Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: A Pair of Short Reviews

Happy Monday. You may have noticed that I've been a little MIA in terms of visiting blogs and reporting on my reading. That's because this month, I ended up being extremely busy with work. When I'm reading long, long days as an editor, I often don' have it in me to continue to read for pleasure at night.

To add insult to injury, it rained almost every day in October, which meant no outdoor walks, so I had way less time to listen to my audiobooks.

Oh yeah, and then there was baseball. We don't watch a lot of sports, but we never miss the playoffs and the World Series in October. There were some great games this month, and I couldn't believe one Series game went into 18 innings!

My workload should return to normal after tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to stopping by your blogs to see what you're up to.

Enough excuses, here are the two books, both audiobooks, that I managed to finish.

The Ever After by Sarah Pekkanen (Atria Books, Simon & Schuster Audio, June 2018; 8 hr, 16 min). I don't read a lot of contemporary women's fiction, but when I do, I want a complex story with women facing real issues and in a believable way. I can usually count on Pekkanen to give me what I want. The Ever After is about a Josie and Frank who have a great marriage, until Josie picks up her husband's phone one day to see a text that implies he's been unfaithful (this happens in the first chapter). Now she has to decide what to do about her marriage. Frank is a good father and loves his wife; he downplays his affair by insisting that the whole thing involved only some kissing. Basically, this is a "Can This Marriage Be Saved?" kind of book, and I found it interesting enough to finish but I wasn't wowed by it. Josie's initial reactions and her loss of trust of in Frank were understandable, but I didn't find anything particularly new or surprising in The Ever After. Narrator Joy Osmanski has a good sense of pacing and adds emotion and spark to the dialogue. A good performance, however, wasn't enough to make me love The Ever After. (Review audiobook provide by the publisher)

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (Mulholland, Hachette Audio, September 2018; 22 hr, 31 min). Have I told you lately how much I love the Cormoran Strike books? This fourth in series proves that Galbraith (aka JK Rowling) is a master at complex, multilevel plots that draw you in and don't let go. The basic background to the series is that Cormoran Strike, an Afghanistan War veteran, and Robin Ellacott, his partner, run a sometimes struggling private detective firm. The books are about their cases as well as their private lives. The prologue to this book starts moments after the last book ended and then jumps ahead a year. The firm is handling several cases, but the big money is coming from a Parliament minister who claims he's being blackmailed for no reason. That's all I'm going to say about the plot because I don't want to ruin anything for you. I loved the many layers of this mystery, the way Robin takes on disguises, and Cormoran's insight into how the many clues eventually come together. I particularly like the way Galbraith addresses the detectives' personal lives: there's enough information to keep us invested in the characters as people, but I so appreciate that the books never cross the line into cozy mystery territory. The story lines are gritty and not for the faint of heart. Narrator Robert Glenister nails the Cormoran Strike series; he has created consistent voices (and is good with the variety of UK accents) and really knows how to build the tension. This series just keeps getting better, and I love how the book ended. I can't wait for book five! (Personal copy)

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Weekend Cooking: Review: Burnt (movie)

What do get when you mix a chef's story with actors Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl, and Uma Thurman? The movie Burnt (directed by John Wells, 2015).

This is the story of Adam Jones, a two-star Michelin chef in Paris who lost it all thanks to drugs, sex, and a uber-diva attitude. After hitting rock bottom and letting down his mentor and friends, Adam hides out in New Orleans as an oyster shucker, while cleaning up his act.

We learn all that through the backstory. Burnt opens as Adam leaves NOLA for London, hoping, with the help of his old friends, to find a restaurant that will allow him to earn that third Michelin star.

I liked the premise of Burnt, and Bradley Cooper is certainly easy on the eyes. Adam Jones is one of the world's best chefs and has an artist's temperament to match. He's determined to take advantage of his second chance, staying focused on his career and hiring the best kitchen staff to help him. Besides proving himself to his backers and to the critics, he has to contend with the dirty laundry of his past, including drug dealers and pissed-off fellow chefs.

While there were plenty of pretty plates of food and a developing relationship with his second-in-command, Helene (Miller), I found it hard to connect with Adam's struggle to rise out his self-made ashes. First, I was not wowed by the kitchen scenes and didn't sense Adam's love of food, flavors, and the perfect dish. Second, although we get a few teasers of Helene's story (she has an adorable daughter, for example), we don't learn enough about her to root for her relationship with Adam.

Burnt was nicely filmed, and I appreciated the use of creative lighting in a few scenes. Unfortunately, good acting and artsy restaurant meals weren't enough to make this a Michelin-starred movie for me. Burnt is, however, a pleasant enough way to spend a evening. Here's the trailer:

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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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5 Books for Space Lovers

Here's a little-known fact about me: when I was in junior high, I saved all my baby-sitting, birthday, and holiday money to buy a good-quality telescope, which I still own. At one time I dreamed of becoming an astronomer. Although my life went in a different direction I haven't lost my love of looking into the night sky and learning about space. This week's roundup is all about books that will take us to the far reaches of the universe or maybe just into orbit around Earth.

For Adults

Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance between Astrophysics and the Military by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis Lang (Norton, September 2018). What's it about? As indicated by the subtitle, this book is about the tight connections between the Defense Department and space research, especially during the cold war. I'm never disappointed with deGrasse. Opening lines:

On February 10, 2009, two communications satellites—one Russian, the other American—smashed into each other five hundred miles above Siberia, at a closing speed of more than 25,000 miles an hour. Although the impetus for building their forerunners was war, this collision was a purely peacetime accident, the first of its kind. Someday, one of the hundreds of chunks of resulting debris might smash into another satellite or cripple a spaceship with people on board.

