Sunday, June 28, 2020

Regrow your Veggies: Growing Vegetables from Roots, Cuttings, and Scraps

Regrow your Veggies is a DIY/gardening/plant recycling manual by Melissa Raupach and Felix Lill. Originally released in 2018 in German, this English translation edition from Fox Chapel is 144 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

There have been a number of videos and posts on youtube, instagram, and the like on this subject but they're generally either sensationalized or vague/incomplete (or both). This book takes a logical and thorough look at the methods of regenerative and vegetative propagation for different specific vegetables and herbs and also gives a good overview over common problems and how to troubleshoot less than desirable results.

It is undeniably a cool exercise to grow an avocado tree from a pit, or regrow spring onions from the bulb roots. These would make superlative home activities for young kids to do with the family and they are both interesting and educational. I would caution readers from thinking that they can make a significant contribution to their food needs, especially restricted growing to indoor windowsills. This is more of a philosophical process than a practical one. There are some exceptions of course, it's perfectly feasible to keep many herbs growing indoors and move them outdoors when weather permits.

The introduction includes a good overview over vegetative propagation and plant culture requirements. The second part of the book contains a primer with entries for 21 different vegetables and herbs; from scallions and leeks, to ginger and coriander. There's a good troubleshooting guide with what happens when things go bad (which was my personal experience, whether fungus gnats, aphids, or fusarium wilt (my basil has -never- done extremely well in my cool wet climate). The authors also include a useful bibliography, short index, and online links list for further reading,

This is an interesting and fun guide to regrow some vegetables. Limited practicality in my experience, however.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The Southeast Native Plant Primer: 225 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden

The Southeast Native Plant Primer is a gardening guide with herbal encyclopedia covering a plethora of indigenous plant species for gardeners in the southeastern USA. Due out 4th August 2020 from Timber Press, it's 252 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

As we learn more about the interconnectedness of local biomes and the desirability of supporting indigenous pollinators, plant, and animal species, more gardeners are moving to reduce or eliminate potentially invasive species and substitute with native species. This is a regional guide aimed at the southeastern USA and includes a huge variety of native plant species and their niche in the garden.

I liked the layout of the book which was very well organized and easy to follow. The introduction provides a good overview of native plants, why they're desirable for habitat and food for local species, how the choice of these species for our gardens actually benefits us as gardeners (less maintenance, suited to the climate and growing conditions already, hardiness), and more.

The plant primer takes up the majority of the page content and is split into plant types: Ferns, grasses, woodland wildflowers, sunny perennials, vines, shrubs, and trees. Each of the primer entries contains the botanical and some common names for the plant, habitat/soil conditions and culture requirements, active growing seasons and other special info, size, light requirements, a good description, and a clear picture. There are 225 species contained, enough to provide lots of alternatives for almost any garden role.The end of the book contains appendices which include a hardiness and climate chart, bibliography, good resources list, and index.

This is one of the better regional gardening guides which I've reviewed. Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.   

The Mosquito

The Mosquito is a new nonfiction graphic art book aimed at younger readers in The Disgusting Critters series by Elise Gravel. Originally published in French in 2017, this English language translation is due out 14th July 2020 from Penguin Random House on their Tundra imprint, has 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

The art is whimsical and appealing (see cover), and the text is fact based and scientifically accurate. The info included in the book covers preferred habitat, diet, reproduction, and different species and ranges. I liked that the book includes proper nomenclature for things such as proboscis and larva. If the terms aren't already familiar to young readers (or adults), they can be researched.

This would make a super choice for classroom/public library, homeschool library, or gift. Really cute and worthwhile subject for young readers. The graphic design and interactive dialogue would also lend itself quite easily to a bedtime read. My only quibble with the book is that it's apparently one of a series called (in English) 'Disgusting Critters' and while I do know that 'disgusting' is meant as an attractive choice of words for kids, it just sat wrong with me. Are there really any truly disgusting creatures? I wish they could've called the series Cool Critters, or Interesting Critters or something. I'm a middle aged science nerd, and I think flatworms are cool, so I guess I'm not really the target audience.

Four and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.   

