Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 3 Short Reviews; Or Reading through the Polar Vortex

The best part about the cold, cold weather is the need to stay inside, which means more time to do fun things. We've been working on a jigsaw puzzle, playing lots of rummy, and catching up on a few television shows.

I also managed to finish three books. I'm still reading The Six and have started The Hazel Wood, both in print. I'll be starting a new audiobook today, but I haven't decided what I'll listen to yet.

I received a couple of gift cards for Christmas (neither for a bookstore), and I'm having fun trying to decide what to buy.

What I Read Last Week

Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore (Kathy Dawson Books, Sept. 2017): I was hesitant to read Jane, Unlimited because I didn't love Cashore's Graceling series, but after reading a couple of reviews, I decided to give it a try. I wanted to read this novel in print (apparently there are a couple of helpful maps in the book), but I was about 10th on the library waiting list, so decided to listen to my review copy of the audiobook instead. Here's the basic premise: Jane is invited to spend some time at a friend's family mansion on a private island. Upon arrival, she enters the foyer and meets several people and the dog, after which she decides to go with Ivy, a staff member, to explore the house. As the two young women move through the many rooms, Jane observes some strange goings-on and gets involved with some of the owners' drama. After a few days, Jane is once again newly arrived at the house and leaves the foyer with a different person. This happens five times, making the book (as one reviewer said -- I forget who) a kind of pick your own adventure story. I thought the novel was fun, and I enjoyed seeing how a seemingly benign decision (whom to befriend) determined Jane's experience at the mansion: will she be caught up in magic, in solving a mystery, or in a love affair? Good reading if you can buy the premise. Rebecca Soler performed the audiobook (Listening Library, 14 hr, 37 min) with good pacing and clear characterizations. She verges on the theatrical, but that approach fits the novel well. Note, though, if you listen to the book you'll miss out on the maps, I think the maps would have made me like the book even more.

Wonder Valley by Ivy Pochoda (Ecco, Oct. 2017): This novel starts out with a bang: In 2010, a naked man is spotted running against traffic on the 101 during LA's morning rush (or stalled) hour. This sets off a series of events that have their roots in the heat of the California desert, four years earlier. The novel is made up of the interwoven stories of a handful of diverse people who have a brief shared experience at an isolated ranch run by a cult healer in 2006. We meet teenage twin boys, a college student who lost her tennis scholarship, two drug dealers, earnest cult followers, a street artist just released from juvie, and others both on the ranch and in the city. Although there is action (and some disturbingly violent scenes), Wonder Valley is an intense character study of people trying to find their way in the world and learning to live with the choices they made, whether intentional or not. It takes a while for the story to develop and to learn how the characters' lives intersect, but my attention never wavered. The audiobook (Harper Audio; 10 hr, 40 min) is read by Will Damron. My first take on his performance was that it was too singsong-y, but quite quickly I began to appreciate his approach, which emphasizes the rhythm of Pochoda's prose. (My full audiobook review will be available through AudioFile.)

Very, Very, Very Dreadful by Albert Marrin (Knopf Books for Young Readers, Jan. 9). This year marks the 100th anniversary of the great flu pandemic, which killed more people worldwide than any disease ever recorded in human history. I've always been fascinated by this disease and its concurrence with World War I. People who lived through both must have felt as if death were everwhere. I've read a couple of other nonfiction books by Marrin and love his approach to history. Although he writes for tweens or young teens, Marrin's work is in no way childish. Very, Very, Very Dreadful explores the complex factors that lead to the pandemic, discusses how flu viruses attack the human body and why that particular strain of flu was so deadly, and traces the virus's journey across the globe. He also makes it clear how vulnerable we are to another such deadly outbreak -- the question is not if it could happen again but whether we can save more lives when it does happen. Politics, war, trade, religion, and contemporary medical practices all played a part in the spread of the flu, and the flu, in turn, affected them. The book is illustrated with maps, historic photos, and more. It's hard to imagine whole cities brought to their knees and the sheer number of people who died. As some of the soldiers in the trenches realized, their families, despite being far from the cannon fire and mustard gas, were daily facing more death than they were. Highly recommended for readers of all ages. I listened to about an hour of the audiobook (Listening Library; 5 hr, 44 min) so I could keep reading while running errands. Jim Frangione's expressive performance was engaging, and I especially loved how his performance was in tune with Marrin's style: the book may be accessible to young readers, but the material is serious and adult.

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Weekend Cooking: 3 Good Cookbooks

I don't know about you, but I like to spend the week between Christmas and New Years getting organized. This year, as I was going through my books, I found a few cookbooks I really wanted to share with you but didn't--for whatever reason.

Before I find room for these cookbooks on my real or virtual bookshelves, I wanted to give them a moment in the limelight.

I'm starting today with three titles that are at the top of my to-try list. Let me know if you've explored any of them. Each cookbook has lots of promise, so I hope you find at least one to add to your wish list.