Into the Black: The Extraordinary Untold Story of the First Flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the Astronauts Who Flew Her by Rowland White (Touchstone, April 2016). What's it about? Again, the subtitle reveals the contents, but what's different about this book is its reliance on declassified materials and firsthand accounts. I don't know if you remember this flight, but there were some majorly tense moments. Opening lines:

Dottie Lee's mother thought it was unusual for her ten-year-old daughter to display such a love of classical music. That, though, seemed positively conventional next to Dottie's keen interest in astrophysics. Growing up in New Orleans in the 1930s, Dottie and known that there would one day be men on the moon.

For Young Adults

It's a Question of Space: An Ordinary Astronaut's Answers to Sometimes Extraordinary Questions by Clayton C. Anderson (University of Nebraska Press, July 2018): What's it about? Written by a man who spent almost a half year on the International Space Station, this book reveals everything you always wanted to know about life in orbit and being an astronaut. The questions range from scientific to fun and silly, and Anderson's answers reveal his engaging personality and zest for life. Sample question:

Question: What is NASA hiding from the world about aliens?

Answer: What is NASA hiding from the world about aliens? Beats the heck outta me! [and then he goes into his own thoughts on the subject]

For Middle Grade Readers

Space, Stars, and the Beginning of Time: What the Hubble Telescope Saw by Elaine Scott (HMH Books for Young Readers, August 2018). What's it about? The author explains how scientists have used the data and images obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope to study the nature of the universe, the birth of stars, and more. Includes a history of the Hubble mission, short biographies of inventors and scientists, and stunning photographs. Opening lines:

Have you ever wished you could travel back in time? Or visit another planet? Or see a star close up? Have you ever wondered about the mysteries of the universe, and whether other life forms, similar to humans, exist somewhere? These are important questions that people have been asking for hundreds of years.

Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist by Sylvia Acevedo (Clarion, September 4, 2018). What's it about? In her memoir, Acevedo pays tribute to the Girl Scout program for fostering her interest in math and science and giving her the confidence, despite her underprivileged background, to eventually become a rocket scientist for NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. Also available in Spanish. Opening lines:

My Papá wasn't much for telling stories. He liked facts and information. if you asked him about the Mexican Revolution or about the freezing point of water, he'd go on all day, sounding grown-up and important, like the men who read the news on television. Mami was the storyteller in our family--as long as the subject was people. I thought she must know everybody in the world--who their family was, where they came from, and what they did all day.

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Wordless Wednesday 515

Fresh Flowers, 2018

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Today's Read: The Winters by Lisa Gabriele

Imagine falling madly in love with a very rich older man who was ready and willing to marry you. What would you do when your heady, joyful, breathless romance is visited by your soon-to-be husband's dead first wife and is slowly being poisoned by your new evil stepdaughter? These are the makings of a new retelling of Rebecca, set in Asherley, an isolated estate on Long Island in modern times.

Here's how the story starts:

Last night Rebekah tried to murder me again. It had been a while since I'd had that dream, not since we left Asherley, a place I called home for one winter and the bitterest part of spring, the dream only ever recurring when Max was gone and I'd find myself alone with Dani.

—The Winters by Lisa Gabriele Way (Viking, October 16; page 1)

Quick Facts

• Setting: modern times, mostly Long Island
• Circumstances: New York senator Max Winter vacations in the Caymans where he meets a much younger and orphaned woman who is working at the foremost boat charter company of the islands. They have a hot romance, and before the vacation is over Max has proposed, and his unanamed fiancée moves into his luxurious estate on Long Island. She, understandably, feels out of her league; can't keep up with American politics; and is overshadowed by the many reminders of the first Mrs. Winters, Rebekah, who died in a terrible accident only 18 months earlier. Meanwhile, she has to cope with Max's many absences, which are made worse because his teenage daughter, Dani, is on a mission to derail her father's remarriage.
• Genre: psychological thriller, Gothic mystery, classic retelling
• Themes: secrets, lies, second marriages, crossing socioeconomic lines
• Why I want to read this book: I really loved Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca, and I almost always love retellings of the classics. This one has been getting pretty good reviews, so my expectations are high.
• More about the book and the author: The publisher has a good interview with Lisa Gabrielle, in which the author talks about her inspirations, the setting, politics, and her background. The Author Stories podcast has an informative interview as well. If you're in a book club, don't miss the reader's guide to The Winters.
• Acknowledgments: thanks to Viking for a finished copy of Lisa Gabriele's The Winters.

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Weekend Cooking: Korean Home Cooking by Sohui Kim

I've been pretty busy this month with work, which always cuts into my kitchen time. Regardless, I couldn't wait to start exploring Sohui Kim's Korean Home Cooking (Abrams, Oct. 16) cookbook. I discovered Korean food when I worked in Hawaii, and I've missed it ever since I moved east.

It's a sad thing, but I don't live near a good Korean restaurant What's more, I developed a late-in-life peanut allergy, so I'm now a little nervous to order Asian food out. The idea that I could learn to make my own Korean dishes (and thus control the ingredients) has made me a happy camper.

Korean Home Cooking is the second cookbook I've received this season as part of the Abrams Dinner Party (click the link to learn more) and it's available in stores now.

