Wordless Wednesday 533

Winter, 2019

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Another Week of Mixed Success

I don't know about your part of the world, but winter is here with a vengeance. One way I cope is to cheer myself up by buying new winter clothes. Which I did. But I'm not a style blog (I can hear my family and friends laughing), so I'll step away from thoughts of wool blazers and new jeans to what you really care about: what the heck did I read lately?

My surprisingly busy January is winding down to sane levels (at least for the moment), but last week I managed only two audiobooks and one short story. I DNF'd a print book, put one print book on hold (more on that in a different post), and DNF'd an audiobook.

Either I've suddenly gotten really picky or I've had bad luck in my choices. In any case, the week ahead is filled with all great expectations. I'm forever optimistic when it comes to reading.

What I Liked

When I accepted Dorothy Butler Gilliam's Trailblazer: A Pioneering Journalist's Fight to Make the Media Look More Like America (Center Street, January 8) for an audiobook review assignment from AudioFile magazine, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I like autobiography / noninspirational memoir and I knew who Gilliam was, but was her book going to be name dropping, a rags to riches story, or a snapshot of an era? Gilliam's story is all that (in a good way) and more. She was born black in a world ruled by Jim Crow restrictions and born female at time when women's choices were extremely limited. Even with two strikes against her, Gilliam remained determined to hit one out of the park. I was caught up in her transformation from preacher's daughter with a narrow future to first black woman reporter and, later, columnist for the Washington Post. Her life and career spans both the feminist and the civil rights movements and allowed her a front-row seat at some of American's most significant turning points. If you're a woman or a person of color (especially if you were born in the mid-20th century), her story will resonate on a personal level, depending on your age and situation. For anyone still facing socially sanctioned restrictions (in other words if you're not white, male, and Christian), you'll find so much of Gilliam's story to relate to. Don't miss Trailblazer, which would also be perfect for those looking for a Black History Month read. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 8 hr, 58 min) read by the fabulous January Le Voy. Her delivery of Gilliam's words hit all the right tones. If you're into autobiography and are an audiobook fan, read this with your ears. You won't be sorry. (audiobook copy provided for a freelance assignment.

Sob! I'm all caught up with Sebastien de Castell's Spellslinger series, though I can't complain too much because books 5 and 6 will be released this year. Soulbinder, the 4th in the series, continued to both amuse me (I love de Castell's sense of humor) and keep me glued to my (now wireless) earbuds. To recap for those who missed my earlier reviews (find them here) of the series, de Castell has created a unique fantasy world that has a Wild West flavor, a variety of creatures and cultures, lots of action, great bantering dialogue, and a wonderfully flawed hero who's easy to root for. Kellen is now about seventeen and still exiled from his home. Though he's getting better at living the outlaw life, he has a knack for getting himself into trouble and often needs help getting out of it. In this installment, he gains insight into his semi-estranged family and experiences a shift in how he sees himself and the life fate has granted him. Of the many things I love about about these books, I especially appreciate that, while sexual/love relationships could happen, Kellen is awkward, sometimes fickle, and isn't truly sure he's ready to take any friendship to next step. This installment also touches on LBGTQ+ issues in a causal, everyday way, which is how it should be. Soulbinder doesn't end on cliffhanger, but it does set Kellen off on an uncertain path, which makes me all the more impatient for book 5. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 11 hr, 36 min) brilliantly read by Joe Jameson. I've said it before: Jameson has the characters down pat and is great at delivering the quips, keeping the characters straight, adjusting the pacing to the action, and hitting the emotions. He had better be around for the next two books. (audiobook copy provided by the publisher)

This Week's Short Story

"Layla's Nose Job," by Nicoloa Barker, from The Three Button Trick and Other Stories (Ecco, November 2018): This is a story collection I've had my eye on for a few months because, as I wrote in November, the stories "embrace the strange and stretch reality to get at the truth of the human condition." I picked the first story in the collection, which was about a girl who was born with a truly larger-than-normal nose. Her whole life, Layla had to contend with people staring at her and teasing her and treating her as an outsider. After her best friend makes a blunder that reveals just how much Layla is defined by her nose, Layla tells her parents that she must have a nose job for psychological reasons. Thus, a few days after her sixteenth birthday, Layla undergoes the knife. What does she learn about herself and others once the healing begins? Barker's concept held my attention, and I was curious about Layla's fate, but the ending may have been a little too open for me. I liked the writing enough to give The Three Button Trick another chance, but I'm not sure if I'll read all the stories. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