Homegrown by Matt Jennings (Artisan, Oct. 17, 2017): Jennings has made a name for himself in the food world, catching the eye of the James Beard committee and Food & Wine, among others. He's currently located in Boston and is chef/owner of the brasserie Townsman. I'm always a bit hesitant to pick up a cookbook by a restaurant chef because I'm worried the recipes will require fancy tools, professional ovens, and/or expensive ingredients. Thus I was relieved to see that Homegrown's recipes are pretty straightforward, in a contemporary creative cook kind of way. The dishes are modern takes on the flavors of New England and most look doable for experienced cooks. Jennings includes tips and notes, full-page photographs, and even lists needed equipment (like a meat thermometer or a springform). The book is arranged by the source of the main ingredient (dairy, farm, orchard), and each section includes a "feast"--a complete meal to show off New England's best ingredients. Note there are (as can be expected) a number of seafood recipes, and there are also a handful of game dishes. Three recipes: Evie's Pub Cheese (for snacking), Maple-Lime Grilled Chicken Legs (with a bean salad on the side), Summer Tagliatelle ("like a BLT sandwich dressed in pasta's clothes").

Packed: Lunch Hacks and Recipes to Squeeze More Nutrients into Your Day by Becky Alexander and Michelle Lake (Nourish, Feb. 14, 2017): If you've been following Weekend Cooking, then you know I'm on a never-ending quest for easy, healthful lunch ideas. I don't know why I have breakfast and dinner nailed, but I've always had a problem with lunches (except leftovers, of course), especially meals my husband can take to work. Alexander and Lake to the rescue! Their nutritious, easy, cost-effective, and "realistic" ideas are just what I need. The recipes, complete with packing and serving tips, are very appealing and come together quickly (though you may want to prep or cook on Sunday). I particularly love the section on "fork-free meals," which includes dips and nutritious sandwiches. If you're on a special diet (paleo, vegan, GF), you'll find recipes to suit you, though you should probably borrow Packed before you buy. Besides the recipes, you'll also find "healthy hacks" to make your lunch hour more enjoyable. I was relieved that most of the recipes require no microwave (but you'll want a couple of wide-mouth thermoses for the soup) and use everyday ingredients. Probably best suited to adults or teens. Three recipes: Pear, Hazelnut & Goat Cheese salad (perfect for fall); Coronation-ish Chicken Sandwich (curry flavors); Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup (store-bought mushrooms & almond milk).

Texas Slow Cooker by Cheryl Jamison (Harvard Common Press, Sept. 12, 2017): You might be surprised to learn I'm a huge fan of the slow cooker, considering I own three pressure cookers. Well, I also own a slow cooker or two as well. Jamison is a veteran cookbook author, and clearly knows her way around a recipe and how to get the most out of a slow cooker. Besides solid advice on how to buy the right machine for your needs, she also suggests four must-have items: specific baking dishes and a 3-inch ring biscuit cutter (for use as pan stand). The recipes take you from breakfast to dessert and absolutely have a Southwest, Tex-Mex attitude. I was looking through the starters and snack section, which I think would be great for any casual get-together (especially those dips and wings). As you might expect, Texas Slow Cooker has a number of chili recipes, but you'll also find German meatballs and creole flavors. More unusual ingredients are game and goat, but most of the peppers and spices are readily available in a good grocery or via mail order. As the entire USA is experiencing freezing weather and our friends in the other hemisphere are starting to think twice about turning on the oven, this cookbook would be a welcome addition to almost any kitchen. Three recipes: Chicken Breasts with Chipotle Cream (cheesy goodness), Chile Relleno Casserole (no stuffing or frying required), Praline Bread Pudding (need I say more?)

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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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Giveaway: Victoria & Albert: A Royal Love Story by Daisy Goodwin and Sara Sheridan

Are you as excited as I am that we're just 10 days away from season 2 of Masterpiece's Victoria? I wasn't the only one who loved the first season; 16 million people watched the PBS premiere!

In order to celebrate the return of Victoria--and thanks to the nice people at Masterpiece on PBS and WGBH Education in Boston--I'm happy to be able to offer two of my readers a copy of Daisy Goodwin and Sara Sheridan's beautifully illustrated official companion book Victoria & Albert: A Royal Love Affair (St. Martin's Press).

Here's the publisher's summary:

The official companion to the second season of the PBS/Masterpiece drama Victoria by award-winning creator and screenwriter Daisy Goodwin.

More than 16 million viewers watched the first season of the Masterpiece presentation of Victoria, created and written by Daisy Goodwin—the highest-rated PBS drama in twenty years, second only to Downton Abbey. But what happened after the queen married her handsome prince? Did they live happily ever after, or did their marriage, like so many royal marriages past and present, fizzle into a loveless round of duty?

This all-new companion book by Daisy Goodwin and Sara Sheridan transports us to the private world of Victoria and Albert. Though first cousins, they could not have been more different: Victoria was impulsive, emotional, and capricious, Albert cautious, self-controlled, and logical. But together they forged a bond with each other and with their people that would change the world. Drawing on letters and diaries and fresh insights into royal history, this gorgeous book charts the constant ebb and flow of power within the couple’s surprisingly ardent and modern marriage.

Sumptuously illustrated and full of rich insider detail, Victoria & Albert takes us behind the scenes of the magnificent TV drama, including fascinating, in-depth information on the actors, the props, and the costumes--and bringing an extraordinary royal marriage even more fully to life.

