Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Traveling the World through Books

Happy almost October. I am so ready for sweater weather and hearty dinners. Although the temperatures still say summer, the leaves are starting to change, and I feel the hints of fall.

I had an unexpectedly busy September, which has really eaten into my blogging time. I don't seem to have the energy to write reviews or spotlights after a long day. It's a dilemma because I have a ton of great books to talk about in October. I'm hoping to up my game either here or on Instagram or Litsy. We'll see how I do.

We haven't been watching too much on television. We're about halfway done with Ken Burns's series on country music. Even if you aren't a country music fan (I'm not either), it's a fascinating documentary of America and the music industry.

Here's what I've read and listened to in the last two weeks.

Match Made in Mehendi by Nandini Bajpai (Little, Brown YR, Sept. 10): This is a fun, light contemporary novel about a first-generation Punjabi American teen who dreams of being an artist. Simi, however, is pressured to follow the path of generations of women in her family and become a professional matchmaker. With help from her older brother (who's a whiz at coding) and relying on the matchmaking wisdom she's learned from her mother, aunt, and grandmother, Simi decides to take the family business into the twenty-first century. She and her best friend, Noah, devise a dating app that's geared specifically to the kids in their high school. As Simi and Noah (who's gay) help others find their soulmates, their popularity increases, until the coolest girl in the class is upset that she wasn't matched with the coolest guy. When Amanda begins her defamation plan, Simi and Noah have a whole new set of problems, some of which test their long friendship. Great themes of staying true to oneself, being honest, friendship, family, young love, and finding balance between family traditions and the modern age. Simi and Noah's relationship is believable, as are the plot lines of young love. Simi's family life and the differences between the generations also rings true. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 7 hr, 2 min) was well read by Priya Ayyar, who smoothly transitioned between teen and adult voices and American and Indian accents. She picked up on the emotions and personalities of the characters, making it easy to root for Simi and Noah and boo the mean kids. (audio copy provided by the publisher)

The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea (Harper, Sept. 3): Set in the late 17th century in Iceland, this haunting novel examines the choices a young woman makes after her father suddenly dies and her mother becomes sick. Facing a bleak future, Rosa agrees to marry Jon, a wealthy farmer and trader, who lives in a distant town near the sea. In return for leaving her beloved village and being obedient, Jon has agreed to provide for Rosa's mother, ensuring the older woman's survival. Rosa's marriage is haunted by the uncertain circumstances of Jon's first wife's death, her husband's distance and coldness, and her extreme loneliness. The story is infused with the Icelandic landscape and focuses on the edge of change or maybe the edge of changing states: Christianity and the old Norse gods, girlhood and womanhood, single and married, married and widowed, love and friendship, woman and mother, insider and outsider, life and death. Although primarily a character-driven novel, the book includes some drama as well as mystery. I really liked this and have continued to think about Rosa. The unabridged audiobook (Harper Audio;11 hr, 18 min) was read by Heiða Reed and Smari Gunn, who set the mood and pace of the story, and nicely avoided foreshadowing. I appreciated hearing the correct pronunciations of the Icelandic names and words. (print and audio copies provided by the publisher)

Fever Year: The Killer Flu of 1918 by Dan Brown (HMH Books YR, Sept. 3): A graphic nonfiction look at the spread, aftermath, and cause of the great flue pandemic of 1918. I don't know why I have a fascination with the Spanish flu -- maybe because it acted as a modern-day plague, killing many more people across the globe than the Great War. Brown (who also illustrated the comic), lays out the pandemic in three parts: In Act I the flu wasn't any more deadly than any other flu, but it spread quickly as troops returned home from war in Europe. No one really knows where it started or its origins, but it was likely from an animal source and may have first shown up in the eastern United States. In Act II, the flu came back with a vengeance, was more deadly than any other flu ever seen, and seemed to strike young adults most strongly (unlike usual flu, which is worse for the very young and very old).  Act III came later, when the Spanish flu reared its ugly head several more times in the following few years. The plot of Fever Year is a little disjointed, but the book serves as a good introduction to the pandemic. The artwork is in muted colors, befitting the event; the expressions on people's faces clearly convey emotions, and period details are evident. The book concludes with a short look at biological research into the Spanish flu and a good bibliography for readers who want to know to more. Recommended. (review copy provided by the publisher)

Death of a Gentle Lady by M. C. Beaton (Blackstone Audio; 2008; 5 hr, 31 min): This is the 23rd entry in the Hamish Macbeth mystery series set in Scottish Highlands. As you know, I just love these cozy mysteries, in which village copper Hamish Macbeth solves murders, helps his neighbors, has bad luck in love, and avoids getting promoted to the city. There's quite a bit of action in this book, and the murder mystery was well set up, with a few believable red herrings. Hamish's personal life plays a large role and includes his ongoing dealings with his personal nemesis, big-city detective Blair, as well as some complications in his love life. Lots of fun, and I'm looking forward to the next installment. The audiobook is read by Graeme Malcolm, who captures the personalities of the townsfolk and keeps the story moving. These quick listens are perfect escape books. (borrowed from the library)

