Review: The Magick of Food by Gwion Raven

Title: The Magick of Food: Rituals, Offerings & Why We Eat Together
Author: Gwion Raven
Format: eARC
Pub. Date:January 8th 2020
Source: Netgalley / Llewellyn Publications


Book Description:

Delight Your Senses and Your Soul with a Feast of Recipes, Rituals, and Spells

Discover a magickal collection of lore, recipes, and practices from modern and ancient cultures of the world. The Magick of Food reveals how to transform the mundane task of fueling your body into an opportunity for deep nourishment and connection to loved ones and the divine. This powerful book provides detailed information on food magick and rituals, from edible aphrodisiacs to feasts for the gods.

Whether you're preparing boar tacos for Bacchus or a vegetable frittata to celebrate the equinox, this book helps you find community through food and build your kitchen witch skills. Using history, magick, and more than forty delicious recipes, you'll breathe new life into your devotional practice while you connect with ancestors and deities.

Review:

★★★★★

This book was absolutely what I needed.

I love to cook. And I love to bake. And I love to feed people. It is one thing I am good at and it is something that helps me express how much I care about someone else. Food comes from the heart, and this book is a complete celebration of that for a kitchen witch.

There are a wide variety of topics covered in this book, such as history, mythology, recipes, and rituals. I found the sections on history fascinating. It's interesting to read about how similar our traditions are in the 21st century (such as feasts like Thanksgiving) and also how very differently we enjoy the same things (like feasting when DoorDash delivers to us).

I appreciated how this book made me think of common things I do just a little bit differently. The biggest of these was a glaring example of cooking with intention that I'd never thought about before: chicken soup for those who are sick, and how we make it for them with the intention of them to drink it and feel better. It made complete sense, but I'd never framed it that way before.

It's also clear that the author did a fair amount of research for this book. It's littered with footnotes, references, and samples of texts by other writers. But as much as there were references cited, it never felt like it was a textbook. The author tells such heartfelt personal stories that it feels as though he was writing this paper just for me, friend to friend. I really liked that sense of comfort and familiarity. (And also he talks about how he goes to witch camp. I wanna go to witch camp!).

Another thing that I really appreciated is that Gwion Raven addressed the fact that not everyone has access to supplies, let alone groceries. He discussed food deserts, and how things can be substituted or adapted based on what you do have. So many magick publications just assume you have access to every single herb and ingredient on the planet and that you have endless space and equipment and it's not true for so, so many people. It was nice to see it addressed by someone.

The recipes included here are also pretty varied. I wish there had been a bit more of them, but there's still a pretty good number. They include things like ancient recipes, recipes for the sabbats, cocktail recipes, every day recipes, and even a section on aphrodisiacs.

Some of the recipes that I'm the most eager to try include: Kykeon (Ancient Greek horchata of sorts), Boar Tacos with Spicy Berry Salsa, Roasted Goat Leg with Grape Molasses, and Samhain Pot Roast for one.

I think that this is a great book for those who partake in magick and who also love food. It's a good mix of history, ritual, and recipe book that make it easy to read, and easy to bookmark for later reference.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Review: Hades Speaks! by Vicky Alvear Shecter

Title: Hades Speaks!: A Guide to the Underworld by the Greek God of the Dead
Series: Secrets of the Ancient Gods
Author: Vicky Alvear Shecter
Illustrator: J.E. Larson
Format: Hardcover, 128 pages
Pub. Date: September 1st 2014
Source: Blog Win


Book Description:

Hades, god of the dead, welcomes readers on a dangerous tour of his underworld kingdom, filled with monsters, furies, giants, and vampire demons. Along the way, he reveals ancient death rites and sinister curses, tells hair-raising stories, and cracks jokes to die for. With his witty voice and ghoulish sense of humor, Hades is the perfect guide through this fresh and imaginative work of nonfiction that reads like a novel. Includes a glossary, bibliography, and index.

Review:

★★★★★

It's no secret that I love mythology. I have a degree in ancient civilizations and classics for a reason! No matter if they're historical texts or picture books, I'm always a sucker for myths. Of the Grecian pantheon, my favorite god is the often misunderstood and underrated Hades. So when I saw this book, I had to give it a go. I wasn't disappointed.

Hades Speaks! is a book that stands apart to me because it's actually written from the perspective of Hades giving the reader a tour of the Underworld. That's such a cool way to present this information, especially since it's a middle grade-ish age book. It makes learning fun, and makes it easy to forget that you're even learning at all.

I appreciated that Hades wasn't boring or cookie cutter. He had some depth and development as a character. He was bitter towards his siblings and a bit of a complainer- which if you've read anything about Hades, that's pretty accurate. But he cracks a few jokes and just wants to clear up his side of history that pop culture has gotten wrong. There's even a reference to Harry Potter & Fluffy.

The journey through the afterlife of the fallen Greeks is a very enjoyable one. There's a good flow. The information is explained by way of story telling, so it's not just an information dump of Greek facts. You're introduced to different monsters and underworld inhabitants that aren't really mentioned much, at least here in the US. (Shoutout to my girl Hecate who never gets much representation).

There's also illustrations throughout the book. They're well done, and really accentuate the texts.

If you, or your children, are interested in learning about Greek gods, this book is a great way to learn. Hades Speaks! should be a welcome addition to any classroom or library. I look forward to reading other books about the gods in this series.

Review: The Year of the Geek by James Clarke

Title: The Year of the Geek: 365 Adventures from the Sci-Fi Universe
Author: James Clarke
Format: eARC
Pub. Date: October 19th 2017
Source: Publisher


Book Description:

The Year of the Geek is a fascinating look into geek culture. Each day will tell a different story from the sci-fi universe, from famous franchises and figures such as Star Wars, The Matrix, Peter Jackson and Luc Besson, to lesser known stories, including the French cult classic City of Lost Children, the Japanese anime Akira and bestselling German novelist, Marcus Heitz. With text written by self-confessed geek James Clarke and accompanied by over 100 infographics that have been specially commissioned for this book, The Year of the Geek celebrates all things geek in a new and intriguing way.

Review:

★★★★

This is such a great little guide. It's the sort of a book that would make a really good Christmas gift or stocking stuffer.

As the title suggests, this book is a year long, with one page per day. Each day there's a fun little factoid. It might be an author or film star's birthday, or when a book was released, or something else like that.

Each day is written in a fun way that's educational, but without making it sound like it's a Wikipedia page or text book. The graphics are really well done. There's lots of charts and infographics that make it seem more fun and more engaging.