The book is full of gorgeous photos from the show and includes interesting facts, quotes from Victoria's letters, and more. If you love the show, you'll love the book. Take a look at the tie-in trailer:

The Giveaway: All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win a copy of Victoria & Albert: A Royal Love Story by Daisy Goodwin and Sara Sheridan is to have a USA mailing address and to fill out the following form. I'll pick two winners via a random number generator on January 12, and the good people at Masterpiece PBS will mail a copy to two of my readers. Good luck! And as one of the promo's for the Victoria series says: Keep Calm and Watch!

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Wordless Wednesday 479

January Trees

Taken in 2017 with Hisptamatic (it's too cold to walk outside this week). Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 6 Books to Finish Out the Year

Happy New Year, everyone! New year, fresh starts, second chances.

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted reviews (thanks to the holidays), but that doesn't mean I haven't been reading and listening. Because many of you are taking advantage of the day--watching football, taking down the Christmas decorations, sleeping in, getting organized for the new year--and because I have a number of books to talk about, I'm going to try to keep my thoughts briefer than normal.

I'm looking forward to getting back to the rhythm of regular life.

My Last Books of 2017

• Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy (Harper Perennial, Oct. 2017) was a fun, light book about a middle-aged woman finding the courage to step out of her comfort zone. I liked the Irish small-town setting and was happy that the plot had a twist or two to keep things interesting. This contemporary story would appeal to readers who like women's fiction and/or quirky characters. The unabridged audiobook (Dreamscape Media; 9 hr, 42 min) was nicely read by Emma Lowe, whose light accent added to the atmosphere of the novel. (full audiobook review will be published by AudioFile magazine)
• I can't tell you how much I loved The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin (Putnam, Jan. 9, 2018). The novel explores what happens after four New York children visit a fortune teller who tells each of them, privately, the exact date of his or her death. The story reveals how each sibling's life plays out and how each is affected by the old woman's predictions. I couldn't put this book down and ended up both reading and listening because I just had to know what happened to the characters and how the choices they made were influenced by their childhood visit to the Romany. Maggie Hoffman narrated the audiobook (Penguin Audio; 11 hr, 29 min) beautifully. I liked her pacing and her characterizations and appreciated the fact that she didn't foreshadow the ending. Don't miss this one! (review copies provided by the publisher)

• I had the good fortune to meet Danish author Sara Blaedel a few years ago at BookExpo America. Although I liked her and I love Denmark, for some reason I never got around to reading her books. This month, the first three books in her Louise Rick series are being re-issued in print and audio under new titles. I took this as a sign to finally read Blaedel. The Night Women (Grand Central Publishing, Jan. 2, 2018) was an intense mystery that involved abandoned babies, young women in trouble, and human trafficking from eastern European countries. The characters and plotting were tight, and I liked mix of perspectives: Louise's take as a police officer and her BFF Camilla's thoughts as a newspaper crime reporter. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 10 hr, 21 min) read by Christine Lakin. I normally really like Lakin, but her performance this time was a miss for me. The book takes place in Copenhagen and involved Danish and Slavic characters, but Lakin's accents were British, American, and maybe Irish. I would have rather had no accents than a mix of accents that made no particular sense. Because I requested all three audiobooks from the audiobook publisher, I thought I'd give Lakin a second chance with The Running Girl, but after a couple of hours, I decided to set it aside and wait to read the novel in print. I was caught up in the mystery of The Running Girl and am looking forward to finding out how it all plays out..

• I continued with my re-read of Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library series by listening to The Masked City (Audible Studios; 10 hr, 39 min), read by Susan Duerden. I know I said that I didn't love Duerden's performance of the first book in the series, but I gave her another chance. Either I became accustomed to her delivery or she improved because I listened to this audiobook straight through. If you haven't yet listened to or read this genre mash-up (alternate history, time bending, fantasy, steampunk) centered on a powerful library, you should add the books to your list. This is an adult series with adult characters and no angst-filled teenage love triangles. In this installment, our librarian hero and her not-quite human assistant face a deadly challenge. (audiobook purchased)
• Finally, I spent all of Saturday cooking and cleaning and organizing for our annual New Year's Eve dinner party with friends. I started listening to J. D. Robb's Ceremony in Death (Brilliance; 10 hr, 32 min) in the morning and finished just as I was about to collapse for the evening. It's been several years since I listened to the first four books in the Eve Dallas series and was pleasantly surprised that I could jump right back in and not feel lost. Phew. I was equally happy to still love Susan Ericksen as narrator. She is the voice of this series. The Eve Dallas series is another one that blends genres; in this case it's romance, science fiction, and police procedural mystery. The books are set in a future New York City, and I love the characters, the technology, and the plotting. In this outing (the 5th book in the series), Eve is investigating a number of bizarre murders that may or may not involve drugs, Wiccan beliefs, devil worship, or extreme sexual practices. As always, Eve's personal life is as much of a focus as is the murder mystery, but these books are by no means cozies; there's as much violence as there is hot sex. (audiobook purchased)

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