Cookbook Review and Recipe: Young & Hungry By Gabi Moskowitz and Diana Snyder

YOUNG & HUNGRY
Your Complete Guide to a Delicious Life

By: Gabi Moskowitz and Diana Snyder

Published: April 11, 2017

Publisher: Freeform

Non-Fiction

Gabi Diamond is the character on the Freeform produced TV show, "Young & Hungry". The show was loosely based on the life of Gabi Moskowitz, the editor-in-chief of the nationally-acclaimed budget cooking blog BrokeAssGourmet and an author of several cookbooks. Moskowitz is also the co-producer of "Young & Hungry". Author Diana Snyder is a full-time writer for Freeform's "Young & Hungry".

YOUNG & HUNGRY is more than just a cookbook, but a guide to setting up your life and home as you enter the adult world. As stated in the introduction, there comes a time in everyone's life when you need to learn how to cook and get a decent apartment. This book begins to set young women (the target audience) up with a stocked pantry and medicine cabinet, how to handle those first job interviews, handling stressful situations, and lots of easy recipes to feed yourself or company.

I have never even heard of the TV show "Young & Hungry" before so I asked my teen daughter about it. She hadn't either but was willing to go through the book and give me her thoughts. Even though I thought this was marketed to teen girls, I would say it is written more for high school to college-aged girls. When my daughter pointed out the essentials for a medicine cabinet and condoms were listed, I realized the target audience was likely a bit older. But, I had her go through the recipes and choose one she wanted to try. She agreed there were other helpful tips and liked the homemade recipes for a body scrub and face mask. I'm glad she skipped the part about office tips as there were discussions about Tinder and not sleeping with your boss. The tips for online dating were straight-forward and honest, just again, not for a teenager.

So, while I think this is a book that offers helpful tips and recipes, it is a bit misleading in the presentation. When the show "Young & Hungry" receives five nominations for the Teen Choice Awards, you assume it is for teens. This book is not unless you just focus on the recipes.

There are plenty of quick and easy recipes included in this book like Roast Chicken, Overnight Oatmeal, Strawberry Basil Lemonade, and Magical One-Pot Spaghetti to name a few. The recipe we chose to make was the Hand Pies. They were a perfect idea for Father's Day as we could cater the pies to each family member's personal tastes. They were fun and easy to make and quite delicious.

HAND PIES

Click HERE for Printable Version

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Makes 6

Ingredients

All-Purpose Flour
Parchment Paper
1 Standard Pie Crust (found in the dairy section of most stores)

Filling Ideas

Jam
Smores: Mini Marshmallows, Chocolate Chips, and Graham Crackers (broken up)
PB&J: Peanut Butter and Jam
Lemon Curd
Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
Pumpkin Pie: Pumpkin Puree, Brown Sugar, Pumpkin Pie Spice, and a Pinch of Salt
Hot Pepper Jam and Cream Cheese
Brown Sugar and Cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Dust the counter with flour.
4. Roll the dough out into a smooth oval about 1/8 inch thick.
5. Use a glass or round biscuit cutter to cut the dough into circles about 4" in diameter or whatever size you have.
6. On half of the circles, cut a tiny "X" in the middle of the circle.
7. Fill the circles without an "X" with a tablespoon or two of filling into the center of one circle.
8. Wet your finger and circle the border of the dough with the filling on it.
9. Place the circle with the "X" on the top of the dough with the filling.
10. use your fingers to pinch the pieces of dough together to form a tight seal.
11. Use the back of a fork to gently seal the edges of the dough.
12. Repeat with remaining circles of dough.
13. Arrange on a baking sheet making sure there is space between each pie. 
14. Bake for 28-30 minutes, until golden brown.
15. Let cool on a rack for 5 minutes and serve.

We rolled out the dough and cut circles with a glass.

 Since the pie crust package came with two doughs, we rolled out both and made 11 pies.  

