The Better Liar by Tanen Jones

I received a copy of this release from the
publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Move over mediocre thrillers--and make way for this dynamite debut! As a reader, I'm willing to suspend belief in mysteries and thrillers but I need a supporting storyline. I had pretty much given up all hope on ever reading a book that could manage to do that again after the disasters I read at the beginning of 2019 (Au Pair, Bring Me Back, and Anonymous Girl come to mind).

The Better Liar caught my eye in a Netgalley email and after reading the summary I thought I'd give it a shot and if I didn't like it I probably needed to accept that the entire genre just doesn't work for me anymore. I started reading and I couldn't stop! I was hooked and thought I'd figured it out right away, but after reading more, I had doubts on my theory. As more and more secrets came to light, I had about a dozen more theories swirling around in my brain right until the very end. After I finished the last page, I jumped on a group text with my book buddies and demanded they request this title immediately.

I would recommend just diving right into this novel without reading too many reviews (since they may unknowingly reveal spoilers or details you'll want to experience for yourself.)

Goodreads Summary:

When a woman conceals her sister’s death to claim their joint inheritance, her deception exposes a web of dangerous secrets in this addictive new thriller for fans of Megan Abbott, Gillian Flynn, and Paula Hawkins.

“Like most of the dead, I want to be remembered.”

Robin Voigt is dead. If Leslie had arrived at her sister’s cramped Las Vegas apartment just hours earlier, this would have been their first reunion in a decade. In the years since Robin ran away from home as a teenager, Leslie has stayed in New Mexico, taking care of their dying father even as she began building a family of her own. But when their father passed away, Leslie received a rude awakening: She and Robin would receive the inheritance he left them together—or not at all. Now her half of the money may be beyond her grasp. And unbeknownst to anyone, even her husband, Leslie needs it desperately.

When she meets a charismatic young woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Robin—and has every reason to leave her past behind—the two make a reckless bargain: Mary will impersonate Robin for a week in exchange for Robin’s half of the cash. But neither realizes how high the stakes will become when Mary takes a dead woman’s name. Even as Mary begins to suspect Leslie is hiding something, and Leslie realizes the stranger living in her house, babysitting her newborn son, and charming her husband has secrets of her own, Robin’s wild, troubled legacy threatens to eclipse them both.

An electric, twisted portrait of sisterhood and the ties that bind, The Better Liar is a stunning debut with a heart-stopping, twist-after-twist finale that will beg the question: How far would you go to get what’s yours?

Why We Can't Sleep: Women's New Midlife Crisis by Ada Calhoun

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the
publisher in exchange for an honest review.

My Review:
Are you a Gen X woman who is totally exhausted every single day but tells herself that it is normal, or who feels as if she has no right to even complain about the exhaustion? Well, this book is for you! The Pew Research Center categorizes Generation X as those of us born between 1965 - 1980. If you look at a majority of women aged 39-54, what do you see? A lot of my friends are hustling to get back into the workforce after raising their kids, some are now taking care of their parents, and after a few glasses of wine every single one of them fesses up something they feel guilty about (why did I give up my career, why didn't I stay home with my kids, or the doozy "I supposedly 'have it all', so why am I still not happy?") In Why We Can't Sleep: Women's New Midlife Crisis, author Ada Calhoun has collected information from thousands of women from a variety of backgrounds to show us that no matter how different we think we are, we are all facing a lot of the same struggles. If you are staring at your ceiling at night wondering why you are so anxious, overwhelmed, or depressed but maybe you just can't quite put your finger on why, Calhoun gives you detailed breakdowns of all the factors that are really working against us. While some would say that reading these statistics would make us even more depressed, I found it informative and comforting to know that "it's not just me!"

Goodreads Summary:
When Ada Calhoun found herself in the throes of a midlife crisis, she thought that she had no right to complain. She was married with children and a good career. So why did she feel miserable? And why did it seem that other Generation X women were miserable, too?
Calhoun decided to find some answers. She looked into housing costs, HR trends, credit card debt averages, and divorce data. At every turn, she saw a pattern: sandwiched between the Boomers and the Millennials, Gen X women were facing new problems as they entered middle age, problems that were being largely overlooked. 

Speaking with women across America about their experiences as the generation raised to “have it all,” Calhoun found that most were exhausted, terrified about money, under-employed, and overwhelmed. Instead of being heard, they were told instead to lean in, take “me-time,” or make a chore chart to get their lives and homes in order.