What I Gave Up On

Talent by Juliet Lapidos (Little, Brown, January 22) had a couple of elements that should have pulled me right in. First it stars a graduate student struggling with her dissertation in literature, which is supposed to focus on what inspires writers to write. Second, the reviews and blurbs of Talent promised a bit of a psychological thriller. As the book opens, Anna (the grad student) helps a stranger in need, who then changes the course of Anna's life. I stuck it out for about 25 percent of the novel, but, frankly, I just didn't really care very much about Anna, her dissertation, or her relationship with the woman stranger to find out what ultimately happens. I read enough to know how the woman Anna helps can, in turn, help Anna with her research, but that still didn't pull me in. You may have better luck. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi (Wednesday Books, January 15). I had such high hopes for this book that I actively requested an audiobook copy (Macmillan Audio; 11 hr, 55 min). Thus I feel kind of bad that I just couldn't connect. I loved Chokshi's Aru Shah and the End of Time (my thoughts here), I'm a big fantasy fan, and I particularly like the alternate history subgenre. This book takes place in 1889 Paris and involves powerful families and an underground organization that is out to capture that power for themselves. There's an art thief and hotelier, a landscape artist, a cook/baker, displaced/disinherited people from widely diverse backgrounds, and the hunt for a piece of the Tower of Babel, which will give the owner prestige and power and estates. I wish I could explain the concept better but the plot was confusing and I wasn't really sure what was going on. I started the audiobook three times--that's how much I wanted to love it. I finally made it about a quarter of the way through before giving up for good. It wasn't the fault of narrators Laurie Catherine Winkel and P. J. Ochlan (though I thought Winkel's performance was stronger); their performances were fine. Was it my mood? I have no idea. Whatever the reason I just didn't click with the universe, the magic, or the characters. Kirkus gave it a star and it was Indie Next pick, so you'll probably love it.

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Weekend Cooking: Cali'Flour Kitchen by Amy Lacey

Are you or someone you know following a gluten-free diet or a grain-free or low-carb diet? If so, then you're probably well aware how many ways cauliflower can be transformed into a simple carbohydrate substitute.

I don't have any particular gluten or carbohydrate issue, but I often find myself looking for solutions to feed friends and family. Thus I was very curious about Amy Lacey's Cali'four Kitchen cookbook (which I received as part of the Abrams Dinner Party).

Being new to the whole cauliflower-based recipe craze, I was so surprised to see that there is much more than just cauliflower rice. Cauliflower meal, breadcrumbs, and rice can become pizza crusts, hot breakfast cereal, crackers, baked goods, and potatoes. Who knew? You probably did.

Amy Lacey turned to cauliflower substitutions after being diagnosed with lupus and went to found the company Cali'flour Foods, which makes pastas and pizza crust. The company was gracious enough to send the Abrams Dinner Party participants samples of the premade crusts, which I used to test some of the recipes. Cali'flour Kitchen, the cookbook, however, has instructions for making your own, which I haven't tried yet.

Cali'flour Kitchen includes good information about how to make the vegetable switch and pretty much all of the recipes looked really inviting. Quite a big portion of the book is devoted to pizza recipes (including dessert pizzas), but there are also more inventive ideas for using the crusts: cutting them into crackers or tortilla chips, using them for crostini, and even for making sandwiches.

There are also recipes for cauliflower-based bagels, bread, waffles, and cookies as well as soups and salads. I also liked the sound of a lot of the salsas, sauces, and various toppings and spreads.

One feature I really love is that every recipe is marked for gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, keto, vegan, vegetarian, and dairy-free. And if a recipe can be easily changed, then that information is given too. For example, a recipe might be labeled "vegetarian if vegetable stock is used instead of chicken stock." This is a huge help for many people, especially those new to a special diet.

The first thing I made was the oatmeal substitute, which you can see just above. It doesn't photograph very well because it's brown, but I was totally amazed by how tasty and satisfying this was. Did I think I was eating oatmeal? No. But I did feel as if I were eating a breakfast cereal instead of vegetables. The recipe as given in the book was a little too sweet for me, and I had to cut the maple syrup in half. (Note, though that I generally eat my oatmeal UNsweetened except for the fruit.)

The next thing I tried was the Creamy Cauliflower Soup. The recipe called for saffron, but I used turmeric to turn my soup yellow. It was tasty, and despite my photo (see to the left), it was, in fact, a smooth and creamy soup (thanks to coconut milk). My husband drizzled sriracha over his, and I quickly snapped the photo before he started eating.

One of the pizza crust samples I chose from Cali'flour Foods was jalapeño flavored. I used those crusts (two come in a box) to make the beef nacho recipe. You take the crusts (store bought or homemade) and cut them into chip shapes to make the tortillas. I forgot to take a picture before we ate (scan to the right is from the book), but I can say the flavors (beef, salsa, jalapeños, lime, Cheddar cheese, guacamole, and more) were really good.

To be truthful here, I have to mention that the chips and pizza crusts don't have the same snappy crispness you're used to with grain-based versions, That was slightly disappointing. But, honestly, if I had dietary issues, I'd be really, really happy to have the cauliflower (Cali'flour Foods or Cali'flour Kitchen) substitutes. I thought the flavor was definitely there, but expectations have to stay realistic.

Recommendation: So who would love Amy Lacey's Cali'flour Kitchen? Pretty much anyone who is looking for tasty dishes to fit a variety of healthful and special diets. I especially love the idea of learning to make my own cauliflower crusts, flour, rice, and more. It's budget friendly and gives you extra control if you make your own crusts instead of having to buy them. On the other hand, if you're buying crusts, I can recommend the Cali'flour Foods brand. Though I probably should say that they're the only non-grain crusts I've ever tried.