I love the design of this cookbook, from the full-color photographs of every finished dish to the fun, stylish fonts (see the cover). The index is well thought out too. Each recipe is listed by its Korean name as well as its English name and can also be found via its main ingredient. I'm so glad I don't have to remember that the Crispy Sweet-and-Sour Fried Shrimp recipe I wanted to try is called Kkanpoong Saewoo. Phew!

Other great features of Korean Home Cooking:

• Descriptions of Korean ingredients, complete with photographs.
• Help with basic Korean cooking skills, also with photographs.
• Notes, tips, and/or step-by-step how-tos for many of the recipes.
• Serving suggestions plus recommended go-withs.
• Clear instructions that are easy to follow.
• Ingredients listed in both imperial and metric units.

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was for me find most of the ingredients at my usual supermarket (Wegman's). Some of the seafood is more difficult for me, but there are plenty of non-fish recipes in Korean Home Cooking.

I'm particularly interested in learning how to make my own kimchi, and Sohui Kim offers several variations on the basic Napa cabbage style, such as radish and garlic chive kimchi. The recipes look pretty easy, and some are ready to eat in as little as two days.

The recipes most likely to be seen on my table are the vegetable salads, baby back ribs, and several of the beef recipes, some of the tofu dishes, and Korean versions of sushi and tempura. Oh and the dumplings, kimchi fried rice, and, well, you get the idea. Vegetarians will find quite a lot in this book as will fish lovers. There aren't too many desserts in Korean Home Cooking, but I don't think you'll miss them.

Sohui Kim's Korean Home Cooking is a great addition to your kitchen bookshelves, whether you're familiar with the dishes or are just learning.

The two dishes I've made so far were delicious. The first was a summer squash salad and the other was marinated grilled beef (like a stir-fry). My squash is shown in the photo to the left. It's called Charred Summer Squash Salad or Gu Oon Hobak Muchim. Basically you cook the squash in a cast-iron skillet until crisp-tender, then mix it with spices and a Korean hot sauce. We liked it at room temperature the first night better than cold the next day for lunch.

The Grilled Sirloin (Bulgogi) was outstanding. We loved this dish. I served it with rice, though there were other serving suggestions in the book. When I went to cook it, I didn't drain the meat well, so the marinade created a bit of sauce. Oh, man, was this good.

The other great thing about the Bulgogi is that all the messy and time-consuming work can be done ahead of time, which makes this the perfect weeknight meal or even a do-head company dinner. Note too, that I cut the recipe in half, because there are only two of us. We ate the leftovers for lunch. As I uploaded my photo of the finished dish, I realized I forgot to fry the onions in the last step. Ooops. It was still good.

The recipe given here is as it appears in Korean Home Cooking, except I'm including only imperial measures.

Bulgogi (grilled sirloin)
serves 6 to 8

• 1 cup soy sauce
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup grated onion
• 2/3 cup grated Asian pear
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 4 pounds sirloin, sliced as thinly as possible against the grain
• canola oil
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced lengthwise
• 1 bunch scallions cut into 1-inch strips

1. In a zip-top bag or nonreactive storage container, mix together the soy sauce, sugar, grated onion, pear, garlic, sesame oil, ginger, and black pepper. Add the sliced sirloin and marinate it for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or up to overnight in the refrigerator. [I let it marinate 6 hours in the refrigerator.]

2. Heat a skillet or grill pan over high heat. Coat the bottom with a little canola oil, just enough so the beef won't stick, then add the meat in a single layer, without crowding the pan; you don't want the meat to steam. (You'll likely have to do this in batches.)

3. Cook the meat until it is charred on side, about 2 to 3 minutes. Then flip and cook it to your desired degree of doneness--about 1 minute more for rare, 2 to 3 minutes for medium or well done. (Koreans prefer it well done.)

4. When the meat is done, set it aside on a serving platter and add the onions and scallions to the pan. Cook until they are soft and translucent, about 3 minutes, then add them to the serving platter. Serve immediately.

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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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Review and Giveaway: The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn Heider

Do you love Halloween and Halloween reading as much as I do? I'm not a huge fan of spooky, but spooky mixed with humor and geared to middle grade readers is a little hard to resist. So when Disney Book Group gave me the opportunity to read a copy of Mary Winn Heider's The Mortification of Fovea Munson, I didn't hesitate.

Here's what it's all about. Despite her protests, 12-year-old Fovea ends up agreeing to work at the front desk of her parents' research lab. All she has to do is greet people, accept packages, and keep the sales people away.

Sounds okay, except this is no ordinary facility. Behind the employees-only blue doors, scientists conducted their experiments on . . . dead bodies. Yes, Fovea's parents had a cadaver lab. Fovea didn't want to know what happened beyond the front lobby.

Although she has to put up with morbid jokes from her classmates, Fovea's situation is not all that bad. Until one day, when she thinks she's alone, she hears people talking inside the lab. Against her better judgment, she takes a peek, and sees three talking heads . . . literally. Three heads, no bodies, having a bickering conversation. Yikes!

From there Fovea's summer begins to spin out of control. A search for a missing specimen, messed-up orders, a blackmailing bad guy, a goofy grandmother, and an erstwhile friend add to the spooky good fun. The story is told from Fovea's perspective, and her humor and spunk shine through.

Despite the setting and the talking (& singing!) body-less heads, there is more humor and madcap adventure then there is scary. Heider's The Mortification of Fovea Munson is definitely middle grade appropriate and the puns and escapades will have the whole family either groaning or laughing.

