Mend It, Wear It, Love It!: Stitch Your Way to a Sustainable Wardrobe

Mend It, Wear It, Love It! is a tutorial and style guide to re-imagining, mending, and re-purposing materials to support a more sustainable lifestyle. Due out 9th Feb 2021 from Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The pandemic and subsequent economic collapse have shown us what people have known for ages. Our current treadmill of ever faster and more frenetic consumption isn't sustainable for us or for the planet we share. We need to find another way to do better and we're really on the knife-edge of passing the point of no return.

This guide provides good and sensible tutorials for fixing and mending clothing. Most of the info was taught earlier in schools or by family members, but much of it has fallen to the wayside in an era of  fast fashion and disposable clothing. The tutorials are arranged thematically: basics (sewing, tools and supplies), mending clothing, wearing (hemming, adding patch pockets, and other alterations), and taking care of clothing with proper storage and cleaning. 

The book isn't exhaustively full of photos... but the tutorial photos which are included are sufficient, clear, and understandable. Many of the tutorials are also accompanied by colorful line drawn illustrations. 

This would make a superlative selection for library acquisition, maker's/activity groups, home library, or gift for a newly flown-the-coop child or friend. There's a lot of good usable information here.

Four stars.

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

The Self-Sufficiency Bible: Window Boxes to Smallholdings - Hundreds of Ways to Become Self-Sufficient. Simon Dawson

 

The Self-Sufficiency Bible: Window Boxes to Smallholdings is a collection of tutorials and tips for more self reliant lifestyle whatever the reader's current situation. First published in 2011, this reformat and re-release second edition is due out 9th Feb 2021 from Watkins Publishing. It's 337 pages and will be available in paperback format (other editions available in various other formats).

This is a very well and logically laid out book with hundreds of tips and small (to larger) tutorials. It's not a step by step manual for self-sufficiency to be followed slavishly. In fact there are so many small changes from which to choose that virtually all readers will find something to incorporate into their daily lives to move in a more self sustaining and self-reliant direction.

The way consumerist society is set up is an unsustainable cycle of buy-use-discard which has to move ever faster to maintain forward momentum. The very scary reality is that the vast majority of urban dwellers have nearly zero food security. This book provides numerous tips for increasing food and resource security and diminishing reliance on transport and resource heavy supply chains (which eat up even more of the scarce resources and increase costs astronomically).

The author is a former urbanite who made a paradigm shift to self sufficiency in the early 2000s and now teaches other how to life more simply and self-sustainably. 

This book is a goldmine of good advice from homemade dog biscuits to building a hoop house to setting up the first vegetable garden to butchering small stock. There are stops along the way to revisit crafts (basketry, tanning, jewellery-making, candle & papermaking, woodcarving and the like) as well as cooking, preserving, and sausage making. 

In a lot of really good ways, this book reminds me of John Seymour's iconic Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency, but with a lot more humor and, frankly, understanding for the modern lifestyle. There is no photography included in this volume; it's illustrated with clear retro-feeling line drawings. 

Four stars. Heartily recommended to all smallholders, dreamers, and readers looking for a more independent life with less reliance on commercial sources. This would also make a superlative selection for makers' groups, community/cooperative gardens and allotment collectives. 

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

River of Sins (A Bradecote and Catchpoll Investigation #7)

River of Sins is the 7th book in Sarah Hawkswood's medieval Bradecote & Catchpoll mystery series. Released 19th Nov 2020 by Allison & Busby, it's 352 pages and is 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 an intricately crafted and well engineered mystery wrapped around a meticulous and accurate historical framework. The characters are well established with realistic and believable internal motivations and agendas. The author is gifted at providing the necessary information without spoon-feeding readers (or drowning them with floods of unnecessary back story). The pacing is well measured and the whole is an engaging and delightful read. I was unfamiliar with the characters and hadn't read any of the previous books (an oversight I will be remedying immediately). I never felt lost or confused; it works very well as a standalone mystery. 

Despite the horrific nature of the prologue murder (a near-beheading with an axe), there are no really violent or graphic descriptions. The language is fairly clean (PG rated for some medieval double entendre) and the prose is well written. 

I would heartily recommend this one to readers of the historical murder mystery genre, especially fans of Sharon Kay Penman, Ellis Peters, Candace Robb, and Susanna Gregory (and similar). Fans of well written character driven mystery from any period will find much to enjoy here.