These were the toppings we chose for our pies: 

marshmallows and mini chocolate chips, strawberry rhubarb jam, cookie butter, and lemon curd. 

Each circle got a dollop of ingredients in the center.

Then each circle was dabbed with water before placing the top circle on.

The hand pies are ready to go in the oven.

A college student or recent graduate starting off in her own apartment will find this book helpful in decorating and setting up apartment and office space. The recipes are simple and useful in both entertaining or feeding yourself. The presentation of material is honest and fun. It's a girls' guide to being young, single, and starting off life as an adult.


To purchase YOUNG & HUNGRY, click the photo below:

I will be linking up this post as part of Beth Fish Reads' Weekend Cooking. Weekend Cooking is open to anyone that has a food-related post to share including a book review (fiction or non-fiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. Grab the button and link up on Saturdays, but you can post any day of the week. To see all the Weekend Cooking posts and this week's link up, click, HERE.



This post includes affiliate links. If you choose to purchase I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. 

Book Review: The Girls' Guide to Conquering Life by Erica and Jonathan Catherman

THE GIRLS' GUIDE TO CONQUERING LIFE
How to Ace an Interview, Change a Tire, Talk to a Guy and 97 Other Skills You Need to Thrive

By: Erica and Jonathan Catherman

Published: May 15, 2018

Publisher: Revell

Non-Fiction

As a parent, I hope that I send our kids off into the world as fully capable adults able to handle situations and tasks on their own. Teaching them things like doing their own laundry, boiling water for pasta, leaving a proper tip, or cleaning their bathroom seem obvious. This book covers all of these plus many others that didn't see as obvious, but just as important.

From Guys/Dating/Social Skills/Manners to Work Ethics and Money Management there are several great tips about self-confidence, listening skills, manners, and handling yourself in a job interview. For the Health/Beauty/Clothes and Fashion sections, there are lots of personal hygiene tips as well as tips for caring and shopping for your clothing. The book shares basic lessons in sports like how to throw a football or how to throw a dart. There are several recipes included to cover all kinds of meals. Car care and fix-it jobs round out the chapters. When I lived in my own apartment after college, I had to learn a few of these things through trial and error, but for the most part, my parents did a great job of teaching me all the things I needed to know. This book fills in the gaps.

Each lesson offers an illustration, items needed, the time required, steps to take, and then a fact or quote at the end. This book offers an easy-to-read format and makes it convenient to look up what you want to learn or to read a few tips at a time. Everything is explained, for example, when cooking pasta it states to place a colander in the sink. For those who maybe wouldn't know what a colander is, that is also explained. Everything is detailed and precise.

Tween-teen girls are the target audience for this book making it a great gift idea for graduations, confirmations, and birthdays. This book gives girls a head start in life, making sure they are ready for various situations and going into them with confidence and knowledge.

Erica Catherman - source

Jonathan Catherman - source

Erica Catherman has spent more than twenty years mentoring young women as a coach to middle school, high school, and college students. Committed to raising up the next generation to be kind, confident, and capable, Erica has served as a youth group leader, community volunteer, and advocate for gender equality in sports. She is a certified Yoga Alliance and Group Fitness instructor.

Jonathan Catherman is the author of the bestselling The Manual to Manhood and The Manual to Middle School. An award-winning cultural strategist and a leading education trainer specializing in the character and leadership development of youth, Jonathan speaks worldwide about the principles and strengths that empower greatness in children, teens, and young adults.

The Cathermans live in North Carolina, where they work together to raise their family, which includes teenagers and a couple of big dogs. Learn more at their website, HERE. 

To purchase a copy of THE GIRLS' GUIDE TO CONQUERING LIFE, click the photo below:

All summer I'll be sharing books for children and youths that are great choices to keep your children interested in reading and learning. These may be books that encourage reading, play, and kindness as well as keeping kids interested in science and history all while continuing to read. The summer slide is real and teachers will appreciate kids that continue to keep their minds active along with their bodies. See all the Summer Read-to-Learn books, HERE. 

