A Family Guide to Terrariums for Kids

A Family Guide to Terrariums for Kids is a fun and practical tutorial guide for planning and creating terraria with the whole family. Due out 15th Sept 2020 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 112 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The layout is appealing and unfussy - easy to understand and accessible. It's full of very colorful photos and step by step tutorial graphics showing kids making their own terraria (with some help). 

The introduction covers some of the benefits of making a terrarium, selecting plants, and caring for them. The first chapters include a good introduction to selecting a container, preparing the terrarium and selecting planting substrate and other ingredients, plant selection and maintenance and aftercare.

The bulk of the book is taken up with 15 specific project tutorials (including succulent terrarium, marimo moss ball aquarium, carnivorous planting, and more. Each of the tutorials includes a materials list with items in a bullet list, a description, and step by step tutorials with photos. They are all very attractive and appealing and the photos are clear and easy to follow.  Most of the plants have both the common and botanical (Latin) names listed for clarity. 

The author has also included a short bio, resource list for sourcing plants and containers, and an index. This would make a superlative choice for a family with kids or home study unit, schoolroom or library activity (when/where allowed), makers groups and similar. 

Five stars. This is also a great choice for a kid-friendly lockdown activity.

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

A History of British Baking: From Blood Bread to Bake-Off

A History of British Baking is a survey course of baking throughout British history - and how it shaped and defined the culture. Due out in late 2020 from Pen & Sword on their History imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

The author writes with an accessible and engaging style. The introduction covers the genesis of the book, defining the scope and relevance - what's "British", what's "baking"? How indepth (the author asked) should the technical/chemical/physical study of baking be? What was relevant? I found this introductory musing quite interesting as it gave a sort of insider look at the genesis and shaping of the entire book. (I always read introductions and forewords and often find them invaluable and relevant to the rest of the reading, certainly true in this case). 

I found the actual book a bit scattered occasionally. It was sometimes difficult to see the progression of thoughts as the author flitted from one subject to the next. There is an overarching chronological timeline from medieval baking, progressing through the Tudor & Stuart periods, to the Georgians, and on to the modern era however which gave some structure. 

There are some historically period recipes reproduced here for things varied (and delicious sounding along with some rather alarming ). The inclusion of period recipes for mooncakes, meat patties, roqaq (like matzoh) and more add some interest and will be fun to reproduce and try, but by far the emphasis is on the history behind the development and blending of the cultures which make up Britain.

The book is meticulously annotated throughout. The author has cited both period and modern scholarly research to support the narrative. There are numerous chapter notes, and an index. The chapter notes alone will keep keen readers going for ages.

The author has a casual academic style of writing; accessible and careful, with proper annotation, but not overly convoluted or impenetrably difficult to read. She manages to convey a wealth of information without being pedantic or preachy. I really enjoyed reading this historical catalogue of how closely food is intertwined with place, with social development and expansion, and with the people who live/d in Britain.

This would be a great choice for libraries, local historians, food historians, period reproduction cooks, Bed & Breakfast/hospitality, or for fans of British cuisine.

Five stars. It's abundantly clear that the author has poured prodigious effort and careful academic research into this tome. I can't imagine there's much left unanswered about Britain's culinary traditions. I felt very much enlightened after reading it, anyhow.

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

100 Cookies: The Baking Book for Every Kitchen, with Classic Cookies, Novel Treats, Brownies, Bars, and More

100 Cookies is a tutorial and recipe collection for everyday and fancy baked goodies developed and curated by Sarah Kieffer. Released 25th Aug 2020 by Chronicle Books, it's 304 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a definitive and extensive collection of recipes with something for everyone - from classics (chocolate chip cookies, brownies) to fairly fancy and innovative (olive oil sugar cookies with blood orange glaze, lavender cookies with white chocolate - créme fraîche glaze). These will gladden the hearts of anyone who has ever searched in vain for a cookie recipe to take to a family gathering or other event. This will become a staple for every cook who enjoys holiday baking.

The introduction (indeed the whole book) is written very clearly and covers everything from tools to supplies to "how-to" tutorials and techniques. The recipes are grouped roughly thematically: the classics, brownies & blondies, fruitextravaganza, the next level (fancy!), time to play, pan banging cookies (special technique for getting crispy edges and gooey centers), and mix & match. The author has also included a generous selection of affiliated baking and ingredient recipes including pie dough, puff pastry, brown butter, pastry cream, lemon curd, and others.

