From the Shelves | “Snow” by Orhan Pamuk

Snow, a novel by contemporary Turkish author and Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk, is widely regarded as a great work of literature.  The story is told simultaneously from two angles: that of the protagonist, a poet named Ka, and the wider political context of the cultural change in Turkey following the rise of Ataturk. I suppose it must be noted here that I find this novel particularly fascinating because I also find Middle Eastern and Turkish history incredibly intriguing. However, you do not need to be a historian to read this book: ultimately, it is a work that focuses on the life of its protagonist and does not dwell on any sort of political or historical context. Anyone who loves a compelling and beautiful story will enjoy this novel — the setting of dramatic cultural change in Turkey is only a bonus for those of us who happen to be interested in it.

Of course, the history is central to the plot, but all is explained. In summary, the book takes place in a small city in Turkey called Kars. Ka, the poet-protagonist, visits the border city from his home in Germany, with the intention of doing journalistic work on the recent plight of the “head scarf girls” — a group of school girls who, rebelling against Ataturk’s westernizing policies, have continued the tradition of wearing head coverings. However, Ka also has another intention: to win the love of Ipek, the girl from his childhood whom he hopes to marry and take back to Germany with him. (Her younger sister, coincidentally, is the leader of the head scarf girls.) The majority of the novel takes place within a few days, as a blizzard descends on Kars and no one can get in or out. Violence escalates in the small city as the head scarf drama unfolds and multiple religious and secular groups clash. It is important to note here, I believe, that this by no measure reads like a thriller: instead, it is a poignant account of Ka’s few days in Kars, the poems that he writes there, his relationship with Ipek, and his reluctant role in the violence that begins to unfold.

Without giving anything away, it must be said that this is a tragic story. Ka’s character is not a perfect one: he is flawed, like any human being, which makes him so much more compelling. His time in Kars revolves around the poems he is able to write in the city, which flow from his pen more easily than they have in many years. These poems, he decides, represent different facets of his conscience (reason, imagination, memory), but ultimately they lead to little conclusion in terms of self-discovery. This is a complex novel, and one that can be confusing to read, but the language is beautiful and the plot is mesmerizing if you allow yourself to get into it. Snow is not a light and fun read, but it is a wonderful piece of literature (it almost reads like a meditation) that I would highly recommend to anyone.

As Margaret Atwood aptly writes in her introduction to the novel:

Pamuk gives us what all novelists give us at their best: the truth. Not the truth of statistics, but the truth of human experience at a particular place, in a particular time. And as with all great literature, you feel at moments not that you are examining him, but that he is examining you.

… Just some food for thought.

Have you read Snow, or any of Pamuk’s other works? What were your thoughts? If not, do you plan on reading any of them?

{Image: CoverSpy.}

Watch Hill, Rhode Island

This is a photo set from Watch Hill, RI, taken last summer. I’m usually not a fan of oceans, sunsets, and beach shots, because they risk being terribly clichéd, but I thought these images fit in well with WordPress’s weekly photo challenge this week — “Peaceful.” Enjoy!

{Images copyright; please request permission before use.}

Beauty Review | Benefit Blush in “Coralista”

I have always been a huge fan of Benefit products, and find the quality to be quite nice. (I also have their High Beam illuminating highlighter — it’s one of my favorite makeup essentials, and perhaps I will be doing a review on it soon as well.) Anyway, Benefit makes a line of awesome boxed powders (no, really, they come in awesome boxes!), ranging from “Hoola” (a bronzing powder), to “CORALista” (which works perfectly as a blush).

If you’re still in search of the perfect blush, I would recommend trying CORALista. The color shown on the Sephora website is a little misleading — in actuality, the shade is a bit deeper and a little pinker. Despite the name, it is not orange-y whatsoever. It really is the perfect shade of warm, bright, and all-flattering pink. (It also carries a light floral scent, which is a total plus!) The price is also totally reasonable because this stuff will last you forever.

In short: This is a beautiful, high-quality blush in a bright peachy pink hue that flatters all skin tones — it could quickly become your go-to blush for everyday! The scent is yummy but not overpowering and the box (which comes with a mini brush, by the way) is a steal because it will last for a while.

Shopping info: Benefit boxed powders in “CORALista,” $28, sephora.com.

