Can I offer you some nice escapism in this trying time? Easily the best book I've read this year. Full review to follow once the library post is up. ThanCan I offer you some nice escapism in this trying time? Easily the best book I've read this year. Full review to follow once the library post is up. Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC!...more
Hoo boy, apparently I'm in the minority here, because this book didn't do anything for me. I was skimming both parts of it. Up from 1 star for the libHoo boy, apparently I'm in the minority here, because this book didn't do anything for me. I was skimming both parts of it. Up from 1 star for the library setting....more
I was in either Fairfax or Yorktown for almost all of elementary, middle, and high school, not to mention college. I've done school trips to MonticellI was in either Fairfax or Yorktown for almost all of elementary, middle, and high school, not to mention college. I've done school trips to Monticello, Mount Vernon, and had the historical reenactor who inspired the look for Disney's Pocahontas visit our class to tell us everything that was wrong with the movie. And for *some* reason I never heard about the 'Starving Time'. I think I would have remembered that, even if the teachers had omitted the cannibalism. Instead I get to learn about it at the age of 46 from a YA historical fiction novel. While this is indeed a YA historical fiction novel, it's dark. There's cannibalism, there's gore, there's the creeping horror of isolation, there's the breath taking audacity of colonizers arriving with little food and no concrete plan to obtain more beyond hoping the people already living there giving it to them. While this is a very good book, it is an intense read. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group and Rocky Pond Books for the ARC!...more
Game of Thrones (GoT) fans and Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) crew, rejoice and raise the flags and banners high! There’s a new biography of a beloved caGame of Thrones (GoT) fans and Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) crew, rejoice and raise the flags and banners high! There’s a new biography of a beloved cast member to enjoy. Beyond the Throne follows Kristian Nairn (Hodor and Wee John Feeney) from his childhood in Northern Ireland during the Troubles through finding his authentic queer self to his standout performance in GoT and beyond.
I enjoyed this book, and have been waiting for it eagerly since I first heard about it at the end of May. It offers fascinating, detailed looks behind the scenes of GoT. Additionally, it takes the reader on a journey through Northern Ireland’s queer scene during the ‘90s. OFMD fans should be aware that while sadly there’s only one chapter devoted to that time in Kristian’s life, it's still fun to read about. We’re introduced to Kristian’s mum, who is a steady rock during a rough childhood where he is bullied for his height, and his extended family. From there, we follow Kristian as he navigates his journey of self-discovery, aided by his drag persona of Revvlon Miguel. The book also details his rise as one of the country’s top DJs. A fortuitous interview (that Kristian really didn’t want to go to) lands him the part of Hodor, and from there he has to develop and flesh out a character that only speaks one word.
My one minor complaint with the book is that there are a number of time jumps. At first, it’s easy to keep track of, since it contrasts Kristian’s childhood with the filming of the first season of GoT, but as the years progress, the jumps shorten, and at times it was difficult to tell if the chapter was set before GoT or taking place during a season break. This is but a minor quibble, and does little to detract from this heartfelt book about finding your true self. I definitely recommend it for fans of both shows, and anyone who is interested in journeys of self-discovery. 3.5 stars Thank you very much to Hachette and NetGalley for the ARC! Review originally published at ...more
It’s more difficult for me to write reviews for books that I like as opposed to ones that I don’t. The former is usually a lot of excited flailing andIt’s more difficult for me to write reviews for books that I like as opposed to ones that I don’t. The former is usually a lot of excited flailing and exclamation points, while the latter is a point by point examination of what didn’t work (for me). So, to be short, this book is incredible, the cake was fantastic, and you should read the book (and make the recipes).
This is a book that has been on my TBR list since I first heard about it, and I’m not the sort who usually reads cookbooks. Crystal’s skill as a writer and poet shines on every page; this is a book that you will want to read every word of, as opposed to just skipping to the (delicious) recipes.
The author’s family has lived in Indian Creek in Casey County, Kentucky, for five generations. Her fourth great-grandmother, Aggy of Color, was brought there as an enslaved child in 1808. Throughout the book, Crystal introduces us to her ancestors through memories, photos, family stories, and historical documents. This gives us such an intimate look into a culture that has been overlooked.
You could read this book and not make a single recipe, and still come away happy. However, the recipes are also incredible. While I only made the Hot Milk Cake, I’ve got plans for Granny Christine’s Jam Cake, Chess Pie, Caramel Cake, Blackberry Jam, and Quick Blackberry Cobbler. There are plenty of savory recipes as well, like Chicken and Dumplings, Dressed Eggs, and Creamy Tomato Soup.