In Why We Can’t Sleep, Calhoun opens up the cultural and political contexts of Gen X’s predicament and offers solutions for how to pull oneself out of the abyss—and keep the next generation of women from falling in. The result is reassuring, empowering, and essential reading for all middle-aged women, and anyone who hopes to understand them.

Check out my latest book feature in the December issue of John's Creek Lifestyle or read it below...

Season’s Readings: Deck Your Shelves with These New Holiday Releases

Are you looking to cook up a culinary masterpiece, create your own customized board game, or curl up with some cozy novels this holiday season? Whatever your winter mood, we have the perfect new releases for giving as gifts or adding to your own collection.

Board Games to Create and Play: Invent 100s of games with friends and family by Kevan Davis, Viviane Schwarz(Illustrated by)

Take Game Night to the next level by creating your own unique board games. This interactive gaming book is packed with 20 customizable and reusable boards along with tips, tricks, and mechanics on how to design the perfect game.

South: Essential Recipes and New Explorations by Sean Brock

“Best Chef Southeast” James Beard Award winner and devoted evangelist for Southern cuisine, Sean Brock is back with a beautiful new cookbook full of recipes for Southern-food lovers.

Vegan Holiday Cooking: 60 Meatless, Dairy-Free Recipes Full of Festive Flavors by Kirsten Kaminski

Whether you are looking to add a few healthier offerings to lighten up your holiday meal or you want to make a full menu of delicious vegan dishes, this cookbook covers every course from appetizer to dessert, with many recipes reminiscent of comforting holiday favorites.

The Ultimate Kids’ Baking Book: 60 Easy and Fun Dessert Recipes for Every Holiday, Birthday, Milestone and More by Tiffany Dahle

Suitable for children 6 and up this book modifies recipes to help kids learn the basics of baking (how to use a mixer to cream butter and sugar, how to melt chocolate) with a little parental involvement (preheating or taking cakes from the oven,) helping families spend time together and teaching children lifelong kitchen skills.

Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) returns in a festive new Shopaholic adventure filled with holiday cheer and unexpected gifts. Becky's hosting Christmas this year and her big-hearted plans are quickly taking an unexpected turn towards disaster. Will chaos ensue or will she manage to bring comfort and joy to Christmas after all?

Let It Snow by Nancy Thayer

As Christina Antonioni decorates and unpacks some last minute Christmas shipments at her Nantucket toy store, she wonders if she’ll be able to keep her business open when her landlord raises her rent. But after bonding with her landlord’s sweet, young granddaughter who frequents the shop, Christina quickly realizes this Christmas may turn out better than she ever imagined.

White Elephant by Trish Harnetiaux

A real estate firm’s yearly White Elephant gift exchange is all about bragging rights for who can buy the most coveted gift, so everyone is puzzled when an antique cowboy statue shows up—everyone except the firm’s owner and his wife. Over the course of the evening, they must figure out who brought the statue and what secrets they know.

Hey Ladies!: The Story of 8 Best Friends, 1 Year, and Way, Way Too Many Emails by Michelle Markowitz, Caroline Moss, and Carolyn Bahar (Illustrator)

I wanted to read something light and quick from my backlist today so I chose this crazy little book. It was so good and so (intentionally) terrible--the perfect choice for the last day of my Thanksgiving vacation. The format is fun (all email and text threads) and the passive aggressiveness among this group of late 20-somethings made me chuckle. The group's "adventures" are such a mess, despite the numerous texts and emails, which just makes them even funnier. All the friends have their own storyline but a majority of the book revolves around Jen and her wedding, making this a perfect book to gift your BFF bride-to-be, or for a bride to give to her bridesmaids (the "friends" bridesmaids, not the third cousin that your mom made you invite!). Overall, a funny, cringe-worthy, and so funny because it's cringe-worthy read.  


Goodreads Summary:
Based on the column of the same name that appeared in The Toast, Hey Ladies! is a laugh-out-loud read that follows a fictitious group of eight 20-and-30-something female friends for one year of holidays, summer house rentals, dates, brunches, breakups, and, of course, the planning of a disastrous wedding. This instantly relatable story is told entirely through emails, texts, DMs, and every other form of communication known to man.
The women in the book are stand-ins for annoying friends that we all have. There’s Nicole, who’s always broke and tries to pay for things in Forever21 gift cards. There’s Katie, the self-important budding journalist, who thinks a retweet and a byline are the same thing. And there’s Jen, the DIY suburban bride-to-be. With a perfectly pitched sardonic tone, Hey Ladies! will have you cringing and laughing as you recognize your own friends, and even yourself.

