Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 12-17-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

How many ways can readers ask, "What is a fainting couch?"

Several hundred ways, but here's just a few.

(And yes, I've included a fainting couch photo, too.)

The fainting couch is still in my living room. I've thrown a sheet over top of it, so it won't get dirty, because I plan on selling it. But Abbey (my gray cat) and I have been spending a lot of time lounging on the fainting couch. It's become Abbey's favorite place to sleep. The darn couch (that's too big for my living room) is the most comfortable piece of furniture I've ever owned.

From my Email Bag:

"What is a fainting couch? Pictures please."--Lisa Steed

"I love when you include pictures. Do you think we could see your fainting couch? Thanks for all the joy you bring to so many people--including me!"--Olga Merela

"I have to ask, what exactly is a fainting couch? Is it a couch to catch you as you faint? Does the couch actually faint? My imagination is going in about 20 different directions ;) So, please ease my curiosity and tell me what a fainting couch is."--Jeannie

"Dear Suzanne, what is a fainting couch?"--Carol Murray

"Suzanne this must be a beautiful couch at a bargain basement price for you to have bought it despite bean pole man's rude behavior. I wish you would have attached a picture...as I would love to see it. Thanks for sharing your adventure."--Teneisha

"WHAT!!!!!!!??????? No picture of a white fainting couch? How could you, Suzanne?"--Melissa

"You need to post a picture of that couch!"--Lynda S.

"What a great story! However, I've never heard of a Fainting Couch? What type of couch is it?"--Mimi

"Awe, Suzanne you disappointed me! I loved your fainting couch story, but you didn't include a photo of said couch. I wanted to see what a fainting couch looks like. (I would have also liked photos of Beanpole Man and Muscular Man...although you did a great job of describing them ;-) Do you think you could take a photo and post it? I'm sure I'm not the only one curious about a couch with such an intriguing-sounding name. As a matter of fact, I'm ready to swoon right now....Your faithful daily reader"--Irene Korman Unger

(Suzanne replies)

Get ready to swoon, Irene. To see a photo of the fainting couch, go to: http://tinyurl.com/yd4wqsa

And P.S. It's still For Sale!

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

* Find recipes for the holidays: http://tinyurl.com/yuf6aq

Happy Holidays,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Marty Becker, D.V.M., Gina Spadafori, Mikkel Becker Shannon, The Ultimate Bird Lover; Misa Ramirez, Hasta la Vista, Lola; Steffan Postaer, The Happy Soul Industry; and Elizabeth Flock, Sleepwalking in Daylight. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 12-16-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I appreciate you taking the time to email, especially during these busy holiday times.

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne, I want to come to your tea party!! I am, what my grandmother would call, a tea-granny!

My Nana gave my sister and I our first 'cup' of tea, in one of her China cups (she always used China cups, she didn't even own a mug). It was about 1/4 tea, the balance milk. We would dunk our cookies, and sometimes lose a big portion of them, in our tea. We were so thrilled, we were grown-up!

A few years ago, my sister gave me a tea assortment for Christmas. It was 10 tea bags of 16 different teas. It was one of the most wonderful, thoughtful presents I have ever received and I just loved it! I spent long minutes mulling over my choices and I thought about my sister with great affection every time.

The tea bags are long gone and unfortunately, my sister is gone also. She died a year ago last June and I miss her, so I only have the memories. I no longer use the box for tea, I keep pictures in it; but every time I see it, I think about one of the best presents I ever received and my sister that presented it to me.

Thank you for your column, it brought back some very happy memories."--Diane Hiddleson

"Dear Suzanne, Oh please do plan and have a special tea party. You will enjoy it so much.

Last Valentine's Day I hosted our garden club to a tea party. I sent out fun invitations requesting the ladies wear hats and gloves, and I baked for days making special treats and little sandwiches. I served buffet style which isn't appropriate for a real tea but I only had the cups placed on the buffet table. The guests had to match their cup with the saucer at the dining table. It was fun to have people seated with people they may not have chosen to sit next to therefore sparking good conversations. And the hats oh, such fun. One was from a wedding in the '30's another from a wedding in the '60's and others just from a different era. One lady misread the invitation and showed up the next day in full costume disappointed to find out she missed all the fun so guess what? I am planning another tea party and really encourage you to have one also. An avid reader who enjoys reading with friends."--Elaine Salsbury

