My New Roots by Sarah Britton

It is hard to stand out as a cookbook nowadays. Hasn't everything been written? There are only so many ways you can incorporate roasted pumpkin and garlic scapes into a recipe, right? Well the thing you can do is make your cookbook look better than the rest. With My New Roots, Sarah Britton has done that. It could just as easily be a coffee table book, with its short stories and beautiful photographs. The images look to be a lifestyle photo session out of the pages of an Anthropologie catalog. This seems to be the trend with cookbooks at the moment. They are more focused on aesthetics that the substance of their recipes. 

With this book though, I have found many things I enjoy. First off, I like that the recipes are separated by seasons. When trying to eat locally, it is important to know how to use a fig, or a new way to prepare parsnips. Brtitton makes sure that the reader is branching out with their cooking. These recipes will get you familiar with fruits and vegetables that you have no doubt seen at the market, but, you couldn't pronounce them, much less make a delicious dinner with them. Another item that interested me was the focus on preparing certain types of foods. Near the beginning of the book. there are detailed charts explaining soaking and cooking time, and yield of dry beans and grains. She also teaches the reader how to make different seed and nut milks and butters. Finally, like one of her delicious recipes, the prep work is over and it is time to start cooking. For each season, she gives you a breakfast, snack, dinner, and dessert. After flipping through this book, you will be headed to your local farmers market because everything sounds so good. The meals are as enjoyable as browsing the pages of this book are. Enjoy.

Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

I am crazy for anything Liane Moriarty writes!  I've kind of read her books in reverse order....her newest one first.  Three Wishes was her debut novel.  So, she's been an amazing writer from the start!
This hilarious novel is the story of one family of triplet girls relationships.  The Kettle family is SO entertaining!

Such a GREAT read!

The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

Outstanding story of life and death and one family's decisions and their impact on each other.  The novel starts with a sad, tragic accident that render's a woman brain dead, but it is determined that she is pregnant shortly after.  Due to her experience with her mother's lingering deathbed, she never wanted to be kept alive if she had no chance of recovery.  Her husband seemingly goes against her wishes hoping that she will stay alive long enough to deliver the baby that she is carrying and has to go against his own mother in court as they fight for Elle's life or death.

Tragedy is in every aspect of this book, but so are faith & hope.  Beautifully written, this novel is one I'll be thinking of long after finishing it.  Definitely a Goodread!

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

Excellent thriller!  This novel is non-stop from the first page.  Strangers at a bar start talking and next thing you know the man is confiding that his wife is having an affair and the woman throws out "why don't you just kill her?"  From then on, the novel is a fast paced thriller as the man put the plan in motion, but, his wife has the same idea.

A thrilling Goodread....I recommend!

Delicious Foods by James Hannaham

I enjoyed this book, however, it is a very sad, disturbing tale told from the viewpoint of crack, known as "Scotty" in the novel.  It opens with a young black 17 year old, driving for his life, with both of his hands having just been cut off.  Throughout the book, the reader discovers what happened to the young man's mother, driving her to a crack addition, and ultimately involving her son in her life with her employer, Delicious Foods. 

A very well written, thought provoking novel.

The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

I'm probably going to give every book that Liane Moriarty writes 5 stars just because I enjoy her style of writing SO much.  In this novel, two women are in love with the same man.  One is his current girlfriend, one is his ex.  He also happens to be in love with his dead wife.  A complicated look at a modern relationship.

I did not like this one as much as What Alice Forgot or Big Little Lies, but it was still a very entertaining read and like all of her other novels, I highly recommend!

Finders Keepers by Stephen King

This is the 2nd book of a trilogy.  The first book in the series, Mr. Mercedes was a thriller about a serial killer known as the Mercedes killer after plowing down a crowd of people at an early morning job fair.  I honestly wasn't too impressed with Mr. Mercedes and was surprised to learn that it was part of a trilogy.

#2 is Uncle Stevie at his finest.  A real thriller that I didn't want to put down.  Now I can't wait to reread Mr.  Mercedes and find out where I went wrong in not loving the start of this trio.

Finders Keepers does share characters from Mercedes but brings in a new killer that has ties to the young man introduced early on, and much of the story revolves around the relationship that these two share with
an author who was murdered many years before.

A 5*** Stephen King book!  Read it!

My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh

I liked the story; liked the writing, but for some reason this was a really hard book to push through. I had to force myself to finish it. If you're looking for a book that is a real page turner, this is not the book for you. It starts off brisk with the rape of a young girl and the story progresses by listing the potential rapists. Along with that story is the coming of age story of one of the potential rapists. The story just moved so slowly. The author does a great job of creating a visual of South Louisiana.

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

Good book!  It started out slow and I was hesitant to carry on with it, but I am very glad that I did.  When it picked up midway, it really picked up.  It's a story about a girl, in NYC, good job, expensive lifestyle, forever dieting, engaged. But once you get past her seemingly dream lifestyle,  nothing about TifAni FaNelli's (this is actually how she spells her name) life is as it seems.  This girl's past is full of horrific secrets.

 Definitely recommend this Goodread!

