Weekend Cooking: Reading in the Kitchen

As much as I like puttering around the kitchen (and eating and drinking the results), I also like to read about food, cooking, chefs, drink, and culinary history.

Dare I admit that I'm in the middle of four food-related books? Not every book has to be read cover to cover all in one string. In fact, some books are almost better read a chapter a day or in smaller chunks.

That's probably just a personal quirk, but *shrug* that's the way I am. The only problem I have when I read like this is forgetting to share my thoughts on the blog. So, rather than wait until I finish my April foodie books, I'm going to tell you about them now.

First up is Godforsaken Grapes by Jason Wilson (Abrams, April 24), which is part travelogue, part memoir, and part learning about wine. Wilson is no stranger to writing about adult beverages or about travel, and his casual, informal style is easy to read. After learning there were about 1,370 varieties of wine grapes yet the vast majority of the wine we drink is made from only 20 kinds, Wilson decided to seek out the rarer wines by traveling around the United States and Europe, meeting people, tasting wine, attending events, touring vineyards and villas, visiting museums, and so on. The next chapter for me is titled "Is Prosecco a Place or a Grape?" I'll have the answer in a day or two. Read this if you like food memoir, wine, or travel. (Copy provided by Abrams Books and the Abrams Dinner Party.)

If you haven't read any of Maira Kalman's books, then you are truly missing out. I love her illustrations and her perspective on a wide variety of topics. In Cake (Penguin Press, April 10), she teams up with Barbara Scott-Goodman to talk about . . . cake! This celebration of the classic dessert starts with Kalman's memory of her first cake (chocolate, in Tel-Aviv) and of her birthday party cake when she turned nine. The short book includes recipes (by Scott-Goodman), accompanied by Kalman's art and additional stories. The recipes are comfort cakes at their best: white layer cake, gingerbread cake, honey cake, carrot cake, flourless cake, and a plum torte. I've been savoring each page, reading a story here, studying a recipe there, and lingering over the drawings. I don't care if I never make one the desserts in Cake (but why not?), I just love having a new Kalman book to brighten up my day. (Personal copy)

I've long admired Edna Lewis, best known as a chef and cookbook author, and was excited to have a chance to read Sara B. Franklin's Edna Lewis: At the Table with an American Original (University of North Carolina Press, April 13). The book is a collection of essays, interviews, stories, and memories by people who knew Lewis personally. Most of the contributors are in the food business (Alice Waters, Deborah Madison, Nathalie Dupree, Patricia Clark, for example), but there are also pieces by Lewis's family members. If you aren't familiar with Edna Lewis, she wrote Southern cookbooks and promoted African American cooking and food history. She was an early advocate of cooking with homegrown ingredients (before we had the phrase farm to table). She was also, I'm learning, a political activist. Buy or borrow Edna Lewis, but don't miss out on (re)discovering this amazing woman. (Copy provided by the publisher.)

Finally, I'm drinking reading my way through How to Be a Bourbon Badass by Linda Ruffenach (Red Lightning Books, April 1). Bourbon, that all-American whisky, carries with it a lot of stories and legends. We think Kentucky, backwoods distilleries, world-famous blends, and now even craft producers. Ruffenach, the founder of Whisky Chicks, is on a mission to help others learn more about her favorite American spirit. She introduces us to the bourbon kings, gives us bartending tips, and helps us decide which whisky to order or buy. The book is geared to bourbon newbies (or the bourbon naive) and has a refreshing female perspective. I'm not sure how "badass" the book is, but so far I'm enjoying the graphics, the recipes (cocktails and food), and the stories. At this point I'm recommending the book as a good starting place for people who want to learn more about the culture and history of bourbon and how to drink it. (Copy provided by the publisher.)

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Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
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Books to Movies: Murder on the Orient Express

Who doesn't love Agatha Christie and her famous detective Hercule Poirot, with his little gray cells? Murder on the Orient Express is one of Christie's most well-known novels, still widely read even 80-some years after its release.

The novel is so popular it has appeared on the big screen (at least three times now) and was also incorporated into the television series Poirot staring David Suchet.

Although I haven't read every Christie novel, I've read many and was looking forward to seeing the 2017 movie Murder on the Orient Express, written by Michael Green and directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also stars as Poirot, complete with a gigantic mustache. I missed watching the movie in the theater, but thanks to Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, I was able to watch a screener, now that the movie is out in digital, Blu-Ray, and DVD formats.

Like many other reviewers, I had mixed feelings about Green and Branagh's interpretation. I loved the costumes, the scenery, the train, and the stars (the cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Penélope Cruz, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Judi Dench). I liked some of the angles of filming, such as scenes shot through the train windows (you can get a glimpse in the trailer) and the wide views of the gorgeous winter scenery.

I would like to say that I loved Branagh's take on Poirot, but I didn't. He made the detective more OCD than fussy and infused the character with some disconcerting angst, including his pining over a photograph of the love of his life. Branagh was also more athletic than the Poirot I have in my imagination. Mostly, though, I missed the feeling that the Belgian's little gray cells were working overtime. Instead, I found a reluctant detective who was almost lucky to have solved the case.