I was a bit worried that this book might be "too geeky" for me. What I mean by that is, I'm a huge fan of Fantasy and books, but I'm not really the biggest sci-fi buff, and I have a less than stellar interest in anime and comic books. But the information was interesting no matter the subject, and it was just enough to be a "fun fact" sized thing to learn. For me, it's a good way to start the morning.

If you or someone in your life is a lover of the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, the SyFy channel, or any similar subjects, this is a cool book to have around.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: If You Were Me and Lived In...Renaissance Italy by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived In...Renaissance Italy
Series: If You Were Me and Lived In...
Author: Carole P. Roman
Artist: Silvia Brunetti
Format: Paperback, 58 pages
Pub. Date: May 6th 2016
Source: Author


Book Description:

Join Carole P. Roman and travel through time to visit the most interesting civilizations throughout history in the first four books of her new series. Learn what kind of food you might eat in Ancient Greece, the clothes you wore in 15th century Renaissance Italy, what your name could be in Elizabethan England, and what Colonial American children did for fun. If You Were Me and Lived in...does for history what her other award-winning series did for culture. So get on-board this time-travel machine and discover the world through the eyes of a young person just like you.

Review:

★★★

I think this is a great children's book series that overall does a good job of introducing world history to kids. While still an okay book, this particular installment is not my favorite of the series.

There is a LOT of information here. And that's good, to a degree. But when there's a block of text compared to a small, or not detailed illustration, it becomes dry and too much like a text book.

As always, I do appreciate the glossary in the back, and the phonetic pronunciations that are sprinkled throughout the book. They're helpful, if you/r kid has not come across them before. There's also a list of famous figures from this point in time, which is a good addition.

The illustrations are really pretty- I really like the art style. I do, however, think the mix of real life photos and artwork is sort of odd and choppy.

I also really appreciated that the book was about a girl this time!

All in all, it's informative but a bit much. It's still really interesting, but a bit harder to get through.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: If You Were Me and Lived In... Colonial America by Carole P. Roman

Title:If You Were Me and Lived In... Colonial America: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time
Series: If You Were Me and Lived In...
Author: Carole P. Roman
Artist: Sarah Wright
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: April 24th 2017
Source: Author


Book Description:

Join Carole P. Roman and travel through time to visit the most interesting civilizations throughout history in the first four books of her new series. Learn what kind of food you might eat in Ancient Greece, the clothes you wore in 15th century Renaissance Italy, what your name could be in Elizabethan England, and what Colonial American children did for fun. If You Were Me and Lived in...does for history what her other award-winning series did for culture. So get on-board this time-travel machine and discover the world through the eyes of a young person just like you.

Review:

★★★★

I'm a pretty big fan of these books. I think they're a great introduction to history for young readers. This book is no exception. This is a good, age appropriate introduction to American history.

One thing that's super helpful is that there are phonetic pronunciations are given for words that may be unfamiliar. However, I do think the words chosen seem sort of odd. For example, "Catholic" has phonetics, but "Protestant" does not. You also learn some new words- like "daub" or "wattle".

There's a lot of information in these small books. This includes a glossary section in the back, as well as a guide with some famous people from this period in history.

There's a stray typo or two, but nothing too major.

The illustrations are very cute, and go well with the text. There's a good balance of words and photos on each page, which is good for maintaining focus.

I think this is a good intro to American history, that tells a lot, but doesn't get into too much horrific detail.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Review: The Family Tree Cemetery Field Guide by Joy Neighbors

Title: The Family Tree Cemetery Field Guide: How to Find, Record, and Preserve Your Ancestor's Grave
Author: Jun Asuka
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 20th 2017
Source: Netgalley


Book Description:

Not all research can be done from home--sometimes you have to head into the field. Cemeteries are crucial for any genealogist's search, and this book will show you how to search for and analyze your ancestors' graves. Discover tools for locating tombstones, tips for traipsing through cemeteries, an at-a-glance guide to frequently used gravestone icons, and practical strategies for on-the-ground research. And once you've returned home, learn how to incorporate gravestone information into your research, as well as how to upload grave locations to BillionGraves and record your findings in memorial pages on Find A Grave.

Detailed step-by-step guides to finding ancestors' cemeteries using websites like Find A Grave, plus how to record and preserve death and burial information
Tips and strategies for navigating cemeteries and finding individual tombstones in the field, plus an at-a-glance guide to tombstone symbols and iconography
Resources and techniques for discovering other death records and incorporating information from cemeteries into genealogical research

Review:

★★★

I'm pretty interested in cemeteries and history, so I was happy to get my hands on this book. It was a solid read- just a bit basic for my personal needs.

The book is divided into four main parts. Part One is planning your trip. It's sort of the 101 course of what you'll need to do and what you'll need to know on your expedition. Part two is researching on hallowed ground. It's how to read grave markers and tombstones, what the different symbols mean, etc. Part three is making sense of your research and delves into how to dig into all your data. Part four is digging deeper, and deals with things like records and preservation. There's also a final appendix, which includes worksheets and more records/information to help you organize better.

The book is a little scattered, and information can be a bit hard to find. The part divisions are more of guidelines than hard rules, and sometimes topics switch seemingly at random. It's a bit irritating.

It wasn't as dry as I was expecting to be. It's certainly more of a guide book and less of a text book. That said, in some spots the tone of the book was a bit condescending. Again, just mildly irritating.

This is probably a really good guide for people who have never done any genealogy before, or who are unfamiliar with cemeteries in general. But for those who already know a bit about it, it's a fair bit of information that you probably already know. It's a good basic start, but is not all encompassing (though I'm sure that'd be nearly impossible). There are icons and grave types, for example, that aren't mentioned. I was actually hoping to find more information about a specific style that's prevalent in my area, but no dice.

If you're new to this field of study, this is a great place to start. There's resources, worksheets, advice, and helpful tips. But if not, this book may have limited offerings for you.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Kids' Review: If You Were Me and Lived in...Ancient Greece by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...Ancient Greece
Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...
Author: Carole P. Roman
Format: Paperback, 56 pages
Pub. Date: March 17th 2016
Source: Publisher/Author book mail


Book Description:

Join Carole P. Roman and travel through time to visit the most interesting civilizations throughout history in the first four books of her new series. Learn what kind of food you might eat in Ancient Greece, the clothes you wore in 15th century Renaissance Italy, what your name could be in Elizabethan England, and what Colonial American children did for fun. If You Were Me and Lived in...does for history what her other award-winning series did for culture. So get on-board this time-travel machine and discover the world through the eyes of a young person just like you.

Review:

★★★★

This is such a cute book. I was really happy when I got a copy in the mail. I have a degree in classic civilization, so I love seeing educational books for kids about Greece and Rome. This one didn't disappoint.