Realistic Still Life in Colored Pencil: Learn to draw beautiful still life in colored pencil

Realistic Still Life in Colored Pencil is a tutorial guide to still life techniques using pencil as a medium. Due out 7th July 2020 from  Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The layout follows the familiar Walter Foster tutorial format. An introduction covers tools and supplies and is followed by a short and easily accessible general drawing tutorial and an introduction to color theory and composition.  There's a good subchapter on blending, texture strokes, and pencil techniques as well as a short intro on how to compose a drawing and developing forms.

Each of the chapters includes several start to finish projects illustrating the concepts and techniques from the chapter. The 5 complete tutorials are grouped together in the last half of the book: poppies, peaches, macarons, sunflowers, and meringues. Each tutorial includes a color photo, line drawing, palette with specific pencil colors, and step by step process photos. Tips and troubleshooting info are highlighted in sidebars throughout.

This is a solid book full of good techniques and will provide some useful takeaways for the majority of readers/artists.  This entire series is worthwhile and will be a valuable addition to the artist's home library. 

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Modern Brush Lettering: A Beginner's Guide to the Art of Brush Lettering, Plus 20 Seasonal Projects to Make

Modern Brush Lettering is a tutorial and style guide to a popular and useful style of calligraphy which lends itself to many uses and is especially popular for bullet journaling. Due out in late 2020 from Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 120 pages and is available in paperback format.

This is an accessible and encouraging guide. The author has a very upbeat style and I found myself just grabbing some brush markers I had from my attempts at other papercrafts and lettering and jumping in. The introductory chapter covers tools and supplies (very easily acquired and inexpensive), followed by basic strokes and mark making, moving on to alphabets and building up to words and phrases.

Following a short chapter on mindfulness and the philosophy of process, the 20 project tutorials are arranged by season with 5 for each: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The projects range from total beginner to slightly more advanced, all are attractive. The projects themselves are a good starting point for further embellishment and I can definitely see myself using them as further inspiration. Each of the tutorials include an introduction, materials and alternatives in a bullet list sidebar along with tips from the author. The step by step instructions are clear and simple. The instructions are accompanied by lots of photos which illustrate each step. They're composed well and clearly formatted and it's easy to see hand and pen positions as well as drawing layouts. Pretty much every page has one or more photos.

The book also includes a very short FAQ and  abbreviated resource list with specific paints, papers, and inks used by the author. 

I've been spending a lot more time with my journal (mostly in an effort to organise my book blogging) and I've found a lot of really good tips here.

This would make a great gift (maybe with some paper and brush pens) or selection for the home library. There are a number of nice projects included. 

Five stars. Very useful. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Fashion Design Workshop: Remix: A modern, inclusive, and diverse approach to fashion illustration for up-and-coming designers

Fashion Design Workshop: Remix is an accessible tutorial and style guide for aspiring designers. Due out 7th July 2020 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a fun and well made tutorial guide for fashion and accessory sketching. The aesthetic is body-positive, and inclusive with a wide variety of body types illustrated, including a broad range of skin tones, shapes, (even

An introduction covers tools and materials, basic figure drawing, using manual and digital drawing tools, adaptive apparel (their examples include wheelchair and crutches), tips on keeping a sketchbook and several other topics. The following chapters provide instruction on developing a style, fashion icons for inspiration, high fashion design, casualwear design, and evening & formal-wear. The book also includes useful reusable templates for time-saving sketch use.

Especially with the current necessity of staying home as much as possible and social distancing, this would make a superlative choice for at-home creativity and boredom busting for younger readers as well.

Five stars. I loved the upbeat and positive message of inclusivity. Well done!

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Kawaii Doodle World

Kawaii Doodle World: Sketching Super-Cute Doodle Scenes with Cuddly Characters, Fun Decorations, Whimsical Patterns, and More is a new tutorial book from kawaii mistress Zainab Khan (a.k.a. Pic Candle). I've reviewed a couple of other books by the same creator here, and this is another serving of the same.  Due out 18th Aug 2020 from Quarto - Race Point publishing, it's 144 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This companion book fills out the previous book by including more composition and combination page-filling tutorials (see cover).  The format is the same as the previous book and is accessible and user-friendly. The tutorials have step-by-step illustrations which anyone can follow.

The book starts with a general tips & tricks introduction showing tools and supplies and how to use them followed by chapters building up characters, adding decorations and background patterns, and composition (including contour filling).  

