Cookbook Review: Dining at The Ravens by Jeff & Joan Stanford

Title: Dining at The Ravens: Over 150 Nourishing Vegan Recipes from the Stanford Inn by the Sea
Author: Jeff Stanford, Joan Stanford
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: February 9th 2016
Source: Netgalley/BenBella Books


Book Description:

At The Ravens, dinner is more than just a meal. It’s a feast for your spirit.

Located on the Mendocino coast at the only vegan resort in the United States, The Ravens Restaurant at the Stanford Inn by the Sea embodies a mindful, compassionate, and sustainable dining experience in an enchanting and unforgettable setting. Now in Dining at The Ravens, Jeff and Joan Stanford, the Inn and restaurant founders, bring the Ravens culinary experience into your home.

Teeming with beautiful photographs, Dining at The Ravens features more than 150 delicious vegan recipes and shares the charming history of the Inn and restaurant, cooking tips for perfect recipe execution, and even inspiration for creating your own garden.

Discover one of the restaurant’s most popular breakfast dishes, Citrus Polenta with Braised Garden Greens and a Creamy Toasted Cashew Sauce, and many others, such as:

Ravens Sea Palm Strudel
Indian-Spiced Polenta Napoleon
Mushroom Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomato Burger
Ravens Spicy Peanut Curry Sea Palm
Sweet Summer Corn Bisque
Peach Huckleberry Cobbler

Pull up a seat and find out why vegans and non-vegans alike flock to The Ravens for an extraordinary dining experience.

Review:

★★★★

First, let me preface this review by saying that I'm not a vegan. That being said, I'm always up to try new vegan dishes.

The book is divided into two sections. The first part is dedicated to information about The Stanford Inn, USA's only vegan resort located in Mendocino, California. This is in addition to The Ravens, which is the (obviously) vegan restaurant that's at the inn. It was interesting and well written, but not something that I was particularly interested in. I came for the recipes, which is what the second part of the book is.

These recipes are divided into smaller sections by course. Chapters include Morning Food, Sauces Dips and Spreads, and Salads and Dressings.

This collection of recipes is certainly impressive, but it's a bit complex for a beginner. Though there's numbered steps, there's a lot of technique and components involved here. Seems like it might not be easy for beginners, but should be easy enough for a new vegan with prior cooking skill. The amount of components kind of threw off the flow of the recipes, because so many of them are on different pages from the recipe that calls for it. It's annoying to flip through.

But, the photography is fantastic.

Some of the recipes that I think sound the most delicious include Forbidden Risotto with Sunchoke Lemon Cream, Sun Dried Tomato Polenta with Foraged Mushrooms and Arugula, and Candy Cap Mushroom Creme Brulee.

I think this is a great cookbook for the vegan foodie, and it would make a great gift for a vegan/vegetarian or a healthy eater. I'd recommend it.

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

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Wonder Horse by Anita Daher!

Title: Wonder Horse

Author: Anita Daher

Release date: 05/08/2015

Publisher: Rebelight Publishing

About the Book:

Fitting into a new school in a new city isn’t easy, but dreams come true for Sera with a gift from her parents: a gorgeous and spirited American Paint horse. Sera’s bubble bursts when a mean girl, Brittany, tells her that neither she nor her less than well-trained horse belong with the rest of the “reiners” in their riding class. As Sera sets out to prove Brittany wrong, she risks losing her passion for training and the friendship of Dev, another girl who truly understands her.

An earlier version of this story was originally published by Stabenfeldt (Stavanger, Norway) in 2011 as Wager the Wonder Horse and distributed in six languages: Norwegian, Hungarian, Czech, German, Finnish and Swedish.

Review:

★★★


I'll be the first to admit, I never really had a pony phase growing up. Maybe it was because I was a city-raised kid, but I didn't know anyone who had a horse, or who could afford one. We wished for Barbie Jeeps instead. However, my girlfriend loved horses growing up, and was even a rider. She's told me stories about horses that have made me regret not getting into them when I was younger, save for a ride or two at a carnival (which I know is totally not the same). She's kindled an appreciation of horses from me, which is why I wanted to read Wonder Horse.

Overall, I have to say this is a pretty heartwarming and cute read. It's a book about friendship and passions and setting goals and achieving them too, with an added dash of mean girls for good measure. Sera, the main character, struggles with finding who she really is and what she wants to do, which I think is something that we all question at some point in our youth.