The Liar by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen (Little, Brown, Sept. 24): What happens when a lonely, insecure Israeli girl mistakenly cries wolf but is slow to tell the truth? Seventeen-year-old Nofar has had it with her summer job scooping ice cream, with being outshone by her perfect younger sister, and with feeling lonely since her childhood friend graduated to the cool kid group. After an altercation with a male customer, Nofar reaches her breaking point: she storms out of the store into the back alley; when the man follows her, she screams. Witnesses assume the worse, and Nofar, in shock and humiliation, fails to correct them. The man goes to jail to await trial on charges of sexually assaulting a minor. I really wanted to like this story of Nofar's struggles to balance her newfound fame and popularity with doing what's right to save her "assailant" from serving time. I, however, could not relate to how far she let things go. There are several other liars who cross paths with Nofar, and I didn't much care for them either. I had issues with the ending as well (I can't get into detail without spoiling the book), because the lesson almost seems to say, lying pays. I was not sold. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 8 hr, 14 min) was very well read by Ajjaz Awad. This was my first experience with her. Her performance was fine and her pronunciation of the names, Hebrew, and Yiddish seemed believable. On the other hand, her British accent seemed off in a book set in Israel. (audio copy provided by the publisher)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 3 Books for a Rainy Afternoon

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. I was blessed to be able to spend four days in Ohio with my mom for Mother's Day. Mr. BFR got her yard and patio ready for summer, and I helped with the indoor jobs. We also managed to find time to eat and cook, and laugh and drink.

As a consequence, though, I didn’t have much time to read for pleasure. First, because I needed to work ahead so I could take Friday off work. Second because, of course, I’d rather spend time with my mom than be by myself reading.

This coming week will be tight too because I’ll be scrambling to make up for today, which I’m also taking off. Argh! The never-ending pressures of the self-employed. Oh well. I’m currently listening to a good thriller and am reading both a contemporary novel and a science fiction story. My goal is to finish all three by this time next week. Wish me luck.

Death of a Maid by M. C. Beaton (Mysterious Press, 2007): In this 22nd installment of the Hamish Macbeth series, our favorite village constable is on the verge of change. No, Hamish is not facing a promotion away from his beloved town of Lochdubh, but he's beginning to see he must take definitive action in terms of his love life (or rather his lack of one). Meanwhile, he has a few local murders on his hands: what, if anything, do a village maid, a documentary filmmaker, and a hapless husband have in common? And why is someone trying to kill him? Death of a Maid has all the elements I love about this cozy mystery series, which is set in the Scottish Highlands: tricky to solve murders, quirky characters, humor, and familiar tropes. As I said, I feel that Beaton is setting her readers up for some kind of change, but exactly what that change might be won’t be revealed until the next book. My only complaint about Death of a Maid is the ending, which seemed to drag on, carrying us almost a year beyond the resolution of the murders. Still, I love Hamish and am always happy to spend a Saturday afternoon with the constable and his pets. The audiobook (Blackstone; 5 hr 34 min) was read by Graeme Malcolm, who remains a pleasure to listen to, thanks to his nice Highland accent, good delivery of the humor, and consistent characterizations. (personal collection)

Dear Scarlet by Teresa Wong (Arsenal Pulp Press, May 7). I wrote about this graphic memoir last Friday, and I don’t have a lot more to say here. I applaud Wong and other women like her (see my review of Lucy Knisley’s Kid Gloves) who are taking postpartum depression off the taboo list. Wong’s memoir is written as a letter to her first child, and through spare but expressive black-and-white drawings, she talks about feeling inadequate, bored, and distant after a medically traumatic and long delivery followed by her inability to breastfeed. Nothing seemed to diminish the dark cloud hanging over Wong: not her mother’s Chinese remedies, talking to a therapist, drugs, or even her young upbeat nanny. Wong’s experience is hardly unusual, though each woman has unique symptoms and feelings. Despite what you might think from the main theme of Dear Scarlet, the graphic memoir is encouraging, showing other new mothers they’re not alone and that a bright future can be found. (review copy provided by the publisher)

Anthony Bourdain Remembered by CNN (Ecco, May 28). I wrote about this tribute to Bourdain, a chef and travel writer, last Friday. This book is not a biography; instead it’s a collection of photographs, memories, and thoughts about Bourdain, who died last spring. Most of the photographs are from his CNN series Parts Unknown, which was part food show, part anthropology, and part travel. Some of the photos in the book looks like stills from the television series, but others give us a behind-the-scenes look at Bourdain. A few photos are from his youth. Each page is filled with tributes: some are from the foodie famous (like Jamie Oliver), some are from the famous famous (like Barack Obama), but most are from fans who wrote about how Bourdain affected their lives. This is a heartbreaking book; death by suicide always brings up such conflicting emotions. Yet the outpouring of love and support from the public for Bourdain is incredibly moving. If you’re a die-hard Bourdain fan, you’ll want a copy for your collection. For many of us, though, this a great book to check out of the library. (review copy provided by the publisher)

Movie bonus: Can't wait until Where'd You Go, Bernadette the movie comes out in August. I loved the book (my review here) and hope the movie is just as good. A new trailer was released last week:

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10 Books About Ourselves and Our World

I'm an eclectic reader. My shelves contain a healthy mix of literary fiction, fantasy, mystery, and even middle grade novels. Sitting right next to all of that escape reading are a good number of true stories, science, history, essays, and biography. These days, I doubt I could name just one genre or subject as my favorite, but when I was in elementary school, I used to tell people that biography was my go-to.