Five stars. 

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

Simplicity at Home: Japanese Rituals, Recipes, and Arrangements for Thoughtful Living

Simplicity at Home is a style, decor, and philosophy book by Yumiko Sekine. Due out 9th Feb 2021 from Chronicle Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a graphically beautiful and restfully appealing book. The abundantly photographed interiors and decor shots are very well curated and simple as well as elegant and minimalist. The linens and table settings especially are very well done. There is a lot of emphasis on natural fibres (mostly linen) and clean lines combined with monochrome (mostly undyed linen with a few touches of blue/indigo). 

Photos and interiors are arranged by season - Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring. These are thematic chapters (not really suggestions for decorating by season). The author makes a number of good points about choosing belongings wisely and making conscious choices about what appeals to us, what we keep around us, and what we dispose of (and why). There's quite a lot of Japanese minimalist philosophy and anti-consumerism throughout the book which will be welcome for some and uncomfortably close to a profoundly guilt-inducing truth for many others (me, it's me). 

Without going full-on Marie Kondo - nearly all of us are surrounded by too much stuff. Curating our belongings is a good idea. I read these books and agree philosophically - but still wind up surrounded by yarn/studio cabinets so full of yarn and fabrics that they are constantly threatening to explode. 

Anyhow, this book is wonderfully illustrated and beautifully curated. I would heartily recommend it to readers who enjoy interior design, organization, home interiors, and the like. Much of the content is slanted to the FogLinenWork brand aesthetic, but there is enough general information included to make it a worthwhile read for lovers of the genre and the eastern minimalist design style. 

Four stars. 

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

The "I Love My Instant Pot®" 5-Ingredient Recipe Book: From Pot Roast, Potatoes, and Gravy to Simple Lemon Cheesecake, 175 Quick and Easy Recipes

 

The "I Love My Instant Pot®" 5-Ingredient Recipe Book is a new addition to the popular Instant Pot series - this one by Michelle Fagone. Due out 9th Feb 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 240 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

Electric pressure cookers have changed the face of home cooking, and they're more popular than ever, with more programmable options and different volume capacities and cooking programs. I admit that I love the convenience factor for myself and that you can add ingredients and come back to well cooked, tasty food that isn't overcooked or mushy. Especially with vegetables, overcooking destroys a lot of the nutritive value, so cooking more quickly is a definite benefit. This cookbook has one huge benefit for me, it's convenient. None of the recipes require more than 5 main ingredients (not counting spices and seasonings). At the end of a busy day of work, it's so great to be able to (mostly) pop ingredients into the cooker, program it, and come back to dinner.

The book's logical and appealing layout mean that recipes are easy to find by category. The introductory chapter ~17% of the content) covers some background, how to cook with an electric pressure cooker (it's much MUCH easier and safer than people think), an FAQ on pressure cooking, a little bit about protein and ingredients, and other general info.

The main recipes are grouped by category: breakfast, soups stews & chili, beans rice & grains, appetizers, side dishes, chicken mains, beef & pork mains, seafood & fish mains, vegetarian mains, and desserts. US/metric conversion chart and a cross referenced index are included at the back of the book.

Each recipe includes serving yields, special notes, and prep times. Recipe ingredients are listed bullet point style along with optional ingredients. All measurements are given in American standard measures only. The directions are given step by step, numbered sequentially. The nutritional information is given in a footer under the recipes and includes calories, fat, protein, sodium, carbs, net carbs, sugar, and fiber.

The recipes' ingredients are easily sourced and the resultant dishes are family friendly and appealing to kids and adults. Roughly 20-25% of the recipes include photos. Everything is well done and I heartily recommend the book overall. There are a number of these recipes which have made it into my personal potluck recipe book of dishes to take to group dinners and family gatherings.

Good recipes, full of hearty and satisfying food.

Four and a half stars. I would recommend it for busy cooks who are looking to increase their use of the instant pot in their own daily cooking. The book does rely heavily on pre-made seasoning mixes and ready-made ingredients (premade salsa in a jar for example). All of the recipes can be converted (with some effort) to avoid premade and convenience mixes/seasonings. 

