Little Thoughts About Books and Stuff

Currently Reading: Title:  The Girl with Seven Names: Escape From North Korea Author:  Hyeonseo Lee Date Started:  February 15 Goodreads Summary: As a child growing up in North Korea, Hyeonseo Lee was one of millions trapped by the secretive and brutal communist regime created by dictator Kim Il-Sung and his successors (son Kim Jong-Il and grandson Kim Jong-Un). Although her privileged family background insulated her from the cruelest horrors of the regime, living near the border with China gave her some exposure to the world beyond the confines of the Hermit Kingdom. When the famine of the 1990s struck, she began to wonder, question and to realise that she had been brainwashed her entire life. Given the repression, poverty and starvation she witnessed surely her country could not be, as she had been told, “the best on the planet”?Aged seventeen, she decided to escape North Korea. She could not have imagined that it would be twelve years before she w...

Title:  Ocean Light (Psy-Changeling Trinity #2) Author:  Nalini Singh Publication Date:  June 12 Rating:  5 Stars Read:  March 9-11 (eARC) Synopsis:  Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment--taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he's at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling... Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won't hide the facts of Bo's condition from him or herself. She's suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret Bo could never imagine... But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back--even i...

Title:  Eat This Poem Author:  Nicole Gulotta Publication Date:  March 21, 2017 Rating:  4 Stars Synopsis:  A literary cookbook celebrating food and poetry, two of life's essential ingredients. In the same way that salt seasons ingredients to bring out their flavors, poetry seasons our lives; when celebrated together, our everyday moments and meals are richer and more meaningful. The twenty-five inspiring poems in this book from such poets as Marge Piercy, Louise Gluck, Mark Strand, Mary Oliver, Billy Collins, Jane Hirshfield are accompanied by seventy-five recipes that bring the richness of words to life in our kitchen, on our plate, and through our palate. Eat This Poem opens us up to fresh ways of accessing poetry and lends new meaning to the foods we cook.  Review:  I love cookbooks and have a bad habit of collecting some of the interesting ones I come across. This one will be added to my collection (got a digital copy to review). ...

Title: Why We March Author: Artisan Press Publication Date: March 7, 2017 Rating: 4 stars Synopsis: Celebrate the Women’s March with this inspiring collection of 500 images of the most powerful, uplifting, clever, and creative protest signs carried by marchers across the United States and around the world. Organized thematically, the photographs in Why We March--featuring messages about reproductive rights and immigration, cabinet picks and police violence, climate change, and feminism--together paint a striking portrait of the hope, defiance, anger, and passion that sent more than 5 million people into the streets to protest. “Women’s Rights = Human Rights.” “Love Trumps Hate.” “Nasty Women Unite.” “Build Bridges, Not Walls.” These messages are a rallying cry for this burgeoning movement, and this collection will serve as both a valuable encapsulation of this unprecedented moment in political history and a powerful reminder of why we march. All royalties from the sal...

Leave Me by Gayle Forman My rating: 4 of 5 stars From the outside Maribeth would seem to have it all. She lives in NYC with her husband and two kids and has a job working with her best friend in their chosen field. Inside her life, Maribeth is busy, so busy she mistakes her heart attack as just bad Chinese food.  Maribeth has a hard time recuperating at home after her surgery because everyone still needs everything from her. They don't know how to function with out Maribeth guiding them. Knowing that she needs to focus on her recovering Maribeth hastily packs a bag, leaves a note for her husband and then runs away. Maribeth needs to heal from more than just her heart attack. She needs to heal her soul. She needs to uncover part of his past and reevaluate her current life if she's going to be happy in the future. I was torn about even picking up this book. I love Gayle Forman and was excited to read her first adult novel, but I dislike the 'run away from your life ...

Yes, Chef by Alex Cohen My rating: 4 of 5 stars Description Nothing is more important to Diego than his kitchen. He's dedicated to his job running one of the top restaurants in town and doesn't have time for relationships. Then the boss, building on the restaurant's success, brings in Ben. He's young, hot, and not nearly as unlikeable as Diego wishes. But between the distance of age and the old wounds both men are still nursing, it may be easier if Diego gives up on making something other than his kitchen the center of his world. Review I really liked this novella. It was a romance that focused on the relationship and wasn't all about sex, sex, sex. I also liked that it was in a restaurant kitchen, those are always great because it means a focus on food and some great descriptions. It was nice to see that Ben wasn't a chef in training but a pastry chef who was settled in his own chosen career path.  There were some stilted sections in this novella...

