Book of the Week: The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman
In a Nutshell:
Twenty years ago, Jane Hudson left the Heart Lake School for Girls in the Adirondacks promising herself she'd never return after the tragic suicides of her roommates Lucy and Deirde, and Lucy's brother Matt. Separated from her husband and looking to start afresh with her daughter Olivia, Jane finds herself back teaching Latin to a new generation of girls. But pages from Jane's missing journal, written during the horrible events of her senior year, begin mysteriously reappearing revealing long buried secrets and tormenting her at every turn. Suddenly, young, troubled girls are starting to die again and Jane is forced to piece together the shocking truth behind the nightmarish events.
Cast of Characters:
Let me just preface this by saying that the only person I would want to befriend in this book is Celeste Buehl the principal and former science teacher (because she is pretty much the only one who isn't extremely boring or really crazy). The main protagonist of the story is aptly named "Jane Hudson" as I never felt like her personality ever leapt through the pages. I don't know if this was the author's intention, but she seemed to exist primarily so the reader could be inserted into the events of the story. I couldn't even tell you what she looked like or use any adjectives to describe her other than "guilty" and even that emotion never came out too strongly. While this lack of personality made it difficult for me to really "root" for her, it didn't necessarily detract me from enjoying the story itself. I found myself strongly disliking both of her roommates, Deirde and Lucy. Lucy was particularly manipulative and selfish but kind of fascinating much like Cathy in Wuthering Heights. Deirde seemed more like a "wild '70's girl" caricature to me but it was refreshing to see small moments of vulnerability from her. Matt, Lucy's brother, appears to be your average cookie-cutter sweet-boy-for-main-character-to-swoon over type but his relationships in the book unfold into much darker territory. Jane's Latin teacher, Helen Chambers, is also a character worth noting for being a bit of an enigma; she is both interesting and tragic but like most of players in the story you never quite feel like she is a whole, rounded person. The only other character worth mentioning is Albie, a younger student that Lucy takes under her wing. Goodwin does a remarkable job of making this character feel chilling and creepy.
Novel Seller or Storyteller?:
While the plot of this book sounds something akin to a Lifetime movie, the prose are beautiful and fluid, cold and crisp.
"Past where the girls sit, Heart Lake lies blue-green and still in its glacial cradle of limestone. The water on this side of the lake is so bright it hurts my eyes. I rest them on the dark eastern end of the lake, where the pine tree shadows stain the water black."
"The jutting prow of the Point seemed close now and I could see, a little to the east, one of the three sister stones emerging from the ice, like a silent witness to our deed."
Littered throughout the story are reflective, melancholic observations that add to the overall tone of the story.
"It's sad, I think, that my two old teachers have lost the aptitudes most important to their fields: the art teacher, her sight; the history teacher, her sense of time."
Theme Song:
I like to imagine what songs would be used in the movie version in the books I read. I think Imogean Heap's Speeding Cars ties in perfectly with the ominous tone of the book and Jane's guilt and fear of the past being dredged up to ruin her future.
I like to imagine what songs would be used in the movie version in the books I read. I think Imogean Heap's Speeding Cars ties in perfectly with the ominous tone of the book and Jane's guilt and fear of the past being dredged up to ruin her future.
The Verdict:
While reading this book I felt transported to a wintery, isolated world. Heart Lake is a lonely, chilly but fascinating place. Goodwin did a wonderful job of drawing me in to the dark mystery, despite the icy characters she has created. The final act was probably the weakest bit of the story because I wasn't too concerned with Jane or how her story ended. I also felt like the author tried to pack in too many "shocking secrets" which came off as a little hokey. I would recommend this book to fellow mystery/thriller lovers unless you have a weak stomach ( a few twisted elements to the plot and several detailed scenes involving blood made me a bit queasy). This was a compelling story but not one that really captured my literary heart.
Tasty Eats of the Week:
No-Grain Granola
This was devoured in about a week despite the fact that it filled a gallon tupperware container. Next time I am going to take out the pumpkin seeds since they were too hard on the teeth and add more raisins. I didn't have any sesame seeds to use but no one seemed to miss them!
Ingredients:
1 cup of raw pecans
1 cup of raw almonds
1 cup of raw pumpkin seeds
1 cup of raw walnuts
1 cup of raw hazelnuts
1/4 cup of sesame seeds
1 tablespoon coconut oil or unsalted butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup dried cherries, raisins or cranberries
Directions:
1.) Preheat your oven to 300 F/150 C. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick silicone mat.
2.) In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except for the dried fruit, stirring until the nuts and seeds are well coated
3.) Spread the mixture evenly across the prepared baking sheet (I used two!). Bake for 10 minutes, then use a spatula to shuffle the granola around so that it bakes evenly
4.) Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the granola begins to brown. The pieces should be slightly sticky to touch. Remove it from the oven, separating the pieces before they cool and clump together.