The only person who didn’t care for the Hot Milk Cake was my husband, who, it turns out, doesn’t like hot milk. This delectable treat does have a noticeable cream flavor, which everyone else loved. It produces a cake that is light and spongy, almost like an angel food cake. It’s not cloyingly sweet and was delicious on its own, but it would be phenomenal if paired with fruit or a light glaze. This cake can be summed up best in the co-worker’s review of ‘Yes. That is all.’ It was very easy to make; the only extra step in making a cake from scratch was melting the butter and heating the milk. I did have to bake it 12 minutes past the upper limit listed in the book, but I’m assuming that probably has more to do with my oven than the recipe. As always, start with the lowest time listed and work up from there.
So yes, read the book and make the recipes. That is all.
Food sprites Peri, Fee, and Fada are back (along with their new friend water sprite Naia) for Tasty: A History of Yummy Experiments. This middle gradeFood sprites Peri, Fee, and Fada are back (along with their new friend water sprite Naia) for Tasty: A History of Yummy Experiments. This middle grade nonfiction graphic novel (suited for readers of all ages) traces the history of cheese, pizza, pickles, soda, easy food (like canned soup and processed cheese), and gelatin.
The format for Tasty is the same as Yummy: the sprites introduce us to the story of a food through a combination of history lessons, scientific explanations (the mold in blue cheese is in the same family as penicillin!), interviews with historical figures, and recipes! There is a lot going on in every page, but Tasty is noticeably cleaner and easier to read than Yummy. The chapters on cheese and pickles are quite lengthy, as is to be expected for foods that have been around since before written history and have regional variations all over the world. I did feel my eyes glazing over a bit towards the end of the pickle chapter, as sauces were introduced. Many historical pickles were made to be a sauce, so ceviche, salsa, soy sauce, British chutney, and even our beloved ketchup all have those fruit and vinegar roots. This was my only complaint about the book itself, though. Until I made the Gooey Butter Cake recipe.
Gooey Butter Cake is from the easy food chapter. Originally a made from scratch bakery treat originating in St. Louis in the 1940s and 50s, boxed cake mix and cream cheese are supposed to make this version quick and easy. Just like in Yummy, we learn that at one point cake mixes were produced so all you needed to add was water. But home bakers felt this was too easy (and didn’t taste as good), so the product was changed to require eggs and other fresh ingredients. It was also around this time that magazines started promoting elaborate cake decorating, since people now had all this free time.
Let me start by saying the recipe produces a very tasty cake. This was the overwhelming opinion of me, my husband, and my co-workers. Comments included ‘very moist…Delicious! 5 stars’, ‘I love everything about this – the flavor and textures are perfect. I would eat this for breakfast or a sweet snack after lunch or dinner. I love the gooey butter top and crumbly cookie base.’ ‘Denser…than I was expecting, but I like the contrasting gooey and fluffy textures!’, ‘I really enjoyed this cake. I grew up eating chess pie for Thanksgiving/Christmas and I feel like this has the same flavor profile.’ ‘Overall, I personally feel like this is a decadent A+!’ A couple of reviews noted the hint of salt, which I noticed as well. This may have come from the cake mix or cream cheese, as I use unsalted butter. One reviewer did state that it wasn’t as gooey as they liked.
The issue was with preparing the cake. The recipe states to have your butter, cream cheese, and eggs at room temperature. Okay, done. To make the cake layer, you combine cake mix, one egg, and a stick of butter with a spatula. This was…a lot of work. Much more than a kid would be up for. By the time I reached my ‘done’ point, it still wasn’t a dough so much as a slightly damp cake mix with small chunks of butter. If I had been making the recipe on my own, I would have used my fingers or handheld mixer. I pressed it into the pan and hoped. Whisking the cream cheese by hand was also frustrating, but not nearly as bad. But whisking the butter into the icing was as bad if not worse than the cake mix. I may not have had lumps of powdered sugar, but I sure as heck had lumps of butter. Again, I poured it in and hoped for the best.
While the cake did turn out fine, I don’t think it’s a kid friendly recipe. The first three recipes that pop up in a Google search all have melted butter in the cake mix and none in the icing. These recipes would absolutely produce a yummy cake in about 10 minutes of prep time with minimal effort. I think the author may have eliminated the melted butter so kids wouldn’t have to use the stovetop, but I’m not sure why it was included in the icing? Regardless, this knocked a star off the book rating for me. As I stated before, the cake itself is delicious, but the recipe doesn’t quite fit the intended audience of the book.
I absolutely recommend Tasty if you’re looking to learn more about some of your favorite foods, but you may want to modify the recipes.
