Jessica
I am not a vegetarian, but I do try to limit the amount of meat I eat. To that end, I usually go vegetarian at home. I am always excited to try new cookbooks, and this one is full of lovely photos and recipes.
The focus of this particular cookbook is on dishes that will satisfy meat eaters. Many recipes have an unusual method of substitution. I approve, as I don't personally care for seitan and other meat-like products. Some methods are better than others. I made the zucchini pizza, described as “sausage like.” The addition of smoked cheese combined with zucchini sauteed in fennel and red pepper made a dish that was very similar to sausage. On the other hand, some ideas were kind of scary - “Beet Wellington,” anyone? (I said to my husband: “Beets are just like steak! Umm... steak tastes like dirt,right?”) There are two different beet recipes that I will not be trying, but hey - points for originality!
Overall this was an enjoyable book, and I plan to try more recipes.
It is a pleasure to see a writer improve his craft over the course of his career. My first Neil Gaiman novel was Neverwhere, and I did not find myself impressed. I wasn't truly struck by his writing until I picked up The Graveyard Book, and then American Gods shortly thereafter. The Ocean at the End of the Lane continues the trend.
To my mind, Gaiman writes modern fairy tales. His stories may be fantastical, but they work because of their firm rooting in reality. This book is more easily accessible than some of his others, and I'd recommend it as a good starting point. The story concerns a middle aged man who has returned to his childhood town. Something fantastic happened to him once... something he can't quite remember, even as he finds himself drawn towards the house at the end of the lane. As he sits in front of the titular ocean, he remembers.
This book reminded me strongly of “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeline L'Engle. Both stories concern households of women who aren't exactly as they seem. I'd recommend this book for fans of fantasy. I won't say more because the plot doesn't need spoiling!
The Lost Art of Dress is a difficult book for me to review. I requested it from the publisher because I have an interest in sewing. What I got was something much more in depth than I was expecting.
Linda Przybyszewski sets out to create a history of dress in the 20th century. More than that, she sets out to discuss what she calls “The Dress Doctors,” the women who wrote books and pamphlets to set the standards of American dress in the early 20th century. She goes into great detail about Home Economics programs in colleges, and how they enabled women to attend and graduate universities at a time when it was not always accepted. The author shows her academic credentials with a well researched account of their influence on the average woman.
I was very interested to see the advice of such women as Mary Brooks Picken (I have several of her sewing manuals) and her peers. Where I varied from the author was in her dislike for the way that women dress today. I certainly understand the desire for beautiful clothes when you are over 30 (as I am) but I cannot agree that women today are being particularly immodest. The feminist part of me dislikes the implied judgement. Nostalgia is well and good, and I do love a vintage dress, but I'm not sure that we should be quite so nostalgic for a time when women were seen to be largely ornamental. I'm pretty sure that I would rather be allowed to wear what I like, rather than be subject to a strict set of dictates on what length my skirt should be.
It was a mixed bag for me overall, but I decided to give a positive review. The fashion illustrations and the discussions on the economy of sewing were fascinating. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the fashions of the average woman.
It's funny, but if I hadn't read on [a:John Scalzi 4763 John Scalzi https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1236228326p2/4763.jpg]'s blog that this book was a retelling of Austen, I never would have realized. I've never read the particular Austen novel it is based on (Persuasion) but I'm not an enormous Austen fan. It doesn't read like a comedy of manners the way that Austen retellings generally do.This is the story of Elliot, the default overseer of a large farm. In the world of the book, humans in the past experimented on their DNA. As a result, they had children called The Reduced, who are basically mute. The humans who did not experiment, called the Luddites, have formed a society in which they enslave the Reduced and try to carve out an existence on the tiny part of the earth they believe to be habitable. Lately there have appeared the children of the Reduced (called Posts) who appear to have overcome the genetic modifications. Luddites believe that it is a sin to use technology, lest they end up like the ancestors of their world. This is the world into which Elliot is born. She is a Luddite who must take care of the Reduced and her family, and try to curb her Father's profligate spending. When a set of Posts come to live on her land, her beliefs are challenged - are the Luddite ways truly best, or is there a middle ground?I am not in general a fan of dystopias. I do not generally feel that the world is well realized, or that the economy works as a whole. I was pleased at how well the world of this book worked. Elliot was a fantastic character, as were the Posts who rented her land. I was not in love with her love interest, as I felt he was made to be so cold in the beginning that I could not warm to him later. Even so, this was a fantastic book. If you are a fan of dystopias I recommend it, and I even recommend it even if (like me) you thought world of The Hunger Games did not hold together in the slightest. I'm looking forward to reading the second novel, set in the same universe but with different characters.