The illustrations are cute. They well match the text, and they have good coloring so it holds your attention.

There's a LOT of information in these books. There's maps, fun facts, pronunciation guides, definitions, and little blurbs about different gods and goddesses throughout the book. You learn all about daily life- what food people ate, common chores, how houses were designed, how people were named. Sometimes the writing got a bit dry and text book like. I'm not a child, nor do I have children, so I can only speculate, but I think at some points it'd be hard to keep their attention.

I was a little annoyed that it's a boy-centric themed book. It's "if you were a boy" and "if you had a little sister". It's a little grating that even in a picture book, girls are secondary. It would have been just as easy to say "or if you were a girl..." without going into a little sister role.

But, that one complaint aside, I think this is a pretty good book. There's a lot of information shoved in these pages. I think it's an approachable way for kids to learn about Greece in an age appropriate, small dose. It fills in a lot of details without going too far (wars, sacrifices, things that are definitely present but not for the kiddos!).

It's a welcome addition to this picture series from Carole P. Roman.

Mini College Review: Christina Rossetti by Jan Marsh

Title: Christina Rossetti
Author: Jan Marsh
Format: Hardcover, 634 pages
Pub. Date: July 1st 1995
Source: Amazon


Book Description:

This absorbing biography recovers for readers the life of the author of "Goblin Market" and "My heart is singing like a bird", and shows that, far from being a pious and melancholy recluse, Rosetti was a complex and fascinating woman whose poetry is at last receiving the attention it deserves. Photos.

Review:

★★

This is a book that I had to read for one of my poetry courses in college.

Christina Rossetti is one of my favorite poets. I've written on her a number of times, and I was really excited to have to read this. Don't waste your time.

It's really dragging, even for a memoir. It's over 600 pages, and it certainly doesn't need to be. Granted, there's some pages with photos on them, but that doesn't make up for the dry, student thesis paper type writing that this biography has.

It's also unreliable. The author goes out of her way to insert her own opinion, presented as fact. Such as, that Christina Rossetti had some intimate relations with a family member. There's no evidence of this. While it's acceptable to bring it up as a theory, or even to write a book about how you feel that's what her writing or actions in her life suggest, it's still not fact. Because she shows a bias to some theories and ideas and not others, it makes her an unreliable narrator, so I don't know if everything else in the book is accurate either.

Unless you have to read it for a class like I did, skip it. There's better books about her life.

Review: Ballpark Eats by Katrina Jorgensen

Title: Ballpark Eats
Author: Katrina Jorgensen
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: February 1st 2016
Source: Netgalley/Capstone Young Readers


Book Description:

Forget peanuts and Cracker Jacks! America’s Ballparks now offer a dizzying array of edible options. These make-like stadium recipes give young chefs and sports fans a culinary road trip at home. From the famous fish tacos at the Giants’s AT&T Park in San Francisco to the mouthwatering Cuban sandwich at the Tampa Bay Rays’s Tropicana Field, these diamond dishes are perfect for any seventh-inning stretch.

Review:

★★★★

Batter up! I love baseball. You almost have to when you're from Chicago, since there's two teams, and a whole lotta history and rivalry. So, I knew I'd enjoy this one. Overall, it was a pretty good cookbook, but there were a few issues.

First, holy curve balls Batman, there is a LOT of information here. There's information about all of the baseball stadiums. There's park information like why/how/when it was built, nicknames, how many people it seats. There's information and background story for the recipes included, like how they came to be and where they're popular.

The recipes are divided by division, which makes it easy to navigate. There's also a glossary and a map in the back, and there's even fun facts and quizzes sprinkled throughout.

As this book is written with kids in mind, this is a super approachable book. The recipes are all pretty idiot proof, and it's great for people who aren't big cooks. There's easy to follow, step by step instructions.

Some of the recipes are even too simple. For example, adding onion to a hot dog or putting garlic salt on popcorn. Not really a recipe so much as "yeah, that's a thing..."

Other than that, there's a pretty good blend of drinks, snacks, meals, and desserts. And, there's plenty of pictures.

And then we come to the bones I have to pick with Ballpark Eats- on behalf of Chicago. Not all of the information is accurate. At the time of printing, the home of the Chicago White Sox was US Cellular Field (at this point in time in 2017, it's Guaranteed Rate Field, so it's already outdated). Anyway, the book says that its nickname is "The New Comiskey". Which...no. It's either called The Cell, US Cellular Field, or Comiksey Park out of stubbornness, the way we still call it the Sears Tower (because what the hell is a Willis Tower?).

There's also an issue regarding the "Chicago Style Hot Dog". It's what we do, what we love, and there is a very specific ingredient list that makes it so, and the book misses the target. They're missing celery salt. It also says "jarred hot peppers"- but it's specifically sport peppers. And a poppy seed bun. And if we're being super nit picky, neon relish. It's really weird, because it says in the facts that these are the ingredients, but then they're omitted in the actual recipe. Maybe it's meant to be substitutions for things not sold outside of Chicago? Not sure, but it's pretty annoying. Also, their recipe for elotes is just frozen corn and cheddar cheese. Which is weird, because elotes has not just cheese (cojita) but also butter, lime, cayenne, and mayo. And... Frozen corn? Blech.


US Cellular- i have never heard it called "the new comiskey" we just, out of stubbornness still call it comiskey, same as sears tower.

Chicago style hot dog- not right. missing celery salt. has "jarred hot peppers" - it should specifically be sport peppers. relish should also be neon, but i get where that's picky. also poppy seed buns. don't call it something it's not. says right in the facts it should have sport peppers and salt and poppy seed bun, but doesn't have it in the recipe- weird. also, corn is just frozen corn with cheddar cheese, whereas elotes is mayo, cayenne, lime, butter, and cotija cheese.

Anyway, I'm done picking the Chicago section apart.

The recipes (with the above exceptions) sound pretty delicious. The three that I think sound the yummiest are Poutine with Apple Blondies with Maple Glaze (Toronto Blue Jays), BBQ Ribs with Homemade Pickles and Cornbread Muffins (Kansas City Royals), and Cheddar Bacon Stuffed Burgers with Apple Pie on a Stick (Minnesota Twins).