Cake: 4.75/5 (based on all opinions)
Book: 3/5 stars (based on my own opinion)
Full review (with recipe) can be found at: ...more
I loved The Hacienda. And once again, Isabel is teaching me Mexican history via horror novels. This time the setting is 1840s Mexico near the Texas boI loved The Hacienda. And once again, Isabel is teaching me Mexican history via horror novels. This time the setting is 1840s Mexico near the Texas border. While The Hacienda was full of Gothic elements, VoEN is much more character driven. It’s historical fiction (with vampires) and a romantic subplot. Some might even call it a historical romance (with vampires). Regardless, there's definitely the 'bad communication' trope which I do not care for. The historical aspects and the vampires themselves were fantastic, they just weren't the stars. And that's okay! It's just not how the book is marketed. But it’s definitely a good read for Spooky Season. Thank you very much to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!...more
Jane Against the World is a comprehensive review of the history of reproductive rights in the United States that led up to the landmark trial. In the Jane Against the World is a comprehensive review of the history of reproductive rights in the United States that led up to the landmark trial. In the early 1800s, abortion in the early stages of pregnancy was completely legal in the US. As had been the case throughout much of recorded history, a fetus wasn't considered alive or human until the woman felt it moving inside ('quickening'). Until this point, both the public and churches had little issue with abortion. The book follows the history of women's rights through the decades, through the work of Margaret Sanger and later the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion, a group of religious leaders from various denominations who united to refer women for abortions. Jane Roe isn't even introduced until halfway through the book, underscoring the importance of laying the foundation of the legal and social framework that came before the trial. The case takes up the majority of the second half of the book with some space allotted for the impact of the decision.
I found this book to be incredibly informative. Although marketed as a YA book, I never felt like the language or subject matter was watered down, and I especially appreciated the legal aspects of the cases being explained so well. The section dealing with the court case itself is (necessarily) dry. I do wish that the section detailing the 80s through today, when abortion protests became more violent and state's laws came under attack, was able to have more pages devoted to it. All in all, I highly recommend this book.
This review was originally published on Books You Can Die in the Middle Of ...more
This is definitely a fantastic Spooky Season read! YA fantasy with horror elements, and queer representation. Highly recommended. ...how appropriate IThis is definitely a fantastic Spooky Season read! YA fantasy with horror elements, and queer representation. Highly recommended. ...how appropriate I finished it in three nights. Thank you very much to Page Street Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!...more
Yummy: A History of Desserts by Victoria Grace Elliott has been on my TBR (To Be Read) list/mountain for over a year now, so I was excited to have a cYummy: A History of Desserts by Victoria Grace Elliott has been on my TBR (To Be Read) list/mountain for over a year now, so I was excited to have a chance to finally get around to it.
This is a nonfiction graphic novel for kids (but readable and enjoyable at any age!) about the history of desserts from around the world. Specifically, it focuses on ice cream, cake, brownies, pie, gummies, and cookies. These tales are introduced to us by Peri, a food sprite, and her sprite friends Fee and Fada. The history of each broad category of delectable dessert is told through a combination of history lessons, story times, science labs, interview corners with famous foodie figures, and recipes! The pages are jam (ha) packed with information and colors, and can at times be a bit difficult to follow. But overall I really enjoyed this book and learned all kinds of fascinating facts, like how in the mid 1800s street vendors used to sell ice cream by the ‘lick’ (exactly as hygienic as it sounds), and the science of how the butter in pastry dough leads to those lovely flaky layers.
I chose to make the Funfetti Cake recipe in cupcake form, as opposed to an 8×8 inch baking pan, since that would be the easiest way to share it with my discerning critics/co-workers. This recipe produces a very wet batter. It was quite messy spooning it into the cupcake liners. I also filled them completely full; this was a change from my usual ‘fill ⅔ full’ method of baking, but hey, I’m following the recipe! Fortunately for my oven, they didn’t overflow during baking like I feared. I did need to add two minutes to the upper range of the baking time listed by the recipe to get them to cook through. Upon removal from the cupcake tray, the paper liners were soaked through with oil.
The cupcakes are incredibly dense and moist. There’s a good flavor, with a hint of tang from the sour cream (which was a new cupcake ingredient for me). If I make these again, I’ll do a frosting from scratch, as I found the canned Pillsbury vanilla to be too sweet for my taste. While my husband and I found this recipe to be a bit too dense and moist, my coworkers disagreed. These traits were mentioned in every review, and almost always positively. ‘Much more flavor than a box mix’, ‘would happily eat again’, and ‘festive and fun for kids!’ were highlights of the reviews. While I found the recipe less than stellar, I really did enjoy the book and look forward to the companion Tasty: A History of Yummy Experiments, which comes out in December.