Thanks again to Disney Book Group for the chance to get to know Fovea (though I received a review copy of the novel, my thoughts are my honest opinion).

The Giveaway

If you're looking to get into the Halloween mood, search no more. Thanks to Disney Book Group, I'm able to offer one my readers (with a USA mailing address) a fabulous bookish Halloween prize pack.

Not only will one of you get a copy of Mary Winn Heider's The Mortification of Fovea Munson but you'll also get three more great books from the Disney Book Group (I've read two of them, so I know they're good).

• First is the graphic novel eidition Melissa de la Cruz's The Isle of the Lost adapted by Robert Venditti and illustrated by Kat Fajardo. This is a fun story starring the children of famous fairy tale characters. 
• Next is Jonathan Stroud's The Screaming Staircase, which is the first in a series set in a haunted London. In these stories, ghost-seeing teens solve mysteries and help save the city. 
• Finally is Alexandra Bracken's The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding, which is about a boy who thinks he's the only ordinary member of his family. Then one day he discovers the demon living within him.

Check out the fabulous book covers:

All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win all four books is to have a USA mailing address and to fill out the following form. On October 24, I'll pick a winner using a random number generator. Once the winner has been confirmed, I'll send his or her address along to the publisher, who will send out the prize pack. At that time, I'll also erase all personal information from my computer. Good luck!

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Wordless Wednesday 514

Lille, France, 2018

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Reading across the Genres

First, for my friends in Florida and the South -- I'm hoping you are safe and that you have electricity and that you spared the worst of the hurricane.

For the rest of you north of the Equator, I hope you are enjoying the fall weather. I'm thrilled I can pull out my sweaters and long-sleeved shirts. I'm so ready for cooler temperatures and afternoon tea. I still have a window or two cracked during the day, but it's definitely cold out there!

With October comes a seasonal busy time for my work, and my personal reading time is crawling. I've gotten through only 4 books in two weeks. Oh well, the books will still be there waiting after I meet my deadlines.

The Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Harper; September 18). This is the final installment in Zafon's Cemetery of Forgotten Books quartet. I listened to the first book (The Shadow of the Wind) when it first came out, before I was blogging, and that audiobook has remained one of my all-time favorites. I don't know why I didn't listen to the next two books, but I'm glad I gave Labyrinth of the Spirits a try. The plot follows Spanish secret police agent Alicia Gris as she attempts to complete her last mission before she returns to civilian life. The book is part thriller and part mystery and is set mostly in Barcelona. I barely remember the first book, but I didn't feel lost and I actually ended up recognizing the names of some of the characters. I liked the book, although I wasn't as blown away as I hoped. The tension was definitely there--as Alicia and her partner begin to uncover corruption stemming from the Franco regime, the danger increases--and I was invested in the outcome. I probably would have appreciated the book more if I had read the entire quartet; still I like the way Zafon conducted a kind of meta analysis as he tied up lose ends to the series. Narrator Daniel Weyman did a fine job reading the unabridged audiobook (HarperAudio; 27 hr, 55 min), which was a good thing, because this is a long audio. My only complaint was his British accent, which meant I had to keep reminding myself the book took place in Spain, not the UK. But all in all, his performance kept me invested. (For more on the audiobook; see AudioFile magazine.)

Swing by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess (Blink, October 2). I've become fond of novels in verse and so was looking forward to reading Alexander's newest. This coming-of-age story is about two high school friends who share a love a baseball, though neither of them made the team; who are good students, though they can still have fun; and who are different enough to push each other and teach each other. Noah is currently obsessing over his other best friend, Sam (a girl), and wondering how he can cross the line from buddy to boyfriend. The only problem is that Sam has a boyfriend, and she likes the other guy a lot, even if he is a jock and a bit of a jerk. Walt, on the other hand, is determined to make the baseball team and practices almost every day. He's also a trivia buff and and jazz lover. This short novel, though, is no high school romp; it covers themes of friendship, young love, diversity and race (Noah is white; Walt is black), responsibility, and larger societal issues. Alexander himself reads the audiobook (Blink Audio; 4 hr, 8 min), and I think this was a brilliant choice. His characterizations were spot-on and his diction is clear. He infused his performance with measured emotion. Swing may break your heart, but you won't want to miss this in print or in audio. You'll be thinking about Noah and Walt long after you close the book. (For more on the audiobook; see AudioFile magazine.)

On Sunset by Kathryn Harrison (Doubleday, October 2). I didn't know what to expect when I started this memoir of growing up in the sixties in Los Angeles. Instead of a straightforward chronology, Harrison's approach is more of a love song to her eccentric grandparents, who provided her with a unique upbringing. Her grandmother came from a wealthy family of multicultural Jews in Singapore, and her grandfather was raised poor in London. Each became world travelers and had fairly full lives when they met late in life. Their one irresponsible daughter went the other direction, getting pregnant while still a teenager. Though her mother didn't live in the big house on Sunset Boulevard, Harrison saw her often and wasn't abandoned in the usual sense. Her memoir is mostly a collection of her grandparents' stories: eight-day train trips from the Orient to Paris, fur trapping in the wilds of Alaska, meeting a Russian prince, fighting in World War I, immigration, and learning to accept one's fate without losing one's past. I loved Harrison's voice and her grandparents' stories. Don't miss this one. I listened the unabridged audiobook (Random House Audio; 6 hr, 39 min) read by Rebecca Lowman, who beautifully blurred the line between author and performer. My only regret is that by listening I missed out on the photographs included in the book. I'll have to see if my library has a copy. (For more on the audiobook; see AudioFile magazine.)

Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason (Picador, 2006): When I was doing my big book culling the other week, I made a vow to myself to start reading from own shelves. We're all drawn to the new and shiny and sometimes forget those books we always meant to read. I learned about Indridason's Reykjavik police procedural series starring Inspector Erlendur when I was lucky enough to attend a BEA book blogger reception in Picador's offices; I left the party with the first couple of books in the series. Since then, I've collected all the Erlendur books to date. I thought it was about time I actually read them.

Oh boy have I missed out. I really like the setting, the mystery, and getting to know Erlendur and his family. Jar City starts with a murder that leads the inspector to revisit a cold case involving rape. Meanwhile, a bride disappears from her wedding reception and no one has heard from her and two elderly sisters were assaulted. Besides juggling multiple police cases, Erlendur (divorced) is dealing with a troubled daughter. Family issues, police department relationships, and the way rape victims are treated, all come into play. Indridason builds the tension and writes a tight story, and I really enjoyed getting a peek at life in Iceland. If you like mysteries set outside the United States or the UK, give this series a try. I'm already looking forward to the second book.

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Weekend Cooking: Matty Matheson A Cookbook

Remember when I encouraged you all to apply for the Abrams Dinner Party for this coming year? I also applied, and I'm so excited to have been asked to participate again.

I had so much fun sharing Abrams cookbooks and great recipes with you last year, and I have every reason to believe this year will be just a good or even better. Here's a little bit about the  program, and if it sounds familiar, that's because I borrowed from last year's post.

Here's how the Abrams Dinner Party works: I'm being given the opportunity to share Abrams's entire food and drink catalog for their fall, winter, and spring seasons. I won't necessarily be posting a detailed review of every book, but each one will be featured here, on Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook, and/or on Litsy. I have permission to share scans of photographs and recipes from the books, and I'm looking forward to a year of learning and discovery.

So how does this affect my opinions and reviews? Don't worry, I'm not getting paid, and I fully intend to provide you with my honest opinion of any book I review. Because of FTC rules, whenever I write about an Abrams Dinner Party book or post a photo on any social media platform, I am required (by law) to disclose my association with Abrams. I've decided to use the hashtag #ad because it's small and unobtrusive.

Remember: #ad means I received the book because I'm a member of the Abrams Dinner Party program. I'm not getting paid, and I will always give you my true opinion.

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 Just in time for cooler fall temperatures, I've received my first few cookbooks from Abrams. I've already cooked from two of them, and everything I made was delicious.

The first cookbook from this year's Abrams Dinner Party I want to talk about is Matty Matheson's A Cookbook (Oct. 9). Have you ever heard of Matheson? I only know him because his cheeseburger was named best in Toronto on a show called Burger Wars (the recipe is in the book).

Since getting a copy of A Cookbook from Abrams, I've learned that Matheson's been associated with several restaurants and is also well known for his television shows on Viceland. Now that I've learned more about the chef, his family, and his food, I'll be following his career.

So what did I like about Matheson's cookbook? The first thing that caught my eye were the drop-dead gorgeous photos of the Canadian coast, the food, his family, and his friends. Next, I love the organization of this book: the first part is a collection of family recipes and inspirations and includes such diverse foods as lobster pie, curry casserole, and Sunday spaghetti with meat sauce. The second part contains restaurant recipes--for example, cassoulet, vegetarian club sandwiches, and venison stew.

Each recipe and chapter is introduced by a personal story, often about Matheson's family and friends, sometimes about his travels, and sometimes about the origins of the dish itself. The chef is very much himself in this book and speaks from the heart and without censure. Among my favorites is the introduction to the famous cheeseburger -- and I love the final photo in the book. I won't spoil it; you'll have to read and see it for yourself.

Here's what I've made from Matty Matheson's A Cookbook so far. The Green Olive Dressing is, according to the book, Matheson's very favorite salad dressing, which he learned from his mother-in-law. I followed the directions exactly and served it (as suggested) on a delicate lettuce. The recipe made quite a lot, but we ate the leftovers on crackers, which I recommend trying. The Sausage and Potatoes were easy and good and perfect for fall. This is a sheet pan dinner made by Matheson's wife. I did not make my own sausages (I don't have the equipment, plus I'm lazy), and instead followed the chef's advice: "If you don't want to make sausage you don't have to. Just buy good Italian sausage from a butcher like a normal human being."

Finally, the crisp temperatures put me in the mood for homemade tomato soup; to go with it I made Matheson's recipe called Mom's Cheesy Things, and I even used his mother's recipe for the bread. The only thing I did differently was to cut the bread recipe in half because I wanted only one loaf. The basic method is this: you slice the bread into thick pieces, sprinkle on grated cheese and spices, bake until melted, and drizzle with a little Worcestershire sauce. We loved these -- a nice change from regular grilled cheese, and I could totally see cutting the toasted breads into strips and serving them with drinks. (Note: the food photos in the collage are all mine; the cheeseburger is from the book.)

A few things to know about Matty Matheson A Cookbook: If you live near the coast or can get fresh seafood and shellfish (of all kinds), you'll find some great family recipes in this book. If you're a vegetarian, you'll have less luck. If you're a hunter or have access to game and game birds, you'll find some new ideas. If you're somewhere in between, you'll find a number of dishes to add to your regular rotation. If you like to read cookbooks, you'll be in heaven.