All in all I think this is a fun book for a sports fan, whether that's a tailgating adult or a little leaguer child. The recipes are easy, and it's fairly educational on top of it. Though now, it's a little out dated.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mini Review: The Cowboy's Cookbook by Sherry Monahan

Title: The Cowboy's Cookbook: Recipes and Tales from Campfires, Cookouts and Chuck Wagons
Author: Sherry Monahan
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: August 4th 2015
Source: Rowan and Littlefield


Book Description:

From chuckwagon recipes to dutch-oven favorites for your own campfire, The Cowboy's Cookbook features recipes, photos, and lore celebrating the cowboy’s role in the shaping of the American West. From songs sung around the campfire after hearty meals of steak, beans, and skillet cornbread to the recipes you'll need to recreate those trailside meals in your own kitchen, this book will get you in touch with the spirit of the Old West.

Sherry Monahan is the President of Western Writers of America, and holds memberships in Women Writing the West, the Author’s Guild, the Wild West History Association, National Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists, and the National Women’s History Museum. She has her own column (Frontier Fare) in and is a contributing editor for True West magazine. Other publications include Mrs. Earp and Frontier Fare (both TwoDot) Tombstone Times, Tombstone Tumbleweed, Tombstone Epitaph, Arizona Highways, and other freelance works. She was a contributor to The Best of the Best of Arizona and Encyclopedia of Prostitution and Sex Work.

Review:

★★★

Thanks to my recent binge reading of romance novels, I've gotten quite the infatuation with cowboys. I also really love to cook. So, it made complete sense to me that I needed to read The Cowboy's Cookbook. Unfortunately, it wasn't what I expected.

It's divided into sections for ease of access, such as the introduction, guide to the dutch oven, a list of cowboy slang, photos, and history.

I would have rated this book higher if it was marketed as more of a food history book and not a cookbook, since there was more information on history and the like and less emphasis on how to cook. It was cool learning the meaning of the slang and seeing why cowboys cooked some of the things that they did, and how they became so popular. However, it reads more like a text book than a text book. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's not at all what I was expecting when I got this book.

The recipes in this book, I can take or leave. While it was interesting to see them coupled with the history, I'm not very likely to try to make them in the future. They were really easy, basic things such as coffee and beans. Plus, there were next to no pictures for the recipe sections. That's a really important thing to me in a cookbook, and it's another way this one fell short for me.

I think this is a great book for those who are interested in Western history or food history, or for those who are looking for simple recipes to begin with. But if you're looking for a true "cookbook" with lots of recipes and pictures, maybe give this one a pass.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Twinkies Cookbook by Hostess!

Title: The Twinkies Cookbook, Twinkies 85th Anniversary Edition: A New Sweet and Savory Recipe Collection from America's Most Iconic Snack Cake
Author: Hostess
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: July 14th 2015
Source: Ten Speed Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

A comeback cookbook for the perennially popular snack cake, with 50 unique sweet and savory recipes that highlight the whimsical nostalgia of America's favorite dessert.

For more than 80 years, Twinkies have captivated the cravings of Americans both young and old. The Twinkies Cookbook, Second Edition explores the snack cake's heritage in the United States while celebrating its popularity in recipes for snacks both sweet and savory. For the first edition, Hostess urged Twinkie-aficionados across the nation to submit their favorite dishes featuring the cream-filled sponge cake. This new edition compiles the best of these colorful concoctions with 25 new recipes and additional photography. From a Twinkie-filled take on chicken and waffles to Twinkie pumpkin pie, these surprising and innovative recipes are a small slice of Americana that will be a hit with Twinkies fans across the country.

Review:

★★

Like almost any other American, I love me some Twinkies! I was heartbroken when Hostess went away, and I'm so excited that all the products that we have come to know and love as a nation have come back! (Well, almost all. One day, they will bring back my beloved Apple Spice Cupcakes. I digress.) I also love to bake, so I was really excited to get my hands on this book.

First, the good. This book is divided into easy-to-search sections: Cake, Pie, Fruit, Chocolate, Cream, Meat, and Novelty. The book also starts out with a really nice history about the Hostess company and how it started, flourished, and came back after it had closed down. It was really interesting to learn about all this, because it wasn't something that I was familiar with. I also appreciated that the recipes included in this cookbook were submissions taken from fans of Twinkies. There's a fair amount of photos, but there aren't photos for every creation.

Unfortunately, because these are submissions, the recipes were really, really hit or miss for me. Some steps were really well explained, others weren't. Most of them weren't very homemade, calling for recipes such as a box of cake mix or instant pudding. In addition, some of the recipes were pretty basic. Some examples of this include kebabs, which is just chunked Twinkies and some fruit and Twinkie burritos, which involves a snack cake and a tortilla. I was expecting some more creative uses for Twinkies, and I felt that for most of these recipes, I didn't need a recipe or would never use it anyway.

That said, there is a Ribbon and Bows Twinkie Wedding Cake that is absolutely gorgeous, and props to the person who came up with it. I definitely never would have thought of that!

Some of the recipes that I'd definitely love to try include No Bake Twinkie Pumpkin Pie, Twinkie Berry Forest Ice Cream, and Deep-Fried Bacon-Wrapped Chocolate-Covered Twinkies. I mean, it's Twinkies, bacon, chocolate, and fried all in one. How can you go wrong?

I'd recommend this maybe for those who throw a lot of kids parties/room moms because a lot of these are pretty quick to make, but look really cute. If you're looking for a bit more complicated recipes, this isn't the right book for you. Overall, I think I'd keep it on a shelf if I had gotten it as some sort of mail-in prize or promotional contest or something from Hostess, but I wouldn't buy it myself.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

PRIDE Month Review & Giveaway: The Right Side of History: 100 Years of LGBTQI Activism by Adrian Brooks!

Title: The Right Side of History: 100 Years of LGBTQI Activism

Author: Adrian Brooks

Format: $19.95, Trade Paper, 408 Pages, 6” x 9”

Pub. Date: June 9th 2015

Source: Cleis Press



Book Description:

Harvey Milk delivering a version of his impassioned Hope Speech. Bayard Rustin advising Martin Luther King Jr. Long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad finishing her incredible swim from Cuba to Florida. The AIDS quilt. Edie Windsor's victory, which overturned the Defense of Marriage Act. In this book, The Right Side of History: 100 Years of LGBTQI Activism, author Adrian Brooks tells the history of the nation’s clash over civil rights with amazing stories about some of the most recognizable gay rights heroes and heroines.

Available to readers in time for the events and celebrations that mark LGBT Pride Month in June, Brooks’ book is truly one of a kind. Filled with first-person interviews, The Right Side of History offers intimate and unique glimpses into the lives of some previously anonymous figures as well as legendary names from gay and civil rights movements across the nation.

Offering something for everyone—from academic scholars to students of life—The Right Side of History is an accessible history that explores activism from the Edwardian period into the 21st century. Simultaneously raucous and tender, Brooks’ work provides a diverse, inclusive, and in-depth look at the long-fought battle over gay rights in America.

