BORN A CRIME by Trevor Noah

December 8, 2016
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Stories from a South African Childhood

When it was announced that Jon Stewart was leaving The Daily Show and all but unknown (to us) correspondent Trevor Noah had been tapped to take over, the news came with an understandable amount of trepidation. Noah had appeared just a few times on the show before the announcement and basically vanished until the transition, which meant viewers didn’t really have a chance to get to know him. Unless, of course, you’d sought out his stand up. Because Trevor Noah, while new to most of the US audience, had already made a name for himself elsewhere.

Noah is charming, smart, and funny, each of which holds equal weight in The Daily Show. But again, most of us knew little about him. And though personal stories have made their way into the show’s dialogue, this debut collection of essays offers up much more of a look inside the history and childhood that made him who he is today.

The title, Born a Crime, is true. Trevor Noah was born in South Africa during apartheid when the mixing of races (socially and otherwise) was illegal. Noah intersperses his beginning tales with a basic history of apartheid, explaining not only the law but how it came to evolve as well, offering up an honest look at a truly horrific and recent piece of world history.

Noah’s own reminiscences, while perfectly illustrating the charm and humor he’s known for, are fairly dark. He recounts, for instance, the time his mother threw him from a moving vehicle in order to escape the very possible violence about to occur at the hands of a minibus driver one Sunday. And he talks honestly about how his family handled the very fact that his very existence could have meant jail for them and/or an orphanage for him.

At the heart of the collection, though, is the fact that Noah’s mother, an extraordinary woman, is responsible for the man he is today. At a time when education and opportunity were all but nonexistent for a Xhosa woman, she pursued both. And she taught her son to think, to reason, and to dream.

Born a Crime is an amazing book that is eye-opening and shocking as well as funny. It’s addictingly readable and definitely one I’d recommend not only to fans of Trevor Noah and The Daily Show but to readers interested in an inside, and again honest, look at apartheid and South Africa.

12/16 Becky LeJeune

BORN A CRIME by Trevor Noah. Spiegel & Grau (November 15, 2016).  ISBN 978-0399588174. 304p.

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OCEAN OF STORMS by Christopher Mari & Jeremy K. Brown

December 7, 2016
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A sudden massive explosion on the moon leaves a vast gash on the lunar surface. It also sends a titanic electromagnetic pulse to earth which becomes the cause of failure of all electrical equipment and causing plane crashes, auto accidents and the stoppage of machinery used to keep civilization running.

At this time China and the United States are embroiled in harsh disagreements looking like they will lead to war. The problem in this hostile scenario is Taiwan and if it is to be annexed by China.

Treaties provide that the United States will protect it. At the time of the explosion on the moon, the U.S. is sending a fleet to the waters near Taiwan in order to put on a show of force to prevent the Chinese Annexation.

The United States is also looking at the lunar explosion and has made the decision to send an expedition there to enter the gash created and find out what is the cause. NASA has not sent a space craft to the moon in many years and has to enter a crash program in order to bring an older ship up to snuff. China has also started to mount a lunar expedition and looks like it may beat out the U.S. in getting to the moon. But a very fortuitous chain of events cause the two rivals to become forced to send a joint expedition.

China has an excellent flight rocket, but their lander is not up to the needs required to land on the moon’s surface, while the U.S. has the lander but must bow to the Chinese rocket. A sensible combined effort is quickly put together and takes off.

There is friction at first between the International crew but quickly becomes friendship when problems arise that must be handled quickly in order for the expedition to succeed. The moon is reached and the gash is entered. What is there, and what it means forms the gist of the novel while guiding the actions of the now united International crew members.

Ocean of Storms is well done science fiction and the development of the action nicely includes the characters as well. The book provides a fast paced read and does an excellent job of keeping the reader’s interest and attention.

12/16 Paul Lane

OCEAN OF STORMS by Christopher Mari & Jeremy K. Brown . 47North (December 1, 2016).  ISBN 978-1503938779. 410p.

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THE CHOSEN by Kristina Ohlsson

December 6, 2016
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The Fredrika Bergman Series, Book 5

Fredrika Bergman is a brilliant crime analyst & Alex Recht is a police inspector, and together they solve crimes in Stockholm, Sweden.

Peder Rydh, former police and newly minted head of security at the Solomon Center, a Jewish community, is immediately thrust into turmoil. A preschool teacher is shot and killed in the middle of the afternoon pickup, and a short time later two ten-year-old boys go missing.

The boys are found dead the next day, left in the woods with paper bags over their heads. The story starts escalating, landing Fredrika in Israel and involving Efraim, a Mossad agent, as well as Eden, an agent with Sago, the Swedish secret police.