One of the most brilliant aspects of this book (and of Ms. Khan's art) is in showing the would be doodler how to combine and build on simple elements to produce a deceptively simple cohesive piece of art which looks very complex.  There are whole collage drawings at the end of the book which are provided as search & find puzzles but which would also make superlative coloring pages as well as a good tutorial on planning full page illustrations.

I've been using doodling as an awareness/mindfulness exercise and it really does work.  These are cute and good fun.

This would make a really fun rainy day activity for younger kids to, well, adult age.  They're appealing and whimsical and sweet. 

Five stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Antigonus the One-Eyed

Antigonus the One-Eyed is a comprehensive scholarly look at one of the generals who succeeded Alexander the Great on his death in 323BCE. Originally published in Great Britain in 2014 this reformat and re-release from Pen & Sword 13th May 2020 it's 256 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. (Earlier editions available in hardcover format).

The author writes accessibly but meticulously, and builds up the necessary background context for the compelling history of the time and manages to humanize the major players despite the intervening millenia. The author uses a chronological chapter format, starting with Macedonia of the period, through the Alexandrian period, Antigonus' rise and solidification of power, then through the successor war and battles which followed Alexander's death.

The book is meticulously annotated throughout. The author has cited period and later scholarly research to support the narrative. There are 5 appendices as well as copious chapter notes, an exhaustive bibliography, maps, photos (of period artifacts) and a cross referenced index.

The author has a casual academic style of writing; accessible and careful, with proper annotation, but not overly convoluted or impenetrably difficult to read. My only quibble with the editing is that no fewer than 7 places in the text, the author uses "infer" when he clearly means "imply". There were a few other similar errors, but nothing truly egregious.

This would be a great selection for fans of military history, as well as a superlative support text for related academic studies on the time period.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.


Dinosaur Lady

Dinosaur Lady is an illustrated biography of Mary Anning, a fossilist who is widely regarded as one of the first paleontologists helping to define the discipline in addition to making significant contributions and discoveries. Due out 7th July 2020 from Sourcebooks, it's 40 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

I love children's nonfiction. This is a well written, factually based, beautifully illustrated biography aimed at younger readers (~4-8 years of age) which manages to provide a kid-friendly version of Anning's often frustrating and impoverished life. She was rejected by the scientific establishment at the same time they were acknowledging her as an expert in her field. The book gleefully provides the information that she correctly identified coprolites as fossilized feces as well as identifying fossilized ink sacs from early cephalopods (squids).

The text is age appropriate and engaging. The art is beautifully rendered and supports the text very well. This is definitely a book which would grab the interest of most kids. I found it interesting and learned quite a lot of information of which I was previously unaware.

The book includes an abbreviated timeline of Anning's discoveries and contributions along with contemporary occurrences as well as a short glossary.

Five stars. This would make a great selection for a classroom or public library, as well as the child's home library or a gift.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Spirit of Place: The Making of a New England Garden

Spirit of Place is a beautifully presented book, a biography really, of the genesis of the gardens and grounds surrounding the author's home. Due out 23th June from Timber Press, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a really inspirational and surprisingly intimate look at the creation of a green space which is a product of the author's vision and creativity and fits into its setting companionably. The author began renovating the gardens in 1991 after he and his partner bought a farmhouse and land in New England. Obviously a garden developed over 30 years (and often following contours laid out over the previous 2 centuries) isn't an undertaking which bears comparison to new gardens. It was valuable to me to follow the development and maturation of these gardens, but also to follow along with the author as he explained in quite detailed fashion about his inspiration and creative process. 

The text is erudite and more formal than casual, but always understandable and accessible. The photography is glorious, often breathtaking and filled with inspiration and takeaway lessons for readers no matter what size and shape their gardens. The chapters cover individual areas of the plantings and highlight photos show particular specimens in situ (with botanical nomenclature included). 

This is an inspiring and educational book, full of usable advice and help. Since the book is absolutely full of color photographs and the text is relatively small and densely packed, I strongly recommend a color monitor or the hardcover format. I tried accessing the book on three different e-readers and whilst compatibility wasn't an issue, the full effect of the photography was much diminished. 

