Books - Karen A. Chase

Reading in Isolation for Perspective, Part One

April 4, 2020 By Karen A. Chase

So many of us are reading books during this time of isolation and concern, many of which allow us to escape. Sometimes, however, reading about others coping with their own imposed isolation can help us gain perspective. This is especially true when either the character’s situation might be more perilous, or their outlook in spite of that situation is insightful. This affords us a chance to more deeply develop our own character.

Here are few options based on books read in my home or through my book club. If you’re living with someone, reading aloud will take longer and allow you to discuss the book as you go. The books are not new releases so you might get them used on ABEBooks or as e-book rentals from libraries. Links to purchase all of the recommendations are also here on my BookShop list, Karen’s Reads & Book Club Picks.

Karen’s Four Fiction Reads

A Gentlemen in Moscow by Amor Towles

In this historical novel, Count Rostov has been sentenced to live his life in the Metropol Hotel in Russia, post-Bolshevik Revolution. The writing is beyond lovely, and the ingenuity and grace with which the main character chooses to live is superb. These days, I find myself asking, “What would Count Rostov do?” The author’s gorgeous website is worth getting lost in. …Buy the book.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

You’ll face the realities of a dystopian future (or what might feel like your present) head on in this science fiction work that’s become a cult classic. Living inside a virtual world, Wade has to learn to rely on himself, but ultimately discovers what is best about the world. People coming together. Great for kids, but Gen X-ers like me who lived the 80s will love it. (There’s a movie, too.) …Buy the book.

The Chef’s Apprentice by Elle Newmark

“In a world of violence and intrigue, who guards the truth?” What if your isolation was because of what you knew, and that knowledge was what everyone wanted? Here, that knowledge is the alchemy for long life. I loved this book not just for the writing and the young protagonist, who is assistant to the chef for the Doge of Venice, but for the delightful food. You’ll never cut an onion without awe again, and you’ll make cheesecake as if for the first time. …Buy the Book.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Never mind being stuck at home, imagine being trapped in one parallel universe after another. It’ll take so much brain power to wrap your head around how dark matter works or doesn’t (plus you’ll watch a Schrödinger’s Cat video about quantum mechanics), that the hours will fly. My dreams were WILD while Jason navigated a world that was not his own while traversing other parallel worlds literally of his own making. Mind blowing. …Buy the book.

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Reader Insights: I enjoy giving my characters books to read, too. My protagonist, Nathaniel, is gifted a copy of Gulliver’s Travels, which was published 50 years before he receives it in 1776. Nathaniel reads the book aloud with Captain Blythe in the scene right before this excerpt on my website. Nathaniel alone carries the sole copy of the Declaration of Independence in Carrying Independence, available as an ebook and in print.

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Cocktails in 1776

May 9, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

I’m throwing a party for my Carrying Independence, “Experience the Revolution” book launch, and what better way to imbibe on the era than to offer attendees a 1776-ish cocktail. The trouble is, there weren’t that many cocktails back then, and my book features just the classic spirits of Whisky, Madeira, and Port. I needed some advice.

Drink Historians

While there are several books about drinking in America, like the aptly named Drinking in America by Mark Lender and James Kirby Martin, there are also drink historians. First, who knew that was a thing? Second, why no person I met in college ever majored in it is beyond me—some of them seemed like they were. But I digress…

I reached out to one such historian, Philip Greene, author of a delightful book called To Have and Have Another (about the drinks featured within Hemingway’s stories). He suggested that if I wanted to “make what is considered the original cocktail,” which is like an Old Fashioned, it was defined in a newspaper from May 13, 1806 (Balance and Colombian Repository) as “spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters.”

Phil also referred me to his friend, Mark Will-Weber—journalist and author of Mint Juleps with Teddy Roosevelt—who chimed in about three revolutionary-era cocktails. “The ‘Stone Fence,’ which is rum & hard cider mixed together—an Ethan Allen favorite… Philadelphia Fish House Punch and ‘Flip,'” which is beer, rum, and sugar, heated with a red-hot iron, and over the years eggs were added. Mark admitted that when he recently served “Flip” at an event, the general consensus wasn’t “Wow!” Most just said, “Interesting…” Uhm… maybe not that one.

The Winning Revolutionary-era Cocktails

As a result of their input, my book launch will now be replete with two aptly renamed cocktails available at the cash bar:
Patriot’s Punch. Based on the “Stone Fence” recipe.
Signer’s Cocktail. Based on the “Old Fashioned,” and using (of course) 1776 Rye by James E. Pepper.

Come hoist a glass, drown your revolutionary sorrows, and while you’re at it, visit with a few founding fathers who will be there to celebrate with us at the Patrick Henry Pub & Grill. Event co-hosted with Fountain Bookstore. JUNE 11, 6–8PM. All are welcome.

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For more history nerd posts like these, subscribe to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

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Washington’s Rules of Civility, No. 7

November 13, 2018 By Karen A. Chase

A Case for Decent Behavior

Last week on COMPOSITIONS, guest Edward Lengel made a case for studying history with compassion. Equally important, is a call for a little more civility (not just politically). For this, too, we can look to our fore-bearers. In this case, George Washington.

GWRulesofCivility_KarenAChase — My own little copy, in my own little room. It looks like Washington is giving the folks on that Toile wallpaper a disapproving look, n’est pas?

Washington’s Rules

Sometime before he was 16, Washington wrote 110 of these maxims by hand, transcribing them from a set created by French Jesuits in the 16th century. What should seem like common sense or simple courtesy for behaving in public––then and now––seems worth repeating. So, every now and then I will feature one of these helpful suggestions, in no particular order, for you to ponder and share. This one seems self-explanatory.

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Thanks for sharing in the spirit of learning about our collective American History by subscribing to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

For Karen-related author research tidbits, book news and events, subscribe to my e-publication, CHASING HISTORIES.