I will be linking up this review on Booking Mama's regular Saturday feature, Kid Konnection. This is a place for bloggers to share posts related to children's and YA books. You will find spotlights, reviews, and sometimes even giveaways by clicking HERE, every Saturday.


Other books you may be interested in:

I Will Always Write Back

One Good Thing About America

Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase this book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. 

Books that Came in April 2018

Boy, you can tell I have a lot going on, I only read 6 books in the last month and four of them were children's books. I also had one audio that I was listening to, but it expired before I could finish it, so I'm currently back on the waitlist. April was full of more winter days than spring-like days. Many of our track meets were canceled and the ones we could have were pretty chilly. I'm now in full-on graduation mode and spending a lot of time getting things ready. We are at the point of all the "lasts". Last band concert. Last choir concert. Patrick turned 18 last month and I just can't even believe I have been a mom for 18 years.

I did take a few days for my annual trip to Minneapolis with my mom, her sister, and daughter. We have been taking this trip for nine years and it is just such a wonderful time. The mother/daughter/sister/cousin time is priceless and full of laughter....and ice cream.

This array of pansies was a welcome sight during our trip as it has seemed that Winter was never going to end. But, we had lovely weather and I think that Spring has finally arrived.

We ended the trip by seeing "Jersey Boys" at the Orpheum Theatre. Oh. My. Gosh. That was an amazing show! It's the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Season and our moms loved reliving their younger years through those songs.

The month of May will fly by in a blink of an eye as we move through the end of the school year and graduation. I can't stop that train, so I'm going to enjoy the ride and soak in all the scenery.

Make sure you check out all the wonderful books that were added to my shelves in May.

Currently Reading: LET ME LIE
Currently Listening: POPULATION 485
Still Reading:  THE GIFT OF AN ORDINARY DAY, GRACE NOT PERFECTION
Up Next: I'm just going to focus on these for now with the limited free time that I have to read.

If you would like to purchase any of the books in this post, clicking the photo or title of the book will take you directly to the product on Amazon. If you choose to purchase the book I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. 

HEART LAND
By: Kimberly Stuart
Published: July 17, 2018
Publisher: Howard Books
Format: Paperback

Kimberly Stuart is an Iowa author and I'll be reviewing her newest book for the Cedar Rapids Gazette in July. I've previously read and reviewed her book BETTER TOGETHER.

Grace Klaren has finally made her dream of living in the Big Apple and working in the fashion industry a reality. But when she’s unexpectedly fired and can’t afford the next month’s rent, Grace does something she never thought she’d do: she moves back home.

Back in Silver Creek, Iowa, Grace is determined to hate it. She rails against the quiet of her small town, where everything closes early, where there’s no nightlife, where everyone knows each other. She’s saving her pennies and plotting her return to New York when she almost runs over a man who’s not paying attention at a crosswalk. It turns out to be Tucker, her high school sweetheart whose heart she broke when she left ten years ago. They reconnect, and Grace remembers why she fell for him in the first place.

And her career begins to turn around when she finds a gorgeous but tattered vintage dress at a flea market. She buys it, rips it apart seam by seam, and re-creates it with new fabric, updating the look with some of her own design ideas. She snaps a picture and lists the dress online, and within a day, it sells for nearly $200. Suddenly, Grace has her ticket out of here.

But Grace can’t fight her growing feelings for Tucker. Sometimes when they’re together, Tucker paints a picture of what their future could be like, and it feels so real. And when she finally gains the funding to move her new business back to New York, Grace must decide where home really is—will she chase her long-held New York dream, or find a new dream here in the heartland? 






THE BATTLE OF JUNK MOUNTAIN
By: Lauren Abbey Greenberg
Published: April 17, 2018
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Format: Hardcover

I love finding great middle-grade novels to recommend to my daughter's friends and my fellow teacher friends for their classroom. This one sounds perfect for summer reading.