I didn't really connect to Sera as much as I would have liked to. Like I mentioned a bit above, I think part of it was simply the fact that I'm an outsider looking in at horse riding culture. But I also didn't always appreciate Sera's tone, she was a bit whiny in places, and I thought the way she referred to her classmates was a bit snobby.

Other than these weak moments from Sera, I rather enjoyed this book. I think it's something a lot of younger girls (and boys too) will be able to connect to more easily than I did. This is a really short read at about 90 pages, so I recommend it to readers who are hesitant or don't necessarily enjoy reading yet. I'd also recommend it to the younger end of the YA spectrum, and to any kid who has the pony love that so many share.

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

Get it Here:

Amazon | BN

About the Author:

Anita Daher has been entrenched in the publishing industry since 1995, and is (thus far) author of fourteen books for children and teens. Aside from short stints as grave-plot seller, tour guide, and children’s party clown, she’s worked in aviation, publishing and broadcasting. When not word wrangling, she enjoys inhabiting characters on stage and screen.

Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook

Follow the rest of the tour here!

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocalypse by Lauren Wilson!

Title: The Art of Eating through the Zombie Apocalypse: A Cookbook and Culinary Survival Guide
Author: Lauren Wilson
Illustrator: Kristian Bauthus
Format: Paperback, 320 pages
Pub. Date: October 28th 2014
Source: BenBella Books


Book Description via Goodreads:

Just because the undead’s taste buds are atrophying doesn’t mean yours have to!

You duck into the safest-looking abandoned house you can find and hold your breath as you listen for the approaching zombie horde you’ve been running from all day. You hear a gurgling sound. Is it the undead? No—it’s your stomach.

When the zombie apocalypse tears down life and society as we know it, it will mean no more take out, no more brightly lit, immaculately organized aisles of food just waiting to be plucked effortlessly off the shelves. No more trips down to the local farmers’ market. No more microwaved meals in front of the TV or intimate dinner parties. No, when the undead rise, eating will be hard, and doing it successfully will become an art.

The Art of Eating through the Zombie Apocalypse is a cookbook and culinary field guide for the busy zpoc survivor. With more than 80 recipes (from Overnight of the Living Dead French Toast and It’s Not Easy Growing Greens Salad to Down & Out Sauerkraut, Honey & Blackberry Mead, and Twinkie Trifle), scads of gastronomic survival tips, and dozens of diagrams and illustrations that help you scavenge, forage, and improvise your way to an artful post-apocalypse meal. The Art of Eating is the ideal handbook for efficient food sourcing and inventive meal preparation in the event of an undead uprising.

Whether you decide to hole up in your own home or bug out into the wilderness, whether you prefer to scavenge the dregs of society or try your hand at apocalyptic agriculture, and regardless of your level of skill or preparation, The Art of Eating will help you navigate the wasteland and make the most of what you eat.

Review:

★★★★★

Wow. This book is SO much more than I was anticipating. I was blown away, just like the zombies you'll slay am I right?

This book is one part zombie prepper, one part nature survivalist, and one part gourmet. If you are fighting for your life in a post-apocalyptic world, this is one book you'll want to have in your prep kit.

I learned so much it's insane. Wilson has you covered for every type of zombie scenario. Whether you need to forage for your own food, start a fire, trap your own animals, or loot for supplies- there's tips for it in this book. The amount of knowledge jam packed into this paperback is incredible. Because of it, I know how to pack for a successful escape, cook with no electric, and how to raise and grow my own food. Each bit of advice is coupled with step-by-step illustrations so that you can do it correctly, which I thought was a really helpful touch to add to this book. I have had survival guides that haven't had that luxury.

Speaking of food, this book has a bunch of recipes to help your taste buds survive the impending doom while still maintaining flavor and variety into your diet. Plus, the recipes have pun titles and as you know, I love me a good pun. Some of the recipes included in this guide are: Life is Not Just Peachy-Blueberry Cobbler, Dawn of the Bread Salad, and of course Twinkie Trifle and Squirrel Jerky.

This guide is absolutely fantastic. Whether you're a doomsday prepper, an avid fan of The Walking Dead, or just a camper who wants to live off the land, this is a book you ought to have on your shelf or in your car for an emergency. It'd also make a great gift for any horror/zombie lover or prepper!