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

Clean Paleo Comfort Food Cookbook: 100 Delicious Recipes That Nourish Body Soul

Clean Paleo Comfort Food Cookbook is a lifestyle/diet guide with lots of varied recipes for paleo friendly food developed and curated by Jessica DeMay. Released 12 Jan 2021 by Quarto on their Fair Winds Press imprint, it's 192 pages and is available in paperback format.

The introduction includes a very good overview over the paleo diet, what it includes (and doesn't) and some theory behind the food selections. There's also an introduction to basic cooking equipment and ingredients. This book's angle is the addition of hearty nostalgic comfort food emphasis. Everyone has those special comfort food recipes and the author has made an effort to incorporate that emotional nostalgia into the mix. There's also an emphasis on "clean" paleo... there are no non-compliant foods, and no "reintroduced" ingredients, so readers looking for strictly paleo recipes won't have to make any substitutions or adjustments to the recipes included here to be paleo.

The recipes are grouped by category: basics, breakfast, appetizers & sides, chicken turkey & pork, beef, soups, and desserts. The recipes have their ingredients 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. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. Nutritional information is not included.  Tips and variations on each recipe are included in a text box at the end. Special dietary comments (low FODMAP, nut-free, egg-free, etc) are included in the headers.

The book also includes a short author bio and index (not included in the eARC for review, so I can't comment on those aspects of the book).

The photography is clear and attractive. Roughly 25% of the recipes include one or more photos which are easy to follow. Serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate.

Four stars. This would make a superlative selection for busy cooks wanting a simplified way to test the paleo diet and make a real effort to give it a genuine try in an accessible and logical manner. I would recommend it highly to cooks who are trying to incorporate healthier choices for their families without sacrificing taste and "family friendly" presentations.

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

Artists in Residence: Seventeen Artists and Their Living Spaces, from Giverny to Casa Azul

 

Artists in Residence is a simply and colorfully painted book with scenes and vignettes from 15 famous residences of 17 famous artists.  Due out 2nd Feb 2021 from Chronicle Books, it's 144 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

There really is a nice cross section of short bios and glimpses in this collection of artists. There are no photographs, it's all painted sketches and contextual tidbits about the lifestyles and residences of artists from Monet and Matisse, Frida Kahlo (and Diego Rivera), to Van Gogh, and Basquiat. I had never really thought holistically about their works partially being a product of the places they lived and their home lives. 

I especially enjoyed reading about Georgia O'Keeffe's simple life and serenity/escape in her kitchen. Somehow I had never really thought of her as particularly domestic or at home outside her own emotional strength and self reliance and the description of the scope, simplicity, and efficiency of her food growing and self-sufficiency gave me a deeper understanding of her life and maybe her art.

The illustrations are simple, in gouache and watercolor, as well as clear and appealing. There are a number of profound takeaways from the artist/authors' introduction which invite reflection and thought. 

This is a really well presented and appealing book. I would recommend it unhesitatingly to students of art, art history, biography, interior decor, painting, and allied subjects. This short volume would make a good selection for library acquisition, as well as an appropriate choice for an artist's studio library. 

Very well done. Four stars.

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

A Galway Epiphany (Jack Taylor #16)

 

A Galway Epiphany is the 16th book in the popular Irish PI-noir series by Ken Bruen. Released 3rd Nov 2020 by Mysterious Press, it's 256 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a well established series by a well established author picked up for film production to a wider public. In many (most) instances, this would cause the entire production team from author to writers and producers to play a safe bet and appeal to a wider audience (thus often gutting the appeal to the base audience). This is, very happily, not what has happened here. Former cop, turned irreverent cynical PI, Jack Taylor is his irascible unapologetic damaged self. A near death accident soon has him drawn back into his tenacious bulldog ways after he regains consciousness from his coma. 

This is a sharply written book in a clever and very well written crime series. It's redolent with barely constrained violence. It often positively vibrates with menace. One drawback should be mentioned. I was dismayed to see this version (?) heavily edited for North American audiences with American vernacular (cigarette, apartment, truck). It's quite jarring and a mistake I think. I missed the Irish ambience and found it distracting. After checking my other editions, I see that they have similarly Americanized vernacular. I found it distracting.

I enjoyed this read very much and found that it works moderately well as a standalone. I recommend the entire series - the author is sublimely talented at his craft. I'm not entirely sure if there is a UK edition (the publishing info is unclear), but if there is, I would seek it out. 