Review:

★★★★★

Honestly, I wasn't really sure how I was going to read this book. I am a huge fan of Cleis Press's books, both fiction and nonfiction alike. However, I knew that this book was going to be one that I'd want to read slowly, in order to absorb each and every word.

It should be no secret to most of my regular readers by now that I am on the LGBTQI spectrum. That being said, I have a horrible concept of history when it comes to LGBT rights. I am very fortunate to be living in a society at a young age where people are so largely accepting of who I am. I know that that has definitely not always been the case. However, everything I know about LGBT history is self-taught, or was vaguely mentioned in a GSA lecture. That's sad considering I will have a minor in Sexuality Studies this spring. It's not something that I find to be talked about enough. Before reading this book I knew highlight words like "Stonewall" and "Shepard"- things I know about, but not in a bigger context.

Well I know now. Brooks does a great job of covering a large span of history in a smart way. It's full of information and points of view, but it's done in such a way that you want to read more. It's not like reading an information dump or a text book. I think it covers a lot of ground, but everything that is brought up is covered further, not just brought up for the sake of mentioning it. It's a really relatable, accessible dose of history.

I think this is a book that everyone would benefit from reading, be you straight or otherwise. It's a fight for rights that needs a more accessible, respectful discussion if you ask me, and is definitely a history that needs to be more widely taught. I can't recommend this book enough.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Get it Here:

Amazon | BN

About the Author:

Adrian Brooks- a regular contributor to Lambda Literary- is a writer, performer, and Quaker activist, who has been engaged in progressive political, spiritual, and social movements for fifty years. While attending the Friends World Institute in the 1960s, Brooks was an anti-war activist and a volunteer for Dr. Martin Luther King. Later, he attended Woodstock, participated in New York’s fledgling SOHO movement, and, after moving West in 1972, he became a radical gay liberation poet and performer/scriptwriter with the San Francisco “Angels of Light” free theater until 1980. A world citizen who has lived on five continents, Brooks continues a diverse legacy of good works by supporting HIV+ orphans in rural India. Currently, he lives in San Francisco.

Giveaway:

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Review: Eating Appalachia by Darrin Nordahl!

Title: Eating Appalachia: Rediscovering Regional American Flavors
Author: Darrin Nordahl
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: June 1st 2015
Source: Chicago Review Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

Dozens of indigenous fruits, vegetables, nuts, and game animals are waiting to be rediscovered by American epicures, and Appalachia stocks the largest pantry with an abundance of delectable flavors. In Eating Appalachia, Darrin Nordahl looks at the unique foods that are native to the region, including pawpaws, ramps, hickory nuts, American persimmons, and elk, and offers delicious and award-winning recipes for each ingredient, along with sumptuous color photographs. The twenty-three recipes include: Pawpaw Panna Cotta, Pawpaw Whiskey Sour, Chianti-Braised Elk Stew, Pan-Fried Squirrel with Squirrel Gravy, Ramp Linguine, and Wild Ginger Poached Pears, among others. Nordahl also examines some of the business, governmental, and ecological issues that keep these wild, and arguably tastier, foods from reaching our tables.

Eating Appalachia profiles local chefs, hunters, and locavores who champion these native ingredients and describes food festivals—like the Pawpaw Festival in Albany, Ohio; the Feast of the Ramson in Richwood, West Virginia; and Elk Night at Jenny Wiley State Park in Prestonsburg, Kentucky—that celebrate them.

Review:

★★★★

It's no secret by this point that I love food. I especially love learning about American cuisines, and the Appalachian region is one that I knew next to nothing about. Thanks to Eating Appalachia I can proudly say I learned a lot more!

I should start out by saying that this book isn't a cookbook. It does feature some recipes, but it is way more informative about the region and the local ingredients than it is a list of things to make. This is more for those who are interested in immersing themselves completely by studying, learning, and cooking all at the same time.

The book starts with a handy dandy little map of what is considered to be "Appalachia" as well as a pretty lengthy introduction to American ingredients. It's divided into sections: Albany, Ohio; Richwood, West Virginia; Prestonburg, Kentucky; Cairo, West Virginia; Cherokee, North Carolina; Colfax, North Carolina, and the epilogue.

This book is really vibrant. That is, each section is filled with nice little stories about life in that particular area of the United States. There's also a ton of information about some ingredients that are used here in the USA but are not necessarily well known about. For example, I learned a lot about the pawpaw fruit, which to be honest I only knew about from "The Jungle Book" cartoon. I really learned a lot more than I expected, which is pretty cool.

Each recipe that is included has a little description. The preparations are pretty short, and are written in paragraphs instead of steps which I imagine could get a bit confusing after awhile. This book doesn't just include recipes for food, but drinks such as "Pawpaw Whiskey Sours" as well. I really liked that drinks were included. There's also plenty of pictures!

Some of the recipes that I'd most like to try include Pan-Fried Squirrel with Squirrel Gravy, Chianti-Braised Elk Stew, and Seared Scallops in a Pawpaw Buerre Blanc.

I'd recommend this to food lovers, those looking for a slice of Americana, or just looking for a few unique recipes.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Between the Lines by Claudia Whitsitt!

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Blog Tour for the middle grade book, "Between the Lines" by Claudia Whitsitt from May 18 to 31, 2015.

 

About the Book

Title: Between the Lines | Author: Claudia Whitsitt | Publication Date: March, 2015 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 318 | Recommended Ages: 9+


Summary: Between the Lines tells the story of three girls who become friends during the racially-charged aftermath of the 1967 Detroit Riots.

Hattie Percha is crushed when the riots start on her tenth birthday, and when she must move away from her treasured childhood home and friends, attending public school for the first time, she’s afraid her life is over. Then, she meets Beverly Jo Nichols, her first black friend, and Crackers, a fearless tomboy. Despite opposition from Hattie’s mother and a racist teacher, the unlikely friends join forces. As the self-proclaimed Dream Girls, they challenge bigotry and intolerance, willing to do whatever it takes to hold onto what’s most precious to them all, their friendship.
 

Amazon (US) * Amazon (UK) * Amazon (CA)

B&N * iTunes * Kobo * Smashwords * Goodreads

 

Review

I wasn't too sure what to expect going into Between the Lines. But I have got to say that this is a perfect book for young teen girls.

What I perhaps liked most about this book is the idea that it's based on a true friendship between two white girls and a black girl. This story takes place during the aftermath of the Detroit Riots in 1967, a time when racial tensions were running high (to say the least). I think it's cool that there's real aspects tied in with the fiction. The author and her friends serve as the real life influences for this story, and like Hattie the riots started on her birthday. I think it's awesome that she was able to translate her story to a book for younger girls.