This is an intricate story with tentacles that reach to an Israeli myth of “the Paper Boy”, a Mossad operation gone horribly wrong, and the Sago investigator’s personal crisis, yet never gets bogged down. If only these principal investigators weren’t all so secretive, the murders could probably have been solved a hundred pages sooner, but what’s the fun in that.
Copyright ©2016 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association.

12/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE CHOSEN by Kristina Ohlsson. Atria/Emily Bestler Books (December 6, 2016).  ISBN 978-1476734064. 496p.

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DARK FISSURES by Matt Coyle

December 5, 2016
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Rick Cahill Thrillers, Book 3

Matt Coyle introduced the character of Rick Cahill in previous novels making Cahill into a person with a seemingly shady past. First, Rick’s wife was murdered 12 years ago causing Cahill to be arrested and possibly charged with the crime.

Next the La Jolla, California police department, for whom Rick once worked, is looking at him for the possible murder of a missing person. The body has never appeared, but Tony Moretti , the chief of police for La Jolla, is determined to charge and prosecute Rick for the crime.

Cahill is at the point where his seemingly shady past is preventing him from earning a proper living. When he is contacted by Brianne Colton, a beautiful country, western singer to investigate the death of her estranged husband, Rick does so for the opportunity to earn some money. Brianne’s husband’s death has been ruled a suicide by the police, but she thinks that it was murder. She wants Cahill to investigate the situation to find the real cause, if different than police findings.

Taking the case, Rick gradually changes his opinion and does believe the death was murder. He also falls for Brianne and it looks like it is mutual with a romantic set of interludes interlaced with the story taking place.

The plot thickens with both the La Jolla police and the FBI looking to stop the investigation of Brianne’s husband’s death. Police chief Moretti is constantly pursuing Rick for the possible murder he suspects him of and we have an engrossing story, well written, and of course ending with the makings of the next book in this series. Certainly Matt Coyle will intrigue the reader with both the plots and characterizations presented.

12/16 Paul Lane

DARK FISSURES by Matt Coyle. Oceanview Publishing (December 6, 2016).  ISBN 978-1608092260. 416p.

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THE USEFUL BOOK by David Bowers and Sharon Bowers

November 30, 2016
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201 Life Skills They Used to Teach in Home Ec and Shop

 

 

I am of the age where I had to take Home Ec when I was in junior high. (FYI, spell correct is not liking the “Ec”!) And it was called junior high, not middle school, but that may be more a geographic difference than a generational one.

I was also the type of girl who would have much preferred to take Shop, but girls were not allowed and boys could not take Home Ec. I grew up in a single mom household, so learning to cook wasn’t an issue (providing I wanted to boil or broil everything to death) but learning how to use tools would have been welcome. So when I heard about this book, I was excited to give it a good look.

It is exactly as described, with lots of pictures and great information. As I perused it I thought this would have been great to have when my kids were in elementary school, there are terrific projects to share with kids here.

When I mentioned this book to a co-worker who is in her early thirties, she looked at me and said that she “has a useful book, it’s called YouTube.” That really gave me pause, was she right? Are books like this obsolete? I’m afraid to say at least for young adults, yes. And as much as I’m a book person, I admit that it is much easier to learn most skills by watching a good YouTube video than trying to follow directions in a book, illustrated or not. Which makes me a bit sad.

All that said, I think it’s a great book for kids. It will inspire them to try new things, learn new skills. And parents who aren’t sure how to do the thing that their kid wants to do in this book, you always have the YouTube option.

Note to publisher: you ought to do a web series to go along with this book!

11/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE USEFUL BOOK by David Bowers and Sharon Bowers. Workman Publishing Company (June 14, 2016). ISBN 978-0761171737. 416p.

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HER NIGHTLY EMBRACE by Adi Tantimedh

November 29, 2016
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A former religious scholar and teacher who sees gods around him is an unlikely candidate for a PI, and yet Ravi Chandra Singh has not only been recruited by Golden Sentinels, a London-based agency whose clientele are the crème de la crème of society, he’s become an important member of the team.

Ravi’s first big case is one that involves the new candidate for Prime Minister – and it’s a whopper. The man is, for all intents and purposes, squeaky clean and boring. Exactly what his party wants considering recent PM scandals. But he claims he’s being haunted by his ex lover, who visits him at night and… yeah. Ravi is almost certain the man is missing a few screws but knows the case could make or break his career. At the same time, the agency has taken on a local TV personality and author who’s suffering very public harassment, a missing person’s case with an unexpected result, and case involving a banker that takes a dark turn.