Pan-Roasted Lemon Broccoli Pizza
Serves 3 (or 2!)

I made this recipe with the Italian-flavored pizza crusts from Cali'flour Foods. I used dairy pesto and Parmesan cheese, though the cookbook provides recipes for vegan versions of both. I also added a little mozzarella cheese on top (which you can see in my photo). This was really tasty.

• 1 Cali'flour pizza crust (homemade or store bought)
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1½ cups (about 5 oz; 140g) small broccoli florets
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• ½ small lemon
• ¼ cup pesto (homemade or store bought)
• 2 teaspoons Parmesan cheese
• Red pepper flakes (optional)

Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and put the crust on it.

Heat the oil in a medium skillet with a lid over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli in an even layer and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Lay the lemon half, cut-side down in the skillet. Cover and cook without stirring for 2 minutes, or until the broccoli is well browned on the bottom and crisp-tender throughout. Remove from the heat.

Spread the pesto on the crust and arrange the broccoli on top. Place in the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until everything is hot. Remove from the oven to a cutting board. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and red pepper flakes and squeeze the lemon half over the top. Finish with a pinch of salt and pepper. Serve.

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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 Books You Don't Want to Miss This Month

You know how you tend to see the same books over and over in reviews and features? Many of us (me included) are drawn to the books that our friends and trusted sources recommend, and it's easy to completely miss other titles that deserve more attention. That's what today's round-up is all about. Here are eight books, all published this month, that might have escaped your attention. The genres are all over the place, so I've listed the books alphabetically, rather than try to group them.

Caroline's Bikini by Kirsty Gunn (Faber & Faber, Jan. 22). This is a novel about unrequited love among the cocktail set of contemporary West London. When middle-aged, successful banker Evan takes lodgings in the top floor of British family home, he's hit hard when he meets his landlady, Caroline. Complete with footnotes and references to the age-old classics, this a modern retelling of familiar, ancient themes. Other things to know: one of the blurbs reads "A gin-fueled love story with one part One Day mixed with one part Zadie Smith and a splash of Ali Smith." Who can resist?

The Current by Tim Johnston (Algonquin, Jan. 22). This contemporary story, set in the icy upper Midwest, involves two college friends, a road trip, and two fatal car accidents that occur along the same rural road but two decades apart. Although the book involves a mystery and an amateur sleuth, this is much more than a whodunit. Other things to know: The author's Descent was one of my favorite books. The novel has won several starred reviews.

The Falconer by Dana Czapnik (Atria, Jan. 29): Set in the 1990s in New York City, this is the story of growing up female, athletic, smart,and talented in a world both full of promise and just about to take a long downward slide. Feminism, art, young love, and the city itself take center stage in this coming-of-age story of a young woman growing up in the shadow of the baby boomers and the light of new possibilities. Other things to know: The author is an award-winning fiction writer with many years as an editor in sports journalism. Tons critical of praise.

The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay (Grove Press, Jan. 15): This contemporary story is set in India and deals with sociopolitical issues, family drama, grief, and religion conflicts. Shalini, a 30-something woman, travels across the country to the Himalayans hoping to better understand her late mother and to look for a man she remembers from her youth. Other things to know: The author, born in Bangalore, won the Pushcart Prize. This debut novel was an Indie Introduces pick. Diversity & Own Voices.

Hollywood's Eve: Eve Babitz and the Secret History of L.A. by Lili Anolik (Scribner, Jan. 8): This is the biography of one-time groupie / sex symbol Eve Babitz, who hooked up (in one way or another) with movie stars, musicians, and artists of the 1960s and 1970s. Yet from the time she was a teenager, she was also a writer and in her later years went on to write several semi-autobiographical novels, to little notice. Apparently, her work is now seeing a comeback. Other things to know: Anolik is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair.

Late in the Day by Tessa Hadley (Harper, Jan 15). This contemporary novel focuses on two couples who have been close friends for decades. When one of the quartet dies suddenly, the dynamics of the remaining interrelationships are thrown off kilter. Themes include friendship, marriage, grief, and dealing with the past. Other things to know: The author has won Windham Campbell Prize and the Hawthornden Prize. The book received much critical praise and at least one starred review.

A Sky for Us Alone by Kristin Russell (Katherine Tegen Books, Jan. 8): Set in an insular Appalachian town in the heart of coal country, this is a contemporary story of a young boy on the brink of manhood who is trying to come to terms with a family death while balancing his desire to escape the poverty and limits of his home town with the strong ties he feels to place and people. Other things to know: A debut novel. Coming-of-age story.

That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron (Ballantine, Jan 29): This is a fictionalized account of the life of Jennie Jerome, a daughter of the New York City elite who traveled to England in the 1870s to marry into the landed gentry. Out of her many suitors, she married Lord Randolph Spencer-Churchill and made it her business to help his political career and their rise in British society. Later she supported her son Winston as he made his own name in politics. Other things to know: Barron is not only an accomplished author but once worked for the CIA as an intelligence analyst.

Which of these books would you read first?