I also liked that I could tell that this book was written by a teacher. The main character, Hattie, wants to be a writer when she grows up. Because she wants to be a writer, she is always working on her vocabulary and handwriting. I think this was a subtle way to introduce new words to young readers, without making it "too educational" or too much information dumping at once. In fact, this carried over to the historical aspects too. It felt like a story, even though these events happened in real life, at least in some capacity. It's educational without coming off as an essay or textbook, and I think that's a great note.

The characters were distinct and likable. Hattie is the first character we meet, a white ten year old girl who has to move from her home to a new neighborhood, where she will attend a public school (instead of a private Catholic school) for the first time in her life. Beverly Jo is a black girl, the first one that Hattie has ever had. Crackers is an adventurous, gutsy, more tomboyish character. Together they are an awesome trio that stands strong, even in a society that tells them that they shouldn't be friends.

I think this book is a great read for girls in the junior high school age bracket, so about 10-13 years old. It brings up important issues like standing up for what you believe in, fighting for equality, and the importance of friendship. It is reminiscent of the American Girl series books, but a bit thicker in length and a bit more detailed and in depth.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

 

The Buzz

"Between the Lines is a powerful piece of historical fiction that must be added to the reading list of every middle grade student."~ 5 Stars, Lori L., Goodreads

"Teachers and parents need to purchase this novel... Parents could use this novel to engage their kids in discussions to help develop a sense of social responsibility, friendship, and morality... Ultimately, this story is inspirational." ~ 5 Stars, Amazon Customer

"This book is a must read for everyone, no matter what age ... I would recommend it highly to be in the curriculum of every 5th and 6th grade classroom. " ~ 5 Stars, Sandra W., Amazon

"My daughter and I read this book together and loved it. It is a story that will stay with both of us for many years to come!" ~ 5 Stars, aleblanc, Amazon

"Between the Lines tells a really heartbreaking but uplifting story, about race and loyalty and friends, in a way that any kid will relate to. A perfect gift book for that hard-to-please youngster!" ~ 5 Stars, Jimmy, Amazon

 

About the Author

 

Claudia Whitsitt spent a lifetime teaching special education and writing before becoming a full-time author. She believes in the power of friendship, small acts of kindness, and paying it forward. Nothing makes her happier than spending time with her children, which includes not only the five she raised but the countless students who touched her life over the years.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

 

Schedule

May 18

Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch & Review)

Cherry Mischievous (Author Interview)

May 19

My Love For Reading Keeps Growing (Review)

May 20

Sher A Hart: Written Art (Review)

Coffee Books & Art (Excerpt)

May 21

Books Direct (Author Interview)

My Soul Called Live (Review)

May 22

B's & Prose (Review)

May 23

Icefairy's Treasure Chest (Review)

May 24

LibriAmoriMiei (Guest Post)

May 25

BeachBoundBooks (Review)

May 26

Oh My Bookness (Review)

Bookworm for Kids (Excerpt)

May 27

Doodles, Doodles Everywhere (Author Interview)

Too Clever (Review)

May 28

Kay LaLone ~ I Love Books! (Review)

The BookDragon (Review)

May 29

View From the Birdhouse (Excerpt)

Beauty Brite (Review)

May 30

Rockin' Book Reviews (Review)

May 31

Pragmatic Mom (Guest Post)

Undercover Book Reviews (Review)

 

Giveaway

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice

Contest closes: June 7, 11:59 pm, 2015

Open to: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Claudia Whitsitt and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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Review: Abandoned NYC by Will Ellis

Title: Abandoned NYC
Author: Will Ellis
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: February 28th 2015
Source: Schiffer Publishing


Book Description via Goodreads:

Every city has its ghosts. From Manhattan and Brooklyn s trendiest neighborhoods to the far-flung edges of the outer boroughs, Ellis captures the lost and lonely corners of the United States most populous city. Step inside the New York you never knew, with 200 eerie images of urban decay, through crumbling institutions, defunct military posts, abandoned factories, railroads, schools, and waterways. Uncover the forgotten history behind New York s most incredible abandoned spaces, and witness its seldom seen and rapidly disappearing landscape. Explore the ruins of the Harlem Renaissance, sift through the artifacts of massive squatter colonies, and find out how the past is literally washing up on the shores of a Brooklyn beach called Dead Horse Bay. This book is for anyone who s ever wondered what s behind the "No Trespassing" sign."

Review:

★★★★

This book is equal parts fascinating, informative, and chilling.

Abandoned NYC is a book that explores the urban decay of New York. From asylums to military buildings to so much more, the photography in this book highlights places that remain in the shadow of their glory days. The pictures are beautiful and sad at the same time. The photos show places that most people will never see, such as the inside of abandoned mental institutions. It's a shame to look at the wasted resources, and the graffiti that plagues a lot of these sights, but it's sad and beautiful to see how nature is trying to claim these places back. It gives a cool insight into the history of NYC.

In addition to being filled with gorgeous photography, there's also historical backgrounds for each of the places visited over the course of the book. It details what the buildings were used for, who stayed there, and why they became abandoned in the first place. I didn't know about any of these places, and it was really cool to learn about them.

The book starts with a disclaimer not to try visiting places like these, because they are extremely dangerous and often illegal. I completely agree, having done some exploring in my own region in the midwest.

This is a book that I think those interested in photography, anthropology, and history will enjoy flipping through. There's plenty of pictures showcasing the visited landmarks with matching text to further explain what is being seen in the photo, as well as the history behind it.

I recieved a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Joy of Ballpark Food by Bennett & Deborah L. Jacobstein

Title:The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine
Author: Bennett Jacobstein, Deborah L. Jacobstein
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 11th 2015
Source: Ballpark Food Publications


Book Description via Goodreads:

Baseball is a game that is identified with food. We even sing about it at every ballpark during the seventh inning stretch: "….buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack..." The famous song was written by Jack Norworth in 1908. From the early part of the twentieth century until the 1980s, classic baseball fare consisted mostly of hot dogs, ice cream, peanuts, and Cracker Jack. Then ballparks slowly began to sell new items. A proliferation of new food offerings during the 1990s was fueled by the opening of twelve new major league ballparks. Now, teams around the country sell a variety of exotic food as well as wide variety of hot dogs. The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine begins with the history of the first hot dog at a ball game and concludes with a culinary tour of all 30 major league ballparks. 100% of royalties from the sales of this book are donated directly to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties of California.