I have never read Allie Brosh's blog. I have seen her drawings before, mostly on a friend's facebook feed, but I can't seem to keep up with blogs. Well, now I've read it, and I highly recommend checking it out!
I'm not always a fan of humor, but in this case the author's voice is so strong that it works - she makes even the most absurd situation believable. I especially enjoyed the bits about her dogs, and I'm not even a dog person! I gave it to my husband to read right away, and I'm hoping he likes it just as much.
My goodness - I can't believe this is a first novel! Set during the influenza epidemic of 1918, In the Shadow of Blackbirds is filled with the dread of that terrible year. With the world at war, her father in prison, and death in the form of the spanish flu lurking around every corner, Mary Shelly Black retains her stubborn character. This is a book about many things - spiritualism, nationalism, shell shock, and the horrors of war. Cat Winters does a great job of exploring all these topics without bogging down the narrative of the book. I can't say too much without spoiling the plot, but I highly recommend this one!
The two stars are entirely for Fred. Fred was adorable and lovable just like the basset hounds I have owned. Unfortunately, Fred deserved better than this book. I'm not generally a fan of chick lit, but I have been told that Jennifer Crusie writes quality books. Maybe I chose the wrong one, but I didn't like this book at all. I thought the heroine's hang-ups about the age difference were overblown. There were the parts where lots of fighting could have been avoided by the characters actually talking to each other. There were the kooky (but not at all believable) side characters. There was the heroine, with her self-esteem issues. It basically read like it was written with a “how to write chick lit” handbook. Sad, because I really was hopeful, and the first chapter was hilarious!
I think this is a book people will be talking about this year. It's brief, at only 200 pages on my Kindle, but it packs a lot into that small space.
At the beginning of the story, we meet Alice. No, wait... that isn't right. We don't meet Alice, rather we are introduced to her through the POV chapters of four different characters. These four viewpoints hint at the truth, but none of them knows it entirely. Alice, you see, has become an outcast at her school due to rumors about her behavior. What actually happened the night of that party? Only Alice knows, and we don't hear her voice. We hear the voices of the Queen Bee of her class, the football player, and Alice's former best friend. We also hear from Kurt. Oh, Kurt. He absolutely made this book for me. It's so rare that you see a portrayal of teenage nerdiness that does not descend into cliche.
In the end, we do learn the truth about Alice. The book is not a mystery though - it's about the million ways that teenagers tear each other apart, and about one girl struggling to make it through high school. The writing in the book is beautiful - I can't post any quotes, as I have an unedited Proof, but rest assured that my highlighter was busy! Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
“One Man Guy,” by first time author Michael Barakiva, is the story of Alek. Alek comes from an Armenian-American family,who stress the importance of maintaining traditions at all times. Coming into this book I wasn't sure what to expect. I've read a fair amount of YA fiction with GLBT themes with mixed results. These books are often so grim and depressing that I have a hard time reading them. In this case I was pleasantly surprised!
Alek was a delight - unsure of himself, but not afraid to stand up for what he believes. His best friend, Becky, was also really well written and, most of all, hilarious. The opening scene, set in a restaurant, made me laugh out loud several times. This almost never happens to me during novels!
I only had two difficulties in this book. The first was with Ethan. I felt like the characterization of Ethan was not as strong as the other characters. I couldn't understand why Alek was into him, and I wished that I could. I also felt that Alek's parents were portrayed as just a little bit too harsh in some respects, and it hurt their believability.
I enjoyed learning about the Armenian culture and food. Maybe I should finally make it to the Armenian restaurant in my neighborhood! The historical information about the Armenian Genocide was very well presented, and I'm so glad it was included. Teens reading this book will learn about some important (and less well known) parts of history.
This was a heartwarming and hilarious book. I would highly recommend it to teens and to adult fans of YA literature. Barakiva is a fresh voice in the genre, and I really look forward to reading more from him!
This book was provided to me by the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.
4.5 stars. Sophie is an awkward 13 year old in 1960. Consigned to spend the summer with her Grandmama and Aunt after her parents' divorce, she finds herself transported back in time to 1860, and her ancestor's plantation. Mistaken for a runaway slave, Sophie learns the truth about her own prejudice.