Thanksgiving Cookbook Compilation

Disclaimer: I received these releases from the
publisher in exchange for honest reviews.

Three days until Thanksgiving!

I've been scrolling Pinterest and flipping through my cookbooks (old and new) for inspiration and recipes to finalize my menu today so I can finishing my shopping tomorrow (grocery store, Costco, and liquor store). Are you looking for a great cookbook to help you in the Thanksgiving final stretch? Here are 6 of this season's top cookbook releases that are sure to help you out (including their corresponding Goodreads summaries):

The Couple’s Cookbook by Cole Stipovich and Kiera Stipovich 

(released 11/12/19 from Ten Speed Press)
A beautiful primer for newlyweds starting their first home together, full of achievable, modern recipes for weeknight meals, weekend brunches, and everything in between. The Couple's Cookbook is an inviting collection of simple and comforting recipes for any food-loving pair that wants to learn to cook together. Written by a husband and wife who also work together as wedding photographers, this book is romantic, playful, and fun. The recipes are designed for a couple to eat together or to use for entertaining, with modern classics such as Grilled Curry Chicken Salad, Red Potato Salad with Smoked Bacon and Chives, Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Mexican-Style Slaw, and Caramel Cheesecake Jars. Nearly every dish is photographed to help new cooks learn with ease, and the recipes are foolproof. A section on cocktails and setting up a home bar helps make any of these meals into a dinner party. With tips and tricks for cooking alone or together, and recipes for any occasion, this book will teach any couple how to eat and live well.

Sean Brock’s South by Sean Brock 

(released 10/15/19 from Artisan)
Southern food is one of the most beloved and delicious cuisines in America. And who better to give us the key elements of Southern cuisine than Sean Brock, the award-winning chef and Southern-food crusader. In Sean Brock’s South, Brock shares his recipes for key components of the cuisine, from grits and fried chicken to collard greens and corn bread. Recipes can be mixed and matched to make a meal or eaten on their own. Taken together, they make up the essential elements of Southern cuisine, from fried green tomatoes to smoked baby back ribs and from tomato okra stew to biscuits. Regional differences are highlighted in recipes for shrimp and grits, corn bread, fried chicken, and more. Includes key Southern knowledge too: how to fry, how to care for cast iron, how to cook over a hearth, and more. This is the book fans of Sean Brock have been waiting for, and it’s the book Southern-food lovers the world over will use as their bible.

The Ultimate Kids’ Baking Book: 60 Easy and Fun Dessert Recipes for Every Holiday, Birthday, Milestone and More by Tiffany Dahle 

(released 11/12/19 from Page Street Publishing)
Now your kids can bake their cake and eat it too (with a little help from mom and dad). There are so many reasons for a kid to celebrate and this book has desserts for every milestone, from First Day of School Smart Cookies and Family Road Trip Muddy Buddies to Fall Break Snickerdoodles and the Best Birthday Cupcakes. The Ultimate Kids’ Baking Book makes it easy for your child to learn baking basics like how to use a mixer to cream butter and sugar, how to melt chocolate and make chocolate flourishes and how to make their own buttercream frosting. Tiffany Dahle was inspired by her two growing daughters to create recipes for young bakers. Suitable for children 6 and up this book modifies recipes with a little parental involvement, like preheating or taking cakes from the oven, so that little bakers can take on more responsibility as they grow. With recipes for Hot Cocoa Cookies, Movie Night M&M Sandwich Cookies and Snow Day Peanut Butter Cereal Bars, these desserts are something the whole family can be proud of.

Vegan Holiday Cooking: 60 Meatless, Dairy-Free Recipes Full of Festive Flavors by Kirsten Kaminski 

(released 10/29/19 from Page Street Publishing)
Scrumptious Plant-Based Recipes Full of Nostalgic Holiday Holiday Flavors
Never miss out at a holiday feast again! Kirsten Kaminski, founder of The Tasty K, provides all the recipes you need to transform your meat-based holiday staples into satisfying vegan options. Swap out fatty ham for an irresistible Mushroom Wellington with Gravy. Capture all the flavors of traditional stuffing in the even-better Roasted Acorn Squash with Quinoa Stuffing. And no one will miss store-bought desserts once you have a homemade Cinnamon Apple Pie on the table. Kirsten makes each celebration delightful with 60 exciting appetizers, entrées and sides. With hearty, satisfying dishes such as Mushroom Bourguignon, Miso-Tofu Meatballs and Dijon Scalloped Potatoes to replace all the old meat-heavy, dairy-filled fare, you can feel the holiday spirit any time of year.