Twelve-year-old Shayne Whittaker has always spent summers on the Maine coast, visiting her grandmother Bea and playing with her BFF Poppy. Both Shayne and Bea are collectors, in their own ways: Shayne revels in golden memories of searching for sea glass and weaving friendship bracelets with Poppy, while Bea scours flea markets for valuable finds, much of which she adds to a growing pile in her house that Shayne jokingly calls Junk Mountain. 

This summer, though, everything has changed. Poppy would rather talk about boys than bracelets, and Bea's collecting mania has morphed into hoarding. Only Linc, the weird Civil War-obsessed kid next door, pays attention to her. Turns out Linc's collected a secret of his own, one that could enrage the meanest lobsterman on the planet, his grandpa. What begins as the worst summer of Shayne's life becomes the most meaningful, as she wages an all-out battle to save her friendships, rescue her grandmother, and protect the memories she loves the most.






GIRL IN PIECES
By: Kathleen Glasgow
Published: August 30, 2016 - April 10, 2018, Paperback
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Format: Paperback

This was the Target Book of the Month pick. I didn't realize it was written for teens until I saw it in the teen section at Barnes and Noble. It is a 2019 nominee for the Lincoln Award which is voted on by participating Illinois High School students.  So, I'm guessing it'll be a great read! GIRL IN PIECES is also a debut novel for Glasgow, which I love.

Charlotte Davis is in pieces. At seventeen she’s already lost more than most people lose in a lifetime. But she’s learned how to forget. The broken glass washes away the sorrow until there is nothing but calm. You don’t have to think about your father and the river. Your best friend, who is gone forever. Or your mother, who has nothing left to give you.

Every new scar hardens Charlie’s heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. It hurts enough to not care anymore, which is sometimes what has to happen before you can find your way back from the edge.






HOUSE OF ROUGEAUX
By: Jenny Jaeckel
Published: April 24, 2018
Publisher: Raincloud Press
Format: Paperback

Another debut novel and one I'm definitely intrigued to read.

For Abeje and her brother Adunbi, home is the slave quarters of a Caribbean sugar plantation on the Antilles Island of Martinique. Under the watchful eye of their African mother, the children thrive despite what threatens to break them. After a night of brutality changes their lives forever, it is their strength and extraordinary bond that carries them through. 

At the dawn of emancipation, Adunbi’s daughter Hetty finds her way to Quebec City as the maid to the slave owner’s daughters. There she discovers a talent for piano and meets a bold saddler’s apprentice named Dax Rougeaux. After buying her freedom, Dax and Hetty join a growing community of Afro-Canadians living free. 

In moving prose, author Jenny Jaeckel creates a brilliantly imagined epic, weaving a multi-layered narrative that celebrates the Rougeaux family triumphs while exposing the injustices of their trials. As each new member of the family takes the spotlight, a fresh piece of the puzzle is illuminated until at last, after a span of nearly two centuries, the end brings us back to the beginning. 

In her debut novel, award-winning author Jenny Jaeckel masterfully blends coming-of-age, folklore, and historical fiction with explorations of gender, race, and sexuality, creating a wondrous tale of hope and healing. A relevant work of love, determination, and the many small achievements that make up greatness, House of Rougeaux draws a new map of what it means to be family.






POPULATION 485
Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time
By: Michael Perry
Published: October 8, 2002
Publisher: Harper
Format: Audiobook

I remember this book coming out and being interested in it. I found the audio version in my library overdrive and downloaded it. It's a short 6 hour listen, which is perfect right now since I don't have a lot of free time. I can listen in the morning while getting ready and I will finish before my time runs out on the library loan.