This is a beautiful book. The lessons are never heavy handed, and Sophie is an admirable narrator. So much YA fiction these days is focused around love triangles and supernatural beings. There is nary a hint of romance here, and the book is all the better for it. I was initially worried that the book would come across as a bit condescending, but it was very tastefully done. I can't stress enough that this is not your average YA novel. Highly recommended.
As a music industry professional, I am clearly not the target audience. I think Byrne's conclusions would be interesting to the layman, but it wasn't anything new to me. I did not enjoy the long sections of talking about his band - the historic and psychological sections were much more interesting. 4 stars for those sections, but the biographical bits bring it down for me.
I'm not a fan of zombies in general, but this was an excellent read. It helps to not go in expecting lots of action - most of the book takes place within a high school, with a small group of survivors. The opening and closing chapters do contain some very well written action sequences, but for most of the book we are left waiting. The sense of dread comes through in the writing, and I found myself really caring about the group of survivors. There are some intense bits, so this is not recommended for younger readers. I would say age 15+. The ending leaves open the possibility of a sequel, and I hope to see one!
With The Eternity Cure, author Julie Kagawa has managed a rare feat. I read the first novel in this series, The Immortal Rules, and found it lackluster. The first half was very promising, but the second half was bogged down by a plot that involved a lot of wandering through an apocalyptic wasteland, listening to the nattering of a really creepy preacher/cult leader. It also involved a super lack-luster love interest in Zeke. I was pretty much done after that book, but I decided on a whim to try the sequel.
I don't know how she did it, but the sequel manages to totally fulfill the promise of the first half of book one, while leaving out the irritating bits (no more wandering or adorable children - yay!) She even managed to make me care about the heroine's relationship with Zeke, who shows admirable backbone now that he is away from his people.
The biggest surprise to me was the return of SpoilerJackal. I had to look up who he was because I couldn't remember him at all from the first book, but he was a delight. I'm guessing that the author is a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer because Jackal is totally Spike, down to wearing a duster and complaining about being bored all the time. I'm not upset about this - Spike was my favorite character, and it's not as though anything else in the book reminds me of the show - I just thought it was a fun reference!
The ending was amazing, not at all disappointing in the way that series books sometimes are - I don't mind if something is “To be continued....” so long as there is some resolution, and I got it here. Speaking of that (ending spoiler ahead!) SpoilerZeke is totally going to be a vampire now, right? I can't really think of any other way that ending scene plays out. So excited for that!
Highly recommended, but you need to read the first book before this one - there are too many references to the first. I'm really happy that I made myself read this one - maybe now it's time to start Kagawa's Iron Fey series?
I admit, I find Ken Jennings amusing. I loved him on Jeopardy, and I really enjoyed his last book, Maphead. This book doesn't do it for me though. After the 10th example I started skimming - too many examples that I already knew the answers to. He does have my eternal gratitude for crediting Cecil Adams and the Straight Dope, but even so it was a bit much.
I enjoyed this, but it isn't up to the standards of Libba Bray's newer books. I was disturbed by how quickly our heroine joins forces with the mean girls, and the story felt recycled from a Lois Duncan book I read in the 7th grade (Down a Dark Hall, which is fabulous in a retro way!) I am rather sad, as the idea of it was great - a story about supernatural goings on in the Victorian era is totally my bag. But, alas, this was not all it could have been. I might read the others, as I bought the set - I would imagine they get better, as Bray is one of my favorite authors now!
I'm not precisely certain that I like Arnaldur Indriðason's Icelandic mysteries, but I certainly can't stop reading them! I enjoy the Icelandic setting, which feels very different from what I'm used to in the US (or in the British mysteries that I love.) Like many European novelists, Indriðason seems more concerned with setting backstory for each of his characters than solving the mystery, It feels very similar to PD James (who I adore, though her latest novels haven't been quite up to snuff) in the way it deals with a dysfunctional detective and his team. I loved the detective's relationship with his daughter. The mystery itself was easy to solve, but that isn't bad exactly - I just wish there had been a little more rising action, as the book felt rather sleepy on the whole.
I read “Silence in the Grave” after this book, which is from the same series. I did not like it nearly as much - the story ended abruptly, and it was never really hidden who had committed the crime. It also lacked interaction between the detective and his daughter. Even so, I'm planning to read more - they are easier to get through than a Jo Nesbo or Stieg Laarson, but they have the same dark feel. I recommend the series.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. The Snowman is the seventh book in Jo Nesbø's Harry Hole mysteries. I haven't read any of the other books, but I didn't feel that kept me from enjoying this one!
