Rosanna’s Comments (group member since Aug 23, 2011)

Rosanna’s comments from the Classics for Beginners group.

I'm so excited to be the lucky recipient of this audio book version of Macbeth. I have to admit that I'm already a huge fan of Alan Cumming. Cabaret is one of my favorite productions of all time. It will be interesting to hear him perform in this. It is so different. I just received my copy in the mail and will be listening to it shortly.

It was a very daunting and impressive task Alan Cumming took on when he decided to do Macbeth as a one man performance. I can't wait to listen to how he does the different characters' voices. If anyone can pull it off he can.

I really like Macbeth and various adaptations of the play. Akira Kurosawa's film Throne of Blood is riveting. If you haven't seen it you should check it out. Kurosawa transforms Shakespeare into film beautifully.

Ledese wrote: "I was on the Dystopian-Books-Diet this month! Obviously Huxley's Brave New World and Orwell's 1984 :) They're both about horrible-HORRIBLE futures, but in entirely different ways. Huxley is more wo..."

Hi Ledese,
Since you just read Brave New World and 1984 you might want to check out Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death. Postman compares Brave New World and 1984 and says we are in far greater danger of becoming like the inhabitants of Brave New World—where they are restricted by pleasure and self medication rather than by fear, government monitoring, and propaganda. He says that it’s a lot easier to fight against a type of government that denies us our rights than electively giving up our rights for pleasure and entertainment. The book is a little dated because it was written in 1985 but it’s still relevant today.

Hello Everyone!! I'm new to the group but thought I'd jump right on in. I read To Kill a Mockingbird May of this year and thought it was a great coming of age story about life in the South, during a time when racial injustice was rampant. Here’s a link to my review for those who care to read: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Here’s Miss Maudie’s Famous Lane Cake recipe from Sarah Gardner’s Read it and Eat:
For the Cake:
1 cup butter plus some for greasing the pans
6 large egg whites, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
2 ¾ cups cake flour
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the filling:
8 large egg yolks
1 ¼ cups sugar
½ cup butter
½ cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chopped candied cherries
1 cup chopped raisins
1/3 cup bourbon

For the Frosting:
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup water
2 large egg whites
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt

To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease two 9-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl beat the egg whites with a handheld electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar while beating at high speed. Continue beating until stiff peaks form. In a large bowl mix the flour, milk, butter, baking powder, salt, and vanilla at low speed; increase to medium when combined and continue to beat for another 4 minutes. Fold in the egg whites with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the pans and bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for ten minutes, in the pans, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the filling: Combine the egg yolks, sugar, and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the coconut, pecans, candied cherries, raisins, and bourbon. Set aside.
To make the frosting: Place all the frosting ingredients in the top of a double boiler and beat with a handheld mixer at high speed for about 1 minute. Place over rapidly boiling water and beat at high speed until soft peaks form. Pour into a large bowl and beat until thick enough to spread. Set aside.
Cut each cake layer in half horizontally (making 4 layers). Place the first layer on a serving plate and spread a third of the filling on top. Repeat with the remaining layers, then frost the cake on top and sides. Happy Baking!!