Today's roundup highlights the nonfiction titles I've added to my April reading list. I know I won't get to all of these, but the following 10 books are the ones that caught my attention. The list contains biography, history, science, personal essays, and memoir, so I hope something here will find its way to your own bookshelves. Note that I'm not including food writing/memoir, which I'll save for my Weekend Cooking posts.

Science

• The Accidental Homo Sapiens: Genetics, Behavior, and Free Will by Ian Tattersall and Robert DeSalle (Pegasus Books; April 2). This book examines human evolution from a contemporary theoretical context, looking at the interplay of genetics and behavior, the way humans solve problems and change their environment, and the biological future of our species. Why I want to read this: Tattersall was youngish paleontologist, already making a name for himself, when I was in graduate school. He and DeSalle are both associated with the American Museum of Natural History and are well respected in the fields of physical anthropology and evolution. This topic is closely related to my own academic interests.
• American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race by Douglas Brinkley (Harper, April 2). I can't summarize this better than the following sentence from the publisher: "A vivid and enthralling chronicle of one of the most thrilling, hopeful, and turbulent eras in the nation’s history, [this book] is an homage to scientific ingenuity, human curiosity, and the boundless American spirit." Why I want to read this: First--gawk!--it cannot possibly be 50 years since we first landed on the moon; it was 20 years ago tops, right? I'm particularly interested in this account because it includes new interviews and firsthand accounts of the politics, people, and technology that allowed JFK's challenge to be met ahead of schedule.
• Science Comics: Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate by M. K. Reed and illustrated by Jonathan Hill (First Second, April 16). This book helps us learn to distinguish between weather and climate and tells us all about new weather technology and how major storm systems develop. This fun nonfiction comic answers all our questions about storms throughout the seasons. Why I want to read this: I'm curious about the world around me and love the idea of learning more about weather through a nonfiction comic. This may be geared to middle grade readers, but I'm sure I'll discover something new about meterology.

Essays

• Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen by Mary Norris (Norton, April 2). Norris is widely known as the chief copyeditor of The New Yorker magazine and in this collection of essays she talks about English, words, and her love affair with all things Greek. Why I want to read this: As an avid reader, full-time copyeditor, and part-time book reviewer how could I say no to this? Norris is not only an impeccable editor but an entertaining and thoughtful writer. This is (as you might have guessed) on my must-read list for this month.
• Here Is Where I Walk: Episodes From a Life in the Forest by Leslie Carol Roberts (University of Nevada Press, April 3). In the essays collected here, Roberts muses about travel, nature, motherhood, and the environment, all linked by the time she has spent in America's only residential national park, the Presidio in San Francisco. Why I want to read this: I'm a big walker and love to spend as much time as possible in my local parks and state forests. I wonder if Roberts and I think about the same kinds of things when we're in the woods.

Humor

• The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht (Chronicle Books, April 2). Do you think you can you identify the common birds that hop around your yard and build nests in your hanging plants? Kracht bets you don't know their real names: how about the black-capped prickadee and goddamned Canada goose? Why I want to read this: I love watching the birds in my yard and tending to my bird feeders, but I also have a good sense of humor. This guide offers solid information about our feathered friends but it's served with an irreverent attitude. The illustrations (see the cover) are nicely done.
• Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault by Cathy Guisewite (Putnam, April 2). In this collection, Guisewite steps away from her beloved comic strip (Cathy) to talk about life and family in the sandwich years and her complex perspectives on grown children, aging parents, and retirement. Why I want to read this: I've always been a huge Cathy fan and, hey, Guisewite and I are about the same age, so I can relate. I love her viewpoint.
• Southern Lady Code: Essays by Helen Ellis (Doubleday, April 16). In her newest collection of essays, Ellis talks about, as the publisher says, "marriage and manners, thank-you notes and three-ways, ghosts, gunshots, gynecology, and the . . . art of living as a Southern Lady." Why I want to read this: Even though I'm a Yankee through and through, I'm a fan of Ellis's outlook on life. In her new book, she offers a fresh angle on being a displaced southern belle in the modern world. I'm ready to laugh.

History

• The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 9). Much has been written about Jack the Ripper, a murderer who has never been definitively identified. But who were the women he killed? What were their stories? Why I want to read this: I like true crime and want to know more about the victims whose names and lives have been overshadowed by the man who killed them. A snapshot of the dark side of the Victorian era by a historian.
• The Regency Years: During Which Jane Austen Writes, Napoleon Fights, Byron Makes Love, and Britain Becomes Modern by Robert Morrison (Norton, April 30). The Regency period provides an endless source of interest and is pretty much summed up by the book's subtitle. Ocean battles, global trade, the arts, new technology, and changing politics; it was a vibrant and not always pretty era. Why I want to read this: Some of my favorite authors published during this time and some of my favorite novels were set during this time. Plus I love history and always appreciate an accessible and easy-to-read account of the past.

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Weekend Cooking: Bake Like a Pro by Falynn Koch

I'm a big fan of First Second comics, and I'm always looking through their catalog for new titles. I nearly whooped out loud when I saw Falynn Koch's Who Can? You Can! Maker Comics: Bake Like a Pro! (out on February 5). I mean, a cookbook and a comic? Yay!