Review:

★★★★

People are often surprised to learn that I adore baseball. I grew up with my dad taking me to White Sox games in Chicago, so for me baseball is something that's nostalgic and synonymous with summer vacations. There's nothing like the smell of popcorn, the buzz of the crowd, and the fireworks in the night sky after a victory. On top of that, my dad is a chef, so food has always a prominent role in my life. When I found a book that combined the two- baseball and food, I had to have it. And I'm glad I gave it a go!

This book is chock full of information. The beginning of the book acts as a history of baseball food and hot dogs, including how they became important, how they changed, and who's who when it comes to baseball cuisine. There's a lot of cool pictures and scans of old timey programs and stuff that give the book a cool, retro, scrapbook type feeling to it. The second half of the book is dedicated to a culinary tour of all of the baseball parks in America.

The first half is full of fascinating facts that I didn't know, and that I've stored away for future reference in conversation. This book is good because though there's a lot of history and information, there's no "info dumping". It doesn't read like a text book, but more like a casual and entertaining story that happens to be informative. There's a resource guide at the end of the book, but I do wish that there were some citations or footnotes in the book. More than just hot dogs, this section also highlights a Kosher history and the evolution of healthy food too.

The second half, as mentioned earlier, is a food map of the parks in the USA. Each stadium is listed, and for each stadium there's a featured hot dog or sausage, and then there are informative little snippets and offerings from other stalls and vendors that can be found at each park. I appreciated these short backstories because it's cool to see people's stories, and I was surprised to learn how many stalls are owned or were started by baseball players themselves. What I learned most from this is where I need to see a game so that I can eat well! From the Jack Daniels Triple Crown Sandwich in Baltimore to beer ice creams in Atlanta to conch fritters and ceviche in Miama, please take me out to the ball game!

I couldn't help but to feel a bit of hometown pride when getting to the Chicago stadiums. I've been to both, though I'm definitely not a Cubs fan. That said, I have had a lot of the restaurants/foods mentioned in this book. Bobak's Polish sausages are the best. Beggar's Pizza is amazing, and comes with a deliciously unholy amount of cheese (I mean, their motto is "We lay it on thick). Wow Bao has some of the best steamed dumplings in Chicago. One thing I didn't know before reading this, though, is that the Cell (that is, US Cellular Field) is the only stadium in the states with a Hooters in it. The more you know.

I also got really excited because my girlfriend lives near Milwaukee, where they stuff their brats with hot dogs and then top it with beer and cheese curds. She's already promised to take me (thanks, authors!)

This back section got a bit more "yelp review"-ish, and started to have more of the author's personal opinions. This wasn't a bad thing, but it did shift the tone of the book. There were also a few times where it got snarky like "I'm sure it tastes better than it looks" that I thought were unnecessary. The pictures looked delicious, but unprofessional.

Despite that last remark, it's clear that this is a book of passion. The author obviously loves food and baseball, and it's awesome that he made a book that represents them both. On top of that, the proceeds of this book go to an organization that helps to feed the hungry, which is a really cool idea. I think this book is a fun read that acts as both a history book and a guide to where to eat and what to enjoy while you're at a baseball game. Foodies, sport lovers, and those interested in US history and Americana would all benefit from reading it, in my opinion. It's a book I'd definitely buy for when I'm traveling around in the summer.

I recieved a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mini Review: Lucas Mackenzie and the London Midnight Ghost Show by Steve Bryant!

Title: Lucas Mackenzie and the London Midnight Ghost Show
Author: Steve Bryant
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: February 24th
Source: Month9Books, LLC


Book Description via Goodreads:

“Lucas Mackenzie has got the best job of any ten-year-old boy. He travels from city-to-city as part of the London Midnight Ghost Show, scaring unsuspecting show-goers year round. Performing comes naturally to Lucas and the rest of the troupe, who’ve been doing it for as long as Lucas can remember. But there’s something Lucas doesn’t know. Like the rest of Lucas's friends, he’s dead. And for some reason, Lucas can’t remember his former life, his parents or friends. Did he go to school? Have a dog? Brothers and sisters? If only he could recall his former life, maybe even reach out to his parents, haunt them. When a ghost hunter determines to shut the show down, Lucas realizes the life he has might soon be over. And without a connection to his family, he will have nothing. There’s little time, and Lucas has much to do. Keep the lights on! Lucas Mackenzie’s coming to town.

Review:

★★

Ultimately, I don't have too much to say on this book. I was really excited when I got the chance to read it, because I love books that are given a circus-y setting. I don't know why I'm fascinated by it, but I'm the first to admit that I am. I was hoping that it would be something like the Cirque du Freak books, which is one of my favorite young adult series. Plus, I love the cover. And I should know by now that that is not the best way to judge.

Anyway, that's not what I got.

I don't have a lot to say about it, because I found to this book to be really, really boring. That's a very weird and rare thing for me to say. Normally if I don't like the book I can pick a reason, like bad writing or bad character development. This book wasn't badly written per se, though it did use outdated language that made it a bit irksome at times.

I just felt like nothing was happening. I expected action or excitement or even to be creeped out at a book that has "London Midnight Ghost Show" in the title, but at the end of the day I was left just glad that the book was over so that I could go and read something else.

By all means, give this book a try. I think this is just one of those times where a book and me aren't meant to be friends. Maybe this will be right up your alley. But for me, it was a swing and a miss.

I was provided a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Hidden Like Anne Frank by Marcel Prins & Peter Henk Steenhuis

Title: Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival
Author: Marcel Prins & Peter Henk Steenhuis
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 25th 2014
Source: Netgalley & Scholastic


Book Description via Goodreads:

Fourteen unforgettable true stories of children hidden away during World War II

Jaap Sitters was only eight years old when his mother cut the yellow stars off his clothes and sent him, alone, on a fifteen-mile walk to hide with relatives. It was a terrifying night, one he would never forget. Before the end of the war, Jaap would hide in secret rooms and behind walls. He would suffer from hunger, sickness, and the looming threat of Nazi raids. But he would live.

This is just one of the incredible stories told in HIDDEN LIKE ANNE FRANK, a collection of eye-opening first-person accounts that share what it was like to go into hiding during World War II. Some children were only three or four years old when they were hidden; some were teenagers. Some hid with neighbors or family, while many were with complete strangers. But all know the pain of losing their homes, their families, even their own names. They describe the secret network of brave people who kept them safe. And they share the coincidences and close escapes that made all the difference.

Review:

★★★★

This is one of those books that will stay with me long after I've read it. It's a combination of hopeful, sorrowful, and haunting that lingers on the mind, whether you'd like it to or not.