Although I loved seeing the many stars in the movie, I didn't think they were given enough chance to distinguish themselves, and I had actually forgotten about a couple of the suspects until they were interviewed by Poirot. Of course, I knew the solution to the murder, but I still expected some suspense at the denouement, when Poirot announces that he has solved the case and explains his reasoning. I just didn't feel the tension.

In the end, I'm glad I waited to watch Murder on the Orient Express via a screener instead of going to the theater. It's worth the time to watch, but I'm not sure I'd want to own it. The digital/Blu-Ray edition includes quite a bit of bonus materials, which may be fun to watch, but my recommendation is to wait until you can see the movie on one of your streaming services.

Here's the trailer.

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Wordless Wednesday 494

Daffodil, 2018

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Sound Recommendations

This past week was a little busier than I was expecting but by Friday afternoon, I felt I was caught up and took the entire weekend off! I did some gardening and took a couple of walks, and generally relaxed.

I gave my eyes a break and turned to only audiobooks last week. I now feel ready to tackle print reading for fun instead of for work. I can't wait to attack my spring books . . . I have a lot of catching up to do.

On TV, I started the new Lost in Space, which I like so far. The new season of Westworld is here. It took me a while to remember what was going on, but by the end I was reinvested in the story.

Here's what I listened to last week.

Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao (Flatiron; March 6). I’m sure I’m in the minority here, especially because I think the themes of this book are important, but this much-praised novel wasn't for me, and I stopped reading fairly early on. I'll begin with the little I know about the plot: two young women of marriageable age in India face a future shaped by men who have all the power. I’m guessing they find a way out. Why did I stop reading? First, I was listening to the audiobook (Macmillan Audio; 11 hr, 38 min) and reached a breaking point with narrator Soneela Nankani. Let me be quick to say that I’ve listened to other books she’s read and, while she is a not favorite narrator, neither did I dislike her performances. For this book, though, I thought her voice was too young, too earnest, and too often on the verge of tears. I just had to turn the audiobook off. So why didn’t I read the novel in print instead? The primary reason was the author’s fondness for metaphors and similes, which were used in abundance and in groups. The other big reason occurred when one of the main characters had a sort of break down; while I understood the woman’s distress, I didn’t buy her symptoms. Then she behaved very shallowly, and I simply gave up at that point. You may have a better experience. Other people and reviewers have loved the book. Give it a try if you’re curious. (for a freelance assignment)

I cleansed my brain by turning to M. C. Beaton and a Hamish Macbeth mystery. Death of a Village (Blackstone Audio; 5 hr, 21 min) is the 19th book in the series and had all the elements I love about these cozies set in the Scottish Highlands. Village gossip, a couple of different scam artists, and a murder are at the heart of the story. Hamish, of course, solves all the crimes but has to downplay his role so he doesn’t get promoted out of his rural beat, where he has friends and plenty of time for himself and his dog. To get the most out of the books, it’s always good to start at the beginning of a series, but you might do okay to jump in anywhere. This is one of my favorite escape series: the audiobooks, read by Graeme Malcolm are short and entertaining, and I often turn to them in between heavier books. (personal copy)

A Shout in the Ruins by Kevin Powers (Little, Brown, May 15) won’t be out until next month, but I couldn’t wait to read it. It’s a dual-time-period story that reveals the long-reaching effects of slavery and the post–Civil War years. In the 1950s, ninety-year-old George returns to his North Carolina roots to see if he can discover anything about his past or the woman who took him in when he was orphaned as a toddler. In the 1860s we follow the love story of two slaves, their owners, and how they fared during and after the war. Powers gives us a lot to think about and a lot to account for in our country’s history and builds characters that are easy to love or hate. There are disturbing episodes of casual cruelty, which are barely balanced by acts of kindness. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 7 hr, 13 min) was read by Robert Petkoff, whose performance was strong and affecting. He created a deep emotional atmosphere but avoided melodrama and portrayed the characters in a way that lets listeners come to their own conclusions about events and behaviors. (audiobook provided by the publisher)

I finished The Girl I Used to Be by Mary Torjussen (Berkley; April 24) yesterday. First off, don’t read the Publishers Weekly review; it spoils the story in the first sentence. Torjussen’s newest psychological thriller involves Gemma, a real estate agent / business owner in Chester, England, who becomes the victim of a cyber-blackmailing scheme. She’s sure she knows who is trying to ruin her life, the question is why. The more she tries to keep things secret, the more it affects her business and her marriage, but Gemma is afraid to confide in anyone. When she finally turns to the police, she realizes that she doesn’t have solid proof of the villain’s identity and doesn’t want her name in the newspaper, which could destroy her reputation, her family, and her work. Although some of what Gemma’s hiding is easy to figure out, I was still surprised and wasn’t sure who her allies were, right up to the end. I don’t think this is the most intense thriller I’ve ever read, but I was invested enough to really want to know how she was going to protect herself, stop the blackmail, and save her marriage. The unabridged audiobook (Penguin Audio; 9 hr, 54 min) was read primarily by Katharine McEwan, who narrated the sections told from Gemma’s point of view. Fiona Hardingham took on the sections told by another woman (being vague so as not to spoil the book). Both infused their performances with tension and good pacing, and each picked up her character’s personality. (ARC and audiobook provided by the publisher)

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Weekend Cooking: What's Gaby Cooking by Gaby Dalkin

Until I received a copy of What's Gaby Cooking (Abrams, April 17) from the publishers (as part of the Abrams Dinner Party), I had never heard of Gaby Dalkin or her blog (also called What's Gaby Cooking).