Thank you so much to BenBella Books who sent me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Ice Dogs

Title: Ice Dogs
Author: Terry Lynn Johnson
Format: egalley.
Pub. Date: February 4th 2014
Source: Netgalley & Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

★★★★

Four stars.

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Teenager Victoria Secord loves racing her sled dogs. It helps her feel closer to her dad, and get in touch with the Alaskan outdoors that she adores so much. But one routine outing, she finds herself lost while trying to help out a young stranger named Chris. Together, and with the dogs of course, they must find their way back and survive the food, the wilderness, and the wicked Alaska cold.

First of all, look at this cover. It's mesmerizing. I am a big fan of huskies and wolves, so the cover alone drew me in at first glance.

This is a very vividly written story. I've never been to Alaska, but I felt that I had competed on the track alongside Victoria, and had been in the wilderness with her and Chris. Additionally, I have only ridden on a dogsled once, and it was a tourist attraction at an ice festival somewhere in Michigan. Therefore, my knowledge of the sport is essentially nothing. That being said, Terry Lynn Johnson did a great job in her description. I never felt lost or confused with Victoria's dogsled jargon or explanations about her skills and know-how.

Going based off of that, I didn't always care for Victoria as a character. I completely understand why she is written the way that she is, and it's not poor writing or character depth on the author's part. I just found her a bit too snarky at times, and I never completely connected with her. It didn't hinder my reading experience all too much, in the grand scheme of things.

All in all, I think this is a great book for middle-grade aged kids that love animals. It's educational about dogs and sledding, and gives a clean and intriguing story of survival. Honestly, it put me in mind of a book I read when I was in elementary school called My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen. So if you or your child loves dogs, animals, or nature, this is definitely a good book choice.

Thanks to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Books for Children for my copy.

Review: Faeries & Elementals for Beginners

Title: Faeries & Elementals for Beginners: Learn About & Communicate With Nature Spirits
Author: Alexandra Chauran
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: November 8th 2013
Source: Netgalley & Llewellyn Publications

★★★★

Four stars.

Faeries & Elementals for Beginners: Learn About & Communicate With Nature Spirits is a nonfiction guide on how readers can best connect spiritually with natural spirits around them. I requested this book because, though I am an out-of-the-broom-closet pagan, I don't really know all that much about things such as faeries or nymphs. To others like me who could use a refresher lesson on such creatures, Faeries & Elementals is definitely a book worth checking out.

The book is divided into four sections by element: air, fire, earth, and water. I found this extremely helpful, since different elements of course help with different things (and have different locations too). This made it easier to locate specifics later, if I needed to.

In addition to descriptions regarding what different spirits and creatures are and where to find them, the author also gives guidance on how to best communicate with them. She even takes this a step further, offering instructions for things such as meditation, and ritual.

If you have an interest in creatures such as faeries, are a pagan, or are looking for tips and tools to help better connect with the friends we cannot see in the world around us, then this is a book that you should check out. Thank you to Netgalley and Llewellyn Publications for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Seasons of the Sacred Earth

Title: Seasons of the Sacred Earth: Following the Old Ways on an Enchanted Homestead
Author: Cliff Seruntine
Format: egalley edition
Pub. Date: August 8th 2013
Source: Netgalley and Llewellyn Publications

★★★★★

Five stars.

Seasons of the Sacred Earth: Following the Old Ways on an Enchanted Homestead follows a year of life for the Seruntine family as they live close to their natural roots in Nova Scotia. They live their lives in a manner that is harmonious with nature, taking only what they need and in return cultivating and protecting the forests and lands that surround their secluded home. Part spiritual guidebook, part cookbook, and part campfire-like storytelling, Seasons of the Sacred Earth gives great insight into a life that most of us don't get to live, and often forget about.

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I loved this book. Cliff Seruntine writes with such beauty and detail that the reader can easily recognize the pure passion of nature and its spirits about which he speaks. I quickly became mesmerized by the landscapes and way of life that he narrated. Indeed, this book is nonfiction, but between the Celtic, Cajun, and Norse stories (among others) that are flawlessly woven throughout this book, the entire narrative has this magical tone to it that is hard to describe.

This book has a lot of components that work together to make this a unique piece of literature. First and foremost, this book tells about a natural, rural way of life. Cliff Seruntine describes the jobs and tasks that he and his family perform in order to keep the homestead afloat, as well as stories that happen in the surrounding woods, family memories, and animal tales from the critters on the land. Two things are certain in this book: the family's respect, adoration, and understanding of Nature and its spirits, and the family's love and strength of each other.

