Beth Fish Reads: January 2020

25 January 2020

Weekend Cooking: The Short Edition

Hello my cooking friends. This is my 527th Weekend Cooking post. Who knew when I started this link-up all those years ago, it'd still be going strong today.

This is the first Saturday ever that I have nothing at all to write about. It's been a very difficult week, and I'll write more about it in a few days. The short story is that I haven't been cooking or reading or watching anything on screen.

I hope, however, you have produced yummy foods in your kitchens and that you have had a chance to nourish your family and friends. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support and continued participation in my favorite post of the week. I've made many friends through Weekend Cooking and have discovered new recipes and new techniques.

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Weekend Cooking hosted by www.BethFishReads.com

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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24 January 2020

5 Books for Speculative Fiction Fans

This week's roundup is all about escaping real life through speculative fiction. These days my world is full-on hard realities, so I want my reading to transport me to words that don't exist (at least not yet). The books I feature today represent some of the variety of stories found under the umbrella of fantasy and science fiction. I hope at least one will make it to your wish list.

Followers by Megan Angelo (Graydon House, Jan. 14) is a dual-time story that focuses on the effects of social media--first in 2015 and then in 2051. While some of the elements will seem familiar to our everyday lives in contemporary times (influencers and reality TV), how Angelo imagines that social media will evolve and change in the fairly close dystopian future gives us something to think about. The novel has garnered starred reviews and is billed as appealing to literary fiction lovers as well as dystopian fans. Opener:

Prologue / New York / 2051

So she still believed in mail, this woman, whoever she was. The first thing Marlow saw when she walked into the building was a grid of metal boxes, each with its own window and cobwebbed keyhole.

Audiobook: Read by Jayme Mattler (HarperAudio; 13 hr, 29 min)

review of The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez (Del Rey, Jan 14) is the proof that science fiction is much more than the Earthlings-meet-aliens scenario of old television shows. Nia pilots a faster-than-light ship, which means she barely ages in comparison to her friends and family, eventually leaving her alone and lonely. When she meets an apparently orphaned boy, something tugs at her, and she takes him in. Others, however, have not forgotten the child, and they may want him back. Another novel with starred reviews and much buzz. Opener:

He was born with an eleventh finger. A small bead of flesh and bone beside his right pinky. The doctor calmed the worried parents and told them the nub was a harmless thing. “But still,” he said, unlacing a small cloth pouch, “a farmer needs only ten fingers to work the dhuba.” He coaxed the child to sleep with the smoke of torched herbs, and sliced the nub from the hand with a cauterizing knife.

Audiobook: Read by Shayna Small (Random House Audio; 13 hr, 17 min)

review of Strange Exit by Parker Peevyhouse

Strange Exit by Parker Peevyhouse (Tor Teen, Jan. 14) is a stand-alone science-fiction/dystopian thriller in which the only survivors of a nuclear holocaust are in orbit around Earth awaiting the time until it's safe to return to the planet. The people are kept alive in a virtual reality version of San Francisco, meant to ease their fears. When the system starts to break down and supplies run low, two teens manage to escape the simulation--one wants to rescue everyone on board before it's too late; the other decides that only some are worth saving. The reviews have been mixed. Opener:

The San Francisco Zoo: gates rusted open, weeds bursting through cracks in the asphalt, trees like many-armed scarecrows, broken and stunted. Lake figured she was the only person to set foot in the place in years. Not counting the boy in the tiger exhibit. Lake peered in at him through a curtain of dirt over the viewing glass. She guessed he was around her age, seventeen. He sat on a log, hunched over something she couldn’t see. No tiger in sight.