Hidden Like Anne Frank is a collection of fourteen stories of children who were forced to go into hiding in order to survive during World War II. Different ages, different genders, and different social classes are all represented. They're told in the first person: the survivors themselves are the ones telling you their stories. While they are all hopeful to a degree (after all, these are survival stories), these people went through so much devastation. It's heartbreaking to see that so many children needed to do this just to escape with their lives, losing so much more in the process.

This book is written at an easy-to-read level, making it a great book for young adults who are wanting to learn more about the war. Each foreign word (be it in German, Hebrew, Dutch, or otherwise) was italicized and explained so that there was no confusion about terminology. Each story is also paired with photographs of the children, the places they hid, and the areas where they came from. It was fascinating to see history through their eyes.

I also thought it was nice that at the end of the book, there's photographs of each of the survivors as they are today. The photographs make it seem all the more real.

I think this book is a good one to have as a middle school or high school teacher to offer students who were interested in Anne Frank's diary. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in reading about World War II or the Holocaust. It's emotional but well done, and leaves you a bit in awe of just what some people have to do in order to survive.

Thank you to Scholastic who provided me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mini Double Review: Stars & Swipes and Hugs & Misses from Wilhelm Staehle!

Title: HUGS AND MISSES 30 POSTCARDS OF AWKWARD ROMANCE
Author: Wilhelm Staehle
Format: paperback, 30 pages
Pub. Date: December 3rd 2014
Source: Quirk Books












Title: STARS AND SWIPES 30 POSTCARDS OF AWKWARD AMERICANA
Author: Wilhelm Staehle
Format: paperback, 30 pages
Pub. Date: December 3rd 2014
Source: Quirk Books

About the Books:

Wilhelm Staehle’s Silhouette Masterpiece Theater (silhouettemasterpiecetheater.com) is the rare Web comic that deserves to be printed. Each panel in the popular weekly strip features a painstakingly detailed etching carved from a beautiful painting; the results are gorgeous and very funny.

These two postcard books feature some of Staehle’s finest work. Hugs and Misses is a terrific Valentine’s Day gift, full of lovelorn ladies, roguish gentlemen, renegade Cupids, and indecent proposals. Stars and Swipes offers a hilarious vision of classic Americana, with farcical frontiersmen, prattling presidents, and other all-American oddities.

Review:

★★★★

I have to say, these little books are super fun. I haven't sent snail mail, save for Christmas cards, in a long while but I can say with complete honesty that there are poor lucky souls out there who will be receiving post cards from me in the mail thanks to these books.

The artwork for both books is really pretty, but it is surely enhanced by the great humor that's brought to the cards within it.

Hugs and Misses is a collection that is perfect for upcoming Valentine's Day (still time to order, by the way), full of romantic puns and jokes and pretty artwork to match each awkward moment. There are 30 postcards in here, waiting to be shipped to your man or lady friend.

But, if romance isn't your thing, Staehle has a second postcard book called Stars and Swipes which features the same lovely art style and sense of humor with thirty postcards full of hilarious moments of Americana and patriotic laughs. I have a few friends that are history majors who I know will be getting a card or too in their mailbox.

These are unique little books that are perfect for that awkward geek in your life, or for yourself if you wish to send them out to your friends to brighten their day one joke at a time.

Thanks so much to Quirk Books for my copies in exchange for my honest review!

Stalk the Books:

Buy them here:

Hugs and Misses and Stars and Swipes.

Review: The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black by E.B. Hudspeth

Title: The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black
Author: E.B. Hudspeth
Format: Hardcover, 208 pages
Pub. Date: May 21st 2013
Source: Quirk Books


Book Description via Goodreads:

Philadelphia, the late 1870s. A city of gas lamps, cobblestone streets, and horse-drawn carriages—and home to the controversial surgeon Dr. Spencer Black. The son of a grave robber, young Dr. Black studies at Philadelphia’s esteemed Academy of Medicine, where he develops an unconventional hypothesis: What if the world’s most celebrated mythological beasts—mermaids, minotaurs, and satyrs—were in fact the evolutionary ancestors of humankind?

The Resurrectionist offers two extraordinary books in one. The first is a fictional biography of Dr. Spencer Black, from a childhood spent exhuming corpses through his medical training, his travels with carnivals, and the mysterious disappearance at the end of his life. The second book is Black’s magnum opus: The Codex Extinct Animalia, a Gray’s Anatomy for mythological beasts—dragons, centaurs, Pegasus, Cerberus—all rendered in meticulously detailed anatomical illustrations. You need only look at these images to realize they are the work of a madman. The Resurrectionist tells his story.

Review:

★★★★★

This book is nothing at all like I expected, and I mean that in the best possible sense. I think that The Resurrectionist is a book that all lovers of Gothic literature, the macabre, horror, and fantastical creatures will devour if they get their claws into it.

A beautiful hardcover edition, The Resurrectionist is divided into two parts. The first part reads like a text book biography of the fictional scholar Dr. Spencer Black. It narrates his unusual upbringing and how it influenced his studies as he got older and more educated. It chronicles his descent into a more bizarre lifestyle involving freak show-esque performances in travelling shows and circuses as well as his experimentation on animals and humans alike in order to piece together his theory of evolution: that the creatures we know today as myth once existed and that humans and animals breathing now are ancestors of these elegant beasts.

The first part of this book is fascinating in and of itself because it's written with such detail and precision- including dated diary entries, circus flyers, and letters of correspondence- that if I didn't know better I would swear to you that this was a well researched non-fictional account of a doctor's life. From the first few pages, when you learn that his father was a grave robber, the book continues with this really dark, creepy tone to it reminiscent of Poe. It was almost like a car crash: his life is so bizarre and almost horrifying that you hesitate to turn the page, and yet you can't quite seem to turn away either.

The second part of the book is the final research of Dr. Black: The Codex Extinct Animalia. The art in this section of this book is absolutely phenomenal. It is here that Black explains the so-called method to his madness: the evolutionary ties and the anatomical make up of fantasy creatures. From the hellhound Cerberus to harpies and centaurs, each creature is given multiple pages of medical artwork that give up close examinations of the skeletal structures, muscle make up, and other traits of the animals. It looks like a medical text book, but with mythical beings, and I absolutely loved it. So much thought, work, and effort had to go into making these illustrations. I would totally hang a few of them up in my room (then again, my room is decorated in the Goth style, so that may just be me).

This book is a quick one to read but a slow one to absorb and is filled to the brim with equal dashes of horror and fantasy. I'd really recommend it to those who enjoy the Gothic genre, historical history, fantasy, horror, or realistic fiction. Thank you so much to Quirk Books for my copy in exchange for my honest review.