The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard with metric measurements in parentheses (yay!). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Yields, description, and prep time 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 conversion charts, along with an index including an ingredients index. There is a short bibliography and links for sourcing specialized ingredients and equipment. The recipes themselves are varied, and represent a wide variety of holidays and occasions to celebrate. They're tasty and many are simple and easy to prepare, requiring few ingredients and little prep time. Other recipes are *very* fancy and will impress even the most jaded tastes. I am definitely going to take the sugar cookies with blood orange glaze to our departmental cookie meet-up this winter (assuming we're allowed to gather by then). 

Five stars. This is a winner collection.

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

Uprooted: A Gardener Reflects on Beginning Again

Uprooted is a compassionate and intelligent look at the process of leaving behind one home and garden built up over 34 years and moving to another place and making it home. Due out 29th Sept 2020 from Workman Publishing on their Timber Press imprint, it's 244 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a plainly and honestly told account of the author and her husband deciding in their 7th and 8th decades to downsize their house and gardens and start over in a new place. She briefly describes their search for a house and the language she used really resonated with me. She spoke of wanting to find a new place so badly "It is amazing how sometimes you try to talk yourself into a house because you desperately want to latch onto a home.". I can definitely relate to that sentiment, having gone through a similar process in the recent past.

She relates their subsequent discovery and purchase of "Church House", their renovations, their relocation, and takover and regeneration of their new gardens. The rest of the book is given over to a discussion of the different areas of their new property, woodland, fen, and meadow, planting an orchard, and siting and building a "small" greenhouse attached to their garage.

Throughout the book are gorgeous, clear, abundant, and well annotated photos of the gardens, features, and varieties they have acquired.  It's a warm and engaging story, well told, and I enjoyed it very much. This would make a superlative selection for gardeners, library, makers groups, garden clubs, and the like.

Five stars.

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

Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin

 

Dark Archives is a scholarly and well written study of anthropodermic bibliopegy, bookbinding in human skin. Due out 20th Oct 2020 from Macmillan on their Farrar Strauss & Giroux imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook format. 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.

The subject matter is both dark, repellent, and somewhat shocking. This book does a good job of looking at the subject scientifically, almost clinically. There aren't any lurid photos and the only shocking statements included are quotes which were mostly debunked. The most lurid, extreme statements about books and artifacts turned out to almost always be bound in the skins of other animals (most often sheep, goat, and horse).

As a medical professional, my education included a number of courses of instruction in ethics which covered the Hippocratic oath, informed consent, patient confidentiality and body autonomy among other subjects. I can't, however, remember that we ever covered this subject (though I distinctly remember a lecture about the creation and use of teaching samples for physiology and anatomy instruction - that made for uncomfortable listening).  

The entire Anthropodermic Book Project, and the author Megan Rosenbloom provide an interesting scientific look at a bizarre footnote in medical biblio-history. This volume also includes extensive annotations, a bibliography, and index. Meticulously researched and written in layman accessible language.  Five stars.

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

The Angel of the Crows

The Angel of the Crows is a period historical urban fantasy mashup of Holmes & Watson and Jack the ripper by Katherine Addison. Released 23rd June 2020 by Macmillan on their Tor Forge imprint, it's 448 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook 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.

This is a wingfic retetelling of several Holmes and Watson adventures with Holmes reimagined as a black winged angel guarding over London, Dr. Doyle (Watson) battling a supernatural injury and the both of them solving mysteries and generally keeping London safer for the populace. 

The author has a strong and deft touch with characterization and detailed flowing period dialogue. I felt, however, that the central characters weren't ever made to be anything but Holmes & Watson (with wings, yes, and Watson's trying not to turn into a soulless creature of the night... but other than that). I'm an admittedly huge canonical Holmes & Watson nerd, and the plots of the stories included are instantly recognizable and mostly unchanged. 

There are some moderately subtle elements of gender fluidity and a sweet bromance between the titular characters in the book, but nothing graphic. In fact, the attraction(?) was too subtle for me. I wouldn't hold it up as a beacon of representation for LGBQTIA readers. It is straight up Holmes and Watson with supernatural creatures. The author is a very capable wordsmith and I did enjoy reading it very much, but the blurb promising "not the characters you expect" was a bit misleading because they were exactly the characters I expected. (and that, at least in my case, isn't a bad thing).

Four stars.