While I enjoyed the quirky characters and odd cases, the format of Her Nightly Embrace was not what I expected. Rather than one main case and novel to dip into, this debut in the multi format series is four connected shorts or novellas. And much of the meaty detail I want in a mystery is missing.

It’s hard to review the book alone considering there’s to be both a podcast and TV show to go alongside it. And yet, I want the book to stand on its own. Especially since it’s the first and only piece of the Ravi PI platform to have been released so far. The book is fun but is lacking quite a bit of depth and development. I suspect the stories will work better for TV but we’ll all just have to wait and see.

11/16 Becky LeJeune

HER NIGHTLY EMBRACE by Adi Tantimedh. Atria/Leopoldo & Co. (November 1, 2016).  ISBN 978-1501130571. 320p.

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CONCLAVE by Robert Harris

November 28, 2016
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One of the most secret meetings to be held anywhere on earth is the Conclave, established upon the death of a Pope which is called to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church. Robert Harris has written a fascinating account about a Conclave held on the demise of a Pope. He is writing based upon conjecture and supposition since there is no manner that could have granted him the means to learn what really happens.

Beyond this, the novel is a fascinating adventure into a meeting of the Church’s Cardinals summoned from around the world to choose a new Pope. The men assembled are deeply religious, committed to a lifetime of service, and anxious to do what is right in choosing a new Pope. They reflect, pray and hope for divine guidance in making their choice. They are holy men, but do have ambition and many will attempt to influence the choice made.

Harris is very successful in bringing the reader into the mind and thoughts of several of the Cardinals assembled in shaping the events depicted. The man appointed “Dean” by the last Pope is charged with moving the conclave forward. He is a man deeply devoted to his beliefs and to his appointed task of guiding the actions of those present. Several of those in attendance want to be the next Pope and attempt to guide the others into choosing them.

The author introduces the problems that are faced by the Church both at present and in the near future. They must be confronted by both the new Pope and the other senior leaders under him. There is the place for women, the use of local language, not Latin in the litany, and the enmity radical Islam feels towards Christianity in general. Definitely not a dry discourse, but a fascinating study of human nature reacting in a stressful environment.

CONCLAVE by Robert Harris. Knopf (November 22, 2016).  ISBN 978-0451493446. 304p.

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FOOD CITY by Joy Santlofer

November 24, 2016
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Four Centuries of Food-Making in New York

When a book is a labor of love, it shows on every page, and it truly does in Food City. Joy Santlofer was chair of New York University’s Food Studies Program, and she passed away in 2013, leaving her book to be published posthumously. Her colleague Marion Nestle wrote the forward.

This book explores the history of New York City through food. I was expecting bagels, roasted chestnuts and Chinatown. Instead, I got a fascinating education about beer, bread and so much more. I learned that the early Dutch settlers in the 1600’s drank beer – all of them, including the children, because it was cleaner than the water. I learned that the hipster paradise of Brooklyn was all farmland, and later on that giant of the food industry, Nabisco, got its start there making hard crackers for the Union army. I learned that there was a New York Tea Party four months after the Boston Tea Party.

German frankfurters paved the way for Coney Island hot dogs. Many of our most beloved foods started out in New York – Oreos, Hellman’s Mayonnaise, Thomas’s English Muffins, Gulden Mustard, and Twizzlers.

Santlofer isn’t just dispensing facts here, she makes it really interesting and fun to read. I loved the stories about George Washington being sworn in as president (which for some reason I assumed had been done in Philadelphia,) John Jacob Astor’s first job as a delivery boy for a bakery, and I could easily visualize the herds of cattle being moved across 42nd Street to the slaughterhouses. I learned what life was really like for those first New Yorkers and how those lives changed over the years.

You don’t have to be a New Yorker to appreciate this book. Foodies will love it, as will history buffs. There really is something for everyone.

It seemed somehow fitting to write about this extraordinary book on Thanksgiving, a time when we are all thinking about food, and maybe thinking about those no longer sharing our table. I miss my mom and dad every day, but especially on Thanksgiving, it was her favorite holiday.

I didn’t know Joy, but I know her husband, the über talented Jonathan Santlofer – author, artist, and teacher at the Crime Fiction Academy at the Center for Fiction in New York City. It was Jonathan’s diligence and determination to honor his wife’s work, and their daughter Doria’s to honor her mother, that got her book published, and readers everywhere should be grateful. I know I am. 

11/16  Stacy Alesi AKA the BookBitch™

FOOD CITY by Joy Santlofer. W. W. Norton & Company (November 1, 2016). ISBN: 978-0393076394. 480p.