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: True Stories

Days like this I'm so happy to work from home. It's -1F out there, with a windchill of -21F. Yep, it's really, really cold. I'm also grateful for central heating and nice warm clothes.

We were supposed to get a ton of snow on Saturday, but in the end it was only about 6 inches, which for us is a nuisance but not all that big of deal. The bad part was how wet and heavy the snow was, which made shoveling hard.

I had a busy week last week, but still managed to get a little reading in, though I was very bad at visiting blogs. I'll make up for it in the days to come. If you're in the United States and have the day off work, I hope you're warm and toasty and have some relaxing indoor activities planned.

The Last Whalers: Three Years in the Far Pacific with a Courageous Tribe and a Vanishing Way of Life by Doug Bock Clark (Little, Brown, January 8): Investigative journalist Clark lived with the Lamalerans, a traditional hunter-gatherer people from the Indonesian island of Lembata, off and on for almost three years. The Lamalerans have a sea-based culture and the sperm whale is their principal prey, which they hunt from handmade boats powered by palm-leaf sails; they even make their own rope and harpoons. Only by obeying their ancestors will they be successful in the hunt, enabling their village to survive another year. This fascinating look into a vanishing culture is part ethnography and part reporting and focuses particularly on how the Lamalerans straddle two worlds. They have spotty electricity and no running water, yet some of the younger generation have cellphones and have worked or been educated in cities or at least bigger towns. They remain faithful to their traditional spirituality but are also Catholic. Clark focuses his account on a handful of families at different places in their lives and facing different dreams and frustrations, giving us both male and female perspectives. Although the Lamalerans' daily life is far different from our own, many of their concerns will be familiar. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio, 11 hr, 23 min), beautifully read by Jay Snyder, but also had a digital copy so I could see the photos. I believe the audiobook comes with a PDF, so look for that. I have no way of judging Snyder's pronunciation of the Lamaleran language, but I assume he consulted with Clark, who is fluent. Snyder was equally adept at conveying the action and danger of the hunt as he was at delivering the more personal accounts of the Lamalerans' stories. (digital and audio copies provided by the publishers)

Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos by Lucy Knisley (First Second, February 26): I've read every one of Knisley's graphic/comic memoirs and have loved them all. Her newest, out next month, is about her journey to motherhood. As with all of Knisley's memoirs, this one doesn't sugar-coat her experiences. The book is not always kind to some of her doctors or to the medical profession's attitude toward women in general. One of my favorite spreads shows a woman with symptoms of plague being told by her doctor that her obvious illness is all in her head. Knisely is also honest about her reactions to women who (at least outwardly) had no trouble getting pregnant or carrying a child to term. Her own experience was quite different and involved miscarriage, uterine surgery, a nightmare of a birth, and a scary hospital stay. I love her art and her candor and am happy to report that she and her husband have a healthy baby boy, who will be the subject of her always personal work in the future, though she has given him the comic book name of Pal to preserve a tiny bit of his privacy. I suppose I should give a trigger warning to this memoir because Knisley had a rough time of it and shares her grief over the miscarriage, her frustrations with the medical profession, and the true danger she was in after giving birth. She also lets us see the overwhelming love she has for her son and the love and support she receives from her family and husband. We know there's a happy ending right from the start of the book, though the path takes us through a dark forest. Don't miss this. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

"Spats" by Valerie Martin, from Sea Lovers (Nan A. Talese, August 18, 2015). This week's story comes from a book that I've had on my shelf for a few years. I started with the first one, which takes place in contemporary times and focuses on a woman who is coming to terms with the fact that her marriage is finally over. She has a plan of revenge, but is she prepared for the consequences if she carries it out? This story was nicely written and made me want to read more from the collection, though I wasn't as drawn to the woman's world as I could have been. Still, I'm keeping the book in rotation and will try another story later in the year.

Note on the short story project: I've been thinking about how to approach my commitment to reading a story a week and have decided to place five or six books into rotation, so you'll see the authors again throughout the year. I'm also going to try to sample new collections as they cross my desk.

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Weekend Cooking: Losing Weight and Eating Right

I always wonder what percent of people vow they'll change their ways starting on January 2. Of those changes, dieting has to be near the top of the list (along with exercise and budgeting). I don't usually make resolutions, but after a month or so of holiday eating, I'm usually ready to get back to our usual healthful way of eating.

I don't review dieting books as a rule because (1) I don't have a lot of experience with dieting and (2) I'm too lazy to do the research to evaluate the truth of what the books are telling us. Thus I was surprised to notice five sane-sounding diet-related books cross my desk this season. I thought I'd feature them today, in case one or more resonate with you.

To reiterate: I haven't double-checked the truth of any of these books. Impressions are my own, and I leave it to you to decide how closely you want to follow their advice.