Boy have I been missing out. I'm now stalking following Gaby Dalkin everywhere social media allows. I love her recipes and her approach to food and cooking. Here's how I would describe what Dalkin means by "everyday California food": fresh, nutritious, easy, pretty, casual, and wonderfully seasoned.

And better yet, Dalkin is not so "clean" that she shuns the occasional indulgence. So besides new takes on beautiful main dish salads, fruit smoothies, and grilled fish and chicken, she also provides recipes for cinnamon roll-chocolate chip monkey bread, macadamia nut cookie scones, and cheesecake cookies bars.

We loved some of her cobb salad variations, balsamic beets with goat cheese, roasted asparagus with salsa verde, and taco skillet bake (shown in my photo above). I have a ton more recipes marked to try, including a green bean salad one of the other Dinner Party members really loved.

The recipe I'm sharing today is so, so good. We grilled the flank steak, as the recipe suggests, though my mother usually broils hers. So if you're not a grill kind of cook, you can still make this by slipping it under the broiler for about 6 minutes a side.

Don't be thrown by the parts (marinade, tomatoes, basil dressing): this is a super-easy, fast meal that I made on a busy weeknight. All you need is a green veggie (I went with roasted asparagus) and a salad. The leftover flank steak is perfect for sandwiches the next day. Or layer the meat and tomatoes over some fresh young greens and top with the basil dressing for a delicious spring lunch.

Balsamic Grilled Flank Steak with Charred Tomatoes
Serves 6 to 8
For the steak

• 2/3 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• salt and pepper to taste
• 5 to 6 sprigs thyme
• 1 (3-pound) flank steak

For the tomatoes

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes
• salt and pepper to taste

Make the steak: In a large nonreactive bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, garlic, and seasonings. Add the thyme. Add the meat and turn to coat all sides. Cover and refrigerate 8 to 24 hours.

Make the tomatoes: Heat the oil in a heavy cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant. Add the tomatoes and cook without stirring for 2 minutes, or until they start to blister. Give them a quick stir, turn off the heat, and let them sit another 2 minutes or so. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Grill the meat: Preheat your grill to medium high and oil the grates. Remove the steak from the marinade, letting the excess drip off. Season with salt and pepper. Grill the steak, turning occasionally until lightly charred all over, 10 to 12 minutes for medium. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes.

For the basil vinaigrette

• 1 shallot roughly chopped
• 2 cups tightly packed fresh basil
• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Make the vinaigrette: In a high-powered blender (I used a food processor), combine the shallot, basil, garlic, red pepper, oil, and vinegar. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes or until very smooth. Season with salt and pepper. (Refrigerate up to 3 days)

To serve: Thinly slice (on an angle) against the grain and serve with the tomatoes and vinaigrette on top. (the photo of the finished dish is mine)

NOTE: Mr. Linky appears to be down today: please add your link to the comments.

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Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
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15 True Stories to Read This Spring

Good news for nonfiction fans: This spring is chock-full of new books that tell true stories in a full range of topics, including medicine, sports, politics, self-help, and history. I've concentrated on just four broad areas for today's round-up, and I'm highlighting books that are on my personal reading list.

Science and Nature

• Chasing New Horizons by Alan Stern and David Grinspoon (Picador; May 1): The subtitle of this fascinating story of NASA's New Horizons program says it all: "Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto." Written by the mission's principal investigator (Stern) and an astrobiologist (Grinspoon), this very readable account includes two glossy photo inserts.
• The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World by Steve Brusatte (William Morrow; April 24): Who doesn't love dinosaurs? Paleontologist Brusatte tells us all about their 200-million-year reign as the kings of planet Earth. His review of current dinosaur research, new fossil discoveries, and theories about their extinction is accessible, easy to follow, and well illustrated.
• The Man Who Climbs Trees by James Aldred (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; May 22): When you watch BBC nature documentaries and read your National Geographic, do you ever wonder who was behind the camera, bringing you up close and personal to nature? In this book, Aldred shares what it's like to be a nature photographer who specializes in working in the forest canopy and the tops of the world's tallest trees.
• The Perfectionists: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World by Simon Winchester (Harper; May 8): Winchester's latest book examines how the notion of precision and the development of machines that ensured standard measures drove the Industrial Revolution and led to twenty-first-century technological wonders. Along the way, he talks about human nature, craftsmanship, and art.