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

Live Life Deliciously with Tara Teaspoon: Recipes for Busy Weekdays and Leisurely Weekends

Live Life Deliciously with Tara Teaspoon is a cooking and lifestyle guide with recipes developed by Tara Teaspoon. Due out 6th Oct 2020 from Shadow Mountain Publishing, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

The layout is appealing and unfussy - easy to understand and accessible. The introduction includes a simple pantry list along with a good basic equipment list for stocking a working home kitchen. The recipes are arranged by category: bites dips & snacks, salads bowls & dressings, sides, weeknight meals, flavor inspired dinners, meals for gathering, mornings, and sweets. The dishes are varied in complexity and taste (I didn't feel any of them were unachievable in my very basic home kitchen).

Ingredient measurements are supplied in American measurements only. There wasn't a conversion chart for metric measures included in the eARC provided for review. Nutritional information not included.  Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in sidebars with the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex. The book does include an index.

The photography is clear and abundant; most of the recipes are illustrated, and the photographs which are included are crisp and well done. Serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate.

This is a large collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are similar to others in the same category, this will keep cooking fans going for ages. These range from simple "everyday" recipes to fancier dishes for social gatherings. We tried several dishes and all of them were tasty and well written. (We didn't try any of the dessert recipes, but I found no glaring errors with a quick read-through).

We're definitely going to try more of these.  Well written book, tasty food.

Four stars. This is a solid recipe book which will be used. It would make a superlative housewarming gift to a friend or family member - college student, new graduate, newlyweds, kids flying the nest, etc. Many of these recipes are destined to become family favorites and regulars. 

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

Wild Girl: How to Have Incredible Outdoor Adventures

Wild Girl: How to Have Incredible Outdoor Adventures is an exuberant illustrated guide particularly aimed at young girls (circa teen/tween aged) for finding adventure written by TV presenter personality Helen Skelton. Originally published in the UK in 2019, this North American edition is due out 6th Oct 2020 from Candlewick Press. It's 144 pages and will be available in hardcover format (other editions available in other formats).

I enjoyed this encouraging and adventurous guide which gives young people a good and healthy role model. There is an emphasis on safety, fun, and of course adventure wherever one finds oneself - desert, forest, mountains, or city. The book contains many suggestions for having adventures, learning new skills, and trying new things. The suggestions are as varied as trying ziplining or trying new foods and new cultures. Interspersed with the encouraging mini-adventures for readers are the photos and descriptions Ms. Skelton herself experienced during her years as co-presenter on Blue Peter. which included an ultra-marathon in the desert, bicycling to the south pole, and kayaking down the Amazon.

Each of her adventures includes a description of the feat, sidebars with notes and tidbits of challenges, trivia, and interesting asides about how it felt and what she experienced. The book is graphically very appealing with an exuberant and colorful layout and lots of photos. While her suggestions for readers' own adventures aren't quite as daunting as solo kayaking 2000 miles on the Amazon, they're challenging enough. Each of them includes a description, necessary gear, training suggestions, and safety tips.

I liked very much that the book also includes a short list of other girls and women who have exceeded all expectations and rules and succeeded in their chosen sports - free running, boxing, skateboarding, wheelchair motocross, and more. Impressive. This would be a superlative gift or classroom library selection for young people (especially girls).

Four stars.

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

The Nidderdale Murders (Yorkshire Murder Mysteries #5)

The Nidderdale Murders is the 5th book in the Yorshire Mysteries by J.R. Ellis. Released 20th Aug 2020 on Amazon's Thomas & Mercer imprint, it's 301 pages and available in paperback, 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book and the rest of the series are currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

These books are well written engaging procedurals which are tightly plotted, set against the Yorkshire countryside: hills, moors, and fells. Although it's part of a series, it works quite well as a standalone. There are references to occurrences from previous books in the series, but they don't play a central role in the action and readers new to the series won't have any troubles keeping up. 

DCI Oldroyd is an experienced and practical investigator in charge of a team of intelligent and hardworking detectives. The unexpected shotgun murder of a local retired judge has the team looking for motives from the past and present. I enjoyed the writing and I really liked Oldroyd's relationship with his family and colleagues. He's an honest and compassionate officer and the development of the plot and denouement were satisfying and well written. Looking forward to more in this series which compares quite favourably with P.D. James' wonderful Adam Dalgleish books.

Four stars.

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

Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery

Midwinter Murder is a collection of 12 short stories plus an autobiographical Christmas vignette introduction by Dame Agatha Christie herself. Due out 20th Oct 2020 from HarperCollins on their William Morrow imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

These stories span publication dates from the 1920s through 1954 (with the exception of the autobiography excerpt from 1977). Christie's perennial sleuths are represented with appearances by Poirot, Miss Marple, Tommy & Tuppence, Harley Quinn, Parker Pyne, and a corking Walter Mitty-esque adventure story. I had read all of them before, but it's a lot of fun to re-read them again. 