Audiobook: Read by Caitlin Davies (Blackstone; ~6 hr)

review of A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen

A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen (Mira, Jan. 14) is a different kind of dystopian story set in the aftermath of deadly flu pandemic that killed all but about 2 billion people on Earth. After a six-year quarantine, people emerge into public to start over, whether in closed cities, on communes, or in marauding gangs. Amid rumors of another flu outbreak, some survivors learn that it isn't all that easy to make a new beginning, especially when the secrets of their "before" life may be exposed. Another novel with mixed reactions. Opener:

People were too scared for music tonight. Not that MoJo cared. Her handlers had broken the news about the low attendance nearly an hour ago with some explanation about how the recent flu epidemic and subsequent rioting and looting kept people at home. They’d served the news with high-end vodka, the good shit imported from Russia. . . .

Audiobook: Read by Emily Woo Zeller (Harlequin Audio; 11 hr, 39 min)

review of Diamond City by Francesca Flores

Diamond City by Francesca Flores (Wednesday Books, Jan. 28) is a dark fantasy debut about a young adult orphan who is trying to make her way in a violent world. Aina, a professional assassin, takes on an assignment that will give her the funds to be her own boss--if she can evade her enemies long enough to make the successful hit. To complicate matters, she must justify her life choices against the lessons taught by her murdered parents, who used their magic to protect those in need. Reviewers feel the world-building could be stronger but praise the action and the plotting. Opener:

The baker’s final words were smothered by a whimper.

“You know how they say you should watch out for the quiet ones?” Aina’s breath fogged the blade of the dagger she held. “They were right.” She took her time with the blade, heedless of his screams.

Audiobook: Read by Frankie Corzo (Macmillan Audio; 9 hr, 59 min)

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18 January 2020

Weekend Cooking: A Sneak Peek at Upcoming Cookbook Reviews

I'm not quite sure if my past week passed by quickly or slowly, but I do know that it wasn't an easy week. I spent most of the time with my mother and some of it in the hospital.

There was pretty much no cooking going on, though the hospital restaurants had some decent choices. I know that I haven't yet visited your posts from last week, but I hope to find some time to read them in the week to come--once I catch up with my work, that is. Oh and some sleep would be nice too.

Anyway, today's post is a sneak peak at five cookbooks I have waiting to review. Some I've cooked out of; others I haven't. I'm just a little too brain dead at the moment to write up a thoughtful review, and I don't want to short-change you or the cookbook authors.

First up are two books published by Austin Macauley. I was interested in these cookbooks because they are geared to new cooks. I'm always looking for good books to suggest to friends and relatives (of all ages) who claim they don't know how to cook or that cooking is too difficult. Both cookbooks arrived when I was out of town last week, and I haven't had a chance to study them. However, from a quick flip through, Simply No Weigh by Di Weiss (2018) looks like it will appeal to a range of cooks and tastes. Beginners Cookbook by K. Mortimer (2017), on the other hand, seems perfect for college students or fresh-out-of-the-nest new adults setting up home in their first apartment. I'll let you know what I think in the weeks to come.

Next is Eat for the Planet Cookbook by Nil Zacharias and Gene Stone, which published this month from Abrams. I have so many pages marked, the book barely closes anymore! The recipes are plant based (the new term for "vegan"), and this omnivore has found a number of recipes to love. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my story showing the enchilada pie. Sooo good. I've made a couple of artichoke dishes from this book and a soup. You'll have a full review of this winner very soon. I took this cookbook to mother's last week because there are a number of vegans and vegetarians in my family, and those of us who eat meat also love to change up with veggies when we can. Alas, I didn't get a chance to make the mushroom barley soup for everyone in Ohio, but I think that's my next recipe from this cookbook.

The final two cookbooks are both published by Voracious. Again, if you follow me on Instagram you've already seen a photo. I am a huge Canal House fan, so I was super excited to receive a copy of their Cook Something: Recipes to Rely On by Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton (Sept. 2019). The photos, the recipes, the step-by-steps . . . I love it all. Although I rarely use a recipe to make pasta Bolognese, I really wanted to try their version and wanted to cook it for my family. I also thought my mom would enjoy pasta. Sadly she now finds tomatoes to be too acidic, so I wasn't able to make it for her. However, I will be making it for us--really soon. The revised edition of The Milk Street Cookbook by Christopher Kimball (Oct. 2019) includes "every recipe from every episode of the TV show." There is so much information packed into this beautiful cookbook that I don't even know where to begin. The recipes are solid and doable and the photographs are wonderful. Lots of exploring in my future.