Biography

• Jane and Dorothy: A True Tale of Sense and Sensibility by Marian Veevers (Pegasus; April 3): Veevers's double biography of Jane Austen and Dorothy Wordsworth compares the two women's parallel and divergent lives. They were born just four years apart and endured similar social restrictions on their creative talents but chose different solutions.
• The Duchess: Camilla Parker Bowles and the Love Affair That Rocked the Crown by Penny Junor (Harper; April 10): Admit it, you're curious about the woman who changed the nature of the British royal family forever. Junor's balanced biography of Camilla presents a side of the duchess little known outside the UK.
• Francis I: The Maker of Modern France by Leonie Frieda (Harper; April 10): Frieda outlines the life of the Renaissance king who made France a mighty nation and set the foundations for its strong, enduring future. This new account of Francis I is based on archival material and is written by an experienced historical biographer.
• Visionary Women by Andrea Barnet (Ecco; March 13): Barnet outlines how four cutting-edge women changed the world by following their passions or telling their truths. The women profiled are Jane Jacobs (journalist), Rachel Carson (marine biologist), Jane Goodall (primatologist), and Alice Waters (chef/restaurateur), who continue to both inspire us and make us fully see the world around us.

Contemporary Culture

• Figures in a Landscape: People and Places by Paul Theroux (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; May 8): Besides Theroux's signature travel pieces, this collection of previously published essays includes a look at his reading life as well as surprising experiences with well-known individuals (such as surfing with Oliver Sacks!). He is always entertaining and thought-provoking.
• The Last Cowboys: A Pioneer Family in the New West by John Branch (Norton; May 15): For 150 years the Wrights have herded cattle on their Utah spread and made a name for themselves as bronco-riding rodeo champions. Branch followed the multigeneration family for three years, recording the twilight of the American West.
• The View from Flyover Country: Dispatches from the Forgotten America by Sarah Kendzior (Flatiron; April 17): Kendzior's essays add insight to why America's heartland helped place Donald Trump in the White House. The pieces look at politics, economics, racism, sexism, and the future of the country's working and middle classes.
• Unwifeable by Mandy Stadtmiller (Gallery; April 3): The essays in Stadtmiller's collection present the frank, funny, and universal story of her life as a single thirty-something woman in New York City, juggling a professional career with the messiness of dating. Stadtmiller has been called "a real-life Carrie Bradshaw."

On the Water

• Disappointment River: Finding and Losing the Northwest Passage by Brian Castner (Doubleday; March 13): This is the double story of Alexander Mackenzie's 1789 search for the Northwest Passage and author Castner's 2016 canoe journey along the same route. Castner's engrossing account presents a mix of history, travel, anthropology, and nature.
• Into the Raging Sea by Rachel Slade (Ecco; May 1) and Into the Storm by Tristram Korten (Ballentine; April 24): Both of these books look into the October 2015 sinking of the ship El Faro during Hurricane Joaquin, killing the entire crew. Slade focuses on the specifics of the disaster onboard ship as well as the event's place in the broader context of the U.S. merchant marine fleet and climate change. Korten focuses on the Coast Guard's heroic rescue of the crew of the Minouche, another ship caught in the storm, as well as its failed, desperate search for the El Faro. The two accounts together offer a well-rounded view of this tragedy.

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Wordless Wednesday 493

Forsythia, 2018

I braved the snow flurries to get this shot! Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 4 Short Book Reviews

I had my last busy, busy week of work and then ran full-speed into my annual spring lace-making workshop. Yikes! I think I'm going to need a vacation from my vacation!

I didn't think I'd get much reading or listening time last week, but I ended up finishing two books and and listening to two more. Okay, so one of the audiobooks was only two hours long, but still . . .

I was inside lacing during all the beautiful warm weather and emerged from the workshop just in time for the cold and rain. Oh well, plenty of nice days ahead.

Because last week was kind of crazy, my short reviews are going to be even shorter than normal.

• Mrs. by Caitlin Macy (Little, Brown; Feb. 13): The story revolves around three couples who seem to have little in common beyond the fact that they send their children to the same exclusive preschool in New York's Upper East Side. As we get to know the parents better, we discover layered ties among them, deep secrets, and the pressures of keeping up with the 1-percenters. I didn't connect well to the characters and was less impressed than other reviewers who compared Mrs. to Big Little Lies. You might do better. Vanessa Johansson did a good job narrating the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 10 hr, 8 min), but her rich, expressive performance couldn't really save the story for me. (freelance assignment)
• Dictionary Stories: Short Fictions and Other Findings by Jez Burrows (Harper Perennial; April 10). Burrows's clever collection of short pieces (including drawings) is composed almost entirely from the sample sentences you find in the dictionary to show how a word is used in context. It's hard to explain, but this book is such a delight for anyone who loves words. My already good relationship with the dictionary has been altered forever. Don't miss this book. Oh I think it'd make a great graduation gift too. (copy provided by the publisher)

• The Creature of the Pines by Adam Gidwitz (Dutton BYR; April 10). This book, the first in the new Unicorn Rescue Society series, is geared for young middle grade readers and offers fun and diverse characters as well as good action-adventure. What if mythical creatures were real and needed humans to save them from trouble? Kids (and their parents) will love timid Elliot and gutsy Uchenna, cheering them on as they save a Jersey Devil from the bad guys. Your big decision will not be whether to read Creature of the Pines but whether to read it in print or on audiobook (Listening Library; 2 hr, 12 min). January LaVoy's absolutely fantastic performance is not to be missed. She created a variety of engaging voices, built the tension, and amped up the action. The print book, though, has some great illustrations: decisions, decisions. (Check out the video for more on the series; auidobook provided by the publisher.)
• Loyalty in Death by J. D. Robb read by Susan Ericksen (Brilliance Audio; 12 hr, 15 min). This ninth in the In Death series was written in 1999 and was slightly creepy, considering it involves massive terrorist bombings in New York City. Although the bad guys are political terrorists and the story is set in the future, it was still kind of eerie to be listening to this book in a post-9/11 environment. Anyway, I still love the characters and their continuing personal growth as much as I like the mysteries and author Robb's vision of the future (including technology). (personal copy)