Here the local vigilante is a farmer's wife armed with a pistol and a Bible, the most senior member of the volunteer fire department is a cross-eyed butcher with one kidney and two ex-wives (both of whom work at the only gas station in town), and the back roads are haunted by the ghosts of children and farmers. Michael Perry loves this place. He grew up here, and now -- after a decade away -- he has returned. Unable to polka or repair his own pickup, his farm-boy hands gone soft after years of writing, Mike figures the best way to regain his credibility is to join the volunteer fire department. Against a backdrop of fires and tangled wrecks, bar fights and smelt feeds, he tells a frequently comic tale leavened with moments of heartbreaking delicacy and searing tragedy.

COLORAMA
From Fuchsia to Midnight Blue
By: Cruschiform
Published: March 20, 2018
Publisher: Prestel Junior
Format: Hardcover

This is a children's book, targeted for elementary-aged readers, but I am loving this for me. I am a color geek and have skimmed this and can't wait to set aside time to read every page. On one side is a full page of the color with the opposite page listing the name of the color and a description of something that color. I just think it is the neatest book. I won't be able to wait to dive in and then share it with you.

What is the color white? The serenity of a snowfall? The peace of a dove? The purity of alabaster? This original and captivating exploration of color delves into the nuances of the universal palette while also explaining the history behind some of the terms used to describe certain hues. Elegantly designed it offers two-page spreads for 133 different shades. Each full-page of brilliant color faces a charming explanatory illustration and text of technical, scientific, historic, etymological, or linguistic terms. Two helpful indices present the colors in the order in which they appear in the book and also sorts them thematically in categories such as "Birds," "Cloth," "Modes of Transport," and "Formulas." The book also offers inspiration and guidance to painters and illustrators. Young lovers of art can understand why artists chose a particular shade over another. As fun to peruse as it is informative, this unique, cleverly designed book offers a wealth of surprises about the colors around us.






AN ATLAS OF IMAGINARY PLACES
By: Mia Cassany
Illustrated by: Ana de Lima
Published: May 8, 2018
Publisher: Prestel Junior
Format: Hardcover Picture Book

The gorgeous picture book combines geography and fantasy and looks like such a fabulous book.

Upside-down mountains, volcanoes that spew bubble gum, a gentle humpback whale keeping an entire city afloat. These and other wonderful worlds may not exist on Earth, but elsewhere--who knows? Each spread of this captivating book invites readers on a fantastic voyage. Ana de Lima's whimsical, softly colored illustrations are filled with surprising details that reward close examination, while Mia Cassany's soothing narrator is a nameless fellow traveler. A jungle where the animals exchange stripes, spots, and markings each time they sneeze, an archipelago made up of dessert-shaped islands and a lighthouse so tall you can draw a new galaxy with your finger are just some of the wild places to visit. Perfect for before-bed reading, or daytime dreaming, this stunningly illustrated book will delight young readers and encourage them to conjure their own imaginary places. 






MAMA'S BELLY
By: Kate Hosford
Illustrated by: Abigail Halpin
Published: April 17, 2018
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Format: Hardcover Picture Book

A perfect book for a child who is waiting for a new baby brother or sister to arrive.

As a curious little girl awaits the arrival of her baby sister, she asks Mama many questions: “Will she have freckles?” “Will I have to share my blanket?” She helps Mama and Dad prepare to meet her little sister, singing her songs and knitting her a new blanket. But the most important part of getting ready is taking care of Mama. When Mama can’t see her toes, she counts to make sure there’s still ten. When Mama’s tired, she draws her a picture and gives her hugs. An honest and gentle exploration of the excitement and anxiety kids feel when welcoming a new family member, Mama’s Belly is ultimately a celebration of motherly (and daughterly) love and a soothing story for older siblings that even with the spotlight on a new baby, there is always enough love for everyone.






I GOT A CHICKEN FOR MY BIRTHDAY
By: Laura Gehl
Illustrated by: Sarah Horne
Published: March 1, 2018
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Format: Hardcover Picture Book

After reading and reviewing Gehl's PEEP AND EGG books, I saw that this one had just come out. So I tracked down her publisher and begged for a copy of this one.  My nieces love their chickens and I bet they will love this book!