The book starts out like a graphic novel, as a graduating class from the Wizard Academy gets sorted into their apprenticeships. Our young hero, Sage, gets assigned to Alchemist and Baking Wizard Korian (yes, I love the names!).

Sage is upset because she wanted to learn magic. After all, what magic was there in baking, especially when almost everyone knows how to cast an instant cake spell? She, of course, learns that a lot of magic goes on in a kitchen.

After a rocky start and and a change in attitude, Sage learns the five main baking methods and discovers what happens when different ingredients are mixed in different ways.

Boy, Bake Like a Pro was so much more than I thought it would be. Yes, this comic is a learn to bake book, made fun with the addition of talking ingredients and colorful and helpful drawings. However, it is also a book on the science of baking.

Ever wonder what happens when your ingredients are the wrong temperature? Perhaps you noticed that gingerbread cookies don't spread the way chocolate chip cookies do. Why is that? Or maybe you're curious about the difference between a biscuit and scone. Bake Like a Pro has the answers. You don't just learn to make a pizza crust, you learn two different ways to bake your crust and how each affects the outcome.

I've read through the book once, and I guarantee that I'll be reading it again--several times more. I consider myself a fairly experienced baker, and I still learned a lot. There is so much great information, presented in an entertaining way, that new and experienced bakers alike will fall in love. For example, I just adore the butter art (at right; click to enlarge), especially that melty guy on the right.

The scan to the left is the first page of the sponge cake section. Again, you'll have to click to enlarge the image, but it shows you how technical information is presented right along with the practical how-tos and gives you another look at the great artwork.

By the way, recipes are presented in a more traditional way at the back of the book, so you don't have to read through the panels each time you set out to bake from the book.

The target audience is supposed to middle grade readers, but I'm telling you, Falynn Koch's Bake Like a Pro is for all kinds of curious bakers. Young or old, new to the kitchen or an old hand, this book will encourage you to get out ingredients and equipment, read through a recipe, preheat the oven, and commence stirring or kneading, baking and--best of all--eating!

Thanks to First Second for the digital copy of How to Bake Like Pro. The scans are used here in the context of a review, and all rights remain with the original copyright holder.

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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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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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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Last Week's Hits and Misses

Happy New Year's Eve to everyone. My wish is for all of you to have the best year ever.

Despite working full-time between Christmas and New Year's, I managed to read two short books, make progress on a third and listen to a fourth.

For many years now, we've hosted a New Year's Eve party for just a few friends. I make a fancy dinner and then we all retire to living room to watch a movie, eat dessert and snacks, and wait for the ball to drop in Times Square. Some years the last person leaves at four in the morning, and other years we're alone by one. Either way, we're always happy to have friends to our house.

I'll try to pop in to visit your blogs in between cooking and setting the table and all the other little things we need to attend to today. Tomorrow is one of my favorite days: I put away the Christmas things, hang the new calendars, and get ready for a new year and a fresh start.

Here's what I read last week.

Book Love by Debbie Tung (Andrews McMeel, January 1, 2019): Put this book on your reading list and add it to your gift list for every book lover you know. This gem of a book is a series of black-and-white comics: some are one panel, some are several, and all will touch the core of the book nerd in you. Tung hits all the familiar bookish problems: staying up too late reading, packing books for trips, the impossibility of passing a bookstore without going in and buying something, the pain of transitioning to digital formats, and the book hangover. I know I'll return to this collection again and again -- Tung has so brilliantly captured the life of a reader. Don't miss this! (review copy provided by the publisher)

Parkland Speaks edited by Sarah Lerner (Crown Books YR; January 22, 2019): The subtitle of this moving collection of essays, poems, quick thoughts, photos, and art will tell you what this book is about: "Survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas Share Their Stories." On February 14 of last year, the teenagers of MSD high school were thinking about valentines and dates, getting to sports practice, hanging with friends, and all the other everyday things. When shots were fired, leaving 17 dead, the lives of the surviving teachers, students, and families were forever changed. You could read this collection in a single day, but the stories and memories and tributes are so moving, it would be hard to absorb all that emotion in one sitting. The feelings and voices of these teens are raw, heartbreaking, and elegant. The firsthand accounts of fear and confusion and the resulting sadness, guilt, and anger will stick with you. I hope the words of these teens encourage us all to work harder make our schools safe. (review copy provided by the publisher)

China to Me by Emily Hahn, read by Nancy Wu (Blackstone Audio; 22 hr, 1 min; November 2018): I'm not at all sure what I think of this autobiography of Hahn's unconventional life in China in the years before the war and after the Japanese invasion (1935-1943). She lived in Shanghai and Hong Kong, among other places, and traveled in many social circles. Her detailed account of China at that time is very much from the perspective of a Westerner and very much a response to the times and to war. The book was originally published in 1944, after Hahn was able to return to the United States with her infant daughter. It's sometimes extremely difficult to listen to the language and the prejudicial statements; I had to keep reminding myself of the time period and that Hahn's life was truly in danger at the hands of the Japanese. She was often fearless, a true feminist, and ahead of her time in many ways. She met some of the most important people in China at the time (including Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek), and worked as a journalist, writer, and teacher. Her story is fascinating, though hard to stomach from today's sensibilities. Narrator Nancy Wu is one of the best for Chinese accents and pidgin English, and she projects Hahn's emotions well. (audiobook provided for a freelance assignment)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: The Mixed-Reviews Edition

Yawn! I hate the spring change to Daylight Savings Time. The fall doesn’t bother me, but it will take me all week to get used to waking up an hour early. I am happy about extra light at the end of the workday, but it’s so hard to adjust!