Then too, this book serves as a how-to guide and cookbook. From how to start an herb garden to how to properly make cheese, practical and helpful advice pepper this book. I know for sure that I'll be trying a few recipes provided in this book.

And then, there's the rich storytelling. Cliff Seruntine does a great job of mixing myths and legends from different belief systems/geographic locations, and tells them in such a fashion that one who is unfamiliar with them will understand. A very, very important part of this story telling that I appreciated is the emphasis on non-English words. If a word was in a different language, the author provided a definition, explanation, and a proper pronunciation along with it.

Throughout this novel, pictures accompany the text, giving more insight into the life that the author so vividly describes.

All in all, this book made me want to get back to my natural roots. It reminded me how much we as a society take for granted, and how little we give back. In all honesty, I found myself wanting to visit this homestead so that I could see this enchanted-sounding wood, drink some homemade cider, and eat tasty cheese hand made from their goats.

Written in a way that's comparable to Farley Mowat, Seasons of the Sacred Earth is a book that many pagans would love to have on their shelf, as well as naturalists and those with a high respect for nature.

Thank you to Netgalley and Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. for my copy.

Kids' Book Roundup [Part Two]

Long time no see, my faithful readers. As you may have guessed, Emily is still not done cleaning her room. Which means, I am still reading books. My last post was a weeeeee bit long, so I decided to break up my childish reading into more readable chunks. These books are in no real order (unless you count "the order that she threw them onto the bed" as an actual system of organization). For all of you with kiddos out there- I hope this list helps!


Title: Verdi
Editor: Janell Cannon
Format: Hardcover, 56 pages
Pub. Date: April 1st 1997
Source: Emily's room

★★★★★

Verdi the snake's mother keeps telling him to grow up and become big and green, just like her. But Verdi doesn't want to be green! His green snake relatives are slow, old, and boring. He'd much rather keep his yellow stripy skin! But with time (and a few lessons along the way) Verdi learns that growing older, and growing green, isn't as bad as he thought, and that underneath it all, he will always be his own person.... Well, reptile. This book has an interesting, well timed prose and stunning illustrations, not to mention a striking cover that would catch anyone's eye. Though of course acceptable for both genders, I'd recommend this to young boys.

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Title: What Do You Do With a Kangaroo?
Editor: Mercer Mayer
Format: Paperback, 48 pages
Source: Emily's room

★★★★

A short but redundant picture book, What Do You Do With a Kangaroo chronicles a little girl's battle against a parade of wild animals who try to boss her around and take all of her things. But this little madam stands her ground and kicks all those meanies to the curb! The plot is funny and nonsensical with great illustrations to match. I'd definitely read this to my nonexistent daughter!

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Title: The Very Lonely Firefly
Editor: Eric Carle
Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
Pub. Date: June 1st 1995
Source: Emily's room

★★★★★

The Very Lonely Firefly tells the story of a sad, lonely little insect who just wants to find others like him. So he travels through the night, running into all kinds of luminous things and creatures, hoping to find a group of fireflies that he can light up the sky with. A former reader of Carle myself, I have to say that I adore his artwork. It never gets old, and is simply gorgeous. The kids will also be in for a bit of a treat at the end, when the book actually lights up and blinks! This is a great story to show any kid or kid at heart.

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Title: Arthur's Thanksgiving
Editor: Marc Brown
Format:Paperback, 30 pages
Pub. Date: September 30th 1983
Source: Emily's room

★★★★★

Arthur has to be one of my favorite series for children. He teaches great lessons and the illustrations are always wonderfully detailed. Arthur's Thanksgiving is no exception. This is a cute, sometimes funny holiday read that I would recommend sharing around Thanksgiving time- since I find there's a lack of books for that holiday!

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Title: Clifford's First Halloween
Editor: Norman Bridwell
Source: Emily's room

★★★★★

In addition to Arthur, Clifford is another go-to classic series of books for kids. Clifford's First Halloween is one of my favorite Clifford books, namely because Halloween is my favorite time of year. The illustrations are funny and adorable, just like the rest of the plot. It tells the story of his first Halloween, back when he was still a tiny red puppy instead of a massive red dog!