I will do my best to visit all of your posts from last week and this, just as soon as possible. In the meantime, I'm taking each day, one at a time.

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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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16 January 2020

Off the Shelf; Or What's New in My Corner of the World 8

Quick personal update here. You might have noticed that I haven't been posting much and that I haven't been visiting blogs or posting on Instagram or even tweeting. There's a reason for that.

My mother has been having some health issues, and I've been visiting with her and taking over some care-giving duties from my brother. As you can imagine, all my non-work time is focused on family and helping my mom regain her strength and vigor. I have not been reading or reviewing or tending to my blog.

I will have a Weekend Cooking post up on Saturday. I hope next week I can be more active on social media and my blog. At the moment we're taking each day, one at a time.

So, in case you were wondering what happened to me, now you know.

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11 January 2020

Weekend Cooking: Chicken Soup

Happy Saturday. Today's Weekend Cooking post is going to be short and to the point.

I'm cooking for my elderly mother this week and am tasked with finding appealing dishes that aren't too spicy and that are easy to digest. We've had scrambled eggs, baked salmon with broccoli, and roast chicken with rice.

I had some leftover chicken and was looking for some simple ideas for using the meat to make a tempting meal. I turned to Budget Bytes, one of my go-to sources for trusted recipes. While browsing the site, I came across Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, and decided that was just what my mom needed.

Because the chicken was already cooked, and my mother can no longer tolerate garlic and onion, I used the Budget Bytes recipe for inspiration only, though my finished dish looked very much like the photograph. Oh and I used boxed bone broth instead homemade.

My mom ate a full serving, which is a total success in my world. The recipe and a video for making the soup can be found on the Budget Bytes website. The photo is theirs too.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Serves 8
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion
3 cloves garlic
1/2 lb. carrots
1/2 bunch celery
2 split chicken breasts, bone-in
1 tsp dried basil
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 whole bay leaf
Freshly cracked pepper
2-3 tsp salt
6 oz. egg noodles
Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Add the onion, garlic, and olive oil to a large pot and sauté over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft and transparent.

While the onion and garlic are sautéing, wash and slice the carrots and celery. Add them to the pot and continue to sauté for a few minutes more.

Pull the skin and any excess fat from the chicken breasts. Add the breasts to the pot along with the bay leaf, basil, parsley, thyme, some freshly cracked pepper, and eight cups of water. Cover the pot, bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for one hour. Make sure the pot continues to simmer for the whole hour. If the heat is turned down too low and it is not bubbling away, the chicken will not shred easily.

After an hour of simmering, remove the chicken from the pot. Using two forks, pull the meat from the bone and shred it slightly. Season the broth with salt. Begin with one teaspoon and add more to your liking. I used 2-3 teaspoons. The flavor of the broth will really pop once the salt is added.

Add the noodles to the pot, turn the heat up to high, and boil the noodles until tender (about 7 minutes). Return the shredded chicken to the pot. Taste and season again with salt if needed (I didn’t need to). Serve hot!

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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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10 January 2020

5 Coming-of-Age Stories to Read This Month

When deciding which books to add to your reading list, are there themes, genres, or settings you just can't say no to? One of mine is coming-of-age stories. I love following a character as he or she transitions from innocence to reality. There is something about the arc of personal growth that appeals to me, whether the protagonist is a child, a teen, or an adult.

If you're like me, then January is going to be a great month. Here are five books with coming-of-age elements that made it onto my teetering book stack. I hope you plan to add at least one to your own reading list.

The Truants by Kate Weinberg (Putnam, Jan. 28) follows the transformation of Jess, a small town girl who discovers diversity through the friends she makes freshman year at a college in East Anglia. Although billed primarily as a thriller with literary themes (Agatha Christie looms large), this is also a story of how little we really know about other people and what happens when we begin to see them without our rose-colored glasses. First lines:

It’s hard to say who I fell in love with first. Because it was love, I think you’ll agree, when I’ve finished telling you.