With the uncertainty and upheaval going on in the world today, sometimes the temptation to retreat into a vanished safe world where the murders are bloodless, the characters are civilized, and the violence is remote is irresistable. These stories will make wonderfully entertaining fireside comfy-chair reading for old Christie fans and new alike.

Four stars.

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

60-Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles Short Forensic Mysteries to Challenge Your Inner Amateur Detective

60-Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles is a collection of short vignette brain teaser mysteries by Diane Capri (aka M. Diane Vogt). Due out 15th Sept 2020 from Quarto on their Fair Winds imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is a collection of short vignette style mystery plots for armchair detectives to analyze and answer. They are 1-2 pages in length and set up very simply. There's little "puzzling" or reasoning involved and as such, some readers will be disappointed.  The way the book's puzzles struck me were as very short capsule setups for mystery fiction taken more or less directly from a writer's idea journal for future works.

The author's solutions are listed in the back of the book, so readers won't be left hanging. Rated on a strictly puzzle/brain teaser level, I would give this two and a half stars. It's not a brain teaser book. Looked at as a glimpse at a published mystery writer's idea book, it's a solid 4 stars. This would make a superlative exercise book for creative writing classes and for would-be mystery writers to see the genesis of ideas for fiction. I am certainly not suggesting that writers plaigiarize the included vignettes (for one thing, the author's a lawyer!) but they do provide a good source to see how relatively simple ideas can be built into longer fiction.

Two and a half stars for the puzzle aspect, four for the value as an idea book/writing tool. If the author and publisher had marketed it as such, it might have found a wider audience.

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

The Four Profound Weaves

 

The Four Profound Weaves is a transformative fable from the Birdverse about identity, individual transition, society, and good vs. evil, Due out 4th Sept 2020 from Tachyon, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a weirdly beautiful fantasy novel about identity, culture, transformation, hope, and the challenges of finding/making acceptance (not least from ourselves). It's told in alternating PoV. The voices of the narrators are distinct enough that it never became problematic to see which of them was speaking (but the chapters are also labeled to keep them distinct from one another). 

The author is sublimely talented. Being directly cast into the novel and feeling completely lost because the narrative itself is unexplained and without context was confusing and uncomfortable. It took me a while to become comfortable in the story. The writing was so beautifully lyrical and sublime that I felt compelled to stick with it and was rewarded by becoming more and more enthralled as the story progressed until the transformative and uplifting ending.

The author weaves pain and anger and futility and longing interspersed with hope and a not ungentle sardonic humor into a fable which tells truth. This will certainly be touted as a queer nonbinary transformational story (and it is that), but it's so much more. The author writes eloquently for all of us who are outsiders, who don't fit easily into the molds imposed by society culture and our own expectations. It's a melancholy parable but also full of hope. The author's style reminds me of Ursula K. Le Guin and Sheri Tepper in some ways. Fans of those author's won't want to miss this one.

Five stars. This is masterfully written. I don't know when the cutoff dates are for the Hugo, but I sincerely hope this one makes the list. It deserves to win.

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

Earth Almanac: A Year of Witnessing the Wild, from the Call of the Loon to the Journey of the Gray Whale

Earth Almanac is a fascinating and engaging glimpse into an environmentalist's observations recorded over the course of a year by Ted Williams. Due out 29th Sept 2020 from Storey Publishing, it's 256 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

The book is full of unadorned small vignettes full of observations about nature, wildlife, and plants. The author's recollections are grouped roughly by season: winter, spring, summer, and fall. The writing is gentle, accessible, self-reflective, and comforting. This would make a superlative read in odd moments sitting by a wood fire.

The text is enhanced by small monochrome illustrations of birds, flowers, insects, and other nature subjects. The book also includes an abbreviated resources and links lists along with an index.

Five stars. Recommended for smallholders, readers of natural history, nature lovers, and anyone who needs a quiet comfort read.