Instead of recipe, I'm going to share a short video clip of Matty Matheson making sausages. The recipe he's using in the clip is a little different from the one used in the dish shown above. I have to say, he makes the whole process look pretty easy -- if you have a sausage-stuffer machine, that is. I think I can buy an attachment for my stand mixer . . . hummmmmmm.

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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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9 Books to Read in October

I thought I'd do something a little bit different for this week's roundup. Instead of featuring books with a uniting thread (audience, genre, etc.), I'm giving you a peek at my ereader. So here, in alphabetical order, are nine October books I really want to find time to read. They span a range of genres, but nonetheless, each one calls to me. Which one would you read first?

Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller (Tin House Books; October 9). Quick take: This is a thriller set in an isolated English country manor in the late 1960s. An architecture student gets involved with the friendly couple living just below her. Are they as perfect and fun as they seem? Why I want to read this: There has been much good buzz and several starred reviews. I like the setting and the time period, and I enjoy a good psychological thriller. Opening line: "They must think I don’t have long left because today they allow the vicar in."

The Collector's Apprentice by B. A. Shapiro (Algonquin; October 16). Quick take: Set in 1920s Paris and Philadelphia this is the story of a Belgian woman accused of a crime committed by her ex-lover. She is determined to recover her father's stolen art and prove her innocence; along the way she crosses paths with contemporary artists and writers. Why I want to read this: The short version is that I love Shapiro's books and totally trust Algonquin. I also love books set in the twenties and always learn something about the art world from Shapiro's novels. Opening line: "Paulien is aware that being banished to Paris with 200 francs in her pocket isn’t the worst of circumstances."

Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker (Putnam, October 2). Quick take: Set in 1868 in Ireland, England, and Germany. Here's the publisher's tag line: The prequel to Dracula, inspired by notes and texts left behind by the author . . . a supernatural thriller . . . and the tale of the enigmatic woman who connects them. Why I want to read this: Simple curiosity has drawn me to this title. Also, I'm not afraid to admit that I like a good Gothic tale. I understand a movie deal is in the making. Opening lines: "Bram stares at the door. Sweat trickles down his creased forehead."

Go to My Grave by Catriona McPherson (Minotaur Books; October 23). Quick take: This is a standalone Gothic thriller set in a Galloway bed and breakfast where a group of friends are gathering for a reunion. It involves long-buried secrets that are starting to surface. Why I want to read this: I love a Scottish setting and the idea that the past will come back to haunt you. And you have to agree that October is a great month for a good mystery/thriller. Opening lines: "The house was a held breath. Its ten empty rooms waited, polished like a bowl of apples."

In the Hurricane's Eye by Nathaniel Philbrick (Viking; October 16). Quick take: The subtitle gives you a clue: "Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown." Set in 1781, this is an examination of how Washington turned a series of defeats into a much needed victory for the struggling new nation. Why I want to read this: Two things: I'm interested in American history and Philbrick is the author who makes it all accessible and interesting. To be honest, I'll probably listen to the audiobook, while following along in the eBook. Opening lines: "When France entered the American Revolutionary War in the spring of 1778, George Washington dared to hope his new ally had put victory within reach. Finally, the British navy’s hold on the Atlantic Seaboard was about to be broken."

The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher (Berkely; October 2). Quick take: Set in England and America, this novel is about Kick Kennedy, the rebellious daughter who became a London sensation when her father was the U.S. ambassador to the UK before the start of World War II. Why I want to read this: I don't know much about Kick, and I'm interested because she tried to follow her own path, including falling for a guy who wasn't Catholic. I'd like to know more about her. Opening lines: "Presentation day. Finally, Kick thought as soon as she opened her eyes that morning."

The Library Book by Susan Orlean (Simon & Schuster; October 16, 2018). Quick take: Set in Los Angeles in 1986, this entry in the true crime genre is about the burning of the city's public library, which destroyed or damaged more than a million books. Why I want to read this: I usually like true crime and investigative journalism. I also want to know if the author ever finds the answers to these questions: Did someone set the fire on purpose? If so, who was it? And why was the library the target? Opening line: "Even in Los Angeles, where there is no shortage of remarkable hairdos, Harry Peak attracted attention."

Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy (William Morrow; October 23). Quick take: Set in Prince Edward Island in the late 1800s and inspired by the Anne of Green Gables books, this is the story of Marilla--her heartaches and sacrifices; her strengths and joys--in the years before the red-headed orphan changed her life forever. Why I want to read this: I'm a lifelong Anne fan, so I need to know Marilla's story. I have faith that McCoy is just the author who can bring this beloved character alive. [Full disclosure: although I've never met her in real life, I consider Sarah a friend.] Opening line: "It’d been a rain-chilled May that felt more winter than spring."

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand (Little, Brown; October 9). Quick take: Set in contemporary times in Iowa and the Caribbean, this is a story of love and betrayal and loss and new beginnings as a woman in a happy marriage learns her husband is not all who she thought he was. Why I want to read this: I've always enjoyed Hilderbrand's summer beach reads, and I've come to look forward to her "off-season" books. I was excited to learn of this first entry in a new series, which is not set on Nantucket. This sounds like the perfect way to escape holiday stress. Opening lines: "It’s the first night of the new year. Irene Steele has spent the day in a state of focused productivity."

Let me know which ones are on your fall reading list.

