With Game of Thrones back again it's time to steal ourselves with some show-themed fortification with the Official Game of Thrones Cookbook: A Feast of Ice and Fire. It features recipes with quotes, photos, and stories that map back to the show. It's great fun.
If you want a drink with your meal, why not try Dragonfruit Lemonade. Daenerys would love it.
Tonight is the season finale of Game of Thrones and it came way too quickly. I'm still spinning from the massive attack of the Undead two weeks ago. Who knows what's in store for tonight.
Mashable came up with these political attack ads for major Game of Thrones characters Jon, Dany and Stannis. They are a riot and have almost nothing to do with tonight's finale. But you should watch them anyway.
Winter is coming and Game of Thrones is back on HBO this Sunday with season four, "Ice and Fire: A Foreshadowing."
Despite the Stark's bad luck (I don't think I'll ever get over the Red Wedding), I'm still rooting for them. At least as long as the rest of the clan lasts. I can't wait to see how Margaery plans to handle Geoffrey or how anyone will stop Melisandre or what's on the other side of that wall. You can find a recap of the season three finale here.
Here's a fifteen minute preview of this season that will prepare you fully for Sunday.
In honor of the return of Game of Thrones, Janet Kuchler in our Portland Office has been cooking up these delicious dragon noodles. You can find the recipe over at Food.com, but Janet recommends that you squeeze a little fresh lime over the finished dish.
If you would like to try Daenerys' Dragon Lemonade, made with Dragonberry Rum, click here. For Game of Thrones Honeyed Chicken, click here.
Like many Game of Throne fans, I am still recovering from last week's episode. Although it was titled, The Rains of Castlemere, it was really all about the Red Wedding. (There's a great interview with GOT book author, George R.R. Martin, about the Red Wedding here.)
I softened the blow for our viewing party a bit by serving these fabulous drinks, which we called Daenery's Dragon Fruit Lemonade.
Here's the recipe by the glass:
- muddled fresh blackberries
- Dragon Fruit Rum (from Bacardi)
- Lemonade of your choice
We put in about a half a shot of Dragon Fruit Rum and then almost filled the glass with lemonade and then added the blackberries. It was delicious. It would also be delicious without the alcohol.
All summer long, Mystery Playground is matching books with drinks. You can see more book/drink match ups here.
Last weekend some friends an I caught an exceptional play, called Black Watch, through A.C.T America Conservatory Theater at the Armory in San Francisco. The Amory is not A.C.T's usual venue but it turned about to be a great place for this particular play, allowing more space for the cast to move around and enabling the audience to be closer to the action.
The story is about a platoon of the the Scottish Army, called the Black Watch and their deployment to Iraq. The Black Watch is regiment with more than 500 years of history and that history coupled with their story in Iraq is entertainment with impact. The cast, the writing and the musical score were superior. The reviews of the play have been great.
In our showing, Daniel Portman, who plays Podrick Payne on Game of Thrones (he saved Tyrion during the battle at the end of season two), played one of the soldiers. And that made it a little more fun.
The Black Watch is playing at the San Francisco Armory until June 7th. If you're in town, it's definitely worth picking up tickets.
Game of Thrones returns this Sunday on HBO and I can't wait to finally get back to the adventures of Westros. I've missed Tyrion and Ayra most of all. This season we get to see Dame Diana Rigg (of The Avengers and Bond girl fame) join the cast as Lady Olenna, Queen-to-be Margaery Tyrell's formidable grandmother. Lady Olenna is also known as the Queen of Thornes which should be really fun to watch. Watch out Lannisters.
During the break, I confess I read the third book on which this season is mostly based. Don't worry, I won't give away any spoilers, but I will tell you that if the books are any indication, this season is not to be missed. Even though spring is officially here, Winter is Coming. Seasons 1 & 2 are available on HBO Go, or DVD.
Neil Gaiman reminds me of Snape a little bit, maybe I'm the only one.
Last year sci-fi author Neil Gaiman started a tradition buy making video to inspire people to give scary books away on Halloween, dubbing the new practice, "All Hallows Read."
Neil talks about this great tradition in the video below. He also says that, "Candy is important, fake blood is important," but you'll just have to watch the video to see what else is important.
Here are some scary books that I found hard to put down:
1) The Memoirs of Elizabeth Frankenstein, by Theodore Roszak- Much has been written about the weak women in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. This book turns the original monster classic on it's head and tells a different story by from the point of view of the woman who married Dr. Frankenstein (the creator, not the monster). It's engrossing. It's also ironic that although this tale is told from the point of view of a woman, it was written by a man, and the original work by Mary Shelley is the other way around.