Five stars. Lots and lots (and lots) of inspiration. Aesthetically one of the better garden inspiration books I've seen lately.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes


Basket Essentials

Basket Essentials is a tutorial and technique guide for weaving reed baskets by Lora S. Irish. Due out 1st July 2020 from from Fox Chapel, it's 200 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

Fox Chapel are well kn0wn for the quality of their DIY and homestyle publications. This is a worthy entry into that lineup. It's a fine primer with step by step instructions and copious tutorial photographs which are clear and illustrative. The author has an upbeat and casual writing style which is easy to follow. 

The introductory chapter includes a survey of styles, terms, and tools with good clear photos of each. Finishing, dyeing/painting, and repair and maintenance round out the intro chapter. The next chapters progress through techniques and weaving, basket shapes and styles, and decorative features to incorporate. The third chapter includes step-by-step instructions for three specific weaving projects: a hip basket, a melon basket with decorative spoke, and a wheel-ear high shoulder melon basket. The tutorials are filled with clear usable photographs and spare no-frills instruction. I have no doubts that a keen beginner could produce a useful basket with access to the tools and supplies enumerated.  The book also includes abbreviated tutorials for 12 additional baskets which are all beautiful and functional as well as decorative. 

Each tutorial includes an introduction with finished measurements and special features in a header. Tools and supplies are listed bullet style in a sidebar (measurements are given in American standard units). The step by step instructions are numbered sequentially. The book includes an index, but no metric conversions or source links - though a short internet search turned up a plethora of suppliers.

Well written, accessible for beginning to advanced basketweavers, useful, and appealing. Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Spice Apothecary: Blending and Using Common Spices for Everyday Health

Spice Apothecary is a tutorial and introduction to the uses and active ingredients in several common herbs and spices. Due out 23rd June from Storey Publishing, it's 175 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.

Storey is well known for producing practical, sensible, well illustrated books aimed at helping readers get the best out of their lives and live a healthy lifestyle.  Many of their books and leaflets have found a permanent place in my library and I turn to them often for inspiration and advice. This is a well written collection of precise and accessible tutorials with lots (LOTS) of recipes for utilizing the active ingredients in spices and herbs to enhance and support the immune system and general health.

This is a beautifully presented book, well written and photographed. The recipes are interesting and (mostly) made with easily sourced ingredients. The introduction covers the history and a little scientifically accurate and layman accessible explanation of the history and uses of different spices. The equipment chapter also gives a good overview on equipment and supplies which will make life a lot easier. Scattered throughout the book are highlights and essays written about different herbalists with information and background on diverse topics such as why medicinal plants are effective, how to utilize them to maximize effect, and where they come from and some history of the spice trade.


It would make a good basic introduction to herbalism for readers exploring the uses of various herbs. There is little info here for more advanced students. The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. The headers include a description and introduction. Special notes such as vegan friendly are listed in the introduction. Measurements are given in US standard only (there is a metric conversion chart at the end of the book). Special tools (mortar/pestle) and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and processing and dosage directions. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store (some items will need a specialist co-op or world-food/specialist grocery). Nutritional information is not included.  Variations for each recipe are also included in a footer at the end. The book also includes an index as well as references and a suppliers list (slanted toward North American readers, but readers located elsewhere will have no trouble locating supplies online). 

Four stars, absolutely gorgeous book, but -very- basic information.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Rediscovery: Science Fiction by Women (1958-1963)

Rediscovery: Science Fiction by Women (1958-1963) is an anthology of silver age SF written by women. Released 16th Aug 2019 by Journey Press, it's 276 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a varied collection, only a couple were previously familiar to me and all were enjoyable. One reason I prefer collections and anthologies is that short fiction is really challenging.  It's spare and the author doesn't have a wealth of wordage to develop characters or the plotting.  Well written short fiction is a delight. I also love anthologies because if one story doesn't really grab me, there's another story just a few pages away. Each of these stories are introduced by modern day authors with background info and the intros include interesting tidbits about the authors and their works. Attributions are included in the headers with publication info.