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

How to Brew Hard Seltzer: A Guide for Craft Breweries and Homebrewers

 

How to Brew Hard Seltzer: A Guide for Craft Breweries and Homebrewers is a technical guide with some tutorial instruction for engaged hobby zymurgists up through small scale professionals to create alcoholic seltzers. Due out 7th Sept 2020 from Brewer's Publications, it's 250 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The book follows a logical layout and is meticulously annotated throughout. Although it's slanted toward the professional/technical end of the scale, there's a fair amount of background history and information to keep non-brewers interested. I found it a fascinating read and read it straight through cover to cover. An introductory history and background leads into chapters covering characteristics, ingredients, instruction for craft breweries (professional scale) to produce seltzer along with recipes, government regulations, instructions and recipes for homebrewers, and cocktail recipes for using the seltzers produced. 

The appendices include tutorials for beginning brewers with instructions for both seltzers and beer. The tutorials include good equipment lists, definitions of brewing terms, and relatively simple step-by-step instructions. Recipe ingredients are contained in bullet lists in the sidebar with American standard units given along with metric/SI measures in parentheses. Ingredients and varieties of hops, yeast, etc are very specific and will require a specialist retailer for sourcing. Alternatives and variation ingredients are listed in the recipes. 

This is a -very- thorough and interesting book, but I would imagine it might be intimidating for complete beginners (maybe not with some mentoring from a local brewing supplier). My only quibble with the book was that I felt there was an implied elitist prejudice against anything other than -real- beer; that seltzer is a hipster drink, but it sells like crazy, so we have to produce what the customers want. It wasn't terribly overt, but it really was noticeable several places.

I've never before seen a book on brewing hard seltzers. This one is definitive. Five stars (despite the weird implied elitism).

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

A Choir of Crows (Owen Archer #12)

A Choir of Crows is the 12th Owen Archer medieval mystery by Candace Robb. Released 30th June 2020 by Severn House on their Crème de la Crime imprint, it's 288 pages and available in hardcover 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 series is a meticulously researched masterpiece with believable characters, engaging plots, subtlety, murder, and well written narrative set against an overarching background of historical skullduggery, politics and the attendant mayhem which inevitably follows powerful people trying to grasp and solidify even more power. This particular installment sees Owen disentangling two mysterious deaths in his official capacity which soon turn into three.

The plots are always convoluted and well engineered, full of twists and surprises and this one certainly fits the bill. The story itself is written around a framework of real historical events and people and so well entwined that it's not always apparent where reality shades over into fiction. 

Whilst an entertaining read, I did find myself struggling sometimes with the plethora of secondary characters and keeping all the servants, drudges, shopkeepers, and religious adherents of various orders and affiliations straight was taxing for me. I found myself having to check back in the story to remember which family was which. It's a relatively minor problem though, and considering the high quality of the writing, worth the occasional confusion. 

Overall, it's a good read and a quality example of the historical mystery subgenre. I highly recommend this book (and the series) to fans of P.C. Doherty, Kate Sedley, Michael Jecks, and similar. Four stars.

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

My Very First Cookbook

 

 My Very First Cookbook is a tutorial cookbook and recipe collection for the youngest cooks. Due out 13th Oct 2020 from Sourcebooks Explore, it's 88 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is an exuberant little book full of yummy healthy recipes aimed at younger kids (circa 4 years+). There aren't any photos, but the illustrations are clear and easy to follow. The book has a logical format an intoduction covers safety and hygeine and getting help from an adult for some tasks. 

The recipes are arranged roughly thematically: breakfast, lunch, snacks, beverages, dinner, sides, desserts, and bonus deliciousness (philosophical musings about having fun in the kitchen, communication, and creativity). They have their ingredients listed bullet style in the sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only (there's a metric conversion table in the front). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. The ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex. Extra tips and recipe alternatives are listed in text boxes in the recipes.

This would make a superlative choice for a family with kids or home study units for such diverse subjects as chemistry (what do you think will happen?, how did the food change as we were cooking?), maths (measuring), and others (how does the food we eat differ from the food kids eat in other parts of the world?, how is it similar or the same?). 

Five stars. This is also a great choice for lockdown activity during lockdown.

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

Building Your Tiny House Dream: Create and Build a Tiny House with Your Own Hands

Building Your Tiny House Dream is a tutorial and pictorial guide to tiny house living by Chris Schapdick. Due out 1st Oct 2020 from Fox Chapel on their Creative Homeowner imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format.

There are so many good reasons to simplify our lives: using fewer of the limited resources, reducing our imprint on the earth, personal economy, the desire to live a debt free life, This is a surprisingly inspiring and complete handbook for planning, resourcing supplies, and building a camper style tiny ("gypsy caravan") home.