Four stars. A gut punch of a read with a diabolically shocking denouement and sublimely well written characters. Rough and tension filled. 

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

Through Rain and Missing Mantaurs (Elemental Rain #1)

 

Through Rain and Missing Mantaurs is a darkly written NA (?) fantasy by Jeanne Marcella. Originally published in 2013, this reformat and re-release with new cover art is 457 pages and available in 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.

This is a difficult book to categorize and review. It's not erotica, though there's sexual content. It's not precisely NA (and definitely not YA) because of the raw, explicit, potentially triggering content. It is full of drama, abuse (including humiliation, sexual and physical abuse). It's fantasy and there is a significant bestiality/non human sexual plot element. 

Much of the writing is meandering and unclear. The entire book reads like fanfic where the audience is already familiar with the main players, their motivations, the world, and its interactions. I was lost (and annoyed) for most of the read. There are courtesans (apparently highly paid ones) but no real thorough explanation of whom they service or why. There is a significant amount of wordage used on the wide ranging viciously cutthroat mail delivery but no clear explanation of why they're so competitive or what they're delivering or why there are so many competing groups (and why people trust them with their precious/valuable cargo when they're so badly compensated that apparently missing one day's work is enough to have the main protagonist picking through garbage to keep from starving to death). 

Scattered, unclear, stream-of-consciousness, inconsistent, distressingly explicit (but not titillating) and often annoying. There were glimmers of interesting world building, but they were fleeting and elusive and not enough to keep me invested in the story or the characters.

Two and a half stars.  

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

The Everything Easy DASH Diet Cookbook: 200 Quick and Easy Recipes for Weight Loss and Better Health

 

The Everything Easy DASH Diet Cookbook is a compilation, reformat, and re-release of content from The Everything® DASH Diet Cookbook from 2012 with additional new and updated material. Released 12th Jan 2021 by Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 272 pages (print edition) and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

I like the layout and formatting of the "Everything" cookbooks. They're easy to understand, generally easy to follow, and full of tasty, relevant, and do-able recipes. This one follows the same format and will be familiar to readers who have used the other books in the series. The introduction gives the basics about the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, what benefits it can provide (and why), other health advantages, and some nutrition and lifestyle info.

The recipes are arranged roughly thematically: breakfasts, appetizers & snacks, dips condiments marinades & sauces, salads & dressings, soups stews & chilis, beef & pork, fish & seafood, chicken & turkey, vegan & vegetarian, side dishes & quick breads, and drinks & desserts.  Each recipe has its ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. (There's a metric conversion chart in the back of the book). 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. Nutritional information is provided for each of the recipes and includes calories, fat, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, and protein.

Essential info, alerts, facts, and questions & answers are highlighted in different colored text boxes. These will be familiar to readers of other books in the Everything series from this publisher. Few of the recipes include photographs (roughly 10% in my quick estimation). The photos and serving suggestions which are included are full color, appetizing, and appropriate, but the general lack of photos might be a drawback for some readers.

Four stars (mostly for the lack of photos - so if you don't need them at all, it would be higher). This is a general cookbook with a huge variety of appealing, diet friendly dishes. It would make a superlative gift or purchase for readers trying out a more metabolism friendly/healthier lifestyle. Many of the recipes do rely on pre-processed ingredients - so some planning and adjustment will be needed for cooks who strongly prefer to cook from scratch. All of the recipes I tried on my family were tasty and well received, though I did notice the lack of finish/serving photos.

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

 

 

The Broken Spine (Beloved Bookroom Mystery #1)

 

The Broken Spine is the first book in a new library cozy series by Dorothy St. James. Due out 19th Jan 2021 from Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 320 pages and will be 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 is a small-town library murder mystery cozy complete with cat.  I found the characters formulaic and "trope-y" and the plotting predictable (down to the does-he-doesn't-he handsome detective slow-burn love interest and over the top denouement). It was, however, an engaging pleasant read and honestly there are reasons why cozy readers like me love their cat-library-cozies. There were some problematic plot issues (like the town-wide conspiracy to stay silent about the library-in-exile which is in the SAME PHYSICAL BUILDING as the new "improved" electronic library and media center upstairs). There was altogether too much pearl clutching school-marm-ish shushing and Victorian rigidity in the characterizations of the librarians and quite a lot of unnecessary antagonism between the "we hate books" library of the future and the "we hate electronics" library of the past. I'm all for the "can't we all get along" majority in the middle and I have yet to see even the most fervent lover of e-readers who thinks paper books are a thing of the past.  Furthermore I've yet to see even the most hidebound bibliophile react with hatred to e-music, film, and media collections.  The characterizations were predictable and two dimensional (down to the brightly dyed purple stripe in the young female tech-guru's hair).