{Image: temptalia.com.}

How To Cook Perfect Crêpes

There is nothing quite like a piping hot homemade French crêpe, topped with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of sugar. I remember making these in French classes back in the day, and we always looked forward to taking the class time off to make this quintessential French treat.

Cooking the perfect crêpe, however, can be a difficult task. You want the batter to be spread as thinly as possible in the pan and you need to flip it without tearing it. And you can pretty much bet that the first crêpe you make is going to have to be tossed out.

You need to work quickly when making crêpes, but once you get the hang of it, they really are a cinch to make. The batter comes together in minutes and in one bowl, and it only takes a minute or two to cook each crêpe, depending its size and thickness. Make sure the pan is hot before you pour the batter in, and immediately swirl the pan in your hand to get the thinnest possible coating of the batter for the crêpe. After that, it just becomes a matter of flipping the crêpe halfway, removing it from the pan, and topping it with whatever your heart desires (I personally prefer mine with a little lemon and sugar).

Crêpes are a fantastic and versatile classic. The crêpe itself is not very sweet, so you can go with sweeter or more savory fillings. They are great to have around for family breakfasts or brunches with the girls, and you can have an assembly line going so everyone can fill their own crêpe as they come out of the pan. They are best served fresh, but you can also store the crêpes in the fridge and reheat them for a few seconds in the microwave before filling and eating.

One of my very first French teachers introduced me to this recipe — it’s simple and easy, and I’ve been using it for years. I posted it a while back on this blog, here, and am re-posting it now (along with new pictures!) just for easier referencing. It really is a fantastic recipe.

Crêpes

Adapted from La Technique by Jacques Pépin

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 stick butter, melted
• 1/2 cup water

Directions:

1. Wisk until smooth: flour, eggs, sugar, salt, and half the milk. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well.
2. Heat skillet or crêpe pan on medium-high heat. You do not need to grease the skillet, but if you like, a small dab of butter before you make the first crêpe could help. Add approximately 3 tablespoons of batter to the pan per crêpe, and adjust as necessary for different pan sizes. Be sure to stir the batter thoroughly before adding it to the skillet, as it can become clumpy.
3. Cook crêpes on medium heat for approximately 50 seconds or until the thin edges begin to curl up and small bubbles form in the middle. Flip, then cook for about 30 seconds on the other side.

Fill your crêpes just before eating and roll them closed. I love to keep mine simple with a squeeze of lemon and some sugar, but other possible fillings include Nutella or chocolate sauce, caramel, jellies, fresh fruit (with whipped cream, if you like), ham and cheese, etc. Enjoy!

{Images: photographs by me — please feel free to use, just leave a credit/link!}

Beauty Review | Guerlain Météorites

I had heard a lot about this product before finally deciding to buy it. These little météorites, as it turns out, are quite pricy, and sell for $57 per box. Essentially, they are an illuminating face powder, and the different colored pearls add an iridescent glow to any face in addition to smoothing skin tone. Sweep some of this on and you will see a difference immediately — I’m already totally hooked on this product and will be restocking when the time comes. Plus, it comes in a beautiful box and smells amazing!

Here’s how Sephora describes it:

Inspired by light and created by Guerlain, Météorites Pearls employ the technology of white light, which is used in photography and film to erase imperfections and soften features. A constellation of 6 multi-colored pearls blend together for a flawless, radiant complexion. These pearls-with-a-purpose have now been reinvented in 3 color harmonies that are adapted to each skintone.

The description, in this case, is surprisingly accurate, and the pearls are a lovely finishing touch for a radiant complexion. (I apply mine over Perfékt’s skin perfection gel in “Radiant”.) The Guerlain Météorites come in three colors: Teint Rosé 01, Teint Beige 02, and Teint Doré 03. I have a fairly pale complexion, and therefore purchased the Teint Rosé. However, this does give an even paler finish (although only slightly), so if you’re looking for a face powder that also gives you a bronzing glow, I would recommend the two other shades, depending on your skin tone. Next time, I’ll definitely be buying the Teint Beige.

In short: I highly recommend this product. It’s very pricy, but you get what you pay for — the quality is incredible, and the powder itself is light and illuminating. If you’re looking for a new loose powder (or just looking to spoil yourself), this will do the trick.

Shopping info: Guerlain Météorites, $57, sephora.com.

{Image source: nordstrom.com.}