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Title: Clifford's Halloween
Editor: Norman Bridwell
Format:Paperback, 32 pages
Pub. Date: October 1st 1986
Source: Emily's room

★★★★★

Like Emily Elizabeth and Clifford both, I just love Halloween! Clifford's Halloween tells the tale of how Emily decides on what Clifford should be for Halloween and Emily's special party. As normal, the story is cute, short and to the point, with a few funny bits thrown in. It's definitely a great "spooky" read for the kidlings at Halloween time.

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Title: Clifford's First Valentine's Day
Editor: Norman Bridwell
Format:Paperback, 32 pages
Pub. Date:January 1st 1997
Source: Emily's room

★★★★

In Clifford's First Valentine's Day, Emily Elizabeth recounts the shenanigans that her little puppy got into on their first V-Day together. From eating icky glue to chewing up paper to getting lost in the post office mail room, times with Clifford are always tons of fun adventures. The illustrations are fun and bright in normal Bridwell fashion. I remember fondly when I got my copy. My mom gave me a copy before school once on Valentine's Day as a present. It was my favorite card that year!

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Title: Clifford's Christmas
Editor: Norman Bridwell
Format:Paperback, 32 pages
Pub. Date:October 1st 1984
Source: Emily's room

★★★★★

In Clifford's Christmas, Emily Elizabeth shares a story of Clifford's caring nature. He gets a tree, helps with snowmen, and even lends a hand to Santa himself when the presents get ruined in a sticky situation. This is a warm, cozy, feel good read fit for any child around Christmastime.

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Title: Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit
Editor: Norman Bridwell
Format:Paperback, 32 pages
Pub. Date:October 1st 1993
Source: Emily's room

★★★★

Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit is the story of Thanksgiving (shocker). Clifford gets homesick and misses his family, so instead of staying with Emily Elizabeth, he wanders into the city to spend time with his mom. In ways that only Clifford can manage, he finds all sorts shenanigans to get into on the way there, and at the end of the way, the pair learn that what they're most thankful for is each other. This is a great book with a great lesson, teaching kids to be grateful for their families.

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Title: Clifford's First Christmas
Editor: Norman Bridwell
Format:Paperback, 32 pages
Pub. Date:October 1st 1994
Source: Emily's room

★★★★

In Clifford's First Christmas, Emily Elizabeth tells tales from a Christmas when Clifford was a cute little puppy. He helps to wrap presents and decorate the tree, and play with Emily's new presents. He even gets a special visit from Santa Claus! This is another light hearted read to share with the kids during the holiday season.

Kids' Book Roundup

Hello lovelies. Today I bring you a different kind of blog post: children's books! You see, my girlfriend (as I type) is "cleaning" her room. Also known as: is living in nostalgia and showing me things from her youth. So what am I doing while this is happening? Am I reading the beta books that I should be? Nope. I'm helping her sort books, and I'm reading some too. This post is going to be full of whatever picture/beginner books I happen to read.


Title: The Ledgerbook of Thomas Blue Eagle
Editor: Jewel Grutman, Thomasson Grant
Format: Hardcover, 72 pages
Pub. Date: August 6th 1996
Source: Emily's room

★★★★★

This book tells the story of Thomas Blue Eagle, and his life as a Native American on the plains. After a battle, he is asked to move to Pennsylvania to attend a school to learn the ways of the white man. Though fictional, this illustrated book gives a historically accurate insight into the life of a young native. The illustrations are beautiful, and look as though they were done by a child in a spiral notebook. Equal parts informative and emotional, this is a great read for kids.

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Title: Clifford's Kitten
Editor: Norman Bridwell
Format: Paperback, 32 pages
Pub. Date: January 1st 1992
Source: Emily's room

★★★

This is a cute book about who else- Clifford the big red dog! Emily Elizabeth finds a kitten and the normally red Clifford gets a bit green with envy, and finds himself in all sorts of shenanigans when he tries to fit in with the new feline. This is a cute read but there's not much to it- it's not a must have for kids.

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Title: Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?
Editor: Dr. Seuss
Format: Hardcover, 27 pages
Pub. Date: August 12th 1970
Source: Emily's room

★

This book follows Mr. Brown as he makes noises.

It is annoying for kiddos
And adult readers too
I do not need a book
To tell me to moo.
This is a book I will not be getting for my children in the future, lest I get headaches.