From Scratch: 10 Meals, 150 Recipes, and Dozens of Techniques You Will Use Over and Over by Michael Ruhlman 

(released 10/15/19 from Abrams)
An indispensable new cookbook from James Beard Award-winning food writer Michael Ruhlman. From Scratch looks at 10 favorite meals, including roast chicken, the perfect omelet, and paella—and then, through 175 recipes, explores myriad alternate pathways that the kitchen invites. A delicious lasagna can be ready in about an hour, or you could turn it into a project: try making and adding some homemade sausage. Explore the limits of from-scratch cooking: make your own pasta, grow your own tomatoes, and make your own homemade mozzarella and ricotta. Ruhlman tells you how.
There are easy and more complex versions for most dishes, vegetarian options, side dishes, sub-dishes, and strategies for leftovers. Ruhlman reflects on the ways that cooking from scratch brings people together, how it can calm the nerves and focus the mind, and how it nourishes us, body and soul.

Skillet Love: From Steak to Cake: More Than 150 Recipes in One Cast-Iron Pan by Anne Byrn

(released 10/29/19 from Grand Central Publishing)
A delicious celebration of the cast iron pan--by the mega-bestselling author of THE CAKE MIX DOCTOR. Beloved by home cooks and professionals alike, the cast iron skillet is one of the most versatile pieces of equipment in your kitchen arsenal. Perfect for every meal of the day, the cast iron pan can be used to cook eggs, sear meat, roast whole dinners, and serve up dessert warm from the oven. Bestselling author Anne Byrn has carefully curated 160 recipes to be made in one simple 12-inch cast iron skillet. These are dishes everyone can enjoy, from appetizers and breads like Easy Garlic Skillet knots to side dishes like Last-Minute Scalloped Potatoes, from brunch favorites to one-pot suppers like Skillet Eggplant Parmesan. And of course, no Anne Byrn cookbook would be complete without her innovative cakes like Georgia Burnt Caramel Cake, cookies like Brown Sugar Skillet Blondies, and pies and other delicious treats. Scattered throughout are fun tidbits about the origin of the cast iron skillet and how to properly season and care for them. Anne Byrn has crafted an informational, adaptable, and deliciously indispensable guide to skillet recipes the whole family is sure to love.

Tell me about your Thanksgiving dinner: 

Do you make the same dishes every year or do try to rotate in some new additions? 

Do you have your menu planned and all your grocery shopping done for the big day? 

Does your family have any special Thanksgiving traditions? 

The Good House by Ann Leary

Published January 15th 2013 by St. Martin's Press

The Good House is one of those books that has been hanging around on my shelf for years. I initially grabbed it because it popped up on some lists for books about witches, though when I read the summary I wasn't sure exactly how. 🤔 But, I decided I needed to bump it up my TBR when I heard that filming had begun (I'm someone who has to read the book before I see the movie. Are you?) and the staff looks like it's going to be stellar: Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Kline, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Beverly D'Angelo, David Rasche, Rebecca Henderson, Molly Brown, Kelly AuCoin, and Kathryn Erbe. 

I ended up listening to The Good House on audio and I would highly recommend it! Hildy Good cracked me up and the narrator, Mary Beth Hurt, delivered each line with perfection. I especially loved that the protagonist of this novel is "of a certain age"--a rarity in mainstream fiction. 


Goodreads Summary:A funny, poignant and revealing novel that’s become a huge word-of-mouth hit in the US.
How do you prove you're not an alcoholic? 

Hildy Good has reached that dangerous time in a woman's life - middle-aged and divorced, she is an oddity in her small but privileged town. But Hildy isn't one for self-pity and instead meets the world with a wry smile, a dark wit and a glass or two of Pinot Noir. When her two earnest grown-up children stage 'an intervention' and pack Hildy off to an addiction centre, she thinks all this fuss is ridiculous. After all, why shouldn't Hildy enjoy a drink now and then?

But as the story progresses, we start to see another side to Hildy Good, and to her life's greatest passion - the lies and self deceptions needed to support her drinking, and the damage she causes to those she loves. When a cluster of secrets become dangerously entwined, the reckless behaviour of one threatens to expose the other, with devastating consequences.