We’re slowing catching up on all the shows we missed during the February sports/speical events. Fortunately, neither of us is a basketball fan, so we’re spared March Madness.

Coming up this week I have a fun post over at the AudioFile Magazine blog in celebration of Pi Day. If you’re an audiobook fan, be sure to click on over on Wednesday afternoon.

What I Read Last Week

The Hunger by Alma Katsu (Putnam, March 6): I’ve always had a fascination with the Donner Party story; people do desperate things in desperate situations. In this reimagining of history, Katsu provides a paranormal/spooky element to explain the wagon train’s misfortunes. You don’t have to know anything about the facts to enjoy the story, but if you’re familiar with the names and places (such as Jim Bridger and Chimney Rock) then the novel will be just that much more fun. I really loved the way Katsu mixed the facts with a good dose of creep factor. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I was particularly impressed with the way she provided an explanation for why only some of the survivors admitted to cannibalism. The unabridged audiobook (Penguin Audio; 10 hr, 34 min) was nicely read by Kirsten Potter. Her expressiveness added to the undercurrent of forboding and picked up on the characters’ personalities. Even better, I was grateful she didn’t give the ending away. Recommended in print or audio. (review copy)

The Spring Girls by Anna Todd (Gallery, January 2) I love modern-day retellings of beloved classics. It’s fun to see what favorite characters would be like if they could be transported a century or two into the future. Thus I was eager to read Todd’s version of Little Women. In this story the Spring sisters live on an army base near New Orleans while their father is deployed overseas. Their mother, renamed Meredith, has a hard time coping, and Meg, Jo, and Beth pitch in to help; Amy is too young to contribute much. That’s about where the similarities end. I found it very hard to connect the Spring sisters to the March girls, and it had nothing to do with the contemporary issues young women faced, such as social media, sex, and high school. Instead, this retelling just seemed to lack all the charm of the original. Amy is a spoiled brat, Beth is basically the family servant, the mom is emotionally absent, Laurie wears a man-bun and is half Italian, Meg is boy crazy, and Jo is clueless. Ugh. If I hadn’t had to listen to the audiobook for a freelance assignment I would have quit early on. The unabridged audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 11 hr, 25 min) was read by Cassandra Campbell, Joy Osmanski, Erin Mallon, and Madeliene Maby. Their performances were fine (except Laurie is given a stilted and weirdly accented voice) but couldn’t save this retelling. (more on the audiobook at AudioFile magazine)

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi and read by the fabulous Bahni Turpin (Macmillan Audio; 18 hr, 9 min): I don’t know why, but I ended up bailing after about 90 minutes. I love Turpin’s performance, and I usually enjoy anything in the fantasy genre, but I just wasn’t getting swept into the story. I decided not to return the audiobook to Audible because I may give it another chance. I think part of my issue may have been one of language—the book contains quite a few non-English words and without a glossary and without seeing the words in the print, I think I simply kept getting lost; I was even having trouble remembering who the bad guys were. This book may be a good candidate for a print and audio combo read or maybe I’m simply better off reading this one with my eyes. I provided a short description of the book last week. (personal copy)

Brazen written and illustrated by Pénélope Bagieu (First Second, March 6): I loved this collection of short biographies of 29 women who bucked tradition, expectations, or the law to fulfill their potentials and/or to make a difference in the world. The audience for this fabulous graphic / comic book is adult, though I wouldn’t hesitate to share it with teens or even middle grade readers (your own boundaries for young readers may differ from mine). I was familiar with some of the women, such as Temple Grandin (a scientist who is on the autism spectrum), Nellie Bly (fearless investigative journalist), and Josephine Baker (singer / dancer and French spy), but there were many other women who were new to me, such as Annette Kellerman (polio survivor, swimmer, feminist), Wu Zwtian (a Tang dynasty empress), and Sonita Alizadeh (an Iranian rapper). The artwork is expressive, colorful, and easy to follow. You may want to read this book all in one or go (as I did) or read only a biography or two at time. Perfect for Women’s History Month and a volume you’ll want in your permanent collection. (review copy)

Book Lists

I love themed lists of books (which comes as no surprise to those of you who read my weekly round-ups). Here are three that caught my eye last week.

• Esquire magazine’s “25 Best True Crime Books Everyone Should Read”: I’ve read only a handful of the books on this list, but most of the others were already on my radar. Two of the recommendations (Helter Skelter and I’ll Be Gone in the Dark) were among the scariest books I’ve ever read—these are true stories (yikes!).
• Bustle’s “21 Sci-Fi Books to Read after You Watch Annihilation”: Although I’m not quite sure I’d call them all science fiction (Welcome to Night Vale is on the list), most of the recommended titles look good to me. I’ve read very few of them.
• Southern Living magazine’s “50 Books from the Last 50 Years That Everyone Should Read at Least Once”: There are some awesome, amazing books on this list (A Thousand Acres is one of my favorites), but there are also books that I know everyone loved but me (for example, Let the Great World Spin). Still this is a solid list, and I’d like to read many of the titles I’ve missed.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 2 Nonfiction Recommendations

Happy Thanksgiving week for those who live in the States. A short workweek is always a mixed bag of scrambling to get work done before the holiday and then enjoying a few days out of the office to relax with friends and family (and a few books!).