What to Eat When by Michael Roizen and Michael Crupain, with Ted Spiker (National Geographic; December 31). I generally trust National Geographic to get their facts and science right, so that's a big plus for this informative and fun to read book by two doctors who are associated with The Dr. Oz Show. The general idea of What to Eat When is that our internal body clock should be dictating the timing of our meals, so that when we eat is just as important as what we eat to gain optimum health, lose weight, and decrease our stress level. The book reviews a lot of research into circadian rhythms, human and animal behavoir, and physiology. The authors note that it's not just our own body rhythms that matter but also that of the natural bacteria in our guts (our microbiome). The book provides a 31-day plan to help us make the switch from typical Western eating patterns to a more healthful one. It offers lots of tips, including foods to focus on and foods to avoid and advice pertaining to specific health and life issues. (review copy provided by the publisher)

The Mojito Diet by Juan Rivera (Atria; December 18, 2018). This diet book is written by a medical doctor who trained at Johns Hopkins, but now teaches a Columbia, has a Univision television show, and sees patients in Miami. The general idea of The Mojito Diet is to provide a 14-day weight-loss and heart-healthy diet with a Latin twist and--yes--cocktails. Generally the author advocates for a highish protein, lowish carbohydrate diet, with intermittent fasting, that follows DASH principles. The book discusses the science behind the diet and includes menus and a detailed plan to lose weight relatively painlessly. Once your goal is met, you can continue to the chapters that offer a maintenance plan. Near the end you'll find a variety of cocktail and food recipes, most with Latin American flavors. Cocktails are allowed a few times a week, and dessert can be substituted if it has about the same calories as a mojito. The recipes looked appealing and doable. Many dieters will appreciate the guide to eating out. (review copy provided by the publisher)

The DASH Diet Mediterranean Solution by Marla Heller (Grand Central; December 24, 2018). This diet book is written by a registered dietician and nutritionist who trained at the National Institutes of Health and who has written several DASH diet books. In case you don't know, DASH stands for dietary approaches to stop hypertension. A diet good for your heart is also good for your general health and weight. The general idea of this DASH book is to give the well-known diet a Mediterranean perspective to help you have a healthy cardiovascular system, control diabetes, and lose weight too. The book explains specifically which fats, proteins, and carbs to eat, and even helps you stock your pantry and survive the grocery store. You'll find easy to remember "rules" (like "put color on your plate"), and the author provides meal plans that look easy to implement. There are lots of charts for quick referral and to make it simple to figure out what to cook and eat. There is also a recipe section, with (no surprise) Mediterranean-inspired dishes. (review copy provided by the publisher)

Gut Reactions by Simon Quellen Field (Chicago Review Press; January 8). This informative book is written by a chemist and all-round science geek. The general idea of Gut Reactions is to learn how to create a new, lower set-point weight and thus achieve better health. The book discusses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins and shows us exactly what each one does for and to our bodies. We also learn where these nutrients are in our foods. Moving beyond just diet, the book also discusses lifestyle issues and then puts all the information together to explain metabolic rate, hormones, and our microbiome. This isn't really a how-to diet book, but it is filled with interesting science about physiology, nutrition, and intermittent fasting and includes plenty of illustrations and photographs to aid our understanding. There is also information about food cravings and addictions. The book includes some fun quizzes to help you determine your relationship with food and also offers advice for understanding your own metabolism. (review copy provided by the publisher)

Dressing on the Side (and Other Diet Myths Debunked) by Jaclyn London (Grand Central; January 8). This book is written by a registered dietician and nutritionist who is currently nutrition director at Good Housekeeping. As is obvious, the general idea of Dressing on the Side is to debunk dieting myths and help us gain a more positive perspective on health, eating, and weight. The book goes into the science of nutrition, offers guides for evaluating the different popular diets, and helps us navigate the tons of information and tips we get from both the media and our friends. The guidelines in the book are down to earth and easy to implement and focus on healthful eating and drinking, such as how to determine when we've had enough to eat, how to eat dessert every day, and how to make sane food choices. The book is written in a fun, conversational style and addresses real-life issues like our financial budget, time constraints, and how to survive parties and the holiday season. Good graphics and easy-to-absorb charts and guides help you stay honest and accountable to yourself and offer advice for shopping and for eating out (at all kinds of restaurants and even when traveling). (review 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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6 Books in Translation to Read in January

Several years ago (and probably more years ago than I realize), I started not just reading books in translation but seeking them out. I don’t know how or why I developed my interest, but if I had to guess, I’d blame Scandinavian crime fiction for turning my attention away from the English-speaking world. I love the perspective and the themes of translated fiction and nonfiction, and by stepping outside my own cultural sphere, I’m broadening my horizons. Here are six books in translation that are my January reading list.

• The End of Loneliness by Benedict Wells; translated from the German by Charlotte Collins (Penguin Books; January 29). Set Europe, this prize-winning novel follows the fate of three siblings who are suddenly orphaned and sent away to boarding school, where they drift apart. The youngest, Jules, finds friendship in a shy girl, but they too lose touch after school. When a family crises reunites the siblings, Jules reaches out to his childhood friend. In a world of loss and grief, is it possible to find hope?
• Last Night in Nuuk by Niviaq Korneliussen; translated by Anna Halager (Grove Press; January 15). (Note: I’m not sure if this was originally written in Greenlandic or Danish.) Set in the capital city of Nuuk, this is the story of five young people trying to find both themselves and their place as they head off into adulthood. Contemporary themes include too much partying, sexual identity, facing responsibilities, and political activism.
• Mala Vida by Marc Fernandez; translated from the French by Molly Grogan (Arcade; January 15). Set in contemporary Madrid, this novel explores a country in transition, including economic woes and a populist movement (sound familiar? ugh). Against this atmosphere, a radio crime reporter begins to investigate a series of seemingly unrelated murders only to uncover a major scandal from the Franco years, involving what was essentially the kidnapping of babies for the rich and powerful.

