Rachel
As a new mom, there is so much in here that I related to and so much that made me laugh out loud because it was so familiar. Though there are some universal truths here, there's a lot that's extremely privileged (employing night nurses for several months while also employing a day time nanny... I mean, seriously, in this economy??) that I had to really take with a grain of salt. While I really liked a lot of this book, I wish it had explored the hero's journey a bit deeper rather than turning away from opportunities for more serious reflection.
I feel a little bit like...when you've been watching a matinee at the movie theater and you walk out into the sunshine after the credits have rolled, and realize how entirely you've been inhabiting some other world. I loved the characters and all their relationships and their banter — how real and likeable and flawed and human they were, even and especially when they became evidently unreliable and mysterious to each other and themselves. I loved the unfolding of every mystery. I loved the setting and the atmosphere, and how sometimes there felt like something else lurking around the corner. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who might read it, so I guess I've just resolved to report back to you about this book very vaguely and sounding a little bit like Harry Styles at a press junket talking about “a movie, like a real movie type of movie.”
Vintage Adair. Since the first book in this series wasn't my favorite, I skipped reading the rest of them. Recently though, I've been craving some unknown-to-me Adair, and the rest of this series was what was available. All the typical Adair stuff is here – the small town charm, the meddling town elders, lovable main characters who are trying to protect their wounded hearts but also take risks to live their lives to the fullest and be the best versions of themselves. I mean... what else is there?
I just...how is this SO GOOD. I think about Outlander all the time. I don't even know what I'm thinking about it. It's just there, an undercurrent in my consciousness. Maybe I'm just thinking about their love all the time. I DON'T KNOW. Jamie and Claire just make me SO HAPPY. I would love to write about the rich historical detail and textures, and the meta discussions about lengthy texts that go all in on detail, and I would love to write about the weird moments Claire has where she says things to her daughter like, “Try not to get fat” or her weird theory about short men versus tall men. However, this is the only “review” of Outlander I'm capable of writing right now, and I'm not sorry about it.
I picked up this cookbook because I love Great British Bake Off and am particularly smitten with Mary Berry. There are lots of recipes in here for tasty treats, along with accompanying photographs of said treats. Instructions seem to be written out fairly clearly, but I can't speak accurately to that because I haven't made anything from this cookbook yet. There is a section at the beginning that serves as a crash course in baking essentials like how to make a shortcrust pastry, making meringues, making sponge cake, etc., which I found really useful. My main complaint is that there are hardly any blurbs to accompany the recipes – nothing about the background or history of each recipe or suggestions for serving or substitutions. Half the fun of cookbooks are the recipe blurbs, and I was really hoping to find some in Mary Berry's trademark voice: extremely proper with a hint of sass. I didn't find much of that here, but still found some good recipes just the same.
I am an English major through and through, and I've managed, somehow, to squeak by all these years without reading Pride and Prejudice. I know, I know – it's sacrilege. I wish I hadn't been so angsty and resistant in college (or even high school), because I would have found out that my sense of humor is extremely Victorian. Who would have thought? I wasn't expecting Pride and Prejudice to be such a delight. Elizabeth is perfectly and properly strong-minded and defiant; Mr. Darcy is so brooding and cranky. There was humor and social critique that I wasn't expecting, as well as unexpected twists and turns in the plot. It looks like I have some catching up to do where all Victorian novels are concerned.
I've been a fan of Klosterman since I read Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs in college (a solid 10 or 11 years ago). I really loved the way he could take a pop culture artifact, analyze it more than anyone thought it should be, and then somehow loop it into some larger theory on life or society. Plus, his writing made me laugh. I haven't read Klosterman since my 2nd year of grad school, when I had to teach an essay of his, and I haven't gone near a book of his since. A few months ago, I decided to pick him back up again and give him another shot as an older, wiser reader.
This book is divided into three parts: pop culture essays, essays that expounds his theories about various things, and then some fiction at the end. I only read the pop culture essays, most of which have been previously published in other publications like Spin, Rolling Stone, GQ, etc. They were exactly what I expected them to be: funny, sarcastic, and occasionally self-deprecating. Sometimes he takes his subjects seriously (see his essays on Wilco and the Metallica documentary), and sometimes he doesn't (see his pieces on Britney Spears and U2). Even when he takes his subjects seriously, he rarely goes beneath the surface layers of any subject, which might be because all of these pieces were written for magazines or other publications. Each essay is preceded by commentary by Klosterman, where he gives some behind-the-scenes details on the writing of the piece, which sometimes has more insight or depth than the piece itself.
I enjoyed reading the first section of this book. Klosterman is a great writer, a good thinker, and he makes me laugh constantly. However, he can definitely come across as pretentious and sometimes an insufferable music snob/geek (for example, his essay/theory on a specific Led Zepplin album being the birth of metal (which I read a couple paragraphs of and then skipped, because life is too short for me to read an essay that goes, song by song, through an album I've never listened to, and connects it to specific metal songs/albums, all of which I've never heard of in my life)). There were times when I thought, “Jesus, Klosterman. Britney is not a symbol of America or an empty vessel for you to pour meaning into. She's a human being. But you're right, everything she's saying IS bananas.” I chose not to read the last two sections because I'm just not interested in reading his theories or his fiction at this point in time.