Jonas wakes early one morning to find his mother missing, the only sign of her a pink scarf worn by the Snowman that has suddenly appeared in the yard. Norwegian detective Harry Hole believes this is not the first such crime, but rather the work of a serial killer. There is much made in the novel of the idea that there aren't serial killers in Norway, which does stretch incredulity a bit, since this is so obviously the work of such a killer.
My biggest problem with this book was that I figured out who the killer was halfway through. It's possible that this is because I read books from an analytical standpoint, and I couldn't figure out any other reason for that person to exist in the story. The killer's reasons for killing were perhaps a bit suspect, but I can forgive that because he is, after all, rather mad.
The translation was excellent - unlike many books, I didn't feel like I was reading something a bit clunky. I would probably read another Nesbø book, but I won't be rushing out at once. Highly recommended for fans of dark thrillers (particularly if you, unlike me, don't care if you figure out the ending early on!)
I have to be honest - I had some major problems with Undone. This novel tells the story of Jemima, Jem for short. Her best friend, Kai, has just committed suicide as a result of anti-gay bullying, and she is left behind. She is at the end of her rope when Kai's sister delivers a package to her. Inside are notes, one for each month of the year, left for her by Kai. As she reads them, she decides to take her revenge on the group of popular kids she believes drove him to his suicide. Her method? To become one of them, and hurt them from within.I almost didn't start this book. It seemed like it might be a message book, and I find those are often heavy-handed. But Jem seemed (at first) to be an interesting character, so I stuck with it. The whole revenge plot is basically Mean Girls, not that there can't be another, but I found it distracting.Kai is, unfortunately, a bit of a Magical Gay Person. He comes across less of a real person than a convenient plot device. Naturally he is an expert on ladies (going so far as to give Jem a makeover from beyond the grave. His letters really bothered me - they didn't feel a bit like someone who was about to tragically end their life. I just didn't think that the character would have spent the time to write out chatty notes in which he gives hair and makeup advice while contemplating his own gruesome death in a few hours. In fact, I had a hard time believing his suicide at all. I know that suicide is an act that doesn't often make sense from the outside, but as someone who actually had a close friend commit suicide for similar reasons (minus the online bullying, obviously, as I am old) it didn't seem real. I appreciate positive portrayals of gay teens. I think it's very important for gay or questioning young people to be able to read about teens in similar situations. What I don't think is helpful? The number of times the gay characters in these books wind up dead. I would never recommend this book to a gay teen (what would I recommend? Well, I'd start with [b:How to Repair a Mechanical Heart 16102490 How to Repair a Mechanical Heart J.C. Lillis http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1350926753s/16102490.jpg 21913214]. This book shows teens struggling, but also living. And it's funny. Sometimes I just can't read another tragic book.)Speaking of that, I hated the ending (ending details behind spoiler tags) SpoilerSeriously? That's the ending? I saw the twist coming from the first time Max was introduced, so I don't know how that was a shock. But I was really upset by Jem's death, though I didn't ever connect with her. It just felt like tragedy for the sake of a sad ending, and I was not down. It didn't feel organic for her character, who ended up in the same place she started, as though the middle of the book hadn't happened. It's hard to write a negative review of a book that has a message that can't be argued with (anti gay bullying). I must mention that the writing itself was good, and I would certainly read another book by this author. It's really more Jem's story than Kai's, but I was unable to get past his character. I wouldn't recommend it, but I will seek more from the author!
In spite of a few reservations, I'm giving 4 stars to this compilation. As a woman in her 30s who doesn't have (and doesn't plan to have) children, I was really excited to read this book. I think there is a lot of unfortunate demonization of women who have made this choice, and I welcome anything that normalizes this choice.
That being said, there were a few things that bugged me. I agree with the previous reviewers when I say this: There were entirely too many essays that started out by the author explaining how much they love children... but...... yeah, we shouldn't have to explain that. No one would ask a man to do the same, and so I reject the notion that women should have to declare their love for babies in order to decide not to have them.
Of course, all the women in the book are products of our society, and our society does expect women to say this, so I understand it. I also respect that they aren't all in the same place I am - some express sadness at ending up childless, and that's ok too. I would have liked to have seen a wider variety of viewpoints, as I didn't find anyone I could exactly relate to.
All the women in the book explain themselves well. I am really glad for the opportunity to review this book, and I hope to see more discussion of this topic in the future. I find that it is not something that is easily discussed, although studies show that more and more professional women are opting to be childless.