The stories are a varied bunch but all are enjoyable high quality silver age SF and all are 3-5 stars. The styles are reminiscent of a stroll through back issues of Astounding and F&SF (when my young and non-jaded self couldn't *wait* for the new issues to hit the stands). The book also includes an erudite and well written foreword and introduction by Laura Brodian Freas Beraha and Gideon Marcus respectively. I don't recommend that readers go into this anthology searching for feminist themes and righteous indignation because they won't find it. These are classic silver age stories written in classic style by competent authors who happened to be female. There are 14 stories included and, at the very end, a facsimile mimeographed copy of the 1958 Hugo award voting ballot which really made me smile.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Japanese Cooking Recipes

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Japanese Cooking Recipes is a comprehensive technique/tutorial/recipe guide for Japanese cuisine. Released 1st June 2018 by Shinsei publishing, it's 256 pages and available in paperback format. I couldn't find ebook format information online, but I strongly recommend against puchasing the electronic format (if available), since this is an extremely graphics heavy book, literally every page has photos, and it's printed in bilingual Japanese/English which makes small format graphics a chore to read.

The book is arranged thematically with recipes arranged by category. The introductory chapters include everything from food prep, ingredients, to tools and cooking utensils. This is the best tutorial I've ever seen on knifework, showing vegetable and meat prep work such as matchstick, rosettes, dices, and others for several different vegetables. Photos are clear and easy to follow (even being unable to access the text portions, the photos are super clean and easy to understand).

The author continues with a meticulous and detailed chapter on ingredients followed by general cooking methods. Seasonal varieties and quality of ingredients is a common thread throughout. There's even a tutorial subchapter on tea and using chopsticks.

The recipes themselves have multiple tutorial photos and serving photos. I didn't count the individual recipes, but there are a large number. Special tips and advice for avoiding problems are highlighted in sidebars.

Many of the ingredients may prove challenging to source outside of a specialist grocery. Seasonal proteins and fruits may also prove difficult to find outside of Asia.

This is a beautifully written and encyclopedic text on Japanese cuisine. I am tempted to buy the print version myself (the ebook version isn't feasible for practical use).  Five stars (two stars for the .pdf version which is missing vast amounts of text and ingredients sidebars).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.


Let's Bake!: A Pusheen Cookbook

Let's Bake!: A Pusheen Cookbook is an adorable and well curated selection of baked goodies which feature Pusheen, the cute tabby cat of internet and media fame. Due out 30th June 2020 from Simon & Schuster on their Gallery Books imprint, it's 180 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is such an appealing and well made cookbook. I've literally never met anyone who doesn't love Pusheen. It's an admittedly niche book, but every one of the recipes would make a wonderful starting point for a wide variety of inspiration (I stuck with the recipes as written and they all worked perfectly). The recipes are arranged thematically: cookies & sweets, desserts, pastries, cakes, and breads and breakfast and there are 40 different ones by my count.

The recipes all have an introduction header with yields and information. The ingredients are listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard with metric measures in parentheses (yay!). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. The ingredients are all easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. There is no index, but the expanded table of contents is well formatted and recipes are easy to find. The book does include an abbreviated glossary.

The entire feel of the book is cute, breezy, and sweetly upbeat. The recipes are written simply and clearly and the graphics, including the photographs, are clear and easy to understand. All of the recipes have finished serving photos and many of them have step by step tutorial process photos as well.

I'm often a little bit *meh* about strictly niche cookbooks, but this one is so full of appealing, tasty, and well developed recipes, that I'm making a big exception. This is a valuable cookbook for desserts and small bites which will actually get a lot of use in my kitchen.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Monday, June 22, 2020

Supersimple Biology: The Ultimate Bitesize Study Guide

Supersimple Biology: The Ultimate Bitesize Study Guide is a resource guide for learning and studying biology. Due out 23rd June 2020 from Penguin/Random House on their DK imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. As almost always with DK's offerings, I was blown away by the detailed, clear, and solidly expert photography. Every photo is well rendered and easy to follow. The supportive text is also clear and accessible.

This is a well written, factual, science based introduction to biology aimed at middle grades and up. The book introduces basic concepts starting with the scientific method and critical thinking skills, through building up concepts from cells, respiration, transport and respiration, enzymes, plant science, human physiology and nutrition, organ systems, a good solid introduction to genetics and biotechnology, ecology, climate science, and health science topics.

The graphics and formatting are top notch. There are color sidebars with explanatory details and side information. "Key Facts" sidebars also give bullet lists of salient points in easily remembered and digested one sentence capsules of information. Photographs and explanations cover all the concepts from cellular anatomy to ecosystems and sustainability models. 