What a birthday girl wants more than anything from her Abuela are tickets to the amusement park. Instead, she gets a chicken. But this chicken is no ordinary chicken; it has plans! With a lot of hard work and help from lots of other animals, this chicken may just end up building the girl the best birthday gift ever!






SNAIL MAIL
By: Samantha Berger
Illustrated by: Julia Patton
Published: May 1, 2018
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Format: Hardcover Picture Book

I love writing letters and supporting our US Postal Service. My mom retired as a rural carrier after 25+  years and my dad worked as a postmaster after he retired from his newspaper job. This book looks like a great way to encourage your kids to write letters.

A long, long time ago, before email and texting, the mail was delivered in a much slower way-it was called Snail Mail (because some thought it was delivered by a snail). Although it took much longer, everyone agreed that letters were a little more special when they were delivered by Snail Mail. They might be handwritten. They might include a drawing. They might even contain a surprise inside! One such letter was sent by a Girl to the Boy she loved, and it was up to four special snails to deliver her card across the country. The snail's trek across the country-through desert heat and dangerous blizzards, across mountains and plains, through cities and forests-and along the way, they find that taking time to slow down and look around makes the journey all the more beautiful. 

Snail Mail's playful and educational story encourages kids to have slow living and to approach life with determination and wonder. Julia Patton's rich illustrations showcase America's diverse terrain and national monuments from coast to coast. Kids and parents alike will delight in this celebration of America's beauty and the power of a simple handwritten letter.




These next two books offer a unique way to teach kids about animals and the human body. Through 3D illustrations and unique lenses, kids can learn in a fun, interactive way. These would be great for a homeschool or classroom library and would make a great end-of-year teacher gift. 




ANIMALS
A Lens Book
By: Valentina Facci
Translated by: Sally-Ann Delvino
Illustrated by: Alberto Borgo
Published: May 1, 2018
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Format: Hardcover

Do you know what the difference is between vertebrates and invertebrates? How are mammals different from other types of animals? How does a fish swim? How do birds fly? Why does a jaguar have spots? Answers to these fascinating questions and more lay inside Animals: A Lens Book, a fun and fascinating illustrated book that promises to provide hours of fun and learning for kids. Use the three different color lenses in the book's cover to make discoveries about all different types of animals on each page. You'll never look at the animal world the same way again after learning all these curious facts about our furry (and not-so-furry) friends. 




THE HUMAN BODY
A Lens Book
By: Valentina Bonaguro
Translated by: Denise Muir
Illustrated by: Matteo Gaule
Published: May 1, 2018
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Format: Hardcover

How do bones and muscles work? What part of our brain helps us to see and hear? How does blood get from our heart to our other organs? Answers to these fascinating questions and more lay inside The Human Body: A Lens Book, an inspiring and creative illustrated book that promises to provide hours of fun and learning for kids. Use the three different color lenses in the book's cover to make discoveries about all the systems of the body, including organs, the skeleton, the muscles, and more. You'll never look at your body the same way again after learning all these curious facts about what makes us human.

I'm linking up with THE DELIBERATE READER for her monthly feature NEW ON THE STACK. To see other bloggers' new books from April, click HERE.

As always, be sure to let me know if you read any of these. 

Quick Lit: Mini Review of Some Recent Reads - April Edition

I'm trying to read more books that I choose for my own reading enjoyment. Not for review, but because I've been wanting to read them or they caught my attention. Most of them have been talked about ad nauseam or have been on my to-read list for a long time so they don't really need a full review. But, I'd still like to give them some space here on the blog.

I'll be linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and her monthly Quick Lit link up. Be sure to head over to see others link up their Quick Lit posts.