American Heart Association Grill It, Braise It, Broil It: And 9 Other Easy Techniques for Making Healthy Meals Paperback – June 2, 2015

This new paperback book of cooking techniques is a practical addition to any kitchen.  It includes 175 very enticing recipes, but even better than that are the "Cook's Tips" with each recipe.  From
"Ovenproofing a Skillet" to "Freezing pesto in ice cube tray's", all of the tips are extremely helpful and are worth owning the book if for only these tips.

One downfall to the book is the lack of illustrations.  There are only 8 recipes illustrated.  Working in a public library, I often hear how desirable pictures are to cookbooks.  I heartily agree, however, I can see where this book had to choose but a few pages for pictures, being paperback and having so many recipes in it.

I rate this cooking companion a 4 (I can't give it a 5 with only 8 recipes pictured!) and think it has many practical uses!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Mosquitoland: A Novel by David Arnold

First of all, this book is designated a Young Adult book.  I'm not really sure why except that it revolves around a teenager.  YA books are not my normal reads (with a few exceptions) but Entertainment Weekly reviewed this book and said not to let the YA classification deter you from reading it, as it reads like an adult novel.  I think it reads like an everyone novel.  The author has brilliantly written a story that is quirky, sad, hilarious and very true to life.

As Mary Ivy Malone (Mim!) makes her way from Mississippi (Mosquitoland!) to Cleveland, she meets a hosts of eclectic characters.  She is only sixteen, but this girl is street smart, yet still a kid.  Most of the chapters require a minute or two of thinking and dwelling on, just to appreciate the writing and spot on emotions and thoughts of this kick ass girl.

Definitely five stars. Definitely a Goodread.  Read it and tell your friends!

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

Another winner by Liane Moriarty!  I am addicted to her novels!  This one started out a little slower than Big Little Lies but really picked up in the end.  Like Lies, this story is actually three different stories that intersect.  Moriarty does such a great job of keeping the reader guessing as to how their stories will connect.  I can't brag on Moriarty to patrons at the library enough.

Definitely a 5 star Goodread!

Life or Death by Michael Robatham

Another very good novel by Michael Robotham! 

Exciting and fast paced, the novel centers around a likable character who seems to have been falsely imprisoned from the beginning. After an escape from prison, the story keep the reader guessing as to why anyone would escape from prison the day before they are being released. Definitely a Goodread!


4 stars!

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

This is the first book I've read by Liane Moriarty.  It was:  Fabulous! I loved it!

This is one of those stories that makes you stop every few chapters just to think about what you've read, and how you would react to the situation. A 39 year old goes to spin class; a 29 year old comes out and leaves in an ambulance, sans 10 years of memories, including the birth of her 3 children.  What's not to intrigue the reader?  From the first page, the reader is captivated by the story.

Often funny, Liane Moriarty writes Alice's story as Alice feels it, and two other characters through letters, provoking the reader to see the story from different angles.

Definitely a GoodRead and a 5 star review!

Einstein's Beach House Stories by Jacob M. Appel

Einstein's Beach House is a collection of eight short stories.  All of them consist of a bit of dark humor while entertaining with stories of family, relationships, emotions and a bit of heartbreak.  The idea behind each story is good (and all well written), however, the characters are all fairly unlikable.  Both the men and women are flighty characters, often unimaginable and surreal in the way they are presented.  While they are all interesting, I enjoyed the story of a widower taking his young daughter along to hospitals (while presenting himself as a Doctor) whilst he kills family members of doctor's at various hospital much more than the story surrounding  a couple's custody battle over a turtle.

A quick, interesting and entertaining read!

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Sunday Suppers by Karen Mordechai

HARDCOVER

On Sale: October 14, 2014
Pages: 256 | ISBN: 978-0-385-34526-2

KAREN MORDECHAI, a photographer and stylist, is the founder of Sunday Suppers, a Brooklyn-based food community and blog that has won many accolades, including a 2013 Food and Wine Digital Award, top food blog bySaveur, and #6 in Babble.com’s Top 50 Design Blogs. Karen’s work is regularly featured in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Remodelista, New Yorkmagazine, and more

Synopsis

Rediscover the art of cooking and eating communally with a beautiful, simple collection of meals for friends and family.

With her dinner series Sunday Suppers, Karen Mordechai celebrates the magic of gathering, bringing together friends and strangers to connect over the acts of cooking and sharing meals. For those who yearn to connect around the table, Karen’s simple, seasonally driven recipes, evocative photography, and understated styling form a road map to creating community in their own kitchens and in offbeat locations. This collection of gatherings will inspire a sense of adventure and community for both the novice and experienced cook alike.

I received a copy of Sunday Suppers Recipes + Gatherings by Karen Mordechai for review.

Sunday Suppers is a delightful cookbook that defines a different style of cookbook.  It is both practical for use as well as a lovely coffee table book.

The sections of the book are divided into sections: Morning, Noon, Afternoon and Evening.  Each section then features recipes for different settings.  Morning for instance features: In Bed, Take-Along, An Early Breakfast and Winter Brunch.  The recipes are enticing, not too difficult, and for the most part do not require a lot of ingredients.  Best of all, gorgeous pictures accompany every section in the book!