Audiobook: Read by Olivia Dowd (Penguin Audio; 9 hr, 36 min)

review of The Girls with No Names by Serena Burdick

The Girls with No Names by Serena Burdick (Park Row, Jan. 7) is set in New York just over a hundred years ago. Two sisters from a well-off family hardly notice the girls living in the nearby anything-but House of Mercy for the wayward, until the older Luella disappears. Young Effie checks herself into the House of Mercy to look for her sister, only to find that she's alone and that life isn't full of fun for everyone living in the city. First lines:

I lay with my cheek pressed to the floor, the cement cool against my spent rage. I’d screamed. I’d bitten and scratched. Now I was paying for it, but I didn’t care. I’d do it again.

Audiobook: Read by Emily Lawrence, Nancy Peterson, and Amy McFadden (Harlequin Audio; 12 hr, 24 min)

The God Game by Danny Tobey (St. Martin's Press, Jan. 7) is a mix of techno-thriller and mystery as a group of nerdy high school seniors discover a cool game hidden in back reaches of the internet. The more involved they get with the game, the more powerful the consequences, until at least one of them has to begin to balance AI with reality and deal with issues of theology, ethics, and friendship. First lines:

The blue light of the computer screen was flickering on Charlie’s and Peter’s faces, making them look like astronauts lit by the cosmos.

Audiobook: Read by Andrew Eiden (Macmillan Audio; 13 hr, 31 min)

Creatures by Crissy Van Meter (Algonquin, Jan. 7) begins as a young women prepares for her wedding on an island off the coast of Southern California. The story is told partly through her memories and partly in real time, as she comes to terms both with her childhood (raised by a charming though drug-dealing father) and with her present (dead whale on the beach, sudden appearance of her long-absent mother, and fisherman groom possibly lost at sea). First lines:

There is a dead whale. It rolls idly in the warm shallows of this island, among cartoonish sea animals with tentacles, suction cups, and goopy eyes.

Audiobook: Read by Piper Goodeve (Highbridge; 5 hr, 58 min)

We Wish You Luck by Caroline Zancan (Riverhead, Jan. 14) follows a trio of graduate students enrolled in a low-residency MFA writing program at a prestigious college. During one of the on-campus sessions, their famous-author advisor goes a step too far in the critique of their work, and the students are left with the stark truths of power, art, competitiveness, and love. First lines:

There is no train ride in the world prettier than the one from Penn Station to Albany. Ten of the seventeen people in our class took that train up to the first June residency.

Audiobook: Read by Kristen Sieh (Penguin Audio; 7 hr, 27 min)

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06 January 2020

Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Weekly Reset 3

The first full workweek of the new year is about to begin! Although I worked through most of the holiday break, today still feels like a return to reality, probably because I can expect to start hearing from my clients.

I spent the early part of last week prepping for our annual New Year's Eve dinner and movie-watching night and the second half on a kind of yearly reset: changing out calendars, thinking about goals for the coming year, straightening the house, and putting away the holiday decor.

This week's reset: I organized some incoming books, outlined this week's blog posts, and took stock of my e-galleys. Yes, I am serious about increasing the percentage of books I read digitally and spent some time going through Edelweiss+ and NetGalley to pick a few January titles.

I also took note of a few bookish shows to watch on television this month, including Anne with a E, Tolkien, Dracula, Dare Me, and Jane Austen's Sanditon. We watched the first episode of Netflix's Dracula: I have mixed feelings because it dragged a bit and doesn't follow the book. Sill, it seems worth watching. We also watched the first episode of Dare Me, which we really liked.