And finally, here is the promised video:

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Weekend Cooking: Barista (documentary)

Do you drink coffee? Do you have a favorite local coffee shop and a favorite barista? Did you know there was such a thing as a barista competition?

I love coffee, though I drink most of my coffee at home. I didn't know about the competitive world of baristas until I saw the 2015 documentary Barista, written and directed by Rock Baijnauth (Filmic Entertainment).

The film follows five people--four men and one woman--on their quest to win the International Barista Competition. To qualify for the main contest, each of the baristas had to first put in a good showing at his or her district competition.

Although 1,000 baristas enter the regionals, only about 40 move on to the finals. To compete, the contestants must make three rounds of drinks (espresso, cappuccino, and a signature drink) for four tasting judges, who evaluate taste, appearance, foam and foam art, aroma, and so on. In addition, during their 15 minutes of competition, each barista must also tell a compelling story about themselves and the coffee they're making and serving.

Until watching Barista, I had no idea that it was so difficult to be the best in the barista profession. I found it interesting, but perhaps not surprising, that all five baristas mentioned that they often have to defend their chosen career. I liked getting to know the competitors and seeing them prepare for and compete in the finals.

On the other hand, there was a lack of tension in the documentary. I didn't develop a deeper fondness for one barista over the others, so I wasn't heavily invested in the results. In addition, Baijnauth made an effort to include the wives of two of the baristas in the movie, but instead of giving us more insight of the men's competitive spirit, the women ended up seeming more like props, which was a little disturbing.

Regardless, if you like coffee and are curious about competitive baristas, you'll enjoy Rock Baijnauth's  documentary Barista, which is available through streaming (currently via Amazon Prime).

BTW: I'm at a lace-making workshop most of today and tomorrow, so I'll be late visiting your links.

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Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
_______

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7 New Books for Speculative Fiction Fans

Speculative fiction fans have a lot to chose from this month, with stories that reach back into the past to offer alternate histories and others that look forward to a dazzling (or despairing) future. The 7 books I feature today are on my personal reading list; this roundup is not meant to present everything new in sci-fi and fantasy, just the books that caught my attention this week.

• The Diminished by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson (Harlequin Teen; April 10): In a land in which twins are the norm, a foundling whose twin died as a baby and the heir to the throne who was born a single are oddities. How they may be connected to each other and to the future of the kingdom drive the plot of this new fantasy that's been praised for its solid world building and diverse characters. YA, fantasy
• The Emissary by Yoko Tawada (trans. Margaret Mitsutani) (New Directions, April 24): Sometime in the near future, Japan suffers from environmental and economic collapse. A man who seems to have unlimited life tends to his great-great-grandson whose body has been weakened, both conditions the result of the disaster. The pair bond and look for hope in a hopeless world. Adult, dystopian
• Winter Glass by Lexa Hillyer (HarperTeen; April 10): Once upon a time a young woman is awoken from sleep and another finds her prince in this mashup of two popular fairy tales: Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. In this conclusion to a duology (Spindle Fire), the two couples continue their fight against evil and hope to bring peace to their kingdoms. YA, fairy tale retelling
• The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Mallory Ortberg (Holt Paperbacks; March 13): Children's books, folk tales, and more take a decidedly dark turn in Ortberg's new collection of short pieces. Some stories are given deeper layers, others noir humor or nerdy threads. A must read collection for anyone who loves children's literature, the Brothers Grimm, Shakespeare, and even scripture. Adult, dark riffs on the familiar

• The Long Sunset by Jack McDevitt (Saga Press, April 17): In the 23rd century, space exploration is winding down, but our heroes (this is the 8th in the Academy series) still have new worlds and alien cultures to discover and understand. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the more things change, the more things stay the same. A smart, engrossing series for space fans. YA, sci-fi
• The City of Lost Fortunes by Bryan Camp (HMH; April 17): The ability to find lost things becomes a curse in a post-Katrina New Orleans; so much is missing that our hero is overwhelmed and goes underground. A few later when there's upheaval in the magic realm, he must reassert himself to solve a crime, save a city, and embrace his heritage. Adult, urban fantasy
• Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller (Ecco, April 17): After climate change finally brings the world to its knees, a pocket of humanity survives on a floating city in the Arctic Circle. Crime, poverty, disease, and discontent are causing ripples in the new society; a stranger arrives; and revolution is in the air. Good world building and familiar issues (such as the great socioeconomic divide). Adult, dystopian

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Wordless Wednesday 492

Barn, 2018

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Light Reading for Early Spring

Happy Monday! I have three more busy editing days, then I'm attending my annual spring lace-making workshop, and then life eases back to a simple rhythm, starting next Monday.