The book has a no-nonsense, no-frills layout. The introduction includes a gallery of features included in this build. The first main section provides a good overview of what tiny house living entails, some background bio from the author himself, what the tiny house "scene" looks like currently and an overview over what it's actually like to live in a tiny home.

The second part covers the nuts and bolts of the actual build including a well photographed step by step tutorial: building the shell, designing and carrying out decorating and choosing features, and possibilities/challenges with kitchen and bathroom. There are also a number of sample floorplans showing various uses for the finished build.

The author has included a number of useful appendices such as resources (with lots of links), a short bibliography, checklists, and an index.

This is a very useful and practical handbook. It would be a good choice for handy builders, self sufficiency readers, DIY folks, dreamers, and similar.

Five stars.

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

FODMAP Friendly: 95 Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Recipes for the Digestively Challenged

FODMAP Friendly is a culinary guide and recipe collection for plant-based digestive health/comfort by Georgia McDermott. Originally released in Australia in 2018, this North American release, due out 22nd Sept 2020 from The Experiment is 224 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

I really enjoyed the author's humor and witty style of writing. It's conversational and upbeat and encouraging without ever being patronizing. She explains some of her background with SIBO/gastroparesis and her own food experiences trying to get her digestive system in order. I imagine many readers suffering digestive issues (bloating, pain, IBS, etc) will be nodding along reading about her history getting a diagnosis and treatment plan underway whilst trying to get her digestion under control. The included recipes are well written and appealing. When I think of low-FODMAP/gluten-free foods, they're mostly bland and tasteless. These are anything but boring.

The recipes are grouped roughly thematically: Breakfasts, lighter recipes, grown-up dinners, grab and go baking, the sweet life, and social gatherings and special dinners. They have their ingredients listed bullet style in the sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard with metric measures in parentheses. Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. The ingredients are mostly easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. The included recipes cover a number of world cuisines including Indian, Asian, European, North & South American, a truly blended selection. 

The book has a resource list with links for further reading, short author bio, and index.The photography is clear and plentiful. The photos which are included in the cookbook are well done, appealing, and (for tutorial photos) easy to follow.

This book would make a great gift/housewarming for someone looking for vegetarian low-FODMAP recipes as well as fans of food prep planning / batch cooking.

Four and a half stars rounded up because of the author's truly engaging funny style and the beautifully developed recipes themselves.

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

A Small Farm Future: Making the Case for a Society Built Around Local Economies, Self-Provisioning, Agricultural Diversity, and a Shared Earth

A Small Farm Future is an expository essay in several parts making a case for a fundamental paradigm shift toward self-sufficiency, local economy, and responsible resource allocation and use. Due out 21st Oct 2020 from Chelsea Green Publishing, it's 320 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is a well written and thorough examination of the current paradigm for food production, resource use, transportation and global interdependency. The introduction includes some background and the genesis of the book along with a cautionary tale about the nature of consumerism told through the parable of the civet cat and the manufacture and trade in kopi luwak coffee.

The first section covers the problems challenging modern civilization: population, climate, energy, soil, water, land, health/nutrition, politics, and culture. The author writes persuasively and confidently, and I found myself nodding along at several places. The only problem is that much (most) of this book feels like "preaching to the choir". For the people who are liberal, compassionate, dreamers, and who want peace love life and prosperity for everyman, this is resounding truth, obvious and undeniable. For the people who are Ayn Rand economic darwinists (altruism = *bad*, unfettered self-interest = *good*) they'll either pop an aneurysm by page 23 or else throw/burn the book and bury the ashes with a barrowload of garlic at a crossroads somewhere - they're not likely to be swayed from what they believe and they'll continue consuming at a breakneck pace until the inevitable collapse.

That being said, there is quite a lot of information here. There are templates and theoretical gardens for different uses and niches in the locally driven society.  The author continues building the thought-picture with the ideas of how these local farms could entertwine to build up local communities which could better withstand the coming contraction from the unsustainable system we are living in currently.

In a number of ways, his writing reminds me of a whimsical cross between Thoreau and John Seymour. For people longing for a better way, this book does have the ring of truth. For people saying "we can't afford that"... they're not likely to be swayed. I think the ideas are important and anyone who is paying any kind of attention sees that as a species we're sailing directly for the rocks, and we have to do something, but I'm not sure how much practical application can be found in this book. It can start the important conversations though, and that's worthwhile.

Four stars. Recommended for self sufficiency readers, smallholders, politicians, sociology readers, and the like. The book includes copious notes and an extensive bibliography and will be a rich source to mine for further information. There's also a cross-referenced index.

