Friday, November 29, 2013

Morning Glory by Sarah Jio

Genre: Historical/General Fiction
Publication Date: 26th November 2013
Pages: 304
Book Source: Penguin Group & NetGalley

Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Sarah Jio imagines life on Boat Street, a floating community on Seattle’s Lake Union—home to people of artistic spirit who for decades protect the dark secret of one startling night in 1959
 
Fleeing an East Coast life marred by tragedy, Ada Santorini takes up residence on houseboat number seven on Boat Street. She discovers a trunk left behind by Penny Wentworth, a young newlywed who lived on the boat half a century earlier. Ada longs to know her predecessor’s fate, but little suspects that Penny’s mysterious past and her own clouded future are destined to converge. 

My Thoughts: 
I fell in love with Sarah Jio's beautiful writing style while reading The Bungalow. Morning Glory has that same languid, atmospheric feel, part love story, part mystery and I just adored feeling part of the houseboat community on Lake Union's Boat Street, Seattle. 

Dark clouds are rolling in all around, and the rain's intensity increases as we paddle back across the lake, which looks like wrinkled gray velvet. By the time we reach my dock, we're soaked, but somehow, I don't mind. 

The dual story line and time frame of Ada Santorini (present day) and Penny Wentworth (1959) is connected by houseboat number 7; seamlessly executed and equally captivating. One of my many favourite parts was the heartwarming role Penny's unassuming recipe book played in the story, both for a reader sharing Penny's passion for baking and for Ada. There's a couple of recipe's included that I'd love to try; Cinnamon Rolls is top of my list. 


Cinnamon Rolls (Dex's Favourite) 
makes 1 dozen

Ingredients: 
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 package yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/4 cup water

For Filling:
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tblsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, softened

Preparation: 
Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from stove. Mix in butter, stir until melted. Let cool slightly.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt; mix well. Add egg, water and the milk/butter mixture. Beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Knead dough until smooth. About 5 mins. 

Let dough rise for about an hour or more. Meanwhile in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter for filling.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees . Punch down dough, then roll out into a 12x9 inch rectangle. Spread filling mixture on dough. Roll up and pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal-size pieces and place in greased 9x12 glass dish. Cover and let rise until doubled, about an hour.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool, then drizzle with royal icing if desired.


You don't get a traditional, neatly-tied-up-with-a-bow ending with Sarah Jio's stories but it's a fitting ending ... bittersweet, sure to bring a tear to the eye and a smile to your face. 

I know I may always ache for the past, for the two greatest loves of my life, but I want to be a bird now. I want to flap my wings through the rainstorms. I want to start my day with the earnestness of the morning glory, the way it blossoms open with the sunrise, ready to shine no matter what. 
  
Another story enticingly revealed a piece at a time until you realise it's all so beautifully and deftly intertwined.


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Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.

14 comments:

  1. I will have to check her out ... this sounds good!!!!

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    1. you need to Julie, Sarah Jio's writing is gorgeous!!

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  2. It sounds good and now I want a cinnamon roll :-)

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    1. lol Mary and I want someone to make me a cinnamon roll :)

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  3. I really should try one of her books...and yum!

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  4. Your review was beautifully wrought! I am eager to read this book...it is patiently waiting its turn on my Sparky queue. Thanks for sharing...and enjoy those cinnamon rolls.

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    1. thanks so much Laurel, hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I'll keep an eye out for your review!

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  5. This sounds lovely. Did you make the cinnamon rolls.

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    1. not yet Mandy but I really, really want to lol. Actually what I really, really want is someone to make them for me and all I have to do is enjoy haha

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  6. I tried to comment over the weekend using my iPad but the comment didn't take ... grrrrr. Anyway, I love cinnamon rolls and I really like Jio's work. Can't wait to read this one.

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  7. I love, love cinnamon rolls. I've never read this author before and like how you describe her writing.

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  8. sounds like it could be a good story, but I am wondering how big these boat houses are that a trunk could be lost on one for 50 years? is that explained satisfactorily?
    yum to cinnamon buns.

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  9. I fell in love with her writing and dual storylines with Violets of March. I need to read the rest of them, especially this one. Bittersweet can be good.

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