Mary Toft, or The Rabbit Queen by Dexter Palmer

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I am always looking to read something that is a little quirky, a little left of center, or weird enough that it probably won't flood the Bookstagram feed. When I read the summary of Mary Toft, or the Rabbit Queen, I thought "ding ding ding...we have a winner." A woman giving birth to dead rabbits? Yep, that's my kind of weird. Upon further research I found out that this a historical fiction novel based on real events! Needless to say I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! While the main storyline of this novel is about a woman giving birth to rabbits, the story really revolves around everyone else involved. As the story of Mary's births spreads throughout her small town and then to nearby London, more people are drawn into her circle. Characters in this novel range from a small town surgeon and his apprentice to a traveling team of performers in an "Exhibition of Medical Curiosities" to a variety of King George's agents. Their interactions show their class differences, pride, and cunning and the jabs, barbs, and stories they tell are so subtly snarky that I was laughing quite a bit. Another great layer to this novel was the vocabulary. I loved reading this on my Kindle so I could look all the words up with a touch. I loved this novel but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. 

Goodreads Summary:
From the highly acclaimed author of Version Control a stunning, powerfully evocative new novel based on a true story--in 1726 in the small town of Godalming, England, a young woman confounds the medical community by giving birth to dead rabbits.
Surgeon John Howard is a rational man. His apprentice Zachary knows John is reluctant to believe anything that purports to exist outside the realm of logic. But even John cannot explain how or why Mary Toft, the wife of a local farmer, manages to give birth to a dead rabbit. When this singular event becomes a regular occurrence, John realizes that nothing in his experience as a village physician has prepared him to deal with a situation as disturbing as this. He writes to several preeminent surgeons in London, three of whom quickly arrive in the small town of Godalming ready to observe and opine. When Mary's plight reaches the attention of King George, Mary and her doctors are summoned to London, where Zachary experiences for the first time a world apart from his small-town existence, and is exposed to some of the darkest corners of the human soul. All the while, Mary lies in bed, waiting for another birth, as doubts begin to blossom among the surgeons and a growing group of onlookers grow impatient for another miracle...

The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this release
in exchange for an honest review.

Wine + Witchcraft...yes, please!
I thought this would be a cute and fun little read but it was so much more. The characters are well-rounded and the author's descriptions were detailed without going overboard (as some fantasy novels can do.) I'm so happy that this is the first in a series. I'm excited to return to witches in the the Chanceaux Valley.  

Goodreads Summary:
A young witch emerges from a curse to find her world upended in this gripping fantasy of betrayal, vengeance, and self-discovery set in turn-of-the-century France.
For centuries, the vineyards at Château Renard have depended on the talent of their vine witches, whose spells help create the world-renowned wine of the Chanceaux Valley. Then the skill of divining harvests fell into ruin when sorcière Elena Boureanu was blindsided by a curse. Now, after breaking the spell that confined her to the shallows of a marshland and weakened her magic, Elena is struggling to return to her former life. And the vineyard she was destined to inherit is now in the possession of a handsome stranger.
Vigneron Jean-Paul Martel naively favors science over superstition, and he certainly doesn’t endorse the locals’ belief in witches. But Elena knows a hex when she sees one, and the vineyard is covered in them. To stay on and help the vines recover, she’ll have to hide her true identity, along with her plans for revenge against whoever stole seven winters of her life. And she won’t rest until she can defy the evil powers that are still a threat to herself, Jean-Paul, and the ancient vine-witch legacy in the rolling hills of the Chanceaux Valley.


  

The Secret Commonwealth (The Book of Dust #2) by Philip Pullman

Goodreads Summary:
It is twenty years since the events of La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One unfolded and saw the baby Lyra Belacqua begin her life-changing journey. It is seven years since readers left Lyra and the love of her young life, Will Parry, on a park bench in Oxford's Botanic Gardens at the end of the ground-breaking, bestselling His Dark Materials sequence. Now, in The Secret Commonwealth, we meet Lyra Silvertongue. And she is no longer a child . . .The second volume of Sir Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust sees Lyra, now twenty years old, and her daemon Pantalaimon, forced to navigate their relationship in a way they could never have imagined, and drawn into the complex and dangerous factions of a world that they had no idea existed. Pulled along on his own journey too is Malcolm; once a boy with a boat and a mission to save a baby from the flood, now a man with a strong sense of duty and a desire to do what is right. Theirs is a world at once familiar and extraordinary, and they must travel far beyond the edges of Oxford, across Europe and into Asia, in search for what is lost - a city haunted by daemons, a secret at the heart of a desert, and the mystery of the elusive Dust.

My Review:
I loved Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, was VERY disappointed with the terrible 2007 movie starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, and anxiously anticipated The Book of Dust series. 

This is one of my favorite pics from Book Expo 2017.