"Your note about Tea Party's came at a perfect morning! Just last night I read an article in our newspaper on Afternoon Tea's being offered this holiday season. It is on my 'To Do' list although since time is running short, I'm not sure I will make it to one this year, but I enjoyed that we are both on the same wave length of enjoying a Tea Party. I have been enjoying a cup of tea, also by myself, these last few days. Ummm, to savor the smell and ritual of boiling the water, picking out the favorite tea cup or mug and bag of tea. Enjoy the day...and a cup of tea!"--Sharon

* Tea cookies and other holiday recipes: http://tinyurl.com/y89fmut

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week, books for kids of all ages about discovering beauty, romance and humor, and wizards from: Cindy Martinusen-Coloma, Beautiful; Lindsay Eland, Scones and Sensibility; and Alexandra Bracken, Brightly Woven. For a chance to win free books and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

Dear Reader Column 12-14-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

It's a ritual. First thing in the morning when I get up I head into the bathroom to splash some water on my face, and then I look into the mirror to reacquaint myself with who I am. Just about this time I feel Billee, our Calico cat, rubbing up against my leg. Billee expects a morning greeting. I rub her head, scratch a little around her ears, and then she contently heads towards the kitchen. It's time to eat.

But this morning Billee had a little trouble crossing the bathroom threshold, because Abbey, my youngest gray cat, was hiding--a kitty waiting to pounce--on Billee. It's the cutest thing. There's an old wedding gown displayed on a dress form that sits in the corner of my bathroom, right next to the door. (I live in an historical home, so the oddness of a wedding dress in my bathroom fits right in.) When Abbey was just a kitten she discovered if she sat underneath the top layer of tulle on the long flowing wedding dress, the material was the perfect cover, yet thin enough to allow her to move with ease and pounce on Billee as she passed by. Child's play, kitten play, I guess. It used to be a morning ritual for Abbey, but then Abbey grew a little bigger, and somehow the playfulness was replaced by grown up cat concerns, like napping.

But not this morning. Sitting up straight, every so quietly underneath the wedding dress stealthily waiting for Billee--Abbey was in position to pounce. It had been a long time since Abbey had played the wedding dress game, and I didn't realize until I noticed the action, how much I missed her morning game. Instantly I was wide awake and amused, watching to see if Billee would make it out the bathroom door safely.

It sounds a bit trivial, but watching Abbey waiting to pounce on Billee not only brought a smile to my face, but revisiting the tradition brought a sense of comfort and warmth to my heart, and reminded me that traditions don't have to be anything fancy or formal.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Marty Becker, D.V.M., Gina Spadafori, Mikkel Becker Shannon, The Ultimate Bird Lover; Misa Ramirez, Hasta la Vista, Lola; Steffan Postaer, The Happy Soul Industry; and Elizabeth Flock, Sleepwalking in Daylight. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 12-10-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Doing a little holiday housekeeping today.

1. Remember to keep the book club fun, especially during this busy time of year. If a book isn't a good match for you, hit the delete key. You're not being a bad boy or girl and Santa will still leave a present for you.

2. If you'd like to make some holiday cookies, but cutouts are too big of an undertaking, try my Candy Cane Cookies. You'll find the recipe and a photo from a reader last year who made the cookies with her daughter. The photo shows a picture of the cookies, so you'll see what the final product should look like. No rolling pin needed, just two hands to roll two ropes of dough, then lay one on top of the other, turn the top corner down to form the head of the candy cane. You'll end up with not only impressive looking cookies, they taste fabulous, too! For the recipe and photo, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/candycanecookies

3. The week after Christmas I'll be featuring some of my staff's favorite Christmas memories. I'd love to hear yours, too. Please send an email and tell me about one of your holiday memories. I'll choose some book club reader memories to run in my column the week after Christmas. Your Christmas memory you send me could be as simple as the email I received from Jennie Webb this morning:

"Hey Suzanne! Your column today reminded me of baking with my nieces and nephews one time... I let each of them fill a tray with chocolate chip cookies to put in the oven. When it was time to put my youngest nephew's tray in, he got really upset and started crying. He did NOT want his cookies to go in the oven because it was so hot in there! Had to convince him that it wouldn't hurt the cookies, but they had to be baked to be eaten."