Karen Mordechai really put together an elegant selection of food & drink, alongside lovely photo’s of both the meals and lovely settings for serving.

Wonderful Cookbook!

The DRUKNEN Cookbook

ON SALE: SEPTEMBER 09, 2014

Pages: 128 | ISBN: 978-0-8041-8517-2

Milton Crawford

MILTON CRAWFORD is a pseudonym for a dignified Englishman. Crawford made a name for himself with The Hungover Cookbook (Potter, 2010), and his passion for alcohol is matched by his love of food, travel, watering holes, and the outdoors

This cookbook is designed for the drinker that comes home with anything from a buzz to barely standing and is hungry but did not stop at Taco Bell or Burger King on the way home, but rather would like to prepare a fresh, homemade meal.

The book opens with a series of scenario’s to help the reader determine just how drunk he/she may be.  Right after this opening, the reader is presented with a list of “super-ingredients” to have on hand to prepare the recipes.  This is kind of where I start to doubt the usefulness of this book.  The list includes:  Indian spices, pickled eggs, gherkins, cornichons, lemongrass, Bloody Mary mixer, fish sauce, etc.  Quite a few of these are not common staples, so to just have them on hand for drunken cooking seems a bit farfetched for me.

The book takes (seemingly) easy recipes and makes them far more complex to utilize while intoxicated.  Take Twice Baked Potatoes (page 94).  The recipe calls for:  curry paste, cheese and peas, and then add finely chopped chives, prepare recipe and serve with:   1 red chili, Greek yogurt-green salad.  This recipe might be delicious at 2:00 a.m., however, if you don’t speed it up with the microwave, by the time this potato is cooked, the inebriated may have 1) fallen asleep or 2) finished off a bag of Lay’s potato chips while waiting.

The Twice Baked Potato recipe is one of the simplest in the book.  Chicken Tikka Kebabs, Calcutta-Style Sikh Kebab Rolls and Chicken Livers, Bacon and Mushrooms on Toast are considerably more complex.

It’s not that some of the recipes wouldn’t be delicious prepared any time, I just feel that I won’t personally be using this book after the midnight hour.

“I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Another 5 star read by Liane Moriarty. Big Little Lies is as good as What Alice Forgot, if not slightly better. She is such an entertaining author! Every chapter of this hilarious tale of lies, deceit and murder! keep you reading even when it’s long past time to put the book down.

If you rarely have time to  read, make this your author to work in to your schedule. Only a talented author could address so many hard hitting issues underlined with so much humor.

Super fast read because it’s just so intriguing! One of the best Goodreads’ I’ve read this year!

The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly

Very entertaining story. What if dragons were real and one country cornered the market on the biggest news ever regarding a creature of myth? That is exactly what happens in this part fantasy/part horror/all fun novel. Not to be taken too seriously, as there are quite a few over the top moments, but rather,  plan on just being entertained and thinking what if?

3 stars!

A fast, fun read!

The Ward by S.L. Grey

I liked this book because I like disturbing stories. The Ward could have been written by Bentley Little…. it is that type of horror. It is quite unpredictable and has several plot twists. It is not going to raise the readers IQ, but if you like your horror on the funny side but still twisted, this is an entertaining tale.  A fun way to spend an (disturbing) evening!

An exception Bar book

An Essential Bar Book!

The Essential Bar Book

An A-to-Z Guide to Spirits, Cocktails, and Wine, with 115 Recipes for the World’s Great Drinks

Written by Jennifer Fiedler  

Published by: Ten Speed Press

On Sale: October 14, 2014
Pages: 336 | ISBN: 978-1-60774-653-9

This new, innovative book on booze is a must have for anyone with a desire to make, taste and enjoy a better cocktail.  I love the idea in the opening sentence that we exist in the “cocktail renaissance.”  Quite simply, this book takes even the most complex spirits, cocktails, and wines and defines them in a straightforward presentation that is perfect for a bartender or a novice drinker!

The book is written in a plain A-Z format with recipes for 115 of the world’s most important cocktails.  The book has complete descriptions of spirits (Absinthe leads the way) and also bar definitions (Hooch!  Well Drinks, etc).  Each recipe begins with information on the origin of the cocktail and spirit and also lists the proper Glassware to be used

The Essential Bar Book is a 5 star champion bar book.  It’s small, simple, elegant and a wonderful companion for anyone interesting in enjoying a great drink!

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

While I can’t say “I just loved this book!” due to the subject matter, I can say that it is very well written and incredibly thought-provoking. It is a book to savor and appreciate as it does such an amazing job of teaching the reader about a subject matter that is grossly misunderstood. It definitely was a book I thought about long after finishing.   Definitely a Goodread and a 5 star must read.

If I Fall If I Die by Michael Christie

I found this a very difficult book to get in to.  It started out a bit like ROOM (Emma Donoghue), except that Will is a older and not held prisoner, yet he has not ever experienced the outdoors. The story just didn't keep the momentum.  It was a tedious read and never picked up to maintain any interest.  

At Best:  1 star

I received this book from Blogging for books for this review.