I read La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust #1) in a single day but was a bit let down because Lyra is a baby and the entire book is about Malcom Polstead 🙄. When I read the summary for The Secret Commonwealth (The Book of Dust #2)I was so excited because Lyra is at college! I really loved this book and was so glad that it was over 600 pages because I didn't want to leave the world of alethiometers, daemons, and the search for Dust! My heart is breaking for Lyra and Pan! Are you reading this series? Have you read the His Dark Materials trilogy? Are you watching His Dark Materials on HBO?

November Non-fiction New Releases

Hundreds, if not thousands, of books are released every month and I love sifting through all the new releases almost as much as I love reading. With such a plethora of possibilities, lots of lesser known books slip through the cracks, especially in the Instagram/Bookstagram echo chamber. I've compiled a list of 16 nonfiction November releases that have caught my eye, but I haven't heard much buzz about yet. I've noted which titles are available for request on Edelweiss and/or Netgalley at the end of their publisher's provided summaries. Which of these releases are you most interested in? I'd love to know.

The Alchemy of Meth: A Decomposition by Jason Pine

The Alchemy of Meth is a nonfiction storybook about St. Jude County, Missouri, a place in decomposition, where the toxic inheritance of deindustrialization meets the violent hope of this drug-making cottage industry.

The Cartiers: The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewelry Empire by Francesca Cartier Brickell

The captivating story of the family behind Cartier, and the three brothers who turned their grandfather’s humble Parisian jewelry store into a global luxury icon—as told by a great-granddaughter with exclusive access to long-lost family archives. (Available for request on Edelweiss and Netgalley)

The Season: A Social History of the Debutante by Kristen Richardson

In this enthralling history of the debutante ritual, Kristen Richardson sheds new light on contemporary ideas about women and marriage. (Available for request on Edelweiss)

The Ship of Dreams: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era by Gareth Russell

In this original and meticulously researched narrative history, the author of the “stunning” (The Sunday Times) Young and Damned and Fair uses the sinking of the Titanic as a prism through which to examine the end of the Edwardian era and the seismic shift modernity brought to the Anglo-American world. (Available for request on Edelweiss and Netgalley)

The Art of Paper: From the Holy Land to the Americas by Caroline Fowler

The untold story of how paper revolutionized art making during the Renaissance, exploring how it shaped broader concepts of authorship, memory, and the transmission of ideas over the course of three centuries.

The Real Vampires: Death, Terror, and the Supernatural by Richard Sugg

Respected scholar Richard Sugg reveals the true history of vampires, exploring their cultural origins in a globetrotting tale of superstition, horror and strangeness. Sugg makes seemingly bizarre beliefs, practices and incidents comprehensible by showing in detail how vampires arose from a world of everyday "magic". 

The Whole Machinery: The Rural Modern in Cultures of the U.S. South, 1890-1946 by Benjamin S. Child

[Child] exposes the shadow side of the cosmopolitan modern by investigating the rural sources—the laboring bodies and raw materials—that made such urban spaces possible, thus taking a broader survey of landscapes created by the Atlantic world’s histories of uneven development.

The Creative Underclass: Youth, Race, and the Gentrifying City by Tyler Denmead

Tyler Denmead critically examines his role as the founder of New Urban Arts—a nonprofit arts program for young people of color in Providence, Rhode Island—and how despite its success, it unintentionally contributed to Providence's urban renewal efforts, gentrification, and the displacement of people of color. 

The World's Most Prestigious Prize: The Inside Story of the Nobel Peace Prize by Geir Lundestad

Despite all that has been written about the Nobel Peace Prize, this is the first-ever account written by a prominent insider in the Nobel system. (Available for request on Edelweiss)

The Feminist Handbook: Practical Tools to Resist Sexism and Dismantle the Patriarchy by Joanne L. Bagshaw

With this revolutionary feminist self-help guide, readers will find powerful tools they can use every day to combat the effects discrimination and gender inequality, improve self-confidence, build resilience, and actively resist the gendered messages they’ve internalized from living in an openly sexist, patriarchal society. (Available for request on Netgalley)

The Ethical Algorithm: The Science of Socially Aware Algorithm Design by Michael Kearns, Aaron Roth

Weaving together innovative research with stories of citizens, scientists, and activists on the front lines, The Ethical Algorithm offers a compelling vision for a future, one in which we can better protect humans from the unintended impacts of algorithms while continuing to inspire wondrous advances in technology. (Available for request on Edelweiss)

The New American Farmer: Immigration, Race, and the Struggle for Sustainability by Laura–anne Minkoff–zern

An examination of Latino/a immigrant farmers as they transition from farmworkers to farm owners that offers a new perspective on racial inequity and sustainable farming.