What I Read Last Week

I decided I couldn't wait to get to the newest Karen M. McManus book, One of Us Is Next (Delacorte Press, Jan. 7), the second in the Bayview High series. This mystery, like the first in the series, has a strong foundation in social media and modern forms of communication. Although this story focuses on a new batch of students, we get to revisit characters we met in book one. The mystery involves a truth or dare game, which is a thinly veiled method of bullying. The questions for us readers are who is setting up the game, who is threatening to reveal secrets (the truths) if a student fails to take the dare, why are only certain students tapped to play, and what is the game master's end plan? As in the first book, the story is told via multiple viewpoints and there's a death. While I enjoyed the mystery (and didn't figure it out before the reveal) and appreciated the multilayered plotting, I wasn't as invested in One of Us Is Next as I was in One of Us Is Lying. Part of the issue may lie in the general setup of the mystery. I liked the closed-room premise of the first book more than the open-ended setting of this one. Regardless, I would happily read more about these characters if McManus writes another in the series. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Listening Library; 10 hr, 24 min), read by Maria Liatis, Holly Linneman, Fred Berman, and Karissa Vacker. All the narrators were good in terms of pacing and building tension and dramatic impact, but the characterizations didn't blend quite as nicely as they did on the first audiobook. (audiobook provided by the publisher)

Stormy Petrel by Mary Stewart (Hodder & Stoughton, 2019, 6 hr, 11 min) was originally published in the 1990s and is a standalone mystery set in the Hebrides. When a Cambridge professor and author takes a holiday cottage on an isolated island, she is looking forward to a peaceful couple of weeks to finish her latest novel. She hopes her doctor brother will be able to join her, as the island is the perfect place for him to get in some bird watching and photography. On a rainy night before her brother arrives, Rose is visited by a young man who says he grew up in the cottage and didn't know anyone was staying there. Soon thereafter, another man knocks on the door seeking shelter after his campsite became drenched. Both men are charming, but each seems to be harboring secrets. Whom should Rose trust and what do these men really want? Stewart creates believable characters and makes the Hebridean landscape an integral part of the plot. Fun escape reading. I listened to the unabridged audiobook, which was published last fall and read by Eilidh Beaton, for a freelance assignment. Beaton did a fine job keeping me engaged throughout. My full thoughts about the audiobook production will be available via AudioFile magazine.

New to My Bookshelves

I'm grateful to have had a nice variety of books arrive on my doorstep in the last couple of weeks. Here are a few that caught my attention; all come out this month:

The Vineyards of Champagne is about how the Champagne region of France survived the German Occupation. (Berkley)
Hope in the Mail is "part writing guide and part memoir" and is geared to young teens. (Knopf)
House on Fire is Finder's latest thriller; this one is set in the pharmaceutical industry. (Dutton)
Recipe for a Perfect Wife is a dual-time-period story of two marriages. (Dutton)
A Good Man is a mix of domestic thriller and psychological suspense set in New York. (Penguin)
Kidnapped on Safari is a thriller, set in Africa, that addresses the all-to-serious business of illegal logging of public lands. (Skyhorse)
The New Improved Sorceress is the second in a portal fantasy series set in Richmond, Virginia, as well as in a magical realm. (Ace)
The Secret Chapter is the sixth book in the Invisible Library series, which is a very adult alternative world(s) fantasy with many bookish themes. I love these books, but I'm one behind. Time to catch up! (DAW)

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04 January 2020

Weekend Cooking: How to Braise by Michael Ruhlman

Today's post is in the category of "I swear I reviewed this wonderful cookbook years ago when I first got it." But, alas I did not. Really sad news for you, but I've been happily cooking out of Michael Ruhlman's How to Braise (Little, Brown, 2015) for years. In case you haven't yet guessed: I'm wholeheartedly recommending this book as a buy.

How to Braise is part of series Ruhlman was putting together about techniques. I'm not sure how many cookbooks ended up being published, but this book and his How to Roast (click for my review) have both been heavily used in my kitchen.

From this book, I've made braised short ribs, lamb shanks, fennel, cabbage, chicken thighs, turkey legs, leg of lamb, pot roast, and the stew recipe I'm sharing today.