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Today's Read: The Lies We Told by Camilla Way

What would you do if you realized the person you loved most was not at all the person you thought he or she was? For Beth, this is particularly painful, because that person is her young daughter, Hannah. For Clara, it's her live-in boyfriend, Luke.

Here's how the story starts (with Beth):

At first I mistook the severed head for something else. It wasn't until I was very close that I realized it was Lucy's. To begin with, I thought the splash of yellow against the white of my pillow was a discarded sock, a balled-up handkerchief perhaps. It was only when I drew nearer and saw the delicate crest of feathers, the tiny, silent beak, that I fully understood. And suddenly I understood so much more: everything in that moment became absolutely clear.

—The Lies We Told by Camilla Way (Berkley, October 9; paperback original, page 1)

Quick Facts

• Setting: modern times in London; 1980s in Cambridgeshire (UK)
• Circumstances: In the 1980s, Beth is becoming increasingly worried about of her daughter, Hannah, whose behavior is out of control. The five-year-old rarely shows emotion and already seems to have a bullying streak. In modern times, Clara wakes up in her London apartment to discover that her perfect boyfriend, Luke, has disappeared into thin air. This dual-time-period book follows Clara as she (with a little help from the police) searches for clues about Luke's fate and alternately follows Beth as she tries to cope with her fear of Hannah. How these two seemingly different plot lines come together is at the heart of the novel.
• Genre: psychological thriller, mystery
• Themes: secrets, lies, coming to terms with the truth
• Why I want to read this book: I want to know how Beth and Clara's lives intersect. What happened to Luke and is he as perfect as he seems? And what about Beth and her sociopathic daughter? I can't even imagine what it would be like for a parent to be afraid of her child. Sounds like a great October spooky read.
• More about the book and the author: Publishers Weekly says the novel has "palpable tension"; the Washington Times says the "twisted narratives [are] fueled by obsession . . . driving relentlessly on to disaster"; the Goodreads score is 4.3; Crime Fiction Lover blog had mixed feelings about the character development but still recommends it for light reading. At Female First, Camilla Way wrote "10 Things I'd Like My Readers to Know About Me."
• Acknowledgments: thanks to Berkley for a finished copy of Camilla Way's The Lies We Told.

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Weekend Cooking: Wine Reads by Jay McInerney

You may know Jay McInerney as a novelist (Bright Lights, Big City), but did you know that he's a James Beard Award-winning wine writer? He currently writes for Town & Country magazine, but his wine columns have also appeared in the Wall Street Journal and House and Garden.

Take note that his edited collection of wine writing, Wine Reads (Atlantic Monthly Press; November 13), comes out next month. The 27 pieces included in this volume were written by a wide range of wine lovers, including the expected wine critics and food writers (Eric Asimov, M. F. K. Fisher) along with writers of fiction and nonfiction.

Some of the selections cover legendary stories, such as George Taber's "A Stunning Upset," which describes the first competition in which a California wine beat the French. Others are excerpted from novels (like Sweetbitter and Sideways), and some of my favorites were the more personal stories.

Wine Reads is the kind of book you'll want to savor, a selection at a time. I'm not quite finished, and I didn't want to rush my way through just to write a review. On the other hand, I wanted to alert you to the November publication date, because I think Wine Reads would make an excellent holiday gift suitable not just for wine lovers but for those who appreciate excellence in writing as much as they do in their wineglass.

The collection opens with a piece by Roald Dahl (yes, that Dahl), who describes a 1950s dinner party in which an "interesting" bet over a wine occurred. Jim Harrison swoons over the sound of a popping cork and talks about how wine accompanied the stresses and joys of his everyday life--not just the weddings and holidays.

Bill Buford writes about an exclusive Burgundy tasting he attended that had, perhaps, a bit too many wines on the table. I also liked Tilar J. Mazeo's account of how the Widow Barbe-Nicole and her champagne survived the 1814 Napoleonic War; war wasn't always good to winemakers, their cellars, and their vineyards.

Jay McInerney's Wine Reads is the perfect collection for winter reading, preferably with a glass of wine near at hand. Buy a copy for yourself and another as a gift. Wine Reads deserves a place on your bookshelves; it's the kind of book you'll return to over the years to revisit a story or to read a passage aloud to your friends.

Thanks to Atlantic Monthly Press for the review copy.

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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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4 Nonfiction Picks for Curious Young Minds

In this day and age when facts are called into question, it’s more important than ever to encourage and support youngsters who want to know about the world they live in. I’m a big advocate of nonfiction for middle grade readers, especially books that treat kids with respect. Fortunately for today’s kids, quality nonfiction for young readers is readily available. Today I’m recommending 4 books to get you started.

Contemporary Culture

• This Is Our Constitution: Discover America with a Gold Star Father by Khizr Khan (Knopf Books YR; October 2017): This annotated version of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights was written by a Pakistani native who became a U.S. citizen and then lost one of his sons to war in 2004. Khan’s easy-to-follow explanations help all of us (young and old) connect in a very personal way to our country’s foundational documents. Recommended for those who want a clearer understanding of history and how it relates to contemporary everyday life.
• Nevertheless, We Persisted edited by Amy Klobuchar (Knopf Books YR; September 2018): This collection of essays presents the stories of how all kinds of people (poets, actors, musicians, politicians, teen activists) faced and overcame discriminatory roadblocks because of their skin color, gender, sexuality, or religion. As the subtitle says, the pieces included here are testaments to everyday defiance, strength, and courage. Recommended for those needing inspiration and support in the continual fight for true equality.

