Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 3 Novels to Get Lost In

Happy Monday and welcome back to summer. It's been hot and sunny around here, which is one of those love it / hate it kind of things. I'm not sorry to have a few more days reading on the deck, but it's October -- where's my beloved fall weather?

Other than work, I've been gearing myself up for a major book culling. Twice a year or so, I go through my stacks and make sane decisions about which books  I still want to read or feature and which ones would be better off finding a new home.

No matter how selective I try to be when it comes to books, my eyes are always bigger than my available time. Drat that pesky job!

What I Read Last Week

Warcross by Marie Lu (Putnam, Sept. 12): You might recall that I wasn't sure about this science fiction, techie novel (Kirkus called it "cyber punk") after the first chapter or so, but I'm glad I stuck with it. In the not-so-distant future, the world is so caught up in the virtual reality game Warcross that tournaments become major global events, complete with underground gambling and hacking. When security (both online and in real life) becomes an issue, the developer of the game hires a struggling bounty hunter to help him find the bad guy. Our hero is Emika Chen, who jumps at the chance to prove her coding skills and climb out of poverty. You don't have to be a big gamer to root for Emika, to get caught up in the action, and to try to figure out all the plot twists. The book ends with the promise for more Emi stories to come. The unabridged audiobook (Listening Library, 11 hr, 46 min) was read by Nancy Wu, who did a great job projecting Emi's emotions and pulling me into the fast-paced world of the game. Her accents and pronunciations seemed believable to me, and I really loved the way she captured Emi's personality. I'm already looking forward to the next audiobook in this series. (Thanks to the publisher for review copy.)

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez (Knopf, Oct. 17): Let me start off by telling you to put this book on your reading list right now. Julia (pronounced the Mexican way), has always felt misunderstood by her family, but when her older sister, Olga--the good daughter--dies in an accident, the teenager feels her different-ness ever more strongly. This powerful novel, told through Julia's voice, explores many important themes, especially teenage depression. Many of Julia's issues stem from her strong desire to leave home, go to college, and become a writer, all of which seem impossible because her parents are extremely poor and are undocumented immigrants. What's more, she knows she could never live up to Olga's standards, even if she wanted to. In an effort to connect more closely with her late-sister, Julia looks through her belongings and discovers she didn't know Olga at all. Sanchez explores sisters, mother-daughter relationships, depression, poverty, the pull of cultural traditions, the conflict of telling the truth vs. protecting those we love, and more. The book ends with a list of resources for troubled youth. The unabridged audiobook (Listening Library; 9 hr, 41 min) is brilliantly read by Kyla Garcia, who nails Julia's complex emotions. Garcia also wonderfully delivers the needed teenage inflections and easy use of slang and swearing. The accents, including the Spanish, flow smoothly, and help create Julia's world. I loved this book and will be thinking about it for a long time to come. (Thanks to the publisher for review copy)

Etched on Me by Jenn Crowell (Washington Square Press, Feb. 2014): The beauty of book clubs is that they encourage you to read books you never would have picked up. This novel, loosely based on a true story, is a case in point. Sixteen-year-old Lesley escapes her sexually abusive father and delivers herself to the British version of child services for protection and help. We follow Lesley's dark journey as she tries to deal with and move past the nightmares of her family life, all the while coping with the British legal system and various government institutions. The book begins and ends with her fight, at the age of twenty-two, to keep her infant daughter, who was taken away moments after her birth because the system decided Lesley's past mental health issues would make her an unfit mother. I have no firsthand experience with any of Lesley's issues, but I felt Crowell presented the difficulties Lesley faced and her efforts to find help in a realistic manner. Her relationships with her friends and mentors were also believable. Although eventually redemptive, it's a heartbreaking story that drums home the need for advocacy for survivors of abuse and the need to remove the stigma for mental health issues. You can find a reading group guide at the Simon & Schuster website.