After all the awards heaped on John Green's “The Fault in our Stars,” I felt I should give one of his novels a try. I didn't want to being with Stars because it's about people with cancer, and quite frankly I don't enjoy being sad. So I picked up this one instead, which promises a quirky coming of age story.
Quentin is in love with Margo, and has been for most of his life. She's a bit of a stereotypical wild child, a popular girl who has some hidden secrets. When she disappears (after one night of mayhem with Q) he sets out to solve the mystery of her disappearance.
I really enjoyed Quentin and his friends, who were nerdy band geeks. I liked that they were smart and funny, though they didn't always sound like actual high school students.
My problem with the book? It was Margo. Although she comes across fairly well at the beginning, by the end of the book she has revealed herself to be selfish and (quite frankly) not very likeable. Not that she has to be, but I get the impression that we are supposed to sympathize with her - Quentin certainly does.
The book aims at some deep thoughts and conclusions about life, but I fear it doesn't actually get very far beyond the trite. It's true, we don't ever really know the inside of someone, but what of it? The book doesn't tell us much beyond that observation. And as Margo was treading dangerously close to Holden Caulfield territory, it wasn't to my taste. (Please note: I loathe “Catcher in the Rye” beyond all books, so I avoid any similar characters.)
I might try a different John Green novel, but I worry that I just don't enjoy his formula. Maybe I should try the sad one?
In spite of my lackluster review, I remain a big fan of Georgette Heyer's novels. I always recommend them to Jane Austen fans looking for something similar, as they are quite a cut above the standard regency romance. Frederica, unfortunately, was simply not my favorite.
Frederica is a slightly older young lady (24 years of age) who considers herself to be on the shelf. She assumed the responsibility of her younger brothers and sister at a young age, and now she desires to bring her beautiful younger sister, Charis, out into london society. As they have no great fortune, they appeal to a distant relation (Lord Alverstoke) to help to find them a sponser.
It is apparent from the start that Alverstoke and Frederica will end up together. That's not a bad thing. What is bad is the nearly 600 pages of plot that come before they get together (on the last page). We are treated to the usual zany characters - an adorable urchin, a large playful dog, an eccentric older aunt - but the book seems mostly made of their stores.
I found Frederica frustrating - why would she be so determined to never marry? I didn't really buy that she would wish to care for her brothers, as they would be gone in a few short years. I was not even convinced that she loved Alverstroke at the end, for while we were inside his head, seeing his slow realization, from Frederica we got nothing similar. She never declares her love, and instead we are left wondering why she agreed to marry.
There was an entire subplot with a hot air balloon that I found tedious and could have been cut. This is not the book I would recommend to someone new to Heyer - go read “The Grand Sophy” instead, as it is a complete delight. Since I generally love her novels, this is a rare ho-hum example.
I went on a little Georgette Heyer reading binge this week. She wrote so many novels that I still haven't read them all! Arabella, while not matching my favorites, was an excellent read.
Arabella has been sent to London for a season by her mother. She is staying with her Godmother, and she knows she must contract a good marriage, so that she might bring her younger sisters out later. By a series of deceptions, all the Ton believes her to be an heiress, so she despairs of marrying. Fortunately, there is Mr. Beaumaris, who is a quite typical Heyer hero. Although cranky at first, he does bend under the love of Arabella (who is, quite naturally, not such a normal lady).
This does follow the Heyer formula, but it's short and fun to read. I liked the characters, and wanted to see them together. Not my absolute favorite, but well worth the read!
I don't usually review cookbooks, but I had to give a good rating to this one! I've made three recipes from this cookbook this week, and all were excellent - two were, in fact, so good that I've had to add them to my list of stapes!
I'm a sometimes vegetarian, so I was especially interested in the large number of meatless recipes. I recommend these:
Shaved asparagus pizza:
This was a revelation. I don't really make pizza at home, but she suggested using a frozen dough. I bought a whole wheat dough from Whole Foods. The pizza is topped with parmesan and mozzarella (I used lite mozzarella) and thinly shaved asparagus, tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper. It was so simple, but it was excellent - easily one of the best vegetarian pizzas I have had!
Sugar Snap pea salad with miso dressing
The salad is good (I love sugar snap peas) but it's all about the dressing. I'm obsessed with japanese restaurant salad dressing, and this one manages to be even better! I could have seriously eaten it by itself. I think with the addition of grated carrots and a little less honey it could be exactly like the restaurant dressing, but it might be even better this way.
I'm going to make more recipes from this one. I'm wary of blogger cookbooks, as some of them are just awful, but Deb Perelman really delivers!