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FOOD52 A NEW WAY TO DINNER by Amanda Hesser & Merrill Stubbs

November 23, 2016
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A Playbook with Recipes & Strategies for the Week Ahead

When I first received this cookbook, it reminded me of Rachael  Ray’s Week in a Day cookbook. It’s for those working moms or anyone who likes to plan their week’s meals ahead, do a bunch of cooking on the weekend and minimal fuss during the week to get dinner on the table. It’s a great concept, and I know people who have been doing this sort of thing religiously for years. I’m not one of them, but I can appreciate the thought behind it.

The book is divided by seasons and by authors, and the chapters reflect that. The chapters are Merrill’s Spring, Amanda’s Spring, Amanda’s Summer, Merrill’s Summer, and so forth. Each chapter has two weekly plans with menus, grocery lists, what needs to be cooked ahead and what needs to be done day of. Lots of substitutions are easily available and tips for saving more time abound. And of course, the recipes.

Looking through it I soon realized that Amanda’s food was more to my aesthetic, but both have interesting ideas. I love that they also suggest leftover lunches that will work with the menus, and tips like how to use up leftover herbs or cheeses make planning even more specific.

Since we are in the fall season, here’s an idea from Merrill’s Fall:

Baked Pasta, Chicken Thighs, Zucchini, Applesauce Cake

That turns into 5 meals and 9 recipes, including Rosy Chicken, Roasted Zucchini with Chile and Mint, Warm Chicken Salad, Boiled POtatoes, Baked Pasta with Sausage Ragu, Baked Sweet Potato with Sausage Ragu, Applesauce Cake with Caramel Icing, Roasted Applesauce, & Apple Fool

And since we are heading into winter, here’s an idea from Amanda’s Winter:

Bolognese, Blood Oranges, Potatoes, Chocolate

That turns into the 5 meals and these recipes – Blood Orange Salad, Avocado and Blood Orange Salad; Luciana’s Porchetta; Bolognese; Oven-Roasted Polenta; Garlicky Greens; Spinach Salad with Pancetta, Wheat Croutons and Egg; Porchetta, Pickled Onion, and Garlicky Greens Sandwich; Chocolate Rosemary Pudding

If you like to plan ahead, this is the cookbook for you. Virgos, I’m talking to you here. One of these ladies is a Virgo, FYI, and I’ll let you figure that out!

11/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

FOOD52 A NEW WAY TO DINNER by Amanda Hesser & Merrill Stubbs. Ten Speed Press (October 18, 2016). ISBN 978-0399578007. 288p.

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OUTLANDER KITCHEN by Theresa Carle-Sanders

November 22, 2016
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The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook

Diana Gabaldon wrote the forword for this unusual cookbook, thus granting it legitimacy for fans of the books and Starz TV series.  Carle-Sanders has a blog, also called Outlander Kitchen, and contributed a chapter, “The Diet and Cookery of 18th Century Highlanders”, to The Outlandish Companion Volume Two by Diana Gabaldon. So she definitely has some authority here. While most Outlander fans might expect to find a Scottish cookbook, Carle-Sanders explains in the introduction that it is not the case, neither is it historical. She says, “It’s an Outlander cookbook, meaning we have two centuries and several different countries’ cuisines to explore, along with a diverse cast of characters, many of who scream their kitchen inspiration to me from the pages of Diana’s books.” So now you know why there is a chapter on Pizza and Pasta, which frankly, had confused me.

The chapters:

Basic Recipes
Breakfast
Soups
Appetizers
Beef
Poultry
Pork
Lamb
Game
Fish and Seafood
Vegetarian
Pizza and Pasta
Side Dishes
Breads and Baking
Sweets and Desserts
Drinks and Cocktails
Preserves and Condiments

The first chapter is actually called “My Outlander Kitchen” and is about the pantry: “A time-traveling kitchen requires a versatile pantry…you won’t find a lot of exotic ingredients [here.] So the pantry includes things like butter, oats, oil, salt and pepper, flour, and so forth.

What I love about this book is that all the recipes include a quote from one of the books that inspired that recipe. And all that said, Scottish recipes abound if that is what you coming here for. Pumpkin Seed and Herb Oatcakes, Fergus’s Roasted Tatties, Cherry Bounce, Jocasta’s Auld Country Bannocks, and the ubiquitous Scotch Eggs are all here. But there are French dishes like Conspirators’ Cassoulet and Cheese Savories (Gourgeres,) standard British fare like Shepherd’s Pie, and meatballs and spaghetti and pizza.

There are beautiful photographs throughout. The recipes are clearly laid out and explained, and many have notes at the end to help as well.

A perfect gift for the Outlander fan, or treat yourself.

11/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

OUTLANDER KITCHEN by Theresa Carle-Sanders. Delacorte Press; First Edition edition (June 14, 2016). ISBN 978-1101967577. 352p.

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