One of the major (really *the* major) plot device(s) is so beyond the bounds of possibility that it just never really achieved liftoff for me. No spoilers, but it's the main impetus for the first murder and all subsequent plot action.

I do recommend the book to readers who are especially fond of small-town librarian cat cozies, but understand that there are some major issues going in and bring a hefty suspension of disbelief to the party. 

Three and a half stars. 

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

Continental Riff (Stockwell Park Orchestra Series #3)

 

Continental Riff is the third book in the Stockwell Park Orchestra cozy series by Isabel Rogers. Released 14th Jan 2021 by Farrago, it's 288 pages (print edition) 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 such a comfortably written and engaging cozy series. It's a "slice-of-life" story written simply and appealingly, with well developed characters who go about their daily lives and interact with the sometimes inexplicable world in which we all live. There are a lot of behind the scenes from the daily life of a not-quite-famous classical orchestral performer. 

I was a woodwind player for many years and kept up with orchestra performance through university level.  This was a nostalgic revisit of those years for me and brought back so many fun memories. The author is clearly musically educated and the book is redolent with affectionate scenes from rehearsals and performances, as well as comments about the music itself.

I haven't read either of the previous books, and had no trouble following the plot. I intend to remedy the situation as soon as possible. This book is gently meandering, 100% character driven, engaging and I would heartily recommend it to fans of daily-life series (like small town cozies). Language, spelling, and slang are British English, but won't pose a problem for anyone in context.  There is some rough language (the "f-bomb" for example) but nothing truly egregious. 

Four stars. I really enjoyed this one.

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

Seven of Infinities (Universe of Xuya)

 

Seven of Infinities is a novella set in the Xuya universe by Aliette de Bodard. Released 20th Oct 2020 by Subterranean Press, it's 176 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

Well written speculative fiction has the ability to engage, to inform, to inspire, and to take us out of ourselves. This is beautifully written SF and combines many of my Favorite Things - science fiction, intellect, beautifully written prose, appealing character driven plot, and a solid murder mystery. 

Although part of a wider fictional setting, I read this one as a standalone and had no trouble inserting myself into the story. The author is adept at providing the necessary context without spoon feeding or info-dumping. In fact the writing is sublime, with well rendered 3 dimensional characters subtly and realistically drawn. It's no surprise, the author has collected an impressive list of awards and accolades from the public and her peers (multiple Nebulae, BSFA, etc). Although her first language is (apparently) French, she writes in English and indeed, quite impressively well and subtly. 

This was one of my best reads for 2020 and I fully intend to go at once and find the other ancillary books. Gorgeous and well written. Although the plotting is completely dissimilar and I dislike comparing authors, a lot of the most beautifully wrought phrasing contained here reminds me of the same things which appeal to me in the short stories of Cat Rambo. 

Really exceptionally good. More, please.

Four and a half stars.

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

Why Veganism Matters: The Moral Value of Animals

 

Why Veganism Matters is an expository analysis of the case for veganism written and presented by Gary L. Francione. Due out 12th Jan 2021 from Columbia University Press, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

The author is an activist with a background in jurisprudence and it shows. He builds his arguments brick by brick as a lawyer would (if you admit X then you must admit Y as a logical consequence and here's why....). That he's passionately committed to animals and animal welfare is clear from the first sentence of the text. One of the first logical arguments in the book, interestingly enough, is the concept of personhood not necessarily being synonymous with being biologically human.  He posits that animals can be people and thus have inherent moral value. Since they're valid and have moral value as "people", we have a moral obligation to not harm or exploit them and as a logical result, a moral obligation to be vegan. 

I have been, along with my family, trying to eat a more plant based diet for philosophical and health benefit reasons, to help (even in a tiny way) the environment and also because mass production farming methods are shockingly inhumane. This book didn't sway me much one way or the other, but it did make me think quite a lot. 