I usually have a full week off between the end of editing season and my long weekend with lace friends, but this year, the dates are much tighter. I won't get much reading in this week, but I know I'll have a lot of fun.

On Wednesday, on the AudioFile Magazine blog, I talk about author-read audiobooks. I'd love it if you stopped by to share your thoughts.

What I Read Last Week

Women in Sunlight by Frances Mayes (Crown; April 3). I've been a fan of Frances Mayes's since I read her Under the Tuscan Sun in the mid-1990s. Her new novel is set in her beloved Tuscany and follows the lives of three women of a certain age who are on their own for the first time since college. They meet by chance in North Carolina, become fast friends, and decide to rent a Tuscan villa for a year. They are surprised at how easily they adapt to each other and to Italy, making new friends and discovering or rediscovering new passions. They story is told from several viewpoints, including that of their neighbor, who is an American ex-pat writer and poet. Some of the novel reads as if it were autobiography, and Mayes's love of Tuscany and its sights and smells, wine and food comes shining through. In fact, now I  want to rent a villa in Tuscany for a year with my BFFs! Besides the setting, I enjoyed getting to know Susan, Julia, and Camille and seeing how they each came to terms with the second phase of their lives. Women in Sunlight is light, fun reading on one level, and an empowering look at getting older on another. Plus there's all those fabulous food descriptions! I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Random House Audio; 16 hr, 52 min) read by Kimberly Farr. Farr is a pleasure to listen to; her lively performance and believable Italian and American Southern accents gave the audiobook an added spark. (More on the audiobook will soon be available at AudioFile Magazine; copy provided for a freelance assignment.)

Be Prepared written and illustrated by Vera Brosgol (First Second, April 24) is a wonderful graphic semi-autobiography about 9-year-old Vera, a Russian immigrant who wants nothing more than to fit in with her American classmates. She is always feeling like the odd girl out, especially in summer when all her friends go away to summer camp or on fabulous-sounding family vacations. Vera's mother can't afford vacations, but when they learn of a summer camp through their Russian Orthodox church, Vera's wish comes true, and she gets to spend a month at a sleep-away camp just like all the other girls at school. Vera soon discovers that camp is nothing like home, with its outhouses, wildlife, no-candy rule, and the requirement to speak Russian. Unfortunately, camp is also quite a lot like home, with its mean girls. Although Vera really doesn't like living in the great outdoors, she ends up making a good friend and learns to accept herself and her talents instead of trying so hard to be one of the cool kids. I loved the expressive artwork and the outdoor colors (see the cover for a glimpse), and my heart went out to Vera. This is a great story of finding your path and realizing that it's just fine to be your own person. I'm way more outdoorsy than Vera but still found much to relate to. Be Prepared may be geared for middle grade readers, but I recommend it for readers of all ages. (Thanks to Fist Second for the review copy.)

Coming Soon

I'm almost done with Jez Burrows's Dictionary Stories, and I'm listening to Caitlin Macy's Mrs. (read by Vanessa Johansson). I love the first and have mixed feelings about the second. I'll have more to say about both next Monday. Enjoy your week!

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Weekend Cooking: The Austin Cookbook by Paula Forbes

Dare I say that it's still snowing around here? The only good thing about cool weather is that heating up the kitchen for dinner is welcome right now--not so much, however, in summer in my air-condition-less house.

If you follow me on Twitter or Litsy, you may have caught a couple of mentions of Paula Forbes's The Austin Cookbook (Abrams, March 20), one of the wonderful cookbooks I got as part of the Abrams Dinner Party program.

We love Southwestern flavors, so I was sure this cookbook would be a hit. I'm not going to write up a formal review, but I can tell you the beans and rice, the chipotle grilled lamb chops, and the enchiladas Tejanas (a kind of enchilada casserole) were all fantastic.

I have a bunch more pages marked to try, such as a meaty cheese dip, gingerbread pancakes, and a whole variety of tacos and enchiladas and their sauces.

The Austin Cookbook is more than just recipes, and I've been enjoying the tips and stories that are sprinkled throughout the pages. I especially like the informative graphics, like this mix-and-match enchilada chart.

This week, as I'm finally winding down my busy season, I planned for simple weekday meals. The following vegetarian soft tacos came together in just minutes and tasted great. I added oregano and cumin to the mushroom filling for a flavor boost, and included sliced avocado as one of the toppings. The book says it serves 6, but my husband always overfills his tacos, so we got only 4. Regardless, it was a fast and delicious weeknight dinner. (photo from the cookbook)

Tacos de Hongos
Makes 6
For the Hongos

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 poblano pepper, stem and seeds removed, cut into thin strips
• 1/2 small onion thinly sliced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8 ounces mushroom, cut into 1/4-inch slices (I used 10 ounces of baby bellas)

For the Tacos

• 6-inch soft taco shells (heated)
• 1/4 cup crumbled Cotija cheese (I used more)
• Lime wedges
• Hot sauce or salsa

Heat a skillet until very hot, nearly smoking [I used cast iron]. Add the oil and immediately add the poblano and onion. Season with salt and pepper. Cook stirring constantly, until the vegetables begin to soften and brown on the edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the vegetables and repeat with the mushrooms, cooking until the edges just start to brown. Combine the mushrooms with the other vegetables. To serve, fill the warm tortillas with the hot filling and desired toppings.