Would I recommend this book to anyone? Probably not, unless I had a hunch that you might like Klosterman's writing.
If you like the Property Brothers at all, you'll probably enjoy this book. Each chapter is written by one of the brothers with commentary by the other brother in the margins, which is a clever structure that recreates the brothers' banter on their shows. They talk about pivotal highs and heartbreak moments in their lives, from starting a decorative hanger business when they were 6 (!!!) to having to file for bankruptcy and lots in between. It's full of pictures from Jonathan and Drew's childhood and lives, and it's so hilarious to see all the terrible hairstyles they went through. I really geeked out over behind-the-scenes stuff about their shows and the chapters where they talk about their current relationships (I love finding out how couples met).
Having said all that, I'm not sure how to rate this book. If you like/love the Property Brothers, you'll mostly likely love this book. If you don't, you probably won't find much in this book that's interesting. I rated it four stars, because this book is what it is – the story of the Property Brothers with lots of photos, behind-the-scenes tidbits, and their insights into life (which are, surprisingly, very wise).
For some reason, it's taken me this long to be converted to a Smitten Kitchen follower, and I have no idea why. I think I had it in my head that Smitten Kitchen recipes were too fussy, complicated, and snooty for me, but I think I just wasn't mentally and emotionally ready for Deb Perelman yet. Every recipe is easy to follow, accompanied by beautiful photography, and preceded by a charming and hilarious paragraph or two written by Perelman. I absolutely love this cookbook and, to date, I haven't been let down by a single Smitten Kitchen recipe. This is one of my kitchen essentials.
I am a Chrissy Teigen fan, through and through. I was skeptical about her cookbook, but when I came across some of her recipes in an issue of Cherry Bombe, I had to try them. I made every recipe that was previewed in Cherry Bombe - they were each insanely delicious and incredibly easy to make. I eventually went out and picked up the cookbook and was not disappointed. The recipes are all approachable and super simple, and Teigen's introductions to each are funny and informative. If you're looking for healthy recipes, take your search elsewhere. Her mac and cheese recipe is tasty and rich, and is also a 13” x 9” golden brick of dairy. I highly recommend her recipes for pork-stuffed cucumber soup, lettuce wraps, and sweet and salty coconut rice. An added bonus are all the glam photos of her and John Legend dressed for a red-carpet affair and eating things like chicken wings.
Another ‘meh' for me, unfortunately. I liked this one slightly more than the first of this series, but not much more. Again, I'm not buying the forced chemistry, or the ‘flaws' of the main characters that are supposed to be endearing. There are too many unbelievable plot holes, and there are still too many mysteries between the siblings that distract from the bigger story.
I've generally really enjoyed Ruth Cardello's books, especially this series, and I was really looking forward to reading a story with David as the love interest. However, this one was a disappointment for me. The tone was so serious, which is surprising, considering the main character starts an online sex toy store – I mean, that's asking for fun and shenanigans. Not only was it weirdly serious, it was also pretty boring, which is a complete departure from the other books in this series. There were also a few moments where David compared interacting with women to handling horses that were pretty appalling. I get that David is a rancher and his occupation might affect how he interacts with the world, but there are better ways to write that than what ended up in this book. Making it through this one was a struggle, and I ended up bailing with about 50 pages left.
I'm giving this 2.5 stars. This was my first Tessa Bailey read, and I'm a little disappointed. This book is written well, and I can definitely see why Tessa Bailey is the queen of dirty talk. I like the idea of the premise and the characters have some real struggles. Despite all that, I wasn't invested in Jasper, Rita, or the siblings, and I didn't buy the chemistry between Jasper and Rita. There were a lot of complicated backstories in the relationships between the siblings, and there were too many mysteries that weren't addressed at all throughout. The characters and the story, for me, lacked a sweetness or a charm that felt really necessary in a book that centers on the journey of two people who grow to be each other's saving graces. Jasper felt a little overbearing, overprotective (especially when he barged into the family's trust building campfire exercise), and pretty over-reactive (like when he angrily threw his coffee cup after he thought Rita had left town for good after they'd only known each other maybe a day). The story went on about 50 pages too long, far past the happily-ever-after moment, which I think could have been fixed with moving some of the events around. All in all, this one was a ‘meh' for me.
I highly recommend this book, especially if the thought of planning a wedding makes you break out into hives. (Happy hives, of course, but hives, nonetheless.) I was skeptical because of the cover, but this is one of the only wedding planning books that didn't give me a tension headache or assume that my budget started at $10k. There are so many helpful tips, things to consider, rules of etiquette, and general grounding advice (like shifting the focus from all the material things wedding websites say you need, to creating a unique experience that celebrates your love and is a fun time for everyone).