Especially now that remote & self study have become so important, this would make a worthy addition to the student's home library. This book and its sister volume are written under the auspices of the Smithsonian. 

Five stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

He'd Rather Be Dead (Chief Inspector Littlejohn #9)

He'd Rather Be Dead is the 9th Inspector Littlejohn mystery by George Bellairs. Originally released in 1945, this reformat and rerelease by Agora is 245 pages and available in ebook format (earlier editions available in other formats). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.


This is an engagingly written and well constructed golden age mystery. Full of well rendered characters, it proceeds from the murder of a universally loathed crass and mean spirited mayor at an official luncheon through the winnowing of a whole stable of potential murderers by Inspector Littlejohn. The dialogue, though admittedly a product of its time, is well written and urbane, lightly witty and humorous. Although I have enjoyed all the Littlejohn mysteries, this one does work quite well as a standalone, and it's not necessary to have read the other books.

It's really lovely to see these gems being dusted off and re-released to new generations of readers. Bellairs (Harold Blundell) was a gifted writer and a technical master of construction.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Heroes: The Greek Myths Reimagined (Stephen Fry's Great Mythology #2)

Heroes is the second volume of embellished retelling of the heroes of the Greek myths by the inimitable Stephen Fry. Released 2nd June 2020 by Chronicle Books, it's 352 pages and available in hardcover, audio (narrated by S.Fry himself), and ebook formats.

Stephen Fry is simply a treasure. He's erudite and genuinely funny, urbane but not stuffy. He's self deprecating and frighteningly intelligent but not above being naughtily delighted over a raunchy pun. No surprise, then, that he turned his prodigious writing talent to Greek mythology, this time the heroes of the myths: Perseus, Heracles, Bellerophon, Orpheus, Jason, Atalanta, Oedipus and Theseus. Readers will certainly be familiar with the basic stories; what's new are the asides and footnotes. There are comments on etymology and how the genesis of these stories disappears into our human prehistory. There are also plenty of linguistic asides, showing the threads between the origins of words which are used down through history to today.

There is plenty of truly bloody horrifically violent material in the Greek mythos, but he manages to extract the absurd, the comedic, the ridiculous, and give it his own twist, and in a few cases he left me gasping with laughter. There was a lot of obscure information with which I was unfamiliar, despite my unhealthy obsession with Bullfinch and Graves.

Loved this. Laughed so much. This would make a superlative classroom support book or recommended text for history, classics, group read, home library, etc. Good, well written, worthy historical commentary doesn't have to be boring. What a treasure Mr. Fry is.

Five stars. I'll be revisiting this one and the first volume, and I can't wait to get my grubby little paws on the next one.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Riddle of the Fractal Monks (A Mathematical Mystery Book 3)

The Riddle of the Fractal Monks is the third in the Mathematical Mystery series by Jonathan Pinnock. Released 16th April 2020 by Duckworth on their Farrago imprint, it's 304 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

The setup and humor remind me very much of other humorous British SF(ish) classics: Fforde, Fowler, Grant/Naylor, Moore, Stross, Aaronovitch, et.al. It's not derivative, not really, the author has a slightly different humorous slant and oh, good heavens, the puns flow like a mighty river. Whilst reading, I definitely felt like the aforementioned authors were being channeled though...

There are genuinely funny moments and the pacing is frenetic and relentless. The bad guys are boo-worthy, the good guys are plucky and funny and brave (if often quite hapless) and the end result is enjoyably readable. This is precisely the type of mystery/speculative fiction I adore and I was honestly captivated from literally the first page. This is the first book in a while which has made me stay up late reading. The author is adept at writing in necessary backstory, so it does work well as a standalone, but I recommend the other volumes in the series quite highly.

Four and a half stars, rounded up for the writing. People who loathe puns (or intelligent humour) will likely not enjoy this one. Fans of Laundry Files, Red Dwarf, HHGttG, and the others will find a lot to like until the next Shadow Police novel hits the stands (if it ever does... yes, I'm lookin' at you, Paul Cornell). For North American readers, the spellings and vernacular are British English. Nothing which should prove frustrating in context.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Easy Vegetable Meals: A Fuss-Free Cookbook for Everyone

Easy Vegetable Meals is a well curated collection of appealing plant based recipes by Larissa Olczak. Released 16th June 2020 by Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 188 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

The book has a logical and easy to follow format. Following an introductory chapter which covers the background of vegetarian nutrition and lifestyle, tools, supplies, and ingredients, the following chapters include the recipes, arranged thematically by season. Nutritional information is included in the footer at the end of the recipes and includes calories, fat, sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, and micronutrients. 