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Title: No Copycats Allowed!
Editor: Bonnie Graves
Format: Paperback, 64 pages
Pub. Date: April 15th 1998
Source: Emily's room

★★★★

Gabrielle doesn't want to go into Room 6 with mean old teacher Mrs. Dean. She just moved out of the city and into the suburbs, and has heard rumors that the kids from Room 6 aren't so nice. Her fears are reaffirmed when they tell her that her name is weird, and too long. Eager for friends, she tries to blend in with the other girls in her class by changing her name's spelling and even wearing her hair different. Labelled a "copycat", Gabrielle has to learn that being brave and being yourself is the best way to make friends.

I actually really enjoyed this read. Aimed for second/third grade readers, this small chapter book has a positive message. It doesn't matter what your name is, where you come from, or even what hobbies you have. The most important thing is to never sacrifice your individuality to impress people.

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Title: The Velveteen Rabbit
Editor: Margery Williams
Format: Paperback, 40 pages
Pub. Date: April 1st 1987
Source: Emily's room

★★★★★

This is a book that every child should read or own. The Boy gets a new toy, the velveteen rabbit, and soon finds that he cannot even sleep without it. He loves the rabbit until its fur is shaggy and its seams are popping. The velveteen rabbit teaches a valuable lesson on being loved, realism, and what happens to things that are lost to us.

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Title: Millions of Cats
Editor: Wanda Gág
Format: Paperback, 32 pages
Pub. Date:October 5th 2006
Source: Emily's room

★★★

A very old man and a very old woman are terribly lonely. The old woman suggests that the man go and get a cat, to make their lives less sad. He wanders along and finds a group of MILLIONS of cats. He wants to pick just one beautiful kitty, but soon finds that they're all too beautiful, and must take them all. The old woman, the old man, and the reader will learn that what's pretty isn't always what's best, and don't just a kitty by his fur.

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Title: Find the Cat
Editor: Elaine Livermore
Format: Hardcover, 46 pages
Pub. Date:February 1st 1973
Source: Emily's room

★★★

This is a fun and whimsical search-and-find book, regarding a dog who is rather angry and searching for the cat, who hid his bone. Admittedly, one of the illustrations tricked even me for a moment! I love the pictures, but the text is really only "Find the cat."

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Title: Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy
Editor: Carl R. Sams II, Jean Stoick
Format: Hardcover, 48 pages
Pub. Date:November 28th 1999
Source: Emily's room

★★★★

Stranger in the Woods is the story of woodland critters who find a mysterious creature made of snow in their forest. The text leaves a bit to be desired, voicing the opinions and worries of all of the animals. However, the photography within this book is simply beautiful. These wintery landscapes are stunning, and I admittedly looked more to them than I did at the text! This is a great Christmastime read for a child of any age.

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Title: The Rainbow Fish
Editor: Marcus Pfister
Format: Hardcover, 24 pages
Pub. Date:January 27th 1999
Source: Emily's room

★★★★★

This kids' book will always be a favorite of mine. The rainbow fish is the most beautiful fish in the sea, with scales that shimmer in every color. But he's also very vain, and when a little fish asks for a shimmering scale, the rainbow fish says no! Then he learns that people won't want to be with him if he's selfish. In the end, he learns that sharing is the ultimate source of happiness. With beautiful illustrations and an important message, every child should have this book.

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Title: Clifford Takes A Trip
Editor: Norman Bridwell
Format: Paperback, 32 pages
Pub. Date:January 1st 1992
Source: Emily's room

★★★★

In true Clifford style, the familiar big red dog just CAN'T be without his loving owner, Emily Elizabeth, while she goes on a family vacation. Lonely, nothing will stop him from finding her- and when he does (with some mischief on the way) he might just be in time to save the day! This is a cute read that shows just how important we humans are to our canine counterparts.

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Owlet by Emma Michaels

Title: Owlet (Society of Feathers #1)
Author: Emma Michaels
Format: ebook, 138 pages
Pub. Date: October 13th 2012
Source: Tribute Books

★★★★

A solid four stars.

Iris never really gets to see the outside world. An asthmatic plagued with memory loss, she dreams of being free. Specifically, she dreams of flying to an island with white feathers that fall like snow. This dream world is so familiar, and yet so far away. When she is sent to this island, and she learns that it's real, the world around her rapidly changes as the lies that her family told her come to light. She must learn for herself what her soul truly is, and make the ultimate decision: continuously flee so that she may stay safe or rise to be the leader that the Eyrie knows she can be.