Broken Resolutions by Olivia Dade My rating: 3 of 5 stars I'm a sucker for any romance novel starring a librarian. Things I liked: 1. That the hero, Jack, was a famous author. 2. The idea of a singles night at the library and the librarian, Penny, didn't understand why they were hosting such an event. 3. That is wasn't a story where Penny had to change to win Jack. Things I didn't like: 1. That Jack brought up the stereotypical "library of the past" with the old lady librarian with a bun who shushes people. 2. The rushed feeling of the book, I would have liked a longer novel instead of a novella. 3. The location of their of nightly activities while in the library. That just didn't sit well with me. I've already got book 2 waiting for me to read and review! I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray: A Critical Appreciation of the World's Finest Actor by Robert Schnakenberg My rating: 3 of 5 stars I was looking for something along the lines of a biography or at least something that wasn't like and encyclopedia. The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray is basically an encyclopedia of his life and works, with tidbits and quotes scattered around the pages. As a fan of the man, I enjoyed flipping through the (electronic) pages and seeing references to co-stars, friends, and movies. A lot of the information can be found by doing a basic search, but it's nice to have it compiled in one place. This is the perfect book for the die-hard Bill Murray fans. I received an e-book copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Where's Karl?: A Fashion-Forward Parody by Stacey Caldwell My rating: 4 of 5 stars There are a few things I like more than reading a basic book. One is a book that engages you past your initial reading. Something that will keep you coming back time again either to reread or to find something new.  This book promises to keep you entertained through multiple 'readings'. I sat down and read the book and managed to find Karl at each stop on the journey. There is a list in the back of the book of other things to find and I only glanced at it and tried to find a few. I will be going back because - Nina Garcia fighting a pirate - eluded me and now I must find that scene! The second thing I like more than reading a basic book is fashion. I, personally, may not have the best fashion sense, but I have my own style. I love watching fashion shows and red carpets to see what everyone is wearing. I also love to see pictures from the fashion weeks and the outlandish things they se...

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith My rating: 3 of 5 stars There were two things about this book that I liked. They were also the two things I disliked about this book. 1. The majority of the book takes place over the course of like 12 hours. It was both enough and not enough time spent with these characters trying to figure out anything. You are just sucked along with the story. 2. I didn't know how everything was going to end up, were Claire and Adian staying together or breaking up before they both leave for college. I received an ebook copy for an honest review from Netgalley. 

Starlight on Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs My rating: 4 of 5 stars I love going back to Willow Lake, it really represents somewhere I wouldn't mind living if I was to ever leave my crazy suburban life. I really like that we got to see some past characters, but it wasn't forced on us to make the story fit into previous books in the series. It's a small town and you can expect for the lives of people to overlap so Faith's friendships all made sense. That said, I wish there was a family tree so I could be clear on how this branch of the Bellamy family connects to the other Bellamys we've met over the series. I enjoyed Faith and Mason's story. I like that it wasn't the typical they get together, face some hurdles, then happy ending.  There were hurdles to them even getting together and even more to face after they finally realize they belong together. It made the novel compelling and kept me hooked (but really anything set in Willow Lake has me hooked). A...

Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome: A Memoir of Humor and Healing by Reba Riley My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this book! I think most people (at least in my circle) can claim a bit of post-traumatic church syndrome (PTCS). I wasn't brought up in the same manner as Reba Riley, but in my own way I started to question the church I was raised in and the beliefs I had followed since I was young. Unlike the author, my PTCS wasn't as severe and I have found my way back under my own terms.  And that I feel is the core of this book. Reba goes on a 30 by 30 journey.  She wanted to experience or better understand 30 religions by her 30th birthday. This journey impacts her life in more than just a religious aspect. She is battling health issues and her past religious experiences in what feels sometimes like a minute by minute battle to complete this journey.  Her journey takes her to an online chapel, a synagogue, mosque, and a number of other places of worship.  She sp...

Voracious: A Hungry Reader Cooks Her Way through Great Books by Cara Nicoletti My rating: 4 of 5 stars Cara Nicoletti loves food, you could say it's in her blood. She comes from a family of butchers and is herself a butcher and a baker. As much as she loves food, Cara also loves books.  She's been an avid reader since childhood. As she reads, she finds that in books as in life a lot of things happen around food.  This book takes a look back at some of her favorite books and the food found between the pages.  Each book is paired with Cara's version of food based on or inspired by the book. The books/recipes are broken up into three sections: Childhood, Adolescence and College Years, Adulthood. Since it is currently August and I participate in Austen in August (run by Roof Beam Reader) I'm going to focus on the two Jane Austen novels that appear in this book. Pride & Prejudice  White Garlic Soup As any reader of the novel knows and as Nicoletti points out,...

You're Never Weird on the Internet by Felicia Day My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love Felicia Day and I loved this book. This was a great journey story of how she got to where she currently sits as the Queen of the Internet. I can’t remember how I started watching The Guild, but I know I instantly loved it, it was so true to different levels of my reality. I wasn’t a hardcore gamer, but the relationships you form online and how that becomes more of your real life than your real life, spoke true to me.  I loved learning how the characters were based on people Felicia met in her exploration around the Internet.  Knowing that the show was semi-autobiographical just makes it even more awesome. She’s done what most of us dream of doing, turning our passion into our profession. She’s doing what she loves most and in the process making stuff that we can all enjoy. If you are a familiar at all with her work and would like to know more about her this is a must read! I ...