And as a thank you for taking the time to draft an email, I'll enter your name in a drawing for the boxed collection of American Christmas Classics by Ronald M. Clancy. A book and three CDs of holiday songs and carols. I want to get the prize in the mail so it can be enjoyed for Christmas, so I'll draw the winning name December 17th. If you want to be included in the drawing be sure to include your mailing address with your Christmas memory email.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are four that deserve your attention: Nina Bruhns, If Looks Could Chill; Dora Machado, Stonewiser: The Call of the Stone; Laura Childs, Eggs Benedict Arnold; and Lisa Tucker, The Promised World. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 12-09-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

If you'd like to see some really, really big smiles, click over and see the photos of my grandson, Paul, making cutout gingerbread men/women cookies. I'd been saving a small rolling pin and easy decorating kit for when he was old enough to help make cookies. Paul will be three years old in a couple of weeks, so I thought at least he would have fun helping, but he still wouldn't be old enough to roll the dough. I was wrong--big time! The boy took over in the kitchen. "Paul will roll Grandma!" and he waved me off to stand and watch.

Seeing a youngster's smile always brings joy to my heart and makes my day go better. I hope these photos do the same for you, and be sure to sign up for the children's cookie decorating kit I'm giving away. It's just like the one Paul and I used to decorate the gingerbread cookies.

Go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/gingerbread1209.html

*Be sure to check out our new KidsBuzz. The link runs after my column on Wednesday and Friday.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week, books for kids of all ages about discovering beauty, romance and humor, and wizards from: Cindy Martinusen-Coloma, Beautiful; Lindsay Eland, Scones and Sensibility; and Alexandra Bracken, Brightly Woven. For a chance to win free books and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

 

Dear Reader Column 12-03-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I love to exchange recipes. Tom, my manicurist, raved about my Skunk Beans recipe (he'd made it twice since he'd seen me last) and when I asked him if he had a recipe for sweet potatoes, he assured me this one was a winner. He was right. I served it on Thanksgiving and I'm making it again for Christmas dinner. It's going to become a regular holiday recipe in my house.

Tom's Sweet Potatoes

4 cups mashed sweet potatoes (fresh baked)
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 cup milk

Mix the above ingredients together and bake @ 400 for 20 minutes

Topping:
3/4 cup crushed cornflakes
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup ground pecans

Mix topping ingredients together and crumble over top and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Use 13 x 9 pan or dish. To double topping--double everything except the butter.

To peruse my recipes, go to: http://tinyurl.com/yuf6aq

* Congratulations to Marie Kudej the winner of the subscription to Woman's Day Magazine.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are four that deserve your attention: Margaret Brownley, A Lady Like Sarah; Wendy Nelson Tokunaga, Love in Translation; John B. Olson, Powers; and Zoe Klein, Drawing in the Dust. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 12-02-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

The things I do and say to my daughter, I must remember the reason she sees them as uncaring and unloving, is because she's an alcoholic. My daughter may not have had a drink, or used any drugs for two months now, but the ways and thoughts of an addict are still with her.

When she is healthy and works her way out of the fog, when she can move about with ease without being under the thumb of alcohol and drugs, then she will understand my words and actions. And if that day never comes, I will know that I've given her the best love a mother can give, I've said no when she needed to hear it. I've held the line even though my heart is breaking.

I remember getting an email from a reader when I featured the book, The Soloist in my column. The reader commented on the book and about how much she enjoyed reading at the book club, and then with what seemed like the ease of telling me what she had for lunch yesterday, she told me about her son. He's a homeless man, who she sometimes sees sleeping on the street, when she goes to the market. The mother cannot "do" for her son, there's more behind the scenes than it appears.

And obviously today, as I "casually" write about my daughter, I realize there was nothing casual about the reader's words that day. How could she tell me the story about her son? It seemed unnatural, embarrassing, and I didn't know what to do with my own feelings when I read her email. How can a mother work such a story into an email? Because talking about it out loud, or writing about it helps a mother survive--and helps ease a mother's broken heart. Thanks for listening.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Gratefully,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week, books for middle grade and young adult readers about rules, the world inside paintings, conscience and taking on the world from: Naomi Zucker, Callie's Rules; Mike Wilks, Mirrorscape; Amy Efaw, After; and Glenn Dakin, Candle Man. For a chance to win free books and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

Dear Reader Column 12-01-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I'd forgotten all about the call I received a couple of months ago from a fact checker at Woman's Day magazine, until Kathy Salvo, a book club reader, sent me this email.