Cupcakes: 8/10 stars (based on all reviews)
Book: 4/5 stars (based on my own opinion)
Full review at 'Cooking the Books' at Galesburg Public Library Blog: ...more
Okay, so this one is weird. I can’t say much more plot-wise due to spoilers, but for 500 years the Interprovincial Medical Institute has been hoardingOkay, so this one is weird. I can’t say much more plot-wise due to spoilers, but for 500 years the Interprovincial Medical Institute has been hoarding all the medical information left after we humans have destroyed the world (several times over) and replacing human doctors with their own. Leech is Gothic and body horror and medical horror and parasitology and post-apocalyptic civilizations. So if any of those are your jam, I think you'll like this!
3.5 stars Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC!...more
Set in the Philippines, The Sacrifice follows an American reality show cast and crew as they arrive to investigate the legends surrounding an uninhabiSet in the Philippines, The Sacrifice follows an American reality show cast and crew as they arrive to investigate the legends surrounding an uninhabited island. Picking up a local youth as their guide, Bad Things quickly begin happening. Just like all the locals said! This YA novel is screaming (ha) for a well done film adaption. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!...more
If American Gothic is your genre and/or you're a fan of Welcome to Night Vale, then you'll enjoy this one. Red Valley is a sleepy California town wherIf American Gothic is your genre and/or you're a fan of Welcome to Night Vale, then you'll enjoy this one. Red Valley is a sleepy California town where Weird Things happen, and it’s just expected. Outside of the town, there’s senators and a governor and a president that we’d find familiar, but the King rules the town. I finished it in less than a day, much of which I should have been sleeping. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Rebellion for the ARC!...more
Just in time to finish up Women’s History Month, here’s a historical fiction novel that follows four British women as they cope with food rationing, gJust in time to finish up Women’s History Month, here’s a historical fiction novel that follows four British women as they cope with food rationing, grief, and societal pressures during World War II.
I’ve had an ARC (Advance Reader’s Copy) of The Kitchen Front on my Kindle for years now, and just never got around to it. Cooking the Books has once again knocked another book off my TBR (To Be Read) mountain. I just wished I enjoyed it more.
I’m in the minority here. TKF has a 3.97 star rating on 카지노싸이트 and a 4.4 star rating on Amazon. The novel details the lives of four British women from varying backgrounds as they compete for a spot on a radio program during World War II. Rationing was in effect at this time, and the book opens with the weekly allotment for one adult. A stick of margarine, half a stick of butter, three pints of milk, one cup of sugar…very different from the way we eat today. The radio program, based on an actual one, helped women stretch out their rations with creative (sometimes very creative) recipes. I enjoyed this look at an aspect of the war that I hadn’t seen written about before, especially in the crowded field of WWII novels. Unfortunately, that was about all I liked.
Overall, I found the book to be flat, predictable, and breezy. I am all for breezy books that give your mind a break, but that’s not how this one is advertised. The characters do a lot of speaking out loud; the author definitely does a lot more telling as opposed to showing. Perhaps because I didn’t enjoy it, I also found myself nitpicking. A character says he wasn’t aware that another was in the contest, then on the next page asks why the efforts to sabotage her had failed. A barn owl hoots instead of screams. Little things that should have been caught by the editor. Without giving away spoilers, a major life-changing decision is flip-flopped in the span of three pages. This just wasn’t the book for me, but as I said, it is the book for a lot of people.
There are a number of starter, main course, and dessert recipes featured in the book from historic sources, all of which adhere to the Ministry of Food rationing to various degrees. Unsurprisingly, there was an active black market for ingredients, and those who could afford them didn’t go without. Many of the recipes offer a lot of flexibility, which is to be expected when working with limited ingredients. For various reasons, I declined to attempt The Ministry of Food’s Sheep’s Head Roll or Chef James’s Whale Meat and Mushroom Pie. Instead, I made Audrey’s Fruit Scones. I vaguely remember making scones 20 years ago. This recipe contains a lot less sugar than modern recipes and produces a…perfectly adequate vehicle for getting butter and/or jam to your mouth. The apricot flavor was good, with comments that it ‘could use more apricot, less scone’ but other than that? Eh. A coworker said ‘mostly good, a little bland – but aren’t all scones?’. It does produce an incredibly wet, sticky dough; if you think you’ve got enough flour on your surface, think again.