Finishing Up the Year

I cringed a little when I typed that heading. Yes, we're actually into the last weeks of the year, and I still have a lot I want to get done here on Beth Fish Reads.

Coming up in November, you can expect several posts with gift ideas, a bookish way to help hurricane victims, and a new tea company I discovered, along with my usual photographs, cooking posts, and roundups. Over on the AudioFile blog, you'll find the first post in my series featuring audiobook narrators (available on Nov. 23).

During December, I'll continue with gift suggestions, my best of 2017 lists, some audiobook-specific posts, a couple of movie reviews, at least one year-end wrap up post, and of course book reviews.

What I Read Last Week

If you recall, I spent some much-needed R&R time with my women friends, so I didn't have a lot of reading time. I did manage to finish one nonfiction audiobook and a graphic nonfiction, and I've started a fiction audiobook, a short-story collection, and a fantasy.

• The Gourmands' Way: Six Americans in Paris and the Birth of a New Gastronomy by Justin Spring (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Oct. 10). Focusing on the lives and work of A. J. Liebling, Alice B. Toklas, M. F. K. Fisher, Julia Child, Alexis Lichine, and Richard Olney, Spring explores America's relationship with French wine and food from the 1930s, through the war, and into the late twentieth century. I loved this well-researched look at some of the classic early food writers, especially because Spring colors his account with gossipy bits and doesn't strive to always paint a pretty picture. It was fun to get a glimpse of the real people behind the curtain of white-washed fame. This is a must-read for all foodies. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Blackstone Audio; 13 hr, 30 min), performed by Bronson Pinchot. My full audiobook review will be available through AudioFile, but here's the short take: I was for the most part impressed with Pinchot's accents, although his delivery could have been smoother. Still, you won't be sorry if you choose to listen instead of read.
• Saigon Calling by Marcelino Truong (Arsenal Pulp Press, Oct. 17). This is a moving and not always easy to read (emotionally) account of the Vietnam War years as seen through the eyes of a family who managed to escape to London before American involvement escalated hostilities. Truong, whose father was a Vietnamese government interpreter and whose mother was French, writes about how immigration and the war affected his family. His father struggled to find a new identity after leaving the embassy, while his mother had issues with bipolar disease. Marco and his siblings had trouble finding a place in an increasingly hip London and in their French school. And all were worried about family and friends who remained in Vietnam during the war and after the fall of Saigon. The artwork is expressive, with life in England and France rendered in vivid colors and scenes of the war colored mostly in browns. This is the second of Truong's memoirs, but I didn't feel lost starting with this book.

What I'm Reading Now

My thoughts so far: I love City of Brass, I have mixed feelings about Hum if You Don't Know the Words, and I'm enjoying the stories in Skating on the Vertical. More about these books next week.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: A March Miscellany

Not much happening in my world this week. The weather turned cold and snowy again, I'm still editing seven days a week, and I'm still so grateful for audiobooks, which remain a mainstay of my reading life.

BEA. Book Expo (the convention formally known as BookExpo America) will be here before I know it. I'm looking forward to a few days in New York to be immersed in all things bookish. I have a feeling this year may be a little odd because the organizers are trying to cut down on attendance (not sure why, but there you have it).

If you think you're going to the convention, please let me know; I'd love to know who else is going and to see if there will be any get-togethers.

Mini Book Reviews

I finished two audiobooks and two comics (graphic novels / nonfiction) this week. I made little progress in straight reading, but that's the fault of my job.

• The Rise of Empire by Michael J. Sullivan (Recorded Books): In this installment of the Riyria Revelations, our heroes were perusing different goals, so there were three separate plot lines, although two converged at the end. The story contained some sad deaths, new people to cheer for and new villains to boo, and deeper world building. Sullivan matured as a writer from the first book in this epic fantasy series, and I am looking forward to seeing his skills continue to grow in the final entry. Rise of Empire ended on a twist, a cliffhanger, and the promise of new directions. Tim Gerard Reynolds's performance on the audiobook is fabulous.
• The Futures by Anna Pitoniak (Hachette Audio): The novel is told from the alternating perspectives of Julia and Evan from about the time they meet as freshman at Yale to the months after graduation, when they try to make a go of it in New York City, just as the economy collapses in 2008. There isn't a lot new in this novel, the pace is on the slow side, and much of the story was predictable. The good news is that Sarah Mollo-Christensen and Michael Crouch both did a fine job reading the audiobook, so that helped me through. My full audiobook review will be available at AudioFile magazine.
• Lucy & Andy Neanderthal by Jeffrey Brown (Crown Books for Young Readers): In this first in a series graphic novel, Brown uses his trademark humor to transport us 40,000 years into the past, where we get a look at what it may have been like to have been a Neanderthal. This is a well-researched story, that accurately describes the tools, social structure, and technology of the Neanderthals. Don't worry, it's not all an anthropology lesson: We follow young Andy as he and his sister get into trouble, help their parents, and have some fun too. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. The book is geared to middle grade readers, but it's perfect for the whole family.
• California Dreamin': Cass Elliot before The Mamas & the Papas by Penelope Bagieu (First Second): Dare I admit that I remember the Mamas and the Papas as well as the words to all their major hits? I really liked this look at how Ellen Cohen, daughter of a struggling Baltimore deli man, became pop music icon Cass Elliot. The graphic biography takes a frank look at her over-the-top personality and large size and shows how these signature characateristics both helped and hindered Elliot's career.