"Suzanne: I saw the DearReader.com book clubs mentioned in the December Woman's Day magazine which I just received in the mail yesterday. Good to see you mentioned prominently! Keep up the good work and keep sending those interesting books and morning chats!"--Kathy

Thank you Kathy, you are absolutely right--the book clubs are mentioned on page 28, in the article "Take a Holiday Time-Out."

Check us out in the December issue of Woman's Day and if you're so inclined, let the editors know you read at the book clubs. As a fun thank you to the folks at Woman's Day I'm giving away a one-year subscription to the magazine. To enter the drawing, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/womansday.html

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

Dear Reader Column 11-25-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Every Wednesday is KIDSBUZZ day at the book clubs. Check out the link right after my column today.

If you're a Grandma or Grandpa who lives far away from your grandchildren, book club reader Eileen has a great idea for you.

"Good morning Suzanne,

Your story about the tickle book reminded me of when my grandchildren were small. My son was stationed in England for three years and so, of course, I didn't see my grandchildren during that time. But I didn't want them to forget me and so every once in a while I would buy each of them (Danielle and Christopher) a story book, take it home and read it on tape. I would ask them to point out something in the book every so often so they could participate. Then I mailed the books and the tape to them. The first time I did that, my daughter-in-law said the next morning, the kids wanted to know if grandma could read them a story. It took her a few minutes to realize that they were asking her to put the tape in for them to listen to. Thanks for reminding me of pleasant things with my grandchildren. There are now four of them and the youngest is fourteen. No more Grandma reading stories to the grandchildren. Guess I'll have to save it for my great grandchildren."--Eileen

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week, books for all ages about fitting in, magic and adventure, humor, and reconciliation from: Rose Kent, Kimchi & Calamari; Charlotte Kandell, The Scarlet Stockings; Randall de Seve, The Duchess of Whimsy; and Valerie Patterson, The Other Side of Blue. For a chance to win free books and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Under The Sea-Wind by Rachel Carson. To comment on the book and get some holiday recipes from Suzanne, go to: http://tinyurl.com/NovClassics

 

Dear Reader Column 11-19-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Every few weeks my friend Linda and I do some bench sitting on St. Armand's Circle and then we do a little browsing in the shops. Last week when we were browsing, I couldn't resist buying a Tickle Monster Kit; a copy of the of the children's book Tickle Monster and big, blue, furry mitts with convenient holes for your fingers to slide through--so you're ready to tickle! The children's story is about a loveable monster with big puffy mitts who's just flown in from Planet Tickle. His mission is to bring joy and laughter to planet Earth. But the book's not just for children. "So, Suzanne, how about reading Tickle Monster out loud right now?" Linda asked as we were driving home.

Linda's request is one of the reasons I love her so much. Uninhibited, by who might be staring, or how grown women over 50 should be behaving, as the two of us bench sit and drink our coffee, we're also blowing bubbles, feeding the birds and having discussions that would rival any seasoned philosophy professor's lecture.

Read the book? Of course I couldn't refuse--what fun! I started out a little reserved, but soon I was reading aloud with as much enthusiasm as if I were reading to my grandchildren. Tickle, tickle, tickle, in my voice, we were laughing like two young girls, but unfortunately I couldn't use the big furry tickle mitts because Linda was driving.

But I did put on the big furry tickle mitts when I read the book to my grandson Paul. And then Paul put on the mitts and read the book to Grandma (in his own special 3-year-old way) and of course I was properly tickled!

It's a delightful book. I highly recommend it and so does Paul. To see photos and a slideshow of a grandson reading to Grandma--his facial expressions are priceless! Go to: http://tinyurl.com/yzyopw7

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are five that deserve your attention: Barbara Pope, Cezanne's Quarry; Graham Garrison, Hero's Tribute; Shannon Van Roekel, Desert Fire; Jean Davies Okimoto, The Love Ceiling; and Tim Downs, Ends of the Earth. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader And check out KidsBuzz too! http://authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz/

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Under The Sea-Wind by Rachel Carson. To comment on the book and get some holiday recipes from Suzanne, go to: http://tinyurl.com/NovClassics