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This book has a lullaby like, dreamy tone about it for the length of the novel. The words are airy and light but laced with the ominous darkness of an oncoming storm cloud. This is a new take on the paranormal, and I loved it.

+What this book really reminded me of (in some respects) is Alice in Wonderland. A girl with fair hair who views the world just a bit differently than everyone around her. She remembers a place that she's convinced is fictional, and has a general air of naivety and innocence about her. It is this whimsical type story that initially drew me in.

+Another strong point that this work has going for it is simple: The heroine isn't perfect. I have read countless stories in which the protagonist female is everything that is good in the world. Or, she has some plot shattering secret that always works out in the end. In Owlet, the lead character Iris has asthma. This simple condition made her seem more human, more relatable. It's nice to see characters that aren't unrealistically put on a pedestal that no one on Earth could possibly reach.

+The language in this book is beautiful. I want to live on the Sand Dollar. The island sounds so beautiful, so lively and full of the most exotic flowers and scents. I want to see Iris' little house with the feather door knob and the view of the dangerous waters that surround it. Emma Michaels successfully whisked me away to this bridgeless island- in an Illinois winter, it sounds like a paradise.

-One thing that did irk me about the language used in the dialogue, however, was the lack of contractions. I understand that these are often omitted to make the writing more formal and to stretch the length/word count. But at times, the proper speech made the characters seem a bit robotic.

+What really made me love this book is the avian theme. There is a group of people called the Stryx, who have human bodies, but their souls are half bird. A strange concept, every soul has a different bird half. Owlets are wise, Ravens are destructive. These unique characteristics of personality blended with the birds came out as a beautiful fantasy humanoids. Plus, on the island there are tons of birds that live there. The fairy tales consist of birds, and everyone's pet names are birds.... I think I relate to this on a personal level because my girlfriend has a slew of nicknames for me and most of them are bird-related. I loved this motif.

+Iris and Falcon are the cutest thing since..... Well not sliced bread. That's not cute.... How about, the cutest thing since frosted cupcakes? Because of her memory loss, she doesn't remember him. But he is so unbelievably loyal, loving and protective of her. Because she's frail (due to her illness combined with her unknown true self), his protection means that much more. I want them to be happy and live on the island forever and the fact that there's still more books in this series terrifies me because I suspect the drama is yet to come.

+This book is filled with poems and songs that help add to the song-like flow of the book. These stories are beautiful on their own, and I sincerely hope that the author intends to make a companion book including more of these types of interludes, giving them their own due.

+I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but just look at it. The font is elegant, the coloring is enchanting. It was part of what drew me to the story initially, and would catch my attention on a bookstore shelf.

It's true that in Owlet, not all of the questions that are raised are answered. I have faith that since this is in fact a series, answers will come in time. I have added the next book, Eyrie, to my TBR list, and I eagerly await it. I recommend this book for YA fans, those with quirky bird obsessions like I have, and readers looking for a new type of fantasy (there's no vampires, werewolves, or zombies in this baby).

A few of my favorite quotes from this story are:

"Leaders are not born; they are made in the difficult moments when others turn their backs. Love is what makes a true leader, not command."(Location 417)

"My heart started to dream in color.
I may be blind but he showed me the beauty the world had to offer;
By giving me one breath of his life at a time. (Location 1384)

A special thanks to Tribute Books for sending me my copy of Owlet.

The Adventures of Radisson by Martin Fournier

Title: The Adventures of Radisson: Hell Never Burns
Author: Martin Fournier
Format: Paperback, 220 pages
Pub. Date: November 1st 2012
Source: Jean Booknerd blog

★★★

3 stars.

15-year-old Parisian, Pierre-Esprit Radisson makes his journey in 1651 to the village of Trois-Rivières on the St. Lawrence River, in modern day Canada. A top shot among his peers, and even those older than he, he is eager to go out fighting with the men against the stealthy, enemy tribe of the Iroquois people. When those he was looking forward to fighting alongside him leave him behind in the dead of the night, he's rightfully left bitter. While hunting to blow off some steam with his friends, he is kidnapped by the Iroquois tribe and taken away from his home. Along the way of his entrapment, Radisson will learn that some traits; love and loyalty, transcend race or tribe, and that everyone has something to teach and to learn.

