Betsy is elated at this exciting news and Julia shares her joy.

Julia was as happy as Betsy was, almost. One nice thing about Julia was that she rejoiced in other people's luck.

I noticed that in this book Julia and Betsy start to get along a lot better, though their interests are not very similar at this point. 

I also love how Betsy reacts to this news--even talkative Betsy needs to be alone sometimes! [And if you want to know what the mention of "Rena's novels" is about, you'll have to read the book!]

Betsy was so full of joy that she had to be alone. She went upstairs to her bedroom and sat down on Uncle Keith's trunk. Behind Tacy's house the sun had set. A wind had sprung up and the trees, their color dimmed, moved under a brooding sky. All the stories she had told Tacy and Tib seemed to be dancing in those trees, along with all the stories she planned to write some day and all the stories she would read at the library. Good stories. Great stories. The classics. Not Rena's novels.

I meant to just quickly mention this scene, and now I am starting to analyze the book! I am thinking about posting my reviews that I put up on Goodreads for these four books, though I will probably flesh them out with some photos and quotes. So stay tuned for those! I just wanted to make sure to get my post up for this week as soon as possible so I don't forget to enter the giveaway. Again, if you do join the challenge, please mention that I referred you, if you'd like, as this will earn me an extra entry in the giveaway! Thank you again.

Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge: How the Betsy-Tacy Books Influenced My Childhood

"From this lofty retreat Betsy had a splendid view"

It's difficult to think of a time when I was not acquainted with Betsy-Tacy. (See what I did there.* :)) As I mentioned in my last post, these books were very much a part of my childhood. It's only in looking back that I see just how much they influenced me.

I am not as outgoing as Betsy is (in that respect I'm much more of a Tacy or an Emily), but I think if I belonged to a Crowd like she did, I very well could be. I have a lot of similarities to her in other ways, though: I've won essay contests and had my poetry published (that sounds a lot more impressive than it really was, I assure you!). Through my childhood I also imitated a lot of the scenes from the books:

• For a time, I tried using a trunk for a writing desk.  I never liked it much, though, because I found it uncomfortable to write at an angle and not be able to get my legs under it. (Chapter 6, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown)

• I climbed up in a tree to write (sans  cigar box), and--at least once--I got stuck up there, because I was too afraid of heights to jump down! (Chapter 1, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown)

• I tried dyeing sand with the leftover Easter egg dyes, but I think the sand I had was too dark and the dyes too wet. It ended up rather muddy looking. (Chapter 9, Betsy-Tacy)

As I re-read the first four books this month I am sure I will find even more things that I did and have forgotten about.

I love the Betsy books because they celebrate the wonders of childhood and accurately portray the uncertainties of growing up. I love Maud's appreciation for family, simply every day joys, friendship, faith, nature, values, and a good adventure--even if it takes place in one's backyard.

I found kindred spirits and dear friends in Betsy and crew. In fact, I think a great deal of my childhood aspiration of becoming a writer came from Betsy…and Anne, and Jo. But most of all, from Betsy, as those were the books I was acquainted with first.  Most of this desire probably stemmed from the thrill of creating, the imagined joy of seeing my name in print, and the deep connection I felt to the literary characters of my youth. I've always been captivated by the idea that I could string together words to create characters and worlds as vivid as the ones that I would escape to in my imagination.  I don't think I ever really had any great or original ideas, but I felt things deeply, and I loved to act out my stories--with my dolls, my brothers, or just by myself.

I'm not a writer--yet--and I honestly don't know if I will ever be, but I still consider Betsy, Tacy, and Tib to be my dear friends.

*Footnote for the uninitiated: "It was difficult, later, to think of a time when Betsy and Tacy had not been friends." is the opening sentence of Betsy-Tacy, the first book in the series. 

It's not too late to sign up for the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge! Head over today and enter to win the Betsy-Tacy Treasury. If you do join the challenge, please mention me as referring you (if you choose) as this will earn me an extra entry in the giveaway! Thanks. :)

The 2011 Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge!

It's time! This year's Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge is finally here. This is my first year participating, though I have been a lifelong fan of Lovelace's work. Some of my earliest memories are of my mom reading aloud to me from Betsy-Tacy on long summer afternoons. So needless to say, I'm very excited about this!

In honor of the upcoming reprinting of The Betsy-Tacy Treasury, which includes the first four books of the series, I will be rereading all of these early books. I just reread the volumes in the later half of the series this spring, so I thought getting reacquainted with younger Betsy, Tacy, and Tib would be a perfect way for me to participate!

I also have a related project that I've been working on. If I get enough time to work on it, I will unveil it this month. It's nothing huge, but I think it will be fun. : )

If you would like to participate in this challenge, which will go throughout the month of October, head over to A Library is a Hospital for the Mind to sign up! If you've never heard of this series, Sarah also has a lot of past posts that will help clue you in on all things Maud Hart Lovelace. Which reminds me: a special thanks to Sarah for hosting this and for all the work she puts into it. : )