Our family took a Spring Break trip, driving to Dallas, Texas, and back. So I had plenty of time for reading and I read the bottom four books in this post while on our trip. The rest I fit in sporadically around other review books. My reading time is slowing down again now as track season is ramping up (just when I think Mother Nature has realized it is Spring and NOT winter she drops more snow on us) and planning for graduation is in full swing. My spare time is spent working on organizing pictures and other things for graduation party preparation. I'm looking forward to a much more relaxed summer schedule that will include catching up on reading! But, for now, I'm embracing these last moments of our son's high school experience.  

A THOUSAND NAKED STRANGERS

By: Kevin Hazzard 

Published: January 5, 2016

Publisher: Scribner

Format: eBook

I really enjoy medical memoirs and this one, from an EMT/Paramedic's perspective gave me a different look into the medical field. After a career in journalism, Hazzard wanted a have a job that was exciting but also gave him the opportunity to help others and make an impact in someone's life. After hours of studying, classes, ride-a-longs and being thrown into life and death situations, he started his career at Grady, Atlanta's toughest neighborhood. He was quickly thrown into the darkest and most difficult moments in people's lives.  His stories of life and death were horrifying and graphic. The conditions that the paramedics had to work in were beyond horrible and it's a wonder they were able to save anyone's life. 

Because of his journalistic background, Hazzard writes to keep the reader interested white using metaphors to give us a voyeuristic view into the days and nights of an ambulance crew. Hazzard doesn't hold back in his story-sharing and his vivid descriptions of scenes whether accidents or family drama or murders made me cringe. 

My favorite quote from the book is tragic, but sadly seemingly true:

"Medicine's great magic trick is how it convinces us we're here saving lives

 when more often what we're doing is witnessing death." 

GIVE A GIRL A KNIFE

By: Amy Thielen

Published: May 16, 2017

Publisher: Clarkson Potter

Format: Audiobook

I was interested in Thielen's book because my cousin knows her and has helped with a few of her book signing events. I have skimmed her cookbook, THE NEW MIDWESTERN TABLE and salivated over her recipes. I also watched her show on the Food Network so I was already familiar with her story a bit. I listened to her memoir on audio, which she reads herself. Her story of working as an NYC chef was fascinating even though a lot of the food she was creating I had never heard of. The long hours and minimal pay were a surprise to me as I assumed chefs were paid well. How she and her husband, Aaron, would just jump in the car and start a new adventure gave me anxiety. Staying with strangers until their car was fixed, trusting that all would work out or living in an old building with strangers in NYC just floored me. It was definitely a different time, but still they were extremely trusting of others. Once they returned to Minnesota and began living off the land, I was fascinated by her willingness to live with so little. I was excited along with her when they got running water for the first time in their cabin. Thielen's story is more than a food memoir, it is an awakening of what her life purpose truly is. 

DREAM MORE

Celebrate the Dreamer in You

By: Dolly Parton

Published: November 27, 2012

Publisher: Putnam

Format: Audiobook

This book is similar to MAKE YOUR BED that I wrote about last month in the sense that the book was written based on a graduation speech. I listened to both on audio and by far, Dolly's is more fun to listen to! You can't help being happy while listening to Dolly share her stories. She is always full of joy and spunk. 

Her laughter, her generosity, and her love of children are what make her the Dolly we all love. To paraphrase her quote from the book, "I don't want to be remembered for my looks, but for my books." Her foundation Imagination Library makes it possible for children everywhere to have a book. To find out what that is what she is most proud of in her life, you have to read her book. At just a 1 1/2 hour listen, you can finish it in no time. Well worth your time and make sure you choose the audio version to get the full Dolly experience! I just wish she would have gone even deeper in some of her stories. 

FALSE REPORT

A True Story of Rape in America

By: T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong

Published: February 6, 2018

Publisher: Crown

Format: Hardcover

I'm not sure that I can really say much more than what the synopsis has already told you, except for you to be prepared. It's graphic, heartbreaking, and horrifying. The evil depicted in this book is so much more so because you know every horrific detail of it happened to the women brave enough to tell their story again and again.