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Admittedly, this isn't the usual book I'd reach for in a bookstore or library. However, when I got the chance to review this novel I took it, since my girlfriend has a bit of an obsession with things to do with Native American populations. After reading this story however, I'll just pass it off to her and hope that maybe it speaks more to her than it did to me.

-I didn't really enjoy the narration of this story. The sentences often felt choppy and awkward, and it reduced the flow of the overall plot line. Often times I had to double check to see if a new sentence had in fact started, or if it was a weirdly formed half-sentence. It's true that grammar isn't the key to a good story, but in this case, it definitely chipped away at the grand scheme of things.

-+ I'm not sure if this next point is positive or negative, so I'll mark it as both. It was very oddly detailed. In some ways, that's a good thing. The natural, peaceful scene settings of the Canadian landscape were gorgeous. I'd want to explore the rivers and forests too if I were Radisson. However, some important things- like the deaths of characters- were grossly simplified. It sometimes came off just as "oh. Yeah. They're dead now," which disconnected me a bit from what was going on.

+ That being said, I do think that this book gives off a generally positive message. You can't really judge an entire group of people because their beliefs are different from yours, and sometimes even though lifestyles are lived differently, traits and commonalities can be found among populations. As hippie-ish as it sounds, we can all just get along if we learn from one another.

Now that I'm off that little preachy soap box, I'll sum my views up. This rating was extremely difficult for me, and should only be taken as a guideline. Because this kind of book isn't my "thing", as it were, I do not feel that I can properly judge it. I didn't care for it, but you may. I recommend it for those with any interest in Native Americans or history, especially boys. As awful as it sounds (gender roles, stereotypes, blah blah), this is a "boy book" to me, and explains my limited enjoyment. So, don't go by me and see for yourself. I hope you enjoy it more than me, sincerely.

Thank you to Jean Booknerd blog for my copy.

Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat

Title: Never Cry Wolf
Author: Farley Mowat
Format: Paperback, 246 pages
Pub. Date: September 13th 2001
Source: Purchased.

★★★★

Four stars.

Written in the sixties, this book follows the year that naturalist Farley Mowat lived among the wolves. Hired to observe these wolves up in Canada to see why they were killing caribou, Mowat uses humor, observation, and a bit of personification to narrate his observations of wolf behavior and what he learned from his time living in the wild.

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I had to read this for my English class this semester. It followed about four other books on natural systems that I did not care for at all, and I'm happy to say I actually really enjoyed this. It's approachable, hilarious, and easy to read. Mowat seems like the kind of guy that'd be fun to go drinking or camping with (though, if that's a good thing in a scientist is probably debatable). Instead of mindlessly journaling boring observations, he helps the reader feel a bond with "Wolf A" and "Wolf B" by giving them human names, and little stories. I genuinely cared about these wolves that lived over half a century ago.

I recommend it for any wolf lover, nature lover, or naturalist.

The Outermost House: A Year of Life On The Great Beach of Cape Cod by Henry Beston

★★★

Three stars.

A required reading for my English class, this book isn't my cup of tea. It's very poetic, and the author did a good job of painting a landscape with his words, but I found The Outermost House to be incredibly boring. Almost everything is a contradiction, almost every chapter has to do with birds and sand, and there aren't enough people mentioned for my liking. It put me in mind of Walden, which isn't one of my favorite books either.

If, however, you did like Walden, you probably will enjoy this book, so check it out.

Part Wild: One Woman's Journey with a Creature Caught Between the Worlds of Wolves and Dogs by Ceiridwen Terrill

★★★

Three stars.

I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.

This book is an emotional journey in which one dog owner must decide for herself the rights and wrongs in a situation where no one is the winner. I found this book to be a nice blend of research and facts and memoir. I learned much about wolves, wolfdogs, and canines in general, and at the same time, gained insight into the difficult life of the author and the personal battles she had to face both with and without her wolfdog, Inyo. I caught myself shouting at her mentally in her decision making, and she writes with a detail that makes the book easy to read, and more importantly, it's smooth in its transition between research and story.

Overall I give it 3.5 stars. Not being an avid animal lover, I feel like some of the more important emotional aspects were a bit lost on me. (That being said, I cried at the end result, having just put down my own dog a few months ago.) If you're a wolf fan, dog lover, or an animal lover in general, this book is a good read for you.