Harley working in a neurobiology lab, written by a neuroscientist? Um, yes please! This was a fantastic origin story in and of itself, but the focus oHarley working in a neurobiology lab, written by a neuroscientist? Um, yes please! This was a fantastic origin story in and of itself, but the focus on STEM absolutely sold it for me. Highly recommended! 4.5 stars! Thank you to Random House Childrens and NetGalley for the ARC!...more
Disclaimer: I haven’t read Rebecca or Mexican Gothic (but I’ve got the ARC!). Regardless, I enjoyed this book immensely and immediately gave it five sDisclaimer: I haven’t read Rebecca or Mexican Gothic (but I’ve got the ARC!). Regardless, I enjoyed this book immensely and immediately gave it five stars. I also knew next to nothing about the Mexican War of Independence before starting and was able to follow along without any issue.
After her father’s execution during the overthrow of the government, Beatriz is desperate to find a home again for herself and her mother. She eagerly accepts the proposal of the handsome Don Rodolfo Solórzano (over her mother’s objections) and moves to his hacienda in the countryside. There, the traditional Gothic elements begin to emerge. The rattling carriage ride up to the stately but neglected home. The suspicious servants. Things that go bump (and worse) in the night. The persistent and conflicting rumors surrounding the fate of the first Doña Solórzano (typhus? bandits?). Yes, there is absolutely running down the hallway in the middle of the night while wearing a flowing nightgown.
Isabel Cañas takes these beloved elements and firmly establishes them in a time and place we rarely get to read about. Thus we see the addition of racism, colorism, colonialism, the casta system, and the local priest dealing with balancing his ecclesiastical learnings with his grandmother’s witchcraft. The limited time jumps and POV changes are handled well. There are a number of Spanish words introduced without definition, but they can all be parsed out from the context.
Although not out until next spring, The Hacienda is already generating a lot of buzz and I predict it will be incredibly popular once it comes out. I would love to see a movie version, if it can be done without the stereotypical haunted house jump scares. It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!...more
I remember a lot of hype and buzz about this book last summer, and now that I’ve (finally) gotten around to reading it for a ‘mystery’ Halloween bingoI remember a lot of hype and buzz about this book last summer, and now that I’ve (finally) gotten around to reading it for a ‘mystery’ Halloween bingo square, I see what all the fuss is about. And why over half of our library system’s copies are currently checked out or in transit to other locations. It is that good.
I really enjoyed this book, and thrillers/mysteries aren’t my usual genre (that would have been my mother). It’s probably more thriller than mystery, to my uneducated eye. We know from the publisher’s description that Someone Will Die, but do be warned that this is a slow burn and it takes a while for the plot to really get going. The creepiness factor is definitely there. The potential fluff and fun of a June wedding is offset by the isolated setting of rocky coasts, dangerous bogs, and crumbling headstones. The book frequently bounces back and forth between six POVs, in addition to multiple points in time. I felt the author handled these very well. Everything was clearly labeled, and I didn’t have any trouble following along. There are definitely some loose ends that could have been tied up better with editing, but none of these really bothered me as I flew through the book, eager to find out what happened next. Now that I’ve had some time to reflect...yeah, I can see they’re there, but they didn’t detract from the escapism and enjoyment at the time. All of the main characters are described as white, with one secondary character described as Black.
Thank you very much to Harper Collins Publishers, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the ARC. ...more
It’s spooky Season! So I submit for your approval a review of one of the most talked about horror novellas from last year, Nothing But Blackened TeethIt’s spooky Season! So I submit for your approval a review of one of the most talked about horror novellas from last year, Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw. …I just wish it was a more positive review.
Y’all, I wanted to like this. I requested the ARC before the readers’ mixed reviews came in (currently 2.77 stars on 카지노싸이트 and 3.4 on Amazon), when it was still the ‘most anticipated book’ on multiple sites. Both Ursula Vernon and Seanan McGuire, two of my favorite authors, praised it. Horror isn’t one of my most-read genres, and it is subjective, especially in books as opposed to visual media, but…I found this to be just okay. To expand much more on the publisher’s synopsis above would invite spoilers, so I’ll say this is a quick novella with some creepy visuals, in a setting that refreshingly hasn’t been done to death (ha). However, I was much more disturbed by the rabbit hole of Wikipedia articles on human sacrifice that I fell down when looking up a term than the book itself. None of the characters really clicked for me, although it was refreshing to see a range of nationalities, and the narrator is bisexual.
At 128 pages, this is a quick read that seems like it would be a better fit as the final anchoring story of an horror anthology rather than as a novella. If the unique setting still sounds appealing, you may consider pairing this with another novella or a spooky television episode for an evening of terror as opposed to a stand alone experience.
Thank you very much to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the ARC.
This review was originally posted on the Galesburg Public Library Blog: ...more
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