Four stars.

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

Busy Little Hands: Food Play!: Activities for Preschoolers

Busy Little Hands: Food Play! is one of a series of new activity books for preschoolers and their caregivers. Due out 10th Nov 2020 from Storey Publishing, it's 48 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is an absolutely exuberant, brightly colored, and fun little book chock full of great ideas to engage young kids in mastering simple cooking skills. The text is very simple and the included recipes are well photographed, tasty and will appeal to almost everyone. The dishes do not require cooking or baking and food prep steps don't require cutting with sharp tools. The steps which require some (minor) help from an adult helper are clearly marked in highlighted text sidebars in each recipe tutorial.

There are gentle tips in the text for youngsters covering manners and etiquette (it's ok to like different foods, before having seconds, make sure everyone has had firsts, it's not nice to "yuck" someone else's "yum"). The foods are tasty and nutritionally responsible. Nearly all of the recipes are vegetarian, and some of them are vegan. There is one included recipe which mentions and shows lunchmeat as an ingredient, but could easily be converted to vegetarian by substituting meat for vegetarian friendly ingredients. All of the recipes have clear photos included in the tutorials. Serving suggestions are appealing and appropriate.

This would be a superlative gift, excellent classroom or library group selection for activity groups, a wonderful parent/caregiver activity, or even for babysitters and child-minders looking to up their playfood activity time game with their small charges. Cooking allows children to improve fine motor skills, gives them a feeling of accomplishment and control. 

I loved this one. It's simple but so well done. The recipes are simple and the ingredients are easy to find at any grocery store.

Five stars.

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

Monarchs of the Sea: The Extraordinary 500-Million-Year History of Cephalopods

Monarchs of the Sea is a fascinating and factual look at cephalopods past and present by Dr. Danna Staaf. Originally published in 2017 as Squid Empire, this reformat and re-release by The Experiment is due out 15th Sept. 2020. It's 256 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

There are a handful of popular science and zoology writers who have the gift of writing layman accessibly and interestingly on their topics of expertise. Dr. Staaf is another such. This book is factual, science based, well annotated, but never dry and never devolves into pedantry or pedagoguery. I can imagine that she would be a capable teacher.

It's well laid out and follows a logical format. The introduction includes a very short author bio and some of her background in which I saw my younger self mirrored. She was "the girl with a pet octopus" and I was always the kid with the weird pets (snails, beetles, bees, snakes, etc.) too. The chapters are arranged more or less chronologically, a basic introduction covers some physiology and habitat, followed by the rise of prehistoric cephalopods.

The discussion of early cephalopods includes lots of diagrams explaining the different evolutionary innovations and adaptations which gave advantages to those early species from shells with enclosed air chambers to provide buoyancy, water-jet propulsion movement, and neurological advances. There are, today, four basic groups of cephalopods extant: squid, cuttlefish, octopi, and nautili and the author discusses each in depth both in historical context and more thoroughly in the modern day.

The author also does a good job of realisticailly presenting the conservation challenges of species which have lived hundreds and hundreds of millions of years and are now facing catastrophic losses because of climate change, pollution, loss of habitat, and other man made problems. The book is exhaustively annotated, providing rich resources for further reading.

For readers who have Rachel Carson, Richard Dawkins, and Stephen Jay Gould on their bookshelves, this will be a fascinating read. Four stars.

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

How to Grow Your Dinner: Without Leaving the House

How to Grow Your Dinner Without Leaving the House is a fascinating and useful resource for container growing edible plants no matter what one's resources and space considerations. Due out 27th Aug 2020 from Laurence King Publishing, it's 128 pages and will be available in flexibound format.

I was surprised how much info I gleaned from this volume as well as how many usable bits of info were appropriate to my uses (despite having access to a large outdoor vegetable gardening area for the gardening season). The layout is accessible and logical. The introductory chapters cover some background (why grow vegetables indoors), planning (what should readers specifically grow), finding and using space efficiently, getting started, and some troubleshooting.  The following chapters cover planting, transplanting seedlings into containers, maintaining plants and regular culture, troubleshooting, an herbal full of plants to grow and their specific culture requirements, and seasonal growing and space efficiency.

Full of specific advice for the challenging indoors culture of plants, this is an ideal book for people who either don't have access to more traditional growing platforms, or choose to extend the season indoors, or garden indoors year round (apartment dwellers and urban folks). A lot of the info will be useful to traditional gardeners as well who want to up their indoor gardening game. This volume is really full of interesting and useful tips and tricks. Photography and instructions are clear and easy to follow and understand. Especially important info is highlighted in text boxes in the sidebars. The book includes a cross referenced index.