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Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
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8 April Novels to Diversify Your Reading

I’ve often talked about the difficulty of defining what it means to diversify your reading. Some people look for books written by people of color, and others are searching for stories featuring non-Christian/Catholic or non-white characters. I consider books in translation as diverse reading because they expand my perspective beyond the English-speaking world. You may be looking for novels that include LBGTQ+ themes or focus on medical issues or another less common topic. The 8 books in this week’s roundup will diversify your reading list on one of these levels. (Book descriptions taken from the publishers’ summaries.)

Adult Reading

The Magnificent Esme Wells by Adrienne Sharp (Harper; April 10). Genre: historical fiction; diversity themes: Jewish

Esme Silver has always taken care of her charming ne’er do well father, Ike Silver, a small-time crook with dreams of making it big with Bugsy Siegel. Devoted to her daddy, Esme is often his “date” at the racetrack. . . . In awe of her mother, Dina Wells, Esme is more than happy to be the foil that gets the beautiful Dina into meetings and screen tests with some of Hollywood’s greats. When Ike gets an opportunity to move to Vegas . . . to help the man she knows as “Benny” open the Flamingo hotel, life takes an unexpected turn for Esme. A stunner like her mother, the young girl catches the attention of Nate Silver, one of the Strip’s most powerful men. Narrated by the twenty-year-old Esme, the story moves between pre-WWII Hollywood and post-war Las Vegas—a golden age when Jewish gangsters and movie moguls were often indistinguishable in looks and behavior.

Gateway to the Moon by Mary Morris (Nan A. Talese; April 10). Genre: historical fiction, family saga; diversity themes: Jewish, Latino (religious tolerance)

In 1492, the Jewish and Muslim populations of Spain were expelled, and Columbus set sail for America. Luis de Torres, a Spanish Jew, accompanies Columbus as his interpreter. His journey is only the beginning of a long migration, across many generations. Over the centuries, de Torres’ descendants travel from Spain and Portugal to Mexico, finally settling in the hills of New Mexico. Five hundred years later, it is in these same hills that Miguel Torres, a young amateur astronomer, finds himself trying to understand the mystery that surrounds him and the town he grew up in. Entrada de la Luna is a place that holds a profound secret—one that its residents cannot even imagine.

Flying at Night by Rebecca L. Brown (Berkley; April 10). Genre: literary fiction; diversity themes: autism

While she was growing up, Piper’s father, Lance “the Silver Eagle” Whitman, became a national hero piloting a plane through an emergency landing. But at home, he was a controlling and overbearing presence in her life, raining emotional and verbal abuse upon the entire family. It’s no surprise, then, that as an adult, Piper has poured all of her energy into creating a warm and loving home for her own family, while catering to her son Fred’s ever-growing idiosyncrasies. Then Lance has a heart attack, leaving him with a brain injury—and dependent upon Piper for his care—just before tests confirm Piper’s suspicions that Fred is on the autism spectrum.

Cave of Bones by Anne Hillerman (Harper; April 3). Genre: mystery; diversity themes: Native American

Hillerman brings together modern mystery, Navajo traditions, and the evocative landscape of the desert Southwest. When Tribal Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito arrives to speak at an outdoor character-building program for at-risk teens, she discovers chaos. Annie, a young participant on a solo experience due back hours before, has just returned and is traumatized. Gently questioning the girl, Bernie learns that Annie stumbled upon a human skeleton on her trek. . . . While Bernie searches for answers in her case, her husband, Sergeant Jim Chee, juggles trouble closer to home. A vengeful man he sent to prison for domestic violence is back—and involved with Bernie’s sister Darleen. Their relationship creates a dilemma that puts Chee in uncomfortable emotional territory that challenges him as family man, a police officer, and as a one-time medicine man in training.

Family Reading

The Summer of Jordi Perez (And the Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding (Sky Pony Press; April 3). Audience: YA; diversity themes: LBGTQ, Latino, plus size bodies

Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people’s lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abby’s been happy to focus on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm. When she lands a great internship at her favorite boutique, she’s thrilled to take the first step toward her dream career. Then she falls for her fellow intern, Jordi Perez. Hard. And now she’s competing against the girl she’s kissing to win the coveted paid job at the end of the internship.

Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert (Disney Hyperion; April 10). Audience: YA; diversity themes: Asian American, LGBTQ+ (immigration)

Danny Cheng has been an artist for as long as he can remember and it seems his path is set, with a scholarship to RISD and his family’s blessing to pursue the career he’s always dreamed of. Still, contemplating a future without his best friend, Harry Wong, by his side makes Danny feel a panic he can barely put into words. Harry and Danny’s lives are deeply intertwined and as they approach the one-year anniversary of a tragedy that shook their friend group to its core, Danny can’t stop asking himself if Harry is truly in love with his girlfriend, Regina Chan.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray, April 3). Audience YA; diversity themes: African American, Native American (race issues)

Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Civil War–era America—derailing the War Between the States and changing the nation forever. In this new nation, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Reeducation Act require certain children to attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. But there are also opportunities—and Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. It’s a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane. . . . But that’s not a life Jane wants. . . . When families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy, one that finds her in a desperate fight for her life against some powerful enemies. And the restless dead, it would seem, are the least of her problems.