• The Plotters by Un-su Kim; translated from the Korean by Sora Kim-Russell (Doubleday, January 29). I’ve already written about this futuristic or alternative-world crime novel about a young man who was raised in Seoul’s underworld to be an assassin. In this universe, killers belong to guilds (or families) and are trained to do their jobs, without asking questions. After bungling a hit, our protagonist decides to step out on his own—but at what cost?
• Wanderer by Sarah Léon; translated from the French by John Cullen (Other Press; January 8). Set in the French mountains, this is the story of a composer and music teacher who has long worked in isolation, until one winter day a former male student—now a famous pianist—appears on his doorstep. Against a background of music and a snow-covered landscape, this is the story of the pair’s complicated relationship, and whether time and maturity will allow them a second chance.
• What Hell Is Not by Alessandro D’Avenia; translated from the Italian by Jeremy Parzen (Oneworld; January 24). Set in 1990s Palermo, home of the mafia, this novel is based on a true story. When an upper-class teen is asked by his teacher and priest to work at a youth club for underprivileged youth, he gets a firsthand view of the city’s poverty. When the priest is murdered, the teen must decide whether to continue to help the boys at the club or return to his safe and comfortable life.

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Wordless Wednesday 522

Fungus, 2019

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: The Good and the Bad

Happy Monday. Looks like winter is finally here--I'm happy to report that we have a little snow and the temperatures have dropped. I actually like snow and don't mind the cold. . . . At least for a little while. By the end of February, however, you'll hear me whining about the weather.

I didn't have a lot of reading time this week, because we spent way too much time watching the news. On Saturday we took a break to watch a movie, which turned out to be bust.

Hold the Dark (2018) is set in Alaska and stars Alexander Skarsgård (from True Blood fame) and Jeffrey Wright (from Westworld fame); it's billed as a mystery. It sounded like something we would love. Sigh. I'm not quite sure why we bothered to see it all the way through, because by 15 minutes we could tell this was definitely a B-movie. I've embedded the trailer at the end of this post, but trust me, just give this a pass.

Lewis Man by Peter May (Quercus, 2014): This is the second book in May's Lewis trilogy, set in the Outer Hebrides and featuring Fin Macleod who left his native Lewis Island to attend university. After dropping out, he joined the Edinburgh police force, eventually becoming a homicide detective. Note that I won't spoil this book, but may lightly spoil the first book, The Blackhouse, which I reviewed last month. In this installment, Fin has quit his job, signed his divorce papers, and returned to Lewis to restore his parents' croft. In the meantime, the body of a young man is discovered in the island's peat bog, and evidence points to a murder in the 1950s. The victim may have ties to people Fin knows from his youth, and the ex-cop can't help but follow through on the leads (though he keeps in contact with the local authorities). As with the first in the trilogy, this book is as much about Scotland and the Hebrides as is it about the murder. Fin's personal life also plays a major role. May's ability to create an atmosphere and to vividly convey his characters and the setting is always a pleasure. I think I'm going to spend this year catching up on May's backlist and maybe even doing some rereading--especially on audio. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 10 hr, 54 min) was read by Peter Forbes, who (yay!) reads the whole trilogy. I love his accent and particularly appreciate hearing the Gaelic. Forbes has a real feel for May's style, and this is one of those author-narrator pairings that is, in a word, perfect. (Print and audio copies provided by the publishers)

The Waiter by Matias Faldbakken (Gallery, 2018; translated by Alice Menzies): I guess I should have known that a book compared to Remains of the Day (a book I ditched early on) would not be a good match for me, but because this story takes place in an Oslo restaurant, I was hoping for good food references and the hustle and bustle of the waiter's life. Instead, this was a quiet story of a career waiter in a European-style cafe/restaurant and his interactions with the establishment's regulars. Every day, the same people show up at the same time and are seated at the same tables, in our waiter's section. There's an actor, an elderly widow, a rich man and his companions, and the waiter's childhood friend with his daughter. All chugs along like clockwork, until the rich man invites a beautiful young woman to join his usual guests. From there, things seem to fall apart. Our usually impeccable waiter messes up an order, injures his hand, and becomes too involved in the customers' lives. This novel has won tons of praise and buzz, but it didn't work for me. It's the second book this year (only 14 days long) in which the ending made me say: "Huh? That's it?" You'll probably love The Waiter, I'm sure I'm in the very small minority. The unabridged audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 5 hr, 31 min) was wonderfully read by Jacques Roy. Roy does a really good job projecting the waiter's inner life and his thoughts about the diners, the other restaurant employees, and the changes the woman brings to his routine. I sound like a broken record, but it's true: a great performance can't save a book that just doesn't click. (review audio copy provided for a freelance assignment)