The author has a confrontational, courtroom style of expository writing. Some readers will certainly feel attacked and uncomfortable. Other readers will dismiss the ideas and writing out of hand. Some few (I suspect) will be made to really think and confront their biases and change their thoughts and feelings, and it is for these (relative) few I believe this book could be an important catalyst for change, and for these few, therefore, this book is really written.

Do I think it's going to become Heidegger, Plato, Kant, or even Rachel Carson or John Muir to future generations? No. However, the author definitely has something to say, and it's a worthwhile book on which to ruminate.

Four stars.

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

Aromatherapy: Harness the Power of Essential Oils to Relax, Restore, and Revitalize

 

Aromatherapy is a new theory and practice guide for aromatherapy by Louise Robinson. Due out 12th Jan 2021 from Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a well written, accessible, and fairly systematic treatment of the subject matter.  Graphically, it's an appealing book with lots of line drawings, and a clean art and layout. The text is easy to understand. The introductory sections cover getting started, what aromatherapy is, tools and supplies, making your own blends, some safety and handling tips, and general information. The following chapters include instructions for using essential oils safely in massage, compresses, creams lotions & gels, balms, etc. The third section contains specific blends for various applications: well being and healing blends. The author has included a resource links list (heavily slanted to readers in North America), an index, and an oils list with indications and contraindications for specific uses.

Graphically the whole book has a very relaxing feel and lots of line art illustrations and pastel colorways which appealed to me. 

Four stars. Illuminating, useful and worthwhile.

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

Chickenology: The Ultimate Encyclopedia

 

Chickenology is a fun and information rich homage to the humble chicken. Due out 2nd Feb 2021 from Princeton Architectural Press, it's 80 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

This is a whimsically illustrated and well presented fact based book with an impressive amount of information. Aimed at young readers, the text is easy to understand. The short informational subchapters are arranged thematically: general information, anatomy and physiology, eggs, human/chicken interaction, and some breed info (with illustrations). 

For a very short book, there's a lot of info packed into the pages. The illustrations are colorful and appealing. Most of the pages contain small snippets of info in easily digestible capsule illustrations. Though the text is simple and easy to read, the authors have managed to provide correct anatomic descriptions and terms as well as proper nomenclature for the species. The book doesn't include an index, but it's a short book and the table of contents is complete and with chapter descriptions. There are no photographs included, but the illustrations are well done and clear.

This would be a superlative selection for school/classroom use, home and remote schooling situations, scouting or activities groups, as well as animal keen youngsters. Nine year old me would've absolutely loved this book.

Five stars.  Simple and fun.

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

A Pocket Guide to Sustainable Food Shopping

A Pocket Guide to Sustainable Food Shopping by Kate Bratskeir is an interesting, passionate, and accessible guide to minimizing our environmental footprint, consuming less, buying more wisely, and understanding the food delivery networks and marketing to avoid as much waste and packaging as possible. Due out 12th Jan 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Tiller Press imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a really well written guide full of tips and background info. The author is quite honest about the fact that an individual consumer's impact is negligible but that our collective influence is undeniable. The layout is logical and progresses from the general (problem categorization and beginning to make changes) to the specific (buying meat, eggs, milk, seafood, and navigating package free/bulk options). The book also includes template pages for note-taking and shopping lists, as well as an index. 

Our current path especially in the west is a direct line to catastrophe. We simply cannot keep living like this and have a planet left for our children and grandchildren. It's literally unsustainable. This book provides some concrete methods of examining our own individual lifestyles and making changes in our personal consumption. 

Five stars. There were some good tips here which I hadn't considered, and we tend to be fairly "green" already, but this book helped.

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

The Anti-Inflammatory Family Cookbook: The Kid-Friendly, Pediatrician-Approved Way to Transform Your Family's Health

 

The Anti-Inflammatory Family Cookbook is tutorial guide and recipe collection with family friendly recipes to reduce inflammation and support gut health. Due out 3rd Feb 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This book is a nice resource, especially for family dinners where one (or more) members are trying to adhere to a special diet, in this case inflammatory conditions or auto immune diseases as well as having a very strong emphasis on starting kids off with healthy and wise food choices from an early age (babies - toddlers). 

Approximately the first 30% of the book is a (mostly) layman accessible discussion of the body's inflammatory physiological responses to stress and irritation. There are a number of useful charts and lists of food additives and their possible effects on the body (and where to find them as well as how to avoid them). The recipe notations include codes for gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free etc. The recipe section is arranged thematically: spice blends & sauces, breakfast, lunch, dinner, sides, snacks, desserts, and beverages.