Love Double Dutch! by Doreen Spicer-Dannelly (Random House BYR; April 3). Audience: MG; diversity themes: African American, author is a POC (race, class)

Brooklyn middle-schooler MaKayla can only think about one thing—taking her double Dutch team all the way to the National Jump-off at Madison Square Garden. That is, until her mother breaks the news. Kayla has to spend the summer at her aunt’s house in North Carolina while her parents work out their problems . . . or decide to call it quits. Kayla does not feel at home in the South, and she certainly doesn’t get along with her snooty cousin Sally. It looks like her Jump-off dreams are over. Hold the phone! Turns out, double Dutch is huge in the South. She and Sally just need to find two more kids for a team. And a routine. And the confidence to stand up to the double Dutch divas who used to be Sally’s BFFs. Time to show those Southern belles some Brooklyn attitude!

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Wordless Wednesday 491

April Sunset

Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Reading for a Snowy Spring

When T. S. Eliot wrote "April is the cruelest month," I don't think he was talking about the weather. But 6 inches of snow on April 2? Really? Sigh.

Actually, it makes no difference to me. I've got nine (count them!) nine more days of heavy work and then I can relax, take the weekends off, read a book in print, and do a little baking. Maybe the weather will break by then, and I'll even get a chance to resume my daily walks and get out in the garden.

Here's to packing up the sweaters and boots until next year!

What I Read Last Week

My friend SuziQOregon over at Whimpulsive has been listening to the the Cormoran Strike books by Robert Gailbraith (aka J. K. Rowling). I loved the first two books but never got around to the third, Career of Evil. Seeing as the three novels were made into a mini-series (airing in the USA in June on Cinemax), I thought I'd follow suit and catch up. Cormoran Strike was rotated out of the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch after he lost half a leg in Afghanistan. He's now self-employed as a private investigator and is contemplating making his assistant, Robin Ellacott, a full partner. In this installment, the mystery takes a personal turn, when Cormoran and Robin seem to be targeted by a serial killer. Besides perusing the cases they're getting paid for, the pair is also consumed with trying to stop whoever is clearly out to get them. The investigation into the three main suspects kept me guessing, and I truly wasn't sure who was going to end up being the killer until the action-packed end. Besides the stake-outs and the internet searches, the case forces Cormoran and Robin to open up about their pasts and reveal things they would have rather kept private. Their complex working relationship and their not so sunny personal lives add depth to this contemporary mystery/thriller series, which is mostly set in London. Writing as Gailbraith, Rowling has convincingly left the fantasy world; this gritty series is well-plotted, and I'm looking forward to the next Cormoran Strike book. Now that I'm caught up with the books, I'm impatiently waiting for the television series. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 17 hr, 58 min) was read by Robert Glenister, who performs the entire series. His characterizations are excellent and his sense of drama and pacing made it difficult to turn off the audiobook -- especially near the end. Career of Evil doesn't end on a cliff-hanger, but the Cormoran and Robin are looking down a new path. (personal copy)

Turning to a completely different world, I listened to Stray City by Chelsey Johnson. This is the story of Andrea Morales, who grew up Catholic on a Nebraska farm, hiding her true self. Once she leaves home for Reed College in Portland, Oregon, she is free to shed her mask and embrace her lesbian identity, though the cost is to be cut off from her parents. The novel explores the insular gay and indie music worlds of 1990s Portland in the waning years of the Riot Grrrl movement as well as the differences (and similarities) between chosen families and birth families. The Portland Lesbian Mafia is supportive of each other; however, the women can also be judgmental. After a bad breakup, Andy seeks solace with the only person who seems to be attracted to her--a male drummer in an indie band. She manages to keep the relationship secret, until she finds herself pregnant and must decide whether, at age 24 and with few resources, she wants to be a mother. One thing she does know: she's not bisexual and she's definitely gay, despite her brief affair with Ryan. Johnson's novel is told with humor but reveals painful truths of being gay in America. The end of the novel jumps 10 years ahead, letting us see the consequences of Andy's choices. I liked the book, though I thought the conclusion was a little too neat and not as fully realized as the rest of the story. If I gave star ratings, I'd say Stray City is a 3.3. The unabridged audiobook (HarperAudio; 10 hr, 22 min), was read by Natalie Moore, whose youthful voice was a good match for Andy. I liked her expressive delivery, though her characterizations could have been a little more distinct. I'll have more to say about this audiobook at AudioFile magazine. (freelance assignment)

Book Lists!

I'll leave you with four book lists. Enjoy!

• From Alternet: The 10 Worst Couples in Literature 
• From the Guardian: Top 10 Books Based in Tangier
• From Open Culture: Patti Smith's 40 Favorite Books 
• From Business Insider: Best Books about Science from the Last 15 years

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