“The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species” from The Paper Menagerie by Ken Lui (Saga Press, 2016): For this week’s short story, I picked the opening piece from Lui’s collection of speculative fiction stories. This story fits into the science fiction sphere and is written as a description of the different ways books are written and used by beings across the universe. I loved the premise of the story and especially was intrigued by the creatures whose books were kind of like recordings, allowing the “reader” to hear the voice of the author, almost literally. Lui’s writing is incredibly quotable, and I marked several possible passages to share in this story, though it’s only about nine pages long. Here’s one:

They have always had a complicated relationship with writing, the Hesperoe. Their great philosophers distrusted writing. A book, they thought, was not a living mind yet pretended to be one. It gave sententious pronouncements, made moral judgments, described purported historical facts, or told exciting stories . . . yet could not be interrogated like a real person, could not answer its critic or justify its accounts.

True, yes? The Paper Menagerie is going to remain on my short story list; I’m sure I’ll end up reading Lui’s entire collection. (review copy from the publisher)

And here’s the promised trailer for Hold the Dark:

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Weekend Cooking: The Trip to Spain (Movie)

Way back in 2013, I wrote about The Trip, a funny mockumentary about two friends who hit the road to sample food in northern England and muse about all things middle-age, movies, and more.

Although I missed comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's second film, in which they travel to Italy, I'm glad I took the time to see the third in their projected 6-part series. It's true that The Trip to Spain (directed by Michael Winterbottom) doesn't offer too much new, but that didn't matter me.

Coogan and Rob and are clearly having fun, and their banter about movies and actors and their delightful impersonations still made me laugh. Food doesn't have quite the center stage in this film as it did in The Trip, but many of the scenes are shot in restaurants, with cutaways to busy professional kitchens.

The cinematography and Spain's spectacular scenery often stole the spotlight. If you hadn't had Spain on your list of destinations, this movie will correct that lapse. The countryside and small towns are simply beautiful.

The Trip to Spain may have lacked a little in the foodie-porn department and may have been a kind of rehash of the duo's earlier work, but that didn't stop me from laughing at their antics, impressions of the famous, and oohing and aahing at the scenery.

Take some time to see at least one of Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's movies; I bet you have some some laughs. Here's the trailer for The Trip to Spain.

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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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Off the Shelf; Or What's New in My Corner of the World 1

We're two weeks into the new year, and I already like things better on this side of the calendar. My working life is in good shape, the house is still in order, and we're back to healthful eating. All those things make me happy.

I'm experimenting today with a more personal kind of post. The format is a work-in-progress, but I decided to jump right in. My usual roundups and other book-related posts have not gone away. This "Off the Shelf" series will appear only every few weeks--at least that's my current plan.

Oh, and if the tag "Off the Shelf" is stepping on someone's toes, I apologize profusely. It's all I could come up with. I'm not sure I'm married to the flower photo, but it was conveniently on my phone.

Book quote of the week that made me smile:

It's never too early for a wee dram.

(From Peter May's Lewis Man, which I should finish on audio tonight)

Television series I'm currently addicted to: Travelers on Netflix. I gave the show a try last weekend when I had a night to myself and promptly watched the first three episodes back to back. I love time-travel stories anyway (queue Outlander and Time Traveler's Wife), and this series is action packed, a little mysterious, and totally addictive.

Movies I'm going to review: I'm lucky enough to sometimes have access to screeners and review copies of movies and series, and after the Golden Globes awards, I checked Fox Home Entertainment and was happy to see that I have The Favorite and Bohemian Rhapsody in my queue as well as The Hate U Give. Yes, I'm always way behind in my movies.

A mistake that turned into a blessing: Although I pretty much abandoned my bullet journal in June last year, hope springs eternal. I bought a new journal and am going to try again--for the fourth year. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I'm such a journal failure. Anyway, when I opened my new Leuchtturm1917, I discovered that I had ordered a grid journal instead of a dot one. My first reaction was OH NO! But since I had already pulled the plastic off, I decided to go with it. I know this sounds stupid, but I think the grids may be a turning point for me. I love it!

Life-changing discovery of the year (11 days in): A few months ago I finally had to say good-bye to my iPhone 6. The battery no longer held a charge, but worse my speakers were starting to crap out on me. I totally abused those speakers, considering that I listen to audiobooks every single second I can. I didn't want a new iPhone because I needed that earbud jack. First, I have small ears, and there is only one style of earbuds or headphones that I ever found to be comfortable, and they use a jack. Second, I really didn't want yet another thing I had to charge each night. Third, I couldn't face the tragedy of having my earbuds lose charge partway through a walk. Still, I had to get a new phone.

So I ordered my new iPhone (if you're interested in which model I got and why, ask and I'll write about that next time) and an adapter so I could listen through my trusted earbuds. I was so disappointed: not only does the adapter affect the sound but it adds extra length and weight to the cord and a second place for the buds to inadvertently come unplugged. Enter some research and the discovery that my favorite earbuds come in a Bluetooth model. Now add in the after-Christmas sales.