Beyond the Known: How Exploration Created the Modern World and Will Take Us to the Stars by Andrew Rader

From brilliant young polymath Andrew Rader—an MIT-credentialed scientist, popular podcast host, and SpaceX mission manager—an illuminating chronicle of exploration that spotlights humans’ insatiable desire to continually push into new and uncharted territory, from civilization’s earliest days to current planning for interstellar travel. (Available for request on Edelweiss and Netgalley)

The Human Edge: How curiosity and creativity are your superpowers in the digital economy by Greg Orme

Innovation guru Greg Orme provides a helpful, funny and supportive shove in the right

direction. He explores the skills you need to survive and thrive in a world of artificial

intelligence. He urges you to stop competing, and instead do things machines can’t.

The Mutual Admiration Society: How Dorothy L. Sayers and her Oxford Circle Remade the World for Women by Mo Moulton

Dubbing themselves the Mutual Admiration Society, Sayers and her classmates remained lifelong friends and collaborators as they fought for a truly democratic culture that acknowledged their equal humanity. (Available for request on Edelweiss and Netgalley)

Ending the War on Artisan Cheese: The Inside Story of Government Overreach and the Struggle to Save Traditional Raw Milk Cheesemakers by Catherine Donnelly

A prominent food scientist defends the use of raw milk in traditional artisan cheesemaking.

Dracul and The Best Damn Crumb Cake Ever

Fall weather finally arrived here in Georgia--after a heat wave that would just not end! The cooler weather is perfect for baking and reading, two of my favorite things.

Dracul
I had "Dracul" sitting on my shelves since last year but kept saving it until it really felt like October. As a sort of prequel to the classic "Dracula" I wondered how the author (a descendant of Bram Stoker) would present the story and how it would be written. I didn't love the original "Dracula" and much preferred Elizabeth Kostova's "The Historian". I would say that "Dracul" is the perfect middle ground. I was really pulled into the story and would definitely recommend it, but I loved "The Historian" more.

The Best Damn Crumb Cake Ever
I have been buying a box crumb cake mix forever but I wanted to make one myself. I had also recently inherited a bundt pan and wanted to test it out. This cake knocked my socks off and was gone within a day (I didn't eat it ALL myself, I swear). The topping is super crumbly and crunchy, but the cake is so soft, an addicting combination.

Ingredients

Filling:
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cups pecans (chopped)
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon (ground)

Topping:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon (ground)
6 tablespoons butter (melted)

Cake:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 1/4 cup white sugar
3 eggs slightly beaten
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups sour cream

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and really grease your pan (I used a bundt but you could use a 9" x 13")
2. Filling: Combine ingredients in small bowl. Set aside.
3. Topping: Whisk together the sugar, salt, flour, and cinnamon in a separate bowl. Add melted butter and combine. Set aside.
4. Cake: Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar on high until fluffy. Mix in eggs, vanilla, and sour cream on low speed until combined. Gradually add flour mixture until combined being careful to not over mix.
5. Layer the 3 sections in the pan: 1/3 cake batter, 1/2 filling mixture, 1/3 cake batter, 1/2 filling mixture, 1/3 cake batter, and topping mixture. 
6. Bake for 60 minutes. Cool in pan for 10-15 minutes before removing.

Cooking with Herbs for Health

My latest article in October issue of Bend Lifestyle magazine "Cooking with Herbs for Health" featuring Devon Young's "The Herbalist's Healing Kitchen: Use the Power of Food to Cook Your Way to Better Health and her recipe for Savory Pumpkin-Sage Panna Cotta.⁠ 

Initiated: Memoir of a Witch by Amanda Yates Garcia

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this release from 

the publisher in exchange for an honest review

With Halloween on the horizon, witches are prevalent in decorations (like my framed Hocus Pocus song), memes, and spooky stories, but "Initiated: Memoir of a Witch" by Amanda Yates Garcia (releasing 10/22/19) is a story of "true" witchcraft--one woman's story of her lifelong practice of Wicca.⁠
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Summary:⁠
An initiation signals a beginning: a door opens and you step through. Traditional Wiccan initiates are usually brought into the craft through a ceremony with a High Priestess. But even though Amanda Yates Garcia's mother, a practicing witch herself, initiated her into the earth-centered practice of witchcraft when she was 13 years old, Amanda's real life as a witch only began when she underwent a series of spontaneous initiations of her own.⁠
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Descending into the underworlds of poverty, sex work, and misogyny, Initiated describes Amanda's journey to return to her body, harness her power, and create the magical world she longed for through witchcraft. Hailed by crows, seduced by magicians, and haunted by ancestors broken beneath the wheels of patriarchy, Amanda's quest for self-discovery and empowerment is a deep exploration of a modern witch's trials - healing ancient wounds, chafing against cultural expectations, creating intimacy - all while on a mission to re-enchant the world. Peppered with mythology, tales of the goddesses and magical women throughout history, Initiated stands squarely at the intersection of witchcraft and feminism. With generosity and heart, this book speaks to the question: is it possible to live a life of beauty and integrity in a world that feels like it's dying?⁠
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I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about modern Wiccan religion from a first person point of view.⁠