Ruhlman's magic is in creating amazing flavor and perfection with a less is more attitude. Oh, and no fancy kitchen or equipment are needed. His recipes are accessible to everyone.

What made me search my blog to see if I've written about How to Braise is the recipe for Ida's Beef Stew, which I made for our annual New Year's Eve dinner party this year. I'm usually all about the fancy, the courses, the 5 days in the kitchen, but this year I went rogue and opted for casual.

This beef stew couldn't be easier. The book notes that the recipe serves 4 but we had 6 at the table and still had leftovers. There is no reason (as Ruhlman says in the recipe introduction) not to make a full batch. The leftovers are delicious reheated and the finished dish will freeze beautifully.

BRF notes:

Ruhlman uses two pans to make this stew, but I followed his mother's example and seared the meat in the dutch oven so I didn't have to wash another pan and to catch all the flavor of the meat.
I always opt for the 4-hour cooking time and the meat is absolutely spoon tender.
Ruhlman suggests stirring in corn or peas. I've also used green beans. I'm sure he thinks we should use fresh veggies, but I use frozen and stir them in after taking the pot out of the oven, letting them warm up in the sauce. I've used all three options and don't really have a preference.
I didn't take a photo because we had company. I scanned a pic from the book.
Thanks to Little, Brown for the review copy (recipe & photo used here in the context of a review; all rights remain with the original copyright holder)

Ida's Beef Stew
Serves 4

1 (2-pound) chuck roast cut into 2-inch cubes
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
flour
vegetable oil
2 Spanish onions, cut into very large dice
4 carrots cut into large pieces
8 garlic cloves, lightly smashed with the flat side of a knife
2 cups dry red wine
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, pureed (see note)
2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into very large dice
2 tablespoons honey
3 bay leaves

Preheat the oven to 300F.

Season the meat cubes on all sides with salt and pepper and dredge them in flour (or shake them in a plastic bag with flour). Shake off all the excess flour.

In a large skillet, heat 1/4 inch oil over medium-high to high heat. When it's visibly hot, with currents swirling, add the pieces of meat so that each has its very own spot in the pan. When a beautiful brown crust has formed, a few minutes, turn the meat and continue searing till all sides of the meat are browned. Remove the meat to a plate lined with paper towels.

In a 5-quart Dutch oven, heat a thin film of oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, carrots, and garlic, and stir to sweat them, adding a four-finger pinch of salt as you do.

When the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes, add the wine and bring it to a simmer. Add the tomatoes and their juice, the potatoes, the honey, and the bay leaves. Add the reserved meat. For meat that still has some bite, cover the pot and pop it into the oven for 2 hours. If you prefer the meat to be completely fork-tender, bring the pot to a full simmer before covering it and putting it in the oven. Cook for up to 4 hours.

Note on tomatoes: You can puree whole tomatoes in a blender, or use an immersion blender right in the can--be sure to pour off the juice first (reserving it) so it doesn't whirlpool over the rim of the can.

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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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03 January 2020

4 Books for Young Scientists

When I was in elementary and middle school, serious science nonfiction geared to my age group that was engaging, accessible, and informative was fairly nonexistent. Today's young scientists are lucky to have Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in their court.

Their Scientists in the Field series and other science titles are some of my favorites, and I'm long past the middle grades. No matter the topic, I always learn something new in HMH's science books, and recommend them to readers of all ages. Note that HMH provides reader guides for these titles, perfect for educators, homeschoolers, and anyone who wants to know more.

Here is the latest batch of HMH nonfiction to cross my desk. The books have taken me to space, to the past, to my own backyard, and to lakes of my childhood. Let's take a look.

Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon's Shadow by Ilima Loomis with photographs by Amanda Cowan (Dec. 2019) focuses on the August 21, 2017, total solar eclipse, which was visible in North America. I was one of the millions who donned my special glasses to watch as the moon cast its shadow across the sun. My prep was to order the glasses, but Shadia Habbal, an astronomer at the University of Hawaii, spent many months preparing for the 2017 event and many years traveling the world to observe other total eclipses of the sun. Her specialty is the sun's corona and solar winds and their effect on our technology and even our climate. A total eclipse offers her the best chance to study the sun's surface, to test her hypotheses, and to further our knowledge.

Loomis gives it to us straight, from the logistics of setting up multiple teams at multiple viewing sites to the things that can't be controlled like bad weather and a harsh environment. Loomis's accurate and easy-to-understand explanations, enhanced with drawings and Cowan's (and other photographers') amazing photographs, make it easy to connect with Habbal's work. We see multiple photos of the eclipse as well as how the temporary field stations are set up and other behind-the-scenes activities. We feel Habbal's worries and her excitement, and we learn how scientists and technologists and everyday people come together to share knowledge and resources. The 2017 data are still being analyzed, but Habbal is already planning for the next total solar eclipse, which will take her South America.

Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution by Steve Jenkins (paperback: Jan. 28, 2020). Although not as detailed as the Scientists in the Field books, Jenkins presents an illustrated outline of evolution from the planet's beginnings to the modern era. Jenkins's watercolor cut–paper collages capture our imaginations, and the text gives us an accurate snapshot of how life on Earth came to be. I love the colorful illustrations of everything from one-celled bacteria to huge dinosaurs (see the cover for a hint). Jenkins introduces us to Darwin and his finches and then explains genetic variation and mutation and the development of new species as well as the extinction of others, through the process of natural selection. Although geared to a younger audience than the other books I'm reviewing today, Life on Earth will spark the interest of the paleontologists and biologists of the future and will have them heading to the library to explore the suggested readings listed at the back of the book.

Crow Smarts: Inside the Brain of the World's Brightest Bird by Pamela S. Turner with photos by Andy Comins and art by Guido Filippo (paperback: Jan. 14, 2020). Ever since I read a study showing that crows could recognize human faces and could remember who treated them nicely and who did not, I've been fascinated with the intelligence of the familiar backyard bird. In this Scientists in the Field book, I learned about crows' natural abilities to manipulate their environment and use tools to get what they want. How do they learn such skills? In a way that is similar to ours: they watch their parents and then practice on their own. Turner takes us to a New Caledonian forest, where we see the methods Dr. Gavin Hunt of the University of Aukland uses to study how these smart birds break open nuts, trick grubs into coming out in the open, and make hooked tools from pandanus plants.

Besides learning about crows and seeing them in action through photographs and drawings, we also learn about the ecology of New Caledonia and how human activity is threatening the environment. Hunt's observations and experiments have shown that crows do not act only on blind instinct; they use their brains to solve problems and enhance their survival. I had no idea of the extent of crow intelligence, and after reading this book, I'll never look at a crow the same way again. I like our neighborhood flock and always hope the crows recognize me as a friend.

The Call of the Osprey by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent with photography by William Munoz (paperback: Jan. 21, 2020): Although I've watched ospreys on wildlife cams on the internet and have seen at least the remnants of their nests along rivers and lakes, I didn't know much about them except that they mate for life and return year after year to same nest after their winters in the south. Patent takes us to osprey homes both in fairly remote areas and along urban waterways. We see how humans have erected platforms to encourage ospreys to settle in their area and how the cameras are set up to allow scientists to watch osprey couples raise their young from egg to independence.

Did you know that ospreys can live to 20 years? That the females are bigger than the males? Through Patent, we follow three scientists from the University of Montana, who teach us about osprey behavior, including hunting and migration patterns, and how they've been affected by a human-filled world. One of the things I love about the Scientists in the Field books is that we see the researchers as real people and discover conducting research in the elements isn't always pleasant, though the discoveries can make it all worth while. The main focus of the osprey research in this book is on conservation and pollution and how the birds act as barometers, offering insights into the state of the natural world and the status of environmental clean-up projects. The book ends with resources for getting involved in conservation programs and for learning more.