My first job out of college was as a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Counselor. I can handle a certain amount of graphic details as it used to be part of my job, but I will admit, I had to put this book aside several times and take a breather. It's been a long time since I worked with victims every day, attached to a pager knowing every time it went off, someone had been hurt. It was hard to keep turning the pages knowing the victims weren't being believed, knowing the rapist was going to strike again, and knowing all these things truly happened was a lot to take.

The reporting in this book is important and should be required reading off all police detectives and counselors who work with victims. The take away for me was the reminder that false reports are rare and each victim's response to rape can't be compared to another victim. It's our job to believe until proven otherwise, listen, and support in whatever capacity possible. 

THE CAKE THERAPIST

By: Judith Fertig

Published: June 2, 2015

Publisher: Berkley

Format: Paperback

Who wouldn't want to read a book with a rainbow cake on the cover?

Fertig created the plot of this story while at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival where many other great books began. Claire, or "Neely" as her friends call her, returns to her hometown in Ohio after living a lavish life in NYC married to an NFL star and being well-known for her baking. Her marriage is over as far as she is concerned and it is time to start over.

Neely opens up her bakery right across from her friend's bridal shop hoping to make their community a destination for wedding planning. Success comes fast and her skill at baking for people's moods and feelings keeps customers coming to their small town.

Neely has the magical ability to sense people's emotions and bakes with certain flavors that match up with their feelings drawing stories and emotions out of her customers.

Along with Neely's story, we are also immersed in a story from the past that has a connection to Neely and her customers. At first, this didn't make sense to the rest of the story and I was confused, but as I continued along, I realized there was a connection that would tie everything together, which it did.

Readers should know there are some storylines that can be triggers for some people. Overall, I enjoyed the friendships created, the mystery behind the flavors and creating special desserts, and the endless mouth-watering descriptions of cakes.

Favorite Quote:

"Orange wakes you up, but cinnamon makes you remember. 

I guess you can't have a future without a past. "

GLOW15

A Science-Based Plan to Lose Weight, Revitalize Your Skin, and Invigorate Your Life

By: Naomi Whittel

Published: March 6, 2018

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Format: eBook

I saw an ad for this book in a magazine while on our Spring Break trip. After reading a couple sample chapters, I bought the Kindle version. I am really intrigued by the philosophy of autophagy and have done parts of the plan since I read it. Again, it takes planning and prep work which I can't fit in right now, but I liked the recipes in the book as well as the schedule of high and low protein days. The exercise plan in the book also seems doable.

THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN

By: Sherman Alexie

Published: September 12, 2007

Publisher: Little, Brown Books

Format: Paperback

This book came highly recommended to me by my nephew who is a high-school English teacher on a Native American reservation school. Our sons read it a couple years ago and I finally decided our Spring Break trip would be a good time to read it since I knew it would a quick read. I have always been curious as to why it was a banned book and yet so many rave about it. 

The only part that maybe would be of a concern for parents is that the book has strong themes yet looks to appeal to a younger audience because of the length of the book and the character (think Diary of a Wimpy Kid) drawings throughout the book. But, it is definitely written for mature middle-school to high-school-aged children. 

Even though it is a quick read, I did find it extremely depressing and had to put it down a few times just to take a step away from the story. Arnold was born to alcoholic parents so he has had some brain complications and lives in the cycle of alcoholism, poverty, and poor choices that seem to be too common on reservations. Even with his brain issues, he is extremely bright and takes a chance by leaving the reservation school to attend the local high school that is 20 miles away. Many days he has to walk himself to or from school. Other times he catches a ride by hitch-hiking. But, still, Arnold succeeds....even when things are chaotic all around him and it would be so much easier to give up.I had to believe that there would be happiness ahead to keep myself reading and there was, but there was a lot of tragedy too. So, choose carefully if recommending this to young readers. 

Other posts you may enjoy:

Quick Lit - March 2018

Quick Lit - February 2018

Quick Lit - January 2018

Quick Lit - December 2017