Book News

• I really loved this answer to those who accuse audiobook readers of not really reading: "Listening to Audiobooks Is Just As Good As Reading, If Not Better, So Back the Hell Off," by Alex Watt. Via The New Yorker.
• If you live in the UK, here are three book events to put on your wish list: "Autumn Literary Festivals," by Leanne Walstow. Via House.
• Good news for readers: "W.W. Norton Offers Entire Ebook Catalog to Lending Libraries," by Denis Abrams. Via Publishing Perspectives.

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Review: The Artful Baker by Cenk Sonmezsoy

It's the dream of many a food blogger to someday catch the attention of a publishing company and write a cookbook. That's the quick story of Cenk Sonmezsoy, who went from food blogger at Cafe Fernando to author of The Artful Baker (Abrams Books), which will be in stores on October 17.

Of course Sonmezsoy's story is more complicated and interesting than that. First, he was not a kid who grew up dreaming of becoming a baker, and second, he's worked long and hard to gain the recognition he clearly deserves.

Thanks to the good people at Abrams and my participation in the Abrams Dinner Party, I've had a chance to look through (and bake from) this amazingly gorgeous cookbook. The Artful Baker is perfectly titled: The book is printed on heavy, semi-gloss paper and is full of stunning photographs that show off the beauty of Sonmezsoy's baked goods and phenomenal photography skills (see the lacy brownies and picture-perfect tart--photos are from the book).

I freely admit that my first reaction was, I'm way too lazy to bake from this book. Good thing I decided to give The Artful Baker a chance because the recipes are absolutely doable in your home kitchen. If you're lacking confidence, then take a moment to read the introduction, in which Sonmezsoy will convince you that homemade croissants can indeed find their way to your breakfast table. Then turn to the final chapter to learn about ingredients and equipment.

Although I'm sure my chocolate cake wouldn't be as pretty as the one shown on the cover of The Artful Baker, I'm positive I could successfully bake that cake and that it would be delicious. I have a ton of recipes marked to try: hazelnut and caramel cookies, pistachio decked brownies, sour cherry and almond upside down cake, roasted strawberry ice cream, and triple raspberry and lemon cake.

I think I'm going to have to amp up my exercise routine because I truly could bake my way through this entire book.

The recipes themselves are easy to follow and include both standard measures and weights. So far, I haven't found any inaccessible ingredients, even in my small town. I love that each recipe in The Artful Baker includes storage advice, so you know whether you need to refrigerate leftovers and whether you can bake ahead. I also enjoyed reading the recipe introductions, learning about the origin of a dessert or discovering more about Sonmezsoy himself.

So far, I made the rosemary and sea salt focaccia and the orange and poppy seed olive oil cake (really a loaf). Both were excellent and I plan to make them again. (Photos are mine--clearly I need to add variety to my food photo setups!)

Whatever your skill level, I think you'll find something yummy to bake from Cenk Sonmezsoy's The Artful Baker. You might make the savory whole wheat Pullman bread or the tomato tart or you might turn right to the brownie and cookie chapter. In either case, don't forget to check out the back of the book, where you'll find family-friendly drinks, jams, and master recipes.

The Artful Baker would make a wonderful holiday gift for your favorite baker, but don't forget to buy a second book for yourself too. My own copy is going in my permanent collection . . . just as soon as I bake all those recipes I've flagged.

If you're a fan of Sonmezsoy's Cafe Fernando blog, you may be wondering if the Artful Baker contains anything you haven't seen before. I can assure you almost all the recipes are new, with the exception of a few updated all-time favorites. If you're unfamiliar with Sonmezsoy's writing style and masterful photography, be sure to visit his blog, where you can also find some great recipes.

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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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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8 New Novels for Teens and Tweens

If you like young adult and middle grade fiction, then you're going to love October. I have a number of good books on my radar, some of which have already been generating critical praise and high anticipation (for example, Maggie Stiefvater's All the Crooked Saints and Nic Stone's Dear Martin). The 8 books I feature here may have escaped your notice, but I recommend adding them to your fall reading list.