I love this cookbook. I geeked out over all the behind-the-scenes stuff that Christina Tosi put into the introduction and on the recipes. I also appreciated the hell out of her emphasis on precision – from precise ingredient measurements to precise oven temperature. I love recipes that tell me exactly what I need to do, and Tosi delivers that here.
Having said that, there are a few ingredients that are difficult to get if you don't live in a city or just a place that has a diverse enough population to have things like glucose, passion fruit puree, freeze-dried corn, etc. She also recommends some kitchen supplies that not everyone will have readily available (like a chinoise). Luckily, we live in the age of Amazon, and I've been able to find most everything there.
I find the structure of this cookbook really helpful. She gives you master recipes, then ways to vary the recipes, and then even more recipes that use the master recipes as an ingredient. There's a lot of room for creativity, and everything I've made so far as been super delicious.
Vintage Adair. This one got a little saccharine for me in places, but all the usual elements are here: a badass heroine who puts her family first and herself second, a love interest who is trying to prove to himself and everyone else that he's over his ex-wife, a town full of well-intentioned meddlers, complicated family dynamics, witty banter, sweetness, vulnerability, charm. It's all there. On a more personal note, I 100% related to the heroine, and cried without shame at the appropriate parts. It's rare that a book in this genre affects me emotionally (I read romance to hide from my feels!), but this one came along at just the right time.
Quick read, and a good one. These are more like illustrated vignettes, each exploring a complex aspect of a friendship. These reflections and explorations are honest, raw, insightful, and true. There were quite a few moments that felt so familiar to me and the girls I've been friends with throughout my life. This is probably one I will return to.
Marina Adair delivers again with a story full of heart and likeable characters in a West Coast small town setting. And lord knows I love a story that revolves around a bakery. I knocked this down to 3 stars rather than 4 because of the pretty terrible caricature of a Latina woman at the beginning. I get what Adair was doing (comedic effect, making an unlikeable character), but there are so many ways to achieve those effects without relying on stereotypes and making fun of accents.
I adored the first book in this series, and so was really excited about this one. It's well-written and the main characters have to deal with situations that are incredibly complex. I appreciated the messiness of both Scarlet's and Bridger's situations, and I was so fascinated to see how Bowen would flesh out Scarlet's in particular. Although there were some strange plot twists that seemed random and didn't really contribute to the progress of the plot or growth of the characters, this was a satisfying read.
What's great about this book is the voice of Lennie, the main character. When I first started reading this, I was a little off-put by Lennie's voice – it's a unique one and not entirely believable at the jump. Little by little, though, details are revealed about Lennie that begin to explain her strong voice and diction. I love that Lennie is a teenager and experiencing/expressing grief and love in these complicated and super adult(-seeming) ways. This book is full of beautifully written passages that completely swept me away into Lennie's world.
I typically don't go for anything cult-related. Cults creep me the fuck out, but a friend of mine enthusiastically recommend this to me, and I trust her taste. The best thing about this book is the writing – poetic with flashes of brilliance and wisdom. There are so many places where I marked passages to return to. Cline's ability to create a sense of eeriness and foreboding throughout, from the first page, is masterful. Because it's based on the well-known events of the Manson family cult, we all know how the story ends, and we keep reading because we want to know how the narrator, Evie Boyd, gets from point A to point B. If you're a person who needs to be able to like or relate to the characters in order to enjoy a book, I wouldn't pick this one up. If character likability is not something that matters to you, then this is definitely worth a read. Cline writes these complex, nuanced characters who are so real and so detestable at times – and I love that. Those characters stick with me more than “likable” ones. All in all: this book didn't change my life, but it's pretty good. Worth a read.
What I love about Rainbow Rowell's writing, whether she's writing adult or YA fiction, is how unadorned and engaging it is. She makes writing and storytelling look effortless, and her dialogue is fresh and real. Landline is the first of Rowell's adult fiction I've read, and I loved it. I love the mystery of the magic phone, and the layers it adds to the dynamic and development of the relationship and the main character. It's a way for us to be able to look back at how the relationship developed and how it got here; it's also a way for the main character to engage with the past and evolve. Its magic is never explained, which I'm okay with.
The other thing I adore about Rainbow Rowell is that she gets relationships. She captures the thrill and breathlessness and joy of teenage loves, first loves, and the beginnings of relationships. With Landline, she also captures the quiet fire that is a long-term relationship, and how that fire either gets maintained or smothered to embers. Her characters aren't always the most likeable (whatever that means), but they're complex and messy and trying to figure shit out – just like real people. I've read Eleanor and Park, Fangirl, and Landline, and I've seen myself in each of those books. That feels really difficult to do.
I finished Landline while flying across the country with a terrible cold. Maybe it was exhaustion, but the last third of Landline kept punching me in the heart and I finally broke out into an ugly-cry on the plane. I tried to hide it, because I was sitting close to the bathroom and people were constantly walking past my seat or standing in line next to my seat, but I finally thought, “Oh, fuck it. This book deserves an ugly cry at 10,000 feet.”