Twenty-One Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this release from 

the publisher in exchange for an honest review

A book full of lists and a man who owns a bookstore? Sign me up! I love lists and bookstores. The protagonist's interior and exterior lives are presented to us almost totally in lists and while some are obsessive, relatable, and humorous, the trajectory of the novel had me rolling my eyes and begging "please don't let the story go in the direction I think it is". I would say this would be a cute paperback book to gift a new or almost new dad, but it's not making my list of faves.⁠

Dear Girls by Ali Wong

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this release from 

the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I loved Ali Wong's two Netflix stand-up specials, I love her on American Housewife, and I liked Always Be My Maybe, so I had high hopes for Dear Girls. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. I would say it is mediocre (at best). I can't help but wonder if it was the format; maybe the audio version is hilarious 🤷🏼‍♀️I think so much of her humor is in her delivery.⁠

The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets, and Stolen Identity by Axton Betz-Hamilton

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this release from 

the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The summary of "The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets, and Stolen Identity" caught my eye because identity theft is horrifying and fascinating to me. I want to know how these things happen? Who are the perpetrators? How do people rebuild their lives after they've had their identities stolen? I was really surprised that while I thought this book would be focused on the intricacies of financial accounts, creditors, etc., the author's personal story had me crying several times. By bravely sharing her story, Axton Betz-Hamilton shows that the so called "white collar crime" of identity theft is an often overlooked form of abuse that can utterly devastate a family.

Summary:
Axton Betz-Hamilton grew up in small-town Indiana in the early '90s. When she was 11 years old, her parents both had their identities stolen. Their credit ratings were ruined, and they were constantly fighting over money. This was before the age of the Internet, when identity theft became more commonplace, so authorities and banks were clueless and reluctant to help Axton's parents.

Axton's family changed all of their personal information and moved to different addresses, but the identity thief followed them wherever they went. Convinced that the thief had to be someone they knew, Axton and her parents completely cut off the outside world, isolating themselves from friends and family.

As a result, Axton spent her formative years crippled by anxiety, quarantined behind the closed curtains in her childhood home. She began starving herself at a young age in an effort to blend in--her appearance could be nothing short of perfect or she would be scolded by her mother, who had become paranoid and consumed by how others perceived the family.

Years later, her parents' marriage still shaken from the theft, Axton discovered that she, too, had fallen prey to the identity thief, but by the time she realized, she was already thousands of dollars in debt and her credit was ruined.

Metropolitan Stories by Christine Coulson

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this release from 

the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Do you dream of being locked in a bookstore or museum overnight? Did you love the movie Night at the Museum? If so, you'll love Christine Coulson's inventive and funny collection, Metropolitan Stories (releasing 10/8/19). Not only does she take readers behind the scenes and down the mazes of hallways, and through the storerooms of the Metropolitan Museum (she worked at the museum for twenty-five years) but she lets her imagination run wild with her stories about the paintings, furniture, workers, and art. A chair that longs to be sat in, a collection of muses comes to life, and love letters from the art to the museum staff are just a few of the subjects included. This was a fun, quick read and I always think short story collections are the answer to anyone who is in a reading funk, so grab this one up and have it on hand the next time you find yourself in one.⁠
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Summary:⁠
Hidden behind the Picassos and Vermeers, the Temple of Dendur and the American Wing, exists another world: the hallways and offices, conservation studios, storerooms, and cafeteria that are home to the museum's devoted and peculiar staff of 2,200 people--along with a few ghosts.⁠
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A surreal love letter to this private side of the Met, Metropolitan Stories unfolds in a series of amusing and poignant vignettes in which we discover larger-than-life characters, the downside of survival, and the powerful voices of the art itself. The result is a novel bursting with magic, humor, and energetic detail, but also a beautiful book about introspection, an ode to lives lived for art, ultimately building a powerful collage of human experience and the world of the imagination.⁠