• The Breathless by Tara Goedjen (Delacorte, Oct. 10): This Southern Gothic debut is set in two time periods and involves a missing girl and family secrets. Reviewers note the elements of dark magic and the story's skin-crawling creep factor. Perfect for Halloween reading. (young adult)
• Calling My Name by Liara Tamani (Greenwillow, Oct. 24): Part coming-of-age story, part social commentary, this novel follows Taja, the middle child of a conservative African American family, as she navigates high school while balancing her family's wishes against new opportunities and friendships. Reviewers have loved this debut set in Houston, Texas. (young adult)
• Nevermoor: The Trials Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (Little, Brown, Oct. 31): From birth, Morrigan was cursed to die on her 11th birthday, but before she meets her doom, she is spirited off to a magical world, where she's invited to attend a special academy and can stay to live a long life . . . if she manages to pass a series of initiation tests. This exciting first in a new fantasy series has earned several starred reviews. (middle grade)
• The Perfect Score by Rob Buyea (Delacorte, Oct. 3): The students in Mrs. Wood's sixth grade class are in a tizzy, not only do they have to work hard to please their parents, coaches, and tutors but the mandated standardized tests are coming up. Can students and teachers pull together to get through this stressful year? Another winner from the author of the Mr. Terupt books. (middle grade)

• Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martin (Random House, Oct. 10): Based on the classic Grimm's fairy tale about Snow White and Red Rose, this reworked story focuses on the sisters' relationship and the creatures and magic that inhabit the woods surrounding their hidden cottage, where they live with their mother. The book is beautifully illustrated with the author's paintings. (middle grade)
• Strange Lies by Maggie Thrash (Simon Pulse, Oct. 17): Set in a boarding school, this mystery / thriller focuses on three teens who are intent on investigating a science fair accident (or was it?) that disfigured a fellow student. Broader social issues (including the racial divide) and dark humor round out the novel. (young adult)
• The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Dial, Oct. 3): Ada, recovering from an operation that corrected her congenital clubfoot, is sent to live with her aunt in the English countryside to escape the Blitz. There, Ada deals with her losses, finds new beginnings, and discovers her inner strength. Issues of disabilities, mental abuse, prejudice, and death underlie this beautifully written coming-of-age story that will have wide appeal. Although the second Ada novel, this much-praised book can be read as a standalone.
• We All Fall Down by Natalie D. Richards (Sourcebooks Fire, Oct. 3): This spooky paranormal thriller is about two troubled teens, each with mental health issues, who together must overcome the demons of a haunted bridge and their own fears to find peace and perhaps romance. Read this one with the lights on. (young adult)

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Wordless Wednesday 466

Fall Field, 2017

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

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Good Books, Not So Good Books

Fall? Summer? Fall? Summer? ARGHHHH. Please just make up your mind and I'll be able to cope. One day I'm making soup and baking bread, and the next day I'm sitting in the sun in a T-shirt reading a book. I want fall, and I want normal falling temperatures.

Rant over. Sorry. Nothing too much new this week. I've been cooking and baking out of new cookbooks and am looking forward to sharing my opinions in future Weekend Cooking posts.

Meanwhile, I work, I walk, I read. Life is good (despite the weird weather).

What I Read Last Week

We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates (One World, Oct. 3): I thought I knew things. I thought I was well read. I thought my friends had bared their souls. I thought I had an inkling, being both a woman and a born into a discriminated-against religion. In truth, I knew little about the what it means to be black in America. The eight essays included in Coates's new book have been published before but are made new again through his foreword and epilogue, through his introductions to each piece, and via our collective hindsight since Barack Obama left the White House. I've come to the quite reasonable conclusion that pretty much everything in the United States is about race, particularly about issues surrounding black Americans, although other people of color, women, and non-Christians can relate to much of what Coates writes about. Still, the full range of problems, from women's issues to the Civil War, the penal system, the lack of universal healthcare, the housing and loan industry, and the current attitude of turning your back on your less-fortunate neighbors all have some roots in racism, regardless of what history books and trusty-worthy news outlets tell you. Read these essays for the first time or again. Think about what Coates has to say. Read these essays another time. Talk, talk, talk to people. Buy a copy of We Were Eight Years in Power for everyone you know. I'm an evangelist. I'm not saying Coates's opinions are the only ones or that he is some sort of god who knows it all; what I am saying is that he offers insight you may not be getting anywhere else. Audiobook: The unabridged audiobook (Random House Audio; 13 hr, 38 min) is read by Beresford Bennett. My full audiobook review will be available through AudioFile magazine, but let me simply say here that this is a book to read. I was disappointed in Bennett's performance and can't recommend this title in audio.