Books to Screen

Did you know Masterpiece Theater (PBS / BBC) will be airing a film about the Brontes? To Walk Invisible: The Brontë Sisters (written and directed by Sally Wainwright) airs on March 26 at 9pm (Eastern Time). Here's more information from the press release:

Based largely on Charlotte’s voluminous letters, the film follows the Brontë sisters in the eventful three-year period that saw them rise from ordinary, unmarried women, taking care of the household and their widowed father, to the secret authors of the world’s most sensational literature.

Take a look at the trailer; I think this is going to be great.

Coffee Anyone?

Finally, if you're as much of a coffee fan as I am, you'll want to download this free eBook: The Book Lover’s Guide to Coffee, created by Signature (Penguin Random House) in partnership with Sprudge and Birch Coffee. The short book contains essays covering all kinds of ways coffee and books intersect. I particularly like the cool infographics. Take a look (click to enlarge):

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8 Nonfiction Books to Put on Your Reading List

One of the great pleasures of reading is stepping away from the stresses and strains of our everyday lives to be transported to a different place, a different time, or even a different galaxy. Other books are, of course, great reservoirs of knowledge and truth. I seek both experiences in my reading life. Here are eight nonfiction titles to put on your reading list.

Looking to the Past

A Brief Stop on the Road from Auschwitz by Goran Rosenberg (Other Press, Feb. 2017): In this prize-winning memoir, Rosenberg, who grew up with all the optimism of baby boomers everywhere, contrasts his life with that of his father, who settled in Sweden after surviving a Nazi concentration camp. Can this father and son truly ever understand each other's perspectives? The Pen and the Brush by Anka Muhlstein (Other Press, Jan. 2017): The subtitle of Muhlstein's newest book gives us a clue to what's inside: "How Passion for Art Shaped Nineteenth-Century French Novels." Zola, Maupaussant, Balzac, and others were strongly influenced not only by contemporary paintings but also by the artists themselves, including Manet and Renoir. A fascinating look at the mutual influences in subject matter and style.

Meeting Famous Women

Victoria: The Queen by Julia Baird (Random House, Nov. 2016): Thanks to the power of television, we are all getting to know the longest-reigning monarchs of English history, both of whom were/are queens. Baird's well-researched biography has won critical acclaim and many starred reviews. Here is the true story of the transformation of a sheltered girl into a powerful, global ruler. California Dreamin' by Penelope Bagieu (First Second, Mar. 2017): One of the queens of the American folk scene was Cass Elliot, aka Mama Cass from the Mamas and the Papas. Most people remember her music and that she died way too young. In black and white drawings, Bagieu introduces us to Cass before the fame--and her name change--and details her struggle to make a name for herself in world of music.

Contending with Genetics

The Family Gene by Joselin Linder (Ecco, Mar. 2017): When Linder started to have medical issues in her twenties, she and her doctors took a look at her family history and discovered a unique genetic mutation that explained the early death and range of physical aliments suffered by many of her relatives. What does it mean to live with a rare genetic condition? Where does one find hope and answers . . . and peace of mind? Linder's story will give you a lot to think about. Food Fight by McKay Jenkins (Avery, Jan. 2017): Once upon a time, people grew, bought, and ate food. Just food. Nowadays we are eating pesticides, preservatives, and additives and even our fresh food is not what is seems. Is that potato an old-fashioned spud or a Frankenstein's monster of a vegetable, otherwise known as a genetically modified organism (GMO). Are GMOs something to run from or are they answer to feeding the world as the environment deteriorates and population increases? Jenkins promises to show us both sides of the argument so we can make up our own minds.

Learning about Our World

The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan (Norton, Mar. 2017): Did you know the Great Lakes make up one of the largest sources of fresh water on the planet? For that alone, they should be protected and treated with respect. Unfortunately, as journalist Egan  reminds us, the lakes are on the brink of environmental collapse. After careful research and investigation, Egan not only tells us the very bad news but offers ways to save this critical resource. The Greatest Story Ever Told--So Far by Lawrence M. Krauss (Atria, Mar. 2017): In his newest book, theoretical physicist Krauss tackles some of humankind's most enduring questions: What is the nature of reality and what is our place in the world? The journey to understanding involves moving from the familiar world around us into the farthest reaches of the universe and then down to the smallest of particles. The difficult topics covered in this book are tempered by Krauss's accessible style, humor, and pop culture references.

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Review: Something New by Lucy Knisley

I've been a fan of Lucy Knisley's graphic memoirs since she first published French Milk, and I've enjoyed following her life in food and travel and family.

The topic of her latest memoir, Something New, should be evident from the cover. This time, Knisley writes about her wedding, from the day she met John to their dating, breakup, and reconnection and then the months leading up to their big day.

In her usual candidness, Knisley shares the joys, the uncertainties, the frustrations, and the craziness of planning a wedding that suited both her and John's taste and met the expectations of their parents. Some episodes will make you nod in agreement (buying the dress), and others will have you choosing sides (live music or playlist?). In all cases, however, you'll connect to Knisley's honesty and the universal heaven/hell of the modern-day bride and groom's journey to the marriage ceremony.