2) The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - The story starts in 1972 when a young girl finds an antique book and a pile of decaying letters that start her on a chase after the history of Vlad the Impaler. She learns that her family has been caught up in this quest and now it's up to her. This is a brilliant thriller that keeps your heart racing and your eyes reading.
3) The Awareness and Deadly Other Tales by Terrie Farley Moran - This collection of short stories yields one surprise after another. My favorite is the title story where justice is meted in a supernatural way. (The author also has a short story in the current issue of Alfred Hitchcock Magazine, called Jake Says Hello.)
4) Game of Thrones by George RR Martin - Even after watching the HBO series first, I couldn't put this book down and I pretty much knew what was going to happen. This story brings some serious drama and besides, 'Winter is Coming'.
What are your favorite scary books? Do you plan to give any away on Halloween?
I have a confession to make. There are stacks and stacks of un-read books in my house. I've started a major undertaking to read them all or move them on to someone who will appreciate them more if my interest has flagged. It means that books on my list may be older than most of the books you see on other blogs. In our society there is always a quest for something new, but often times we miss gems that miss a major hype cycle. Here's my reading list for September...
GARMENT OF SHADOWS, Laurie R. King - I love King's Mary Russell series - a strong woman marries and it a match for Sherlock Holmes. These books are so much fun. This book comes out first week in September but I managed to get an early copy.
THE CLASH OF KINGS, George R. Martin - I'm going to allow myself to read the book behind the second season of HBO's Game of Thrones because I really liked the first novel. These books are really long and complicated -- and I already know what will happen...still they keep me interested. I can't wait for season three.
WHERE GOOD IDEAS COME FROM: THE NATURAL HISTORY OF INNOVATION, Steven Johnson - This month's non-fiction title dissects where great ideas come from. I love coming up with great ideas (who doesn't?), so this book sounds intriguing.
THE ACCOMPLICE, Elizabeth Ironside - The Evening Telegraph in the UK called it, "A spellbinding story of love, murder, and deception." That was enough for me to try it.
Here's the report on August's list:
THE OTHER WOMAN, Hank Phillippi Ryan - I'm reviewing this book for Criminal Element. This book comes out on September 4th, and my Fresh Meat review will come out the week before. I'll post it when it goes live.
THE WINTER PALACE, Eva Stachniak - This is a novel about Catherine the Great. She was many things, but boring was not one of them.
I LOVED THIS BOOK. This is a really really great book. So hard to put down.
THE ART OF INTELLIGENCE: LESSONS FROM A LIFE IN THE CIA'S CLANDESTINE SERVICE, Henry A. Crumpton - Who doesn't love a good spy story, especially if it's true....
The first part of the book is a little slow but establishes the credentials of the writer. The stories in here are fascinating. I do wish there had been more detail on fewer stories. Perhaps that isn't possible with security concerns. It's a good book though.
THE ACCOMPLICE, Elizabeth Ironside - The Evening Telegraph in the UK called it, "A spellbinding story of love, murder, and deception." That was enough for me to try it.
I didn't get to this one so it gets bumped to September.
I haven't read George R. Martin's Game of Thrones, but I'm beginning to think I need to if I want to keep watching the HBO series. And I do want to keep watching. This season had episode after episode of great moments:
Ayrn verbally sparring with Tywin, and making friends with Jacqin (hands down the best)
Tyrion's rise and then fall, just after he became courageous and did "the right thing" and now his determination to stick it out in Kings Landing, despite the murder attempt and downgrade, because he needs the challenge to rise again - talk about your family issues. The Lannister's define dysfunction.
Daenerys' trek with her baby dragons (although her storyline was more present and interesting in season one)
Sansa's growth into womanhood and negotiating the perils of Kings Landing, and especially the Queen
Anyone getting the best of Joffrey at anything at any time
But there was so much in the season finale that I didn't "get". Like what really happened at Winterfell and what was going on North of the Wall. I wasn't even really sure at first that Daenerys was in the Iron Throne room. I didn't know the significance of Baelish being given Harrenhal. I could have let it go, but I like to know things. I'm funny that way.
I know what a tremendous challenge it must be to adapt books so the show can appease the books fans while making sure those new to the story, like me, are entertained.
Martin is involved in the writing, which is great, and I know that TV budgets can only go so far and sometimes you have to save your money for one battle and not show another -- so I'm not complaining really. Game of Thrones has a huge budget for TV but trade offs must be made. I went online and devoured the recaps in my need to learn more. By making me want more, the writers have succeeded. I'm motivated to start reading the books, but then face the challenge of stopping after the first two so that I don't spoil season three. But then if I don't read the third book, I may find myself a little lost in season three.