Field Biology

• Special note: I love HMH’s nonfiction books for young readers so much, I find it almost impossible to pass my review copies along to the kids who make up the target audience. The science and presentation are appropriate for readers of all ages, me included. Both books are recommended for budding animal biologists.
• The Orca Scientists by Kim Perez with photos by Andy Comins (HMH Books YR; July 2018): Through easy-to-read text and stunning photos, we’re introduced to the researchers who are learning the truth about the sea mammals that some call killer whales. The book focuses on studies being conducted in the Pacific Northwest that aim to analyze ocra behavior and communication, with the ultimate goal of conservation and protection. As with all books in the Scientists in the Field series, we learn what it’s like to be a field researcher (the good and the bad) and come to realize that only through science can we understand and appreciate the complex lives of our fellow beings.
• Backyard Bears by Amy Cherrix (HMH Books YR; October 23, 2018): This entry in the Scientists in the Field series focuses on how eastern black bears have adapted to the urbanization of their habitat. What’s interesting about this book is that it examines a conservation success story: the rebound of the black bear population of South Carolina. That success, however, comes with a price—bears in your backyard. From there, the book goes on to explore other urban wildlife encounters from around the world and asks how humans and animals can share the same territories.

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Wordless Wednesday 513

Number 5

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

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: A Mixed Reading Week

Last week, I mentioned my out-of-hand book stacks. I had truly reached the end of my rope, so I spent the entire weekend taking charge of my library. What a relief.

There are advantages to waiting until you're desperate: I ended up being quite ruthless about what I kept and what I didn't. I still have a few books on the floor, but the piles are no longer a tripping hazard. Even better, I no longer have any double-stacked bookshelves.

It's always a difficult and lengthy chore to cull my personal library, but I reminded myself that every book I donated is still available at my local library and my bookstore. The result? My house is breathing easier, and I'm feeling less stressed.

What I Read Last Week

Death of a Poison Pen by M. C. Beaton (Blackstone Audio; 5 hr, 12 min). This is the 19th book in the Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series, set in northern Scotland. These books are the perfect escape: they're fun, light, and short. Hamish is a 30-something village constable, who is seen as unambitious and somewhat lazy, but in reality, he just loves the countryside and his village of Lochdubh. Although he's an excellent detective, he has successfully avoided being promoted to a city job. In Death of a Poison Pen, gossip in a nearby town leads to murder. Besides solving the murders, Hamish is dealing with a flirtatious visitor, a sleazy newspaper intern, and police politics. Fans of the series, like me, who are caught up in Hamish's personal life will especially like this installment. Narrator Graeme Malcolm does a fine job with the accents, pacing, and humor. (Personal copy)

Wildcard by Marie Lu (Listening Library; 10 hr, 51 min). Although I was surprised at how much I liked the first book in Lu's sci-fi, cyber punk, high-action series (see my review of Warcross), I was not drawn in by the second installment. There was nothing specifically wrong with the story, which involves a complex virtual reality world and high-stakes gaming, but I wasn't invested in the task our hero, Emika Chen, is given in this book. She and her friends must stop an evil man who is intent on taking over the world through a mind-control app. Perhaps it's the current news cycle or the fact that I'm not a big gamer, but in any case, I was not caught up in Wildcard. Narrator Nancy Wu is great, creating consistent characterizations and good accents. Unfortunately, not even her fine performance was enough to keep me tuned in. This is a DNF (did not finish). Note, however, the book and audiobook have earned many positive reviews. (Review copy provided by the publisher.)

Just Kids: Illustrated Edition by Patti Smith (Ecco; October 3). I listened to the original edition of Just Kids and reviewed it here and for AudioFile magazine in 2011. I believe the new edition contains the same text except for an updated introduction and, of course, the illustrations sprinkled throughout. I did not carefully read the book again; instead I skimmed it, rereading a passage here and there, as I looked at the photographs. I don't have anything new to say about this moving and tender memoir and tribute to Robert Mapplethorpe, except the photographs are striking and add immensely to the emotional impact of Smith's words. I'm glad I took the time to browse the new edition of Just Kids and pause over the visuals. If you choose to listen to the audiobook (HarperAudio; 9 hr, 54 min), read by Smith herself, I recommend that you have a copy of the illustrated edition in hand (you can check it out from the library). If you haven't yet read the memoir, do yourself a favor and seek out this new edition. The book itself won the National Book Award, and Smith has won several prestigious awards for her work. (Review copy provided by the publisher.)

Fashion Climbing by Bill Cunningham (preface by Hilton Als) (Penguin Press, September 4). I've been a Bill Cunningham fan for years, though I know him mostly through his photographs of New York City street style. Cunningham wrote Fashion Climbing, a memoir of his early life and rise in the fashion industry, some time ago but held off sharing it until after his death. Although I loved Bill Cunningham New York (click through for my review), a documentary about him, I ended up only skimming his memoir instead of reading it. There is nothing wrong with Cunningham's writing style, but, frankly, the documentary told me all I really wanted to know. As it happens, I am much more interested in his street photography than I am in the vector of his career and his struggle to find peace between his conservative Catholic family and his personal lifestyle and fluid sense of fashion. Your interests may be different. Note: the memoir ends before Cunningham began working for the New York Times. Another note: the photos described by the subtitle of "A Memoir with Photographs," are of Bill's young life and career, not photos of the fabulous clothing he spotted on the streets of Manhattan. (Personal copy)

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