On July 19th, Clueless will turn 20. Over the weekend, I finished reading  As If!: The Oral History of Clueless as told by Amy Heckerling and the Cast and Crew  by Jen Chaney Summary Acclaimed pop culture journalist Jen Chaney shares an oral history of the cult classic film Clueless in the ultimate written resource about one of the most influential, revered, and enduring movies of the 1990s—in celebration of its twentieth anniversary. Will we ever get tired of watching Cher navigate Beverly Hills high school and discover true love in the movie Clueless? As if! Written by Amy Heckerling and starring Alicia Silverstone, Clueless is an enduring comedy classic that remains one of the most streamed movies on Netflix, Amazon, and iTunes even twenty years after its release. Inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma, Clueless is an everlasting pop culture staple. In the first book of its kind, Jen Chaney has compiled an oral history of the making of this iconic film using re...

I was never a big Batman fan. Thinking back I think my only real interest stemmed from the influence of a cousin and when our time spent together lessened so did my interest in The Dark Knight.  I kept a fascination with Harley Quinn and Mister J, but besides that, really didn't care. With the new movies and my introduction to Lil' Gotham, I've had a renewed interest in the city of Gotham and it's inhabitants. I've a new appreciation for the city and what goes on there so these two new volumes really peaked my interest. Gotham Academy, Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan My rating: 4 of 5 stars Welcome to the top prep school in the city.  Like everything in Gotham, it's not normal my any standards.  There are some weird teachers, talk of a ghost haunting a building and what looks like a mysterious cult on campus.  All Olive wants is a quite return to school after her bad summer break, but she doesn't get the quite time. She's thrus...

A Nice Little Place on the North Side: A History of Triumph, Mostly Defeat, and Incurable Hope at Wrigley Field by George F. Will My rating: 4 of 5 stars I am a baseball fan. I wouldn't say I was a Cubs fan, but they are well respected in my family. My mother is a Cubs fan.  Every Spring we hear the common anthem of "This is our year" and every Fall we hear "Next year will be our year." I feel safe saying this chant could probably be heard in the households of many members of  Cubs Nation.  The other similar trait is the love of Wrigley Field.  I have a deep love of Wrigley Field. It is one of my favorite places to watch a ball game. I was a believer in The Curse of the Billy Goat before reading this book, but now I fear the curse goes back even further. I fear the curse dates back to 1914 and the opening of Wrigley Field. The history of Wrigley is wrapped in so much more history.  This book covers the history of the team, the city, key players, owne...

Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris My rating: 5 of 5 stars This may have been the most fun I've ever had reading an autobiography or memoir.  I loved the choose your own adventure books as a kid and I've loved NPH since I saw him on Doogie Hoswer. My original plan was to read this book through a few times choosing different paths and then I was going to read it through like a normal book (many reviews say this is possible).  I read through a few times and had some good laughs and then I was ready to do the regular reading. This proved to be a problem. I didn't make it far into the book before I got to the end of a section and instead of just turning the page, I wanted to skip head to see where each option would have taken me. This lead me to want to keep jumping around as you do and I ended up choosing three more adventures. The book is too munch fun to read in any other way! The book covers Neil's childhood and his i...

Monster's Chef: A Novel by Jervey Tervalon My rating: 2 of 5 stars Somewhere along the way in 2014 I had acquired an uncorrected proof of this novel. It had been sitting on my self and I randomly grabbed it when I went away the first weekend of the year.  As we relaxed in our hotel room before heading out for the night I looked at some reviews of the book and found a debate about the influence of Monster. The majority of people feel that Tervalon pulled his inspiration from Michael Jackson and a handful think everyone else is crazy and that's not the case at all. I wasn't 100% sure if this would be my kind of book I was willing to give it a try, at least to see if I would be with the majority of people reviewing the book. The book follows Gibson as he starts on a new path in his life.  He had been a successful restaurant owner/chef before drugs took it all away from him, including his wife. Gibson is living in a half way house cooking for the residents. The woman who ...

The Shape of My Heart by Ann Aguirre My rating: 4 of 5 stars Reviews of I Want it That Way  and As Long As You Love Me . We go back to apartment 2B in this third book of Ann Aguirre's trilogy. This book runs along side As Long As You Love Me  Nadia makes a reference to Rob and Lauren's break up over Thanksgiving. When Lauren moved out to go home, Courtney moved in to take over her spot in the apartment.  Courtney and Max were friends before she moved in and their friendship was the support both needed. Max needed her when things were going south with Lauren and Courtney needed Max when things were going horribly wrong with her breakup. Max has to go home, some place he hasn't been in years and he's not sure of the welcome he'll receive. He doesn't want to go alone and asks Courtney to go with him. In meeting Max's family, Courtney gets a better understanding of Max and an opportunity to see him as something more than just a friend.  The same can b...