5.) Let cool completely (for at least 20 minutes) and then mix in the dried fruit. Store the granola in a sealed container at room temperature for several weeks or in the refrigerator for a few months
***That last direction makes me laugh. It's too delicious to last for a whole month!
Cauliflower Popcorn with Tahini
This cauliflower is supposed to be eaten like popcorn (which it can) but after eating at a Lebanese restaurant in Portland, I was inspired to add Tahini to the cauliflower and make it a fancy "small plate" dish. You should be able to find Tahini at most grocery stores. It has a unique, slightly bitter taste but goes very well with cauliflower and meat!
Ingredients:
2 Large cauliflower heads
1 tablespoon high-heat oil (like coconut oil)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 425 F/ 220 C. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick silicone mats.
2.) Using a knife, dice the cauliflower heads into pieces about the size of popcorn kernels, all about the same size so they'll roast evenly.
3.) Mix the cauliflower, oil, and salt in a bowl until the pieces are well-coated.
4.) Spread them out on the prepared baking sheets
5.) Bake for 15 minutes, or until all the cauliflower is crisped around the edges. Let cool for a moment before removing the baking sheets and serve immediately
6.) (optional) Drizzle about a spoonful of Tahini on to a plate of cauliflower popcorn.
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup dried cherries, raisins or cranberries
Directions:
2.) In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except for the dried fruit, stirring until the nuts and seeds are well coated
3.) Spread the mixture evenly across the prepared baking sheet (I used two!). Bake for 10 minutes, then use a spatula to shuffle the granola around so that it bakes evenly
4.) Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the granola begins to brown. The pieces should be slightly sticky to touch. Remove it from the oven, separating the pieces before they cool and clump together.
5.) Let cool completely (for at least 20 minutes) and then mix in the dried fruit. Store the granola in a sealed container at room temperature for several weeks or in the refrigerator for a few months
***That last direction makes me laugh. It's too delicious to last for a whole month!
Cauliflower Popcorn with Tahini
Ingredients:
2 Large cauliflower heads
1 tablespoon high-heat oil (like coconut oil)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 425 F/ 220 C. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick silicone mats.
2.) Using a knife, dice the cauliflower heads into pieces about the size of popcorn kernels, all about the same size so they'll roast evenly.
3.) Mix the cauliflower, oil, and salt in a bowl until the pieces are well-coated.
4.) Spread them out on the prepared baking sheets
5.) Bake for 15 minutes, or until all the cauliflower is crisped around the edges. Let cool for a moment before removing the baking sheets and serve immediately
6.) (optional) Drizzle about a spoonful of Tahini on to a plate of cauliflower popcorn.
Grain-Free Banana Bread
I could not believe that this recipe worked! You cannot tell that this is an SCD recipe. It tastes just like normal banana bread. I made two loaves, one with pecans and raisins while the other loaf was plain. I recommend adding the pecans and raisins or walnuts because it really adds to the flavor! Some of the bread in the bottom picture looks crumbly because I was too impatient to let it cool; the bread actually stays together very well.
Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup almond flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 eggs
2 very ripe bananas
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Directions:
1.) Preheat your oven to 350 F/ 175C. Oil or butter a 5x8 inch or smaller loaf pan, or cover the bottom of sides of the pan with parchment paper.
2.) Using a whisk or fork, blend the baking soda, salt, and flours in a bowl.
3.) In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, eggs, mashed bananas, and honey. Combine the blended wet ingredients with dry ingredients. I
4.) Pur the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 40 minutes or until the sides and top are browned and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
5.) Let cool in the pan or on a cooling rack and slice. To store, cover and refrigerate for up to a few weeks, or freeze for about a month.
Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup almond flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 eggs
2 very ripe bananas
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Directions:
1.) Preheat your oven to 350 F/ 175C. Oil or butter a 5x8 inch or smaller loaf pan, or cover the bottom of sides of the pan with parchment paper.
2.) Using a whisk or fork, blend the baking soda, salt, and flours in a bowl.
3.) In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, eggs, mashed bananas, and honey. Combine the blended wet ingredients with dry ingredients. I
4.) Pur the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 40 minutes or until the sides and top are browned and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
5.) Let cool in the pan or on a cooling rack and slice. To store, cover and refrigerate for up to a few weeks, or freeze for about a month.
I thought the book review was excellent, thoughtful and recreated the essence of the story. The food looks yummy and recipes are well described. I love your "book and a recipe" idea Miss Quarter lifer and can't wait for the next installment!!!!
ReplyDeleteJHR ( mystery blog reviewer)