The Burning Girl by Claire Messud (Norton, Aug. 29): Two girls, Cassie and Julia, are inseparable from nursery school to the start of seventh grade. Is it the new middle school, raging hormones, diverging interests, or something deeper that drives the girls apart? This is the story of a childhood friendship and what happens when that relationship is undermined by maturity and outside circumstances. I enjoyed the book, which is told in retrospective by a teenage Julia, but I didn't love it. I found it difficult to invest the girls' lives and thought the more mysterious parts of the novel weren't all that mysterious, thanks to too much foreshadowing. I don't think every plot line in a book must be tied up neatly by the final page, but a major issue that may or may not have influenced Cassie's life decisions remained unresolved, leaving readers dangling. Note that The Burning Girl received at least one starred review and was an Indie Next pick, so you may have a better experience than I had. Audiobook: The unabridged audiobook (Recorded Books; 6 hr, 38 min) was read by Morgan Hallett, who did a fine job. Her performance was unobtrusive, although not spectacular (for more see AudioFile magazine). If you want to give the novel a try in audio, don't hesitate.

The Long Count by JM Gulvin (Faber & Faber; Sept. 26): I like books set in the west and have an interest in the Texas Rangers, so this first in a new series featuring John Q, a 20th-century ranger caught my attention. The novel--part mystery, part thriller--is set in the late 1960s, during the height of the Vietnam War protests. I like the time period because John, a Korean War veteran and godson to the ranger who brought down Bonnie and Clyde, can't rely on modern-day technology. His car radio can be full of static, he has to look for pay phones, there's no GPS, and research is done via phone calls. Fortunately, our hero has been well trained, not only as a ranger but also as a tracker. He's also observant and can read crime scene clues like few others. John's territory is in northeastern Texas, along the Red River, and you get a good sense of the environment: open spaces, tiny towns, and law-enforcement departments with few resources. Gulvin provides good period details, and the dialogue is believable, making it easy to envision the characters. The Long Count isn't a perfect novel, though, and I have some questions about whether the ending holds up 100 percent. Still, I liked John Q and the people in his support circle and am looking forward to more entries in the series. If you like intense, twisty mystery/thrillers and/or novels set in the west, you'll enjoy The Long Count. (Review copy provided by the publicist)

To Give Up or Not to Give Up?

I'm currently listening to Warcross by Marie Lu and read by Nancy Wu (Listening Library). The story is not fully clicking for me, so I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it. Wu's performance is just fine, and I have no complaints on that account. I think the problem is I'm not a big gamer and, well, a big game is at the heart of this novel. On the other hand, I just got to the first turning point in the story, so I feel I have to listen to at least one more scene.

I started reading Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart (Delacourte), which I featured last week. I like the premise and set up, but I'm not getting swept up into the main character's life and deceits. I've read the first two chapters and am not feeling a strong urge to go on. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to say good-bye.

Television

If you like stand-up comedy, then you shouldn't miss Jerry Seinfeld's "Jerry before Seinfeld," which is available through Netflix. In this Netflix original, Seinfeld revisits his roots and talks about his childhood, reveals his first two successful jokes, and performs both familiar and new bits. Get ready to laugh out loud.

And, in case you missed the ads: the new season of Poldark started last night!!!! YAY.

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