OMG, where I have been all these years? Yes, the sound was so incredibly improved (even for my cheapo favs), but the magic moment occurred when I was listening to a book while cooking and--without thinking--ran upstairs to get something. Suddenly I realized that I could still hear my book, even though my phone was downstairs! Holy cow! Then there was the time I went to take something out of the oven and realized I didn't have to first make sure the plastic-coated cord was out of the way. My life has changed, and I'm never going back! In fact, I'm going to order a second pair, so I can take an extra set with me on my walks, just in case. Product: Koss BT232i Wireless FitClips (totally unsponsored; just a happy customer)

What's new for you in 2019?

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Wordless Wednesday 521

A Winter Walk, 2019

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

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: A Mixed Week of Reading

How was your first week of the year? Mine was busy with work, deadlines, getting back on a regular routine, and finishing up all the holiday food. I'm happy to get back to what counts as normal around here.

Early January is usually a fairly calm time for my work, but this year has started with a bang. I don't know what's going on in the publishing world, but I'm not complaining.

Despite the end-of-the-year chores and several editing projects, I managed to finish two books. I also started a new project: reading more short stories. I've made an unofficial commitment to myself to try to read at least one story a week--so far I've met that goal (hahahahaha). Oh and I've already had my first DNF (did not finish).

Looker by Laura Sims (Scribner, Jan. 8): As you know, I like a good thriller, so I was looking forward to this one, which earned starred reviews and appeared on several most-anticipated-novels of 2019 lists. It's about a college-level poetry instructor in a big city (I think it could be New York), who becomes obsessed with a famous actress, who lives in a building a few doors down with her screen-writer husband and their three kids. Sims really knows how to amp up the creep factor as our unnamed protagonist deals with a number of personal problems, issues with her students, and her unrelenting interest in the actress. I was hooked all the way until I started closing in on the end. I don't want to spoil the book for others, so I'll be a little vague here, but I was completely disappointed with the conclusion and was left with a "that's it?" kind of feeling. The tension and sense of foreboding were well done, but the payoff wasn't there. The unabridged audiobook was read by Katherine Fenton (Simon & Schuster Audio; 5 hours, 32 minutes), who did a fabulous job picking up on the main character's personality and downward spiral. But a great performance couldn't save the novel for me. (audio copy provided for an AuidoFile Magazine review)

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield (Atria, Dec. 4, 2018): I held off reading this book because I so loved Setterfield's Thirteenth Tale, I was worried my expectations would be too high. I shouldn't have worried because I can't say enough good things about this book. I loved, loved, loved it. The story is set along the Thames in the mid- to late-1800s and starts on the winter solstice, when a photographer stumbles into an old inn carrying a dead girl in his arms. He passes out, and the child's body is taken to an outbuilding until the man can recover enough to identify her. A trained nurse is fetched to tend to the man and to examine the body for cause of death. To the nurse's--and everyone's--surprise, the four-year-old girl wakes up, and though she seems to have recovered, she cannot talk and no one knows for sure who she is. The story weaves through and round the girl, the river, local families, local legends, loss, love, good, and evil. The tale is all-engrossing, poetic, and mesmerizing and incorporates historical details, which grounds the story in reality. This is the first book that will appear on my top ten of 2019. Though I don't often reread books, I think I'll read this one in print over my next free weekend. Juliet Stevenson's performance of the unabridged audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 16 hr, 27 min) was brilliant. She created the perfect atmosphere, highlighting the characters' emotions and personalities. Her sense of timing was spot-on, keeping me fully on the banks of the Thames. (digital and audio copies provided by the publisher)

Mouthful of Birds by Samanta Schweblin (Riverhead; January 8), translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell. My first story of the year comes from a well-received collection by an award-winning Argentinian author. "Headlights," the leading piece, contains elements of magical realism to recount the experiences of a young bride who is abandoned at a highway rest stop by her groom, just hours/moments after the wedding ceremony. In only a few pages, I was invested in Felicity's fate and how what happened to her addressed wider themes, including the generation gap and gender issues. Although I've read only a single story, I understand why Schweblin garners so much buzz. I'm keeping Mouthful of Birds in my story rotation and will report back as I work my way through the collection. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

The Plotters by Un-Su Kim (Doubleday, January 29), translated from Korean by Sora Kim-Russell. Have you read any Korean crime novels? Me neither, so I was excited to give this thriller a try. The story is definitely weird, though in a good way. I agree with other reviewers who mentioned David Lynch or Henning Mankell. The book centers around Reseng, a trained assassin who was raised by a man known as Old Raccoon, who is also a killer. When a mission goes awry, Reseng begins to question the entire structure of the underground world, including the Plotters, who are in control. While I actually enjoyed the 80 pages I read, I haven't yet returned to the book. I liked Reseng, was really taken with the opening scene, and totally appreciated the dark humor, but the novel isn't calling to me. I know myself well enough to know that I will likely never come back to The Plotters. I'll keep my copy, just in case, but I'm not holding my breath. Don't let my experience stop you from giving this book a try. The part I read was good, even if it didn't put a hook in me. (review copy provided by the publisher)

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