Each of the recipes includes an introductory description, ingredients listed in a bullet point sidebar (US measurements only, though there's a conversion chart in the back of the book), step by step instructions, as well a sidebar with nutritional info. I would estimate roughly 10% of the recipes are accompanied by photographs. The photos provided are high quality and clear and serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate.

The recipe ingredients themselves are easily sourced and will be available at most well stocked grocery stores. There are a very few ingredients which might be a little more difficult to source, but definitely nothing that is 'way out there'.

One way this collection distinguishes itself is in the chapter notes and appendices. There's an impressive amount of peer-reviewed research linked supporting the conclusions and recommendations in the text. Readers can certainly simply utilize the recipes without any need to dig deeper, but the keenly curious reader will find a wealth of extra information for further study. The book also includes a cross referenced index, but no recipe or ingredient index apart from those integrated into the main index.

All in all, very well written, beautifully presented food, made from (mostly) unprocessed raw ingredients which are easily sourced and taste good.

Four stars, we'll be revisiting this cookbook. For families with young children or toddlers, this one would have more relevance.

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

The Tower of Fools (Hussite Trilogy #1)

 

The Tower of Fools is the first book in The Hussite trilogy by Andrzej Sapkowski. First published in 2002 (in Polish), this reformated English translation from Hatchette on their Orbit imprint is 560 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well written, complex, character driven story with fantasy elements set in medieval Europe. I found myself floundering early on and felt like I was dropped headfirst into the narrative (with a vast cast of supporting characters). The prologue sets the stage (complete with a bewildering array of characters and history) rapidly followed by the juxtaposition of a graphic sex scene alongside hymns from the Latin version of the Ad Sextam Officium Beatae Mariae (the offices of the Blessed Virgin).  Apart from the doorstop appearance of the book and the fact that most onlookers would assume it's another book in the prolific author's Witcher series, this is -emphatically- not safe for work reading and should probably be in a plain brown wrapper. 

It's supremely irreverant and occasionally raunchy. There are glimmers of humor (profane sexual comparisons abound) and quite a lot of graphic violence (both of the sexual and garden variety). Once the story found its pace (or once I found *my* pace in the story), it unfolded at a canter. I never got over the feeling that it was literature in translation; the writing has an uneven off-kilter feel in English. I wish I could have read it in Polish. If I had to compare it, I would suggest that the rhythm and pace of the words reminded me a lot of Umberto Eco in translation. 

There's a lot to like here. The story is interwoven onto a skeleton of actual history and it's not always clear what is real and what is fiction. I would recommend this one to fans of Eco, Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy (with a lot more sex and ribald dialogue), and other sort of hardcore historical fantasy realism. 

Three and a half stars. (I strongly suspect my rating would be 4+ if I could read Polish).

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

 

Night Train to Paris (A Fen Churche Mystery #2)

 

 Night Train to Paris is the second Fen Churche historical cozy mystery by Fliss Chester. Released 26th Nov 2020 by Bookouture, it's 282 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.

This series is competently written, with comfortable and intelligent characterizations.  The descriptions, of place and historical period, are presented believably and paced well. The language is clean, as well as a (mostly) chaste romance subplot. There are depictions of real historical characters and places (Sartre, Christian Dior, Les Deux Magots, Shakespeare & Co. and other period Parisian characters and attractions) which are skillfully woven into the narrative without seeming to be overt name dropping or window dressing. 

There's a subplot through both of the books concerning cryptic crosswords. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this thread, to be honest. They do provide an integral subplot to both books, but for cryptic crossword aficionados (like me), they're much too minor a plot device and to readers disinterested, they're intrusive and (I suspect) a trifle annoying. Either way, the graphic representation in the book took me out of my suspension of disbelief every time they popped up in the story. 

The first murder was bizarre and quite outré (and speaking as a medical professional, quite doubtful). It was also heavily foreshadowed during the book, so readers who are reading in order to solve the "whodunit", it will likely not present too much of a surprise at the resolution. 

Taken overall, however, it's an engaging and appealing read in a series which shows promise. I recommend it to fans of the genre, especially readers of British/European WW2 (and later) mysteries.  Four stars. 

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