The art is classic Knisley. I had no trouble getting a sense of both the action and the emotions in her full-color drawings, and I found her lettering to be clear and easy to read. This memoir is supplemented by photographs, and I had fun comparing Knisley's artwork to them. I've shared one of my favorite pages (click the scan to see it full size), but keep in mind the page comes from an eGalley, so it's possible changes were made before publication.

Seeing as I've never met Knisley, I was a little surprised that my eyes welled up when I reached the pages depicting the wedding and reception. It's a testament to her truth in writing and drawing.

Put Lucy Knisley's Something New on your reading list. It's a winner and recommended to anyone who has ever attended a wedding, whether as guest or as bride or groom. (Note: The scan used in the context of a review--all rights remain with the copyright holder: Lucy Knisley and/or First Second.)

Published by First Second, May 3, 2016
ISBN-13: 9781626722491
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Weekend Cooking: The Comic Book Story of Beer by Jonathan Hennessey and Mike Smith

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.

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Almost two years ago I wrote about a Discovery Channel documentary on beer and the role the fermented beverage played in human history. The newest entry in the beer and history genre is Jonathan Hennessey and Mike Smith's The Comic Book Story of Beer (art by Aaron McConnell; lettering by  Tom Orzechowski).

If you're looking for a light, colorful, and accessible way to learn about the world's favorite drink--from it's earliest forms to the newest craft beer--then this nonfiction comic was written just for you.

The Comic Book Story of Beer follows a similar path as the documentary, starting with an examination of the inextricable link between beer and agriculture. After building that foundation, Hennessey and Smith introduce us to the process of making the brew and then give us a look at all things beer at a few key moments in history (for example, the Middle Ages, Age of Exploration, and Industrial Revolution).

Although The Comic Book Story of Beer doesn't offer any new or startling information, it's an entertaining way to get a better understanding of beer through the ages. If you click on the scan to the right, you'll discover one of the reasons beer developed its reputation of being associated with a rougher crowd compared to wine drinkers. Oh those crazy ancient Greeks!

The artwork is colorful, spanning a range of styles to fit the mood of the time period or topic being presented. The facial expressions and body language of the people clearly show emotions, and action is conveyed in conventional ways. I found it odd, however, that several panels were repeated; same drawing but with different text.

Among my favorite sections are the features called "Meet the Beer." These one-page panels are scattered throughout the book, each one presenting a specific type of beer. If you click on the scan to the left, you'll see an example.

Jonathan Hennessey and Mike Smith's The Comic Book Story of Beer is an informative look at how beer evolved from what was essentially drinkable bread about nine thousand years ago to the vast variety of craft beers and home brews that are so popular today. Knowledgeable beer drinkers will want to check the book out from the library. But if you're new to the beer world, this comic is a great place to start learning about the history of your new favorite drink.

Published by Penguin Random House / Ten Speed Press, 2015
ISBN-13: 9781607746355
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: An Age of License and Displacement by Lucy Knisley

I loved Lucy Knisley's memoirs French Milk and Relish but for some reason fell behind reading her newest travel memoirs, An Age of License and Displacement. Her first two books were perfect for the foodie in me, and I was looking forward to more of the same. Although Knisley's latest work is a little less culinary focused, I still enjoyed the books.

An Age of License documents Knisley's trip to a Norwegian comic con, and then her continued travels to Sweden to see a guy she likes, to Germany to meet up with friends, and finally to France to visit another friend and spend a few days with her mother (who is traveling with friends).

Much of the book is about Knisley's relationship with Henrik, a young man she met in New York and then traveled with in Sweden and Germany and then later in Paris. Knisley also talks about her insecurities at her newfound fame in the comics world and her relationship with her mother and her mother's friends in France.

The second book, Displacement, is about a cruise she went on as a kind of chaperone to her aging grandparents. Knisley is quite frank about her thoughts, frustrations, and heartache when she discovers that her grands are sliding into dementia. Juxtaposed throughout her travelogue are excerpts from her grandfather's World War II diary, which she brought along hoping to use it to prompt some conversation. Instead, Knisley gains a deeper understanding of her grandfather and her own larger background.

In An Age of License, Knisley is still a self-indulgent twenty-something, enjoying the last days of freedom before settling down into her so-called real life. She is transitioning between young adulthood to true adulthood, beginning to gain a more mature outlook. In Displacement she sees some of the harder aspects of old age, and her reactions seem very real and honest, especially for a young woman still in her twenties.

The artwork in An Age of License is mostly black and white and in Knisley's trademark spare style with unbordered panels. Displacement is in full color and the art is slightly more detailed, but it is still recognizably Knisley. The excerpts from her grandfather's diary are in sepia, which works well.

Although each of these books can be read on their own, the arc of Lucy Knisley's maturation, both as a graphic memoirist and as a person, is best understood by reading all four books in order. Food lovers beware: food and eating are not the focus of either of Knisley's latest work. I enjoyed An Age of License but thought Displacement to have the stronger emotional impact.

Twenty-somethings may be able to relate more readily to Knisley's emotional turmoil than older readers, but her artwork and openness have a wide appeal.

Published by Fantagraphics, 2014 and 2015
ISBN-13: 9781606997680 and 9781606998106
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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