Four stars. Well written and useful. Do I think that readers are going to be able to make a significant contribution to their vegetable intake? No, not really in practical terms. Do I think it's a valuable and worthwhile exercise -especially- with kids and -especially- in the current stressful climate of uncertainty with a pandemic and other social and cultural upheavals? Absolutely! Anything that gives us any semblance of control and even a small feeling of food security is invaluable. 

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

I am a Capybara

I am a Capybara is a short and sweet picture book for the youngest readers written and illustrated by Michela Fabbri. Originally published in Italian in 2018, this English translation published by Princeton Architectural Press in 2020 is 40 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

The art is whimsical and appealing (see cover), and the text is simple and easy to read. It's written in free verse in short sentences which will allow smaller children to follow along with the reading and allow older kids to practice reading on their own. The text flows very well and it doesn't read as if it's been translated. 
 
This would make a super choice for classroom/public library, home library, or gift. Really cute and I liked that the narrator (a capybara) has a very philosophical attitude about life and his own capybara-ness. 


That capybara are relatively little known animals will give an opportunity for further learning by searching for and learning about them and other creatures' natural habitats and ranges. 

Four stars

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

American Axe: The Tool That Shaped a Continent

American Axe is a comprehensive and interesting history with tutorials of the ubiquitous and (previously) unsung tool which helped tame the North American continent. Due out 29th Sept 2020 from Storey Publishing, it's 192 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The author writes authoritatively and well with practicality and humor about axes of all types and uses. The introduction is a good primer on axes and shows the anatomy of the axe parts, interesting background and development, construction, and more. I found the pictorial essay on axe construction at the Brant & Cochran forge especially fascinating and admit that I hadn't really thought too much about where the tools we depend on actually *come* from. Buying an axe these days entails walking into a big box store or farm coop as contrasted a couple hundred years ago when acquiring and caring for such a vital tool could literally mean survival in an inhospitable climate. Axes were necessary for providing shelter, fuel, clearing land, and sometimes even for defense. This chapter also gives a good overview of the different types of axes and a short explanation of the tasks for which each type is dedicated.

The following chapters go more in depth and are aimed at homesteading tasks, a look at antique axes, modern axes, an extremely useful and comprehensive tutorial for sourcing and restoring axes found "in the wild", and a final chapter with throwing axes and other fun pastimes. This chapter also includes a spiffy tutorial for building a throwing bullseye target for throwing practice. Several places throughout, the author has also included fascinating tidbits about competitive wood chopping and other lumberjack games.

The photography is crystal clear and abundant. There are numerous short tutorials included with advice and step-by-step instructions for diverse tasks such as building an outdoor fire effectively and safely, felling a tree (safely), stripping bark, squaring timbers, an overview of finishing timbers for cabin building, and more.

The layout and design of the book are rustic and rugged and I especially liked the inclusion of antique advertising print ads for long vanished manufacturers. (Our Peerless Axe! Dunn EdgeTool co. Oakland, Maine). The book also includes a cross referenced index. This would make a superlative selection for homesteaders, smallholders, tool fanatics, historical recreators, and allied hobbyists.

Five stars for the target audience. This is a definitive guide.

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

The Redemption Murders (Charles Dickens & Superintendent Sam Jones #6)

The Redemption Murders is the 6th book in the Charles Dickens historical mystery series by J.C. Briggs. Released 6th July 2020 by Sapere Books, it's 372 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 and the rest of the series are currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

I've really enjoyed these historical mysteries set in the middle of the 19th century in London and environs. Charles Dickens is clever, loyal, dogged, and practical and his friendship and cooperative investigation with superintendant Sam Jones makes for engaging and entertaining reading. The plots are always convoluted and well engineered, full of twists and surprises. The story itself is written around a framework of real historical events and people and so well entwined that it's not always apparent where reality shades over into fiction. 

Whilst an entertaining read, I did find myself struggling sometimes with the plethora of secondary characters and keeping all the sailors, hostlers, drudges, shopkeepers, and servants straight was taxing. I found myself having to check back in the story to remember which family was which, especially since there were lots of minor children who were orphans in the care of other people. It's a relatively minor problem though, and considering the high quality of the writing, worth the occasional confusion. 

Overall, it's a good read and a quality example of the historical-person-as-amateur-sleuth subgenre. Four stars.

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