The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Special classifications for each recipe (gluten free, nut free, 5 ingredient, vegan, etc) are included in a header bar. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. The book also includes a short author bio and a metric conversion chart, but lacks any index or a general ingredients index. The recipes themselves are varied, and represent a number of world cuisines. They're tasty and easily prepared and many are simple and easy to prepare, requiring few ingredients and little prep time.

My main quibble with the book is that the recipes are mostly not photographed. There are a few photos, and they're clear and attractive, but they only represent about 5% of the recipes included in the book. It is, however, a very well written book with a positive and upbeat "voice".

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Snakes for Kids: A Junior Scientist's Guide to Venom, Scales, and Life in the Wild

Snakes for Kids is a science based accessible guide to snakes and basic herpetology by Michael G. Starkey, educator and conservationist. Released 16th June 2020 by Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 79 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

The first section of the book introduces snakes as a general family; their common characteristics, behaviors, and classification. The second part of the book contains a good accessible and very colorful primer of specific snake species. Each entry includes a common name, the genus and species names, a helpful pronunciation guide, a color illustration, and a stat sheet for each one with range, habitat, size, habits, breeding, and other interesting facts. 

This is a science based factual guide aimed mostly at youngsters. I found it quite appealing and would definitely recommend it for the home or school library or a nice gift for an interested youngster. To appreciate and protect the future of our planet, young people have to learn to appreciate and love the creatures with whom we share the earth. A lot of ignorance and fear can be dispelled with calm and factual information. This book shows snakes in their habitats as interesting and worthy of our respect and protection. 

Five stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Essential Diet for Diverticulitis: A 3-Stage Nutrition Guide to Manage and Prevent Flare-Ups

Essential Diet for Diverticulitis is a well curated collection of recipes to help manage and control diverticulitis and soothe flare-ups. Released 16th June 2020 by Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 160 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

The book has a logical and easy to follow format. The first three chapters cover the background of ingredient selection, what diverticulitis is, what the diet entails and some general quick-start weekly meal plans. The author also includes some logical pointers, ingredients, and supplies. The recipe chapters are arranged thematically: fluids, low residue recipes (less stress on the gastro-intestinal tract), and high fiber recipes to provide bulk and help peristalsis and help prevent acute flare-ups. Nutritional information is included in the footer at the end of the recipes and includes calories, fat, sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, and micronutrients. 

The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. The book also includes a short author bio, but lacks a metric conversion chart, index or ageneral ingredients index. The author has also included a comprehensive bibliography and resource list. The recipes themselves are varied, and represent a number of world cuisines. They're tasty and easily prepared. 

My main quibble with the book is that the recipes are mostly not photographed. There are a few photos, and they're clear and attractive, but they only represent about 5% of the recipes included in the book. It is, however, a very well written book for a niche (and previously often ignored) group.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Who Speaks for the Damned (Sebastian St. Cyr #15)

Who Speaks for the Damned is the 15th Sebastian St. Cyr mystery by C. S. Harris. Released 7th April 2020 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 336 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Despite being the 15th book in the series, the author manages to strike a fine balance between introducing new characters, new plot elements, and a twisty and engaging mystery, while still delivering a satisfying interlude with the characters readers know and love. The strength and intelligence and synergistic delight of seeing Hero, her husband Sebastian, manservant Calhoun, and even his carriage tiger, Tom interacting and growing together is worth the read alone, but the author has wrapped the heart of the characters inside a historical plot rife with xenophobia, political machinations, blackmail, murder, and the unforgiving rigidity of 19th century societal mores and the overall effect is deep and engaging.

This is one of my favorite ongoing historical mystery series and I always look forward to new installments with anticipation. Although it's the latest of 15 books in the series, it works quite well as a standalone and new readers won't have any trouble following the story.

Five stars, a worthy addition. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.